In the close of this Section we may observe, that some Knights-Companions, who have suffered Degradation, have lived to be restored thereto; being re-elected, and re-invested, and their Atchievements set up again, by the Indulgence of the next Reign; as were the Lord Paget’s, 1 Mar. and the Marquiss of Northampton, 1 Eliz. as likewise the Duke of Norfolk, 1 Mar.
CAP. XXV.
Honours paid to deceased Knights-Companions.
1.
As to the first part of this Section, the celebrating Masses for defunct Knights-Companions, I think it very little material here; that Ceremony altering with the Form of Religion, became wholly disused, 32 Hen. VIII. at which time, in a Chapter then held at Westminster, the following Decree was made.
That everyone of the Knights-Companions, in lieu of the said Masses, should, for the future, after the Death of any of their Brethren, according to the Rates of their Degrees hereafter mentioned, and immediately upon Demand of the Register, and Dean of Windsor, or one of them, pay the several Sums following.
| l. | s. | d. | |
| The Sovereign | 8 | 06 | 8 |
| A Stranger King | 6 | 08 | 4 |
| The Prince | 5 | 16 | 8 |
| A Duke | 5 | 00 | 0 |
| A Marquiss | 3 | 16 | 0 |
| An Earl | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| A Viscount | 1 | 01 | 8 |
| A Baron | 1 | 13 | 4 |
| A Knight-Batchelor | 0 | 16 | 8 |
The Monies so collected, (called Obiit Monies) were by the said Decree appointed to be distributed in Alms-Deeds, as the Reparation of High Ways, the Relief of the Poor, &c. The receipt and disbursements of these Sums were committed to the care of the Dean and Register.
Mr. Ashmole, has made this addition in his Library, which it will not be out of our way to observe, for the information of those who may be desirous to know how the Point then stood; that not withstanding the aforesaid Order in Chapter, made the 24th of May, Anno 32 Hen. VIII. for changing the Number of Masses usually Sung for defunct Knights, into a pecuniary Rate, according their degrees; the Prayers for Souls departed, both by private Persons, as also by the Clergy, in Masses and Exequies; nay farther, to give Alms to others, and to pray for them, was continued by the Church of England several Years beyond that space; for in a Book, entituled the Institution of a Christian Man, &c. made by the Clergy of England, as appears by the Subscriptions of the Archbishops, Bishops, and others of the Clergy to the Preface; dedicated by them to King Henry VIII. and printed by Thomas Bartelet, the King’s Printer, Anno 1537. cum Privilegio, the Article of Purgatory is there set down.
But to proceed. This charitable distribution, in a Chapter held at Greenwich, 5 Edw. VI. was enlarged to the relief of the Poor in the Town of Windsor, and other Towns, Villages, and Places, at the discretion of the Dean of Windsor. And though the said Decree was confirmed by King Edward VI. Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, yet for many Years, the Collection of these Obiit Monies was neglected; till in 9 Car. I. the Earl of Portland, out of his great Generosity, as well as his Zeal for restoring so pious a Work, reiterated to the Sovereign the ancient Decrees made in this Case. Whereupon it passed in Chapter, that the same should be revived, and for ever continued; and that the same should begin for the five Knights, whose Atchievements were offered at that Feast, viz. the King of Sweden, the Elector Palatine, the Earls of Northumberland, Banbury, and Rutland. And as to Stranger Princes, it pleased the Sovereign to express himself, That as by the Statutes they are left to perform these Payments by themselves, if they wou’d; so, if it were not done by them, that both then, and for the future, the same should be paid by the Sovereign himself.
Afterwards, all the Sums of Money, to be collected by Virtue of this Decree, together with the Knights-Companions Duties, at their first Entrance in the Order, were employed toward providing Plate for the Altar, within St. George’s Chappel, which is already treated of.