Daily camera., 1899-04-28
ON THE QUEENS souN~.
Ihs Ancient Order of the Military
knights of Windsor,

Ahi4hts or Windsor.
While chronicling the movements
Of the queen reference is now and
again made in the daily press to the
military knights Of Windsor. Never
theless, but few who read about their
doings know of what that order con-
sists' says the Culver. They are Of
hcers who have distinguished them
selves in some OF our innumerable lit
tie wars, and yet in their old age find
themselves solely dependent on very
diminutiye pension. From the queen
they served so faithfully and well they
receive an annuity and lodging in
that vast palace. Windsor castle. The
order Is indeed. pendant to that bet
ter-known home OF the veterans OF
the rank and file, Chelsea hospital. Its
history is peculiarly interesting. When
that gallant warrior King Edward III.
founded the Order OF the Garter. he
ordained that each OF the twenty six
companions should be allowed 20
present an aims knight" TO the pro-
vision made for them by the king. Ac-
cording to the original grant these
veterans were to be such as through
adverse fortune were brought to that
extremity that they had not OF their
own wherewith to sustain them nor
to live so gsnteelly as became a mil
itary condition" That they might
live "genteelly" they were given a
lump sum of 40 shillings year. and
IL pence each day they attended the
royal chapel-a small pension, it
seems to us, but it must be remem-
bered that money has vastly decreased
In purchasing power since those early
days.
But evil fortune awaited the aims
knights. They had been placed under
the supervision of the canons Of St
Georges chapel. and these priests
seem to have bullied them unmerci-
fully. Under Edward ". the quarrel
had grown to such a pitch that the
king interfered.
Monks carried long tales to the mon
arch Of the INSTRUMENTATION shown by
the stout old warriors to the rules
that had been made for their govern
ment. The almsknights replied. but in
cunning they were no match for their
adversaries; deeds not words" might
have been their motto In the end
bounty. and, as an old chronicler OF
the times remarks, How they next
subsisted doth not fully appear" un
King Hal. however, took pity On the
poor old men that yet remained in the
land OF the living and set apart GER
tain lands for their maintenance.
Queen Bess added to their lodgings.
but issued a series OF strict regula-
tions as to their behavior which well
became the maiden queen. however
distasteful they were to the aims
knights themselves. Their old enc
mics. the canons of st. Georges chap
el. were informed that they were to
consider themselves responsible for
their behavior and severe penalties
awaited a 'haunter Of taverns" or a
keeper OF late hours" When the
queen visited Windsor they were to
be ready to salute her. Lastly. it was
ordained that NO married man could
be admitted to the order. bachelors
and widowers being alone eligible.
Until the reign OF William ". their
uniform was more ornamental ;han
comfortable. Indeed. during hot
weather II must have been well nigh
intolerable. consisting as 1t did OF a
flowing mantel. decked with "scutch-
con Of st. George" upon the shoulder.
Since the reform instituted by that
king, however, II has consisted OF a
red swallow tail coat. dark blue trous-
ers, cooked hat with red and white
plume, crimson silk sash and leather
belt for a sword. OF course. ii is only
on full dress occasions that the veter-
ans thus gayly bedeck themselves Re-
markably well they then look. with
their kind old faces beaming above
the rows OF medals that proclaim their
past achievements. They still mourn
the discontinuance OF their famous
banquet on St. Georges day. but pres
sents OF game from .he royal pre-
serves doubtless reconcile them to the
loss Of their annual feast
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