Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-04-06
MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.
INDECENT Old Officers Who Live on the
Queens Bounty.

While chronicling the movements of
the queen referen 10 now and again
made to the Military knights of Wind
soT. Nevertheless, but few who read
about their doings know of what that
order consists. They are officers who
have distinguished themselves in some
of our innumerable little wars, and
yet in their old age find themselves
solely dependent on a very diminu-
tive pension. From the queen they
served so faithfully and well they re-
ceive an annuity and a lodging in that
vast palace, Windsor castle. Inc or
der is, indeed, a pendant to that better
known home for the veterans of the
rank and file, and Chelsea hospital.
Its history is peculiarly interesting,
When that gallant warrior, King
Edward LII, founded the order of the
Garter, he ordained that each of the
26 companions should be allowed to
present AN "almsknight" to the pro-
vision made for them by the king. Ac-
cording to the original grant these
veterans We're 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 genteelly as became mil
itary condition" That they might live
'genteelly' they were given a lump
sum of 40 shillings year, and u
pence each day they attended the royal
chapel-a small pension, it seems to
us, but it must be remembered that
money has vastly decreased in puT-
chasing 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 monarch of the insubordi-
nation shown by the stout old war
riors to the rules that had been made
for their government The aims
knights replied, but in cunning they
were no match for their adversarieS;
deeds, not words" might have been
their motto. In the end they were
shut off from the royal bounty, and, as
an old chronicler of the times re-
marks, "how they next subsisted doth
not fully appear" Bluff King Hal,
however, took pity on the poor old
men that yet remained in the land of
the living and set apart certain lands
for their maintenance. Queen Bess
added to their lodgings, but issued a
series of strict regulations as to their
behavior. which we'll became the
maiden queen, however distasteful
they were to the knights them
selves. Their old enemies, the canons
of st. Georges chapel, were informed
that they we're to consider themselves
responsible for their behavior, and
severe penalties awaited "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, bach
elors and widowers being alone eligi-
BILE.
Until the reign of William " their
uniform was more ornamental than
comfortable. Indeed, during hot
weather it must have been well-nigh
intolerable. consisting as it did of q
flowing red mantle deeked with a
''sutcheon of ST George" upon the
shoulder. Since the reform instituted
by that king. however, it has consist
ed of a red swallow-tail coat, dark
blue trousers, cooked hat with red and
white plume, crimson silk sash and a
leather belt for a sword. OF course, 4
is only on full dress occasions that the
veterans thus gayly bedeck them
selves. Remarkably well they Their
look. with their kind old faces beam
ing above the rows of medals thai
proclaim their past achievements
They still mourn the discontinuance ot
their famous banquet on ST. Georges
day, but presents of game and the roy.
al preserves doubtless reconcile then
to the loss of their annual feast
Culver.