On Dunsmore Heath I alsoe stewe
A monstrous wyld and cruell beast,
Calld the Dun-Cow of Dunsmore Heath;
Which many people had opprest.
Some of her bones in Warwick yett
Still for a monument doe lye.
                                 Percy (The Legend of Sir Guy) 

Knight of the King's
Body

The usual representation of the crown since 1952. Some Victorian representations of crowns are also obviously St Edward's Crown

The Sword of State represents the power to make war (as opposed to the Cap of Maintenance, carried at the same time as the Sword of State, that represents Mercy)

Treasurer of the Royal Household

Treasurer of the Sovereign's Chamber

Warden of the Stannaries

Gunpowder Plot – 5 November 1605

Four hundred have elapsed since the memorable Gunpowder Plot; yet so great was the perversion of circumstances connected with this atrocious act by religious and political parties, that it is was two centuries before a true knowledge of the event was uncovered.  Indeed, even now some of is still masked in mystery.  It was the policy of James I, and his Ministers, to represent the Gunpowder Plot as having been encouraged by the Pope and approved of by the great body of Roman Catholics in England.   

For this purpose, before the trial of the conspirators, an artfully concocted, but dishonest narrative, entitled “A Discourse of the Gunpowder Plot” was industriously circulated in England and, after translation into various languages, was diligently spread over every part of Europe.  In the published account of the examinations and trial of the suspected parties, the evidence is misrepresented in some parts and altogether suppressed in others.  The result of these and similar measures to deceive the world, has been to leave everything concerning ‘the plot’ by Roman Catholics to destroy The King, Lords and Commons in doubt and questionable almost to the present day. 

 There has been much research made among documents relating to this plot in the State Paper and in the Crown Offices. It was well known that upon the accession of James I to the English throne the Roman Catholics of the realm had good reasons for presuming that they would no longer be subjected to the oppression which they had endured during the reign of Elizabeth.  The new Monarch was born of Catholic parents, and it was said approved of several ordinances of the Roman Church.  Indeed, some declared that the King had given express assurance before he came to England of his intentions to tolerate the Roman Catholic religion.  One of the early acts of his reign seemed to confirm this intention.  He arrived in London in the beginning of April, in the July he sent for many recusants of distinction who were assured by the Lords of the Privy Council that “it was his Majesty’s intention to exonerate the English Roman Catholics from the pecuniary fine of £20 a month for recusancy imposed by the statute of Elizabeth”. For two years after this assurance the fines for recusancy appear to have been nearly all remitted.  But the Roman Catholics soon discovered from the treats and declarations of James I that he had no intention of granting them toleration.

An act passed both Houses declaring that all the laws of Elizabeth against Jesuists and Priests were to be re-instated and were duly executed. Two-thirds of the estates of recusants, and all their movable goods, were seized in payment of the £20 a month fine.  A bill was introduced to the effect that ‘all persons who had been educated in Roman Catholic seminaries abroad should be incapable of possessing property within the King’s dominions’.  These and other proceedings of still greater severity were resented by the Roman Catholics. Among those in whom these measure rankled most bitterly was Robert Catesby, a gentleman descended from an ancient and opulent family in Northamptonshire.  Catesby’s father, who had become a convert to the Roman Catholic religion in the time of Elizabeth, had been more than once imprisoned for recusancy. Robert at one time had abandoned Catholicism and impaired his fortune by a course of gross licentiousness.  However, in 1598 he returned to the religion of his youth, and devoted himself to the task of making proselytes to the Catholic faith and to devising means to liberate himself and brethren from the yoke under which they suffered. 

With this in mind, he engaged in the ill-judged insurrection of the Earl of Essex. Catesby was wounded and taken prisoner and only obtained his freedom by the strenuous exertions of his friends, and at the cost of three thousand pounds.  After his release he became involved in several seditious plans to prevent the succession of the Scottish King.  Failing in all, desperate of redress and lacking of sufficient foreign aid, he at length planned vengeance which required no help from abroad and required the  co-operation of a few close associates.  His project was to blow-up the Palace of Westminster with gun powder during the State Opening thus assassinating The King, The House Lords and The Commons. 

He disclosed his horrendous scheme to Thomas Winter, a young gentleman of Worcestershire, who was shocked at the proposal. At this was the moment Velasco, the Constable of Castile, had reached Flanders to conclude a peace between England and Spain.  It was decided to postpone Catesby’s dreadful plan until they had endeavoured to obtain the mediation of the Spaniard with King James I for the repeal of the penal laws against Roman Catholics.  Winter moved to the Netherlands, but it wasn’t long until word reached him that there was no hope of obtaining what he sought through Velasco.  Passing to Ostend, he encountered an old fellow-traveller and countryman, one Guy (or Guildo) Fawkes. 

Of the early education and history of Fawkes scarcely anything is known.  It is thought that he spent his inheritance, and down on his heels, enlisted as a soldier of fortune in the Spanish Army of the Netherlands.  It has been the custom to represent this man as a mercenary desperado, but those who knew him well describe him as a ‘gentleman of exemplary temperance, of tried fidelity and dauntless courage, whose society was coveted by all the most distinguished in the Archduke’s camp’. 

Fawkes and Winter returned to England but was for some time kept in ignorance of the desperate part he was to play.  Before their arrival, Catesby had made confidants of two other gentlemen, Thomas Percy and John Wright, and a few days afterwards they all met at Catesby’s lodgings, but he refused to reveal his scheme until every one had sworn a solemn oath of secrecy.  This was agreed to, and the five men again met at a house in the fields near Clement’s Inn.  Here, they swore an oath ‘never to disclose, directly or indirectly, by word or circumstance, the matter proposed, nor desist from the execution of it until the rest should give permission’.  For some time they cherished hopes that James I would listen to Velasco and grant his Roman Catholic subjects some remission of their burdens. The King was inexorable, assuring Velasco that even if he desired to agree a compromise he dared not grant a concession as this would be repugnant to the feelings of his Protestant people. 

Shortly afterwards, it is said that the magistrates received fresh orders to enforce the laws against recusants, and a new commission was appointed for the banishment of all Roman Catholic missionaries.  These proceedings seem to have extinguished the last lingering ray of hope in the breasts of the conspirators, and they hastened to the execution of Catesby’s murderous plan. 

Their first step was to hire a house with a garden strategically positioned to the old Palace of Westminster.  This house was taken by Percy, who, being a Gentleman Pensioner, pretended it was convenient to him for the performance of his official duties.  From the cellar of this house a mine was to be made through the wall of the Parliament House, and a quantity of combustibles was then to be placed beneath the House of Lords. Operations begun excavating the mine, and four of the party laboured night and day, in shifts, with short rest periods.  Fawkes, in the meantime, under the name of Johnson, gave himself out as the servant of Percy, and kept a constant watch on the outside.  After a fortnight of unremitting work, Fawkes brought news that the King had prorogued Parliament to 7 February.  The conspirators agreed to separate, and each went to his own home with an understanding not to communicate in any manner with each other, but to meet again in November.  In the interval it was thought desirable to rent a house at Lambeth, and there they gradually accumulated large quantities of powder and other combustibles, which they later removed to Westminster by water.  The house at Lambeth was committed to Robert Keyes, a Roman Catholic and friend of Catesby, who, after taking the oath had been entrusted with this most dangerous of secrets, and was readily received into the band. 

 The Parliamentary Commission arranging the proposed union of England and Scotland had appointed to hold their meetings in the very house taken by Percy.  The work was therefore deferred for a month.  On the 11 December 1604 the confederates again met at the house.  Owing to the great thickness of the party-wall of the Parliament House they found their task to be much more difficulty than they had expected and they sent for Keyes from Lambeth and also enlisted a younger brother of John Wright to aid in the work. All day they dug at the mine, carrying the earth and rubbish at night into the garden and spreading it over the ground.  In this way they laboured without having once shown themselves in the upper part of the House for some weeks.  Fawkes brought intelligence that Parliament was again prorogued from the 7 February to the 3 October 1605.  Once more they arranged to separate, this time till after the Christmas holidays, and then to meet and renew their toil.  In the beginning of February 1605 they resumed, and, by great perseverance and exertion, had pierced about halfway through the wall, when they were alarmed by a rushing noise in a cellar just above their heads.  Fawkes was at once dispatched to ascertain the meaning of the noise, and found that is was caused by the removal of coal belonging to a man who had the cellar.  Upon surveying the place it proved to be an extremely spacious vault situated immediately beneath the House of Lords.  This cellar was speedily taken in Percy’s name for receiving his own coal and wood; about twenty barrels of powder were immediately transported from Lambeth to the cellar and carefully concealed by faggots and billets of wood.  The preparations were complete at the beginning of May 1605. The cellar was sealed, and as Parliament was not to meet till the 3 October 1605 they again parted for some months in order to avoid suspicion.

Shortly after, Parliament was again prorogued to the 5 November 1605.  Catesby was aware of the importance of having a military force to meet any opposition. During the Summer, he set about raising a body of horseman under the pretence that they were to serve in the Spanish force in Flanders.  He collected a large body of discontented gentlemen in this manner, and cautiously introduced among the officers several of the sworn conspirators.  He managed also to enlist as members of the secret band three Roman Catholic gentlemen of wealth and station – Sir Everard Digby, Francis Tresham and Ambrose Rookwood

The 5 November approached, and the confederates held frequent consultations at a lone house near Enfield Chase, and another equally desolate on the Marches near Erith.  Here their plan of operations was completed.  Guy Fawkes, a man of tried courage, volunteered to perform the perilous task of firing the mine.  He was to perform this perilous task by the use of a slow match; this would allow him time to escape to a boat moored on the Thames to take him to Flanders.  A list of all the Peers and Commoners whom it was thought desirable to save was made and it was decided that on the morning of the attack each of them should receive an urgent message to withdraw himself from Westminster.

Tresham was anxious that a warning should also be given to Lord Mounteagle, who had married his sister, but Catesby strongly argued against this. Tresham suggested a further delay on the ground that he could not allow the possibility that his brother-in-law may become a victim.  He strengthened his argument by threatening to withdraw his funding. The proposal confirmed the suspicious which Catesby had of Tresham’s loyalty to the group, but Catesby thought it prudent to remain silent. This was the start of the elaborate plan’s demise.  On Saturday 26 October 1605, ten days before the intended meeting of Parliament, Lord Mounteagle ordered a supper to be prepared, not at his residence in town, but at house belonging to him at Hoxton.  While at a table in the evening a letter was delivered to him by one of his pages, who said he received it from a tall man whom he did not recognise.  Mounteagle opened the letter, and seeing that it had neither signature nor date, requested a gentleman in his service, named Ward, to read it aloud. 

Quote… “My lord out of the love I beare to some of youere frends I have a caer of youer preseruacion therfor I would advyse yowe as yowe tender youer lyf to devys some excuse to shift of youer attendance at this parleament for god and man hath concurred to punishe the wickednes of this tyme and think not slightlye of this advertisment but retyre youre self into youre contri wheare yowe may expect the event in safti for thowghe theare be no appearance of anni stir yet I saye they shall receyve a terrible blowe this parleament and yet they shall not seie who hurts them this cowncel is not to be contemned because it may do yowe good and can do yowe no harme for the dangere is passed as soon as yowe have burnt the letter and I hope god will give yowe the grace to mak good use of it to whose holy proteccion I comend yowe” …unquote.

On the following day the very gentleman who had read the letter at Mounteagle’s table co-incidentally called on Thomas Winter.  By way of general conversation he told Winter of the letter the previous evening; adding that his Lordship had passed the mysterious missive to the Secretary of State. He ended the conversation by jesting with Winter that if he were a party to the plot, which the letter hinted at, he should flee at once.  Winter, though alarmed, treated the affair as a hoax.  However, as soon as possible he communicated the intelligence to his colleagues.  Catesby instantly suspected that Tresham was the writer. 

Some days later, Tresham received a letter suggesting that he meet Catesby and Winter in Enfield Chase. Tresham was accused of treachery, but he dismissed the charge with such spirit, and maintained his innocence with so many oaths that although they had decided beforehand to murder him they spared his life. They sent Fawkes to examine the cellar, he found all safe.  Only on his return did they tell him of the new intelligence and they apologised for sending him on so dangerous an errand.  Fawkes, with characteristic coolness, declared he should have gone with equal readiness had he known of the letter; he revisited the cellar once every day till the 5 November.

On 31 October the King, who had been hunting, returned to London and the letter was shown to him.  He read it repeatedly, and spent two hours in consultation with his Minister.  On 3 November the conspirators were advised by Ward that the letter had been shown to the King.  Some proposed to flee; others refuted to credit the story; finally, they decided to await the return of Percy.  Percy exerted all his powers to reassure his colleagues, and after long discussion, Fawkes undertook to keep guard within the cellar, Percy and Winter to superintend the operations in London, and Catesby and John Wright departed for the general rendezvous at Dunchurch.

On Monday afternoon, 4 November, the Lord Chamberlain, whose responsibility it was to ascertain that preparations were made for the opening of the Session, visited the Parliament House and in company with Lord Mounteagle, entered the vault.  Casting an apparently casual eye, and fixing his eyes on Fawkes, who pretended to be Percy’s servant, he observed there was a large quantity of fuel for a private house and asked who occupied the cellar. He then retired to report his observations to the King, who upon hearing that the man was “a very tall and desperate fellow” gave orders that the cellar should be carefully searched.  Fawkes in the meantime had hurried to inform Percy, and then, such was his determination, returned alone to the cellar.

About two in the morning of 5 November 1605 Fawkes opened the door of the vault and came out, booted and dressed for a long journey.  At that instant, before he could stir, he was seized by a party of soldiers, under the direction of Sir Thomas Knevit.  Three matches were found in his pocket, and a dark-lantern behind the door.  He at once admitted his plan, and declared that if he had been inside the cellar when they took him he would have blown all up together.  The search began, and the removal of the fuel, two hogsheads and thirty-two barrels of gunpowder.

It was nearly four o’clock before the King and Council had assembled to interrogate the prisoner.  Fawkes was then carried to Whitehall, and there, in the Royal bedchamber, underwent examination.  Though bound and helpless, he never for an instant shrank in fear.  He answered every question put to him with perfect coolness.  His name, he said, was John Johnson, his condition that of a servant to Mr Percy.  He declined to say if he had accomplices, but declared his object was, when the Parliament met that day, to have destroyed all there assembled.  Being asked by the King how he could plot the death of his children and so many innocent souls, he answered, “Dangerous diseases require desperate remedie”.  A Scottish nobleman asked him for what end he had collected so much powder, “one of my ends” said he “was to blow Scotchmen back to their native place”.  After, several hours spent in questing him he was conveyed to the Tower of London.  back to top
Edited article in the Irish Times (The Arrest of Guy Fawkes on the Eve of 5th Nov 1605) Printed on 9 Nov 1861

Essex Rebellion

My lord out of the love I beare to some of youere frends I have a caer of youer preseruacion therfor I would advyse yowe as yowe tender youer lyf to devys some excuse to shift of youer attendance at this parleament for god and man hath concurred to punishe the wickednes of this tyme and think not slightlye of this advertisment but retyre youre self into youre contri wheare yowe may expect the event in safti for thowghe theare be no appearance of anni stir yet I saye they shall receyve a terrible blowe this parleament and yet they shall not seie who hurts them this cowncel is not to be contemned because it may do yowe good and can do yowe no harme for the dangere is passed as soon as yowe have burnt the letter and I hope god will give yowe the grace to mak good use of it to whose holy proteccion I comend yowe

Battle of Agincourt - 25 October 1415

The Battle of Agincourt was fought during the Hundred years war.  At the end of the English Invasion of 1415 by King Henry V, after his conquest of Harfleur, he marched his army of 1,000 Knights and 5,000 Archers (many of which were Welsh)  towards Calais. He marched to Amiens as flooding had caused the river at the Somme. This delay gave the French army of 20,000 strong under the command of the Constable Charles d'Albret and Marshal Jean Bouciquaut II.  The French army blocked Henry V route to Calais. Giving the English no choice but to fight. Henry V positioned his army at Agincourt, between to wooded areas giving a frontage of 1100 metres. Henry deployed his force into three Divisions each group had archers at each flank.  He had chosen his position well, in front of his army was ploughed fields and due to the heavy raid was very muddy.  Due to the narrow battlefield area the French army lost there advantage of superior numbers.   At 11 o'clock the English started to advance their archers within 2509 yards of the French, getting them into range of the French lines.  The French line of Cavalry advanced at a slow pass due to the heavy mud, They took heavy losses from the arrows from the English Long Bowman.  They were eventually repulsed by the Archers who as the French cavalry approached changed from using longbows for Axes and swords.  The French second Cavalry line advanced only to be finally repulsed after hand to hand fighting. The commander Duc d'Alencon was killed in the attack.   The second charge had failed and many of the French knights were taken prisoner.  Believing he had been attacked in the rear Henry V ordered that the prisoners were to be put to death. In fact There was no real rear attack it was French Camp Followers plundering the English Camp.  The French camp Followers were quickly dealt with and the English again prepared itself for the next attack. The third attack never materialized as the sight of so much blood shed and piles of  corpses  turned the charge  into a retreat.   The English had won the Day  with losses less than 1600. compared to the French losses of over 7,000  including the capture of Bouciquaut (D'Albret had been killed earlier in the charge).  Henry V,  his way now cleared reached Calais on the 16th November 1415.   Agincourt  is one of the great Battles of Military History, and this victory enabled Henry V to return to France in 1417 and conquer all of Normandy

War of the Roses 1455 - 1485 

England became engulfed in a civil war between the houses, of York and Lancaster. The reigning monarch the weak Lancastrian King Henry VI (who also suffered periods of madness) His week leadership developed  the rivalry between the two houses which flared up in warfare in 1455 at the battle of St Albans. in 1461 King Henry VI was deposed and the Yorkist claimant Edward IV became king. The fighting still continued and in 1470 Kind Henry VI was re crowned. Edward IV rallied his Yorkist army at the battle of Tewksbury captured Queen Margaret, and Killed The Young Edward (son of King Henry and Queen Margaret). Soon after this battle Henry IV died mysteriously soon after.  This ended the main period of the Civil war. Twelve years later King Edward IV died, his successor being his 13 year old son Edward V was overthrown by his uncle The Duke of Gloucester, and assumed the crown as King Richard III. In the  Final battle of the Civil war in 1485 at Bosworth Field, King Richard was killed and the thrown was taken by The Earl of Richmond King Henry VII.   King Henry adopted the flag of a red and white rose and established the Tudor Dynasty.  The Tudor Dynasty would rule England for over 100 years. The main battle were:
                                                1455          Battle of St Albans  (first battle)
                                                1455          Battle of Blore Heath
                                                1459          Battle of Ludford
                                                1460          Battle of Sandwich
                                                1460          Battle of Northampton
                                                1460          Battle of Wakefield
                                                1461          Battle of St Albans  (second battle)
                                                1461          Battle of Ferrybridge
                                                1461          Battle of Towton
                                                1464          Battle of Hexham
                                                1469          Battle of Banbury
                                                1470          Battle of Lose-Coat Field
                                                1471          Battle of Ravenspur
                                                1471          Battle of Barnet
                                                1471          Battle of Tewksbury
                                                1485          Battle of Bosworth Field
Quote from website - Cranston Art

The unofficial heir to Lancaster was now Henry Tudor.  Tudor was descended on his mother's side from John of Gaunt's illegitimate Beaufort children, and on his father's side from an unauthorized liaison between Henry V's widowed French queen, Katherine of Valois and Owen Tudor, a Welsh esquire. With the backing of the French king and an army gathered from the jails and mercenaries of France and the remnants of the Lancastrian army, they prepared to invade England in the summer of 1485.  By May, Richard left London for the last time and journeyed to Windsor.  His Knights and Esquires of his Household accompanied him.   Francis, Viscount Lovel, was sent to Southampton to lead the forces in case Tudor landed in the southern counties.  John, Duke of Norfolk, was stationed in Essex.  Sir Robert Brackenbury, the Constable of the Tower, was defending the capital.

Richard left Windsor and departed for Kenilworth.  By the middle of June, he was at the centre of his realm at Nottingham Castle.   He sent his niece, Elizabeth of York, along with her sisters, his nephews and his illegitimate son, John of Gloucester, to Sheriff Hutton.   From Nottingham, he sent instructions to the commissioners of array in all the shires alerting them to the invasion.  On the 11of August, a messenger brought news to Richard, who had been at Beskwood Lodge, that Henry Tudor had landed at Milford Haven in South Wales on Sunday 7 August.

Richard sent word to Northumberland, Brackenbury, Lovel and Norfolk commanding them to join him in Leicester.  On Friday 19 August, Richard left Nottingham and travelled south toward the city of Leicester.  On the 20 August, Richard was in Leicester with his captains mustering his men.  By late afternoon, he learned from his scouts that the army of Lord Stanley was at Stoke Golding while William Stanley was at Shenton.   Henry Tudor and his men were at Atherstone.  On Sunday, the 21 August, Richard and his royal army left the city of Leicester.   Richard and his commanders took their position on Ambion Hill at  Bosworth Field.

The Duke of Northumberland and Lords Thomas and William Stanley, along with their troops, waited out the start of the battle while the rest of Richard's army engaged Henry's exiles and French mercenaries.  After Richard's commander, the Duke of Norfolk was killed, Richard tried to win the conflict by a surprise charge at Tudor, before the waiting armies of the Stanley and Northumberland chose sides.  Richard led his household men against Tudor.  Richard killed Tudor's standard bearer, William Brandon, and a giant of a man named Sir John Cheyney.  When Richard was only a few feet away from Tudor, Stanley's army moved, surrounding and killing Richard and the men of his Household.   

As he swung his battle-axe, he was known to have shouted "Treason - Treason - Treason" as he was slain.   Northumberland and his army remained waiting on the sidelines and never engaged in battle to assist Richard.

Richard was 32 years old when he was killed at the Battle of Bosworth.   His reign showed great promise.  He was the only king from the north, the last of the Plantagenet kings and the last king of England to die in battle. Polydore Vergil, Henry Tudor's official historian wrote "King Richard, alone, was killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies". 

Through betrayal, Henry Tudor became Henry VII.  Henry attempted to backdate his reign to the date before the battle in order to attaint for treason men who had fought for King Richard III.

John Spooner, rode into the city of York the day after the battle.  The Mayor and Alderman of York assembled in the council chamber and recorded "it was recorded by John Spooner that King Richard, late mercifully reigning upon us, was piteously slane and murdered to the grete heaviness of this citie".
Quoted from www.richardIII.com/bosworth1

Originally, gentlemen meant no specific class but included barons, esquires and even franklins (free-tenants) ie all who were not ignoble.  By the early 15th century it came to have a specific meaning.  When gentlemen became regarded as a distinct order, they were associated with armigers.  As late as the 15th century most of these were not granted in effect by the King, for the greater nobles maintaining their own heralds and bestowed arms on their tenants.  Generally, Commissioned Officers below the rank of Lieutenant RN, Captain and Flight Lieutenant are given the rank of Gentleman.
Quoted from The Arms of Dominion

Knighthood was a medieval institution of chivalry of both a religious and military character.  Its birth and growth in Europe is obscure.  It was conferred upon Sovereigns, Princes and other noble rank but not on ecclesiastics. Knighthood was introduced to England at least as early as the reign of Alfred the Great.  On the arrival of the Normans, knights formed an integral part of the feudal system.  During the reign of William the Conqueror there were approximately 5000 knights who served as fighting men under the command of the King's Barons.  The Barons granted them land in return for military service when required ie by knight-service by payment of money known as scutage or shield money.  Some landless knights of service in the field came into existence which gave rise to the Knight Batchelor. 

In early times a knight was dubbed by his lord, his father or another knight, ie William Rufus was knighted by Archbishop Lanfranc.  Incredibly, by the reign of Henry III there was a reluctance for taking up knighthood and in 1244 the King introduced distraints of knighthood and summons to those who qualified, and a fine for those who declined. There were two main methods of conferring knighthood in the Middle Ages.  The simpler form used on the battle-field was for the knight-elect to kneel before the commander who struck him on the back and shoulder with such words as "avancez chevalier au nom de Dieu" loosely translated "arise sir knight (cavalier) in the name of God"  The more elaborate method of knighting for which the dubbing became restricted to the Sovereign took place on special occasions. This included presentation of robes, arms and spurs and was accompanied by vigil and bathing before dubbing. This evolved into the Knighthood of the Bath, for whom knights were created at Coronations and Royal marriages. The first record of these knights is at the Coronation of Henry IV, but they were not banded into any society or order such as the Garter, founded by Edward III c1348, until the reign of George I.  Knights Banneret were created from personal distinction in battle rather that feudal tenure and were conferred on the field. All the greater nobility were entitled to bear banners and on the creation of a banneret the points of his pennon were ceremoniously cut by the Commander of the Army.  The last three Knights Banneret were believed to have been conferred by the Protector Somerset after the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 upon Sir Ralph Fane, Sir Francis Bryan and Sir Ralph Sadler.
Edited from The Arms of Dominion

The Battle of Dettingen

An allied force called the ‘Pragmatic Army’, comprising British, Austrian and Hanoverian troops was encamped West of Aschaffenburg around the village of Klein Ostheim. A large French Army had built its camp on the South bank of the Main to the West.  The commanders of the Pragmatic Army were the Earl of Stair in nominal overall command, the Duke D’Ahrenburg and Marshall Neipperg who commanded the Austrians. General Ilton commanded the Hanoverian contingent.

On 19 June 1743 King George II joined the army and took command. He brought with him a considerable train including some 600 horses. He was accompanied by his younger and favourite son, William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland then aged 23 and a major general.  

The situation of the Pragmatic Army was not a happy one. Its supply route was by river down the Rhine and up the River Main. The French commander, Duc de Noailles, had cut this route North of Frankfurt. The Pragmatic Army had been without a proper supply of bread for a week when the retreat began on 27 June 1743, West along the road to Hanau, Frankfurt and the North.

The Hanau road lay along the North bank of the River Main.  Within 3 miles the Pragmatic Army had to pass through the village of Dettingen, which lay at the junction of two brooks with the Main.

As the Pragmatic Army marched towards Dettingen it became clear that the French had crossed the river by way of several bridges made of boats across the Main to the west of the village, and were holding the village and the marshy land between Dettingen and the hills to the North.

The Pragmatic Army formed line with the Main on the left and the wooded hills on its right. It took from around 9am to midday to form up.  The plan of the Duc de Noailles was to march a section of his army to the East and cross the Main at Aschaffenburg in the rear of the Pragmatic Army. This force marched east along the south bank and the battle was begun by the French batteries on the south bank which bombarding the British cavalry on the north bank.

The French commander of the forces in Dettingen was the Duc de Grammont.  It is said that his orders were to hold Dettingen and allow himself to be attacked.  If this is what was intended it is not what he did. The French force holding Dettingen and the marshy ground advanced to attack the Pragmatic line.

There is little reliable information on the course of the battle or even on the formation adopted by the Pragmatic troops. It would appear that British regiments were in the front line, but in what order is not clear. At an early stage French cavalry attacked the Pragmatic Army.  An inconclusive fight took place followed by an infantry attack on the Pragmatic line of foot. The French foot were driven back and made their way through Dettingen re-crossing the River Main by way of the bridges of boats. It seems clear that they did so in some panic. One of the bridges collapsed and many French troops are reputed to have been drowned
Edited from www.britishbattles.com

Making the Sovereign's Bed

Some of The Guard were called Bed Hangers and others Bed Goers, and the titles are still continued, though their elaborate duties as detailed in the above ordinance have long been obsolete.  The reason why can be seen below:

After bringing in “the stuff for the bed Then the Esquire of Gentleman Usher shall command them what they shall do.  So first, one of them to fetch the straw with a dagger or otherwise (that there be no untruth therein), and then the Yeoman to take the straw and lay it plain and draw down the canvas over it straight, then shall they lay on the bed of down and one of the Yeomen to tumble up and down upon the same for the search thereof, to beat it and lay it even and smooth.  Then the Yeoman taking the Assay to deliver them a blanket of fustian on which all the Yeomen must lay hands at once, that it touch not nor ruffle out the bed, then the bolster likewise tried and laid on without touching the bed, then to lay on the nether sheet, likewise to take assay and that it touch not the bed, until it be laid where it should be; then take both the sheet and the fustian and truss the same back together under the feather bed on both sides and at the feet and under the bolster, then the Esquire for the Body to take the other sheet and roll it in his arm or stripe it through his hands, and then go the bed’s head and stripe over the bed twice, or thrice down to the feet.  Then all the said Yeomen to lay hands on the sheet and lay it plain on the bed; then the other fustian or two and such a covering as shall best content the King.  Then take a pane of ermine and lay it above, then a pane or two of marterns, then to roll or fold down the uppermost of the bed sheet and all, the space of an ell.  Then the Yeoman takes the pillows and beat and raise them well, and deliver them to the Esquires of the Body, who shall lay them on as shall best please the King.  Then take the head sheet of raynes and lay one side thereof under each end of the bolster and the other side to lie still, then take a head sheet of ermine and lay it above and over, and then the other side of the head sheet raynes and cover the bed over and over on every side, first taking an assay of all those that have touched any part thereof, making a cross and kissing there where their hands last were, and then to stick up the angels about the same bed, and an usher to let down the sparver or curtain and knit them; and an Esquire for the Body to cast holy water on the same bed.”

An Esquire for the Body ought then forthwith to charge a secret groom or page to take a light and have the keeping of the same until the time that the King be dispose to go to it.

A Groom or Page ought to take a torch while the bed is making, and fetch a loaf of bread, a pot of ale, and another of wine, and bring it without the traverse, where all they which were at the making of the bed shall go and drink together.”

Regarding this quaint description, it should be remarked that it is very similar to a reprint made by IC Brooke, Rouge Croix, 15 January 1776.  He says that the account is extracted from an original manuscript which belonged to the Earl Marshal of England, containing the whole duty of the Lord Chamberlain, and was copied for the instruction of Henry FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, who was Lord Chamberlain to Henry VIII in 1526. 

With regard to these details it may be desirable to mention that:
assay was a “tryal or proof” 
fetch then meant to test or try  
fustian is a hard-wearing fabric of cotton mixed with flax or wool with a slight nap  
pane was a covering, probably like the counterpane of modern times  
marterns is intended for marten, a kind of fur
ell is an obsolete unit of length equal to approximately 45 inches  
raynes, but it most likely was a kind of striped velvet  
bolster is a long narrow pillow or cushion
sparver was a canopy set up over the bed
Edited from A History of the Yeomen of the Guard 1485 - 1885

In the early 16th century, the powers in Europe were France, ruled by Francis I and the Holy Roman Empire, led by Charles V. Henry VIII of England needed desperately to forge an alliance with one of the parties. In 1520, prompted by his chief advisor Cardinal Wolsey, Henry approached Francis I, and the two agreed on a meeting near Calais, between Guines and Ardres. The young kings, each considered paragons of monarchy in their respective countries, had long been rivals both personally and politically.

Thus, the kings set out to impress and outshine each other, arriving at the meeting with large retinues. In attempting to out-show the other, the kings spared no expense in their displays of wealth. They erected pavilions made with cloth of gold (real filaments of gold sewn with silk to make the fabric), organized jousts and other competitions of skill and strength, banqueted each other lavishly, in all ways trying to outdo and outspend one another. This ostentation earned the meeting the title "Field of the Cloth of Gold".

The feasting ended abruptly when King Henry challenged King Francis to a wrestling match which ended in Francis throwing Henry to the ground and besting him. The meeting, which had taken place over three weeks (7- 24 June 1520) nearly bankrupted the treasuries of France and England, and was useless politically. Francis and Henry signed no treaty, and a few weeks later Henry signed a treaty of alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Within a month, the Emperor declared war on Francis, and England had to follow suit.
Edited from an article on www.luminarium.org

Knight of the Bath

A 1306 document refers to the king 'meditating an expedition against the Scots and being desirous of increasing his retinue, conferred 'Knighthood of the Bath on three hundred youths at Westminster'. At Henry V's Coronation in 1413 'fifty gallant young gentlemen, candidates for Knighthood of the Bath, according to custom went into the baths prepared severally for them'. By the end of the fifteenth century, many of the ceremonial rituals were beginning to disappear, although 'Knights of the Bath' were still made at Coronations - the court goldsmith made 75 badges for Charles II's Coronation. The Order was revived by George I in 1725 as a regular military order, to serve the purposes of the first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, who required an additional source for political rewards. The revived order consisted of the Sovereign, a Great Master and 36 Knights Companions. George I's statutes stated that 'Whereas in case of a war in Europe we are determined that this Realm should be in a posture of defence against the attempts of our enemies, We do hereby ordain that from henceforth every Companion of the said Military Order in case of any danger of invasion from foreign enemies or from rebellion at home shall maintain at his own cost four men-at-arms for any number of days the Sovereign shall think proper'.

The Order now consists of the Sovereign (The Queen), the Great Master (The Prince of Wales) and three classes of members. The statutes provide for 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross (GCB), 295 Knights and Dames Commander (KCB and DCB) and 1,455 Companions (CB). The Order is principally awarded to officers of the Armed Services, as well as to a small number of civil servants. In 1971 women were admitted to the Order for the first time. Numbers may be increased in times of war or in the event of any military or civil action or service which merits 'peculiar honour or reward'.

The Star of the military knights and Dames Grand Cross is composed of rays of silver, charged with an eight-pointed (Maltese) cross. In the centre, on a silver background, are three imperial crowns within a band of red enamel inscribed with the motto of the Order. This central device is surrounded by two branches of laurel; where the stems cross is placed a blue scroll inscribed Ich Dien ('I serve'). The Star of the civil Grand Cross is similar, but does not have the superimposed Maltese cross, laurel wreath and scroll. The motto is 'Tria juncto in uno' ('Three joined in one'), a motto first used in James I's (and VI of Scotland) reign. The motto was historically thought to refer either to the Union of England, Scotland and France, or to the Union of England, Scotland and Ireland, or to the Holy Trinity.

King Henry's response to the revolt was to successfully play for time,  to offer pardons, and to attempt to split gentry from commoners.  Sir Francis Bigod (Yorkshire landowner and Courtier), a well connected  Protestant reformer who had attacked the greed of the monasteries, was also dragged into the revolt, but had with John Hallam helped suppress a rebel attack on Scarborough and Hull. By the spring of 1537 most of the rebels had dispersed and Henry was able to take a bloody revenge on the pilgrims.  Aske was a moderate who sought to restrain his followers and urged them to trust Henry's honour and good faith, but renewed activity in early 1537 led to his downfall.  He was seized and sent to the Tower of London. Aske was executed at York (despite a pardon promised by Henry and Cromwell) and Lord Darcy who had surrendered Pontefract castle to the rebels, was beheaded on Tower Hill.  Other rebel leaders executed included Sir Robert Constable (the head of the Flamborough family - who's descendant was to be a regicide and sign the execution warrant of King Charles I), Sir Thomas Percy (a descendant of 'Harry Hotspur' Lord Percy the 15th Century rebel, like the Aske family), and various Abbots and leaders of the abbeys at Fountains, Rievaulx, Jervaulx, Guisborough, Bridlington and Doncaster.  Poor Lady Bulmer, was executed like her husband, but she suffered the ladies punishment of burning at the stake.  More than 200 rebels were betrayed by Henry.

This enclosure then received a huge structure of stone which in time came to be called The Great Tower and eventually as it is known today The White Tower. This formed the basis of a residential palace and fortress ideally suited for a king or queen and as history has shown, to its regal occupants the Tower of London became the perfect all purpose complex. Since the first foundations were laid more than 900 years ago the castle has been constantly improved and extended by the addition of other smaller towers, extra buildings, walls and walkways, gradually evolving into the splendid example of castle, fortress, prison, palace and finally museum that it proudly represents today.  For a full history of the Tower of London and its guardians The Tower Warders (Beefeaters) go to the excellent Tower of London website on www.tower-of-london.com  

In the Lord Steward's department were the officials of the Board of Green Cloth, the Coroner ("Coroner of the Verge") and Paymaster of the Household, and the officers of the Royal Almonry. Other offices in the department were those of the Cofferer of the Household, the Treasurer of the Chamber, and the Paymaster of Pensions, but these, with six clerks of the Board of Green Cloth, were abolished in 1782. The Lord Steward had formerly three courts besides the Board of Green Cloth under him - the Lord Steward's Court, superseded in 1541 by the Marshalsea Court, and the Palace Court.

The Lord Steward or his deputies formerly administered the oaths to the members of the House of Commons. In certain cases (messages from the sovereign under the sign-manual) the lords with white staves are the proper persons to bear communications between the Sovereign and the Houses of Parliament.

The office, until it was made hereditary, always passed by grant from the Sovereign, and was never held by tenure or sergeantry by any subject, as the offices of Lord High Steward and Lord High Constable sometimes were.  The Marshal was anciently styled Lord Marshal only but Richard II on 20 June 1397 granted letters-patent to Thomas Mowbray, Earl of Nottingham and his heirs, the style of Earl Marshal.  James I, on 29 August 1622, by letters-patent, constituted Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Earl Marshal for life and the next year granted letters-patent, wherein it was declared that during the vacancy of the office of Lord High Constable, the Earl Marshal should have the like jurisdiction in the court of chivalry as both constable and marshal had jointly exercised.  Charles II, on 19 October 1672, granted this office and dignity to Henry, Lord Howard, and to his heirs, with power to execute the same by deputy or deputies, in as full and ample a manner as the same had therefore been executed by any former Marshal of England. Under this grant the office is now held by the Dukes of Norfolk. 

Mistresses of the Robes

A lesser position, and not to be confused with the above, would be The Yeoman of the Stoole and there is little doubt that the 'stoole chamber' was the Sovereign's toilet.  The fact that the Sovereign had a yeoman to take away his body waste is not so incredible when you think that he had people making his bed, dressing him and cutting his meat..... why should he want to deal with faeces?

An entry in the inventory of Isaac Thomas Engineering of 1680-2 states 'For making new Close Stooles for His Majesty, one with two frames of Pullyes..and for Silvering the same to keepe it from rusting & Fitting & Setting it up in His Majesty's Stoole Roome'.

The next two Whips are Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the English royal household, currently the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department, and often a cabinet member. In modern times, the Comptroller has become a less prominent position in British politics.  The Vice-Chamberlain of HM Household, and the remaining Whips are Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer is an ancient English (after 1707, British) government position. The holder of the post functions as the head of Her Majesty's Treasury, and is third highest Great Officer of State. Since the brief tenure of Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury in 1714, the office has been held not by a single person, but by a board of several individuals known as Lords Commissioners of the Treasury (Assistant Whips, and, of course, Whips of other parties, generally do not receive such appointments)

A similar arrangement exists for Whips in the House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Parliament also includes the Sovereign and the lower house, the House of Commons. The House of Lords is an unelected body, consisting of two archbishops and twenty-four bishops of the established Church of England ("Lords Spiritual") and 692 members of the Peerage ("Lords Temporal"). Lords Spiritual serve as long as they continue to occupy their ecclesiastical positions, whereas Lords Temporal serve for life. Members of the House of Lords are known as "Lords of Parliament". The Government Chief Whip is usually appointed Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms is a UK government post usually held by the Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords. Prior to 17 March 1834, the Gentlemen-at-Arms were known as the Honourable Band of Gentlemen Pensioners, while the Deputy Chief Whip is usually appointed Captain of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard is presently a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords. The present Captain is The Lord Davies of Oldham.

The "Hundred Years' War" between France and England (1337-1453) was an episodic struggle lasting well over a hundred years, with much of the time free of any conflict at all. The battles were violent, but also occasions for the display of chivalric ideals. Crecy and Poitiers were the battlefields upon which the legends of the Black Prince were made.  The Englishmen, who were in three battles lying on the ground to rest them, as soon as they saw the Frenchmen approach, they rose upon their feet fair and easily without any haste and arranged their battles. The first, which was the prince's battle, the archers there stood in manner of a herse and the men of arms in the bottom of the battle. The earl of Northampton and the earl of Arundel with the second battle were on a wing in good order, ready to comfort the prince's battle, if need were.  The lords and knights of France came not to the assembly together in good order, for some came before and some came after in such haste and evil order, that one of them did trouble another. When the French king saw the Englishmen, his blood changed, and [he] said to his marshals: "Make the Genoways go on before and begin the battle in the name of God and Saint Denis." There were of the Genoways crossbows about a fifteen thousand, but they were so weary of going afoot that day a six leagues armed with their crossbows, that they said to their constables: "We be not well ordered to fight this day, for we be not in the case to do any great deed of arms: we have more need of rest." These words came to the earl of Alencon, who said: "A man is well at ease to be charged with such a sort of rascals, to be faint and fail now at most need." Also the same season there fell a great rain and a clipse with a terrible thunder, and before the rain there came flying over both battles a great number of crows for fear of the tempest coming. Then anon the air began to wax clear, and the sun to shine fair and bright, the which was right in the Frenchmen's eyes and on the Englishmen's backs. When the Genoways were assembled together and began to approach, they made a great [shout] and cry to abash the Englishmen, but they stood still and stirred not for all that: then the Genoways again the second time made another leap and a fell cry, and stept forward a little, and the Englishmen removed not one foot: thirdly, again they lept and cried, and went forth till they came within shot; then they shot fiercely with their crossbows. Then the English archers stept forth one pace and let fly their arrows so wholly [together] and so thick, that it seemed snow. When the Genoways felt the arrows piercing through heads arms and breasts, many of them cast down their crossbows and did cut their strings and returned discomfited. When the French king saw them fly away, he said: "Slay these rascals, for they shall let and trouble us without reason." Then ye should have seen the men at arms dash in among them and killed a great number of them: and ever still the Englishmen shot whereas they saw thickest press; the sharp arrows ran into the men of arms and into their horses, an many fell, horse and men, among the Genoways, and when they were down, they could not relieve again, the press was so thick that on overthrew another. And also among the Englishmen there were certain rascals that went afoot with great knives, and they went in among the men of arms, and slew and murdered many as they lay on the ground, both earls, barons, knights, and squires, whereof the king of England was after displeased, for he had rather they had been taken prisoners.

The valiant king of Bohemia called Charles of Luxembourg, son to the noble emperor Henry of Luxembourg, for all that he was nigh blind, when he understood the order of the battle, he said to the about him: "Where is the lord Charles my son?" His men said: "Sir we cannot tell; we think he be fighting." Then he said: "Sirs, ye are my men, my companions and friends in this journey: I require you bring me so far forward, that I may strike one stroke with my sword." They said they would do his commandment, and to the intent that they should not lose him in the press, they tied all their reins of their bridles each to other and set the king before to accomplish his desire, and so they went on their enemies. The lord Charles of Bohemia his son, who wrote himself king of Almaine and bare the arms, he came in good order to the battle; but when he saw that the matter went awry on their party, he departed, I cannot tell you which way. The king his father was so far forward that he strake a stroke with his sword, yea and more than four, and fought valiantly and so did his company; and they adventured themselves so forward, that they were there all slain; and the next day they were found in the place about the king, and all their horses tied each to other. The contingent led by the king's son, the Black Prince, was hard pressed in the fighting. Then the second battle of the Englishment came to succour the prince's battle, the which was time, for they had as then much ado and they with the prince sent a messenger to the king, who was on a little windmill hill. Then the knight said to the king: "Sir, the earl of Warwick and the earl of Oxford, Sir Raynold Cobham and other, such as be about the prince your son, are fiercely fought withal and are sore handled; wherefore they desire you that you and your battle will come and aid them; for if the Frenchmen increase, as they doubt they will, your son and they shall have much ado." Then the king said: "Is my son dead or hurt or on the earth felled?" "No, sir," quote the knight, "but he is hardly matched; wherefore he hath need of your aid." "Well," said the king, "return to him and to them that sent you hither, and say to them that they send no more to me for any adventure that falleth, as long as my son is alive: and also say to them that they suffer him this day to win his spurs; for if God be pleased, I will this journey be his and the honour thereof, and to them that be about him." Edited from the website Sources of British History

The "Hundred Years' War" between France and England (1337-1453) was an episodic struggle lasting well over a hundred years, with much of the time free of any conflict at all. The battles were violent, but also occasions for the display of chivalric ideals. Crecy and Poitiers were the battlefields upon which the legends of the Black Prince were made.  Often the adventure of amours and of war are more fortunate and marvellous than any man can think or wish. Truly this battle, the which was near to Poitiers in the fields of Beauvoir and Maupertuis, was right great and perilous, and many deeds of arms there was done the which all came not to knowledge. The fighters on both sides endured much pain: king John with his own hands did that day marvels in arms: he had an axe in his hands wherewith he defended himself and fought in the breaking of the press. Near to the king there was taken the earl of Tancarville, sir Jaques of Bourbon car] of Ponthieu, and the lord John of Artois earl of Eu, and a little above that under the banner of the capital of Buch was taken sir Charles of Artois and divers other knights and squires. The chase endured to the gates of Poitiers: there were many slain and beaten down, horse and man, for they of Poitiers closed their gates and would suffer none to enter; wherefore in the street before the gate was horrible murder, men hurt and beaten down....

Then there was a great press to take the king, and such as knew him cried, "Sir, yield you, or else ye are but dead." There was a knight of Saint-Omer's, retained in wages with the king of England, called sir Denis Morbeke, who had served the Englishmen five year before, because in his youth he had forfeited the realm of France for a murder that he did at Saint-Omer's. It happened so well for him, that he was next to the king when they were about to take him: he stept forth into the press, and by strength of his body and arms he came to the French king and said in good French, "Sir, yield you." The king beheld the knight and said: "To whom shall I yield me? Where is my cousin the prince of Wales? If I might see him, I would speak with him." Denis answered and said: "Sir, he is not here; but yield you to me and I shall bring you to him." "Who be you?" quote the king. "Sir," he, "I am Denis of Morbeke, a knight of Artois; but I serve the king of England because I am banished the realm of France and I have forfeited all that I had there." Then the king gave him his right gauntlet, saying "There I yield me to you." There was a great press about the king, for every man enforced him to say "I have taken him," so that the king could not go forward with his young son the Lord Philip with him because of the press.

The Black Prince sent two lords to search for the French king. These two lords took their horses and departed from the prince rode up a hill to look about them: then they perceived a flock of men of arms coming together right wearily: there was the French king afoot in great peril, for Englishmen and Gascons were his masters; they had taken him from sir Denis Morbeke perforce, and such as were most of force said, "I have taken him"; "Nay," quote another, "I have taken him"; so they strave which should have him. Then the French king, to eschew that peril, said: "Sirs, strive not: lead men courteously, and my son, to my cousin the prince, and strive not for my taking, for I am so great a lord to make you all rich." The king's words somewhat appeased them; howbeit ever as they went they made riot and brawled for the taking of the king. When the two foresaid lords saw and heard that noise and strife among them they came to them and said: "Sirs, what is the matter that ye strive for?" "Sirs," said one of them, "it is for the French king, who is here taken prisoner, and there be more than ten knights and squires that challengeth the taking of him and of his son. "Then the two lords entered into the press and caused every man to draw aback, and commanded them in the prince's name on pain of their heads to make no more noise nor to approach the king no nearer, without they were commanded. Then every man gave room to the lords, and they alighted and did their reverence to the king, and so brought him and his son in peace and rest to the prince of Wales. The same day of the battle at night the prince made a supper in his lodging to the French king and to the most part of the great lords that were prisoners. The prince made the king and his son, the lord James of Bourbon, the lord John d'Artois, the earl of Tancarville the earl of Estampes, the earl of Dammartin, the earl of Joinville the lord of Partenay to sit all at one board, and other lords, knights and squires at other tables; and always the prince served before the king as humbly as he could, and would not sit at the king's board for any desire that the king could make, but he said he was not sufficient to sit at the table with so great a prince as the king was. But then he said to the king, "Sir, for God's sake make none evil nor heavy cheer, though God this day did not consent to follow your will; for, sir, surely the king my father shall bear you as much honour and amity as he may do, and shall accord with you so reasonably that ye shall ever be friends together after. And, sir, methink ve ought to rejoice, though the journey be not as ye would have had it, for this day ye have won the high renown of prowess and have passed this day in valiantness all other of your party. Sir, I say not this to mock you, for all that be on our party, that saw every man's deeds, are plainly accorded by true sentence to give you the prize and chaplet." Therewith the Frenchmen began to murmur and said among themselves how the prince had spoken nobly, and that by all estimation he should prove a noble man, if God send him life and to persevere in such good fortune.
Edited from the website Sources of British History

Roger Monk was a successful 19th century businessman in London, who was in 1826 Master of the Tallow Chandler's Company. He purchased a commission first with the Gentlemen-at-Arms, and then in the Body Guard where be became Exon in 1805, an appointment he held until his death in 1831.  He was extremely proud of his position as The Officers, and had a portrait painted of himself in the magnificent Tudor-style uniform that was worn by the officers of the Guard for the Coronation of George IV in 1821. He must have been wealthy, for that uniform cost the then very large sum of £300; but he was also very generous and made several bequests to charities.  Among others he left two annuities of £20 a year, one to the Gentlemen-at-Arms and one to the Yeomen of the Guard, as recorded in their Order Book under 19 September 1837.

Roger Monk, Esquire, formerly an Exon of the Yeomen of the Guard, and who died in the month of October 1831, by his will dated 10th April 1828, gave the residue of his estate and effects to the Tallow Chandler's Company of the City of London, subject to the payment by them and their successors of (amongst other things) an annuity of £20 per annum, to be paid to the two senior Ushers of the Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard for ever, towards the expense of a dinner annually in honour of His Majesty's birthday.

This bequest continues today and is much appreciated, although the annuity now goes little further than paying for the port at the dinner, which is held every year.  It's very properly called the Roger Monk Dinner, and is attended by all members of the Body Guard, past and present; after the Loyal Toast has been drunk, glasses are raised to the memory of The Officers Roger Monk.  The Gentlemen-at-Arms also drink a toast to Roger Monk at their dinner, in appreciation of his bequest to them.

Unfortunately the Roger Monk portrait hanging in St James' Palace has been carelessly coloured, a glaring fault being that the uniform is painted crimson instead of scarlet.  I have been able to prove that this is a blunder, for I have discovered the original picture, painted by W Pickersgill, RA it hangs in the hall of the Tallow Chandlers’ Company, and by the courtesy of the officers of the Company I have been able to obtain the accompanying sketch. The original is a splendid picture, and does not suffer by comparison with the two fine portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller of William III, and Queen Mary, which hang by the side of Roger Monk. On a tablet beneath the portrait in the Guard-room at St James’s Palace is the following inscription:-

ROGER MONK ESQUIRE
EXON OF HIS MAJESTY’S YEOMEN OF THE GUARD,
ON DUTY AT THE CORONATION OF
HIS MAJESTY GEORGE IV
HE BEQUEATHED £20 PER ANNUM FOR A
DINNER TO THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD ON THE
REIGNING MONARCH’S BIRTHDAY

His uniform cost over £300 and it was the last one made of that pattern for the officers; it being much too costly and the occasions for wearing it were so few and far between. The abandonment of this handsome and most picturesque uniform is much to be regretted, for the present substitute has nothing to recommend it, not even antiquity. Roger Monk is buried in the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey, where a marble tablet on the wall and a grave-stone on the pathway mark his resting-place.

Three government commissions were at work in Lincolnshire at Michaelmas in 1536. That for dissolving the smaller monasteries had been in the county since Jun, a second commission was assessing and collecting the subsidy and a third was appointed to enquire into the fitness and education of the clergy. They worked in an atmosphere of rumour and alarm. It was said that jewels and plate were to be confiscated from parish churches, that all gold was to be taken to the mint to be tested, and that taxes were to be levied on all horned cattle, and on christenings, marriages and burials. There were even wilder rumours: "that there shall be no church within five miles, and that all the rest shall be put down", that people would not be allowed to eat white bread, goose or capon without paying a tribute to the King. It was said that every man would have to give an account of his property and income and a false return would lead to forfeiture of all his goods. There is evidence that these rumours had spread to many parts of the eastern and midland counties by the autumn of 1536. But they were strongest in Lincolnshire. The rising there, based on the three towns of Louth, Caistor and Horncastle, was an outburst by people who, as Wriothesley told Cromwell, "think they shall be undone for ever".

On the evening of Saturday 30th Sep, in the little village of Louth in Lincolnshire, the spark which was to end in the tragic Pilgrimage of Grace was kindled. Some local people, proud of the magnificent spire of their church completed only twenty years before, feeling threatened by the imminent arrival of the commissioners, collected the keys of the church and handed them to a shoemaker, Nicholas Melton to keep safe. He thus became "Captain Cobbler" the leader of a rebellion against the King. The people gathered in the twilight on the village green and, with the great silver cross of the parish before them, marched through the streets in protest at the coming of John Heneage, one of Cromwell's examiners, to "visit" the local Church. They established a guard over the property, and when Heneage appeared the next morning, the people swarmed into the streets, protesting the injustice of the visit with loud voices and weapons. When Heneage attempted to read Cromwell's commission in the marketplace, a "hideous clamour" broke out. The people bore down the hapless man, tearing the book from his hand and threatening him with a sword at his breast; his companions were put into the stocks.  In that part of England the Duke of Richmond, natural son of the Henry VIII, had the most influence, and a great number of contacts and relatives including his mother,  Elizabeth Blount, the widow of Lord Talboys and now the wife of Edward, Lord Clinton. By Monday 2 Oct, men from Horncastle and East Rasen arrived in Louth. By then a large crowd, they marched to Caistor where the King's Commissioners were at present taking inventories of church property. Here they were joined by Sir Robert Dymoke and his sons and friends who "just happened to be staying with them at that time". From Goltho, home of Richmond's step-grandmother, Lady Talboys' chaplain arrived with a large group of armed men. More than 500 armed retainers from South Kyme joined the rebels, under the leadership of Sir Thomas Percy, a relative of the Talboys family, (who "just happened to be there for the hunting") and a similar number headed by Edward Dymoke. The same Monday, 2nd Oct, Lord Clinton left home on horseback, with just one servant. He headed first for Sleaford, and Lord Hussey. Hussey had been Princess Mary's Chamberlain, and his wife had been imprisoned for continuing to refer to her as "Princess Mary" not "Lady Mary". Hussey had been assured of the support of the Emperor (Mary's cousin) and seemed a natural leader of the rebellion against the King. But he was not their leader. Clinton galloped on to Nottingham, then on to Lord Huntington at Ashby. By Friday, he reached the Earl of Shrewsbury at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. He carried letters from Cromwell. Meanwhile the rebels were joined by other groups of armed men, alerted by beacons, and had spread across the Humber to Yorkshire. The MP for Lincoln, Thomas Moigne met Robert Aske, who led the rebellion in Yorkshire. Sir John Russell and Sir William Parr both had been in the service of the Duke of Richmond, blocked the Great North Road at Stamford, with a large force of armed men, they were in the way of anyone coming up from London. The only substantial Lincolnshire landowner that the King could depend on was his friend and brother-in-law, the Duke of Suffolk. Suffolk arrived at Stamford with a large, equipped army. The rebellion lacked a positive leadership and cause, so dispersed. Henry VIII's answer to the grievances that had been put to them was read out in the Chapter House of Lincoln Cathedral by Moigne. The King had never yet heard that a prince's counsellors and bishops should be appointed by ignorant common people, and least of all by the "rude commons of one of the most brute and beastly shires in the realm". The rebellion was put down with punishing retribution and many executions. The rebellion failed because there was no one uniting leadership and cause. Had the Duke of Richmond still been alive, then he might have been there, at his palace of Collyweston, by Stamford, with an army at least as large as the 5,000 men the Duke of Suffolk brought with him. As the King's son and the heir to the throne, he would have provided an alternative to his now very unpopular father. But Richmond had died on 23 Jul 1536. The King's strange reaction to his son's death may be because he had information that he was to lead an uprising against him. There is no direct evidence, but any such would have been destroyed as soon as Richmond died. His death might just have been a timely coincidence, or arranged. If the King had been told there were plans for an uprising to replace him with his son, then that might account for his reaction to his son's death, it might even account for his timely death. Eventually when the King sent word at about the ten day mark they all left for home and the rising was over except for the recriminations. The "insurrectionists" insisted all along that they were loyal to the King and went home after only ten days when the King commanded it. There is no real evidence of underlying plots which caused the Gentry to join in but it is evident that some were threatened by the mob and forced to join and some joined to try for a damage limitation reason. The government were well aware of what could be the result of all the religious reforms but ploughed on anyway. The King of course answered the demand.

Garter King of Arms is the senior of the three English Kings of Arms. The office takes its name from the Order of the Garter. Henry V instituted the office of Garter in 1415 just before sailing for France.  Official arms in use by circa 1520: Argent a Cross Gules on a Chief Azure a crown enclosed in a Garter between a lion passant guardant and a fleur de lis all Or.

The other English Kings of Arms are Clarenceux and Norroy & Ulster.

Clarenceux's province has always been the southern part of England, and at least from the sixteenth century has included all England from the River Trent southwards. He is the senior of the two provincial kings. Official arms in use by circa 1500: Argent a Cross Gules on a chief Gules a lion passant guardant crowned with an open crown Or.

The date and origin of the title of Clarenceux is a little obscure. It was apparently created by or in the reign of Edward III and was taken from the dukedom of his son the Duke of Clarence.  The office was first that of Clarenceux Herald only. When Edward IV succeeded to the dukedom on the death of his brother he raised it to Clarenceux King of Arms.  The other two English Kings of Arms are Garter and Norroy & Ulster  

Norroy & Ulster King of Arms

The junior of the two provincial kings. In 1943 the office of Ulster King of Arms (vacant since the death of Sir Neville Wilkinson in 1940) was combined with that of Norroy. Norroy and Ulster has jurisdiction over the six counties of Northern Ireland as well as those of England north of the Trent (people living north of the Trent anciently being called Norreys).  The duties of the office of Norroy King of Arms were exercised as early as the reign of Edward I but it is believed that the title of Norroy was not used until the reign of Edward II or indeed Edward III. It certainly occurs in the records of the latter reign.  From that time until the reign of Edward IV it is doubtful whether any officer bearing the title was ever created, but there are several records of the duties of the office being discharged by other Kings of Arms or Heralds.  Edward IV revived the dormant title and it has since continued without interruption being joined with Ulster King of Arms in 1943. 

Official arms approved 1980: Quarterly Argent and Or a Cross Gules on a Chief per pale Azure and Gules a lion passant guardant Or crowned with an open crown between a fleur de lis and a harp Or.

Chester Herald

Chester is said to have been instituted by Edward III as herald of the Prince of Wales and there are traces of the title under Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V.  The title was in abeyance for a time under Henry VIII, but since 1525 Chester has been one of the heralds in ordinary. In 1911, when the future Edward VIII was created Prince of Wales, Chester was one of his retinue. Badge: A Garb Or [from the arms of the Earl of Chester] royally crowned.  The other five Heralds are Lancaster, Richmond, Somerset Windsor and York.

Lancaster Herald

Originally Lancaster, whether as Herald of Arms or as a King of Arms, was retained by the Earls and Dukes of Lancaster. The title first appears in 1347 when Lancaster herald made a proclamation at the siege of Calais. On Henry IV's accession he was placed on the Crown establishment and made king of the northern province.  The first Lancaster King of Arms was Richard del Brugg who held it until his death.  The title continued under Henry V and VI. Edward IV first reduced the office from King of Arms to Herald and it was abolished by 1464.  Revived by Henry VII as Lancaster Herald it has been one of the six heralds in ordinary. Badge: The red rose of Lancaster royally crowned.  The other five Heralds are Chester, Richmond, Somerset Windsor and York.

Richmond Herald

Richmond occurs from 1421 to 1485 as herald of John, Duke of Bedford, George, Duke of Clarence, and Henry, Earl of Richmond, all of whom held the Honour of Richmond. Henry on his accession to the throne as Henry VII in 1485 made Roger Machado, the then Richmond, a King of Arms, since whose death in 1510 Richmond has been one of the six heralds in ordinary. Badge: The red rose of Lancaster and the white rose en soleil of York dimidiated per pale and royally crowned.  The other five Heralds are Chester, Lancaster, Somerset Windsor and York.

Somerset Herald

This title has been successively private, royal, at once private and extraordinary, and again royal. In 1448-9 Somerset was herald of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, but he must have been a royal officer in 1485, when he was the only herald to receive coronation liveries. In 1525, when Henry Fitzroy was made Duke of Richmond and Somerset, the then Somerset herald was transferred to the duke's household and as such he must be counted a private officer, although he was appointed by the King and shared the heralds' fees as a herald extraordinary. On Fitzroy's death in 1536 the then incumbent returned to the Crown establishment, and since then Somerset has been one of the heralds in ordinary. Badge: A portcullis or royally crowned, the Tudor version of the Beaufort badge.  The other five Heralds are Chester, Lancaster, Richmond, Windsor and York.

Windsor Herald

The office of Windsor is said to have been instituted by Edward III in the 38th year of his reign (1364-5) but until the reign of Edward IV the records are uncertain. The name of Windsor is applied to a King of Arms and to a Herald apparently without mush distinction either of person or office. Windsor has been one of the six heralds in ordinary since 1419 at least. Badge: Edward III's (Edward of Windsor) sun-burst, that is golden sun rays shooting upwards from a bank of white cloud, royally crowned.  The other five Heralds are Chester, Lancaster, Richmond, Somerset and York.

York Herald

It has been suggested that York herald was originally the officer of Edmund of Langley, created Duke of York in 1385, but the first reliable reference to York is in a patent of 1484 granting to John Water alias Yorke, herald, as fee of his office and for services to Richard III, his predecessors and ancestors, the manor of Bayhall in Pembury, Kent, and £8 6s. 8d. a year from the lordship of Huntingfield, Kent. He is now one of the six heralds in ordinary. Badge: The Yorkist white rose en soleil royally crowned.  The other five Heralds are Chester, Lancaster, Richmond, Somerset and Windsor.

Blue Mantle Pursuivant

This officer, now one of the four pursuivants in ordinary, is said to have been instituted by Henry V for the service of the Order of the Garter, from whose blue mantle the title is almost certainly derived. Another possible derivation is thought to be in honour of the colour of the 'field' of the French Coat of Arms which he assumed. However, it is more probable that the former derivation is true. Badge: A bluemantle lined ermine and with gold cords and tassels.  The other three pursuivants are Portcullis, Rouge Croix and Rouge Dragon.

Portcullis Pursuivant

One of the four pursuivants in ordinary, instituted by Henry VII, probably soon after his accession, in allusion to the well known badge inherited from his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort. Badge: A portcullis chained Or.  The other three pursuivants are Blue Mantle, Rouge Croix and Rouge Dragon

Rouge Croix Pursuivant

Rouge Croix or Red Cross took his name from the red cross of St George, badge of the Order of the Garter and sometime national flag of England. He is said to be the oldest of the four pursuivants in ordinary, but the earliest known mention of the title is in the sixth year of the reign of Henry V, 1418/19, when Rouge Croix was at Caudebec. Badge: A red cross, either couped or in a white roundel. The other three pursuivants are Blue Mantle, Portcullis, and Rouge Dragon

Rouge Dragon Pursuivant

Instituted by Henry VII on 29 October 1485, the eve of his coronation, in reference to the royal badge, the 'red dragon of Cadwaladr'. One of the four pursuivants in ordinary. Badge: A rouge dragon passant on a green mount. The other three pursuivants are Blue Mantle, Portcullis and Rouge Croix.

     Chairing daily business in the House of Lords debating chamber.
     Offering advice on procedure (the formal and informal rules of the Lords' everyday activities).
     Formal responsibility for security in the Lords area of the Parliamentary estate.
     Speaking for the House on ceremonial occasions.
     Acting as an ambassador for the work of the Lords both at home and abroad.

In 1612 Charles I created by letters patent (renewed in 1665) a new court called the Palace Court to be held by the Steward of the Household and Knight Marshal, and the steward of the court or his deputy, and having jurisdiction to hear all kinds of personal actions between parties within twelve miles of Whitehall Palace (the jurisdiction of the Marshalsea court, the City of London, and Westminster Hall being excepted). It differed from the Marshalsea court in that it had no jurisdiction over the Sovereign's Household nor were its suitors necessarily of the household. The privilege of practicing before the palace court was limited to four counsel. The Palace Court was held weekly together with the ancient Court of Marshalsea. The Court was abolished in 1849.

Also called Arquebus or Hackbut. It was a long, portable smoothbore matchlock gun. Although it was the first gun fired from the shoulder it was generally fired from a support, against which the recoil was transferred from a hook on the gun.  It was invented in Spain but its name seems derived from German words meaning "hooked-gun".  The bore varied and its effective range was less than 650 feet (200m).  The harquebus was superseded by the musket in the min-16th century.

The bayonet was not at that time invented and the Harquebusiers depended on pikemen to defend them from cavalry charges. Harquebusiers also carried swords for fighting hand-to-hand and often used their firearms as clubs in melees.  These weapons were muzzle loaded and used a match to discharge the weapon. To load the weapon, the shooter would unplug a wooden container called an apostle (because there were 12 of them) from his leather bandoleer. He would then pour a pre-measured amount of loose gunpowder from the apostle into the muzzle of the barrel.  A lead ball from a sack was placed into the muzzle and rammed home into the chamber with a wooden scouring stick or ramrod. The powder pan on the side of the musket barrel was opened and loose gunpowder from a powder flask was poured into it. This was ignited by a glowing match made from cord soaked in saltpetre that was placed in the hammer of the lock. The shooter would aim his weapon and the trigger pulled by forcing the match into the pan igniting the powder. The flash from the pan would travel into the chamber through a hole and ignite the powder. The expansion of gases would force the ball on its way to the target.  The powder in the chamber ignited slowly. Too much powder resulted in the ball leaving the muzzle before all of the powder had been ignited. A correct balance between charge size and length of barrel was important to ensure that all of the powder was ignited before the ball left the muzzle of the barrel. The correct relationship between charge size and barrel length maximizes the muzzle velocity of the ball. In general a higher muzzle velocity results in greater range and accuracy, and better penetration into armour.  The parts of the weapon are: A - Brass Ornament; B - Flap which operated the breech; C - The date (1537); D - The Match-holder with thumb screw; E - Initials of King Henry VIII  HR; F - Receptacle in the heel of the stock; G - Large chamber to hold tools; H - Guard by which the weapon was swung; I - Trigger which pulled down the match; J - Priming pan; K - Iron cartridge case; L - The stock; M - Place for ramrod.

Her Majesty's State Coach, which was finished in the Year 1761, was designed by William Chambers, and built under his supervision. The emblematic and other painting on the panels and the doors were executed by Cypriani.  These are:

Front Panel - Victory presenting a Garland of Laurel to Britannia, who is seated on a Throne holding a Staff of Liberty in her hand, being attended by Religion, Justice, Wisdom, Valour, Fortitude, Commerce and Plenty.   In the background is a view of St Paul’s Cathedral and the River Thames.

Right-hand Door - Industry and Ingenuity giving a Cornucopia to the Genius of England.

Right Hand Panels - History recording the reports of Fame.  Peace burning the implements of War.

Lower Back Panel - Neptune and Amphitricha,  attended by the Winds, Rivers, Tritons, Nalads, etc., issuing from their Palace in a Triumphal Car, drawn by Sea Horses, to bring the tribute of the world to the British Shore.

Upper Back Panel – The Royal Arms beautifully ornamented with the Order of St. George, the Rose, Shamrock and Thistle entwined.

Left-Hand Door – Mars, Minerva and Mercury supporting the Imperial Crown of Great Britain.

Left-Hand Panels – The Liberal Arts and Sciences protected.

The front and Quarter Panels over the paintings are of Plate Glass. The framework of the body of the coach consist of Eight Palm Trees, which, branching out at the top, sustain the roof.  The four corner trees, each of which is supported by a lion’s head, are loaded with trophies allusive to the victories obtained by Great Britain during the glorious war that terminated just prior to the completion of the coach.

Four large Tritons support the body of the Coach by means of braces, which are covered with Morocco leather and ornamented with gilt buckles.  The two figures in front are represented in the action of drawing the carriage, cables attached to the cranes being extended over their shoulders, and in that of announcing, through the medium of the shells which they hold, the approach of the Monarch of the Ocean.  The figures at the back carry the Imperial Fasces, topped with tridents.

Centre of the roof stand Three Boys, representing the Genii of England, Scotland and Ireland, supporting the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, and holding in their hands the Sceptre, Sword of State and Ensigns of Knighthood respectively.  Their bodies are adorned with festoons of laurel, which fall from thence to the four corners of the roof.

Among the minor portions may be mentioned The Driver’s Footboard, which is a large Scallop Shell, ornamented with bunches of reeds and other marine plants. The Pole, representing a bundle of lances; The Splinter Bar, composed of a rich moulding issuing from beneath a voluted shell, with each end terminating in the head of a dolphin, and the Wheels, being imitations of those of the ancient Triumphal Chariot.

Coach dimensions:  Length 24 feet; Width 8 feet 3 inches; height 12 feet; length of pole 12 feet 4 inches; total weight 4 tons.

Costs:  The cost was £7567 19s  9½d. The final payment was made in 1765.  Although designed by William Chambers it was build by Butler who was paid £1673 15s; Joseph Wilton, the carver, was paid £2500 and Pujolas, the guilder, £931 14s.  In 1791 £648 7s 10¼d was spent for re-upholstering and for renewing the leather braces.  In 1821 alterations and renewals cost a staggering £3113 17s 6d.

Amendments:  There have been a number of overhauls, upholsters and renewals (such as leather braces). After the State Opening of Parliament on 29 Oct 1795 it was necessary to renew the glass panes after the crowd got out of hand, breaking the glass and insulting the King.  The hammercloth and the box-seat were removed on the accession of Edward VII when the King felt that they interfered with his view of the public. From that time all eight horses have been postilion-driven. Prior to the amendments a coachman drove three pairs of horses from the box-seat and a postilion drove the lead horses. For the Coronation of Queen Victoria it was upholstered to the cost of £862 10s and a new State hammercloth was made at a cost of £997 6s.

By official request nothing of these riots was mentioned in “Aris’s Gazette” until the 25^th, when a long, detailed account was published. In this, in the description of the attack on Priestley’s house, tribute was paid to Lord Aylesford “to whose indefatigable attention and exertions the town has been highly indebted at this alarming season”. The writer went on to describe how the Earl “harangued” the mob and, bringing them back to the town-centre, he “persuaded them to disperse and retire to their homes and respective occupations”. However, “all attempts to restore peace and order proved fruitless, and the rioters set out for Baskerville House and those of Hutton, as already noted.  Orders were at last given to call in the troops, the Dragoons, who arrived from Nottingham by “a forced march which could not be preformed without much injury to the horses”. As remnants of the mob made their way to Leasowes, near Halesowen, still intent on plunder, Lord Aylesford and Justice Woodcock set out after them with soldiers, after which “the lawless banditti, which had the preceding two days so much terrified the  country, made their last appearance in any numbers here”. The newspaper account ended with another tribute to the “unwearied attentions” of the magistrates, “aided by the personal advice and attendance of the Earl of Aylesford”, as well as the leading personalities of the neighbouring counties under his leadership.  Subsequently four riot-leaders were hanged and the Dissenters received compensation for the extensive damage to property and chattels. It was also realised that, without a regular police force, order could be maintained only by troops stationed nearby.  Thus in the next year, cavalry barracks, of pedimented architectural design rather like North Court (The Stables) of Packington Parks, were hastily constructed for 168 men and their horses in the Ashted/Lawley Street area.  Barrack Street still recalls the site.  It is of interest that soon afterwards there was developed a Heneage Street in this area, the whole of which belonged to the Legges (Earl of Dartmouth; The Earl of Aylesford’s sister had married the 3^rd Earl of Dartmouth).