A Chronicle of the Kings of England from the Time of the Roman Government, Royal biography 7 · Part 6
Of his Lawes and Ordinances.
HE instituted the Order of the Garter, upon what cause is not certaine; the common opinion is, that a Garter of his owne queene, or (as some say) of the Lady Ioane Countesse of Salisbury, slipping off in a Dance, King Edward stooped and tooke it up; whereat some of his Lords that were present, smiling, as at an amorous action; he seriously said, it should not be long ere Soveraigne honour should be done to that Garter; whereupon he afterward added the French Morto, Honi soit qui maly pense; therein checking his Lords sinister suspition. Some conjecture that he instituted the Order of the Garter, for that in a battell wherein he was victorious, he had given the word Garter, for the word or signe: and some againe are of opinion, that the institution of this Order is more ancient, and begunne by King Richard the first, but that this King Edward adorned it, and brought it into splendour. The number of the knights of this Order is twenty sixe, whereof the King himselfe is alwayes one, and president; and their Feast yearely celebrated at Windsor on Saint Georges day, the Tutelar Saint of that Order. The lawes of the Order are many, whereof there is a booke of purpose. In the five and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne, he was earnestly Petitioned by a Parliament then holen, that the great Charter of Liberties, and the Charter of Forests might be duly observed; and that the great Officers of the kingdome should (as in former times) be elected by Parliament: to which Petition, though the King at first stood stiffe upon his owne Election and Prerogative; yet at last (in regard to have his present turne served, (as himselfe after confessed) he yeelded, that such Officers should receive an Oath in Parliament, to doe justice to all men in their Offices: and thereupon a Statute was made and confirmed with the Kings Seale, both for that and many other Grants of his to his Subjects… which notwithstanding were for the most part shortly after revoked.
This King also causeth all Pleas, … were before in Fren…h, to be made in English, that the Subject might understand the course of the Law. Also in his time an Act was passed for Purveyours, that nothing should be taken up but for ready money, upon strict punishment. In the next Parli…ment holden the seven and thirtieth yeare of his Raigne, certaine S…mp…uary Lawes were ordained, both for apparell and diet; appointing every degree of men, the stuffe and habits they should weare, prohibiting the wea…ing of gold and silver, silkes and rich furres to all, bu… eminent persons. The lab…rer and husbandman … …ppointed but one … day… and what meates he should …. Also in his time, at the instance of the Lo…oners … an Act was made that no common Whore should wea…e any Hood, except striped with divers colours; nor Furres, but Garments reversed the wrong side outward. This King also was the first that created Dukes… of whom Henry of B…llingbr…oke, … of Lancaster, created Duke of Lancaster, in the seven and twentieth yeare of his Raigne… was the first. But afterward he erected Cornwall also into a Dutchy, and conferred it upon the Prince: after which time, the Kings eldest sonne used alwayes to be Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earle of Chester. This King altered monies, and abated them in weight, & yet made them to passe according to the former value. Before his time, there were no other peeces but Nobles and halfe Nobles, with the small peeces of Silver, called Sterlings; but …w Groats of foure pence, and halfe Groats of two pence, equivalent to the Sterling money, are coyned; which inhaunsed the prises of things, that rise or f…ll, according to the plenty or scarcity of coyne; which made Servants and Labourers to r…ise their wages accordingly. Whereupon a Statute was made in the Parliament now held at Westminster, to reduce the same to the former rate. Also an Act was made in this Kings time, that all Weares, Mils, and other stoppages of Rivers, hindering the passage of Boats, Lighters, and other Vessels, should be removed; which though it were most commodious to the kingdome, yet it tooke little effect, by reason of bribing and corrupting Lords and great men, who regarded more their owne private, then the publike benefit. In a Parliament holden the tenth yeare of his Raigne, it was enacted that no Wooll growing within the Realme should be transported, but that it should be made in Cloath in England. Peter-pence are forbidden by the King, to be paid any more to Rome. The c…stome of washing poore mens feete on Maundy-Thursday, thought to have beene first brought in by this King.