Part 38

Since the Custom of receiving the _Collar_ in the _Chapter-House_ was laid aside, the Sovereign, (or his Lieutenant,) with the _Knights-Companions_, (so soon as the _Mantle_ is delivered the _Proctor_, or (as of late) that he hath been admitted according to the purport of his Deputation,) proceed to the _Choir_, leaving the _Proxy_ behind them in the _Chapter-House_, and after they have taken their _Stalls_, the Sovereign directs two of the _Knights-Companions_ to descend; who taking the _Alms-Knights_, _Officers of Arms_, and the three inferior Officers of the _Order_ before them, pass to the _Chapter-House_, and bring thence the _Proxy_ to his _Installation_. In this Proceeding the _Proxy_ goes Bare-headed, as did the Earl of _Dover_, _Proctor_ to _Charles_, Prince Palatine of the _Rhine_, and Sir _George Cartaret_, _Proctor_ to the Prince of _Denmark_, _Anno_ 15 _Car._ II.

_The Ceremonies of Installation._

§ 11. When the Proceeding hath entred the _Choir_, and paid the accustomed Reverences, both towards the _Altar_ and the Sovereign’s _Stall_, and the _Alms-Knights_, _Officers of Arms_ and of the _Order_, taken their usual Stations; the two Commissioners (_Knights-Assistants_ or _Knights-Companions_,) and _Proctor_ make their Reverences together, and then they conduct him into the lower _Stalls_ directly before the _Stall_ appointed for his _Principal_, the foresaid _Officers_ of the _Order_ standing below in the _Choir_: If there be more than two Commissioners, then the two Senior conduct him as before, while the rest of the Commissioners take their Station below in the _Choir_, before their proper _Stalls_, and there stay till the _Installation_ be finish’d, and the like do the _Lieutenants-Assistants_, except the two Senior that are imployed in the Ceremony.

The _Proxy_ thus introduced into the lower _Stalls_, stands there while the _Register_ pronounceth the Oath of the _Order_ to him, which he repeats distinctly, laying his Hand on the _New Testament_, and afterwards kisseth the Book.

The ancient Oath appointed by the _Statutes_ of Institution is short, and without limitation in all Points, the same with that a _Knight-Companion_ takes at his Personal _Installation_, _viz._ _Faithfully to observe, to the utmost of his Power, the_ Statutes _of the_ Order; but afterwards the Sovereign’s and Fellows of those other _Orders_ of _Knighthood_, (as the _Golden Fleece_, _Monsieur St. Michael_, _&c._) before their admission into the _Order_ of the _Garter_, sued for, and obtained the allowance of some relative exceptions or proviso’s to be added to the aforesaid Oath; which usually were such as stood with the interest of their Religion, their great State or Dignity, or precedent obligation to the _Order_ they had before accepted.

In the _Black-Book_ is a Precedent of the Oath to be taken by an Emperor; whereby he is obliged to promise on his Royal Word, and give his Faith on his Honour and the Holy Evangelists, _That he will faithfully and truly, to the utmost of his Power, observe the Statutes in every Branch and Article thereof, at least so far as they can or ought to be observed by him, and so far as they shall not be contrary or derogatory to those whereunto he hath before given his Name and Sworn, and saving all other conditions agreed on_. There are besides this, other Precedents in the Annals of the Form of the Oath from the _Proctor_ of an Emperor or King, and of every other inferior Degree, wherein are several exceptions before agreed on; and when _Philip_, King of _Castile_ and _Leon_, (Sovereign of the _Order_ of the _Golden Fleece_,) was Personally installed at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VII. and took the Oath without Limitation, yet he soon after obtain’d the Sovereign’s Dispensation, that the use of the _Collar_ and other _Ensigns_ of the _Order_ might be left to his pleasure, and that he might not be obliged to be present at future _Chapters_.

Other Exceptions have been admitted, but were obtained with great difficulty and much debate, lest the Dignity and Reputation of the _Order_ should (instead of being kept up) be lessen’d, the forbearance of some Circumstances that hath been yeilded to, having sometimes been brought into Precedent, to the prejudice of the _Order_.

The exceptions that were allow’d the Arch-Duke of _Austria_, when he took the Oath at his Investiture at _Noremberg_, _Anno_ 15 _Hen._ VIII. were as follow.

_Not to wear the_ Garter _and_ Collar _but at some certain times in the Year, at his own pleasure._

_That if he were not in Place convenient to go to hear Mass on St._ George’_s Day, he should cause a Priest to say it in his presence._

_Not to be obliged, if busied in weighty Affairs, to wear the_ Garter, Collar, _or whole_ Habit _of the_ Order, _on St._ George’_s Day, longer than during divine Service; nevertheless he promised, if he could not than wear it for a whole Day together, he would willingly wear it on some other solemn Day within the compass of the Year._

Of another nature were the exceptions which _Francis_ I. King of _France_, procured to be admitted into the Oath taken by his _Proctor_, _Anno_ 19 _Hen._ VIII. _viz._ _To observe the Statutes of the_ Order _of the_ Garter _so far as they were consistent with, and not contrary or prejudicial to the Statutes of the_ Order _of St._ Michael, _and other_ Orders _which his Principal had before taken of other Princes._

Such like exceptions have been generally allowed to Kings and Sovereign Princes; but as to the _Proxies_ of such Strangers, not Sovereign Princes, but Subjects, the Form of their Oath is usually framed (by the indulgence of the Sovereign,) with just limitations, not only to their obligation of the Statutes of any other _Order_ they had accepted, or any Oath formerly taken, but sometimes to the Fidelity and Allegiance which they owe their Sovereign Lord and Prince.

After the Oath hath been administred to a Stranger’s _Proxy_, (with such or the like exceptions before set down,) the two _Knights-Commissioners_ pass up with him into the higher Row of _Stalls_, and so to that assign’d to his Principal, where being arrived, they take the _Mantle_ from _Garter_, and lay it upon the _Proctor’s_ left Arm, with the Escutcheon of St. _George_ uppermost, according to an _Order_ in a _Chapter_ held, _Anno_ 23 _Car._ II. which was to be a standing Rule for the future, and is now observ’d.

In the Act and Ceremony of _Installation_, the _Commissioners_ who first conducted the _Proxy_ into the _Choir_, jointly embrace him; then the _Proxy_ makes his double Reverence, and lastly the _Commissioners_, according to the Custom of _Installations_, set him down in his Principal’s _Stall_, where he hath used to remain during Divine Service; but by the aforesaid _Order_ in _Chapter_, _Anno_ 23 _Car._ II. the _Proxies_ are prohibited sitting in their _Stalls_, but directed to stand before them uncovered, with their _Mantles_ on their right Arms, until Divine Service be ended.

The two _Knights_ (between whom the _Proxy_ proceeded to _Installation_,) descend into the _Choir_, and stand before their own _Stalls_, and after a while, first the Senior _Commissioners_, and then the other, ascend into them with usual Reverences, and then Divine Service begins.

_The Proctor’s Offering._

§ 12. The _Proctor_ having receiv’d Possession of his Principal’s _Stall_, stays in the _Choir_, and performs the following Ceremonies, the chief of which is the _Offering_ of _Gold_ and _Silver_, according to the Degree and Seniority of his Principal’s _Stall_, in case the _Installation_ be in the Morning; but if it be celebrated when St. _George_’s Feast is held by the Sovereign’s _Lieutenant_, the _Proxy_ ought not to Offer till the _Lieutenant_ hath first Offered for the Sovereign; and the _Lieutenant_ also Offereth for himself before the _Proctor_, if his Stall be higher than the Stranger’s, for whom the _Proctor_ is installed.

The _Proctor_ in Offering doth it with all the Ceremony as if his Lord were present; when the _Knights-Companions_ descend from their Stalls, (which Ceremony begins with the Junior _Knight_,) he also descends in his turn, and placeth himself below in the _Choir_ before the Stall of his _Principal_, and if he have an opposite _Knight-Companion_, he joins himself to him, and proceeds towards the _Altar_ to the Offering, with the Officers of Arms before him; but if no _Knight-Companion_ be opposite, he then proceeds alone, having his Train born, and a _Knight-Companion_, or some other great Personage, suitable to his Degree, attending on his left Hand, to give him the Offering, which he Offers kneeling on a Cushion, and after him the rest of the _Knights-Companions_ present Offer, every one according to the Seniority of their Stalls.

After the Offering, the _Proctor_ taking his way by the East-end of the Stalls, returns back to the Stall of his _Principal_, and Divine Service being finish’d, and like Honour in all respects shewed to his _Proxy_ as if his Principal had been present, he ought to remain in his Master’s Stall till his next Junior _Knight_ hath left his Stall, and then descend after him, and stand below before his Stall, till his turn come to join himself again to the Proceeding, and so to pass out of the _Choir_.

Sometimes the _Proctor_ hath been receiv’d at his coming down from his Lord’s Stall by the two _Knights-Commissioners_ who installed him, as were the _Proctors_ of _Frederick_ II. King of _Denmark_, and _John_, Count Palatine of the _Rhine_, between whom they also proceeded to the _Chapter-House_ Door, in the same manner they were conducted into the _Choir_; but notwithstanding this, the _Proctor_ ought rather to take in his return the Place of his Principal, (as he did at the Offering, and which is indeed his right,) and so the _Proctor_ of _Francis_ I. went behind alone in his Principal’s place, and followed the _Knights-Commissioners_ from the _Choir_ to the place where he lodged; and this Method is since followed.

_The Dinner._

§ 13. When the _Installation_ hath past in the Morning, there hath usually been prepared a great Dinner at the Sovereign’s Charge; we need here only mention what is different in this particular from the Personal _Installation_ of a _Knight-Companion_.

The _Proxy_ washes alone, sits at the chief Place of the Table alone, and is serv’d alone, but the other _Knights-Companions_ sit at the end of the Table; but if the Sovereign’s Lieutenant be present, the _Proctor_ dines at the same Table with him, and then a little before the second Course is brought in, the Sovereign’s Stile is proclaimed with the usual Ceremony, in _Latin_, _French_, and _English_; but otherwise only the Stile of the new installed Prince, and but once. The Stile and Titles of _Christian_ IV. King of _Denmark_, were proclaimed in _Latin_; and of _Maurice_, Prince of _Orange_, in _French_.

Dinner being ended, all rise in Order and Wash; first, the _Proxy_ alone, and after him the _Knights-Commissioners_; and accompanying the _Proctor_ to his Chamber, where leaving him, they retire to their own Lodgings, and there put off their Habits.

When the Solemnity of _Installation_ is over, the _Proctor_ is to take care, that _Garter_ forthwith set up the Atchievements of his _Principal_ over his _Stall_, and fix the Plate of his Arms on the back thereof; in Memorial of the Ceremony of Inauguration; to which end also Medals have frequently been struck, to perpetuate the Honour so received.

CAP. XVII.

_The Duties and Fees payable by the_ Knights-Companions _at their Installations_.

_Touching the Fees due to the College of_ Windsor.

§ 1. Such was the Piety and Bounty of our Ancestors, that they thought no Work well perform’d, without being attended with some charitable Donation, especially if it had relation to the Church, whereto they generally bore a venerable Esteem. Hence was it at the _Installation_ of the _Order_ ordain’d: _That every_ Knight-Companion _should, at his entrance, bestow a certain Sum of Money, according to his Quality and Degree_. That is to say,

_l._ _s._ _d._ The Sovereign of the _Order_ 26 13 04 A Stranger King 20 00 00 The Prince of _Wales_ 13 06 08 Every Duke 10 00 00 Every Earl 06 13 04 Every Baron 05 00 00 Every Knight-Batchelor 03 06 08

These Summs were appointed _towards the Relief of the Cannons of_ Windsor, _the Alms-Knights, and augmentation of the Alms-Deeds, there appointed perpetually to be done_. To the end, _That every one entring into this Military_ Order, _might thereby more worthily obtain the Name, Title, and Privilege, of one of the Founders of the_ Order; _it being supposed a worthy and just thing, that whosoever obtained this Privilege, should add some small increment to this Foundation_.

Not long after establishing the Statutes, the Titles of _Marquiss_ and _Viscount_ becoming special Dignities, it was Decreed, _Anno_ 22 _Hen._ VI. that a _Marquiss_ should contribute 8 _l._ 6 _s._ 8 _d._ and a _Viscount_ 5 _l._ 16 _s._ 8 _d._ which was confirmed by King _Henry_ VIIIth’s Statutes.

And though in all the Bodies of the Statutes, the Sovereign of the _Order_ is charg’d with Payment of Fees to the College, yet is it to be understood only of those Sovereigns, who were not (before the assumption of their Stall,) elected into this _Order_.

Upon a Decree, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. the _Installation_ Fee to all the Officers of the _Order_ were settled: Those made payable to the _Dean_ and _Canons_ are,

_l._ _s._ _d._ A Stranger King 20 00 00 A Stranger Prince 10 00 00 The Prince of _Wales_ 20 00 00 A Duke 10 00 00 A Marquiss 08 06 08 An Earl 06 13 04 A Viscount 05 16 08 A Baron 05 00 00 A Knight-Batchelor 03 06 08

These Fees ought to be paid at the time of the Knight’s _Installation_, by the Hands of some one of their Servants, so soon as the Ceremonies are ended; the Statutes expressly prohibiting the setting up of their Atchievements till Payment be made.

The _Alms-Knights_, by Queen _Elizabeth_’s Establishment, receiv’d _Installation_ Fees apart from those paid to the College, which by the aforesaid Establishment of Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. are made equal to those payable to the _Dean_ and _Canons_; and by the said Decree, the _Choir_ of _Windsor_, under which not only the _Vicars_, but the _Vergers_, _Choristers_, and _Bell-Ringers_, are comprehended, receive the following Fees.

_l._ _s._ _d._

A Stranger King 16 00 00 A Stranger Prince 08 10 00 A Prince of _Wales_ 16 00 00 A Duke 08 10 00 A Marquiss 06 15 00 An Earl 05 10 00 A Viscount 04 00 00 A Baron 04 00 00 A Knight-Batchelor 03 00 00

_Fees due to the_ Register, Garter, Black-Rod, _and_ Officers _of_ Arms.

§ 11. In the Rank of those Officers to whom _Installation_ fees are due, stands first the _Register_, who, as appears by the _Black-Book_, is to have of every _Knight-Companion_ 13 _s._ 4 _d._ and a Robe.

But there being a concealment of this Fee, it was represented to King _Charles_ I. who ordered the _Register_ to be paid in Lieu of the Robe, as follows;

_s._ _d._ _l._ _s._ _d._ _Imprim._ _For a_ {Knight-Batchelor 13 04 } { 28 00 00 {Baron 13 04 } { 30 00 00 {Viscount 13 04 } { 32 00 00 _Item._ _For a_ {Earl 13 04 } and { 34 00 00 {Marquiss 13 04 } { 36 00 00 {Duke 13 04 } { 40 00 00 {Prince 13 04 } { 38 00 00

The same were since settled by the Establishment of _Installation_ Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. when it was added, that the Prince of _Wales_, and a Stranger King, should pay 40 _l._ and a Stranger Prince 38 _l._ 13 _s._ 4 _d._

Next, the _Register_ and _Garter_ claim both Droits and Fees, for their Service and Attendance, having a greater share of Business than any other Officer of the _Order_. As to the first of these, it was ordained by the Constitutions of his Office; _That as often as any Knight should happen to be installed, he might challenge for himself the Garments wore by him, immediately before his Investiture with the Surcoat of the_ Order. And the constant Practice hath interpreted this to be the Knight’s upper Garment, anciently a short Gown, of later times a Cloak, but now a Coat; which he puts off in the _Chapter-House_ when the _Investiture_ begins.

By the Establishment of _Installation_ Fees, _Anno_ 22 _Car._ II. the composition set upon each _Knight-Companion_ for his upper Garment, was thus rated.

_l._ _s._ _d._ A Prince of _Wales_ 60 00 00 A Duke 55 00 00 A Marquiss 50 00 00 An Earl 45 00 00 A Viscount 40 00 00 A Baron 35 00 00 A Knight-Batchelor 30 00 00

Besides this Droit or Composition, there hath in all times been paid to _Garter_ by every _Knight-Companion_, a Fee for his _Installation_, which was likewise brought to the following certainty by the said Establishment.

_l._ _s._ _d._ A Stranger King 30 00 00 A Stranger Prince 20 00 00 A Prince of _Wales_ 40 00 00 A Duke 35 00 00 A Marquiss 30 00 00 An Earl 25 00 00 A Viscount 20 00 00 A Baron 25 00 00 A Knight-Batchelor 10 00 00

The Fee due to the _Black-Rod_ by the said Establishment, is, from

_l._ _s._ _d._ A Stranger King 20 00 00 A Stranger Prince 20 00 00 A Prince of _Wales_ 40 00 00 A Duke 20 00 00 A Marquiss 18 00 00 An Earl 16 00 00 A Viscount 14 00 00 A Baron 12 00 00 A Knight-Batchelor 10 00 00

The _Officers_ of _Arms_, by the said Establishment, have the same Fees as are allowed the _Black-Rod_; only in the Fee of a Stranger King, they have an addition of ten Pounds more.

_Fees belonging to other of the Sovereign’s Servants._

§ 3. In the Lists of _Installation_ Fees of former times, some Officers were set down, who gave their attendance, with the several Sums they receiv’d, some that were then accounted Fees, and others Benevolences; all which nevertheless were admitted into the List of _Installation_ Fees, 22 _Car._ II. and though not entered into the _Register_ of the _Order_, yet are to be given in under the Hand of _Garter_, with the other Fees payable at _Installations_, and to be paid by every Knight to all Persons concern’d respectively, according to ancient Custom, _viz._

Prince. Duke. Marquiss. Earl.

To the Wardrobe | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0 The Trumpets | 12 00 00 | 06 00 00 | 05 00 00 | 04 00 0 The Serj. Trumpet | 02 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 0 The Musicians | 16 00 00 | 08 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 06 00 0 Drums and Fifes | 04 00 00 | 02 00 00 | 01 15 00 | 01 10 0 Knight-Harbinger | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 8 The Porters | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0 Master Cook | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0 Serjeant Porter | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 00 00 | 01 00 0 To the Vestry | 02 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 0 Yeomen Harbingers | 06 00 00 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 0 Ushers of the Hall | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0 Grooms of Chamb. | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0 Yeomen Ushers | 06 13 04 | 03 06 08 | 03 00 00 | 02 10 0 Quarter Waiters | 08 16 00 | 04 08 04 | 03 16 08 | 03 06 8 Sewers | 08 00 00 | 04 08 04 | 03 16 08 | 03 06 8 Buttery | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0 Pantry | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0 Cellar | 03 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 | 01 00 0

Viscount. Baron. Kt-Batch. To the Wardrobe | 01 15 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 05 00 The Trumpets | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00 The Serj. Trumpeter | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 The Musicians | 05 00 00 | 04 00 00 | 03 00 00 Drums and Fifes | 01 05 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Knight-Harbinger | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 | 03 06 08 The Porters | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00 Master Cook | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Serjeant Porter | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 The Vestry | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Yeomen Harbingers | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00 Ushers of the Hall | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Grooms of Chamber | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Yeomen Ushers | 02 00 00 | 01 10 00 | 01 00 00 Quarter Waiters | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00 Sewers | 03 00 00 | 02 10 00 | 02 00 00 Buttery | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Pantry | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 Cellar | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00 | 01 00 00

_Fees payable for Strangers._

§ 4. That Strangers should be liable to the demand of Fees, was thought unreasonable; therefore by the _Statutes_ of _Institution_, the Sovereign is obliged to pay them; the first Example whereof that we meet with, is an Order, 1 _Hen._ VI. which appointed: _That the usual Fees, due for the_ Installation _of the King of_ Denmark, _should be discharg’d by the Sovereign, as the_ Statute _enjoin’d_.

To this purpose Privy-Seals were issued to the Lord Treasurer for the time being, to pay the Fees to the _Register_ of the _Order_ out of the _Exchequer_, which was the constant Custom, till King _Charles_ I. in the 13th Year of his Reign, settled an Annual Pension of 1200 _l._ upon the _Order_; and by a Commission in the said Year, impower’d the Chancellor of the _Order_, and his Successors, to pay out of the same, not only the ordinary, but also extraordinary Charges of the _Order_; wherein the Fees for _Installation_ of Strangers are included.

Notwithstanding the Sovereign (as we have shown) discharg’d the _Installation_ Fees due from Strangers, yet they or their _Proctors_ for them, did always bestow particular Rewards on the _College_, the Officers of the _Order_ and of _Arms_, the _Alms-Knights_, and some others who attended the Solemnity, and in particular _Garter_ had anciently bestowed on him a rich Gown, to wear at the time of _Installation_, but of late he has been presented with some other thing of considerable Value. They also were liberal to the Officers of _Arms_, as appears by several _Largesses_ given to them by their _Proctors_, and in general to the greatest part of those that gave their Attendance.