How tender the Knights-Companions were in pristine Times of infringing this particular, is proved from a notable Passage which happen’d Ann. 39 Hen. VI. at a Scrutiny taken the 8th of February, in the Bishop of London’s Palace, where John de Foix Earl of Kendal, a Gascoigner by birth, (which makes the Example more eminent, that a Stranger should have so great Regard to the Honour of the Order) not being acquainted with the Quality and Merit of Knights and Honourable Persons amongst us so well and demonstrably as to nominate such whom he was confident were irreprehensible, forbore to mention any Persons at all. And certainly, seeing the Statutes put very considerable Qualifications upon the Deputies and Proxies, made choice for the Installation of Strangers (as elsewhere shown) much more Caution and Regard ought to be used both in the Nomination and Election of Knights into this radiant and illustrious Society.
The third Head the Statutes render indifferently capable of being nominated or elected, either Knights Subjects, or Strangers, [Free Princes or their Subjects.] And it was so even at the Election upon the first Choice, where among the Twenty five Elected Knights, Twenty three of them were Subjects. And this was the constant Custom not only in the remaining Part of the Founders Reign, and during those of his three Successors, but has continued ever since, as appears from the Scrutinies taken and entred throughout the Annals of the Order.
Of those who have gain’d admission into this Noble Order by Election, we shall in the last Chapter give an Account in a compleat Catalogue of them, and likewise insert the Names of such as have missed their Election, yet are not to be buried in Oblivion, out of this very respect, that by their standing Candidates, have the Fame of being enrolled in the Principal Register of Honour now in the Christian World. It cannot be supposed we should give a List of all, (for that were a Task too laborious, and wou’d prove too numerous) but only of those of eminent Quality in foreign Parts, with the Æra when the Scrutinies were taken.
A CATALOGUE of some Strangers who have been nominated, but not elected.
| Rambrith de Walsey | 25 Hen. 6. | ||
| Johannes de Voynada | |||
| Franciscus Sforza, Dux Mediolani | 28 Hen. 6. | ||
| Franciscus secundus, Dux Britanniæ | 13, 14, 15, 22 E. 4. | ||
| Henricus quartus, Rex Legionis & Castil. | 14 Ed. 4. | ||
| Matthius Corvinus, Rex Hungariæ | 19, 22 Ed. 4. | ||
| Fredericus secundus, Dux Austriæ | 22 E. 4. 1 R. 3. | ||
| Philippus quartus, Dux Burgundiæ | 14 Hen. 7. | ||
| Franciscus Maria, Dux Urbini | 1, 2 Hen. 8. | ||
| Uladislaus secundus, Rex Hungariæ | 1, 2, 6 Hen. 8. | ||
| Christianus secundus, Rex Daniæ | 6, 8 Hen. 8. | ||
| Dux Barryæ | 8 Hen. 8 | ||
| Comes Galaciæ | |||
| Alphonsus Dux Ferrariæ | 13, 15 Hen. 8. | ||
| Ludovicus secundus, Rex Hungariæ | 13, 14, 15 H. 8. | ||
| Maximilianus Sforza, Dux Mediolani | 14, 15, 16 H. 8. | ||
| Marchio Pescaræ | 17 Hen. 8. | ||
| Johannes tertius, Rex Portugalliæ | 17, 18, 26, 28 H. 8. | ||
| —— Marchio Mantuæ | 18 Hen. 8. | ||
| Carolus Burbonus, Dux Vandosme | 24 Hen. 8. | ||
| Gulielmus Dux Clivensis | 32 Hen. 8. | ||
| —— Dux Bavariæ | |||
| Dux Alvæ | 1 & 2 Ph. and M. | ||
| Dux Medinæ Cæli | |||
| Comes Fereæ | |||
| Franciscus secundus, Rex Galliæ | |||
| Franciscus tertius, Comes Palatinus | |||
| Augustus Dux Saxoniæ | |||
| Alphonsus secundus, Dux Ferrariæ | |||
| —— Dux Andegavensis | |||
| Dominus Grabazenby | 24 Hen. 8. | ||
| Dominus Humers | |||
| Dominus Johannes Mounte | |||
| Dominus Harmibolt | |||
| Dominus Boysy |
Those Persons were render’d incapable of Nomination who were known to Act in contrary Interest to the Sovereign; as the Exemplar in the Black-Book expresseth more copiously, Such as are not his Adversaries, or Abettors, or willing Defenders of his Adversaries. Sometimes the Knights-Companions being more wary and discreet in Nominating them, to put either disrespect upon the Sovereign, or offer Violation to the Statutes.
In the last Place, concerning the Degree, Rank and Dignity of the Nine Knights proposed to be Elected, the Statutes of the Institution set forth, That they be, First, Three Earls, or Persons of great Dignity. Secondly, Three Barons. And, Thirdly, Three Knights: Or, as it is in Henry V’s Statutes, Trois Contes ou de greegnear estat, trois Banerets, & trois Batchelers. These Degrees are to be ranked in Three Classes, and they distinguish’d by Three Divisions, all including the Three Degrees aforesaid.
Whereas all other Bodies and Exemplars of the Statutes make positive mention of Earls only, yet the Statutes of Hen. VIII. in this Point are more ample, by expressing the first Class, Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls, or Persons superior to these in Degree, wherein the highest Dignity is comprehended.
We may observe the different Title, viz. Baneret that Henry V’s Statutes hath given us instead of Baron; and not only in this Article, but in all other where there is Occasion to treat of Barons; and yet the Record intends by it no other than the Person it mentions: For tho’ a Banneret had its Denomination à vexillo, it usually signify’d a Degree of Honour next below a Baron, both in a later and a modern Date; yet formerly among our Records, it is expressedly Synonymous to Baron, as is sufficiently clear’d up by our most Learned Selden; and in this Sense is to be taken here, and not as a distinct Title of lower Degree, because we observe the Bannerets rank’d in all Scrutinies before King Henry VIII. establish’d his Statutes (except one) with the Knights-Batchelors, not with Barons.
The Title of the third and lowest Rank in this Classis in the Statutes of their Institution, are called Milites Bachalauri, and in those of King Henry V. Batchelors, and elsewhere Bachalauri & Bachelauri Equites, which in common Acceptation are the same with Milites, tho’ thus render’d to evince their difference from Knights-Bannerets, who are of a superior Degree of Honour. And here we may observe, that there is no Place in a Scrutiny for any under the Degree of a Knight-Batchelor. And tho’ Three of the Nine mentioned are set down to be Barons, and Three other Earls, or of higher Degree, yet must these Six be such as have had conferred on them the Order of Knighthood, else their Names are rejected, and neither given or taken in Nomination; for the Words of the Statute expresly are, That each of the Knights assembl’d at the Election shall name nine Knights.