214

HISTORY OF THE

[DEGRADATION.

authority alone, and without the subject having been first referred to the con-sideration of his Brother Knights in Chapter, notwithstanding the Statutesexpressly state, that if a Knight be found guilty of any of the offences men-tioned therein, “ he shall be Degraded at the next Chapter f’ 1 whence it mustbe inferred that Degradation can only be legally inflicted in a Capitular con-vention of the Fraternity.

Lord Cochrane was expelled by the following Royal Warrant, under theSign Manual and Seal of the Order, addressed to the Dean:

“ In the Name and on the behalf of the Sovereign.

“ GEORGE P. R.

“ George the Third, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., and Sovereign of theMost Honourable Order of the Bath, To Our trusty and well-beloved WilliamVincent, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of Our said Order, greeting. Whereas it hasbeen represented unto Us, that Sir Thomas Cochrane (commonly called LordCochrane), one of the Knights Companions of Our said Most HonourableOrder, has been convicted on an Indictment against him and others, chargingthat they had conspired together to injure and aggrieve divers of Our subjects:Know ye, that We taking the same into Our Royal consideration, and beingfirmly resolved to maintain, support, and preserve the Honour and Dignity ofOur said Order, are pleased to command and declare, that the said Sir ThomasCochrane (commonly called Lord Cochrane), shall no longer continue, nor bedeemed, nor held to be a Knight Companion of Our said Most HonourableOrder of the Bath, but shall be, and is, hereby adjudged and declared to befrom henceforward, removed and degraded from Our said Most HonourableOrder, and from all and singular the rights, privileges, immunities, and advan-tages appertaining thereunto. And We do hereby authorize and require you tocommunicate this Our Declaration and Command to the Knights Companionsat the next Chapter, and to cause these Presents to be entered in the Registerof the Order, to the end that the Knights Companions and Officers of the saidOrder, and all others, upon occasion, may take full notice and have knowledge

1 In the Statutes of the Garter, these words are added, “ if it shall so please the Sovereign and theCompany.”