Order gave up the Scrutiny to the Sovereign, he declared——_That he had
a purpose to have Chosen Prince_ Rupert, _his Nephew, a Knight of the
Order; but being then a Prisoner with the Emperor, he would not Elect
any at that Time_; whereupon, a vacancy of a _Stall_ was reserved. It
has sometimes been the Sovereign’s Pleasure to defer Elections, without
expressing the Cause, as in the 13 of _Elizabeth_; though she perused
the Scrutiny in Chapter, yet the _Blue Book_ informs us; That the _said
Sovereign made no Election, though two Stalls were vacant_. Thus was it
in the 2, 3, 11, and 12, of K. _James_ I. where no other mention is
made than this; _none were admitted into the Order this Year_.
Sometimes we find these _Prorogations of Elections_ recorded, as solely
done by the Will of the _Sovereign_; and at other Times by the
_Sovereign_, and the approbation of the _Knights-Companions_; to the
first of these we find a Memorial, in the 22 of _Elizabeth_, on the 24
of _April_; that the _Knights-Companions_ had a Message sent to their
Chapter, held before Morning-Prayer; _That it was the Pleasure of the
Sovereign to prorogue the Election to the following Year_. And so it
was, in the 10th of _Charles_ I. though the Nomination was taken by the
Chancellor, and presented to the Sovereign in Chapter, _the Sovereign
did not think fit to make any Election at all_. And for a Testimony of
the second, we meet with this Instance, in the 27th of _Elizabeth_;
_that with the concurrent Approbation and Assent of all the
Knights-Companions then assisting, the Sovereign thought fit to put off
the Election to another Time_. As to the seeming difference of the
_Sovereign’s absolute Authority_, and yet the _Knights-Companions
Approbation_, we have cleared up that Point in the _Act of Election_;
for though it is _his_ unquestionable Authority and Prerogative, to
Prorogue _Elections ad libitum_, yet out of Respect, and Honour to the
_Knights-Companions_, their Approbation hath been sometimes exprest.
§ 18. When any Knight-Companion hath received a Summons, to appear at a
Chapter of Election, and doth wilfully refuse, or withdraw himself, he
was to be mulct a Mark for his Disobedience, which King _Henry_ VIII’s
Statutes inlarged to twenty Shillings, payable to the Dean and College
of _Windsor_, to pray for defunct Souls. And at his next appearance in
Chapter, he was to remain kneeling in the midst of them, before the
Sovereign, or Deputy, till he was restor’d to their Favour: Yet upon a
just Cause signified to the _Sovereign_ some time before, under the
Seal of his Arms, he was excused, if it was found just and feasible; if
not, it was rejected, and he remained Punishable.
And for greater Caution, this Clause was formerly inserted, in the
_Letters of Summons_; where, after the Time and Place for Election was
certified, and command given to observe both, the Letter concludes
thus, _et se estre ny poues nous Signifies soubz, &c._ and if it cannot
be accomplished, that is, if the Knight-Companion could not meet at the
time assigned, to perform what the Statutes oblige, he should then
_signify to the Sovereign, under his Seal, the cause of his Impediment;
so that he might perceive by his Excuse_, whether it was worthy of
Acceptance, or he in Fault or not.
CAP. X.
_The_ Investiture of a Knight-Subject _with the_ Garter and George.
IF the Knight chance to be at _Windsor_, that is newly Elected, or
wheresoever the Chapter is held, after the Sovereign hath signified his
Pleasure in the Election of the Person, the _Garter_ is immediately
dispatched out of the Chapter, to give him the Intelligence; as is
apparent upon the Choice of the Lord _Howard_, and Sir _Henry Marney_,
_Anno_ 2 _Henry_ VIII. who was dispatched from the Chapter, to conduct
them to the _Sovereign’s_ Presence, to be invested with the principal
Ensigns of the Order, the _Garter_ and _George_.
And as _Garter_ hath been accustomed to signify in Person the
_Election_ of a _Knight_, in like manner an Election is _signified_, by
the Letters of the _Sovereign_, when he is pleased (for the greater
Honour of the Person) to weave by verbal Notice: In such Cases, it’s
the _Chancellor’s_ Office to draw up the _Letters_, and they are to
pass, both under the _Sovereign’s Sign Manual_, and Signet of the
Order. Such a particular mark of Distinction and Honour was conferr’d
on our Sovereign of _Blessed Memory_, _King Charles_ II. Sir _John
Burrough Garter_, carrying the Letter.
_Charles Rex_,
“Our most dear and entirely beloved Son, having, to our great Comfort,
seen and considered the ripeness of your Youth, and conceived joyful
and pregnant Hopes of your manly Virtue, in which we are assured you
will increase, to your own Honour, both in Prowess, Wisdom, Justice,
and all Princely Endowments; and that the Emulation of Chevalry will,
in your tender Years, provoke and encourage you, to pursue the Glory of
Heroick Actions, befitting your Royal Birth, and our Care and
Education. We with the Companions of our most Noble Order of the
Garter, assembled in Chapter, holden this present Day, at our Castle of
_Windsor_; have Elected and Chosen you one of the Companions of our
Order. In Signification whereof, we have sent unto you, by our Trusty
and Well-Beloved Servant, Sir _John Burrough_ Knight-Garter, and our
principal King of Arms, these our _Royal Letters_, requiring you to
make your speedy repair unto us, to receive the Ensigns of our most
Noble Order, and to be ready for your Installation, upon the 21st Day
of this present Month. Given under the Signet of our Order, at our
Castle of _Windsor_, the 20th of _May_, in the 14th Year of our Reign,
1638.”
_To our dearly beloved Son Prince_ Charles.
This is the only Instance we have met with, where a Letter was sent to
an Elect Knight, and he at the same time present at Court; but when an
Election is confirmed, and the Person remote from the Court, then the
general Tenure of the Letter is, both to signify his Election, and
Summon him to his Investure, with the Garter and George, as was
performed by the Earl of _Derby,_ and Sir _Edward Strafford_, to King
_Henry_ of _France_.
But where the Sovereign is pleased to mention particular Services, to
recommend the Election of a Knight, the Preamble of the Letter is
worded accordingly; and as this is a Case not very frequent, it will
not be amiss to exemplify it in the Choice of Sir _John Falstoff_,
where the Letter runs thus—_We considering the virtuous Fidelity you
have shown, and the honourable Exploits you have done, in the Service
of our thrice renowned Father, and that in our Service also, you (as
many others) have given Proof of that Honour, and these Deserts,
wherewith God hath endowed you, always suffering, as is the part of a
good Subject, the Pains and Toils of War, for the vindicating and
maintaining of our just Right, Claim, and Title, have Chosen you one of
our Companions of our Order._
When the Letter barely signifies Election, that is, when the
Sovereign does not design a present investure with the Garter and
George, but defers it till he takes Possession of his Stall, the Day
of his Installation is inferred towards the end of the Letter; and
upon his appearance at _Windsor_, so soon as he appears in the
Chapter-House, the Garter is first buckled about his left Leg, then
follows his Investure with the rest of the Ornaments of the Order,
and lastly his Installation. And this was the Case of _Henry_ Earl of
_Northumberland_, _Anno_ 29 _Henry_ VIII. whose Investure of the
Garter was deferr’d till his appearance at _Windsor_, and then the
whole Ceremony was performed at once.
§ 2. If the elect Knight be at hand, where the Chapter is convened, and
the Garter hath been sent to make known to him the Honour, and Conduct
him into the _Chapter-House_, to receive the Garter and George, before
they break up, Intimation being given of his approach, the Sovereign
sends out two of the Knights-Companions to meet him, who, after a
mutual Salute, Conduct him between them, to the Presence of the
Sovereign, Garter going before them. Thus was _Ubrick_ Duke of
_Holstein_, _Anno_ 3 _Jac._ I. introduced into the Chapter, between
Prince _Henry_, and the Earl of _Dorset_, and _Christian_ Duke of
_Brunswick_ _Anno_ 22 _Jac._ I. between _William_ Earl of _Pembrook_
and _Philip_ Earl of _Montgomery_, to receive the Garter and George.
The 6th of _November_, _Anno_ 14 _Charles_ II. _Christian_ Prince of
_Denmark_ being elected at a Chapter held at _White-Hall_, and then
absent, the Garter King was dispatched next Day by the Sovereign, to
inform him, and to desire his Presence the next Day, that he might
receive his Investure; which accordingly was done, being conducted
between the Earls of _Lindsey_ and _Manchester_ into the Chapter,
Garter preceding them, and after three Obeysances, they brought him up
to the Sovereign. Among Knights-Subjects, we find the Lord _Burley_,
and the Lord _Grey_, were conducted to the Sovereign by the Lord
_Clynton_, and the Earl of _Bedford_, _Anno_ 14 _Elizabeth_, _cum
multis aliis_. _Anno_ 4 _Jac._ I. _Robert_ Earl of _Salisbury_
proceeded up to the Sovereign’s Throne, between the Earls of
_Nottingham_ and _Dorset_. In the Reign of King _Charles_ I. the Earl
of _Northampton_ was conducted to receive the Garter in the
_Chapter-House_ at _Windsor_, between the Earls of _Pembrook_ and
_Montgomery_. And when King _Charles_ II. appeared, upon his Letter of
Summons, at the Chapter held in the withdrawing Chamber in _Windsor
Castle_, to receive his Investure, two of the Senior Knights, _viz._
_Philip_ Earl of _Pembrook_ and _Montgomery_, and _Thomas_ Earl of
_Arundel_ and _Surry_, were sent out to Conduct him in, who brought him
between them unto the Sovereign, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
going before.
The Duke of _Monmouth_ being elected at a Chapter held in the
withdrawing Room at _White-Hall_, the 28th of _March_, _Anno_ 15
_Charles_ II. Garter was immediately sent to him in the Sovereign’s
Bed-Chamber, who being met at the Door by the Earls of _Lindsey_ and
_Manchester_, both the Garter and the Black Rod passed to the lower End
of the Room before the Duke and the two Knights-Companions, whence they
proceeded up to the Sovereign with three Reverences. At the Election of
_James_ Duke of _Cambridge_, in the same Room at _White-Hall_,
(_December_ 3. _Anno_ 18 _Charles_ II.) Garter was also sent forth into
the Bed-Chamber, to acquaint him that the Earl of _Manchester_, and the
Duke of _Monmouth_, were appointed by the Sovereign and Chapter to
bring him in thither; that done, the aforesaid Knights-Companions arose
and went to the Duke, whom meeting at the Bed-Chamber Door, they took
their compass about the rest of the Knights-Companions, (then standing)
and brought him between them, from the lower End of the Room, close
before the Sovereign, the Garter and Black Rod proceeding.
§ 3. The Knight elect being thus introduced to the Sovereign, bows with
all Reverence, and formerly a short gratulatory Speech was the vogue,
that set forth his acknowledgment of his Sovereign’s Royal Favour, and
the grateful Respect he bore to the Knights-Companions for his Election.
_Anno_ 28. _Hen._ VIII. we find Sir _Nicholas Crew_, after he had been
conducted into the Chapter-House at _Windsor_, to receive his
Investiture, thus to address himself: giving _infinite Thanks both to
the Sovereign and whole Society, for that they had vouchsafed to
receive him into the Honour of this most illustrious Order, being a
Person in his own Esteem most unworthy thereof_: In the next Place
professed, _That whereas he was preferred in this Choice before many
others, much more deserving than himself, it was not to be attributed
to his Merits, or any Thing by him performed, but meerly to the
Sovereign’s Bounty, and the Favour of the Knights-Companions towards
him_.
The conferring of so singular an Honour, being thus thankfully own’d,
the Ceremony of Investiture begins; the _Garter_ first takes place, as
the most ancient and chiefest _Ensign_, and then the _George_; but the
compleat Investiture is not performed until the Elect Knights are
installed at _Windsor_. Formerly the manner of robing of them was
performed on this wise: First, the Elect Knight set his Foot upon a
Stool, and then one of the Knights-Companions, by the Sovereign’s
appointment, as his Substitute, buckled the enobled Garter about his
left Leg, as may be seen in the _Antiquities of_ Warwickshire, in an
old Draught of the Combats of Sir _John Astley_, who was inrolled in
this illustrious Body, and is so represented. But of later Date, the
Elect Knight kneeled on his right Knee, whilst this Ceremony was
performed, in which space the Words of _Admonition_ and
_Signification_, at this part of the Investiture, were read. The
_Admonition_, upon the buckling of the Garter, in the _English_
Statutes of K. _Hen._ VIII. is set down on this manner:
_SIR,_
_The loving Brethren of the Order of the Garter, have received you
their Brother and Fellow; and in Token of this, they give and present
you this present Garter, which God grant that you receive and wear from
henceforth to his Praise and Glory, and to the Exaltation and Honour of
the said Noble Order, and your self._
Afterwards it was decreed, at a Chapter held at _Windsor_, the 5th of
_August_, _Anno_ 1 _&_ 2 _Phil._ and _Mary_, to this effect: ‘That not
only the same Advertisements, which were wont to be given to Strangers
at their Investitures, should be likewise given to Knights-Subjects,
that for the future should be elected and install’d; and with a farther
Proviso, ‘That among the Knights-Companions there should not be any
difference either in Ceremony or Habit.’
Hereupon the aforesaid Tenure ceased to be used upon the fixing of the
Garter, and one Form remained at the Investiture of Strangers and
Knights-Subjects, which is pronounced by the Chancellor, if the
Sovereign or his Lieutenant be present, otherwise by the Register.
“To the Laud and Honour of Almighty God, his immaculate Mother, and St.
_George_ the holy Martyr, tye or gird your Leg with this noble Garter,
wearing it to the increase of your Honour, and in Token and Remembrance
of this most noble Order; remembring that thereby you being admonished
and encouraged, in all just Battels and Wars, which only you shall take
in Hand, both strongly to fight, valiantly to stand, and honourably to
have Victory.”
But against the Investiture of K. _Charles_ II. the Words of the
Signification being better weighed and considered, were thus methodized:
“To the Honour of God Omnipotent, and in Memorial of the blessed Martyr
St. _George_, tye about thy Leg, for thy Renown, this noble Garter;
wear it as the Symbol of the most illustrious Order, never to be
forgotten or laid aside; that thereby thou may’st be admonished to be
couragious; and having undertaken a just War, into which only thou
shalt be engaged, thou may’st stand Firm, valiantly Fight, and
successfully Conquer.”
The Princely Garter being thus buckled on, and the Words of the
Signification pronounced, the Elect Knight is brought before the
Sovereign, who puts about his Neck the _George_, pendant at a
Sky-colour’d Ribband, at which part of the Ceremony, the Admonition
used at the adorning of an installed Knight with the Collar of the
Order, (only changing the Word Collar for Ribband) is pronounced; but
were alter’d upon the Occasion assign’d before.
“Wear this Ribband about thy Neck, adorn’d with the Image of the
blessed Martyr, and Soldier of Christ, St. _George_; by whose Imitation
provok’d, thou may’st so overpass both prosperous and adverse
Adventures, that having stoutly vanquished thy Enemies, both of Body
and Soul, thou may’st not only receive the Praise of this transient
Combat, but be crown’d with the Palm of eternal Victory.”
Greater Respect is conferr’d upon foreign Princes, who receive their
Election here, than abroad; because the Sovereign most usually performs
the Investiture himself; as was solemniz’d upon _Philip_, King of
_Castile_, when the Sovereign took the Garter from the King at Arms,
and fixed it on his Leg, and Prince _Henry_ fasten’d the Buckle.
Queen _Elizabeth_ her self buckled the Garter about the Leg of _John
Casimier_, Count Palatine of the _Rhine_, and hung about his Neck a
Gold Chain with the _George_ at it. And the like Honour did King
_James_ I. confer upon the Duke of _Holstein_, in the 3d Year of his
Reign.
Sometimes it happens, tho’ very rarely, for the Sovereign, out of his
special Grace and Favour, to condescend to Honour a Knight-Subject this
way; tho’, when Queen _Elizabeth_ was pleased to adorn the Lord
_Burleigh_ with the Garter, the _Annals_ record it to be done as it
were _by the by_. The same Favours she bestow’d, tho’ at different
times, upon _Henry_, Earl of _Sussex_, and the Earl of _Shrewsbury_.
King _James_ I. invested _Henry_, Earl of _Northampton_, with the
principal Ensigns of the Order, as a Person worthy of so great an
Honour: And the _Blessed Martyr_ placed both the _Garter_ and the
_George_, with his own Hands, upon King _Charles_ II.
Sometimes the Sovereign hath but performed part of the Investiture, and
laid his Commands on the senior Knight to do the rest. Thus, _Anno_ 13
_Henry_ VIII. the Sovereign reached out the Garter to the Marquis of
_Dorset_, and commanded him to buckle it about the Leg of the Earl of
_Devonshire_; which, whilst he was about, the Duke of _Norfolk_ gave
him his Assistance, and the Sovereign put on the Gold Chain. At the
Investiture of _Christian_, Duke of _Brunswick_, _Anno_ 22 _Jac._ I.
the Sovereign put about his Neck the Blue Ribband, whereat hung the
Effigies of St. _George_; and the Earls, who introduc’d him to the
Sovereign’s Presence, buckled on the Garter. Thus did the Sovereign to
_William_, Earl of _Northampton_, _Anno_ 4 _Car._ I. and the Earl of
_Pembroke_ fasten’d the Garter about his left Leg.
This Order of Investiture began to be inverted _Anno_ 22 _Jac._ I. the
_George_ and the Ribband being first put on, and the Garter last. And
so was it performed when the Prince of _Denmark_, Dukes of _Monmouth_,
_Cambridge_, and _Albemarle_, received their Investiture in the Reign
of King _Charles_ II. The Garter, as it was the first, so is the
principal and most worthy Ensign of the Order; and, in the Practice of
all former Times, had always the Preference given to it. The
Investiture with these two Ensigns, hath generally been performed by
the two senior Knights, at the Command of the Sovereign; but always in
his Presence, the Chapter sitting; but if absent, then by his
Lieutenant. For, in 31 _Eliz._ the Lord _Buckhurst_ being elected at
_Whitehall_, and coming to Court wholly ignorant of the Affair, and
after the Sovereign was risen, (yet leaving the Chapter sitting) her
Lieutenant invested him both with the _Garter_ and _George_. After the
Solemnity is compleated, the elect Knight renders most humble Thanks to
the Sovereign, and with due Respects salutes the Knights-Companions,
who re-salute the elect Knight, and joyfully receive him into their
Society. If two or more elect Knights receive this Investiture at one
time, as soon as the Senior is invested, and his humble Thanks
presented, he moves downwards towards the Chapter-House Door, and there
stands till the next Junior Knight is invested; and if there be more,
so on until the Chapter break up.
§ 4. Where a Knight-Subject, at the time of his Election, is far
distant from Court, or beyond Sea, and the Sovereign determines to send
him the Two principal Ensigns of the Order, the Charge of this Employ
does of right belong to the _Garter_. For the Proof of which there are
divers Precedents.
The Letters heretofore sent from the Sovereign, along with the Ensigns
of the Order, to the elect Knights, have, for the most part, been drawn
after the Form of those that certify the Election, and differs only in
the last Clause, which requires the elect Knight to repair to the
Sovereign: The difference lay not in the Body, but in the Direction of
the Letter, which was always worded according to the Quality of the
Person to whom it was sent. As to a Knight-Batchelor, the Direction
was, _To our trusty and well-beloved_; and to an Earl, _Right trusty,
and right well-beloved Cousin_; to a Duke, _Right trusty, and right
entirely beloved Cousin_, &c.
The Forms of those Letters, sent upon like Occasions to
Knights-Subjects, when King _Charles_ II. was beyond Sea, were penn’d
after another Model, and contained other additional particular Clauses;
as, 1. Power to wear the _Star_ of Silver about St. _George_’s Cross;
2. The Great Collar of the Order; and, 3. To style themselves _Knights,
and Companions of the Order of the Garter_, in as ample a Manner, as if
they had been installed at _Windsor_; with an Assurance of receiving
the whole Habit there, when the Sovereign was restored to the
Possession thereof.
And it appears from some of these Letters, that by reason Sir _Edward
Walker_, Garter, was otherwise employ’d in the Service of the
Sovereign, when they were transmitted, the Sovereign pitch’d upon other
Persons, to carry both the Letters and Ensigns of the Order, and yet
continued the Garter in the Rights of his Office. However, Sir _Edward_
esteeming this devolving his Employment on others, as an Invasion on
the Rights of his Office; and having a just regard for the Interest of
his Successors, no less than his own, humbly petitioned King _Charles_
II. for Redress, and obtained his gracious Reference thereupon, to
several _Knights_ of the Order, to examine the Matter, and to give in
their Report, what they found, and what they thought proper to be
effected therein; and upon whose Report the Sovereign did him full
Right by his gracious _Declaration_. For the Dukes of _Buckingham_ and
_Hamilton_, and the Marquis of _Newcastle_, to whom this Affair was
referr’d, gave in their Report to the _King_ at _Breda_, _May_ 27. 1650.
_We_, George, _Duke of_ Buckingham, William, _Duke of_ Hamilton, _and_
William, _Marquis of_ Newcastle, _Knights of the most noble Order of
the Garter, having read and consider’d the within written Petition, do
find the Allegations therein mentioned to agree with the Statutes and
ancient Practices of the said Order; and that Garter King of Arms, and
his Deputies, ought to bear all Letters-Patents appertaining to the
Brethren of the said Order, and all Elections to the Knights elect. And
we do therefore make this Report to your Majesty, to the end you may be
pleased to mantain the Petitioner in his just Rights; and that no
Example lately made may be brought in Precedent against him, or his
Successors in the said Office._
_G._ Buckingham.
Hamilton.
_W._ Newcastle.
It was formerly the Practice, to send the Book of Statutes, under the
common Seal of the Order, together with the Letters signifying an
Election, and the Ensigns of the Order, no less to a Knight Subject
than to a Stranger, that he might peruse and advise thereupon, whether
he would accept of the Election, or not; for so it appears, _Anno_ 4
_Hen._ VI. by the Letters sent to Sir _John Falstoff_.