Page images
PDF
EPUB

1

" at the gates of Nieulai the King was met by the Duke of Alburquerk's EDW. VI. company of one hundred men, the Earl of Essex, chief captain of the Garter.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

men at arms, and Sir Thomas Drury, accompanied by a great number

" of horsemen. He went thence in the following order: light horses and

" demi-lances, then the guard, twenty-five archers on the right side, and

[ocr errors]

as many gunners on the left ; the King's Majesty riding in the midst of "the pikemen; the men of arms, after whom the rest followed; every "band in order, having his banner or guidon displayed." In 1544, he was ordered to attend the King's Majesty's army in the Middleward, for the expedition into France. In 1546, he was a witness of the trial of the ( gallant, but ill-fated Earl of Surrey. Edward VI. created him a Knight of the Bath, an honor never enjoyed by any other member of the College. He had a particular exemption, it being contrary to the institution, that such honors should be given to the members of the Heralds' College. He made his will December 31, 1548, in which he describes his residence to be in the parish of St. in what was called Paternoster-row : directing his body to be buried in the vault he had built. It is generally said, that he died on January 4, but the inquisition post mortem makes it January 2, 1548-9. According to his own directions, he was buried in his vault in the long chapel, next St. Faith's Church, in St. Paul's. Sir Christopher married thrice; first Mary, daughter and coheir of Robert Spetchley, in Worcestershire: she died issueless, March 15, 1520-1. His second wife was Eleanor, or Alice, daughter of Richard Dalton, probably a relation of Dalton, Norroy, and widow of - Rigby; by her he had two sons, Justinian, who died Rouge-croix when in Spain, and Christopher, who also died before him. Garter's third wife was Edith, daughter of John Boys, of Godneston, in Sittingbourn, in the county of Kent. She was the widow of Robert Legge, Esq. and relict of Robert Colwell, Esq.* She died in September 1550, leaving several children by her first marriage. By her will she directed to be buried with her last husband. She styles herself Garter widow, a custom then usual to the relicts of those of the College, who called themselves by the name of that office which their

late

* Mr. Brooke's MS. says, that one of Garter Barker's wives was "Margaret, widow " of John Garret and of John Longe, daughter and coheir of Robert Spetchley, by Mar"garet his first wife, daughter of John Mabbe, alias Dore, of Burton in the county of "Worcester." Here is evidently some confusion, difficult to rectify.

1

1

Garter.

EDW. VI. late husbands had held. Sir Christopher, by the munificence of his great patrons, died in very great affluence. He left his house in Ivy-lane to lady Barker for life, remainder to her three sons, John, Richard, and Edward Caldwell: a house in Paternoster-row, to her for life, remainder to Edward Bryes; one in Lime-street to her for life, then to the Vintner's Company. He had other estates in London, Middlesex, Stratford at the

[ocr errors]

Bow," and in Essex: the whole valued at £130. 13s. 3d. Edward Barker, aged eight years, his cousin, was found his heir, as next of kin. He bore Argent, three Boar's Heads erased Sable, muzzled Or; in Chief three Torteaux. His portrait is in an engraving from a picture that was at Cowdry, the seat of the Lord Montacutes, representing the procession of Edward VI., going from the Tower to Westminster, February 14, 1547-8; where he is given as riding with the Lord-Mayor of London, bearing the mace, between the Emperor's ambassador and the Duke of Somerset, the Lord-Protector. Mr. Dallaway has given us initial portraits of Barker, Garter, 1530 (should be 1536); Hawley, Clarenceux, same date; Dethick, Garter, 1550; Dalton, Norroy, 1556; and Cook, Clarenceux, 1560. There is scarce any change in their dress to that in which Brugge, Garter, is represented. They have all the sceptre, or verge, in the right hand; and, except Barker, the left extended: he alone is beardless. Dethick and Cook have crowns of points or rays, the others of fleursde-lis, and a ray surmounted with a pearl, except Hawley's, which is more like strawberry-leaves. Smith, Rouge-dragon, who was not disposed to speak well of any one, pretended to say, his abilities were not great; but he could only have it from hear-say, and the collection of arms made by him refute the calumny. I suppose Christopher Barker, and his son Christopher, printers to Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I, were relations to Garter Barker. The latter was an imprudent person, and died in the Fleet Prison.

1

1549. Sir GILBERT DETHICK, Knight. - See next reign. Created at Greenwich, on April 4, being Sunday before St. George's Day.

He was created Garter at the time above-mentioned: it was on a Sunday. He kneeled before the King, and whilst the oath was administered, he laid his hand upon a bible and sword, having kissed both. Clarenceux read the letters patent of his office. At the words relative to the art of investment and creation, his Majesty took a cup of wine, and pouring

pouring some of the contents upon his head, named him Garter. His EDW. VI. Majesty afterwards put on his tabard, collar of SS, and crown, which finished the ceremony. The grant was dated April 29, following.

Garter.

PROVINCIAL KINGS.

CLARENCEUX.

Hen. VIII-THOMAS HAWLEY, Esq. -See next reign.

NORROY.

GILBERT DETHICK, Esq. -See Garter,

Created in the preceding Reign.-Patent dated August 16, 1547. His predecessor died before Henry VIII., and this Norroy attended the funeral of that Monarch. His patent bears date as above. The patent often was dated subsequent to the creation : sometimes a considerable space intervened between the one and the other.

WILLIAM HARVEY, Esq. - See next reign.

Created February 4, 1549-50.-Patent dated February 2, 1550-1.

Provincial
Kings.

Clarenceux

Norroy.

ULSTER.

The name of this king at arms was taken from a province in Ireland, that kingdom being divided into four, subdivided into counties. This province is bounded on the east by St. George's Channel, on the west by the Northern Ocean, on the north by the Western Ocean, on the south by the province of Leinster, and on the south-west by that of Connaught: it is about one hundred and sixteen miles in length, and one hundred in breadth. The principal place is Londonderry.

Ulster

The arms of this office were Argent, St. George's Cross; upon a Chief Gules, a Lion between a Harp and a Portcullis, all Or.

[ocr errors]

66

Edward VI., in his Journal, says, February 2, 1552-3, there was a king of arms made for Ireland, whose name was Ulster, and his " province was Ireland, and he was the fourth king of Ireland, and the " first herald of Ireland."

BARTHOLOMEW

EDW. VI.

Provincial
Kings.
Ulster.

BARTHOLOMEW BUTLER, Esq.-See next reign.

Created on February 2, 1552-3.

A warrant of the date of his creation issued to Sir Ralph Sadler, knight, of the King's wardrobe, to deliver him one coat of blue and crimson velvet, embroidered with gold and silver upon the same, with the King's arms.

Heralds.

Windsor.

Carlisle.

Chester.

York.

II ERA L D S.

WINDSOR.

Hen. VIII. CHARLES WRYTHE, or WRIOTHESLEY, Esq.-See next reign.

CARLISLE.

Hen. VIII. LEONARD WARCUP, or WARCOAPE, Esq.
As it is spelt in Edward's Act of Exemption.-See next reign.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Hen. VIII.-BARTHOLOMEW BUTLER, Esq.-See Ulster King at Arms. After his removal, this office was vacant, until the next reign, and consequently no such herald as York attended the funeral of Edward VI.

Somerset.

Richmond.

SOMERSET.

Hen. VIII.-WILLIAM HARVEY, Esq.-See Norroy.

February 21, 1550-1.-EDMOND ATKYNSON, Esq.-See next reign.

RICHMOND.

Hen. VIII. GILBERT DETHICK, Esq.-See Norroy.

April 12, 1547.-LAURENCE DALTON, Esq.-See next reign,

LANCASTER.

Ebw. VI.
Heralds.

Hen. VII. FULK AP HOWELL, Esq.
His name is spelt in Edward's grant, ap Owell: he was a native of Lancaster

Wales. He is not mentioned as attending the funeral of Henry VIII., nor
in Edward VI.'s charter. I presume he was in disgrace at the solemni-
zation of the one, and the granting of the other; but if so, he was re-
ceived into favor again, for Edward gave him a commission, dated
Leighes, June 9, 1550, to visit Wales and the Marches, because, as it
observes, no visitation of them had been made. In this patent, Edward
VI. gave his well-beloved servant, "Fulke ap Owell," alias Lancaster, one
of his heralds at arms, leave to visit the dominion of Wales, and Marches
of the same, during his life, whenever he thought meet, as well to visit
and repair to the houses, mansions, and dwellings of all nobles and gentle-
men in those parts, as to peruse, reform, and correct all arms, crests,
and tokens of nobility, wrongfully and unlawfully taken, used, or borne,
within that, his province; also to notice all descents, marriages, and pedi-
grees of nobles and gentlemen in those parts, to enable him to make a true
and perfect register and record of them, as well as to do all other things,
which by law and custom appertained to his jurisdiction, power, and office
of arms, according to the laws of the same. All men of honor, lords,
gentlemen, officers, ministers, and subjects, were enjoined to aid and assist
him in the execution of his office, with all gentleness and courtesey, as to
the dignity of the office appertained. The copy of this grant, taken from
an original record, was communicated by Craven Ord, Esq. F. A. S.,
to the Society of Antiquaries, who published it in their ninth volume of the
Archæologia. It may be remarked, that it is very different to the peremp-
tory mandates to the nobility and gentry in subsequent reigns. It does not
appear that he went either into Wales or the Marches. His Majesty also
gave him a specification of his title, and confirmation of its rights as grant-
ed to him by Henry VIII., April 28, 1539, being the thirty-first year of
that Monarch's reign. As this date is preceding the admission of him as
Lancaster, or at least his creation, it is probable he had a reversionary grant
of this place, in the life-time of his predecessor, Milner. It is evident he
had done some act to disgrace himself, and that he had made his peace;
but infatuated by wickedness, soon after he had extricated himself from one
danger, he fell into a greater, by forging the seal of Clarenceux. Edward
VI.,

U

« PreviousContinue »