Part 41

Lord Chamberlain, and Servants. Groom of the Stool. Bed-Chamber Men. Secretaries of State. Gentlemen-Ushers of the Privy-Chamber. Mr. Vice Chamberlain. Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber. Privy Purse. Secretaries of _Scotland_. Twelve Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber in waiting. Four Gentlemen Ushers daily Waiters. Two Cup-bearers. Eight Quarter Waiters, Gentlemen Ushers. Two Chaplains. Two Physicians. Two Chirurgeons. Mrs. Sempstress and Landress to his Majesty. Four Grooms of the Chamber. Fourteen Lords to attend his Majesty. Officers of the Guard. Yeomen of the Guard. Three Masters of the Tents. Master of the Ceremonies. Aid of the Ceremonies. Jewel-House. Musicians. Yeomen of the Bows and Guns. Captain Cook, and the Children of the Chappel. Two Carvers. Two Sewers. Two Pages of the Presence. Two Esquires of the Body. Two Apothecaries. Four Serjeants at Arms. Eight Sewers of the Chamber. Pages of the back Stairs. Captain of the Guards. Officers of the Robes. Two Grooms of the Privy-Chamber. Groom Porter. Marshal of the Ceremonies. Removing Wardrobe. Gentlemen of the Chappel. Five Messengers. Sixteen Trumpeters. Serjeant Trumpeter. Drum Major. Four Drummers and a Fife.

CAP. XX.

_The Order of the Ceremonies on the Eve of the Grand Feast._

_Of the beginning of the Grand Feast._

§ 1. The Celebration of the Grand Feast, with the Ceremonies, devis’d to set forth and illustrate the Glory thereof, hath been worthy the observation of the first Institutor, and all succeeding Sovereigns; well knowing that what is once slightly observ’d will soon fall into disesteem, if not into contempt. Therefore they have been very particular to the Day, the Hour, and the Place, where the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_ are to meet.

As to the first, although St. _George_’s _Day_ (or such other Day as the Sovereign shall please to nominate and appoint, by Prorogation in lieu thereof,) be the Principal and Grand Day of the Feast, yet the Eve of that Day does the Feast take Commencement, and determines not till the third Day following; the whole Solemnity taking up three Days inclusively.

And this is clear from several Articles of the _Statutes_, wherein the course of the Ceremonies to be observ’d at the Grand Solemnity are set down; whether observed, on the Eve, the Feast-Day, or the Morrow after: And these three Days together did the Sovereign hold the Grand Feast, whether they personally celebrated the same, or deputed other of the _Knights-Companions_ to that Employment, the cause of the Commissions of Deputation limitting their Power either in general, _during the time of the Feast_; or in particular, upon the Day of St. _George_, the Day, and that following, _viz._ the last Day of the Feast. In like manner, when in succeeding Times, Commissions of Prorogation of the Grand Feast were made use of, we find the three Days continuance of the Feast to be particularly mentioned in the Body of those Commissions: Namely, the Day wherein, by such Appointment, the Feast was to begin, the Grand Day it self, and the Day whereon it ended.

The Directions given in the _Statutes_, for the Order and Course of this Solemnity, to begin with the Eve, run thus: Every Year upon St. _George_’s _Eve_, shall be an Assembly, or Meeting of all the _Knights-Companions_ of the _Order_, at _Windsor Castle, &c._ and the same is positively enjoin’d by all the other Bodies of the _Statutes_.

And as the Grand Feast is generally said to Commence _in Vigilia Sancti Georgii_, or as it is otherwise exprest in the _Black-Book_, in _Vigilia in future celebratis_, or, _Vigiliis Divi Georgii_, or in _Vigilia Festi_. So has the time of this preceeding Day several other Denominations given it in the same _Register_, _Vesper ante Diem Sancti Georgii_; _in Vesperiis Georgianis_, _in Vesperiis Festi_, _in Vesperiis Commitionem_; and at other times, _pridie Divi Georgii_, _pridie Georgianæ Solemnitatis_, _pridie Festi_, _pridie feriarum Divi Georgii_, and sometimes _per vigilia_, and lastly in plain _English_, St. _George_’s _Eve_; all which signify one and the same thing, and are but various Names given to the Evening of the Day foregoing either that of St. _George_, or that whereon the Grand Feast is appointed to be held by Prorogation.

Thus we see that the Founder began his Solemnity upon the Eve of the Feast Day; which doubtless was in conformity to the Custom of the Church, who made the _Vigils_ and _Eves_ part of the ensuing Festivals, and as Ushers to the Grand Solemnities.

As the Eve was appointed by the Founder for the Commencement of the Anniversary of the Grand Feast, so to make the time more certain, the _Statutes_ express the exact Hour of meeting for beginning the Solemnities, to be at the Hour of _Tierce_, which in many other Places is called, _Hora Tertiarum_. But this seemed not sufficient to express clear enough the meaning of a Law, where a Penalty was enjoined, and therefore at a _Chapter_ held at _Windsor_, 17 _Edw._ IV. a scruple arising among the _Knights-Companions_, concerning the Words _Hora Tertiarum_, whether they were intended to mean three in the Afternoon, or at the Hour of the Church, generally used after Prime Noon before; and fixed it to the latter.

The _Registrum Chartaceum_ Records the same Explanation of the Words; and to let us see that ’twas immediately put in Practice, it is there entered with the Names of those _Knights-Companions_ present with the Sovereign, both in the Morning and Evening of the same Day.

Another Instance of which there is, 3 _Hen._ VII. on the Eve of the Grand Feast, held by Prorogation at _Windsor_, where the Sovereign, in regard of the arrival of several Ambassadors, put off the usual _Chapter_ till Noon; whence it is evident, that the Custom at this time was likewise to begin the Solemnity in the Morning.

But notwithstanding the said Decree of King _Edw._ IV. we find it _Anno_ 11 _Hen._ VIII. to be meant and intended for three in the Afternoon. And when King _Henry_ VIII. came to Model the _Statutes_ of the _Order_, in two several Articles, he declares and expounds the _Hora Tertia_, (which the _English_ Version of those _Statutes_ renders the _Hour_ of _Tierce_,) to be the _Hora Tertia post Merediem_, three in the Afternoon; and in another Article of the same _Statutes_, _Hora Tertiarum, id est, Hora Tertiarum post Merediem_; and elsewhere, _Hora Tertia Vespertina vel Pomeridiana_; which Hour, as it was then settled to be the punctual time for the _Knights-Companions_ meeting, to enter on the Solemnity of the Feast, so has it ever since continued unaltered, and usually observed.

The Place of Assembly for the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_, hath usually been in such of the Sovereign’s Privy Lodgings, both at _Windsor_, or elsewhere, as he hath appointed; frequently in the Privy, Withdrawing, or Bed Chambers: To this appointed Place the _Knights-Companions_ repair, to give their Attendance on the Sovereign, having first invested themselves in full Robes, either in their own Lodgings, or some convenient Room at Court, where _Garter_ is to attend them, with notice of the approaching Hour.

The _Knights-Companions_ being come to the Sovereign, as likewise the Officers of the _Order_, habited in their _Mantles_, and bearing in their Hands the _Symbols_ of their several Offices, they wait the Sovereign’s being vested in his Robes, till he passes into the Presence Chamber, or give beginning to the Feast, by opening the _Chapter_ at their meeting, before he goes thither.

About the same time, the Provincial _Kings_, _Heralds_, and _Pursuivants_, wearing their Coats of the Sovereign’s Arms; so also the Band of Pensioners, armed with their Pole Axes, Assemble in the Presence Chamber; but the Prebends of the College, vested in their Taffaty Mantles over their Surplices, and _Alms-Knights_ in their _Mantles_ and _Surcoats_, come no nearer than the Guard Chamber.

Lastly, The Servants and Attendants of the _Knights-Companions_ meet without the Guard Chamber Door, whence spreading themselves down the Stairs, through the Stone Gallery, into the upper Ward of the Castle, or as far as their Number will reach, all wait the Sovereign’s coming forth into the Presence.

It will be necessary here to inform the Reader, in regard not only the Feast Day of St. _George_, but the Grand Feast held in Honour of the _Order_, hath been kept in several other Places besides _Windsor Castle_, more particularly, at _White-Hall_, St. _James_’s, _Greenwich_, and _York_; that there are many Ceremonies, and other Particulars hereafter named, which alter not with the Place; but appertain to the Festival, and are therefore to be observed every where alike; as for instance, the form of Proceeding, the manner of holding _Chapters_, the Ceremony of Offering Gold and Silver, Swearing of Officers, and such like: But others there are, which are precisely local and particular, as the _Prebends_ and _Alms-Knights_ going in the Proceeding, the Offering up of Atchievements, _&c._ to _Windsor_ only.

Since the withdrawing the Grand Feast from _Windsor_, some of the Officers of Arms, curious in the Observation of these Solemnities, performed in other Places, have afforded us great Plenty of Memorials, relating to the ceremonious Part thereof, while the same was continued at _Windsor_; and therefore, when the true Place where the Instance lies, shall be also cited, the Reader is not to conclude that the Precedent urged doth not full enough answer the Purpose, unless it had been likewise fetched from _Windsor_. But that in this case, the Ceremony or Example is such, as is peculiar to the Feast, not the Place, and ought to be observed without alteration at any Place, where the Sovereign shall keep the Grand Feast.

_Of setting the Proceeding in Order._

§ 2. In Times past, the _Knights-Companions_ appeared at the Grand Feast, attended with a numerous Train of Servants and other Dependents; but the Feast having removed from _Windsor_ to other Places, much of this ancient Splendor was laid aside; yet upon King _James_ I. Accession to the Crown, somewhat of this Glory began to revive; for we find it entered upon the _Register_, in the fourth of his Reign; _That the ancient Custom, which for some Years had been intermitted, wherein, at the Solemnity of this Feast, all the_ Knights-Companions _were wont to go attended, each with a large Train, was recalled and brought back into use_.

But this heighth of Gallantry and Splendor in the Number of Attendants, and richness of their Apparel, within ten Years grew up to such Excess, or rather Exorbitancy, that it required a restraint; wherefore the Sovereign, by the unanimous Advice of the _Knights-Companions_, Decreed, and Commanded, _That every one of the_ Knights-Companions _of the_ Order, _should have to attend upon his Person at the yearly Solemnization of the Feast of the_ Order, _fifty Persons, and no more_: The reason whereof we find elsewhere noted to be, for saving of Charge, and avoiding of Emulation. But in the beginning of King _Charles_ I. Reign, of ever Blessed Memory, the gallantry of Attendants began again to Increase and Augment; insomuch that at the Grand Feast held at _White-Hall_, the 22d, 23d, and 24th of _April_, _Anno_ 8 _Car._ I. we find it observed, that the _Knights-Companions_ came forth attended, each with a Train of Servants very richly clad.

But to return and enter upon the Proceeding, to the end the Servants and Attendants of the _Knights-Companions_ may be exactly Marshalled, the Usher of the Hall (whose Duty it is to rank them) ought to call for a List from _Garter_, of such _Knights-Companions_ as are to be present at the Grand Feast, noted with their several Places in the Proceeding, for his better Directions in assigning the Attendants their due Places, the Order whereof is thus: First, the _Junior_ Knights-Attendants proceed one before another, on the left Hand, upon whose right Hand the second eldest Knights-Attendants go in equal Rank with them, for this we observe to have been the general rule; where the _Knights-Companions_ Proceed in pairs, their Attendants go together; those belonging to the _Senior_ Knights of the two, on the right Hand, and to the _Junior_ upon their left; but the Order is otherwise, where any of the _Knights-Companions_ proceed single and alone, (which often falls out, as shall be noted in its due Place,) for then the Attendants belonging to that single Knight go two and two, on both sides the Way, opposite one against the other.

But when the Grand Feast is Celebrated at _White-Hall_, there the _Knights-Companions_ Attendants are Marshalled by the said Usher, on both sides the Passage, from the outward Door of the Guard Chamber, down into the Hall, taking up all the Room as far as the old Chappel; and because here they do not proceed, in regard of the shortness of the Processional way, but only make a stand, for the Proceeding to pass through them, they are ranked in a way different from that used at _Windsor_; nevertheless relating more especially to the Order observed by their Masters: Which Method, in the Sovereign’s Proceeding to the Chappel, at the beforementioned Feast, held at _White-Hall_, _Anno_ 8 _Car._ I. we find thus described. The eldest _Knight-Companions_ Servants were ranked on the right Hand of the Passage, the chiefest of them near unto the old Chappel Door; and the second Knight (being Companion to the eldest) his Attendants stood on the left side, the chiefest of them also next the said old Chappel Door, and in case the eldest Knight’s Fellow or Companion be not present in this Proceeding, then the eldest Knight’s Servants ought to be placed opposite one against the other, upon each side the said old Chappel Door: The like Order is to be taken in Marshalling the Servants of the other Knights of this most Noble _Order_, whose Companions are then absent.

Secondly, The Order of Proceeding amongst the _Alms-Knights_, (who, _Anno_ 1 _Car._ I. had two Waiters of the Sovereign’s Hall, in their Livery Coats, bearing white Rods in their Hands, to proceed before them,) is in general two and two together, the _Junior_ is placed foremost on the left Hand, and his next _Senior_ on his right; and if Sickness, or other lawful Impediment, chance to hinder one or more of them, from going in the Proceeding, his _Junior_ is advanc’d into his Place, and consequently all the other _Juniors_ do in like manner alter their Places, and advance, to the end the superior Place be still supplied, according to the right rule of Marshalling the Singles, that compose a gross Body; but in this Case, if the Number that attend happen to be odd, the Governor of the _Alms-Knights_ goes last of all, and alone.

Thirdly, The Virger of the College hath his Place next after the _Alms-Knights_, and immediately before the _Prebends_ of the College; who being habited in a Gown, beareth a Silver Verge, the Ensign of his Office: Nevertheless, heretofore, when the _Prebends_ went not in the Proceeding, on the Eve of the Grand Feast, the Virger proceeded first of all, before the _Alms-Knights_, for so it was observed on the Eve of St. _George_, at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 6 _Eliz._ and in this manner we see it exprest, in the Proceeding set forth by _Marcus Gerchard_.

Fourthly, Under the general rule, relating to the _Alms-Knights_, are comprehended the _Prebends_ of the College, the _Pursuivants_, _Heralds_, and _Provincial Kings_, insomuch, that where either of the said Kings are absent, the _Senior Herald_ is advanced, and goes in breast on the left Hand of him who is then present; so also where any of the _Heralds_ are wanting, his next _Junior_ ascendeth into his Place; whereby it sometimes falls out, that the _Senior Pursuivant_ is joined to the left Hand of the _Junior Herald_: And through their defects and absence, the Number of the Officers of Arms be odd, then (with this difference in the foresaid rule observed among the _Alms-Knights_,) the youngest _Pursuivant_ goeth single by himself.

Touching the right of Precedency, between the Officers of Arms, and _Prebends_ of the College, in Proceeding before the Sovereign and _Knights-Companions_, we find there hath been heretofore not only some Question started, but the Place contended for; insomuch, that at the Installation of the Earls of _Shrewsbury_ and _Cumberland_, _Anno_ 34 _Eliz._ the _Prebends_ took Place, and upon the 24th of _May, Anno_ 39 _Eliz._ at the Installation of _Thomas_, Lord _Howard_ of _Walden_, and others, the _Prebends_ again endeavoured to pass between the Officers of Arms, and Officers of the _Order_; but _Charles_, Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_, then Lieutenant to the Sovereign, delivered his Opinion on the behalf of the Officers of Arms against the _Prebends_.

Yet did not this so settle the _Order_ of Precedency, or quiet the _Prebends_, but that the Contention again broke out, _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. at the Installation of the Earls of _Pembrook_, _Marr_, _Southampton_, and Duke of _Lenox_; (which happened on the ninth, not second of _July_, in the foresaid Year,) even to such a heighth, that the _Prebends_, _Pursuivants_, and _Heralds_, contended in the Proceeding; but the Controversy was on the next Morning composed, by the Lord Admiral, (then the Sovereign’s Lieutenant,) the Lord Treasurer, and the Earl of _Worcester_; and the _Order_ in Proceeding thus settled: first, That the _Alms-Knights_ should go foremost, the _Pursuivants_ next, then the _Prebends_, and then the _Heralds_ and Kings of Arms; and this Order in Proceeding was afterwards observed, on the 21 _May, Anno_ 4 _Jac._ I. at the Installation of the Earl of _Salisbury_, and Viscount _Bindon_; as also the 19 _May, Anno_ 6. of the same King, at the Installation of the Earls of _Dunbar_, and _Montgomery_.

Howbeit, _Anno_ 9 _Jac._ I. and so afterwards, we do not find the _Pursuivants_ mentioned in the Proceeding, by particular Name, nor otherwise, than in this following Order, _viz._ _Alms-Knights_, _Prebends_, _Heralds_, &c. but it may be presumed that the _Pursuivants_, then joined again in Body with the _Heralds_, (though for some Years before divided from them, by the interposition of the _Prebends_,) as well as the Provincial Kings, and all of them under the Title of _Heralds_, and sometimes Officers of Arms.

And though at the Grand Feast held by Prorogation, on Sunday the 14th of _September_, in the said fifteenth Year of King _James_, it is noted, that the Prince (being then the Sovereign’s Lieutenant,) proceeded to Morning Service on the Feast Day, with the _Alms-Knights_, _Heralds_, _Prebends_, and Officers of the _Order_ before him; from which manner of Expression, it may perchance be supposed, that the _Heralds_ went at that time next after the _Alms-Knights_, and before the _Prebends_; nevertheless, elsewhere we find them, on the Eve of the aforesaid Feast, ranked in this following Order.

The Alms-Knights. The Prebends. The Officers of Arms. The Knights of the Order, _&c._

And doubtless, they proceeded in the same Order to the Chappel, on the next Morning, notwithstanding what is before said to the contrary, those Expressions being interwoven with the general Account given of the Ceremonies of the whole Festival, and more subject to mistake, where the relation of the Proceeding is carried on in a continued Discourse, than were ranked (as is before exhibited,) in particular Lines, and in the Order and Form of a Proceeding. Besides, we no where meet with any Order or Decree, nulling the foresaid Determination, made _Anno_ 1 _Jac._ I. which placeth the _Prebends_ before the _Heralds_. Finally, to give an end to the Disputes in this Point, we find, that upon the Eve of this Feast, held at _Windsor_, the 23, 24, and 25 of _November_, _Anno_ 1 _Car._ I. the _Prebends_ proceeded next before the _Pursuivants_, and the _Pursuivants_ immediately before the _Heralds_ and Provincial Kings; that is to say, all the Officers of Arms (except _Garter_, whose Place is elsewhere,) proceeded in one entire Body together, which Order we find to be the same in all Proceedings after, that we have met with, and was so observed at the Grand Feast held at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 13 _Car._ II. and ever since. But to proceed.

All the before mentioned Attendants wait in their several Stations, till the Hour of _Tierce_, when the Sovereign (having the _Knights-Companions_ and Officers of the _Order_ before him, and his Train carried up,) passeth towards the Presence Chamber, notice of whose coming being given, the Band of Pensioners make the accustomed Guard and Passage along the Presence Chamber, the _Seniors_ standing towards the Lobby Door, within which Guard, on the other side, the Officers of Arms place themselves: Upon the same warning, the Yeomen of the Guard clear a like Passage from the Presence Chamber Door, along the Guard Chamber, unto its outward Door, for the Proceeding to pass through.

At the Sovereign’s approach, one of the Gentlemen Ushers attended with the Sword of State, (the Point resting upon the Ground,) delivereth to such one of the Nobility, (not being a Knight of the _Order_,) whom the Sovereign, as an honorary Favour, hath before nominated, to bear it from thence, before him in all the Proceedings of the Feast; during which Action, the _Knights-Companions_ proceed forwards, and being entred the Presence Chamber, Flank on each side the State, with some small distance between them, and there make a stand: The Sovereign being also entred, passeth to the Step before the State, (the Nobleman who beareth the Sword, and the five Officers of the _Order_, retiring a little on his right Hand,) and then turning himself towards the _Knights-Companions_, standeth there a while, until they have made their Reverences unto him; which being performed, he resaluteth the _Knights-Companions_ by putting off his Cap: This done, the Sovereign putteth his Cap on again; whereupon every of the _Knights Companions_ putteth on theirs, and immediately Rank themselves, according to their due Place, on both sides the State.

For the right understanding whereof, we are in the fifth place to Note, that in the Order and Method wherein the _Knights-Companions_ are ranked, (if they be all present,) is two and two together, the _Junior_ foremost on the left Hand, for that is his Place in all Proceedings; but where any of them be absent, the rule is different from that appropriate to the before-mentioned Degrees; for though it be recorded, that upon the Eve of the Grand Feast held at _Windsor_, _Anno_ 7 _Hen._ V. the _Knights-Companions_ went in Order to the _Chapter-House_ and _Choir_; yet this being exprest but in general terms, how it ought to be understood, will more fully appear, from the particular Directions given for the Order of the _Knights-Companions_ Proceeding in King _Henry_ VIII’s Statutes; where the Law directs each _Knight-Companion_ to proceed alone, at such time as his Fellow (who possesseth the Stall opposite unto him) is absent, but the Order of such Proceeding will by a Scheme be made more evident.

_The Proceeding of the_ Knights-Companions, _present on the Eve of St._ George, _to the Closet at_ White-Hall, Anno 3 Eliz.