ANNIS 1674—1677.]

ORDER OF THE GARTER.

261

Southampton, the King’s natural son, then eleven years old, was Elected intothe Order in the room of the Duke of Richmond (who had recently died inDenmark), and was Installed on the 1st of April. 5 At the Anniversary in1674, 6 John Sheffield Earl of Mulgrave (afterwards created Marquess of Nor-manby, and Duke of Buckingham) was Elected into the vacancy made by thedeath of Count de Marchin, and was Installed at the celebration of the Feast,on the 28th of May, when the Count’s Achievements were offered. 7

Three years elapsed without an Election or any proceeding deservingnotice, having occurred in the Order. On the 16th of February 1677, HenryCavendish Duke of NeAvcastle was Elected instead of his father, who died inDecember 1676; and on the 24th of March, Thomas Osborne Earl of Danby,Lord High Treasurer (afterwards created Marquess of Caermarthen, and Dukeof Leeds), was chosen into the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Earl ofBristol, and on the 19th of April they were both Installed. 8 Like Christopher

The King of Denmark sent him a Gold Chain and Medal, which his own Sovereign allowed him towear; and he received a similar Chain and Medal from the Elector of Brandenburg, who intended tohave his work translated into Dutch. Presents were also made him by the Elector Palatine. On thedeath of Sir Edward Walker, Ashmole refused the offer of being recommended, with almost a certaintyof success, for the Office of Garter, in favour of his father-in-law, Sir William Dugdale ; and he againdeclined it on Sir William Dugdale’s death, in 1686. He was honoured with visits from all theForeign Ambassadors, was proposed to be called to the Bench of the Middle Temple, and wasevidently held in much consideration by his contemporaries. To these notices of Elias Ashmole, whichhave been taken from his Diary, it may be added, that on the 10th of July, 1677, he says, “ I made aFeast at my house in South Lambeth, in honour of my benefactors to my Work of the Garterandthe following lines, in his own hand, are inserted in the copy of his work now in the AshmoleanMuseum, at Oxford:

“ Long may this Order flourish, and its FameExtend as far, as did the Founder’s name.

Let the now Soveraigne as successfull be,

And terrible to France, as sometyme he;

May all its Knights attaine to that RenownAnd Honour, did the Black Prince justly crowne;

And as the Embleme, so let th’ Garter be

The Parable to all Eternity. E. Ashmole.

“ 17th February 1665-6.”

1 Garter’s Register. London Gazette, No. 688 2 Additional MS. 6280, f. 83.

3 Garter’s Register. London Gazette, Nos. 717, 724.

* Existing Statutes, p. 56. 5 Garter’s Register. London Gazettes, Nos. 750, 769.

6 On this occasion Sir Edward Walker, Garter, “ by His Majesty’s special command,” printed “ theOrder of the Ceremonies on Saint George’s Feast, when the Sovereign is present.”—4to. 1674.

T Garter’s Register. London Gazettes, Nos. 880, 890. One Stall still remained vacant.

8 Garter’s Register. London Gazette. One Stall still remained void.