§ 11. The last thing to be done at this great Solemnity, is setting up
the _Helm_, _Crest_, _Sword_, _Banner_, and _Plate_, of the new
installed Knight, over his Stall in the Chappel of St. _George_; to
which purpose they are to be provided, according to the Directions
before given.
By the Statutes of Institution it is ordained, that the time for
setting up the Atchievements shall be when the elect Knight comes to
_Windsor-Castle_, that is, to his Installation, and not before; and the
reason is there likewise given, lest it should happen, he not coming
for his Installation within the time limitted, and consequently the
vacating his Election ensuing, that a new Election being made, those
military Ensigns might not seem to be disgracefully withdrawn, and an
occasion of Dishonour given, which otherwise could not be avoided, if
they should be suddenly taken down from a Place so high; which
demonstrates, that the intention of this Article extends to the
finishing the Ceremonies of Installation, before the Atchievements
ought to be set up, by so carefully providing against the Dishonour of
taking them down, in case the Election should become void; which must
infallibly happen, if the Knight elect died but an Hour before he were
compleatly installed. Accordingly, in the ancient Deputations both to
Sir _William Philip_, and Sir _John Falstaff_, Power is given their
Proctors first to demand, receive, and obtain their principal Stalls,
and next to tender their Helms, and Swords, to be hung up in the Choir
of _Windsor_, according to Custom: And for clearer Information of the
course of this Ceremony, that the Sovereign impowered his
Commissioners, first to give the Deputy Possession of his Principal’s
Stall, and after to receive the Atchievements, and place them over it:
This is to be considered as a Memorial of the Knights being installed a
Companion of the Order, and ’tis incongruous in the Rules of Honour to
have the Sign or a Memorial of an Action precede the Action it self.
Again, the Statutes expresly provide, that the Knights Atchievements
shall not be hung up, till the Duties and Fees enjoined are first
discharged; and ’tis certain, there are no Fees due, nor can be
claimed, till the Ceremonies on which they become due are entirely
finished. But to clear all Doubts which may arise upon this Point, it
was at a Chapter held at _White-Hall_, the fourth of _February_, 22
_Car._ II. ordained, _That not any of the Atchievements of an elect
Knight’s Stall be set up in the Chappel at_ Windsor, _before he be
installed, and the Fees of Installation paid_.
And though this was the Practice anciently, yet were the Atchievements
always prepared and brought to _Windsor_, and set before the elect
Knight’s Stall; and in case of his not coming to receive Installation,
then, being no otherwise placed, they might be the easier removed
without the Choir, in as decent manner as could be, so that the Honour
of Knighthood might be preserved entire; nevertheless, to be retained
for publick Use, and the Benefit of the College.
Where mention is made in the Annals of any Person employed to set up
the Atchievements of a Knight, it is to be understood that he was his
Proctor, and installed on his behalf: And there appears but one single
Instance where one Person hath hung up a Knight’s Atchievements, when
another was installed for him; and this happen’d 14th of _August_,
_Anno_ 29 _Hen._ VI. where the Lord _Rivers_ having been elected to the
Stall of the Lord _Hungerford_, his Sword and Helm were soon after
(sent) hung up by _William Bobden_, his Esq; and _Guyen Herald_, and he
installed the 30 _October_ following, by Sir _William Crafford_ his
Proctor; but this was contrary to the Law of the Order.
Where the setting up of a Knight’s Atchievements is barely mentioned,
without taking notice of the Installation, it is to be understood, that
such Knight’s Installation was also solemniz’d at that Time: As in the
case of the King of _Portugal_, of whom the Annals only note, that he
had taken care to set over his Stall, Helm, Sword, and Banner, and all
things belonging thereto, at the Feast at _Windsor_, 2 _Henry_ VI. In
what manner these Atchievements are fixed, appears by the Statutes; the
Helm and Crest to be set over each Knight-Companion’s Stall, and the
Sword to hang directly under them; but the Plate to be nailed to the
back of the Knight’s Stall.
CAP. XIII.
_The Installation of a Knight-Subject by Proxy._
_The Original Cause of making Proxies._
§ 1. There was no liberty given at the Institution of the Order, for a
Knight-Subject to be installed by his Proctor or Deputy; but on the
contrary, in the Founder’s Statutes was inserted this express
Prohibition. _That none of the Knights elect should be permitted to be
installed by_ Proxy, _unless he were a Stranger_. And this Law
continued unaltered till the Reign of _Henry_ V. when _John_ Duke of
_Bedford_, the Sovereign’s Deputy for holding the Feast of St. _George_
at _Windsor_, 7 _Henry_ V. and other the Knights-Companions then
present, took it into Consideration; that where a Knight-Subject,
elected into the Order, was at that Time employed beyond Sea, in the
Service of his Prince, and likely to continue in that Service some
time, it was agreed, that the said Duke should make an Address to the
Sovereign, by Letters under the Seal of the Order, (he being then
employed in the War against _France_,) that in the like cases his
Majesty would Ordain, _That_ Knights-Subjects _might, as well as_
Strangers, _be admitted into the_ Order, _notwithstanding the Clause in
the Statutes_.
It likewise appears from that _Letter_, as well as from the Blue-Book,
that Sir _John Grey_, and the Lord _Bourchier_, had been installed at
the aforesaid Feast, by their several Proxies; which the Sovereign’s
Deputy concurr’d with, out of great Respect to their Persons; lest by a
too rigid Observance of the Statutes, by their absence in the Wars,
where they were then loyally employed, and might meet their Deaths,
they should want the desired Suffrages of those Masses, ordained to be
Sung for a defunct Knight; as had happen’d to several by unsuspected
delays. But to clear this matter, for the future it was Decreed, 9
_Hen._ V. That where any elect Knight was actually in the Sovereign’s
Wars, or otherwise employed Abroad on his Sovereign’s Affairs, he
should possess the Privilege of a Stranger in this particular; which
Decree was added to King _Henry_ Vth’s Statutes. And it was soon after
enjoined the elect Knight, on notice of his Election, to take care
timely to appoint his Proctor, that he might enjoy the Rights and
Privileges of a Founder: Such an Obligation was laid on Sir _John
Falstaff_, who, at the reception of the Garter, was in _France_,
employed in the Sovereign’s Service.
But King _Henry_ VIII. besides his Confirmation of this Decree, for
allowance of a Proxy in the aforesaid two Cases, farther enlarged it,
to such as the Sovereign should either Command, or permit Licence to be
installed by Proxy, which is to be understood of Knights elect within
the Kingdom, as well as those beyond Sea: By Virtue of which Clause,
the elect Knight, the Earl of _Dorset_ being Sick, 1 _Car._ I. obtained
the Sovereign’s Licence to be installed by his Deputy Sir _Richard
Young_.
_Letters of Procuration._
§ 2. It is observed before, out of the _Registrum Chartaceum_, that Sir
_John Robesart_, elected into the Order by King _Henry_ V. was
installed by Virtue of his Letter Missive, sent to Sir _Thomas Barr_
his Proxy; but the same Register calls it, in another Place, a
sufficient Procuration under his Seal of Arms, enabling him to perform
the Ceremony of his Installation.
The Copy of this Instrument is not extant; but that Letter Missive Sir
_John Grey_ directed to Sir _John Lisle_, to take Possession of his
Stall, and by Virtue of which he was installed, _tells him he had
Chosen him for his Proxy, and to take his Stall for him in his Name_,
&c. And omitting other Precedents, doubtless, in the case of a
Knight-Subject, the Sovereign may, if he pleases, nominate and appoint
a Proxy for Installation, where the elect Knight hath not done it
himself; for here, all those Considerations of grand Respect, Forms of
the Oath, _&c._ constantly afforded to Strangers, have no Place; which
is evident from the Sovereign’s Letters of Summons to the Commissioners
named for Installation of the Lord _Grey_, 4 and 5 _Phil._ and _Mar._
who at that time was Prisoner in _France_, and his Deputy Sir _Humphry
Radcliffe_, is therein mentioned to be appointed by the Sovereign
herself.
The first Precedent of Letters of Procuration, or Deputation, drawn
into a solemn Form, is that made by Sir _William Phelip_, 5 _Hen._ V.
by which, having obtained the Sovereign’s Licence, he impowers two
Knights, Sir _Andrew Butrely_, and Sir _John Henington_, or either of
them, as their Business would permit, to supply his Place, and take
Possession of his Stall, in the Choir at _Windsor_.
_Qualifications of a Proxy._
§ 3. The Qualifications of a Proctor, nominated by a Knight-Subject,
are the same with those requisite in the Proctor of a Stranger, of
which something will fall in our Way hereafter; I shall therefore only
in general observe here, that to neither Knight-Subject, nor Stranger,
the Proctor is to be under the Degree of a Knight, enobled with Arms,
and of an honest and untainted Reputation; it being judg’d proper
chiefly in this Point, that a Knight-Subject should exactly observe the
same Rule enjoined to Strangers; in respect of which, it is very
remarkable, that Sir _William Lisle_, though one of the Alms-Knights,
yet in Degree a Knight, was not refused to be Proctor to Sir _John
Grey_, 7 _Hen._ V.
_Preparations for Installation._
§ 4. The Day for Installation of a Knight-Subject by Proxy, being
appointed by the Sovereign, there are to be provided for him, first, a
Commission for Installation, which by the Chancellor of the Order is
presented to the Sovereign for his Sign Manual; to which is after
affixed, the Seal of the Order: And appoints, 1. To conduct the Proctor
to _Windsor-Castle_. 2. To put him in Possession, as from the
Sovereign, of the Stall assigned his Principal. 3. To invest him with
all the Benefits, Honours, Prerogatives, Franchises, and Liberties
thereto belonging. 4. To receive his Mantle, Helm, and Sword, and set
them up in their appointed Places. 5. To add thereto all usual
Ceremonies. 6. Lastly, an Injunction to all the Knights to permit all
the Solemnity punctually to be performed: An ancient Precedent of this
is found 5 _Hen._ V. in the case of Sir _John Falstaff_: Also 2 _Edw._
IV. at the Installation of the Earl of _Worcester_, and other elect
Knights, by their Proxies.
Of later Times, the Commissions granted on such Occasions differ from
those made for the Personal Installation of the Knights themselves,
only by premising the Cause of their Principal’s Absence, and Service
he is then employed on; authorizing the Commissioners to admit the
Proxy into his Stall: Likewise where the Installation is performed by
two or more Commissioners, the Sovereign directs Letters to each of
them, giving notice of the intended Solemnity, and requiring them to
attend at a Day prefixt, to the end the Proxy may be put into
Possession of his Principal’s Stall.
And as there is, upon admission of an elect Knight, installed by Proxy,
the same ground for removal of Stalls, as in personal Installations; so
the Sovereign issues out Warrants to _Garter_, some time before the
Solemnity, to remove the Atchievements and Plates, as usual, and place
them in the Order such Warrants direct. Anciently the Stall for an
elect Knight, was assigned in the Commission issued for Installation,
as in the case of Sir _Henry Inghouse_, Proctor to Sir _John Falstaff_,
5 _Henry_ V.
The rest of the Particulars to be provided against the Day of
Installation, are at the Knight’s own Charge, and are agreeable with
those in Personal Installations.
_Proceeding to the Chapter-House._
§ 5. The next thing to be consider’d, is the Proxies Place in
proceeding to the Chapter-House, and this is immediately after the
Provincial _King of Arms_, because as yet he hath not taken Possession
of his Principal’s Stall; which done, it gives him a Place in his
return according to its Dignity. In this Order the Proctors of the
Marquiss of _Newcastle_, and the Earl of _Bristol_, proceeded
(Bare-headed,) 13 _Car._ II.
And though this be the Proctor’s usual Place in this Proceeding, yet
Sir _Henry Sidney_, Proctor to the Earl of _Warwick_, 5 _Eliz._
proceeded immediately before the elect Knights; which is the only
instance of that kind.
Lastly, the Proctor, as in the case of an elect Knight, passes into the
East-Isle, behind the High-Altar, as soon as he comes within St.
_George_’s _Chappel_, while the Sovereign, Lieutenant, or
Commissioners, proceed into the Chapter-House, and there reposeth
himself till he is sent for in; as in the case of the Marquiss of
_Newcastle_ and Earl of _Bristol_ above: But if the Proxy pass not in
the Proceeding, he then goes privately to his Place, before the
Proceeding sets forward.
_Transactions in the Chapter-House._
§ 6. After the Chapter is opened, the first thing done, is for _Garter_
to present the Commission or Commissions, which he carried in the
Proceeding thither, as well that for the Lieutenancy, (if a Lieutenant
held the Feast,) as of Installation, for admitting a Proxy, the Order
of which is observed before.
The Letters of Procuration, or Deputation, are next read, after which
the Proxy is sent for into the Chapter-House by _Garter_, who conducts
him to the Door, and there the Commissioners, or Assistants, or
Knights-Companions, receive him. But 5 _Eliz._ Sir _Henry Sidney_
exhibited his Deputation, after he was called in: Or sometimes the
Proxy produces his Deputation before the Proceeding to the
Chapter-House, as Sir _George Howard_, Deputy to the Earl of _Bedford_,
did, 6 _Eliz._ And in such case there is no need of admitting the Proxy
into the Chapter-House, but that he may stay without, till the
Sovereign, his Lieutenant, or Commissioners, are past into the Choir,
and he sent for thither; at which time the _Mantle_ was wont to be laid
on his right Arm at the Chapter-House Door, by the Knights-Companions
appointed to introduce him.
Anciently, as soon as the Proxy was admitted into the Chapter-House,
and the Letters of Procuration were read, the _Mantle_ of his Principal
was usually laid on his right Arm by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, or
Commissioners, and part of it spread on the Proxies Shoulders, the
Escutcheon of St. _George_ lying uppermost, and the Cordons laid fair
to be seen; and in this manner he bore it in the Proceeding to the
Stall, where he held it till Service was ended; but ’tis now ordered
otherwise, as by the direction of King _Charles_ II. that the _Mantle_
should be born on the left Arm.
But 5 _Eliz._ the Earl of _Warwick_’s Proctor had the Mantle born
before him into the Choir by _Garter_, in the same manner as is usual
to Knights Personally installed; and not delivered him, till he had
taken the Oath; and at the delivery thereof, the Words of Admonition
were pronounced by the _Register_; as it was observed to the Proxies of
the Marquiss of _Newcastle_, and the Earl of _Bristol_, 13 _Car._ II.
_Proceeding to the Choir._
§ 7. The Proxy proceeds from the Chapter-House Door, between the
Sovereign’s Commissioners, _&c._ But touching the Order of this
Proceeding, so much has already been said, that we shall give but one
Instance, _Anno_ 6 _Elizabeth_.
1. Verger.
2. Alms-Knights.
3. Officers of Arms.
4. Officers of the Order.
5. Lord _Hunsdon_, Proctor to the Lord _Cobham_.
6. Earl of _Bedford_.
_Ceremonies performed in the Choir._
§ 8. The Proceeding having entered the Choir, the Commissioners, _&c._
conduct the Proxy into the lower Stall, directly under that designed
for his Principal, where the _Register_ reads the Words of the Oath,
while the Proxy, laying his Hand on the Book, repeats them after him,
and Kisses the Book: And this Oath his Deputation impowers him to take,
in the Name of his Principal; the Form of the Oath having no difference
from the Oath taken Personally by an elect Knight.
The Oath being taken in this solemn manner, the Proctor is led up to
the Stall of his Principal, where both the Knights, who conducted him
into the Choir, first take the _Mantle_, and lay it on his Arm, next
laying their Hands on him, in the Name of his Lord and Master, from
whom he received his Deputation, set him down therein: And so the
Ceremony of Installation being fully ended, the Service of the Church
begins.
If the Installation be performed in the Morning, there is an Offering
of Gold and Silver; at which time the Proxy in his turn comes from his
Principal’s Stall, and stands before it, and when the Sovereign, or the
Lieutenant for him, and for himself, or else the Commissioners, and the
rest of the Knights-Companions present, have offered, then the Proxy
(being joined to the Knight, sitting in the opposite Stall, if present
at the Solemnity, and having two Officers of Arms before them,)
proceeds to the High Altar, and there offers both Gold and Silver; and
then returns, and takes his Stall as the rest do. In this manner the
Earl of _Warwick_’s Proxy, joining with the Earl of _Northumberland_,
installed at the same time, proceeded to the Offering, 5 _Eliz._ As
likewise the Proctor to the Earl of _Bedford_, with the Lord _Hunsdon_,
6 _Eliz._
The Ceremony of the Offering being finished, the Service of the Church
goes on, which being over, the Proceeding returns in the same Order it
came to the _Chapter-House_, except, that now the Proxy takes his Place
according to the Dignity of his Stall. But in regard the _Statutes_
expresly declare; That after the Proxy hath been admitted to his
Principal’s Stall, he shall neither wear the _Mantle_, nor have any
Voice in Chapter, nor enter there in the absence of him that sent him;
so that it was the ancient Practice to take off the _Mantle_ from his
Arm at the _Chapter-House_ Door, in his return from the Choir, and
delivered to the _Verger_ of the Chappel, though sometimes to the
_Sexton_, at other times to _Garter_, also to the _Black-Rod_, who hath
taken it from off the Proxies Arm, and carried it into the
Chapter-House; this done, the Proxy retires privately out of the
Proceeding to his Lodging.
It appears however, but by what indulgence is not mentioned, that
though _Garter_ took the _Mantle_ from Sir _Henry Sidney_, 5 _Eliz._ at
the Chapter-House Door, on the Evening he returned from Installation;
yet the next Morning he rode in the Procession to the Chapel, the
Celebration of the Feast of St. _George_ continuing, with the _Mantle_
on his right Arm; and having entered the Choir, took his Principal’s
Stall, bearing likewise the Mantle in the grand Procession, at the
Offering of Money, and during Divine Service, and from the Chappel to
the Castle to Dinner: And the like in the Afternoon of the said Day, he
rode on Horse-back in the Proceeding to the Chapter-House Door, but
there the _Mantle_ was taken from him, and laid within upon the Table,
whilst he retired into the East-Isle of the Chappel, and at the rising
of the _Chapter_, it was again delivered to him, whence he proceeded in
his Principal’s Place to the second Vespers.
Next Morning, the _Lieutenant_, and _Assistants_, having ended the
Chapter, the _Mantle_ was again laid on his Arm, and in that manner he
passed to his Principal’s Stall, and afterwards offered, as on the
Feast Day. The Morning Service ended, the _Lieutenant_ and _Assistants_
returned to the Chapter-House Door, where they put off their _Mantles_,
and at the same time the _Sexton_ of the College receiv’d the Mantle
from him.
_The Grand Dinner._
§ 9. At Dinner the Proxy sits with the Lieutenant or Commissioners, and
takes Place where his Principal should sit if he were present; and this
was so observed at the Installation of the Earl of _Warwick_, 5 _Eliz._
The Stile of the Knight installed by Proxy, is proclaimed in _French_,
or _English_, in the usual Form and Place, as 25 _Hen._ VIII. at the
Installations of the Earls of _Beaumont_ and _Newblanke_, by their
Proxies; for they were Knight-Subjects, though not to the Sovereign,
and therefore not improper to be made use of as an Instance. To
conclude, the Proctor is to take care that the Atchievements and Plate
of his Principal are set up in their proper Places, which appears not
only from the ancient Letters of Procuration, but also by Commissions
of Installation, which appoint that the Sovereign’s Deputy should
receive from the Proctor his Principal’s Helm and Sword, (for there is
no mention of the Banner till afterwards,) and place it over his Stall.
CAP. XIV.
_The Signification of Election to Strangers._
_Within what time, and in what manner, Certificate
is made of their Election._
§ 1. In regard that Strangers elect, are for the most part Sovereign
Princes, whole Affairs obliged them to abide in their own Dominions,
and very rarely permitted them to receive Personal Installation, it was
thought fit to allow them several Privileges, by the Founder of this
most _Noble Order_, and principally, that of giving previous and timely
Notice of their Elections, and convenient time of consideration for
Acceptance; affording Investiture in their own Countries, and
permitting their Installations to be performed at _Windsor_ by their
Proxies or Deputies.
It was therefore by the _Statutes_ ordained: That when any such should
be chosen into the _Order_, they should be certified of their Elections
by the Sovereign; and besides, that, at his Charge, the _Garter_ should
be sent over to them, with the _Mantle_ and _Statutes_ of the _Order_,
Sealed with the common Seal; so that they might have notice, at least
within four Months from the time of Election, to the end they might
advise and determine with themselves, from the Tenor of the _Statutes_,
whether they would receive the Honour of this most _Noble Order_.
In Pursuance of these Directions, it became customary for the
Sovereign, when he sent his Letters, to send also, and that by way of
solemn Embassy, the Habit and Ensigns of the _Order_, with a Book of
the _Statutes_; and in case the Election were accepted, Investiture
might be received before the return of the Persons, by whom the Habit
was sent. As upon the Elections of _Edward_, King of _Portugal_, at the
Feast of St. _George_, 13 _Hen._ VI. the Duke of _Urbin_, 14 _Edw._ IV.
and several others.
The right of bearing these Letters signifying Election, and returning
the Strangers Answer, belongs to _Garter_, by the Constitutions of his
Office. And though Certificate of Election was to be made within four
Months from the time of Election, yet King _Henry_ VIII. added this
necessary Clause: _That when the Sovereign had any great or high
Impediment, he might defer certifying the Election till a more
convenient Time_. As may be seen in the case of _Frederick_ III.
Emperor of _Germany_, in the time of _Henry_ VI. who having been
elected 35 of that King, had not Letters sent him to signify it till
the next Year. It likewise appears, that Letters to the same Effect
were then likewise dispatched to the King of _Arragon_, the Duke of
_Brunswick_, and King of _Poland_, who had been elected eight Years
before.
And yet we find it recorded, that the _Habit_ and _Ensigns_ of the
_Order_ were sent by special Ambassadors to all three, 34 _Hen._ VI.
two Years before: But perhaps this ought to be understood of their
being but then design’d, and ordered to be sent, and on second Thoughts
might be stopped, or if sent, by some accident might have miscarried;
otherwise it seems needless to have sent other Letters to give notice
of their Election two Years after: But to clear this matter, we after
find a second mention of sending the _Habit_ and _Ensigns_ to the King
of _Poland_, 37 _Hen._ VI. by which it is demonstrable, that the first
Embassy took no Effect.