WHAT high reputation this See hath been favour’d with, may be collected from an Act of Parliament, 31. _Hen._ VIII. concerning the Placing of the Lords in Parliament Chamber, and other Assemblies and Conferences of Council, whereby this Bishop had Place assigned him next to the Bishop of _Durham_, who hath place by that Act, next the Archbishop of _York_; tho’ before in respect of the prehemenence of this noble Order, he had precedence and Place granted above all Bishops, and next unto the Arch-Bishops. At that Officers admittance he is oblig’d to take an Oath in the presence of the Soveraign or his Lieutenant, which consists of these particulars.
1. _To be present in all Chapters, whereunto he is Summoned._
2. _To report all things truly without Favour or Fear._
3. _To take the Scrutiny faithfully, and present it to the Sovereign._
4. _To keep secret, and not disclose the Councils of the Order._
5. _To promote and maintain the Honour of it._
6. _To withstand and reveal what is designed to the contrary._
THIS Oath is read in Chapter, by the Register of the Order, the Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod, holding the Book, whilst the Prelate Kneels between the Sovereign’s Knees.
AS the Knights-Companions had their Surcoats bestowed on them, at the Sovereigns charge, and therefore called the Kings Livery, so had the Officers of the Order their Liveries or Robes out of the Sovereign’s Wardrobe, and in particular the Prelate of the Order: For in the Rolls of the great Wardrobe, we find that _William de Edyngton_ had allow’d him for his Robe of the Sovereign’s Livery, against the Feast of St. _George_, Anno 37. _Ed._ III. one Cloth of Sanguine grain, and a large quantity of Furs for trimming it up: And we find this Robe so assigned the Prelate to be of the sute or colour of the Knights-Companions Surcoats the same Year, _viz._ Sanguine in grain, and that he had a great allowance of Furr; for his being a Mantle was larger than any of the Knights Surcoats, tho’ they are both call’d by the same name _Roba_ in the Rolls of the Wardrobe, _Anno_ 7. _Rich._ II. _William de Wyckham_ then Prelate had the same allowance, one Cloth of Violet in grain and other Materials. But the Discrimination was in the Bellies of Minevers, whose Number was now much encreased, and that the same allowance was bestowed on him in the 11th and 19th Years of the said King. But in these three Instances the Colour of the Cloth was different, and suitable to the Knights-Companions Surcoats, those very Years, _viz._ Violet in grain, White and Blue, and _Anno_ 12. _Hen._ VI. the Robe of _Henry Beaufort_, Cardinal and Prelate was White, as then were the Surcoats of the Knights-Companions, whence it is evident the Livery formerly allowed the Prelate annually varied in Colour, as did the Knights-Companions Surcoats.