Part 33

But some have been of Opinion, that the Commissioners named to this Employment, ought not to divide the Duty, and part of them to Instal one, and part the other, and by such an alternative to dispatch the Ceremony, as in former Cases; but all jointly assist at each Installation: Of which Opinion there is an Instance at the Installation of the Earl of _Salisbury_, and the Viscount _Bindon_, 4 _Jac._ I. where the Earl having been brought into the Choir, invested and installed by the Earls of _Nottingham_ and _Suffolk_, the two Senior Commissioners, the other two Commissioners who were left behind in the Chapter-House, to conduct the Viscount to his Stall, remembring that all four were joint Commissioners, apprehended that the Earl was not legally installed, because they, as Co-partners in the Commission, had not assisted; and this Opinion being debated, prevailed so far, that it was agreed to be imparted to the Earl of _Salisbury_, who submitted to descend into the lower Seats before his Stall, and there all four Commissioners gave him his Oath again, then led him to his Stall, and a second Time invested and installed him; and so of the Viscount _Bindon_.

But this Method was not only new, but different from former Practice, as in all the cases before recited; and besides, where the Sovereign hath authorized his Lieutenant to perform this Ceremony, and appointed some of the Knights-Companions to assist, they, and not the Lieutenant, have done the Duty belonging to Installation, that part of it of investing with the Collar in the Chapter-House, the whole Duty at the Installation of Prince _Henry_ excepted. And ’tis to be farther observed, that the foregoing case of the joint Assistance in the Installation of the Earl of _Salisbury_, was thought so little Essential, or worthy of becoming a Precedent, that at the very next Feast, when the Earls of _Dunbar_ and _Montgomery_ were installed, 6 _Jac._ I. and four Commissioners appointed, the two Senior installed the Earl of _Dunbar_, and the two Junior the Earl of _Montgomery_; and so again, 10 _Car._ I. by the Earls of _Danby_ and _Moreton_. But lastly, if the Sovereign be present, and consequently the Knights-Companions perform this Ceremony, then there is generally so many of them as can go through the whole, without changing, after the manner used when done by Commissioners or Assistants; in which case the two Senior Knights-Companions descend from their Stalls, and passing thro’ the Choir to the Chapter-House with the Proceeding before them, conduct to his Installation the eldest elect Knight; and having performed that whole Ceremony, return and take their Stalls, and so the rest in due Order; as was practised at the Installation of Prince _Henry_, and others, 1 _Jac._ I. and of the Earl of _Rutland_, 14 _Jac._ I. and at the grand Feast of St. _George_, 13 _Car._ II. but here the separate proceeding with each single Knight to and from the Chapter House, taking too much time, and the Day being far spent in the Ceremonies of the Dukes of _Ormond_ and _Buckingham_; the Sovereign ordered, that with the next Proceeding, the rest of the elect Knights, being eight, besides two Proxies, should all be introduced at once; so that each of them being placed before his Stall, took the Oath, receiv’d his Investiture, and was led up to his Stall, and took Possession of it by solemn Installation.

And in regard so many Knights elect were introduced together, it was judged necessary, that their Mantles and Collars should be likewise brought in the proceeding, and each elect Knight appointed one of the Gentlemen that attended him, to bear the Cushion whereon they were laid, before him to the Choir Door, where they held them in their Arms, till Garter in due order fetch’d them into the Choir: And here we may insert this general Rule, that at all Installations, where some of the elect Knights are not sent for unto the Chapter-House, to receive Investiture with the Surcoat, before the Senior elect Knight hath been conducted to his Stall, but left to repose themselves in the East Isle of the Chappel, as hath often happened, the Knights Commissioners, or Assistants, on their return to the Chapter-House, send Garter for the next Senior elect Knight, whom they receive at the Door thereof, and having invested him with his Surcoat, and girt his Sword about him, proceed with him to his Installation in the usual manner. And the same method is observed if there were more elect Knights to follow; and we find it 30 _Henry_ VIII. 16, and 34, and 10 _Car._ I.

The Knight, or Knights, having now receiv’d a compleat Installation, the Knights-Commissioners, Assistants, or Knights-Companions, with marks of Respect, take their leave of the last installed Knight, and descending into the Choir, take their own Stalls; but the Senior Knight-Companion ascends first: But observe, that if the Stalls of the Knights-Commissioners, Assistants, or Knights-Companions, be on the same side with the last installed Knight, then they descend not into the Choir, but pass directly to them along the Stalls, as in the 34 _Eliz._ The Ceremonies of Installation being finished, the Officers of Arms first, next the Alms-Knights, descend from the Steps of the Altar, and take their several Stations in the Choir; then one of the Prebends of the College, or, if the Sovereign be present, the Prelate, with the Serjeant of the Vestry before him, is conducted to the Altar by the Verger of the Chappel, and there begins the Service appointed by the Church, which being ended, the Proceeding passes out of the Choir in usual Order, either to the Presence-Chamber, or the Lieutenants, or Commissioners Lodgings, as the Occasion is.

_The Offering of Gold and Silver._

§ 9. But if the Installation be solemnized in the Morning, the Service of the Church having proceeded as far as the Offertory, two of the Prebends, appointed to recieve the Offering, are conducted to the Altar by their Verger, and first the Alms-Knights, then the Officers of Arms, ascend the Steps of the Altar again, and stand in order as before. After which, Garter Summons down the Knights-Companions to the Offering, who descend into the Choir under their proper Stalls, as does the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, who offers first for the Sovereign, he receiving the Bezant from the Senior Knight, and then returns to his Stall: And at this instant, was the usual time heretofore for offering the Defunct Knights Atchievements, which was altered by King _James_ I. as will be seen hereafter.

The Lieutenant, after a short stay in his Stall, descends again, and proceeds up to the Altar, to make his own Offering of Gold and Silver, and then returns, as do the rest of the Knights-Companions, including those newly installed, in their due order. But when the Installation passes by Commissioners, there is then no Offering made for the Sovereign, but the Commissioners offer first, and after them the other Knights in due order.

The Ceremony of Offering at the Installation of _Philip_, King of _Castile_, 22 _Henry_ VII. is remarkable. He descended from his Stall into the Choir, and standing before it, as the other Knights-Companions did, the Sovereign left his Royal Stall to proceed to the Offering, to which the King would have followed, but the Sovereign would not permit, obliging the King to proceed along with him, on his left Hand, though he desired to perform his Duty as a Brother of the Order, so that they made their Offerings so near together, where, though the Sovereign had the Precedence, yet ’twas hardly observable.

_Of the grand Dinner at the Installation._

§ 10. On the Day of Installation, there hath, from ancient Time, been appointed a Noble and Sumptuous Feast, and though it was agreed on in a Chapter, 3 _Edward_ VI. _That the Knights elect might, from thenceforth, be installed by Commission without a Feast_; yet after his Reign, we find the old custom of a Feast at this Solemnity restored.

If the Sovereign appoint the Installation to be when the Feast of St. _George_ is also celebrated, and is himself personally present, the Feast is then kept at the Sovereign’s Charge; and if in such case he constitute a Lieutenant, then the Installation Dinner is kept at the Charge of the Lieutenant; and is usually prepared in some of the Sovereign’s Lodgings in the Castle, but seldom in St. _George_’s Hall; as was done by the Earl of _Arundel_, at the Installation of the Earl of _Shrewsbury_, and the Lord _Hunsdon_, 3 _Eliz._ But when the Installation is kept at any other time of the Year, than that of St. _George_’s Feast, then the new installed Knights are at all the Expence; who generally have had the Dinner prepared in the Dean’s Lodgings; however, be it where it will, the Sovereign, or his Lieutenant, Commissioners, or Assistants, together with the new installed Knights, proceed thither in full Robes; which is observed in the Installation of 3 _Eliz._ above, to be according to the ancient Custom. At the Installation, 31 _Henry_ VIII. the Sovereign’s Lieutenant walked alone, after him his two Assistants, and lastly the new installed Knights.

The Lieutenant’s Place at the Table is somewhat on the left Hand the Cloath of State, there sat the Earl of _Arundel_, 3 _Eliz._ but the other four Knights-Companions, his two Assistants, and the two new installed Knights, sat toward the Table’s End on both Sides, for that they could not well sit all on a side. But of late Years, as at the Installation, 5 _Car._ I. a Question arose, whether the Lieutenant or Commissioners should sit at Dinner in their Habits, since the Power given them seemed to expire when the Knights were elected; (though unanimously allowed the new installed Knights ought to do so,) and likewise Precedents quoted, as 29 _Henry_ VIII. at the Installation of the Lord _Cromwell_, where the Knights put off their Habits, and dined in their ordinary Apparel; and so of the Earl of _Rutland_, and the Lord _Cobham_, 26 _Eliz._ where the Commissioners did the same, and the new installed Knights kept on only their Surcoats: But what followed on this Debate is not mention’d; but the general Practice at other Times hath been of keeping on the Habit till the Dinner is ended.

At the second Course, called also second Mess, or second Service, Garter, accompanied with the Officers of Arms, Proclaims the Stiles and Titles of Honour of the Sovereign (if he be personally, or by his Lieutenant, present,) in _Latin_, _French_, and _English_, and cries Largess thrice; next the Stiles of the new installed Knights in _French_, or _English_ only, with two Largesses, and in that Order they were installed. And thus it was at the Installation of _Charles_, Duke of _York_, 9 _Jac._ I. of _Frederick_, Prince Palatine, 10 _Jac._ I. and the Earl of _Rutland_, and others, 14 _Jac._ I.

_Philip_, King of _Castile_, Dined with the Sovereign in his Privy-Chamber, 22 _Henry_ VII. whose Stile was Proclaimed by Garter, not in the same Room, but at the Sovereign’s great Chamber-Door, and in St. _George_’s _Hall_, after Largess had been thrice cryed. When the Sovereign constitutes a Lieutenant, then is the Lieutenant’s Stile also Proclaimed, and to his other Honours is added this of his Lieutenancy, and afterwards the Stiles of the new installed Knights, as 3 _Eliz._ But the Order of this Ceremony is more particularly observed at the Installation of the Duke _de Montmorency_, and others, 14 _Eliz._ where first Garter cried Largess, and next Proclaimed the Sovereign’s Stile, _&c._ in three Languages, then stepping two Foot back, Proclaims the Lieutenant’s Stile in _French_ only, with two Largesses; and after that, he cried one Largess for the Duke; and lastly, for all the other new installed Knights, only two Largesses, and the Officers of Arms did the like; and still as Garter had finished his Proclamation, the Heralds joined with him in crying Largess, and so with Reverence departed the Hall.

But lastly, it is proper to observe, that when neither the Sovereign, nor his Lieutenant, are present, then the Sovereign’s Stile is not Proclaimed, nor those of the Commissioners, but only of the new installed Knights.

As soon as Dinner is ended, the Knights-Companions rise from Table, and withdraw to disrobe themselves, and therewith the Solemnity of Installation ends: And if at any time the Solemnity continues that Evening, and the following Day, it is only because the Sovereign (or his Lieutenant,) is present, on account of celebrating St. _George_’s Feast, and not with reference to the Installation.

_Of setting up the Knight’s Atchievements._

§ 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.