(being then in _Holland_) a Commission of Legation was prepared to be
sent thither, with the _Garter_ and _George_, by Sir _John Burrough_,
Kt. to perform the Investiture with them; but Sir _John_ dying,
prevented the Ceremony. Some time after the Prince had been in
_England_, the then Sovereign thought fit to lay his Commands on Sir
_James Palmer_, Chancellor of the Order, to attend his Highness, to
declare the Reason why the said Commission was not sent and executed,
as was designed, as well as to deliver him the Commission it self; to
the intent (being prevented of receiving his Installation at _Windsor_,
because that Castle continued in the Possession of the Rebels) it might
remain with him as a Memorial of his Sovereign’s Princely Favour, and
Respect to his Quality and Merits, and for a farther Evidence of his
being admitted into this most Noble Order, since there was no other
Memorial thereof, but the Minutes of his Election, and this Commission.
And accordingly on _Monday_, the 14th of _January_, 1644. the
Chancellor, accompanied with Dr. _Christopher Wren_, Register, and Sir
_Edward Walker_, newly made Garter, attended the Prince at his Lodgings
in _Oxford_; who, having notice of their Design, receiv’d them with all
obliging Civility; and the Chancellor, in an eloquent Speech, made
known to his Highness his Sovereign’s Commands, and the Intent of his
coming; which was no sooner finished, but Sir _James Palmer_ presented
his Petition to the Prince, who gave his Majesty many humble Thanks for
this gracious Message; and acknowledged his Majesty’s Favours beyond
his Desert; but promised he would study to be more worthy by his
Actions, than in return of Words; with many Thanks to the Chancellor,
and other Officers of the Order, for their Trouble: Whereupon they took
their Leave, and the Chancellor went immediately to his Majesty, and
gave him a Narrative of what they had done.
§ V. It was an ancient Custom, and part of the Ceremony belonging to
the Investiture with the Garter, to give him an Oath, whether he was a
Stranger or a Subject-Knight, which we find styled, _The Oath in such
Cases accustomed to be taken_; and which was to this effect; _That the
Knight should well and faithfully keep and observe, so far as God
should enable him, all that was contained in the Statutes of the
Order_: But this of late hath been disused, and not imposed, unless
upon foreign Princes.
It is observable, that _Anno_ 4 _Hen._ VI. a particular Commission was
issued, to the Earls of _Warwick_, _Salisbury_, and _Suffolk_, with
Power, to any Two, or One of them, to receive this Oath from Sir _John
Falstoff_, upon his Investiture; which was besides the Oath his Proctor
was afterwards to take at the Installation, which Sir _John_ empowered
him to do on his behalf; which was, _Such Oath as should be required at
the time of Installation_.
Altho’ we have fully treated of the Ceremony and Manner of investing a
Knight elect, with the _Garter_ and _George_, we shall subjoin Two or
Three considerable Instances, as most proper to this Place.
When _Philip_, Prince of _Spain_, _Anno_ 1 _Mariæ_, had these Ensigns
of the Order sent him, the Sovereign joyn’d Garter King of Arms, with
the Earl of _Arundel_, to perform the Investiture; who, upon notice of
his arrival on the Coast of _England_, set forward on their Journey to
_Southampton_; where, on _Friday_ the 20th of _July_, they took Water,
and meeting the Prince before he landed, entered his Barge, and gave
him notice of his Election in a short Speech; which being ended,
_Garter_ having the Garter in his Hand, kissed it, and so presented it
to the Earl, who forthwith fasten’d it about the Prince’s Leg; and
after _Garter_ had presented the Earl with the _George_, hanging at a
Chain of Gold, he put it likewise about the Prince’s Neck. The Ceremony
of Investiture being thus performed, the Prince came on shore at
_Southampton_; and on the uppermost Stair were ready attending his
landing, the Marquis of _Winchester_, Lord High Treasurer of _England_,
with divers other Lords: The Prince gave the Lord _Williams_ his White
Staff, and made him Lord Chamberlain of his Houshould; and Sir _Anthony
Brown_, Master of his Horse, presented him, from the Queen, a Horse
with a Foot-cloth of Crimson Velvet, richly embroider’d with Gold and
Pearls, having the Bridle and all other Furniture suitable, whereon he
rode to the Cathedral, and after Prayers to the Lodging prepared for
him.
Concerning the _Garter_’s Investiture of the Earl of _Warwick_, at
_Newhaven_ in _France_, the first of _May_, _Anno_ 5 _Eliz._ is as
follows: The _Garter_ repairing first to the Earl’s Lodgings, put on
his Mantle in the next Chamber to the Earl’s, and proceeded into the
Earl’s Chamber; where, having made Three Reverences, he buckled the
Garter about his left Leg, and after put on the _George_ and the
Ribband about his Neck; reading to the Earl the Words of the
Signification, appointed to be pronounced at the Investiture; which
being concluded, _Garter_ retir’d into the Room where he had put on his
Mantle, and there disrobed himself, and so the Ceremony ended.
It was the Custom about these Times, for the Nobility, Allies, or
Friends, to the elect Knight, to send him by the _Garter_, several
_Garters_ and _Georges_, as Marks of Congratulation for the Honour he
was to receive, which the _Garter_ delivered to him when the
Investiture was finished, and he had put off his Robe, with the
particular Services and Respects of those Friends who had bestow’d
them. For thus was it with the Earl of _Warwick_, at _Newhaven_, and
the Lord _Scroop_ at _Carlisle_, _Anno_ 26 _Eliz._ At the _Garter_’s
return to Court, he is obliged to deliver an Account to the Sovereign,
how he hath discharged his Employment; and by special Directions from
the elect Knight, who presents the highest Respects he can express, as
well to the Sovereign as to the rest of the Knights-Companions, for
honouring him with a Reception into so illustrious a Body.
We shall close this Section with a brief Account of the Investiture of
the Duke of _Gloucester_, on _Easter-day_ in the Morning, being the
14th of _April_, 1653. In reference to which Ceremony there was
provided:
1. A _Garter_ with the Motto, to be tyed about his left Leg.
2. A _George_ in a Ribband, to be put about his Neck.
3. An embroider’d _Cross_ of St. _George_, with a _Garter_ and _Star_,
to be sew’d on the left Shoulder of the Duke’s Cloak.
4. A Velvet Cushion, whereon the _Ensigns_ and _Ornaments_ of the Order
were to be laid.
For the Honour of the Order, and his said Highness, Sir _Edward
Walker_, Garter, humbly proposed, That he might be assisted by Two or
Four Knights in performing his Duty.
That his Highness the Duke might receive the Ensigns of the Order, in
the Presence-Chamber of the Princess Royal, or in his own, accompanied
with the Queen of _Bohemia_, her Royal Highness, and some other Persons
of Honour and Quality.
That his Highness having placed himself under the State, _Garter_
should take the Cushion upon his Arms, on which were to be laid all the
particular Ornaments just now mentioned; being assisted with the
Knights, and a Passage left for him to make his Three Obeysances, he
should proceed up towards the Duke, and lay the Cushion with the
Ornaments upon a Stool set near his Highness for that purpose.
That he should signifie to his Higness, in few Words, the Cause of his
coming, and then deliver into his Hands the Sovereign’s Letter.
That his Highness having receiv’d it, should break it open, and deliver
it back to the _Garter_ to be read; which he having done, should return
it to his Highness.
That, after this, he should proceed to the Investiture of his Highness
with the Ensigns of the Order.
Which being done, he briefly represented unto his Highness, in a
Speech, somewhat of the Quality and Splendor of the Order.
And, lastly, to kiss his Highness Hand, and so depart. And according to
those Proposals, and in the same Order, were all Things performed.
§ 6. The Sovereign of this most Noble Order defrays the Charges of the
_Garter_, whensoever, and as often as he is dispatch’d to any elect
Knight-Subject, either with Letters to signifie his Election, or to
invest him with the _Garter_ and _George_; and this is commonly
proportioned according to the length or the shortness of the Journey.
The Allowance for the Journey which Sir _Gilbert Dithick_, Garter, made
into the Counties of _Lincoln_ and _Cumberland_, first to the Earl of
_Rutland_, and then to the Lord _Scroop_, when Queen _Elizabeth_ was
Sovereign, appears to have been 20 _l._
Besides the Sovereign’s Allowance to the _Garter_, he receives
honourable Gratuities and Rewards from the elect Knight himself, after
he has performed the Investiture; and these have usually been
proportioned, according to the estimate of the Honour he receives, and
the particular affection he has for the Garter, and the service done by
him. Among whom, _Anno_ 17 _Henry_ VIII. we find the Earl of _Arundel_
bestow’d on _Thomas Wriothesley_, Garter, ten Pounds in Angelots, being
then at his Mannor of _Dawnley_; and _Ralph_ Earl of _Westmoreland_,
elected at the same Time with the aforesaid Earl, being at _Mile-end_,
gave to him six Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence. The Earl of
_Northumberland_, in the 23 of _Henry_ VIII. bestow’d on the Garter,
for the verbal certifying him of his Election, four Pounds, though he
went no farther than the Chapter-House Door.
Lastly, _Anno_ 26 _Elizabeth_, the Earl of _Rutland_ honourably
received the Garter at _Newark_, and the Lord _Scroop_ gave him thirty
Pounds in Gold, a Velvet Cloak, and a _Gallaway Nag_, and to _William
Dethick_, _York Herald_, who accompanied Garter to _Carlisle_, ten
Pounds.
But since these Times, the Knights elect have enlarged their gratuities
to Garter, for his Service upon this Occasion.
CAP. XI.
_Of Preparations for the Personal Installation of a Knight._
§ 1. THE Inauguration of a Knight of this most Noble Order, consists in
a Conjunction of many Ceremonies, and contains the most solemn part of
those, which compleateth all the rest; and till this great Solemnity be
regularly and duly performed, the Person elected hath not the Honour to
be enrolled among the Number of Founders, but barely passes for an
elect Knight, and no other: For the Statute expresly says, That in Case
a Knight elect die before his Installation, He shall not be named one
of the Founders; and the reason assigned for it is, because he hath not
had the full Possession of his Estate, and in this Point do the other
Bodies of the Statutes agree. But when the Ceremonies of Installation
are compleatly finished, without all doubt the Knight is amply vested,
in Possession of all Honours and Privileges appertaining to the Founder
of this most Noble Order. But to spur up each elect Knight, who is
either a Subject to his Sovereign, or resides within the Realm, (and
consequently is better able to provide for Installment, than one
remaining in Foreign Parts,) for the completion of his Honour, or else
to wave the Act of Election, he has the space of one Year allowed him
by the Statutes for Installation, otherwise his Election is ordained to
be absolutely null and void: Nor can there be any Motive sufficient to
retard the Sovereign from proceeding to a new Election, unless the
elect Knight send or produce an Extenuation or Excuse for such his
delay, fit to be excepted by the Sovereign or his Deputy, and the whole
of that resplendent Body, or that the Sovereign himself think fit to
defer the Ceremony of Installation for some time longer. For which
reason, when certain Articles, tending to the Honour of the Order, had
been prepared by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant and ten Knights-Companions,
in a Chapter held the 24th of _April_, _Anno_ 21 _Jacobus_ I. ratified
by the Sovereign, and ordered to be observed; one of them was for
accelerating the Installation, after the Knight had been elected, yet
qualified with this Exception: _Unless for some special Cause the
Sovereign shou’d think fit to defer the same until the Eve or Day of
St._ George _next following, the Time of Election_.
§ 2. The Feast of Installation hath not been hitherto assigned to any
certain Period of Time, but has always depended upon the Will and
Pleasure of the Sovereign, to affix a convenient Day, which hath been
granted upon the request of the Knights elect, or some other of the
Knights-Companions, whose Favour and Esteem with the Sovereign was best
able to prevail; such a one do we find _Anno_ 35 _Elizabeth_; who, on
the behalf of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, obtained the
19th of _June_ the said Year, to be appointed for the Installation. It
sometimes happens, that though the Day of Installation be prefixed, yet
something extraordinary intervening, it hath been prorogued to a
farther and more convenient Season for the Sovereign’s Affairs. And the
most remarkable Instance is set down, _Anno_ 3 and 4 _Philip_ and
_Mary_, when the Earl of _Sussex_, the Lord _Grey_, and Sir _Robert
Rochester_, Knights elect, had their Installation, together with the
Feast of St. _George_, prorogued to the 10th of _May_ in the Year
aforesaid. But many urgent Affairs, relating both to the King and the
Queen, fell out about that time; not only the Grand Feast, but the
Solemnity of their Installation were prorogued to the 5th of
_December_, and stood so by several Prorogations, to the 20th of
_February_ next ensuing; yet it was ordered that the Earl of _Sussex_
shou’d be immediately installed, which was performed on the 8th of
_January_, and the Lord _Grey_ the 20th of _April_ following; but Sir
_Robert Rochester_ never obtained that Honour.
Though the time of Installation be arbitrary and uncertain, yet hath
the Place, from the first Institution of the Order, been appointed only
to the Sovereign’s Free Chapel of St. _George_, within whose Choice are
erected the Sovereigns and Knights-Companions Stalls, and under its
sacred Roof their Banners and Atchievements are affixed, as Monuments
of their high Merit, and so great Honour. For though the Celebration of
the Grand Feast of St. _George_, happened to be removed from _Windsor_,
by a Decree of the 1 _Elizabeth_; yet the Feast of the Installation was
excepted, and ordered to be Solemniz’d in that Place: For _Anno_ 21
_Jac._ I. it was provided among the Orders, _That after an Election
made of a Knight of the Order, his Installation shou’d be performed at_
Windsor, _according to the ancient Customs and Statutes of the Order_.
When the Sovereign hath been pleased to prefix a certain Day for this
Solemnity of Installation, there are several things to be obtained,
previous to it. (1.) A Commission to admit and instal the elect Knight.
(2.) Letters to each of the Commissioners, and the elect Knight, to
repair to _Windsor_. (3.) Warrants for the Sovereign’s Livery. (4.) A
Bill or Warrant for the removal of Stalls and Atchievements, all signed
by the Chancellor of the Order, with the Sign Manual of the Sovereign:
And lastly, the Knights own Preparations; among which his Atchievements
are to be ready to be hung up, as soon as he is installed.
§ 3. No elect Knight can be installed, unless by the Sovereign of the
Order himself, or by his Commission drawn up in Writing, and passed
under the Great-Seal of the Order, directed either to his Lieutenant or
Knights-Commissioners. There is but one Instance to be found, where the
Sovereign hath been pleased to Honour a Knight by installing of him
himself; and that was _Philip_ of _Castile_ and _Leon_, _Anno_ 22
_Henry_ VII. yet it is feasible enough that _Sigismond_ the Emperor,
and some other Foreign Princes of Rank and Eminence, might be installed
by other Sovereigns, though there’s no Memorial left upon Record. _In
reference to Installation by Commission, it was ordained by the
Statutes of Institution; That in Case the Sovereign shou’d be absent
out of the Kingdom, at the Time of Installation of any of the Knights,
so as he could not personally perform those things his Office obliged
him to, it shou’d be Lawful for him to Constitute, as his Deputy in
this Affair, whomsoever of the Society he shou’d think fit; and he to
have Power and Authority, in the Sovereign’s Name, to Perform and
Execute these Things, which it wou’d have been in his own part to have
done, had he been Present._ By Virtue of this Article, the Sovereign’s
Deputy, or Lieutenant, performed the Ceremony before the Reign of King
_Henry_ VIII. which was usually done at the Feast of St. _George_; but
in the Commission given out for Installation, formerly the Lieutenant
was first mentioned, and the Knights-Companions appointed for his
Assistance at the said Feast, were joined with him in the Commission
for Installation; but of late, the Commission hath passed to the
Lieutenant alone. King _Henry_ VIII. by his Statutes, enlarged the
Power of his Deputy, and they run to two or more of the
Knights-Companions, that shou’d Exercise the same by the Sovereign’s
Letters of Commission. And by the Privilege of this Article, whensoever
after, the Sovereign’s did Constitute an Installation, otherwise than
at the Feast of St. _George_, they then delegated their Authority to
such of the Knights-Companions as were judged most proper to perform
this Ceremony. The Year after the enacting this Statute, there’s a
Commission recorded to be issued out to the Marquiss of _Dorset_, and
the Earls of _Devonshire_ and _Kent_, to Instal the Lords _Ferrers_ of
_Chartley_, the substance of which is in our Annals. The particular
Powers these Commissions have granted to them, are to accept and admit
the Knight into the Order, to receive the Oath, and to Instal him; And
their general Power is, to effect and accomplish every Point which
belongs to his due Admittance, and plenary Instalment.
§ 4. Besides, the Commission impowering the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, or
Knights-Commissioners, therein nominated to the Installation of an
elect Knight, it hath been a matter frequent with the Sovereign, to
Issue out Letters of Summons under his privy Signet, both to the
Commissioners for Installation, and elect Knights, under the signet of
the Order; those to the Commissioners are directed severally to each,
nominated in the Commission; who are to give them notice of the
Instalment, and to require their repair to _Windsor_, against the Day
assigned, that they may proceed to their Installation. Those directed
to the elect Knights, pass likewise under the Sovereign’s Sign Manual,
and Signet of the Order; and if there be two or more Knights appointed
to be Installed on the same Day, the like Letter is sent to each of
them, the difference being only in the Direction.
Besides these Letters sent from the Sovereign, the Chancellor (if the
Sovereign be absent,) in his circular Letter to the Knights-Companions,
gives them an intimation of the designed Installation, upon the Feast
of St. _George_. And if the Feast be held either by the Sovereign or
his Lieutenant, he dispatcheth a Letter to the Prelate of the Order,
intimating the Sovereign’s Commands for his attendance at the Day
appointed; and if it be performed by Commissioners, he issues his
Letters to the three inferior Officers of the Order, purporting the
same Command; the conveyance of which appertains to the Garter, and are
left to his Care, and Trust, by the Constitutions relating to the
Order, whose allowances and rewards upon these and such like Services,
in their due Place, shall be considered.
§ 5. The third matter to be obtained by the Chancellor of the Order, is
the Sovereign’s Warrant, directed for the Master of the Great Wardrobe,
for the Time being, to deliver so much Velvet for the Livery of the
Order, as will make the Knight elect a Surcoat and Hood, and as much
Sarcenet or Taffety as will serve to line them: Of such a Warrant there
is an ancient Precedent in Latin, entered in the Black Book of the
Order; where it runs, _Nos ideo volumus & præcipimus, ut hinc
Tabellioni virgas Octodecem subrubri ostri de more tradas, cum tanto
albo serico, quanto vestimentum inde conficiendum infulciri poterit,
pro liverata (quam vocant) sua, &c._ There is likewise inserted another
Precedent in English of the like Nature, for the delivery of these
Materials to Sir _John Wallop_ Kt. elected _Anno_ 38 _Henry_ VIII. and
in the same Form run all the Warrants of Queen _Mary_ and Queen
_Elizabeth_.
Over and above these, there is a Warrant and Scheme prepared for the
Sovereign to Sign, wherein is described the Order of the Stalls of
_Windsor_, as he wou’d have them stand at the ensuing Election; by the
Virtue of which, the Garter is impowered to shift or remove the Plates
and Atchievements of the present Knights-Companions, so that room may
be made for the elect Knight, or Knights, and to fix the new Plates and
Atchievements within, and over the Stalls, in such order as they are
rank’d in the Scheme. As soon as the Sovereign’s Pleasure is known
concerning an Installation, Garter brings to the Chancellor of the
Order, the Names of the present Knights-Companions, placed in the order
they then fit in their Stalls, to the intent he may present them to the
Sovereign; who, upon observing the series wherein they stand already,
he may easier determine how to alter and place both them, and the new
elect Knights. _Anno_ 27 _Elizabeth_, the Office of the Garter being
Vacant, this employ was put upon the Clarenceux, and the Sovereign’s
Warrant for removal and placing of Plates and Atchievements, was
delivered to him, five Days before the Installation of the Earl of
_Rutland_, the Lords _Cobham_ and _Scroop_, who thereupon fixed them
according to the direction given; upon what Ground this alteration and
removal came to be made, and continues still in Vogue, though it was
otherwise at the Institution of the Order, wherein we must have
recourse to the Statutes, and the antique Practice grounded upon them:
Among the Statutes, those of the Institution did ordain, That if any
Earl, Baron, or Knight-Batchellor, shou’d depart this Life, he that
succeeded in his Place, of what Condition or State soever, shou’d
possess the same Stall which his Predecessor held before, without
changing: So that it might happen for an Earl, or a Duke, to succeed a
Knight, and, _vice versa_, it was thus at first constituted by _Edward_
III. _that it might be known who were the first Founders of this most
Noble Order_.
Now how punctually this Article of the Statutes hath been observed,
that none Chosen along time after the Institution of the Order, shou’d
interrupt or change this course, we shall demonstrate, conceiving it
very material to eye those Tables, yet preserved in the Chapter-House
in _Windsor_, wherein are collected the Names of all those
Knights-Companions who succeeded one another in each Stall, until the
beginning of _Henry_ VII’s Reign.
From which Series of Succession, we shall remark how exactly the Law in
this Point hath been observed, even to King _Henry_ VIII’s Reign, when
it received some alteration in this Point. For we find in the Annals
several Knights designed for the Stall of their immediate Predecessors,
by the Honour only of Election, although prevented of Installation by
Death, or other accidents; and the Statutes do not only bind him who
shall chance to attain the Honour of Installation, _but him who shall
succeed or come after the Defunct Knight_. First therefore we shall
Instance in Foreign Kings, among whom we find _Ericus_ King of
_Denmark_, to have received _Installation_ in _Henry_ V’s Reign, not
according to the State and Dignity of a King, but into the Stall of
that Knight-Companion whom he succeeded, _viz._ the Duke of _Bavaria_.
_John_ the first King of _Portugal_, a Knight and Companion, likewise
in _Henry_ V’s Time, was installed in the second Stall on the
Sovereign’s Side, which belong’d to _Henry_ Duke of _Lancaster_, his
first Predecessor: And to this King did succeed, in the same Stall, his
Son _Edward_ King of _Portugal_, _Anno_ 13 _Henry_ VI. to whose
Successor _Humphry_, _Anno_ 34, and _Casimir_ King of _Poland_ were
elected, _Anno_ 28 _Henry_ VI. into the sixth Stall on the Prince’s
side, at that Time vacant by the Death of the Duke _Conimbero_, whose
first Founder was Sir _John Mohun_. _Alphonsus_ King of _Arragon_ and
_Naples_, _Anno_ 38 _Henry_ VI. was elected into the Stall of _Don
Altro Vasques Dalmedea Count d’Averence_, being the seventh on the
Sovereign’s side, Sir _Hugh Courtney_ first possessing it. _Ferdinand_
King of _Naples_ and _Sicily_, elected _Anno_ 3 _Edward_ IV. was
installed on the third on the Prince’s side, _Ralph_ Earl of _Stafford_
having been first installed therein. And lastly, we find _Alphonsus_
King of _Sicily_ and _Jerusalem_, being elected by _Henry_ VII.
received his Installation on the Prince’s side, whose Predecessor was
_Thomas Beauchamp_ Earl of _Warwick_.
In the second Place, if we descend to Foreign Princes, it is
remarkable, that _William_ Duke of _Gueldres_, elected by _Richard_ II.
was installed in that which Sir _John Beauchamp_ possessed, and
_William_ Earl of _Holland_, _Haynalt_, and _Zealand_, in that which
appertained to Sir _John Chandos_. _Philip_ Duke of _Burgundy_, in the
Time of _Henry_ V. into the Stall of Sir _John Clifford_. And _Anno_ 28
_Henry_ VI. _Henry_ Duke of _Brunswick_ was elected into the Duke of
_Suffolk_’s Stall.