4882658. Ralph de Neville , 2nd Baron Middleham and Raby
Ralph Nevill, 2nd Baron Raby, summoned to Parliament 1331-1336, surviving son and heir, who, like his ancestors, had many disputes with the Prior of Durham by the yearly rent of 4 pounds and a stag for his tenure, and the degree of entertainment which he claimed upon Holy Rood Day. He was at one time Stewart of the King's household and in many state employments. He died 41 of Edward III (1367) and was buried in Durham Cathedral. He married Alice, daughter of Hugh de Audley. He was the first layman buried in Durham Church on the south side thereof. He obtained this favour from the Prior and convent for a vestment of red velvet, richly embroidered with gold silk, great pearls and images of the saints standing in tabernacles, by him given to St. Cuthbert, his body being brought in a chariot drawn by seven horses to the boundary of the church yard, and thence conveyed upon the shoulders of knights into the middle of the church, where the Abbot of St. Mary's in York performed the office of the dead and celebrated the morrow mass at which were offered eight horses, four for war, with four men armed and four for peace, as also three cloths of gold, of blue color interwoven with flowers. Four of these horses were redeemed after the funeral by Sir John Nevill, his son, for 100 marks.
[Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith, 833-834 ]
4882668. Edward III of Windsor , KG, King of England, Earl of Chester, Duke of Aquitaine
At seventeen Edward III was a handsome lad, married to the lovely Philippa of Hainault, endowed with all the gifts of the gods--he sought to revive the flower of chivalry. At a celebration on the eve of a tournament, Edward had been dancing with the Countess of Salisbury; when the music stopped and all noticed that one lady was flushed with embarrassment. All eyes were focused on a dainty jeweled garter lying in the middle of the floor. Without a moment's hesitation, the King snatched up the garter and held it up for all to see, proclaiming, "Dishonored be he who thinks ill of it." Instantly the hubbub ceased and the King thundered, "The garter will soon be held in such high esteem that he may count himself happy if permitted to wear it." And thus was born the legend of the garter. In the autumn of 1437 Edward returned to England and began celebrating the success of his campaign against France. He held tournaments and daily festivities. He laid elaborate plans for building Windsor Castle, begun by William the Conqueror, and in commemoration of King Arthur's Round Table and King Richard's Crusade he formally instituted the Order of the Garter. The Order comprised the sovereign, the Prince of Wales and 25 knights and such foreign sovereigns as may be chosen. At this time his son Edward was only 14 and not yet knighted. He later won the sobriquet of "Black Prince" when his father insisted that he wear a richly ornamented black cuirass when he won his spurs at 16. The institution of the Order is probably the finest contribution Edward made to his reign, for the "Most Noble Order of the Garter" is today considered the highest in the world.
The emblem of the order, the garter, is a dark blue ribbon edged with gold bearing the motto and with a buckle and pendant of gold richly chased, worn on the left leg below the knee. The mantle is of blue velvet, the length of the train distinguishing the king, the surcoat and hood is of crimson velvet, the hat of black velvet with a plume of white ostrich feathers, having in the center a tuft of black herons' feathers and fastened to the hat with a band of diamonds. The collar of gold consisting of 26 pieces, each in the form of a garter, with a pendant--a figure of St. George of Cappadocia fighting the dragon. (For illustrations of these and other insignia of the Order, see Britannica Enc.) Proud indeed may he be who can trace his ancestry to one of the original knights. (You are, of course, descended from Edward III and three others of the original knights, namely; Sir Bartholomew de Burghersh, Sir Thomas Holland, and Sir Ralph, Lord Stafford, later Earl of Stafford.)
The founders were, besides King Edward, as follows:
1. Edward, the Black Prince.
2. Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Lancaster.
3. Thomas Beauchamp, 3rd Earl of Warwick.
4. John de Grailly.
5. Ralph de Stafford, Earl of Stafford.
6. William Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury.
7. Sir Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March.
8. Sir John Lisle, Lord Lisle of Rougemont.
9. Sir Bartholomew de Burghersh, Lord Burghersh.
10. Sir John Beauchamp, Lord Beauchamp of Warwick.
11. John, Lord Mohun of Dunster.
12. Sir Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent.
13. Sir Hugh Courtney.
14. John, Lord Grey of Rotherfield.
15. Sir Richard Fitz-Simon.
16. Sir Miles Stapleton.
17. Sir Thomas Wade.
18. Sir Hugh Wrottesley.
19. Sir Nele Larying.
20. Sir John Chandos.
21. Sir James Audley.
22. Sir Otho Holland.
23. Sir Henry Eam.
24. Sir Sauchet D'Abrichecourt.
25. Sir Walter Pavely
[see Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith]
© 1995-2001, Saul M. Montes-Bradley