Part 39

CAP. XVIII.

_Of the Grand Feast of the_ Order.

_The Grand Feast appointed to be celebrated Annually on St._ George’_s_ Day.

§ 1. By the _Statutes_ of _Institution_, it’s ordain’d, That a solemn Festival should be Annually celebrated on the 23d Day of _April_, or St. _George_’s _Day_, in Honour of the Patron of the _Order_, as is observed in other military Orders, erected since this of the _Garter_, to which this seems to give Rules of holding their Festivals on the Anniversary of their Patrons. Thus _Philip_, Duke of _Burgundy_, on his erecting the _Order_ of the _Golden Fleece_, taking St. _Andrew_ for its Patron, appointed the Festival on St. _Andrew_’s _Day_. _Lewis_ XI. King of _France_, appointed _Michaelmas Day_ for holding the Feast of the _Order_ of St. _Michael_. And so the Festival of the Duke of _Savoy_’s _Order_ of the _Annunciade_, on _Lady Day_. The Duke of _Bourbon_’s _Order_ of the Knights of our _Lady_, on the Conception of our _Lady_ (8th _December_;) and other instances might likewise be given if it were necessary.

_The Anniversary of St._ George _fixed by the Church, to the twenty third of_ April.

§ 2. That the 23d of _April_ was the Day whereon St. _George_ suffered Martyrdom by Beheading, appears from the _Greek Hexamiter_ before his Commemoration; which was the Day observed both by the _Greek_ and _Latin Church_; as also by our Predecessors, the _Saxons_.

_St._ George’_s_ Day _made_ Festum duplex.

§ 3. After the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_ had encreased the Honour of their Patron’s Festival, our Church began to take greater notice of it, being now also esteemed among us as the Patron of the Nation; and therefore they bestowed an addition of Honour upon it, by making it _Festum duplex, ad Modum Majorum Duplicis_. 3 _Hen._ V.

_The Place for celebrating the Grand Feast, assigned to_ Windsor-Castle.

§ 4. The Founder of this most Noble _Order_ having fixed on this Day, for performing its Solemnities, he made Choice of that of his Nativity, the _Castle_ of _Windsor_, which for a long time after was inviolably observed there, either upon the very Day, or some other appointed by Prorogation, not long after: For which way of Prorogation, allowance was given by the _Statutes_ of the _Order_, and of which the _Registers_ are full of instances.

_St._ George’_s_ Day _kept apart from the Grand Feast, and how then observed_.

§ 5. How this Noble _Order_ flourished from its Foundation to the time of _Henry_ V. no Account can be given, since the Annals thereof are wanting to his Reign; but then it appears to have been in considerable Splendor; but the Civil Wars toward the end of _Henry_ VIth’s Reign, eclipsed it for a while. Under King _Edward_ IV. when things were a little settled, it seem’d to recover; and in King _Henry_ VIIIth’s time, was at a greater heighth than ever. However, though the several Branches of the _Order_ receiv’d some Augmentation from the influence of this Monarch, yet the Grand Feast began to decline, by a removal of the observation of St. _George_’s _Day_ from _Windsor_, and a prorogatory Celebration of the Grand Feast to other times.

The Article of the _Statutes_, causing this great alteration from the original design of the first Institution, gives the Sovereign Power to prorogue the Grand Feast at his Pleasure; but then ’tis evident from the same Statute, that St. _George_’s _Day_ was nevertheless ordained to be duly observed by it self, in what Place soever the Sovereign (if within the Realm) should then reside; _Windsor_ hereby being not excluded.

It farther implies, the sacred _Rites_ and _Offices_ to be performed, with other Matters concerning the _Order_; for besides the particulars therein enumerated, this general Clause is observable: That what other urgent Affair soever, relating to the _Order_, should offer it self to be performed, the same might be treated of, and receive dispatches, in the _Chapter_ held where the Sovereign then should be, as fully as if he were at _Windsor Castle_.

So that henceforward, all things began to be ordered, both on the Eve the Day of St. _George_, and the Morrow after, with as great State; all Affairs as legally dispatched, and all Ceremonies as magnificently performed, except that of offering up of Atchievements, which is peculiar to the Chappel of St. _George_ at _Windsor_ only, as could be observed at the _Grand Festival_ it self.

And how, by Virtue of this Article, and with what Ceremonies St. _George_’s _Day_ was held, when the Grand Feast was prorogued, is evident from a full and ample Precedent, 22 _Hen._ VIII. now remaining in the _Office_ of _Arms_.

For though the Sovereign with 13 _Knights-Companions_ were at _Windsor_ that Year, upon the 22, 23 and 24 of _April_, yet at that time they observed only the Feast Day of St. _George_, with the Eve and Morrow after, but deferred, by Order in _Chapter_, the Celebration of the Grand Feast, to the 8th of _May_ ensuing.

_The Grand Feast neglected by King_ Edward _VI._

§ 6. From the Accession of this Prince, the Sovereignty of this _Order_ became more neglected, so that during his Reign, no Anniversary of St. _George_ was kept at _Windsor_, by a _Grand Festival_.

This is supposed to be owing to the common Calamity of that Age, wherein most Ceremonies, solemn or splendid, especially such as related to Divine Services, came under the denomination of being either Superstitious or Idolatrous. Insomuch, that at a _Chapter_ held at _Greenwich_, 2 _Edw._ VI. an Abolition being intended for such Ceremonies as were not consonant to the King’s Injunctions, lately prescribed, it was then decreed, that then, and for ever from thenceforth, at the Feast of this most Noble _Order_, no other Ceremonies should be observed than such as were appointed by his Majesties Letter.

_That no Procession should be made with going about the Church, or Church-yard, but the King’s Majesty’s Procession, lately set forth in_ English _to be used. His Majesty and other_ Knights-Companions _sitting in their Stalls, at the Entry, such Reverences to be made to the King’s Majesty only as was heretofore. The Offering to be in the Box for the Poor, without any other Reverence, or kissing any Paten, or other thing; but only at the return, due Reverence to the King, as was used before. The Mass of_ Requiem _to be left undone, but yet, both on St._ George’_s_ Day, _and for next Day, a Mass to be Sung with great Reverence; in which, immediately after the Words of Consecration is said, the Priest shall say the_ Pater Noster, _and so turn and Communicate to all, or so many of the_ Order, _or other, after they have done, as shall be disposed to receive the Communion, according to the_ Order _prescribed by his Majesty’s Book of Communion, and without any other Rite or Ceremony after the said Communion to be used; except some godly Psalm or Hymn to be Sung in_ English, _and so to end the said Service. All_ Chapters, _and other Rites concerning the_ Order, _not being contrary to these, to remain as they have been used._

This Decree seemed to mean nothing less than a Prohibition to the holding the Grand Feast at _Windsor_, at least the neglect of its Celebration there, whilst King _Edw._ VI. lived: And though toward the End of his Reign, some care was taken for a Permission to hold the said Feast, either on St. _George_’s _Day_, or some other appointed by Prorogation; yet it was without any regard to the ancient and usual Place; for when the Act passed, commanding the Days therein mentioned to be kept Holy, and no other, whereby this was involved among many other Saints Days then prohibited to be kept, as not being found among the Feasts then Establish’d; it was considered, that a Proviso and Allowance should be entered in the aforesaid Act, for the Celebration of this Feast, particularly by the _Knights-Companions_; which Act, though it suffered a Repeal by Queen _Mary_, yet stands in force at this Day, being revived by King _James_ I. his repealing that _Statute_ of 1 _Mar._ _Cap._ 2.

_Removed from_ Windsor _by Queen_ Elizabeth.

§ 7. But the most fatal Blow given to the growing Honour of the Castle of _Windsor_, was a Decree in _Chapter_ held 9 _Eliz._ with the consent of the _Knights-Companions_ then present, _viz._

_That if on the Vigil and Day of St._ George, _the Feast was not held at_ Windsor, _according to the usual Custom, it should nevertheless be sufficient, if the Observation thereof were kept at the same Place where the Sovereign should then happen to be, where also the rest of the_ Knights-Companions _were obliged to be present, no less than if the Feast had been held at_ Windsor.

And so severe was the latter part of this Decree against the flourishing condition of that Place, that it commanded also,

_That no other Solemnity, under the notion of St._ George’_s Feast, should thenceforth be celebrated at_ Windsor, _except upon occasion of the_ Installation _of some illustrious Person, and then also, not without express leave of the Sovereign._

And to say truth, this _Statute_ was but too strictly observed during her Reign; for we meet but with one Feast of St. _George_ held there, till 1 _Jac._ I. (unless we mistake the Feasts of _Installation_ for those of St. _George_,) but then the Sovereign, who was yet in _Scotland_, lent his Commission, dated 5 _April_, to the Earl of _Nottingham_, his _Lieutenant_, to prorogue the Festival to the 3d _July_ following, and after constituted him to hold the Feast, which was performed the 2, 3 and 4 Days of the said Month, with all Pomp and Ceremony. The King himself, being then at _Windsor_, was prevented from being present by some occasion not mentioned.

Thus, after a long Interval, the Honour of the Feast was restored, which had this effect, toward the End of King _James_ I. Reign, and that of his Son and Successor, King _Charles_ I. that it begat a Re-union of the Feast and Place, whereby the Castle of _Windsor_, famous for the _Institution_ of this most Noble _Order_, retrieved its ancient Honour, of having its Solemnities celebrated there.

_Of Prorogation of the Grand Feast._

§ 8. Having thus noted, that from the beginning of King _Henry_ VIIIth’s Reign, till of late Years, the Grand Feast was seldom observed upon the precise Day of St. _George_; and that the occasion how both Day and Feast came to be celebrated apart, took its rise from the indulgence of the _Statutes_ in point of Prorogation: ’Tis necessary farther to observe, that this Prorogation is of two sorts, either Absolute, as being enjoined by the _Statutes_; or else Arbitrary, at the Sovereign’s Pleasure, upon intervening Reasons.

In the first of these the Founder’s _Statutes_ enjoin, _That if the Feast of St._ George _shall happen within fifteen Days next after_ Easter Day, _it shall be prorogued to the Sunday Fortnight, or fifteen Days after_ Easter Day. And the reason is there given, _That every of the_ Knights-Companions _might have opportunity of coming thereto, without being constrained to ride upon any of those three Holy Days preceeding_ Easter Day. The same Rule for Prorogation, where there is a concurrence of these two Feasts, is likewise enjoin’d by the _Statutes_ of King _Henry_ V. and King _Henry_ VIII.

And when the Grand Feast, in this case of _Easter_, has been kept before the expiration of the said fifteen Days, the _Knights-Companions_ then absent, to avoid the Penalty for their not appearing, have made Excuse; that the ancient _Statutes_ of the _Order_ were violated in keeping the Feast within fifteen Days after _Easter_, as was alledged when Sir _John Denham_, Lord Treasurer, as President, held the Feast of St. _George_ at _Windsor_, 24 _April_, 8 _Henry_ VII.

Anciently, where the _Register_ mentions the Grand Feast to be held at _Windsor_, beyond the Day of St. _George_, ’tis observable upon Calculation, that _Easter Day_, in those times, fell too near the 23d of _April_, to celebrate the Feast on, without breaking the Law, which was the real cause of those Prorogations, of which there are many Instances.

And as the _Knights-Companions_ had Prohibitions put upon the Solemnization of their Feast, in case of its interfering with _Easter_, so had the Church of _England_, in their Observation of St. _George_’s _Day_, in reference to several other Festivals; and this continued till the time of the Reformation begun by King _Edward_ VI. but since the Grand Feast has been celebrated upon any of them indifferently the Feast of _Easter_ only excepted.

The second sort of Prorogations, which are meerly Arbitrary, and wholly dependent on the Sovereign’s Pleasure, yet warranted sufficiently from the Words, _Causa postulante_, mentioned in King _Henry_ VIII’s Statutes; as likewise the great Latitude given the Sovereigns of this most Noble _Order_, in reference to their Affairs, in the same Statutes: The first Precedent of which was, _Anno_ 5 _Hen._ V. when about _August_, four Months after St. _George_’s _Day_, that King being engaged in the Wars of _France_, ordered the Feast to be celebrated at _Caen_ in _Normandy_, and with great Solemnity created fifteen Knights into the _Order_.

There are several other Examples, particularly one 8 _Hen._ VIII. when the King being at _Eltham_ on St. _George_’s _Day_, it was in a _Chapter_ there held, Decreed, That the accustomed Feast of St. _George_ should be observed at _Windsor_ 25th of _May_ ensuing. And from this time it became Annually customary, to keep the Day of St. _George_ where the Sovereign at that time made his Abode: On which Day, and the Day after, the usual Solemnities were observed. But as to the Solemnization of the Grand Feast itself, that was in one of the _Chapters_ then held, adjourned to some farther time, and then solemnized at _Windsor_ by Prorogation, not by the Sovereigns themselves, but by their _Lieutenants_ and their _Assistants_ appointed for that purpose.

But to proceed with the Causes of Prorogation, which were either for some weighty reasons, or upon emergent Occasions; _Anno_ 1 _Mariæ_, the Sovereign celebrating the Feast of St. _George_ at St. _James_’s, _Philip_, Prince of _Spain_, and the Earl of _Sussex_, were on the Morrow after elected into the _Order_; whereupon it was likewise Decreed, that the Inauguration of these two _elect Knights_, till the Prince came to _England_, which happening _21st July_ following, the Grand Feast, together with that of the _elect Knights_ Installations, were appointed to be celebrated at the same time.

Again 3 and 4 _Phil._ and _Mar._ at a _Chapter_ held _22d April_, the Feast of St. _George_, together with the Installation of three _elect Knights_, was appointed to be held at _Windsor_ the _9th_ of _May_ ensuing; and by a _Chapter_ summon’d the _3d_ of _May_, before the appointed Day for holding the Feast, the same was prorogued to the _15th_ of _December_ following, upon the pressing Affairs of the King and Queen. But before that design’d time came, another _Chapter_ was held on the _31st_ of _October_, wherein it was again prorogu’d to the first Sunday after _Twelfth-day_, viz. _9 January_, if by that time the King, who was then in _Flanders_, should return to _England_: But that not happening, it was farther prorogu’d to the _20th_ of _February_; and thence, by another Decree, to St. _George_’s _Day_. Of which there are many other Examples, and sometimes upon other Occasions; but still at the Sovereign’s Pleasure.

_Of Commissions of Prorogation._

§ 9. There is no Precedent of Commissions for Prorogation, ancienter than 12 _Car._ I. left by Sir _Thomas Rowe_, wherein Notice is taken of all the Adjournments of the Grand Feasts, from St. _George_’s _Day_ preceeding, till that Time, with the Reasons thereof, and chiefly upon Consideration of the spreading Sickness, together with a Command to the _Knights-Companions_, and the Officers of the _Order_, to attend the Sovereign on the new assign’d Days for celebrating the Feast.

As to the Substance hereof, the succeeding Commissions very near agree, yet with some little Difference; as first, the Preambles are general, and run thus: _Whereas, upon special Reasons, and other important Affairs_, &c. except the Commission issu’d _25th February_, 1637. where the Preamble was fitted to a special Occasion, and runs thus,——_Whereas we have determined to create the Prince, our eldest Son, a Knight, and to propose him in Election as a Companion of our most Noble_ Order, _for the more Conveniency of his_ Installation, _We have thought fit to defer the Feast of St._ George, _&c._

But in the Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feast, _25th February_, 19 _Car._ I. the Place appointed for Celebration is omitted, which Defect we find in the above-mentioned Precedent also; yet afterwards that material Part came to be inserted, and first of all in that Commission of the _26th February_, 14 _Car._ I. where the Place, being the City of _York_, is put into the Body of the Commission. And when the Civil War drew on, and the Sovereign could not well ascertain any Place, then the Grand Feast was appointed to be kept at any such Place as, on a nearer View, should seem convenient; afterwards it vary’d something, and came to be inserted thus,—_Wheresoever We shall then be_; or thus, _at such Places as We shall timely appoint_.

The most ordinary course, preparatory to the issuing such Commissions of Prorogation, has been by the Sovereign’s Declaration in _Chapter_, or otherwise the Signification of his Pleasure to the Chancellor of the _Order_ at any other Time, who thereupon drew up the Commission, and presented it to the Sovereign for his Sign Manual, and then affixed thereto the great Seal of the _Order_. But where the Chancellor was not at Hand to receive the Sovereign’s Commands, in this Case it was convey’d to him by some other Hand, with command to summon the _Knights-Companions_ and Officers accordingly. For so it was done to Sir _Francis Windebank_, Knt. Secretary of State, by his Letter to Sir _Thomas Rowe_, 13 _Car._ I. for Prorogation of the Grand Feast.

And as all the preceeding Adjournments of the Grand Feast have been either decreed in _Chapter_, or directed immediately from the Sovereign; so there is a Precedent where the _Lieutenant_ has been impowered to prorogue the same; yet to the Time and Place appointed by the Sovereign, and inserted in the Commission of _Lieutenancy_: And this was in a Commission, 1 _Jac._ I. directed to _Charles_, Earl of _Nottingham_.

_That the Grand Feast ought to be celebrated once a Year._

§ 10. Though the Prorogations of the Grand Feast have been occasionally made use of on the aforesaid important Reasons, yet no such Adjournment or Prorogation is legally to be inlarged beyond St. _George_’s _Day_ ensuing; because once within the compass of every Year, the Grand Feast ought to be solemniz’d; for so it was ordained by the _Statutes_ at the Institution of the _Order_, and confirmed likewise by the succeeding _Statutes_. And when our Historians take notice of the Grand Feast, they speak of the same thing, that it ought Annually to be performed; whence it is frequently called in the Registers, _Annua Festivitatis_, _solemnitas annua_, _celebritas annua_, and the like.

Of late Times, an Occasion happen’d that brought this of the _Statutes_, into a solemn Debate in _Chapter_, which, for the Result thereof, became very remarkable.

_At a_ Chapter _held at_ White-Hall, _2d_ February, 1640.

_The Sovereign propos’d to the_ Knights-Companions, _that having prorogued the Celebration of St._ George’_s_ Feast _from time to time, to the_ 1st, 2d, _and_ 3d _of_ March, _so near Lent, that if the Feast were not held on these Days, it could not be done within the compass of that Year; because the_ 23d _of_ April, _for the next Year, did fall on_ Good-Friday, _and so consequently must have been kept in Lent this Year, or not at all; and considering the great and important Affairs of the Parliament, he moved the Question, whether, if there were no Feast kept this Year, it would be any Blemish to the Honour of the_ Order? _And whether he might not dispence with the_ Statute, _and defer it till next Year? They all confessed the Sovereign’s dispensing Power; yet some of the_ Knights _seeing from the Institution to that Time, no Precedent was found where the Grand Feast had been wholly omitted, but that some of the Sovereigns, even though engaged in War beyond Sea, either solemniz’d the Feast in their own Presence, or by Commission in_ England, _which was averred by the_ Chancellor _to be both the fundamental and constant Practice, humbly besought the Sovereign not to begin to make any Breach in the constant_ Order, _so long and uninterruptedly continued. Whereupon it was resolv’d, by general Vote, that the Feast should be celebrated on the aforesaid Days of Prorogation._

By which Determination it sufficiently appears, of what Moment the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_ then conceiv’d it to the Honour of the _Order_, to follow the _Statutes_, for the Celebration of the Grand Feast once every Year. Besides, it is observable, that it was not thought expedient to be dispens’d with, even on the most pressing and important Occasions. But rather than the _Statutes_ should suffer any Violation, the Feast was then solemniz’d, tho’ they were so straiten’d, in point of time, as not to have above two Days to make Preparation for it.

And though indeed, on the breaking out of the unhappy Civil War, the Sovereign was oblig’d to defer the Solemnity from Year to Year, it was not to be look’d on as any Precedent; and on the Restauration of King _Charles_ II. it renew’d its former _Order_.

CAP. XIX.

_Of Preparations for the Grand Feast of the_ Order.

_Of Letters giving Notice of the Time and Place._

§ 1. Among many other things which are necessary to be prepar’d beforehand; the first of Course is, the Letters directed to all the _Knights-Companions_ and Officers of the _Order_, resident within the Kingdom, to give them Notice of the Time and Place, when and where the Feast is to be held. (2.) Letters of Dispensation to such Knights, as the Sovereign shall please to excuse from their Attendance at the Feast. (3.) Commissions of Lieutenancy, (or sometimes of Assistance) when the Sovereign cannot personally solemnize the same. (4.) Warrants for the Removal of Atchievements, if there be then Occasion. (5.) Escutcheons and Stiles, to be set on the back of each _Knight-Companion’s_ Stall, if the Feast be held elsewhere than at _Windsor_. (6.) The Chappel to be decently adorn’d. (7.) The great Hall, or other Place, for the Grand Dinner, to be prepar’d, and very nobly furnish’d. (8.) And lastly, Officers to be appointed, besides those of the _Order_ of Arms, who are to give peculiar Attendance on the Sovereign, at this Grand Solemnity.

As to the first of these Points, the Chancellor is to attend the Sovereign some convenient Time before the approach of St. _George_’s _Day_, to learn his Pleasure therein, and whether he is inclined to Prorogue the Day, _&c._

If the Sovereign be inclin’d to a Prorogation, then the Chancellor is to draw up a Commission for that purpose. After this, Letters issu’d out anciently under the Sovereign’s Sign Manual, both to his Lieutenant, when he holds not the Feast personally, and the _Knights-Companions_, giving them notice of the Time and Place; but of late the Chancellor hath been appointed to dispatch these Letters in his own Name.