the short Ceremonial of _Installation_ of Strangers by _Proxy_, entered
in the _Black-Book_; where it says—That the _Mantle_ is to be laid on
the _Proctor’s_ right Shoulder, in the Porch of the _Chapter-House_,
_because he is not to enter into it_.
And there are two Instances where the _Mantle_ was delivered to the
_Proctor_ at the _Chapter-House_ Door; from whence some may infer, that
the Practice of those Times was also agreeable to the aforesaid
direction; namely, that of the _Proctor_ of the _French_ King,
_Francis_ I. 19 _Hen._ VIII. where _Garter_ stood at the
_Chapter-House_ Door, with the _Mantle_, and as the Proceeding passed
by, presented it to the two Senior _Knights-Companions_, who placed it
upon the _Proctor’s_ right Arm; and so of the _Proctor_ of _Emanuel_,
Duke of _Savoy_, 1 and 2 _Phil._ and _Mar._ who entered not into the
_Chapter-House_, but had the _Mantle_ discussed at the Door.
But these Instances, if duly weighed, cannot properly, or with any
Advantage, be alledged to prove the Assertion; because the Affairs
relating to both, receiv’d dispatch in the _Proctors_ Lodging a little
before, and where the _Proctor_ himself was present, where the meeting
of the Commissioners and Proctor cannot be deemed less than a
_Chapter_, tho’ not held in the _Chapter-House_, from the Transactions
that passed there, _viz._ producing the Sovereign’s Warrant, and the
_Proctor’s_ Instrument of Deputation, which were both read before them
by the _Register_, and the _Proctor_ accordingly admitted, which being
finished, nothing relating to the present purpose required their
passing into the _Chapter-House_, or remained to be done till they came
into the _Choir_.
But the general Practice runs strong on the contrary side; for we find
that the _Proctor_ for _Charles_ IX. King of _France_, 8 _Eliz._ was
met at the _Chapter-House_ Door, by the Earls of _Sussex_ and
_Leicester_, who took him in thither between them, where, after the
_Register_ had read, as well the Sovereign’s Commission for
Installation, as his Letters of Procuration, and the Commissioners had
admitted him _Deputy_ for the said King, they all came forth, and laid
his Principal’s _Mantle_ on his right Arm and Shoulder, the Train
whereof was born by the Earl of _Southampton_, assisted by the Lord
_Herbert_ of _Cardiff_.
Again it is remarkable, 25 _Eliz._ that _Garter_ conducted the _Proxy_
of _Frederick_ II. King of _Denmark_, to the _Chapter-House_, and at
that Place the Earl of _Leicester_, and the Lord _Hunsdon_, received
and led him in: So also was _Christian_ IVth’s _Proxy_ led thither, by
the Earls of _Nottingham_ and _Dorset_. And in _Jac._ I. _Lodowick_,
Count _Nassau_, _Proctor_ to _Maurice_, Prince of _Orange_, was called
into the _Chapter-House_, and there left, while the Sovereign, and
_Knights-Companions_, proceeded into the _Choir_: Also in like manner
was Sir _George Cartaret_, _Proctor_ to _Christian_, Prince of
_Denmark_, 15 _Car._ II. and the _Proctors_ to the King of _Sweden_,
and Duke of _Saxony_, 23 _Car._ II.
Nor are these Instances, and the Practice in this latter case, really
derogatory to the Statutes, which, though they prohibit the _Proxies_
Entrance into the _Chapter-House_, yet do not extend to any thing
previous to the Installation, but what may happen after; for the
Article of the _Statutes_ having first directed the delivery of the
_Mantle_ to the _Proxy_, and next the assumption of his _Principal’s
Stall_, in these Words, _Dictus Procurator Installatus_, it immediately
subjoins, _that from thenceforth_, that is, from the time of
Installation, _he shall neither wear the_ Mantle, _nor enter into the_
Chapter, _nor have Voice there, by virtue of any Power granted him_.
All which are Prohibitions, plainly relating to future Examples, and
arising after the Ceremonies of Installation are past, and not at all
refering to what preceeds it.
And it seems the Law hath been thus understood, in regard the
greater prevalence of Practice hath generally attended it; for not
only the _Proxies_ of Strangers, as is observed, but generally
_Knights-Subjects_, have been called into the _Chapter-House_, and
there received the _Mantle_, before they proceeded into the _Choir_.
The Ceremony of delivering the _Mantle_ to the _Proctor_, is performed
by the Sovereign, his Deputy, or the Commissioners, _Garter_ presenting
it to them; and the manner of it was anciently, by putting it on the
_Proxies_ right Arm or Shoulder, in the Name of his Lord and Master,
there to hold it till the End of Divine Service.
But as there hath arisen some dispute, touching the _Proctor’s_ entry
into the _Chapter-House_ before Installation, so it hath happened in
this Point of receiving the _Mantle_, _viz._ whether in the _Chapter_,
or _Stall_ allotted their _Principal_, of which there are Examples.
That part of the Article in the _Statutes_ of _Institution_, relating
to this Point, runs thus:——_That the_ Mantle, _tempore Installationis
Procuratoris_, shall be laid on his Arm, _&c._ but whether this shall
be construed to that instant of time, when the _Proctor_ is brought to
the _Stall_ of his _Principal_, or to some greater Latitude, as during
the time of Installation, including the very first Action, or beginning
of the Ceremony, namely, the being called to the _Chapter-House_ Door,
and entrance into it, is the Question; because there are Instances in
both, but the latter is most warrantable by the _Statutes_ and general
Practice.
The Article in _Henry_ VIIIth’s _Statutes_ being much more clear in
describing and explaining the Ceremonies of _Installation_, than any of
the former; (the particulars of which in every Point seems to be
excellently regulated,) having mentioned the Sovereign, or his
_Deputies_, laying the _Mantle_ on the _Proxies_ Arm, it immediately
follows, as the very next thing to be performed in course of time;
_That afterwards he shall be led by two Knights, from the_
Chapter-House _Door to the_ Stall, _and there being, shall make his
Oath, and be installed_; it gives no Account of laying the _Mantle_ on
the Arm of the _Proctor_ at the instant of _Installation_ in the
_Choir_, that being directed to be done before. It is also recorded in
the _Black-Book_, where this Ceremony is more fully treated; _That_
Garter _shall take the_ Mantle _upon his Arms, and deliver it to both
the_ Knights-Commissioners, _and that they_ (according to the Tenour of
the Statutes,) _shall lay it on the_ Proctor’s _right Shoulder, in the
Porch of the_ Chapter-House.
Besides, the ancient usage of receiving the _Mantle_ in the
_Chapter-House_, or at the _Chapter-House_ Door, either before, or in
the Proceeding to the _Choir_, of which many instances may be given,
there are several modern instances where the _Mantle_ was born to the
_Choir_, (and sometimes the _Collar_ of the _Order_ with it,) not by
the _Proctor_, but by _Garter_, before him, and delivered in his
_Principal’s Stall_; as in the Proceeding of the _Proxy_ for the Duke
of _Wirtembergh_, _Anno_ 2 _Jac._ I. when, after he had taken the Oath,
and was led into the Duke’s _Stall_, (not before) was the Robe laid on
his Arm; and so was it done in many more _Installations_; which manner
hath so far prevail’d as to be the continu’d Practice, _Garter_
carrying the _Mantle_ on a Cushion before the _Proctors_ into the
_Choir_, and laying it (after they have taken their Oaths,) on their
Arms in such manner, that the _Cross_ of St. _George_ may be
conspicuous.
_Of the Proceeding to the Choir._
§ 10. Concerning the _Proxies_ Proceeding into the _Choir_, King
_Henry_ VIIIth’s _Statutes_ direct: _That he shall be accompanied and
led by_ two Knights-Companions _of the_ Order, _from the Door of the_
Chapter-House, _to the_ Stall _assigned to his Principal_; agreeable to
which, is that Passage in the _Black-Book_; _That as soon as the two
Knights have placed the Mantle on his Arm, they shall take him between
them, and conduct him to the_ Stall _of his Lord_; and thus assisted
have all _Proxies_ proceeded to the _Choir_.
Since the Custom of receiving the _Collar_ in the _Chapter-House_ was
laid aside, the Sovereign, (or his Lieutenant,) with the
_Knights-Companions_, (so soon as the _Mantle_ is delivered the
_Proctor_, or (as of late) that he hath been admitted according to the
purport of his Deputation,) proceed to the _Choir_, leaving the _Proxy_
behind them in the _Chapter-House_, and after they have taken their
_Stalls_, the Sovereign directs two of the _Knights-Companions_ to
descend; who taking the _Alms-Knights_, _Officers of Arms_, and the
three inferior Officers of the _Order_ before them, pass to the
_Chapter-House_, and bring thence the _Proxy_ to his _Installation_. In
this Proceeding the _Proxy_ goes Bare-headed, as did the Earl of
_Dover_, _Proctor_ to _Charles_, Prince Palatine of the _Rhine_, and
Sir _George Cartaret_, _Proctor_ to the Prince of _Denmark_, _Anno_ 15
_Car._ II.
_The Ceremonies of Installation._
§ 11. When the Proceeding hath entred the _Choir_, and paid the
accustomed Reverences, both towards the _Altar_ and the Sovereign’s
_Stall_, and the _Alms-Knights_, _Officers of Arms_ and of the _Order_,
taken their usual Stations; the two Commissioners (_Knights-Assistants_
or _Knights-Companions_,) and _Proctor_ make their Reverences together,
and then they conduct him into the lower _Stalls_ directly before the
_Stall_ appointed for his _Principal_, the foresaid _Officers_ of the
_Order_ standing below in the _Choir_: If there be more than two
Commissioners, then the two Senior conduct him as before, while the
rest of the Commissioners take their Station below in the _Choir_,
before their proper _Stalls_, and there stay till the _Installation_ be
finish’d, and the like do the _Lieutenants-Assistants_, except the two
Senior that are imployed in the Ceremony.
The _Proxy_ thus introduced into the lower _Stalls_, stands there while
the _Register_ pronounceth the Oath of the _Order_ to him, which he
repeats distinctly, laying his Hand on the _New Testament_, and
afterwards kisseth the Book.
The ancient Oath appointed by the _Statutes_ of Institution is short,
and without limitation in all Points, the same with that a
_Knight-Companion_ takes at his Personal _Installation_, _viz._
_Faithfully to observe, to the utmost of his Power, the_ Statutes _of
the_ Order; but afterwards the Sovereign’s and Fellows of those other
_Orders_ of _Knighthood_, (as the _Golden Fleece_, _Monsieur St.
Michael_, _&c._) before their admission into the _Order_ of the
_Garter_, sued for, and obtained the allowance of some relative
exceptions or proviso’s to be added to the aforesaid Oath; which
usually were such as stood with the interest of their Religion, their
great State or Dignity, or precedent obligation to the _Order_ they had
before accepted.
In the _Black-Book_ is a Precedent of the Oath to be taken by an
Emperor; whereby he is obliged to promise on his Royal Word, and give
his Faith on his Honour and the Holy Evangelists, _That he will
faithfully and truly, to the utmost of his Power, observe the Statutes
in every Branch and Article thereof, at least so far as they can or
ought to be observed by him, and so far as they shall not be contrary
or derogatory to those whereunto he hath before given his Name and
Sworn, and saving all other conditions agreed on_. There are besides
this, other Precedents in the Annals of the Form of the Oath from the
_Proctor_ of an Emperor or King, and of every other inferior Degree,
wherein are several exceptions before agreed on; and when _Philip_,
King of _Castile_ and _Leon_, (Sovereign of the _Order_ of the _Golden
Fleece_,) was Personally installed at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VII.
and took the Oath without Limitation, yet he soon after obtain’d the
Sovereign’s Dispensation, that the use of the _Collar_ and other
_Ensigns_ of the _Order_ might be left to his pleasure, and that he
might not be obliged to be present at future _Chapters_.
Other Exceptions have been admitted, but were obtained with great
difficulty and much debate, lest the Dignity and Reputation of the
_Order_ should (instead of being kept up) be lessen’d, the forbearance
of some Circumstances that hath been yeilded to, having sometimes been
brought into Precedent, to the prejudice of the _Order_.
The exceptions that were allow’d the Arch-Duke of _Austria_, when he
took the Oath at his Investiture at _Noremberg_, _Anno_ 15 _Hen._ VIII.
were as follow.
_Not to wear the_ Garter _and_ Collar _but at some certain times in the
Year, at his own pleasure._
_That if he were not in Place convenient to go to hear Mass on St._
George’_s Day, he should cause a Priest to say it in his presence._
_Not to be obliged, if busied in weighty Affairs, to wear the_ Garter,
Collar, _or whole_ Habit _of the_ Order, _on St._ George’_s Day, longer
than during divine Service; nevertheless he promised, if he could not
than wear it for a whole Day together, he would willingly wear it on
some other solemn Day within the compass of the Year._
Of another nature were the exceptions which _Francis_ I. King of
_France_, procured to be admitted into the Oath taken by his _Proctor_,
_Anno_ 19 _Hen._ VIII. _viz._ _To observe the Statutes of the_ Order
_of the_ Garter _so far as they were consistent with, and not contrary
or prejudicial to the Statutes of the_ Order _of St._ Michael, _and
other_ Orders _which his Principal had before taken of other Princes._
Such like exceptions have been generally allowed to Kings and Sovereign
Princes; but as to the _Proxies_ of such Strangers, not Sovereign
Princes, but Subjects, the Form of their Oath is usually framed (by the
indulgence of the Sovereign,) with just limitations, not only to their
obligation of the Statutes of any other _Order_ they had accepted, or
any Oath formerly taken, but sometimes to the Fidelity and Allegiance
which they owe their Sovereign Lord and Prince.
After the Oath hath been administred to a Stranger’s _Proxy_,
(with such or the like exceptions before set down,) the two
_Knights-Commissioners_ pass up with him into the higher Row of
_Stalls_, and so to that assign’d to his Principal, where being
arrived, they take the _Mantle_ from _Garter_, and lay it upon
the _Proctor’s_ left Arm, with the Escutcheon of St. _George_
uppermost, according to an _Order_ in a _Chapter_ held, _Anno_ 23
_Car._ II. which was to be a standing Rule for the future, and is
now observ’d.
In the Act and Ceremony of _Installation_, the _Commissioners_ who
first conducted the _Proxy_ into the _Choir_, jointly embrace him; then
the _Proxy_ makes his double Reverence, and lastly the _Commissioners_,
according to the Custom of _Installations_, set him down in his
Principal’s _Stall_, where he hath used to remain during Divine
Service; but by the aforesaid _Order_ in _Chapter_, _Anno_ 23 _Car._
II. the _Proxies_ are prohibited sitting in their _Stalls_, but
directed to stand before them uncovered, with their _Mantles_ on their
right Arms, until Divine Service be ended.
The two _Knights_ (between whom the _Proxy_ proceeded to
_Installation_,) descend into the _Choir_, and stand before their own
_Stalls_, and after a while, first the Senior _Commissioners_, and then
the other, ascend into them with usual Reverences, and then Divine
Service begins.
_The Proctor’s Offering._
§ 12. The _Proctor_ having receiv’d Possession of his Principal’s
_Stall_, stays in the _Choir_, and performs the following Ceremonies,
the chief of which is the _Offering_ of _Gold_ and _Silver_, according
to the Degree and Seniority of his Principal’s _Stall_, in case the
_Installation_ be in the Morning; but if it be celebrated when St.
_George_’s Feast is held by the Sovereign’s _Lieutenant_, the _Proxy_
ought not to Offer till the _Lieutenant_ hath first Offered for the
Sovereign; and the _Lieutenant_ also Offereth for himself before the
_Proctor_, if his Stall be higher than the Stranger’s, for whom the
_Proctor_ is installed.
The _Proctor_ in Offering doth it with all the Ceremony as if his Lord
were present; when the _Knights-Companions_ descend from their Stalls,
(which Ceremony begins with the Junior _Knight_,) he also descends in
his turn, and placeth himself below in the _Choir_ before the Stall of
his _Principal_, and if he have an opposite _Knight-Companion_, he
joins himself to him, and proceeds towards the _Altar_ to the Offering,
with the Officers of Arms before him; but if no _Knight-Companion_ be
opposite, he then proceeds alone, having his Train born, and a
_Knight-Companion_, or some other great Personage, suitable to his
Degree, attending on his left Hand, to give him the Offering, which he
Offers kneeling on a Cushion, and after him the rest of the
_Knights-Companions_ present Offer, every one according to the
Seniority of their Stalls.
After the Offering, the _Proctor_ taking his way by the East-end of the
Stalls, returns back to the Stall of his _Principal_, and Divine
Service being finish’d, and like Honour in all respects shewed to his
_Proxy_ as if his Principal had been present, he ought to remain in his
Master’s Stall till his next Junior _Knight_ hath left his Stall, and
then descend after him, and stand below before his Stall, till his turn
come to join himself again to the Proceeding, and so to pass out of the
_Choir_.
Sometimes the _Proctor_ hath been receiv’d at his coming down from his
Lord’s Stall by the two _Knights-Commissioners_ who installed him, as
were the _Proctors_ of _Frederick_ II. King of _Denmark_, and _John_,
Count Palatine of the _Rhine_, between whom they also proceeded to the
_Chapter-House_ Door, in the same manner they were conducted into the
_Choir_; but notwithstanding this, the _Proctor_ ought rather to take
in his return the Place of his Principal, (as he did at the Offering,
and which is indeed his right,) and so the _Proctor_ of _Francis_ I.
went behind alone in his Principal’s place, and followed the
_Knights-Commissioners_ from the _Choir_ to the place where he lodged;
and this Method is since followed.
_The Dinner._
§ 13. When the _Installation_ hath past in the Morning, there hath
usually been prepared a great Dinner at the Sovereign’s Charge; we need
here only mention what is different in this particular from the
Personal _Installation_ of a _Knight-Companion_.
The _Proxy_ washes alone, sits at the chief Place of the Table alone,
and is serv’d alone, but the other _Knights-Companions_ sit at the end
of the Table; but if the Sovereign’s Lieutenant be present, the
_Proctor_ dines at the same Table with him, and then a little before
the second Course is brought in, the Sovereign’s Stile is proclaimed
with the usual Ceremony, in _Latin_, _French_, and _English_; but
otherwise only the Stile of the new installed Prince, and but once. The
Stile and Titles of _Christian_ IV. King of _Denmark_, were proclaimed
in _Latin_; and of _Maurice_, Prince of _Orange_, in _French_.
Dinner being ended, all rise in Order and Wash; first, the _Proxy_
alone, and after him the _Knights-Commissioners_; and accompanying the
_Proctor_ to his Chamber, where leaving him, they retire to their own
Lodgings, and there put off their Habits.
When the Solemnity of _Installation_ is over, the _Proctor_ is to take
care, that _Garter_ forthwith set up the Atchievements of his
_Principal_ over his _Stall_, and fix the Plate of his Arms on the back
thereof; in Memorial of the Ceremony of Inauguration; to which end also
Medals have frequently been struck, to perpetuate the Honour so
received.
CAP. XVII.
_The Duties and Fees payable by the_ Knights-Companions
_at their Installations_.
_Touching the Fees due to the College of_ Windsor.
§ 1. Such was the Piety and Bounty of our Ancestors, that they thought
no Work well perform’d, without being attended with some charitable
Donation, especially if it had relation to the Church, whereto they
generally bore a venerable Esteem. Hence was it at the _Installation_
of the _Order_ ordain’d: _That every_ Knight-Companion _should, at his
entrance, bestow a certain Sum of Money, according to his Quality and
Degree_. That is to say,
_l._ _s._ _d._
The Sovereign of the _Order_ 26 13 04
A Stranger King 20 00 00
The Prince of _Wales_ 13 06 08
Every Duke 10 00 00
Every Earl 06 13 04
Every Baron 05 00 00
Every Knight-Batchelor 03 06 08
These Summs were appointed _towards the Relief of the Cannons of_
Windsor, _the Alms-Knights, and augmentation of the Alms-Deeds, there
appointed perpetually to be done_. To the end, _That every one entring
into this Military_ Order, _might thereby more worthily obtain the
Name, Title, and Privilege, of one of the Founders of the_ Order; _it
being supposed a worthy and just thing, that whosoever obtained this
Privilege, should add some small increment to this Foundation_.
Not long after establishing the Statutes, the Titles of _Marquiss_ and
_Viscount_ becoming special Dignities, it was Decreed, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._
VI. that a _Marquiss_ should contribute 8 _l._ 6 _s._ 8 _d._ and a
_Viscount_ 5 _l._ 16 _s._ 8 _d._ which was confirmed by King _Henry_
VIIIth’s Statutes.
And though in all the Bodies of the Statutes, the Sovereign of the
_Order_ is charg’d with Payment of Fees to the College, yet is it to be
understood only of those Sovereigns, who were not (before the
assumption of their Stall,) elected into this _Order_.
Upon a Decree, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. the _Installation_ Fee to all the
Officers of the _Order_ were settled: Those made payable to the _Dean_
and _Canons_ are,
_l._ _s._ _d._
A Stranger King 20 00 00
A Stranger Prince 10 00 00
The Prince of _Wales_ 20 00 00
A Duke 10 00 00
A Marquiss 08 06 08
An Earl 06 13 04
A Viscount 05 16 08
A Baron 05 00 00
A Knight-Batchelor 03 06 08
These Fees ought to be paid at the time of the Knight’s _Installation_,
by the Hands of some one of their Servants, so soon as the Ceremonies
are ended; the Statutes expressly prohibiting the setting up of their
Atchievements till Payment be made.
The _Alms-Knights_, by Queen _Elizabeth_’s Establishment, receiv’d
_Installation_ Fees apart from those paid to the College, which by the
aforesaid Establishment of Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. are made equal to
those payable to the _Dean_ and _Canons_; and by the said Decree, the
_Choir_ of _Windsor_, under which not only the _Vicars_, but the
_Vergers_, _Choristers_, and _Bell-Ringers_, are comprehended, receive
the following Fees.
_l._ _s._ _d._
A Stranger King 16 00 00
A Stranger Prince 08 10 00
A Prince of _Wales_ 16 00 00
A Duke 08 10 00
A Marquiss 06 15 00
An Earl 05 10 00
A Viscount 04 00 00
A Baron 04 00 00
A Knight-Batchelor 03 00 00
_Fees due to the_ Register, Garter, Black-Rod, _and_ Officers _of_ Arms.
§ 11. In the Rank of those Officers to whom _Installation_ fees are
due, stands first the _Register_, who, as appears by the _Black-Book_,
is to have of every _Knight-Companion_ 13 _s._ 4 _d._ and a Robe.
But there being a concealment of this Fee, it was represented to King
_Charles_ I. who ordered the _Register_ to be paid in Lieu of the Robe,
as follows;
_s._ _d._ _l._ _s._ _d._
_Imprim._ _For a_ {Knight-Batchelor 13 04 } { 28 00 00
{Baron 13 04 } { 30 00 00
{Viscount 13 04 } { 32 00 00
_Item._ _For a_ {Earl 13 04 } and { 34 00 00
{Marquiss 13 04 } { 36 00 00
{Duke 13 04 } { 40 00 00
{Prince 13 04 } { 38 00 00
The same were since settled by the Establishment of _Installation_
Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. when it was added, that the Prince of
_Wales_, and a Stranger King, should pay 40 _l._ and a Stranger Prince
38 _l._ 13 _s._ 4 _d._