Touching the Fees due to the College of Windsor.

§ 1.

Such was the Piety and Bounty of our Ancestors, that they thought no Work well perform’d, without being attended with some charitable Donation, especially if it had relation to the Church, whereto they generally bore a venerable Esteem. Hence was it at the Installation of the Order ordain’d: That every Knight-Companion should, at his entrance, bestow a certain Sum of Money, according to his Quality and Degree. That is to say,

l.s.d.
The Sovereign of the Order261304
A Stranger King200000
The Prince of Wales130608
Every Duke100000
Every Earl061304
Every Baron050000
Every Knight-Batchelor030608

These Summs were appointed towards the Relief of the Cannons of Windsor, the Alms-Knights, and augmentation of the Alms-Deeds, there appointed perpetually to be done. To the end, That every one entring into this Military Order, might thereby more worthily obtain the Name, Title, and Privilege, of one of the Founders of the Order; it being supposed a worthy and just thing, that whosoever obtained this Privilege, should add some small increment to this Foundation.

Not long after establishing the Statutes, the Titles of Marquiss and Viscount becoming special Dignities, it was Decreed, Anno 22 Hen. VI. that a Marquiss should contribute 8 l. 6 s. 8 d. and a Viscount 5 l. 16 s. 8 d. which was confirmed by King Henry VIIIth’s Statutes.

And though in all the Bodies of the Statutes, the Sovereign of the Order is charg’d with Payment of Fees to the College, yet is it to be understood only of those Sovereigns, who were not (before the assumption of their Stall,) elected into this Order.

Upon a Decree, Anno 22 Car. II. the Installation Fee to all the Officers of the Order were settled: Those made payable to the Dean and Canons are,

l.s.d.
A Stranger King200000
A Stranger Prince100000
The Prince of Wales200000
A Duke100000
A Marquiss080608
An Earl061304
A Viscount051608
A Baron050000
A Knight-Batchelor030608

These Fees ought to be paid at the time of the Knight’s Installation, by the Hands of some one of their Servants, so soon as the Ceremonies are ended; the Statutes expressly prohibiting the setting up of their Atchievements till Payment be made.