Part 31

§ 4. Before we come to the particular Ceremonies of the Installation, transacted either by the Sovereign, (or in his absence by his Lieutenant or Commissioners,) we shall premise this general Remark: That since neither the Statutes of _Institution_, nor those of King _Henry_ V. afford us a Formulary for the Personal Installation of a Knight elect; yet those enacted by King _Henry_ VIII. do briefly exhibit the Order and Method of it. And we must farther observe, that if the Installation be appointed together with the Feast of St. _George_, then either the Sovereign, or else his Lieutenant and Assistants are present; but if at any other Season, then it passeth by Commissioners only.

After such time therefore as the Sovereign, his Lieutenant, or Commissioners, have prefixed the Hour wherein to proceed to the Chapter House, in Order to the Installation, (which has generally been dispatched in the Evening,) all the _Knights-Companions_, and elect Knights, the Officers of the Order, and of Arms, the Prebends of the College, and Alms-Knights, are to give their Attendance, _viz._ the Knights-Companions, and elect Knights, and Officers, of the Order, on the Sovereign, in his inward Lodging; the elect Knights, and Officers of Arms, in the Presence Chamber, the Prebends and Alms-Knights, in the Great Chamber, where they waited the Sovereign’s coming forth.

The Attendance to be given upon the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, and such of the Knights-Companions as are appointed for his Assistants, is by the Officers of the Order and of Arms, the Prebends and Alms-Knights, either at his Lodgings, or elsewhere he shall deem meet to appoint; from which the Knights-Companions are exempt. For though the Knights-Companions have sometimes proceeded to the Chappel before the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, at an Installation, yet hath it been at such time only, as they accompanied their Sovereign to _Windsor_, to hold the Feast of St. _George_; and if the Sovereign, through any Indisposition, or weighty Affair, cou’d not pass down to the Chappel on the Eve of the Feast, yet they being obliged by the Statutes to celebrate _Vespers_, did upon this Occasion proceed thither, though not upon the Account of Installation; as it fell out at the Installation of Prince _Henry_, and four other Knights, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. when the Progression began from the Presence Chamber, and thence passed to the Chappel in the following Order.

1. Alms-Knights. 2. Prebends. 3. Pursuivants. 4. Heralds. 5. _Ulster_ King of Arms. 6. _Lyon_ King of Arms. 7. _Clarenceux_ King of Arms. 8. The four elect Knights. 9. Knights-Companions. 10. Garter. 11. Register. 12. Black Rod. 13. Chancellor. 14. The Sovereign’s Lieutenant leading the Prince in his Hand.

At the Installation of the Duke of _Brunswick_, and five other elect Knights, the 23d of _November_, _Anno_ 1 _Car._ I. the Knights-Companions likewise proceeded before the Sovereign’s Lieutenants, tho’ the Sovereign was at _Windsor_, but not in the Cavalcade.

Upon the Sovereign’s Commissioners, neither the Knights-Companions, nor the Prelate, nor Chancellor, do give their Attendance; only at the Grand Feast of St. _George_, _Anno_ 13 _Car._ II. the Chancellor then waiting on the Sovereign at _Windsor_, in the Duties of his Place, out of a singular Regard to his Royal Highness the Duke of _York_, attending the Commissioners in the proceeding to his Installation, for at that time he was Comptroller of his Houshould.

The Proceedings on this solemn Occasion have been generally order’d on Foot; yet upon extraordinary Incidents have been marshalled and disposed on Horse-back, in manner of a Cavalcade, as was used at the Installation of _Philip_ King of _Castile_, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VII. and that when the Lord _Russel_ and other elect Knights were installed, _Anno_ 31 _Hen._ VIII. King _Philip_ (when the Earl of _Sussex_ was installed, _Anno_ 1 and 2. _Ph._ and _Mar._) honoured him with his Presence, and riding on Horse-back, with several of the Knights-Companions, from his Lodgings in the Castle, down to the Cloister Door, at the East-End of the Chappel, and there alighting, proceeded directly to the Chapter-House. The Proceeding was on Horse-back, at the Installation of the Earl of _Shrewsbury_ and the Lord _Hunsdon_, _Anno_ 3 _Eliz._ and at the Earl of _Northumberland_’s and Earl of _Warwick_’s, _Anno_ 5. At the Installation of _Francis_, Duke _Montmorency_, the Viscount _Hereford_, and the Lords _Burleigh_, _Grey_, and _Shandos_, _Anno_ 14 _Eliz._ The Sovereign’s Lieutenant and Knights Assistants did Robe themselves in the Sovereign’s Lodging in the Castle; and meeting in the Presence Chamber, proceeded downwards towards the outer Hall-door, in the upper Ward of the Castle, when taking their Horses, adorned with Foot Clothes, they proceeded on Horse-back to the West Door of the Chappel.

If the Progression was begun on Horse-back at the beginning of the Feast, so it continued, as often as the Sovereign (his Lieutenant or Commissioner) went to the Chapter-House, or Chappel, and their returns were marshalled in the like Order at their setting out.

The Servants and Attendants belonging to the Knights elect, (if they be taken into the Procession,) pass on first two and two in a Rank, according to their Quality; and those who are the most inferior, the foremost: Next the Alms-Knights in their Habits and usual Order.

Then follows the Virger of the College.

After him the Prebends or Canons: But what attendance they have given heretofore at the Installations, the Memoirs of this illustrious Society is wholly silent in; for in those Schemes left us of proceeding to Installations, in the Reigns of King _Henry_ VIII. King _Edward_ VI. Queen _Mary_, and part of Queen _Elizabeth_, we find them not inserted, though since they are next to the Prebends of the College, the Pursuivants, Heralds, and Provincial Kings of Arms, proceed in a Body.

After them the Knights-Subjects elect, unless the Proctor of an absent Knight-Subject, pass at the same time in this Proceeding, who take Place after the Provincial Kings: And if it so chance, that the Proctor to a Stranger-Prince be present at the same time, he is to proceed between the Knight-Subject’s Proctor, and the Knights-Subject elect. But Prince _Henry_ at his Installation, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. moved in a Place Superior to all the Knights-Companions, and was paired with the Earl of _Nottingham_, the Sovereign’s Lieutenant for that Occasion. Where two or more elect Knights prepare for their Installation at the same time, they take Place according to the Seniority of their Election, going two and two together; and if the Number be odd, the Junior elect Knight passeth alone. Formerly the elect Knight passed in his ordinary Apparel, wearing over it in Days of Yore a short Gown, afterwards a Cloak, and of latter Times a Coat, as did the Earl of _Northumberland_, _Anno_ 5 _Eliz._ and the Earls of _Pembrook_ and _Derby_, _Anno_ 16 _Eliz._ and the Annals of the Order make this remark upon the Earl of _Sussex_, and the Lord _Buckhurst_, _Anno_ 31 of _Eliz._ of _Charles_ Duke of _York_, _An._ 9 _Jac._ I. But this was before any peculiar under Habit, was appointed to the Knights-Companions, for now there being a Cloth of Silver Doublet, and Trunk Hose, established to be worn at the Feast of Installation, and of St. _George_, the elect Knight proceeds in this Dress, as did the Duke of _Albermarle_, _Anno_ 23 _Car._ II.

In this proceeding to the Chapter-House, he wears only the Garter about his Leg, and the George and the Ribbond wherewith he was invested, either about his Neck, or as of late drawn under his right Arm, which being omitted by Sir _George Villars_, and Viscount _Lisle_, is noted to be contrary to order.

The Earl of _Rutland_ with his Fellow elect Knights, _Anno_ 14 _Jac._ I. proceeded Bare-headed, as did the Duke of _Lenox_, _Anno_ 9 _Car._ I. as well as the Duke of _Albermarle_, _Anno_ 23 _Car._ II.

The elect Knight does not always make one in this Proceeding, but sometimes stays at his Lodgings in the Castle, as did the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, _Anno_ 34 _Eliz._ or else at some other convenient Station adjoining to the Chapter-House, till he be sent for in thither, to receive Investiture with the Surcoat, as the Duke of _Montmorency_ did, and other elect Knights, _Anno_ 14 _Eliz._ who went privately from the Sovereign’s Lodgings, down to the House of Mr. _French_, (then one of the Prebends,) and rested in the Parlour, until they were sent for: Sometimes the Knight elect goes privately into the East-Isle of the Chappel behind the High Altar, and there remains till called in, as did the Duke of _Monmouth_, _Anno_ 15 _Car._ II.

If the Sovereign be present at the Installation, the Knights-Companions proceed next after the Knights elect, according to the order of their Stalls; but if the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, then his Assistants go in their Places; as at the Installation of the Earl of _Shrewsbury_ and Lord _Hunsdon_, _Anno_ 3 _Eliz._ makes plain, the proceeding being ordered after this manner.

1. Vergers. 2. Alms-Knights. 3. Officers of Arms. 4. Elect-Knights. 5. Assistants to the Lieutenants. 6· Officers of the Order. 7. Earl of _Arundel_, Lieutenant.

If the Installation be dispatched by Commissioners, then the three inferior Officers of the Order immediately follow the Knight elect, and proceed next before the Commissioners, and they were thus marshalled at the Installation of the Earl of _Northampton_, _Anno_ 5 _Car._ I.

1. The Earls Servants. 2. Alms-Knights. 3. Prebends. 4. Heralds. 5. Elect-Knights. 6. Officers of the Order. 7. The Sovereign’s Commissioners.

Yet _Anno_ 16 _Eliz._ at the Installation of the Earls of _Pembrook_ and _Derby_, we find the Officers did precede the elect Knights, but it was through inadvertency; at the Installation of the Earl of _Northampton_, some Question and Debate arose, concerning the precedency of these three Officers, in this proceeding, where it was at length concluded, that from the Castle to the Chappel, they shou’d proceed before the Commissioners; but in returning from the Chappel to the Castle, they shou’d follow.

We presume the Question, (whatsoever it was) chanced not to be propounded, till the proceeding was ready to pass on, and then started on a sudden, because the Heralds (as the Annals note,) did not quickly discypher the matter, that it proceeded more from surprize, than want of Ability to resolve.

This determination which took Place, was barely grounded upon Conjecture, and if seriously considered, will appear disconsonant to Precedents and Practice, both before and since; where all returns are marshalled answerable to their setting forth, unless the Condition of any Person in the mean time suffer a Mutation.

It’s observable, that when Installation pass by Commissioners only, these three inferior Officers wear their Robes, but bear not the Ensigns of their Office in the Proceeding. And this seems to be deduced from particular Injunctions, laid down in the Constitutions belonging to the Officers of the Order, which appoint Garter and Black-Rod to bear the Ensigns of their Offices at the Feast of St. _George_, when the Sovereign or his Deputy shall be present; whence it may be inferred, that if either chance to be absent, they are under no obligation to bear them: For at the Installations of _Frederick_, King of _Denmark_, and _John Casimire_, Count Palatine of the _Rhine_, _Anno_ 25 _Eliz._ no Ensigns were born by the Officers; and so was it practised the Year after, at the Installations of the Earl of _Rutland_ and Lord _Cobham_, as the Red-Book of Order plainly sets forth. But if the Sovereign himself be present, or that he constitute a Lieutenant in his stead, the Register then carries the Red-Book, and the Garter and the Black-Rod bear each of them their Rods. It is remarkable, that in every proceeding to Installation, by Lieutenant, or Commissioners, the Garter carries the Sovereign’s Commission in his Hand before them to the Chapter-House. At the Installation of the Earls of _Derby_ and _Moreton_, the Officers of the Order proceeded before the Knights to the Chapter-House, not only without the Ensigns of their Office, but their Heads covered; and the reporter of this Installation gives this for a reason; because there was then neither the Sovereign, nor his Lieutenant, representing the King’s Person, present.

The Sovereign sometimes being willing to confer additional Honours to some elect Knights, hath appointed their Installation at such time as he personally solemnized the Feast of St. _George_, as he did at the Installation and Election of _Philip_ King of _Castile_, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VII. which for its memorableness, and mixt proceeding on Horse-back, we shall insert in this Place: He passed from the Sovereign’s Lodging in the Castle, to the South-Door of St. _George_’s-_Chappel_, and was thus ordered.

1. Knights according to their Degrees. 2. Lords after their Degrees. 3. Knights-Companions in their whole Habit, bearing Company with some of the Knights of the Order of _Joyson d’Or_. 4. Prelate of the Order. 5. Archbishop of _Canterbury_. 6. The _Spanish_ Ambassador. 7. _Joyson d’Or_, King of Arms, in Coat of Arms. 8. Garter King of Arms, in his Coat of Arms. 9. The Sword. 10. _Philip_ King of _Castile_. 11. The Prince. 12. King _Henry_ VII. Sovereign of the Order.

_Anno_ 19 _Jac._ I. was another instance at the Feast of St. _George_, when the Sovereign, with several Knights-Companions, proceeded also to the Chapel, at the personal Installation of _Frederick_, Prince Palatine of the _Rhine_; we might add several other Examples, but shall only mention that of the personal appearance of King _Charles_ II. at the grand Feast of St. _George_, held next after his happy Restoration, whereat twelve elect Knights were installed. At this Solemnity of Installation, the Sovereign proceeds in full Robes, having the Sword of State born before him by a Nobleman not of the Order, his Train-bearers, _&c._ following the Sovereign’s Lieutenant and his Assistants, as also the Commissioners proceed in full Robes, which is mention’d, _Anno_ 31 _Henry_ VIII. when the Earl of _Arundel_ and his Assistants installed the Lord _Russel_ and two other elect Knights, but the Sovereign’s Lieutenant only hath his Train carried up, which is usually perform’d by some of his own Gentlemen.

The Processional way (if beginning in the Presence-Chamber,) is from thence in the upper Ward of the Castle, and through the other Wards in at the Cloyster Door, and so to the Chapter-House; but if from the Dean’s House, they go only through the Cloysters, into which there is an immediate Passage from the Deanry: The proceeding having entred the East Door of St. _George_’s Chapel, and past by the Chapter-House Door, makes a stand in the North Isle; while first the Officers of the Order, next the Knights-Commissioners, or else the Knights-Assistants, and the Sovereign’s Lieutenant; or lastly the Knights-Companions, and the Sovereign with the Sword born before him, pass into the Chapter-House, but the Knight or Knights elect do not enter, but as they come in at the Chapel-Door, they fall off on the left Hand into the East Isle behind the high Altar, and there repose themselves, (on Chairs or Stools, with Cushions purposely prepared,) until they are called into the Chapter-House. This hath generally been the Custom, of which many Examples might be produced, but in respect to great Personages they have been sometimes (though rarely) admitted into the Chapter-House, with the Sovereign or his Lieutenant, among whom _Philip_ of _Castile_ and _Leon_, _Anno_ 22 _Henry_ VII. and Prince _Henry_, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. the latter was led in by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, when four other elect Knights installed with him sat till they receiv’d their Summons to enter.

Sometime the Sovereign and Knights-Companions wav’d going to the Chapter-House, and pass’d immediately into the Choir, as did King _James_ _Anno_ 9. when _Charles_ Duke of _York_ and others were installed; the like did King _Charles_ I. but then a Chapter was held in the Privy-Chamber, before the proceeding set forward; and in the former instance, when the proceeding came as far as the East End of the Chapel, the Duke of _York_, _&c._ with _Norroy_ before them, went out of the proceeding into the Chapter-House, and there reposed, while the Sovereign proceeded on to the South Door of the Chapel, and thence into the Choir.

_The Ceremonies perform’d in the Chapter-House._

§ 5. After the Lieutenant’s entrance into the Chapter-House, and opening the Chapter; Garter, with three Reverences, presents first the Commissioners of Lieutenancy to hold the Feast, next that of Installation, to the Lieutenant, (or if the Installation pass’d by Commissioners, then only the Commission of Installation to the Senior Commissioner,) which being receiv’d, he delivers it to the Register of the Order, who forthwith Reads it; for to him this Duty belongs, as is recorded in the Black-Book of the Order, on occasion of Garter’s reading the Commission for Installation of Sir _Thomas Brandon_, _Anno_ 22 _Henry_ VII. the Register being then absent.

When the Register hath read the Commissions, he returns them to the Lieutenant, (or Commissioners,) and he again to the Garter, as at the Installation of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, _Anno_ 34 _Eliz._ If the Sovereign be present, the Chancellor acquaints him the Knights elect are without, otherwise the Lieutenant, and Assistants, (or Commissioners) consult touching the calling in, and receiving them, and Garter is usually employed in this Service; who, with all due respect, compliments and conducts him to the Chapter-House Door: But in the instance of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_ aforesaid, Garter went to their Lodgings, and having delivered his Message, they forthwith repaired to the Chapter-House, their Train attending them to the Door: At the Installation of _Francis_ Duke of _Montmorency_, the Earl of _Leicester_, then the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, as an evidence of singular respect, sent from the Chapter two of the four Assistants assigned him, who taking Garter, and the Officers of Arms before them, led him thence between them to the Chapter-House.

When there are two or more elect Knights, that wait in the East Isle, expecting to be called in, Garter first conducts the Senior by Election to the Chapter-House Door, and so the rest in their several Orders, as in 14 _Jac._ I. by the Earl of _Rutland_, Sir _George Villars_, and the Viscount _Lisle_; and so again 13 _Car._ II. As soon as Garter hath conducted the elect Knight to the Chapter-House Door, two of the Commissioners, (when the Installation is performed by Commissioners,) or two of the Knights-Assistants, (when by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant,) or two of the Senior Knights, (if the Sovereign himself be present,) receive him without, who is immediately conducted from the Chapter-House Door, up to the Sovereign, (his Lieutenant, or Commissioners,) to whom he makes humble Reverence; when the Lieutenant, (or Senior Commissioners,) in a short Speech, publishes the effect of his Commission, and declares to him the Sovereign’s bounty and ready kindness, in a full admittance into this Honourable Society, which the elect Knight very humbly acknowledges and accepts. When _Philip_ King of _Castile_ and _Leon_ was installed in Person, _Anno_ 22 _Henry_ VII. the Sovereign being present rose from his Throne, and gave him Information of the Statutes and Ceremonies of the Order, and how he was bound by them; to all which he freely and readily assented.

These Ceremonies of receiving an elect Knight being over, he disrobes himself of his upper Garment, then the Surcoat and Kirtle is taken from the Table, with which he is invested; and during this Ceremony, the following Words of Admonition, entred at the end of King _Hen._ VIII’s Book of English Statutes, are read or spoken.

_Take this Robe of Purple, to the encrease of your Honour, and in Token, or Sign, of the most Honourable Order you have receiv’d; wherewith you being defended, may be bold not only strong to Fight, but also to offer your self to shed your Blood for Christ’s Faith, the Liberties of the Church, and the just and necessary defence of them that are oppressed and needy._

After this, his Sword is close girt about him over his Surcoat, by the Commissioners, (or the Assistants to the Lieutenant, or some of the Knights-Companions,) and sometimes in the way of assistance, Garter hath done this Service; and as soon as the Ceremony is over, the Sovereign, or his Lieutenant, proceeds into the Choir, leaving the elect Knights behind them: The Hood was heretofore put on in the Chapter-House, (for so the Statutes of King _Henry_ VIII. do appoint,) after the elect Knight hath been invested with his Surcoat, and before he proceeded to his Installation; but of late, because it must be taken off again in the Choir, and laid aside, that the Mantle may be put on, it hath been esteemed a sort of diminution in the Investiture to take off any part of the Habit before the whole Investiture be compleated; so that in the beginning of the Reign of King _James_ I. it was judged more convenient that the Hood should be carried on the Cushion by Garter into the Choir, together with the Mantle and Collar, and not be put on till after Investiture with the Mantle; and thus it was observed at the Feasts of St. _George_, 13, 15, and 23 _Car._ II. And though antiently it was laid over the left Shoulder, and so worn upon all Occasions, yet _Anno_ 2 and 3 _Phil._ and _Mar._ the wearing it so being taken notice of to obscure the Escutcheon of St. _George_, embroidered on the same Shoulder of the Mantle, it was decreed in a Chapter held the same Year, 22 of _April_, that for the future the Knights-Companions should wear their Hoods on their right Shoulders, to the end that the Escutcheon might be the better seen and appear.