Part 27

And it appears from some of these Letters, that by reason Sir _Edward Walker_, Garter, was otherwise employ’d in the Service of the Sovereign, when they were transmitted, the Sovereign pitch’d upon other Persons, to carry both the Letters and Ensigns of the Order, and yet continued the Garter in the Rights of his Office. However, Sir _Edward_ esteeming this devolving his Employment on others, as an Invasion on the Rights of his Office; and having a just regard for the Interest of his Successors, no less than his own, humbly petitioned King _Charles_ II. for Redress, and obtained his gracious Reference thereupon, to several _Knights_ of the Order, to examine the Matter, and to give in their Report, what they found, and what they thought proper to be effected therein; and upon whose Report the Sovereign did him full Right by his gracious _Declaration_. For the Dukes of _Buckingham_ and _Hamilton_, and the Marquis of _Newcastle_, to whom this Affair was referr’d, gave in their Report to the _King_ at _Breda_, _May_ 27. 1650.

_We_, George, _Duke of_ Buckingham, William, _Duke of_ Hamilton, _and_ William, _Marquis of_ Newcastle, _Knights of the most noble Order of the Garter, having read and consider’d the within written Petition, do find the Allegations therein mentioned to agree with the Statutes and ancient Practices of the said Order; and that Garter King of Arms, and his Deputies, ought to bear all Letters-Patents appertaining to the Brethren of the said Order, and all Elections to the Knights elect. And we do therefore make this Report to your Majesty, to the end you may be pleased to mantain the Petitioner in his just Rights; and that no Example lately made may be brought in Precedent against him, or his Successors in the said Office._

_G._ Buckingham. Hamilton. _W._ Newcastle.

It was formerly the Practice, to send the Book of Statutes, under the common Seal of the Order, together with the Letters signifying an Election, and the Ensigns of the Order, no less to a Knight Subject than to a Stranger, that he might peruse and advise thereupon, whether he would accept of the Election, or not; for so it appears, _Anno_ 4 _Hen._ VI. by the Letters sent to Sir _John Falstoff_.

Within a few Days after Prince _Rupert_ was elected into this Order, (being then in _Holland_) a Commission of Legation was prepared to be sent thither, with the _Garter_ and _George_, by Sir _John Burrough_, Kt. to perform the Investiture with them; but Sir _John_ dying, prevented the Ceremony. Some time after the Prince had been in _England_, the then Sovereign thought fit to lay his Commands on Sir _James Palmer_, Chancellor of the Order, to attend his Highness, to declare the Reason why the said Commission was not sent and executed, as was designed, as well as to deliver him the Commission it self; to the intent (being prevented of receiving his Installation at _Windsor_, because that Castle continued in the Possession of the Rebels) it might remain with him as a Memorial of his Sovereign’s Princely Favour, and Respect to his Quality and Merits, and for a farther Evidence of his being admitted into this most Noble Order, since there was no other Memorial thereof, but the Minutes of his Election, and this Commission. And accordingly on _Monday_, the 14th of _January_, 1644. the Chancellor, accompanied with Dr. _Christopher Wren_, Register, and Sir _Edward Walker_, newly made Garter, attended the Prince at his Lodgings in _Oxford_; who, having notice of their Design, receiv’d them with all obliging Civility; and the Chancellor, in an eloquent Speech, made known to his Highness his Sovereign’s Commands, and the Intent of his coming; which was no sooner finished, but Sir _James Palmer_ presented his Petition to the Prince, who gave his Majesty many humble Thanks for this gracious Message; and acknowledged his Majesty’s Favours beyond his Desert; but promised he would study to be more worthy by his Actions, than in return of Words; with many Thanks to the Chancellor, and other Officers of the Order, for their Trouble: Whereupon they took their Leave, and the Chancellor went immediately to his Majesty, and gave him a Narrative of what they had done.

§ V. It was an ancient Custom, and part of the Ceremony belonging to the Investiture with the Garter, to give him an Oath, whether he was a Stranger or a Subject-Knight, which we find styled, _The Oath in such Cases accustomed to be taken_; and which was to this effect; _That the Knight should well and faithfully keep and observe, so far as God should enable him, all that was contained in the Statutes of the Order_: But this of late hath been disused, and not imposed, unless upon foreign Princes.

It is observable, that _Anno_ 4 _Hen._ VI. a particular Commission was issued, to the Earls of _Warwick_, _Salisbury_, and _Suffolk_, with Power, to any Two, or One of them, to receive this Oath from Sir _John Falstoff_, upon his Investiture; which was besides the Oath his Proctor was afterwards to take at the Installation, which Sir _John_ empowered him to do on his behalf; which was, _Such Oath as should be required at the time of Installation_.

Altho’ we have fully treated of the Ceremony and Manner of investing a Knight elect, with the _Garter_ and _George_, we shall subjoin Two or Three considerable Instances, as most proper to this Place.

When _Philip_, Prince of _Spain_, _Anno_ 1 _Mariæ_, had these Ensigns of the Order sent him, the Sovereign joyn’d Garter King of Arms, with the Earl of _Arundel_, to perform the Investiture; who, upon notice of his arrival on the Coast of _England_, set forward on their Journey to _Southampton_; where, on _Friday_ the 20th of _July_, they took Water, and meeting the Prince before he landed, entered his Barge, and gave him notice of his Election in a short Speech; which being ended, _Garter_ having the Garter in his Hand, kissed it, and so presented it to the Earl, who forthwith fasten’d it about the Prince’s Leg; and after _Garter_ had presented the Earl with the _George_, hanging at a Chain of Gold, he put it likewise about the Prince’s Neck. The Ceremony of Investiture being thus performed, the Prince came on shore at _Southampton_; and on the uppermost Stair were ready attending his landing, the Marquis of _Winchester_, Lord High Treasurer of _England_, with divers other Lords: The Prince gave the Lord _Williams_ his White Staff, and made him Lord Chamberlain of his Houshould; and Sir _Anthony Brown_, Master of his Horse, presented him, from the Queen, a Horse with a Foot-cloth of Crimson Velvet, richly embroider’d with Gold and Pearls, having the Bridle and all other Furniture suitable, whereon he rode to the Cathedral, and after Prayers to the Lodging prepared for him.

Concerning the _Garter_’s Investiture of the Earl of _Warwick_, at _Newhaven_ in _France_, the first of _May_, _Anno_ 5 _Eliz._ is as follows: The _Garter_ repairing first to the Earl’s Lodgings, put on his Mantle in the next Chamber to the Earl’s, and proceeded into the Earl’s Chamber; where, having made Three Reverences, he buckled the Garter about his left Leg, and after put on the _George_ and the Ribband about his Neck; reading to the Earl the Words of the Signification, appointed to be pronounced at the Investiture; which being concluded, _Garter_ retir’d into the Room where he had put on his Mantle, and there disrobed himself, and so the Ceremony ended.

It was the Custom about these Times, for the Nobility, Allies, or Friends, to the elect Knight, to send him by the _Garter_, several _Garters_ and _Georges_, as Marks of Congratulation for the Honour he was to receive, which the _Garter_ delivered to him when the Investiture was finished, and he had put off his Robe, with the particular Services and Respects of those Friends who had bestow’d them. For thus was it with the Earl of _Warwick_, at _Newhaven_, and the Lord _Scroop_ at _Carlisle_, _Anno_ 26 _Eliz._ At the _Garter_’s return to Court, he is obliged to deliver an Account to the Sovereign, how he hath discharged his Employment; and by special Directions from the elect Knight, who presents the highest Respects he can express, as well to the Sovereign as to the rest of the Knights-Companions, for honouring him with a Reception into so illustrious a Body.

We shall close this Section with a brief Account of the Investiture of the Duke of _Gloucester_, on _Easter-day_ in the Morning, being the 14th of _April_, 1653. In reference to which Ceremony there was provided:

1. A _Garter_ with the Motto, to be tyed about his left Leg.

2. A _George_ in a Ribband, to be put about his Neck.

3. An embroider’d _Cross_ of St. _George_, with a _Garter_ and _Star_, to be sew’d on the left Shoulder of the Duke’s Cloak.

4. A Velvet Cushion, whereon the _Ensigns_ and _Ornaments_ of the Order were to be laid.

For the Honour of the Order, and his said Highness, Sir _Edward Walker_, Garter, humbly proposed, That he might be assisted by Two or Four Knights in performing his Duty.

That his Highness the Duke might receive the Ensigns of the Order, in the Presence-Chamber of the Princess Royal, or in his own, accompanied with the Queen of _Bohemia_, her Royal Highness, and some other Persons of Honour and Quality.

That his Highness having placed himself under the State, _Garter_ should take the Cushion upon his Arms, on which were to be laid all the particular Ornaments just now mentioned; being assisted with the Knights, and a Passage left for him to make his Three Obeysances, he should proceed up towards the Duke, and lay the Cushion with the Ornaments upon a Stool set near his Highness for that purpose.

That he should signifie to his Higness, in few Words, the Cause of his coming, and then deliver into his Hands the Sovereign’s Letter.

That his Highness having receiv’d it, should break it open, and deliver it back to the _Garter_ to be read; which he having done, should return it to his Highness.

That, after this, he should proceed to the Investiture of his Highness with the Ensigns of the Order.

Which being done, he briefly represented unto his Highness, in a Speech, somewhat of the Quality and Splendor of the Order.

And, lastly, to kiss his Highness Hand, and so depart. And according to those Proposals, and in the same Order, were all Things performed.

§ 6. The Sovereign of this most Noble Order defrays the Charges of the _Garter_, whensoever, and as often as he is dispatch’d to any elect Knight-Subject, either with Letters to signifie his Election, or to invest him with the _Garter_ and _George_; and this is commonly proportioned according to the length or the shortness of the Journey. The Allowance for the Journey which Sir _Gilbert Dithick_, Garter, made into the Counties of _Lincoln_ and _Cumberland_, first to the Earl of _Rutland_, and then to the Lord _Scroop_, when Queen _Elizabeth_ was Sovereign, appears to have been 20 _l._

Besides the Sovereign’s Allowance to the _Garter_, he receives honourable Gratuities and Rewards from the elect Knight himself, after he has performed the Investiture; and these have usually been proportioned, according to the estimate of the Honour he receives, and the particular affection he has for the Garter, and the service done by him. Among whom, _Anno_ 17 _Henry_ VIII. we find the Earl of _Arundel_ bestow’d on _Thomas Wriothesley_, Garter, ten Pounds in Angelots, being then at his Mannor of _Dawnley_; and _Ralph_ Earl of _Westmoreland_, elected at the same Time with the aforesaid Earl, being at _Mile-end_, gave to him six Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence. The Earl of _Northumberland_, in the 23 of _Henry_ VIII. bestow’d on the Garter, for the verbal certifying him of his Election, four Pounds, though he went no farther than the Chapter-House Door.

Lastly, _Anno_ 26 _Elizabeth_, the Earl of _Rutland_ honourably received the Garter at _Newark_, and the Lord _Scroop_ gave him thirty Pounds in Gold, a Velvet Cloak, and a _Gallaway Nag_, and to _William Dethick_, _York Herald_, who accompanied Garter to _Carlisle_, ten Pounds.

But since these Times, the Knights elect have enlarged their gratuities to Garter, for his Service upon this Occasion.

CAP. XI.

_Of Preparations for the Personal Installation of a Knight._

§ 1. THE Inauguration of a Knight of this most Noble Order, consists in a Conjunction of many Ceremonies, and contains the most solemn part of those, which compleateth all the rest; and till this great Solemnity be regularly and duly performed, the Person elected hath not the Honour to be enrolled among the Number of Founders, but barely passes for an elect Knight, and no other: For the Statute expresly says, That in Case a Knight elect die before his Installation, He shall not be named one of the Founders; and the reason assigned for it is, because he hath not had the full Possession of his Estate, and in this Point do the other Bodies of the Statutes agree. But when the Ceremonies of Installation are compleatly finished, without all doubt the Knight is amply vested, in Possession of all Honours and Privileges appertaining to the Founder of this most Noble Order. But to spur up each elect Knight, who is either a Subject to his Sovereign, or resides within the Realm, (and consequently is better able to provide for Installment, than one remaining in Foreign Parts,) for the completion of his Honour, or else to wave the Act of Election, he has the space of one Year allowed him by the Statutes for Installation, otherwise his Election is ordained to be absolutely null and void: Nor can there be any Motive sufficient to retard the Sovereign from proceeding to a new Election, unless the elect Knight send or produce an Extenuation or Excuse for such his delay, fit to be excepted by the Sovereign or his Deputy, and the whole of that resplendent Body, or that the Sovereign himself think fit to defer the Ceremony of Installation for some time longer. For which reason, when certain Articles, tending to the Honour of the Order, had been prepared by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant and ten Knights-Companions, in a Chapter held the 24th of _April_, _Anno_ 21 _Jacobus_ I. ratified by the Sovereign, and ordered to be observed; one of them was for accelerating the Installation, after the Knight had been elected, yet qualified with this Exception: _Unless for some special Cause the Sovereign shou’d think fit to defer the same until the Eve or Day of St._ George _next following, the Time of Election_.

§ 2. The Feast of Installation hath not been hitherto assigned to any certain Period of Time, but has always depended upon the Will and Pleasure of the Sovereign, to affix a convenient Day, which hath been granted upon the request of the Knights elect, or some other of the Knights-Companions, whose Favour and Esteem with the Sovereign was best able to prevail; such a one do we find _Anno_ 35 _Elizabeth_; who, on the behalf of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, obtained the 19th of _June_ the said Year, to be appointed for the Installation. It sometimes happens, that though the Day of Installation be prefixed, yet something extraordinary intervening, it hath been prorogued to a farther and more convenient Season for the Sovereign’s Affairs. And the most remarkable Instance is set down, _Anno_ 3 and 4 _Philip_ and _Mary_, when the Earl of _Sussex_, the Lord _Grey_, and Sir _Robert Rochester_, Knights elect, had their Installation, together with the Feast of St. _George_, prorogued to the 10th of _May_ in the Year aforesaid. But many urgent Affairs, relating both to the King and the Queen, fell out about that time; not only the Grand Feast, but the Solemnity of their Installation were prorogued to the 5th of _December_, and stood so by several Prorogations, to the 20th of _February_ next ensuing; yet it was ordered that the Earl of _Sussex_ shou’d be immediately installed, which was performed on the 8th of _January_, and the Lord _Grey_ the 20th of _April_ following; but Sir _Robert Rochester_ never obtained that Honour.

Though the time of Installation be arbitrary and uncertain, yet hath the Place, from the first Institution of the Order, been appointed only to the Sovereign’s Free Chapel of St. _George_, within whose Choice are erected the Sovereigns and Knights-Companions Stalls, and under its sacred Roof their Banners and Atchievements are affixed, as Monuments of their high Merit, and so great Honour. For though the Celebration of the Grand Feast of St. _George_, happened to be removed from _Windsor_, by a Decree of the 1 _Elizabeth_; yet the Feast of the Installation was excepted, and ordered to be Solemniz’d in that Place: For _Anno_ 21 _Jac._ I. it was provided among the Orders, _That after an Election made of a Knight of the Order, his Installation shou’d be performed at_ Windsor, _according to the ancient Customs and Statutes of the Order_. When the Sovereign hath been pleased to prefix a certain Day for this Solemnity of Installation, there are several things to be obtained, previous to it. (1.) A Commission to admit and instal the elect Knight. (2.) Letters to each of the Commissioners, and the elect Knight, to repair to _Windsor_. (3.) Warrants for the Sovereign’s Livery. (4.) A Bill or Warrant for the removal of Stalls and Atchievements, all signed by the Chancellor of the Order, with the Sign Manual of the Sovereign: And lastly, the Knights own Preparations; among which his Atchievements are to be ready to be hung up, as soon as he is installed.

§ 3. No elect Knight can be installed, unless by the Sovereign of the Order himself, or by his Commission drawn up in Writing, and passed under the Great-Seal of the Order, directed either to his Lieutenant or Knights-Commissioners. There is but one Instance to be found, where the Sovereign hath been pleased to Honour a Knight by installing of him himself; and that was _Philip_ of _Castile_ and _Leon_, _Anno_ 22 _Henry_ VII. yet it is feasible enough that _Sigismond_ the Emperor, and some other Foreign Princes of Rank and Eminence, might be installed by other Sovereigns, though there’s no Memorial left upon Record. _In reference to Installation by Commission, it was ordained by the Statutes of Institution; That in Case the Sovereign shou’d be absent out of the Kingdom, at the Time of Installation of any of the Knights, so as he could not personally perform those things his Office obliged him to, it shou’d be Lawful for him to Constitute, as his Deputy in this Affair, whomsoever of the Society he shou’d think fit; and he to have Power and Authority, in the Sovereign’s Name, to Perform and Execute these Things, which it wou’d have been in his own part to have done, had he been Present._ By Virtue of this Article, the Sovereign’s Deputy, or Lieutenant, performed the Ceremony before the Reign of King _Henry_ VIII. which was usually done at the Feast of St. _George_; but in the Commission given out for Installation, formerly the Lieutenant was first mentioned, and the Knights-Companions appointed for his Assistance at the said Feast, were joined with him in the Commission for Installation; but of late, the Commission hath passed to the Lieutenant alone. King _Henry_ VIII. by his Statutes, enlarged the Power of his Deputy, and they run to two or more of the Knights-Companions, that shou’d Exercise the same by the Sovereign’s Letters of Commission. And by the Privilege of this Article, whensoever after, the Sovereign’s did Constitute an Installation, otherwise than at the Feast of St. _George_, they then delegated their Authority to such of the Knights-Companions as were judged most proper to perform this Ceremony. The Year after the enacting this Statute, there’s a Commission recorded to be issued out to the Marquiss of _Dorset_, and the Earls of _Devonshire_ and _Kent_, to Instal the Lords _Ferrers_ of _Chartley_, the substance of which is in our Annals. The particular Powers these Commissions have granted to them, are to accept and admit the Knight into the Order, to receive the Oath, and to Instal him; And their general Power is, to effect and accomplish every Point which belongs to his due Admittance, and plenary Instalment.

§ 4. Besides, the Commission impowering the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, or Knights-Commissioners, therein nominated to the Installation of an elect Knight, it hath been a matter frequent with the Sovereign, to Issue out Letters of Summons under his privy Signet, both to the Commissioners for Installation, and elect Knights, under the signet of the Order; those to the Commissioners are directed severally to each, nominated in the Commission; who are to give them notice of the Instalment, and to require their repair to _Windsor_, against the Day assigned, that they may proceed to their Installation. Those directed to the elect Knights, pass likewise under the Sovereign’s Sign Manual, and Signet of the Order; and if there be two or more Knights appointed to be Installed on the same Day, the like Letter is sent to each of them, the difference being only in the Direction.

Besides these Letters sent from the Sovereign, the Chancellor (if the Sovereign be absent,) in his circular Letter to the Knights-Companions, gives them an intimation of the designed Installation, upon the Feast of St. _George_. And if the Feast be held either by the Sovereign or his Lieutenant, he dispatcheth a Letter to the Prelate of the Order, intimating the Sovereign’s Commands for his attendance at the Day appointed; and if it be performed by Commissioners, he issues his Letters to the three inferior Officers of the Order, purporting the same Command; the conveyance of which appertains to the Garter, and are left to his Care, and Trust, by the Constitutions relating to the Order, whose allowances and rewards upon these and such like Services, in their due Place, shall be considered.

§ 5. The third matter to be obtained by the Chancellor of the Order, is the Sovereign’s Warrant, directed for the Master of the Great Wardrobe, for the Time being, to deliver so much Velvet for the Livery of the Order, as will make the Knight elect a Surcoat and Hood, and as much Sarcenet or Taffety as will serve to line them: Of such a Warrant there is an ancient Precedent in Latin, entered in the Black Book of the Order; where it runs, _Nos ideo volumus & præcipimus, ut hinc Tabellioni virgas Octodecem subrubri ostri de more tradas, cum tanto albo serico, quanto vestimentum inde conficiendum infulciri poterit, pro liverata (quam vocant) sua, &c._ There is likewise inserted another Precedent in English of the like Nature, for the delivery of these Materials to Sir _John Wallop_ Kt. elected _Anno_ 38 _Henry_ VIII. and in the same Form run all the Warrants of Queen _Mary_ and Queen _Elizabeth_.