Part 37

First, He premiseth the Sovereign’s Election of him into the Order of the _Garter_, and his receipt of the Habit and Ensigns thereof, then takes notice or the Obligation the _Statutes_ of the Order put upon him, for sending a Proxy to take Possession of his Stall, in regard the Dignity whereunto he is advanc’d in his own Country, will not permit him to repair Personally to _Windsor_; and being not only desirous that the Election and Investiture should obtain its due effect, but to fulfil, as far as in him lies, the Injunctions of the _Statutes_, in what concerns the assuming of his Stall, and taking the Oath appointed; he therefore Ordains, Authorises, and Deputes, a Person fitly qualified, (named in the Deputation,) his sufficient _Proctor_, and special _Deputy_, to appear at the Castle of _Windsor_ in his behalf and in his Name, at the next Solemnity that should be held there, to supply his room, and receive Possession of the Stall assign’d him, according to the usual Form; and in all respects to perform those Ceremonies and Things in his behalf due and accustom’d, or should appear to belong any way to the Splendor or Ornament of the Order: As also to take the accustomed Oath with those Qualifications, and in that Form as had been (or should be) agreed on; and further, to fulfil all other things which he should think necessary to be perform’d on this Occasion, or whatsoever thing might require a more special Command, than was contain’d in the Letters of Procuration; and as fully as the Stranger should be obliged to, and would do, if he were there present in his own Person. Lastly, there is usually added a Clause of Ratification and Confirmation, of all such things as the _Proctor_ should say or do, in reference to the Solemnity of installation.

_Of the Proctor’s Reception._

§ 4. When the Sovereign is acquainted with the arrival of the Proxy, and the occasion of his coming, he soon after gives him Audience; after which, a Day for Installation is assign’d, and the Sovereign nominates some of the _Knights-Companions_ his Commissioners, to perform the Ceremonies.

The _Proctor_ heretofore has been receiv’d with very great State; Sir _Balthasar Castilian_, sent hither from the Duke of _Urbin_, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VII. was met at the Sea-side by Sir _Thomas Brandon_, with a goodly Company of his own Servants well Hors’d, who kept Company with him, till they came near _Deptford_ in _Kent_; where, by the Sovereign’s Command, he was met by Sir _Thomas Dokara_, and Sir _Thomas Wriothesley_, _Garter_: The said Sir _Thomas Dokara_ had attending him thirty of his Servants, all in new Liveries, well Hors’d, every Gentleman bearing a Javelin in his Hand, and every Yeoman a Bow and a Sheaf of Arrows, and so they convey’d him to his Lodging. The next Day they conducted him to _London_, and by the way there met him divers _Italians_, and _Paulus de Gygeles_, the Pope’s Vice Collector, to whose House he was convey’d and lodg’d. The reception also of _James_ Lord _Rambovillet_, Proctor for the _French_ King, _Charles_ IX. was very noble.

_The Preparations for Installation._

§ 5. The Preparations of the Installation of a Stranger by Proxy, are the same as for the Proxy of a _Knight-Subject_, mention’d as before, and the Form of the Commission for Installation is much the same; the Preamble contains the Authority wherewith the Proxy is impower’d and is penn’d with like Words.

The Letters of notice to the Commissioners.

The Warrants for removing of Stalls, and for the Strangers Atchievements, are all to be obtain’d by the Chancellor of the Order, under the Sovereign’s Sign Manual, to which the Signet of the Order is to be affixt.

The Strangers Atchievements (as mention’d in the Warrant,) are to be provided at the Sovereign’s Charge; namely, his _Helm_, _Crest_, _Mantlings_, and _Sword_, together with a _Banner_ of his _Arms_ and _Quarterings_; and these the Proctor is enjoin’d to bring along with him to _Windsor_.

Sometimes a Warrant hath been directed to the Master of the _Wardrobe_, to provide but some part of these Atchievements; and another Warrant to the Lord Treasurer of _England_, to deliver _Garter_ Money to provide the other part; in each of which, the particulars relating to either are enumerated; for so were the Warrants drawn up for the Atchievements of the _French_ King, _Henry_ II. At other times direction hath been to the Master of the _Wardrobe_, to deliver to _Garter_ the whole, who thereupon puts the Charge upon Account.

Sometimes particular Warrants have been directed to the Master of the _Wardrobe_, to deliver several Parcels of the Materials, for the making up these Atchievements; as were those Warrants, to deliver the Sovereign’s Embroiderer, and to _Garter_, so much Velvet, Cloth of Gold, _&c._ for making the great Banner, and other the Atchievements of _Charles_ IX. and _Henry_ III. _French_ Kings.

It also appears that _Garter_ hath sometimes laid out the Money for all, or part of the Atchievements, and then delivered his Bill of disbursements into the _Wardrobe_; as is manifest from those Bills for the Atchievements of _Frederick_ II. King of _Denmark_, in Count Palatine of the _Rhine_, and the Duke of _Holstein_.

Besides the Atchievements, some other things used at the Solemnity are commonly included in the foresaid Warrants; the _Mantle_ of the _Order_ is not prepared at the Sovereign’s Charge, for the Statutes of Institution appoint the Proxy to bring one with him, not that the Sovereign should provide it, having done that before, at the Legation with the whole _Habit_; nor is it found in the Rolls or Books of the Sovereign’s great _Wardrobe_, that any Account is made for providing a second _Mantle_, when the Proxy of a Stranger came hither; which, had the Sovereign been at such Charge, would not have been omitted.

_The Proctor_’s _Cavalcade to_ Windsor.

§ 6. The Day appointed for the Installation drawing on, the Proxy was heretofore accompanied from _London_ to _Windsor_, with the Sovereign’s Lieutenant and his Assistants, (if the Feast of St. _George_ was then also celebrated,) or otherwise the Sovereign’s Commissioners with a great Retinue.

Among the rest, when the Deputy of the _French_ King, _Francis_ I. rode to _Windsor_, _Anno_ 19 _Hen._ VIII. all the _Knights-Companions_ that were in Commission for that Solemnity, assembled at the Lord _Sandy_’s Place near St. _Paul_’s Church in _London_, whence they rode to the _Deputy’s_ Lodging, and thence accompanied him with a gallant Equipage to the Castle of _Windsor_, where Lodgings were prepared for him at the _Dean’s_ House.

In like manner, _Anno_ 8 _Eliz._ the Earls of _Sussex_ and _Leicester_, and Lord _Clinton_, (three of the four Commissioners appointed for the Installation of the _French_ King, _Charles_ IX.) with other Lords and Gentlemen, took their Horses at the Court Gate at _Westminster_, and with a great Train rode to the Lodgings of the said King’s Proxy, (being then at St. _Mary_’s _Spittle_ in _London_,) whence they went through _Holbourn_ towards _Windsor_; the Earl of _Southampton_, Viscount _Mountague_, Sir _Henry Lea_, and Sir _Edward Umpton_, met them at _Langford_ near _Colbrook_, with their Hawks, and shew’d the Proxy variety of sport, with which he being well pleased, they rode to his Lodgings at the _Dean’s_ House at _Windsor_, the usual Place of entertaining the Strangers Proxies.

_Supper after his Arrival there._

§ 7. The Evening of their arrival passeth with a sumptuous Supper, but the principal Entertainment is reserv’d for the following Day’s Dinner. At the Installation of the _French_ King, _Francis_ I. all the Commissioners met together at the Marquiss of _Exeter_’s Lodgings, and went to the _Dean’s_ House, where they were entertain’d by him at Supper all at one Table; at another Table sat _Garter_, with certain of the _Deputy’s_ chief Gentlemen, and some of the _Heralds_; and at a third sat the rest of the _Heralds_, and other of the _Proxies_ Servants.

The Commissioners and other Noblemen, who accompanied the _Proctor_ of _Charles_ IX. to _Windsor_, supped also with him at the _Dean’s_; He himself sitting at the upper-end of the Table; then the Earls of _Sussex_ and _Leicester_ by him, one against the other, next the Earl of _Southampton_, and Viscount _Mountague_, then the Lord _Clinton_, and Lord _Herbert_ of _Cardiff_, after them two Strangers of distinction, then lower sat the Lord _Grey_, and other Strangers, and last of all, at the lower end, opposite to the _Proctor_, sat _Monsieur Dose_, _alias_ St. _Michael_, the _French Herald_. _Garter_, _Black-Rod_, and divers Strangers, supped with the _Dean_, and in the Parlour and Hall sat divers Pensioners, Gentlemen, and Strangers.

_Of the Proceeding to the_ Chapter-House.

§ 8. What hath been before set down of the Proceeding to the _Chapter-House_, at the personal Installation of a _Knight-Subject_, will extend hither, both as to Order and Circumstances; yet this general Rule is to be born in mind, that the Place of a Stranger Prince’s Proctor here, is next after the Provincial King’s, (unless the Proctor of a _Knight-Subject_ happen to intervene,) and before the Junior _Knight-Companion_, (unless a _Knight-Subject_ pass then in the Proceeding,) of which we have an Instance at the Installation of the Dukes of _Brunswick_ and _Chevereux_, and the Earl of _Dorset_, by their Proctors, but the Earls of _Salisbury_, _Carlisle_, and _Holland_, with Viscount _Andover_ in Person, _Anno_ 1 _Car._ I. when the Proceeding was ordered as followeth.

1. Two Waiters of the Sovereign’s Hall, in their Livery Coats, bearing White Rods. 2. Alms-Knights. 3. Prebends of the College. 4. Officers of Arms. 5. Proctors to the absent elect Knights. 6. Elect Knights in Person. 7. Knights-Companions. 8. Black-Rod. 9. Register. 10. Garter. 11. Chancellor. 12. Prelate. 13. Sovereign’s Lieutenant. 14. Courtiers and Gentlemen in the Rear.

Only in the single case of _Christian_ IV. King of _Denmark_, _Anno_ 3 _Jac._ I. (as an extraordinary Respect and Honour,) his Proxy went in the Proceeding to the _Chapter-House_ next before the Sovereign’s Lieutenant.

As we had a former Example, of a Proctor to a _Knight-Subject_, who in this Proceeding past before the _Alms-Knights_, and Officers of Arms, namely, Sir _Henry Sidney_, _Deputy_ to the Earl of _Warwick_, 5 _Eliz._ so here in the case of a _Stranger_, the Viscount _Hereford_, Proxy to the Duke of _Holstein_, installed 3 _Eliz._ went in this Proceeding to the _Chapter-House_, before the Officers of Arms: Which Proceeding was ordered as follows.

1. Gentlemen and Knights. 2. The Proctor and Ambassador of _Holstein_ together. 3. Officers of Arms. 4. Register and Garter. 5. Lord _Hastings_, and Lord _Paget_, Commissioners.

If the Proxy of a Stranger pass in the Proceeding, which the Sovereign, his Lieutenant, or Commissioners, make to the _Chapter-House_, then for the most part he gives his Attendance in the _Presence-Chamber_, or in the Room whence the Lieutenant or Commissioners proceed, and there joins himself thereto.

But sometimes the Commissioners, as an instance of singular Respect, after their setting out, have taken the Proxies Lodging in their way, and there receiv’d him into the Proceeding; so did Prince _Henry_, by the Proctor of _Christian_ IV. King of _Denmark_; and the Commissioners by the Proctor of the Duke of _Wirtembergh_, 2 _Jac._ I.

’Tis observed, that the Proxies of Strangers have not always gone in the Proceeding, but sometimes staid at their Lodging, till the Commissioners were ready to send for them to the _Chapter-House_. As at the Installation of _Charles_ IX. King of _France_, 8 _Eliz._ the Commissioners meeting, they, and the three inferior Officers of the Order, robed themselves, and then went to the Proxies Lodging, and having just conferr’d with him, took leave, and proceeded to the _Chapter-House_, whence they sent out _Garter_ to the Proxy, with invitation to come to them, who was presently conducted by _Garter_ to the _Chapter-House_ Door, where the two Senior Commissioners receiv’d him between them.

Sometimes the Proxies have past privately to the East-Isle of St. _George_’s Chappel, and there rested, before the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_ went into the _Chapter-House_, or proceeded into the Choir, without entering thereinto; for so did the Earl of _Cleveland_, and the Marquiss of _Dorset_, Proxies to _Gustavus Adolphus_, King of _Sweden_, and _Henry_, Prince of _Orange_, 4 _Car._ I. The like Method was observed by the Earl of _Dover_, Proxy to _Charles_, Prince Palatine, 9 _Car._ I. and by Sir _George Cartaret_, Proxy to _Christian_, Prince of _Denmark_, 15 _Car._ II. so also of the Earls of _Carlisle_ and _Winchelsea_, Proxies to _Charles_, King of _Sweden_, and _John George_, Prince Elector of _Saxony_, 23 _Car._ II.

_The Ceremonies perform’d therein._

§ 9. When the Proceeding hath arrived at the _Chapter-House_ Door, the Sovereign, and _Knights-Companions_, or the Lieutenant, _&c._ with the Officers of the _Order_ before them, enter to hold their Consultation; the Stranger’s _Proxy_ being first requested to stay without, till his Deputation, or Letters of Procuration are read, to the end they may understand the effect thereof.

To this purpose we find it directed, by an ancient Hand, that where any Knight is installed by his Deputy, he ought to stay without the Vestry, or _Chapter-House_ Door, till he be introduced by two _Knights-Companions_: So the Lord _Paget_, one of the Commissioners for Installation of the Duke of _Savoy_, when the Proceeding was come to the _Chapter-House_ Door, acquainted his _Proxy_ with this Custom and Injunction, which he complied with.

The East-Isle, behind the High Altar, is the usual Place for _Proxies_ to stay, till they are called into the _Chapter_, as it is also for the _Deputies_ of _Knights-Subjects_, where Chairs and Cushions are prepared for this occasion.

The first thing done after the _Chapter_ is opened, is reading the Commission for _Installation_, by the _Register_ of the _Order_, (but if the Sovereign be present, no Commission issues,) and next, the Letters of Procuration; this being the most usual and proper Place for this Ceremony.

However, at the _Installation_ of the _French_ King, _Francis_ I. by a very unusual compliance, the Commissioners went from the _Chapter-House_, after they had called in and invested the Earl of _Oxford_, with his _Surcoat_ and _Hood_, to the _Dean’s_ House, where the _Proctor_ was lodg’d, and in a great Chamber there, shewed him the Sovereign’s Commission, and in it the Authority for admitting him into the Stall of his Lord and Master: Upon which the _Proctor_ presented them with his Procuration, which impowered him to take Possession of it, and to perform what Ceremonies related to it; which Instrument the _Register_ read before them. This being done, they all proceeded to the Chappel; where entering, they waved their return to the _Chapter-House_, and passed directly into the _Choir_.

After some time of Consultation in the _Chapter-House_, the _Proxy_ is sent for in thither by _Garter_, who conducts him to the _Chapter-House_ Door, and his Reception there by the Commissioners is after the same manner as is used to the _Knight elect_, or to his _Proxy_: But whether he ought to enter the _Chapter-House_, or be admitted any farther than the Door, or Porch thereof, and to pass thence immediately into the _Choir_, hath been some Question; because the Practice seems to have been sometimes one way, sometimes another.

All that we find to prohibit his Entrance therein, is an Expression in 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_.