Election and Installation of Foreign Princes, so no less in relation to
the Princes of the Blood at Home; among whom let us observe, in the
third Place, the ranking the Sons of the Founder of this most Noble
Order; where we see _Lyonel_ Duke of _Clarence_ his third Son, to have
been installed in the sixth Stall on the Sovereign’s side, whose
immediate Predecessor was Sir _John Beauchamp_: In like manner _John_
of _Gaunt_, Duke of _Lancaster_, his fourth Son was installed in the
seventh Stall on the Prince’s side, having Sir _Thomas Holland_ for his
Predecessor and a Founder: His fifth Son _Edmund Langley_, Duke of
_York_, possess’d the Stall Sir _Hugh Courtney_ did before: And the
sixth Son, _Thomas Woodstock_, Duke of _Gloucester_, enjoy’d the Stall
Sir _John Grey_ did before: This Rule was likewise observed strictly in
relation to the Sons of King _Henry_ VII.
If we review the aforesaid Tables, we shall find, that as the
Knights-Companions of higher Dignity assumed the Stalls, (when they
became vacant) though often of the lower sort, so some of the inferior
rank among them have had the Honour to be installed in Seats of a
superior Class, and this by the virtue and due of the Law.
Amongst these Knights-Companions we shall enumerate Sir _Philip la
Vache_, a _Gascon_, who, in the Reign of King _Richard_ II. was first
installed in the Prince’s Stall, (being vacant by the Death of _John_
of _Gaunt_,) though afterwards removed to the third Stall on the
Sovereign’s side. Sir _Nicholas Sarnesfield_, Standard-bearer to the
Founder, who succeeded _Hugh_ Earl of _Stafford_, and after him Sir
_William Arundel_, immediate Successor to Sir _Nicholas_, were both
installed in the second Stall on the Sovereign’s side: As likewise Sir
_John Robsart_, Sir _Gilbert Talbot_, and Sir _John Grey_, _&c._ were
installed in the second or third Stalls on the Sovereign’s side.
These Instances already asserted, are sufficient to manifest the Usage
and Practice, how the Knights-Companions have succeeded in the Stalls
of their immediate Predecessors, down to the Reign of _Henry_ VIII. and
was consonant and agreeable to the ancient Law of the Order.
But we are to observe, that tho’ each Knight was, by the
before-mentioned Article, constituted to succeed his immediate
Predecessor, in the Stall void by his Death, yet there’s an exception
as to that of the Prince of _Wales_. This Stall is the first on the
left Hand, at the entrance into the Choir of St. _George_’s _Chappel_
at _Windsor_, and wherein _Edward_ the Black Prince was installed; from
this Stall does the whole range of Stalls on the same side take their
Denomination, and to which the Prince of _Wales_, as soon as he is
elected into the Order, hath a due Title. Though this Stall _de Jure_
appertains to that Prince, yet heretofore, when the Sovereign had no
Heir, then was it for the present disposed to some other Knight,
otherwise a defect in the full Number of Knights-Companions would have
ensued.
The first that obtained that Honour, (besides the Prince of _Wales_,)
was _John_ of _Gaunt_, Duke of _Lancaster_, decreed him by K. _Richard_
II. who never had Issue, and removed from the seventh Stall thither.
But the first Companion that happened to be installed in it, was Sir
_Philip la Vache_ just mentioned, which was a great Honour done to one
of his Rank: But it fell to him by the then Law of the Order, being
elected into the Room of the said Duke, who died possessed of it. But
King _Henry_ IV. coming to the Crown, and his eldest Son being created
Prince of _Wales_, laid claim to the Stall by Virtue of that Statute,
and had it assigned to him. Nevertheless, that the former Possessor
might suffer as little diminution as might be in the Honour of his
Session, he was removed no lower than to the Stall which King _Henry_
IV. lately held, when he was Earl of _Derby_.
Upon the Death of _Henry_ IV. _Henry_ V. being Sovereign, Sir _John
Dabrichcourt_ supplyed the vacancy, and was installed therein; and he
dying in the fifth Year of that King possess’d thereof, his Plate
continues in that Stall to this Day, and the Emperor _Sigismond_
succeeds Sir _John Dabrichcourt_ in the Prince’s Stall.
Some few Years before King _Henry_ VI. died, he had a Son Born; and
though the Emperor _Frederick_ was elected into the Order, _Anno_ 35
_Henry_ VI. yet was that Stall reserved for the Prince, (though he
never possess’d it) and the Emperor 37 _Henry_ VI. was installed by
Proxy in the Duke of _Somerset_’s Stall, then lately deceased.
In _Edward_ IV’s Reign, the right of this Stall returned again to
_Edward_ his Son, the Prince of _Wales_, and in _Henry_ VII’s, to
Prince _Arthur_, but upon his Death, to _Maximilian_, Son of
_Frederick_ King of the _Romans_, and after Emperor, enjoyed it. So did
the Emperor _Charles_ V. (his Grandchild,) in regard there was no Son
as yet Born to the Sovereign.
But Prince _Edward_ being Born, while the Stall was possessed by
_Charles_ V. it chanc’d likewise that the King of the _Scots_ died,
which caus’d King _Henry_ VIII. to reserve his Stall for that Prince,
although he never had Possession of it, or was elected into the Order,
though we find him once registred in a Scrutiny. King _Henry_ VIII.
dying, Prince _Edward_ became, both by Inheritance and Succession,
Sovereign of this most Noble Order.
From this Time, to the eighth Year of King _James_ I. there was no
Prince of _Wales_, who finding the Prince’s Stall vacant, at his
entrance upon the English Throne, did in a Chapter in the first Year of
his Reign, advance the French King _Henry_ IV. from the second Stall on
the Sovereign’s side, into it; and appointed Prince _Henry_ to be
installed in that King’s void Seat, where he continued till _Anno_ 3
_Jac._ I. that _Christierne_ IV. King of _Denmark_, came to be
installed by Proxy, and the Prince was moved lower to make way for him,
though he was Senior both by Election and Installation. _Anno_ 9 _Jac._
I. upon the Death of the French King, not the Prince, whose Right it
was, since he was created Prince of _Wales_, but the said King of
_Denmark_, was translated to the vacant Stall; and hereupon Prince
_Henry_ was returned again to the second Stall on the Sovereign’s side,
which he enjoyed as long as he survived, and upon his Death, Prince
_Charles_ was removed into it, and there remained all King _James_’s
Reign.
When King _Charles_ II. came to be installed, the Sovereign finding him
prevented from assuming the Prince’s Stall, the King of _Denmark_ being
yet alive, assigned to him the second Stall on the Sovereign’s side,
(wherein himself sat whilst Prince of _Wales_,) and where hitherto his
Plate remains as a fixed Memorial of his Installation therein.
Although it has been made apparent, that the _Knights-Companions_, at
their Election or Installation, succeeded the immediate _defunct
Knight_ in his Stall, yet we may observe, that sometimes after
Installation, as an especial signal of Favour and Indulgence, the
Sovereign hath been pleased, though very rarely, to advance a
_Knight-Companion_ to a higher Stall than that wherein he was first
placed; and though there be no such Permission granted by the Law of
the Order, yet we find _John_ of _Gaunt_, Duke of _Lancaster_, removed
from the seventh Stall on the Prince’s side, to the Prince’s Stall it
self, and it’s said to be done by the Decree of the Sovereign and the
_Knights-Companions_. And no doubt but as this was done by so good
Authority, and so upon no less enducements to the Sovereign, and the
whole Society. We shall here mention a few of these extraordinary
Cases. _William Henalt_, Earl of _Ostervant_, was advanced by King
_Richard_ II. from the eleventh Stall on the Sovereign’s side, to the
Duke of _Britain_’s, being the second on the Prince’s side. _Humphry_
Duke of _Gloucester_, in the Reign of King _Henry_ VI. was removed from
the eleventh Stall on the Sovereign’s side, to the second on the same
side; and _Richard Nevil_, Earl of _Warwick_, by the Consent of the
_Knights-Companions_ in Chapter, _Anno_ 39 _Henry_ VI. was translated
to the Duke of _Buckingham_’s Stall; the Lord _Bonvil_, to the Lord
_Scales_’s Seat; Sir _Thomas Kyriell_, to the Place of the Earl of
_Shrewsbury_; and the Lord _Wenlock_, to the Stall of Viscount
_Beaumont_. But King _Henry_ VIII. thinking it requisite for the
Sovereign of this most Noble Order, to be impowered by a General, how
to Act that at Pleasure, which the former Sovereigns did not, but by
the Power of particular Acts, or Orders, in the Chapter; after he had
confirmed the ancient Law of succeeding in the Stall of the immediate
Predecessor, and not to suffer an alteration without the Sovereign’s
Licence, in the next Article he established this Privilege upon Himself
and Successors: _That if there were any Place or Stall void, the
Sovereign, at his own Pleasure, might Advance and Translate any Knight
of the Society into the void Stall, so that it were higher than that,
wherein he sate before_.
This in Effect did vacat the ancient Law of succeeding in
Stalls, though at the same Time he seem’d to Confirm it to the
_Knights-Subjects_, for afterwards Translations preceeding to
Installations, became so frequent, that the Right an _elect Knight_
had to his Predecessor’s Stall, was seldom enjoyed. However, hereby
he confirmed a Power to gratify such of the _Knights-Companions_,
as he shou’d think fit to advance, without having recourse to a
Chapter; and from hence began the Custom to Issue out Warrants,
under the Sovereign’s _Sign Manual_, for the Translation of
Stalls, and consequently the alteration and removal of such of the
_Knights-Companions Helms_, _Crests_, _Banners_, and _Plates_, who
shou’d receive a higher Exaltation.
Besides the Power established upon the Sovereigns of this most Noble
Order, of translating Stalls, when a vacancy happened, they farther
added this larger Prerogative: That the Sovereign, once in his Life,
might, if it pleased him, make a general Translation of all the Stalls
at his Pleasure, except of Emperors, Kings, Princes, and Dukes, who
shou’d keep their Stalls and Places, unless advanced to a higher Room
and Stall. In which Translation, the long continuance in the Order, and
the Praises, Worthiness, and Merits of the _Knights-Companions_, were
to be considered and remembred.
But this Branch of the Sovereign’s Prerogative, as far as we can find,
was never put in Execution, though the Translation, _Anno_ 27 _Henry_
VIII. border’d something upon it, perhaps lest it might raise too great
Feuds among the _Knights-Subjects_; forasmuch as that of translating
only, (when there happened a vacancy,) begot great Emulations, which at
length introduced a Change, to which we shall pass, after we have taken
notice of a Clause added in the twenty second Article of King _Henry_
VIII’s Statutes, relating to Princes.
It is observable the ancient Law of succeeding in Stalls, in relation
to them, was wholly altered. For King _Henry_ VIII. upon the
Establishment of his Body of Statutes, not only appointed those
Strangers, then present of the Order, to be seated next himself; but
that all Emperors, Kings, and Princes, should hold their Stalls after
their Estates, and the very next unto the Sovereign, tho’
_Knights-Subjects_, upon vacancy, become removable at Pleasure.
For this reason, the Emperor _Maximilian_ II. and after him _Rudolph_
II. his Son, had the Prince’s Stalls assigned them after their Election
into the Order; and several of the Kings of _France_ were placed in the
next below, being the second on the Sovereign’s side. And when there
chanced to be more than one King at a time in the Order, the second
Stall on the Prince’s side was assigned him; for Precedency was
measured now by Dignity and State, and not by the Antiquity of the
Order; As appears from the King of _Bohemia_, _Anno_ 19 _Henry_ VIII.
and the King of _Spain_, _Anno_ 8 _Elizabeth_, Princes Strangers,
according to their regality, and illustrious extraction, had their
Scituation next to Kings, as is manifest from the Dukes of _Savoy_,
_Montmorency_, and _Holstein_, _Anno_ 3 _Elizabeth_, and _Frederick_
Prince _Palatine_, and _Maurice_ Prince of _Orange_, _Anno_ 11 _Jac._ I.
But notwithstanding these Assignments of Stalls to Strangers, they were
nevertheless subject to removal, sometimes to Stalls higher than their
own, upon the Death of a Stranger, who died possessed of a superior
one; and sometimes again to others lower, for the advancing a Knight of
greater Degree and Distinction, where the upper Stalls were already
supplied; else they could not be so ranked, according to their
respective Quality, as the Statutes enjoyn; nor indeed wou’d any
Stranger King have accepted of an Election, unless he was placed in a
distinguishable Stall, suitable to his Dignity. _Ferdinand_, Emperor of
_Germany_, is an instance of Advancement in translation of Stalls; for
after the Death of the Emperor _Charles_ V. his Brother, he was
advanced from the second Stall on the Prince’s side, into the Prince’s
Stall. And _Henry_ IV. of _France_, from the second on the Sovereign’s
side, to the Prince’s Stall, and _Christierne_ IV. King of _Denmark_,
_Anno_ 9 _Jac._ I.
Among Princes Strangers, we find _Emanuel_ Duke of _Savoy_, advanced
from the third on the Prince’s side, to the second on the same side,
_Anno_ 2 _Elizabeth_; and _Frederick_ Prince Palatine, _Anno_ 1
_Charles_ I. was advanced from the second of the Prince’s, to the
second on the side of the Sovereign; likewise _Henry Frederick_, Prince
of _Orange_; was advanced from the third of the Sovereign’s, to the
second of the Prince’s, upon the Death of the King of _Sweden_, _Anno_
10 _Charles_ I.
When the _French_ King _Charles_ IX. was elected, _Anno_ 6 _Elizabeth_,
the superior Stalls were already filled with Strangers, and there was
no Expedient left to give him the Stall the Sovereign design’d him, but
by the removal of some of those _Knights-Strangers_ lower; and upon
this, _Emanuel_ Duke of _Savoy_ was displaced to the third on the
Sovereign’s side.
But the _French_ King was not installed, until the 16th of _January_,
_Anno_ 8 _Elizabeth_, and before that it was concluded to remove the
King of _Spain_ to the Duke of _Savoy_’s Stall, as void before, and to
instal the _French_ King in the King of _Spain_’s, which was
accordingly done; so that upon this occasion, there were four
Strangers, and five _Knights-Subjects_, removed lower, to make way for
the _French_ King.
The 20th of _April_, _Anno_ 2 _Jac._ I. The Duke of _Wirtemberg_ was
installed in the third Stall on the Prince’s side, and the Year
following advanced to a higher.
The 26th of _May_ ensuing, _Ulerick_ Duke _Holst_, had assigned unto
him that Stall from which the Duke of _Wirtemberg_ was advanced: But
against the Installation of _Christierne_, the fourth King of
_Denmark_, the Duke was removed back to his Seat, wherein he was
installed, and the Duke advanced into the vacant one. All which will
appear more conspicuous, from the appointment of Stalls on these
Occasions, which follow.
A remove of _Banners_ and _Plates_, at the Installation of _Frederick_
Duke of _Wirtemberg_, _Anno Jac._ I. _Reg._ 2.
_JAMES Rex._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _The_ French _King_
2. _The Prince_ 2. _Void_
3. _Earl of_ Nottingham 3. _Duke of_ Wirtemberg
4. _Earl of_ Ormond 4. _Earl of_ Dorset
5. _Earl of_ Shrewsbury 5. _Earl of_ Cumberland
6. _Earl of_ Northumber. 6. _Earl of_ Worcester
7. _Lord_ Sheffeild 7. _Earl of_ Suffolk
8. _Earl of_ Devonshire 8. _Sir_ Henry Lea
9. _Earl of_ Sussex 9. _Lord_ Scroop
10. _Earl of_ Derby 10. _Lord_ Burleigh
11. _Duke of_ Lenox 11. _Earl of_ Southampton
12. _Earl of_ Marr 12. _Earl of_ Pembrook
13. _Void_ 13. _Void_
The Order of Stalls at the Feast of St. _George_, _Anno Jac._ I. _Reg._
3.
_JAMES Rex._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _The_ French _King_
2. _The Prince_ 2. _Void_
3. _Duke of_ Wirtemberg 3. _Earl of_ Nottingham
4. _Earl of_ Ormond 4. _Earl of_ Dorset
5. _Earl of_ Shrewsbury 5. _Earl of_ Cumberland
6. _Earl of_ Northumber. 6. _Earl of_ Worcester
7. _Lord_ Sheffeild 7. _Earl of_ Suffolk
8. _Earl of_ Devonshire 8. _Sir_ Henry Lea
9. _Earl of_ Sussex 9. _Lord_ Scroop
10. _Earl of_ Derby 10. _Lord_ Burleigh
11. _Duke of_ Lenox 11. _Earl of_ Southampton
12. _Earl of_ Marr 12. _Earl of_ Pembrook
13. _Void_ 13. _Void_
A remove of _Banners_ and _Plates_, at the Installation of _Christian_
IV. King of _Denmark_, the 8th of _September_, _Anno Jac._ I. _Reg._
3.
_JAMES Rex._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _The_ French _King_
2. _The King of_ Denmark 2. _The Prince_
3. _Duke of_ Holst 3. _Duke of_ Wirtemberg
4. _Earl of_ Nottingham 4. _Earl of_ Ormond
5. _Earl of_ Dorset 5. _Earl of_ Shrewsbury
6. _Earl of_ Cumberland 6. _Earl of_ Northumber.
7. _Earl of_ Worcester 7. _Lord_ Sheffeild
8. _Earl of_ Suffolk 8. _Earl of_ Devonshire
9. _Sir_ Henry Lea 9. _Earl of_ Sussex
10. _Lord_ Scroop 10. _Earl of_ Derby
11. _Earl of_ Exeter 11. _Duke of_ Lenox
12. _Earl of_ Southampton 12. _Earl of_ Marr
13. _Earl of_ Pembrook 13. _Earl of_ Northampton
In this last Scheme, we find Prince _Henry_ removed from the second on
the Sovereign’s, to the second on the Prince’s side, to make room for
the King of _Denmark_. And tho’ the Duke _Chevereux_, _Anno_ 3
_Charles_ I. was advanced from the third Stall on the Sovereign’s side,
to the second on the Prince’s side, that became vacant by the Death of
the Duke of _Brunswick_; yet the Year after, upon the admission of
_Gustavus Adolphus_, King of _Sweden_, he was removed two Stalls lower,
and the Prince Elector Palatine one.
We pass on now from the removal and translation of a _Knight-Subject_,
after he had been installed, to the assignment of his Stall, at the
Time of the Installation it self; where it is worthy of Remark, That on
the 24th of _April_, _Anno_ 6 _Elizabeth_, in lieu of the ancient Law,
which appointed each elect Knight to succeed in the Stall of his
Predecessor, a new one was introduced, being composed, as was
conceived, upon a more just level than the former, and as far as was
possible, to extinguish all danger that might arise from Emulation. The
Words are: _That all Knights, who for the future were admitted into the
Society of the Order, should take and be installed in the lowest Stall,
according to the Course and Seniority of their Election, except only
Stranger Kings and Princes_.
Upon which it chanced, that when a _Knight-Subject_ elect was to be
installed, all the _Knights-Companions_, between him and the vacant
Stall, were removed higher, that the space might be supplied: And if
two or more were to be installed together, they possessed the lowest
Stalls, according to the Seniority of their Election. And though the
manner and order in removals, is become a thing of course, and rendered
familiar and easy; yet it cannot be effected, or the Atchievements,
Banners, or Plates, displaced, unless by a Warrant issued from the
Sovereign, to justify the Garter for such his removals; which will
plainly appear by the insertion of these Schemes.
The Order of Stalls, as they stood at the Feast
of St. _George_, _Anno_ 29 _Eliz._
_ELIZABETH Regina._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _Void_
2. _The_ French _King_ 2. _The King of_ Spain
3. _The King of_ Denmark 3. _Void_
4. _Duke_ John Casimire 4. _Void_
5. _Viscount_ Mountague 5. _Earl of_ Leicester
6. _Earl of_ Shrewsbury 6. _Earl of_ Warwick
7. _Lord_ Hunsdon 7. _Void_
8. _Void_ 8. _Earl of_ Worcester
9. _Earl of_ Huntington 9. _Lord_ Burleigh
10. _Lord Grey_ 10. _Earl of_ Derby
11. _Earl of_ Pembrook 11. _Ld._ How. _of_ Effingh.
12. _Void_ 12. _Lord_ Cobham
13. _Lord_ Scroop 13. _Void_
A Translation of Stalls made against the Feast
of Installation, _Anno_ 30 _Eliz._
_ELIZABETH Regina._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _Void_
2. _The_ French _King_ 2. _The King of_ Spain
3. _The King of_ Denmark 3. _Void_
4. _Duke_ John Casimire 4. _Void_
5. _Viscount_ Mountague 5. _Earl of_ Leicester
6. _Earl of_ Shrewsbury 6. _Earl of_ Warwick
7. _Lord_ Hunsdon 7. _Earl of_ Worcester
8. _Earl of_ Huntington 8. _Lord_ Burleigh
9. _Lord_ Grey 9. _Earl of_ Derby
10. _Earl of_ Pembrook 10. _Ld._ How. _of_ Effingh.
11. _Lord_ Cobham 11. _Lord_ Scroop
12. _Earl of_ Essex 12. _Earl of_ Ormond
13. _Sir_ Christop. Hatton 13. _Void_
The first of these Schemes plainly evince, how the Stalls were ranked
on St. _George_’s-_Eve_, _Anno_ 29 _Elizabeth_, and the other how
modelled against the Installation of the Earls of _Essex_ and _Ormond_,
and that of Sir _Christopher Hatton_, the 23d of _May_, _Anno_ 30
_Elizabeth_, which demonstrates those three elect Knights appear to be
installed in the lowermost Stalls, (as the last mentioned Decree
enjoyns,) and by reason the Earl of _Essex_, and Sir _Christopher
Hatton_, were settled on the Sovereign’s side, the vacancy in the
eighth and twelfth Stalls of the same side became filled up; the Earl
of _Huntington_ being advanced into the eighth, the Lord _Grey_ in the
ninth, and the Earl of _Pembrook_ in the tenth Stall, by the advance of
the Earl of _Worcester_ into the seventh on the Prince’s side, the
vacancy is there supplyed, and the other Knights seated below him, by a
like removal, left the twelfth Stall for the Earl of _Ormond_, and the
thirteenth void.
The same Order was observ’d by King _James_, as appears by another
Scheme of the Stalls settled on the 3d of _July_, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. at
the Election of the Duke of _Lenox_, the Earls of _Northampton_,
_Marr_, and _Pembrook_.
Stalls altered at a Chapter held at _Windsor_, the
3 _July_, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I.
_JAMES Rex._
1. _The Sovereign_ 1. _The_ French _King_
2. _The Prince_ 2. _Void_
3. _Earl of_ Nottingham 3. _Void_
4. _Earl of_ Ormond 4. _Lord_ Buckhurst
5. _Earl of_ Salop 5. _Earl of_ Cumberland
6. _Earl of_ Northumberl. 6. _Earl of_ Worcester
7. _Lord_ Sheffeild 7. _Ld._ How. _of_ Walden
8. _Lord_ Hunsdon 8. _Lord_ Montjoy
9. _Sir_ Henry Lea 9. _Earl of_ Sussex
10. _Lord_ Cobham 10. _Lord_ Scroop
11. _Earl of_ Derby 11. _Lord_ Burleigh
12. _Duke of_ Lenox 12. _Earl of_ Southampton
13. _Earl of_ Marr 13. _Earl of_ Pembrook