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By these statutes it was declared, that the Thirteen Knights should be elected of gentlemen brought to ne-
cessity through adverse fortune, and such as had spent their time in the service of their prince; that one of the
thirteen should be chosen governor over the rest; that they were to be men unmarried, and none of them after-
wards permitted to marry, on pain of losing their places; but these rules, as well as some others, are not strictly
adhered to.
The present number of alms-knights is thirteen of the Royal Foundation, and five of the Foundation of Sir
Peter Le Maire, in the reign of James I. The former were endowed by Henry VIII with lands of the yearly value
of £600 and the latter by Sir Peter Le Maire, with an estate of £230 per annum, and the houses of those on the
Royal Establishment are repaired at the expense of the Crown; but those of Sir Peter Le Maire's Foundation, at
the charge of the Knights themselves, who also pay nine pounds a year land tax.
In addition to the above-mentioned eighteen, Samuel Travers, who died about 1728, by his will and testa-
ment, bearing date the 16
th
of July, 1724; after giving several pecuniary legacies, devised the residue of his real
and personal estates to his executors therein named, upon trust, that they should, out of the rents and profits
thereof, settle an annuity of £60 to be paid to each of Seven Gentlemen, to be added to the Poor Knights of
Windsor, and that a building might be erected or purchased in or near the Castle of Windsor, for an habitation
for the said Seven Gentlemen, who were to be superannuated or disabled Lieutenants of English men of war.
That part of Mr. Travers's will relate to this endowment is as follows:
‘I therefore give, grant, devise, and bequeath, all the rest and residue of my estate, my funeral charges and
legacies being first paid, my manors, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, in the county of Essex, and else-
where, with all debts, arrears, bills, bonds, and other specialities, goods and chattels, with all my estate both
real and personal, whatsoever and wherefore, to my said executors, Walter Cary and Samuel Holditch, and their
heirs, upon special trust and confidence that they shall and will, out of the rents, issues, and profits, of the said
estate, settle an annuity, or yearly sum of £60 to be paid to each and every one of Seven Gentlemen, to be added
to the present Eighteen Poor Knights of Windsor, which said annuity is to be charged upon an estate of £500
per annum, to be purchased and set apart for that purpose, in the County of Essex, by the said executors and
trustees; and I humbly pray His Majesty the said Seven Gentlemen may be incorporated by charter, with a
clause to enable them to purchase and hold lands in mortmain, and that a building, the charge thereof to be de-
frayed out of my personal estate, may be erected or purchased in or near the Castle of Windsor, for a habitation
for the said Seven Gentlemen, who are to be superannuated or disabled Lieutenants of English Men of War; but
the repairs to be in the first place paid out of the said estate of £500 per annum, and then £12 per annum to be
paid to the Governor or senior of the Seven, and the remainder to be equally divided between him and the other
Six. And I desire those Gentlemen so to be incorporated, may be single men, without children, inclined to live a
virtuous, studious, and devout life, to be removed if they give occasion of scandal; and I would have them live
in a Collegiate manner, in order whereto I would have £26 deducted out of their several allowances, to keep a
constant table. And I do appoint the Chief Governor of Windsor Castle, the Dean of Windsor, and the Provost
of Eton College, visitors; with power for them or any two of them’.
