_Windsor_ being impower’d to demand and receive the Sums of Money, as
above, which they were to bestow in Plate for the Use of the _Altar_;
and accordingly they agreed for the Quantity of Plate hereafter
mention’d, which was deliver’d, _Anno_ 1637. _viz._
_Ou._ _Dr._
Two little Candlesticks chas’d and gilt, for }
Wax Candles } 092 06
Two Chalices, with four Pattens 113 01
Two great Candlesticks, neat for Tapers 553 15
Two little Basons 251 15
One great Bason 210 00
--------
_l._ _s._
The Value at 12 _s._ the Ounce, came to 730 10
Besides nine Cases 009 10
But to make some farther Addition to the Glory of this _Altar_, King
_Charles_ II. at the time of his _Installation_, offer’d two large gilt
Water-pots, weighing 387 Ounces ten Peny Weight, amounting, by the
excellent Workmanship, to 12 _s._ the Ounce, and to the Sum of 232 _l._
10 _s._ Some sacred Ceremonies were perform’d at the Consecration of
this Plate, not very necessary to be spoke of here. But all these, with
the other Goods and Monuments belonging to the King’s free Chappel and
Treasury at _Windsor_, were rifl’d and taken away by the Parliament
Army. King _Charles_ II. therefore, after the Restauration, _Anno_
1667, by the Consent of the _Knights-Companions_, did levy and collect,
and by his own Bounty furnish’d the Chappel again with the following
Plate:
_A Pair of gilt Flaggons, bought with Money collected from the_ Knights
Companions, 150 _Ounces._
_A Pair of wrought Flaggons, with great Bellies, having the Figure of
St._ George _on Horseback on the Cover_, &c. _bought with the_ Knights
_Money_, 414 _Ounces._
_One small Bason._ 25 _Ounces and an half._
_A Pair of plain gilt Chalices and Covers, bought also with the_
Knights _Money_, 163 _Ounces and a quarter._
_A large Embost Bason, with the Figure of_ Mary Magdalen _washing our
Saviour’s Feet_, 198 _Ounces._
_A Pair of large Taper Candlesticks_, 264 _Ounces._
At the Charge of the College.
_A Pair of large Basons gilt and emboss’d, given by her Royal Higness
the Dutchess of_ York, 305 _Ounces._
_A plain gilt Corporas, the Gift of Sir_ Richard Fanshaw, 24 _Ounces._
_A double gilt Chalice, the Gift of the Lady_ Mary Heveningham, 33
_Ounces._
As to the Adorning, and Furniture of the Chappel, ’tis very sumptuous;
the particulars being not so very material, I shall here omit them.
_The Furnishing St._ George’_s_ Hall.
§ 7. The Care of making ready and furnishing St. _George_’s _Hall_, or
any Place, either there, or elsewhere, set apart for the Grand Dinner,
is committed partly to the Gentlemen Ushers of the _Black-Rod_, and
partly to the Sovereign’s Surveyer-General of his Works, both by
Warrant from the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold: They cause to be
prepar’d the Tables, and set in order the rich and costly Furniture.
_Officers and Servants appointed to attend the Grand Feast._
§ 8. The principal Officers of the Grand Feast are serv’d by Noblemen,
whom the Sovereign appoints, and are put in a List, Sign’d by the Lord
Chamberlain of the Houshould, and deliver’d to the _Black-Rod_, who
gives them Notice some convenient time before the Feast, that they may
the better perform the Duty of their several Places; of what Quality
they usually are, will appear by the following List.
Those that gave their Attendance at the Grand Feast, _Anno_ 14 _Car._
II. when the Sovereign was install’d, were,
For the Sword, The Earl of _Northampton_.
The great Bason, The Earls of _Bedford_, _Hertford_, _Clare_,
St. _Albans_, and the Lord _Herbert_ of _Ragland_.
The Cup-bearer, The Earl of _Essex_.
The Carver, The Earl of _Carlisle_.
The Sewer, The Earl of _Dover_.
The Surnap, The Earl of _Elgin_.
The Ewer, The Earl of _Devonshire_.
The Train, The Lords _Russel_, _Herbert_, and _Cranborne_.
The Gentlemen of the Sovereign’s Privy-Chamber in waiting bear the
Canopy, and the Sovereign’s Officers and Servants following, (having
notice from the Lord Chamberlain,) give their Attendance; as appears by
the List of those appointed to give their Attendance at _Windsor_,
_Anno_ 23 _Car._ II.
Lord Chamberlain, and Servants.
Groom of the Stool.
Bed-Chamber Men.
Secretaries of State.
Gentlemen-Ushers of the Privy-Chamber.
Mr. Vice Chamberlain.
Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber.
Privy Purse.
Secretaries of _Scotland_.
Twelve Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber in waiting.
Four Gentlemen Ushers daily Waiters.
Two Cup-bearers.
Eight Quarter Waiters, Gentlemen Ushers.
Two Chaplains.
Two Physicians.
Two Chirurgeons.
Mrs. Sempstress and Landress to his Majesty.
Four Grooms of the Chamber.
Fourteen Lords to attend his Majesty.
Officers of the Guard.
Yeomen of the Guard.
Three Masters of the Tents.
Master of the Ceremonies.
Aid of the Ceremonies.
Jewel-House.
Musicians.
Yeomen of the Bows and Guns.
Captain Cook, and the Children of the Chappel.
Two Carvers.
Two Sewers.
Two Pages of the Presence.
Two Esquires of the Body.
Two Apothecaries.
Four Serjeants at Arms.
Eight Sewers of the Chamber.
Pages of the back Stairs.
Captain of the Guards.
Officers of the Robes.
Two Grooms of the Privy-Chamber.
Groom Porter.
Marshal of the Ceremonies.
Removing Wardrobe.
Gentlemen of the Chappel.
Five Messengers.
Sixteen Trumpeters.
Serjeant Trumpeter.
Drum Major.
Four Drummers and a Fife.
CAP. XX.
_The Order of the Ceremonies on the Eve of the Grand Feast._
_Of the beginning of the Grand Feast._
§ 1. The Celebration of the Grand Feast, with the Ceremonies, devis’d
to set forth and illustrate the Glory thereof, hath been worthy the
observation of the first Institutor, and all succeeding Sovereigns;
well knowing that what is once slightly observ’d will soon fall into
disesteem, if not into contempt. Therefore they have been very
particular to the Day, the Hour, and the Place, where the Sovereign and
_Knights-Companions_ are to meet.
As to the first, although St. _George_’s _Day_ (or such other Day as
the Sovereign shall please to nominate and appoint, by Prorogation in
lieu thereof,) be the Principal and Grand Day of the Feast, yet the Eve
of that Day does the Feast take Commencement, and determines not till
the third Day following; the whole Solemnity taking up three Days
inclusively.
And this is clear from several Articles of the _Statutes_, wherein the
course of the Ceremonies to be observ’d at the Grand Solemnity are set
down; whether observed, on the Eve, the Feast-Day, or the Morrow after:
And these three Days together did the Sovereign hold the Grand Feast,
whether they personally celebrated the same, or deputed other of the
_Knights-Companions_ to that Employment, the cause of the Commissions
of Deputation limitting their Power either in general, _during the time
of the Feast_; or in particular, upon the Day of St. _George_, the Day,
and that following, _viz._ the last Day of the Feast. In like manner,
when in succeeding Times, Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feast
were made use of, we find the three Days continuance of the Feast to be
particularly mentioned in the Body of those Commissions: Namely, the
Day wherein, by such Appointment, the Feast was to begin, the Grand Day
it self, and the Day whereon it ended.
The Directions given in the _Statutes_, for the Order and Course of
this Solemnity, to begin with the Eve, run thus: Every Year upon St.
_George_’s _Eve_, shall be an Assembly, or Meeting of all the
_Knights-Companions_ of the _Order_, at _Windsor Castle, &c._ and the
same is positively enjoin’d by all the other Bodies of the _Statutes_.
And as the Grand Feast is generally said to Commence _in Vigilia Sancti
Georgii_, or as it is otherwise exprest in the _Black-Book_, in
_Vigilia in future celebratis_, or, _Vigiliis Divi Georgii_, or in
_Vigilia Festi_. So has the time of this preceeding Day several other
Denominations given it in the same _Register_, _Vesper ante Diem Sancti
Georgii_; _in Vesperiis Georgianis_, _in Vesperiis Festi_, _in
Vesperiis Commitionem_; and at other times, _pridie Divi Georgii_,
_pridie Georgianæ Solemnitatis_, _pridie Festi_, _pridie feriarum Divi
Georgii_, and sometimes _per vigilia_, and lastly in plain _English_,
St. _George_’s _Eve_; all which signify one and the same thing, and are
but various Names given to the Evening of the Day foregoing either that
of St. _George_, or that whereon the Grand Feast is appointed to be
held by Prorogation.
Thus we see that the Founder began his Solemnity upon the Eve of the
Feast Day; which doubtless was in conformity to the Custom of the
Church, who made the _Vigils_ and _Eves_ part of the ensuing Festivals,
and as Ushers to the Grand Solemnities.
As the Eve was appointed by the Founder for the Commencement of the
Anniversary of the Grand Feast, so to make the time more certain, the
_Statutes_ express the exact Hour of meeting for beginning the
Solemnities, to be at the Hour of _Tierce_, which in many other Places
is called, _Hora Tertiarum_. But this seemed not sufficient to express
clear enough the meaning of a Law, where a Penalty was enjoined, and
therefore at a _Chapter_ held at _Windsor_, 17 _Edw._ IV. a scruple
arising among the _Knights-Companions_, concerning the Words _Hora
Tertiarum_, whether they were intended to mean three in the Afternoon,
or at the Hour of the Church, generally used after Prime Noon before;
and fixed it to the latter.
The _Registrum Chartaceum_ Records the same Explanation of the Words;
and to let us see that ’twas immediately put in Practice, it is there
entered with the Names of those _Knights-Companions_ present with the
Sovereign, both in the Morning and Evening of the same Day.
Another Instance of which there is, 3 _Hen._ VII. on the Eve of the
Grand Feast, held by Prorogation at _Windsor_, where the Sovereign, in
regard of the arrival of several Ambassadors, put off the usual
_Chapter_ till Noon; whence it is evident, that the Custom at this time
was likewise to begin the Solemnity in the Morning.
But notwithstanding the said Decree of King _Edw._ IV. we find it
_Anno_ 11 _Hen._ VIII. to be meant and intended for three in the
Afternoon. And when King _Henry_ VIII. came to Model the _Statutes_ of
the _Order_, in two several Articles, he declares and expounds the
_Hora Tertia_, (which the _English_ Version of those _Statutes_ renders
the _Hour_ of _Tierce_,) to be the _Hora Tertia post Merediem_, three
in the Afternoon; and in another Article of the same _Statutes_, _Hora
Tertiarum, id est, Hora Tertiarum post Merediem_; and elsewhere, _Hora
Tertia Vespertina vel Pomeridiana_; which Hour, as it was then settled
to be the punctual time for the _Knights-Companions_ meeting, to enter
on the Solemnity of the Feast, so has it ever since continued
unaltered, and usually observed.
The Place of Assembly for the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_, hath
usually been in such of the Sovereign’s Privy Lodgings, both at
_Windsor_, or elsewhere, as he hath appointed; frequently in the Privy,
Withdrawing, or Bed Chambers: To this appointed Place the
_Knights-Companions_ repair, to give their Attendance on the Sovereign,
having first invested themselves in full Robes, either in their own
Lodgings, or some convenient Room at Court, where _Garter_ is to attend
them, with notice of the approaching Hour.
The _Knights-Companions_ being come to the Sovereign, as likewise the
Officers of the _Order_, habited in their _Mantles_, and bearing in
their Hands the _Symbols_ of their several Offices, they wait the
Sovereign’s being vested in his Robes, till he passes into the Presence
Chamber, or give beginning to the Feast, by opening the _Chapter_ at
their meeting, before he goes thither.
About the same time, the Provincial _Kings_, _Heralds_, and
_Pursuivants_, wearing their Coats of the Sovereign’s Arms; so also the
Band of Pensioners, armed with their Pole Axes, Assemble in the
Presence Chamber; but the Prebends of the College, vested in their
Taffaty Mantles over their Surplices, and _Alms-Knights_ in their
_Mantles_ and _Surcoats_, come no nearer than the Guard Chamber.
Lastly, The Servants and Attendants of the _Knights-Companions_ meet
without the Guard Chamber Door, whence spreading themselves down the
Stairs, through the Stone Gallery, into the upper Ward of the Castle,
or as far as their Number will reach, all wait the Sovereign’s coming
forth into the Presence.
It will be necessary here to inform the Reader, in regard not only the
Feast Day of St. _George_, but the Grand Feast held in Honour of the
_Order_, hath been kept in several other Places besides _Windsor
Castle_, more particularly, at _White-Hall_, St. _James_’s,
_Greenwich_, and _York_; that there are many Ceremonies, and other
Particulars hereafter named, which alter not with the Place; but
appertain to the Festival, and are therefore to be observed every where
alike; as for instance, the form of Proceeding, the manner of holding
_Chapters_, the Ceremony of Offering Gold and Silver, Swearing of
Officers, and such like: But others there are, which are precisely
local and particular, as the _Prebends_ and _Alms-Knights_ going in the
Proceeding, the Offering up of Atchievements, _&c._ to _Windsor_ only.
Since the withdrawing the Grand Feast from _Windsor_, some of the
Officers of Arms, curious in the Observation of these Solemnities,
performed in other Places, have afforded us great Plenty of Memorials,
relating to the ceremonious Part thereof, while the same was continued
at _Windsor_; and therefore, when the true Place where the Instance
lies, shall be also cited, the Reader is not to conclude that the
Precedent urged doth not full enough answer the Purpose, unless it had
been likewise fetched from _Windsor_. But that in this case, the
Ceremony or Example is such, as is peculiar to the Feast, not the
Place, and ought to be observed without alteration at any Place, where
the Sovereign shall keep the Grand Feast.
_Of setting the Proceeding in Order._
§ 2. In Times past, the _Knights-Companions_ appeared at the Grand
Feast, attended with a numerous Train of Servants and other Dependents;
but the Feast having removed from _Windsor_ to other Places, much of
this ancient Splendor was laid aside; yet upon King _James_ I.
Accession to the Crown, somewhat of this Glory began to revive; for we
find it entered upon the _Register_, in the fourth of his Reign; _That
the ancient Custom, which for some Years had been intermitted, wherein,
at the Solemnity of this Feast, all the_ Knights-Companions _were wont
to go attended, each with a large Train, was recalled and brought back
into use_.
But this heighth of Gallantry and Splendor in the Number of Attendants,
and richness of their Apparel, within ten Years grew up to such Excess,
or rather Exorbitancy, that it required a restraint; wherefore the
Sovereign, by the unanimous Advice of the _Knights-Companions_,
Decreed, and Commanded, _That every one of the_ Knights-Companions _of
the_ Order, _should have to attend upon his Person at the yearly
Solemnization of the Feast of the_ Order, _fifty Persons, and no more_:
The reason whereof we find elsewhere noted to be, for saving of Charge,
and avoiding of Emulation. But in the beginning of King _Charles_ I.
Reign, of ever Blessed Memory, the gallantry of Attendants began again
to Increase and Augment; insomuch that at the Grand Feast held at
_White-Hall_, the 22d, 23d, and 24th of _April_, _Anno_ 8 _Car._ I. we
find it observed, that the _Knights-Companions_ came forth attended,
each with a Train of Servants very richly clad.
But to return and enter upon the Proceeding, to the end the Servants
and Attendants of the _Knights-Companions_ may be exactly Marshalled,
the Usher of the Hall (whose Duty it is to rank them) ought to call
for a List from _Garter_, of such _Knights-Companions_ as are to be
present at the Grand Feast, noted with their several Places in the
Proceeding, for his better Directions in assigning the Attendants
their due Places, the Order whereof is thus: First, the _Junior_
Knights-Attendants proceed one before another, on the left Hand, upon
whose right Hand the second eldest Knights-Attendants go in equal
Rank with them, for this we observe to have been the general rule;
where the _Knights-Companions_ Proceed in pairs, their Attendants go
together; those belonging to the _Senior_ Knights of the two, on the
right Hand, and to the _Junior_ upon their left; but the Order is
otherwise, where any of the _Knights-Companions_ proceed single and
alone, (which often falls out, as shall be noted in its due Place,)
for then the Attendants belonging to that single Knight go two and
two, on both sides the Way, opposite one against the other.
But when the Grand Feast is Celebrated at _White-Hall_, there the
_Knights-Companions_ Attendants are Marshalled by the said Usher, on
both sides the Passage, from the outward Door of the Guard Chamber,
down into the Hall, taking up all the Room as far as the old Chappel;
and because here they do not proceed, in regard of the shortness of the
Processional way, but only make a stand, for the Proceeding to pass
through them, they are ranked in a way different from that used at
_Windsor_; nevertheless relating more especially to the Order observed
by their Masters: Which Method, in the Sovereign’s Proceeding to the
Chappel, at the beforementioned Feast, held at _White-Hall_, _Anno_ 8
_Car._ I. we find thus described. The eldest _Knight-Companions_
Servants were ranked on the right Hand of the Passage, the chiefest of
them near unto the old Chappel Door; and the second Knight (being
Companion to the eldest) his Attendants stood on the left side, the
chiefest of them also next the said old Chappel Door, and in case the
eldest Knight’s Fellow or Companion be not present in this Proceeding,
then the eldest Knight’s Servants ought to be placed opposite one
against the other, upon each side the said old Chappel Door: The like
Order is to be taken in Marshalling the Servants of the other Knights
of this most Noble _Order_, whose Companions are then absent.
Secondly, The Order of Proceeding amongst the _Alms-Knights_, (who,
_Anno_ 1 _Car._ I. had two Waiters of the Sovereign’s Hall, in their
Livery Coats, bearing white Rods in their Hands, to proceed before
them,) is in general two and two together, the _Junior_ is placed
foremost on the left Hand, and his next _Senior_ on his right; and if
Sickness, or other lawful Impediment, chance to hinder one or more of
them, from going in the Proceeding, his _Junior_ is advanc’d into his
Place, and consequently all the other _Juniors_ do in like manner alter
their Places, and advance, to the end the superior Place be still
supplied, according to the right rule of Marshalling the Singles, that
compose a gross Body; but in this Case, if the Number that attend
happen to be odd, the Governor of the _Alms-Knights_ goes last of all,
and alone.
Thirdly, The Virger of the College hath his Place next after the
_Alms-Knights_, and immediately before the _Prebends_ of the College;
who being habited in a Gown, beareth a Silver Verge, the Ensign of his
Office: Nevertheless, heretofore, when the _Prebends_ went not in the
Proceeding, on the Eve of the Grand Feast, the Virger proceeded first
of all, before the _Alms-Knights_, for so it was observed on the Eve of
St. _George_, at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 6 _Eliz._ and in this manner we see
it exprest, in the Proceeding set forth by _Marcus Gerchard_.
Fourthly, Under the general rule, relating to the _Alms-Knights_, are
comprehended the _Prebends_ of the College, the _Pursuivants_,
_Heralds_, and _Provincial Kings_, insomuch, that where either of the
said Kings are absent, the _Senior Herald_ is advanced, and goes in
breast on the left Hand of him who is then present; so also where any
of the _Heralds_ are wanting, his next _Junior_ ascendeth into his
Place; whereby it sometimes falls out, that the _Senior Pursuivant_ is
joined to the left Hand of the _Junior Herald_: And through their
defects and absence, the Number of the Officers of Arms be odd, then
(with this difference in the foresaid rule observed among the
_Alms-Knights_,) the youngest _Pursuivant_ goeth single by himself.
Touching the right of Precedency, between the Officers of Arms, and
_Prebends_ of the College, in Proceeding before the Sovereign and
_Knights-Companions_, we find there hath been heretofore not only some
Question started, but the Place contended for; insomuch, that at the
Installation of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, _Anno_ 34
_Eliz._ the _Prebends_ took Place, and upon the 24th of _May, Anno_ 39
_Eliz._ at the Installation of _Thomas_, Lord _Howard_ of _Walden_, and
others, the _Prebends_ again endeavoured to pass between the Officers
of Arms, and Officers of the _Order_; but _Charles_, Lord _Howard_ of
_Effingham_, then Lieutenant to the Sovereign, delivered his Opinion on
the behalf of the Officers of Arms against the _Prebends_.
Yet did not this so settle the _Order_ of Precedency, or quiet the
_Prebends_, but that the Contention again broke out, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I.
at the Installation of the Earls of _Pembrook_, _Marr_, _Southampton_,
and Duke of _Lenox_; (which happened on the ninth, not second of
_July_, in the foresaid Year,) even to such a heighth, that the
_Prebends_, _Pursuivants_, and _Heralds_, contended in the Proceeding;
but the Controversy was on the next Morning composed, by the Lord
Admiral, (then the Sovereign’s Lieutenant,) the Lord Treasurer, and the
Earl of _Worcester_; and the _Order_ in Proceeding thus settled: first,
That the _Alms-Knights_ should go foremost, the _Pursuivants_ next,
then the _Prebends_, and then the _Heralds_ and Kings of Arms; and this
Order in Proceeding was afterwards observed, on the 21 _May, Anno_ 4
_Jac._ I. at the Installation of the Earl of _Salisbury_, and Viscount
_Bindon_; as also the 19 _May, Anno_ 6. of the same King, at the
Installation of the Earls of _Dunbar_, and _Montgomery_.
Howbeit, _Anno_ 9 _Jac._ I. and so afterwards, we do not find the
_Pursuivants_ mentioned in the Proceeding, by particular Name, nor
otherwise, than in this following Order, _viz._ _Alms-Knights_,
_Prebends_, _Heralds_, &c. but it may be presumed that the
_Pursuivants_, then joined again in Body with the _Heralds_, (though
for some Years before divided from them, by the interposition of the
_Prebends_,) as well as the Provincial Kings, and all of them under the
Title of _Heralds_, and sometimes Officers of Arms.
And though at the Grand Feast held by Prorogation, on Sunday the 14th
of _September_, in the said fifteenth Year of King _James_, it is
noted, that the Prince (being then the Sovereign’s Lieutenant,)
proceeded to Morning Service on the Feast Day, with the _Alms-Knights_,
_Heralds_, _Prebends_, and Officers of the _Order_ before him; from
which manner of Expression, it may perchance be supposed, that the
_Heralds_ went at that time next after the _Alms-Knights_, and before
the _Prebends_; nevertheless, elsewhere we find them, on the Eve of the
aforesaid Feast, ranked in this following Order.
The Alms-Knights.
The Prebends.
The Officers of Arms.
The Knights of the Order, _&c._