CHAP. I.
Of the Election and Investiture of the three New Knights at White-hall.

THERE being three Stalls vacant, by the Death of three Knights and Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, scil. the Stall of his Highness Prince Rupert, who de­ceased Novemb. the 29th. 1682. The Stall of the Earl of Salis­bury, who died about the 11th. of June 1683. And the Stall of the Earl of St. Albans, who died Jan. 2d. 1683. At a Chapter of the said Most Noble Order, held at White-hall in the presence of the Sovereign of the said Order, on the First of January last, scil. 1683/4. The most Illu­strious Prince George, Brother to the present King of Denmark (having upon the 28th. of July last, married the Lady Anne, younger Daughter to his Royal Highness, the Duke of York, and Neece to our present So­vereign, King Charles the Second) was elected a Knight-Companion of the said most Noble Order, being first Knighted by His Majesty, Sovereign of the said Order, and then invested with the two Principal Ensigns of the Order, scil. the Garter and George. The usual Admonitions or Sig­nifications upon the said Investiture being pronounced,

First, Upon buckling on the Garter about the Prince's Legg, this fol­lowing Admonition, viz.

Secondly, Upon putting on the George pendant at a Sky-coloured Rib­band about the Prince's Neck, the Admonition ensuing was read to him, viz.

At another Chapter of the said Order, held at White-hall the 10th. day of the said month of January, for filling up the two other vacant Stalls, the High and Mighty Princes, Charles Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and George Fitz-Roy, Duke of Northumberland were in like manner elected Knights-Companions of the said most noble Order; the former whereof, viz. the Duke of Somerset was at the same time invested with the said two Prin­cipal Ensigns of the said Order, viz. the Garter and George, the foremen­tioned Significations or Admonitions being then likewise pronounced, and read unto him upon the said Investiture. But the Duke of Northumberland being then in France; from whence being sent for by His Majesty, he arri­ved not till about the second of March last; shortly after which being in­vested with the George and Garter in manner aforesaid. And His Majesty and the Court being returned from Newmarket, the day for the Installation was appointed the 8th. of this Instant April, 1684.

CHAP. II.
Of the Installation of the said three Knights, at the Castle of Windsor; and first of their Proceedings to the Chapter-House.

HIS Majesty, and the whole Court being removed from White-hall to Windsor, and the three Knights Elect, viz. Prince George, the Duke of Somerset, and Duke of Northumberland being also arrived there, toge­ther with the Dukes of Albemarl and Beaufort, who were the two Knights Companions of the said Order, Commissioned by his Majesty to perform the said Installation; and being all five habited after the usual manner, in their Doublets, and Trunck Hose, of Cloth of Silver, with white Gloves, Shoes and Stockins, Garters and Roses, &c. They met about nine of the Clock in the Morning the said 8th. day of April, at the Lodgings of the Bishop of Ro­chester, who is Dean of Windsor, and Register of the said most Noble Order, being a little to the Eastward of the Chappel of St. George. And the Robes, and other things to be used at the Installation of the said three Knights, being laid in readiness at the lower end of the Table in the Chapter-house, by Sir Will. Dugdale, Garter, who is the Principal King of Arms, and a peculiar Officer of the said Order, viz. for each of them, a Surcoat of Crimson-Velvet, or Pur­ple, lined with white; a Sword and Belt; a Mantle of Sky coloured Vel­vet lined with white, with a Velvet Hood thereto belonging; a great Coller and George, consisting of 26 Garters of Gold, Enamell'd and Inter­laced [Page 5]with as many Knots, with the Figure of St. George appendant there­at, enricht with Diamonds; a Velvet Cap, the Band enriched with Dia­monds, and adorned with a great Jewel before, and a large Plume of White Feathers, with one black Tuft in the middle; and lastly, a Book of the Statutes of the said most Noble Order, richly bound.

The poor Knights and Prebends belonging to the said Colledge of Wind­sor, being in their proper Habits [viz. the Poor Knights in Gowns of Blew Cloth, with an Escutcheon of the Arms of St. George, viz. a red Cross in a White Field on the Shoulder, and the Prebends in Mantles of Crim­son, or Purple Silk, with a little Cross in a Circle] and having placed themselves in order in the Cloysters, between the said Deans Lodgings, and the Chappel of St. George: And the other Kings, Heralds, and Pursi­vants of Arms, having habited themselves in the Dean's Hall, with His Majesty's Coats of Arms richly embroidered according to their several De­grees. The Proceeding to the said Chappel was as followeth.

First the poor Knights, two and two, the Junior first.

Next, the Prebends two and two, the Junior first.

Then the Officers of Arms two and two, the Pursivants first.

Then the Knights Elect, habited only in their Doublets and Hose of Cloth of Silvers, as before is said, single one after another, the Junior first, viz.

• The Duke of Northumberland,
• The Duke of Somerset,
• Prince George.

Then the Officers of the Order, habited in their Mantles of Crimson-Sattin, Lined with White, viz. Dr. Turner, Bishop of Rochester Regi­ster of the Order, wearing the Badge of his Office, viz. a Book em­bellisht, with a Garter, and two Pens across.

Sir William Dugdale, Garter King of Arms, bearing the Commission for the Installation, and wearing the Badge of his Office hanging in a Gold Chain.

Sir Thomas Duppa, Usher of the said Order, wearing the peculiar Badge of his Office, hanging likewise in a Gold Chain.

Then the Duke of Albemarle, and the Duke of Beaufort, Commission­ers for the said Installation, in their under Suits of Cloth of Silver, and Mantles of Blew Velvet, with their Caps and Feathers on their Heads.

Being entred the Chappel, the three Knights Elect, turning to the left Hand, reposed themselves on three Chairs, placed at the Back of the Quire, the Prince sitting in the middle, while the two Knights Commissioners went into the Chapter House, which is just at the entring the Chappel on the Right Hand; the Officers of the Order going in before them.

CHAP. III.
The Ceremonies in the Chapter-House.

THE two Knights Commissioners, and the three Officers of the Order being thus entred into the Chapter-House, Garter, King of Arms, with three Reverences presented the Sovereign's Commission for the Installing [Page 6]of the said three Elect Knights, to the senior Knight Commissioner, who delivering it to the Register, the Register forthwith read the same and then re­turned it to the said Knights Commissioners, who thereupon delivered it again to the said Register, to be enter'd on Record in the Register-book of the said Order.

Then Garter, King of Arms, being commanded by the Knights Com­missioners, to bring in Prince George of Denmark, came out of the Chap­ter-House, and having made his Obeysances to the said Prince (who sate all this while at the Back of the Quire) conducted him into the said Chap­ter-House, where the Prince having made his Reverence, the senior Knight Commissioner declared the Sovereign's great Favor towards him, in a full Admittance into this Honourable Society; which the Prince humbly ac­knowledging, the said Commissioners, with Garter's Assistance, invested him with the Surcoat before-mentioned, and girt the Sword about him over his Surcoat, while the Register pronounced the Admonition follow­ing.

The Prince being thus invested with the Surcoat, and girt with the Sword, remained in the Chapter-House with the Knights Commissioners, whilst Garter having received the like Command to bring in the next elect Knight, viz. the Duke of Somerset, introduced him into the Chapter-House in like manner; where being invested, and all other Ceremonies performed, as they were to the Prince, Garter was sent out again for the youngest Knight Elect, scilt. the Duke of Northumberland; to whom all things were per­formed in like manner.

CHAP. IV.
The Proceeding into the Quire.

THE three Knights Elect being thus invested with part of the Habit of the said Noble Order, reposed themselves in the Chapter-House, while the Knights Commissioners, and Officers of the Order, &c. procee­ded into the Choire from the said Chapter-House, through the North Isle, and in at the West Door of the Choire under the Organ in this manner.

First, The poor Knights, two and two, the Junior first.

Next, the Prebends, two and two, the Junior first.

Then the Officers of Arms, two and two, the Pursivants first.

Then the three Officers of the Order before-mentioned, the Register in the Middle.

Then the Knights Commissioners with their Caps and Feathers on their Heads until they came to the Quire.

Being entred the Choire, the Poor Knights (making their Obeysances in the middle of the Quire, first to the Altar, and then to the Sovereign's Stall) ascended to the Steps before the Altar, and there divided themselves to the right and left.

Next, the Prebends having made the like Obeysances, took their Seats or Stalls, only two of them were conducted up by a Virger to the Altar, to receive the Atchievements, &c.

Then the Officers of Arms having made the like Obeysances, ascended likewise to the Steps before the Altar, and dividing themselves to the right and left, stood before the poor Knights.

Then the three Officers of the Order, having made the like Obeysances, came and stood before their own Seat or Form, on the Right Hand the Quire, a little before the Sovereign's Stall.

Lastly, the two Knights Commissioners, after the like Obeysances, came and stood in the Choire, under their respective Banners or Atchievements, which Atchievements, by the Sovereign's particular Warrant had been re­moved higher into their proper places the Day before, to the end the Atchievements of the two New Elect Knights-Subjects might be set up o­ver the two lowest Stalls.

CHAP. V.
The Offering of the Atchievements of the three defunct Knights.

THE Atchievements of the said three defunct Knights, scilt. Prince Rupert, the Earl of St. Albans, and the Earl of Salisbury, being ta­ken down, and made clean, and placed in readiness, directly under each defunct Knight's Stall, Garter came from his Seat, and having made his usual Obeysances to the Altar and Sovereign's Stall, and also to the Knights Commissioners, conducted them to the place where the Atchievements of Prince Rupert, the eldest defunct Knight, were laid.

Then the two Kings of Arms, called Clarenceux and Norroy, came down from the Steps of the Altar to the Body of the Choire, and having made their usual Reverences to the Altar, and Sovereign's Stall, and also to the Knights Commissioners, disposed themselves a little before the said Knights Commissioners on either side.

Which done, the two Knights Commissioners having received from Gar­ter the Banner of the said Prince Rupert half rolled up, made their double Obeysances; and (being preceded by the said Kings of Arms) passed up towards the Altar, bearing the lower end of the Staff foremost; and ma­king another double Reverence at the first Haut pas, the two Kings of Arms, after an humble Obeysance, divided themselves, to make way for the Knights Commissioners, who being come to the upper Haut pas, made a single Reverence to the Altar, and raising the Point of the Banner up­wards, presented it with a Bow to the two Canons or Prebends before-mentioned, who deposited it upon Cushions laid before the Altar.

Which done, the said Kings of Arms having conducted the aforesaid Knights Commissioners back into the Choire, returned unto their places; whereupon the two Senior Heralds came down, and making their double Reverences, as also to the said Knights Commissioners, to whom Garter delivered the Sword of the said Defunct Knight (Prince Rupert) with the Pommel or Hilt upwards, conducted them up to the Altar, where, after the usual Reverences, it was offered as aforesaid. Then returning again, Garter delivered them the Helm and Crest of the said Defunct Knight; [Page 8]which they offered in like manner, the two next Heralds preceeding before them.

In like sort the Atchievements, viz. the Banner, Sword, and Helm and Crest, of the next Defunct Knight, scil. the Earl of St. Albans were offered up by the said Knights Commissioners, conducted by two Officers of Arms.

Lastly, The Atchievements of the third Defunct Knight (scil. the Earl of Sarum) were offered up in like manner.

Which being performed, the knights Commissioners making their usual Obeysances, returned, and stood under their respective Banners, and the Officers of Arms return'd to their Stations at the Steps before the Altar.

CHAP. VI.
The Installation of the Three Elect Knights, and first, the introducing the Senior Knight Elect to his Stall.

THE Atchievements thus offered, the poor Knights came down from the Steps before the Altar (the Junior first) into the mid­dle of the Choire; where making their double Reverences, they proceed­ed out of the Chappel towards the Chapter-House; and next to them, the Officers of Arms in like Order, as also the three Officers of the Order, and the two Knights Commissioners.

Being come into the North Isle, the Poor Knights divided themselves to the Right and left, and the Heralds passing between them, nearer to the Chapter-House Door, divided themselves in like manner, while the Officers of the Order and Knights Commissioners passing through them, entered the Chapter-house, where the three Knights Elect still remained.

Whence after a short stay, the Knights Commissioners bringing the Se­nior Knight Elect (scil. Prince George) they proceeded towards the Quire in form aforesaid, that is to say, first, the poor Knights, next, the Officers of Arms; then the three Officers of the Order, Garter going in the middle betwixt the Register and Ʋsher of the Order) bearing on a Purple or Crim­son Velvet Cushion, the Mantle, Hood, great Coller, and Book of Statutes before him. Then the Prince, or Senior Knight Elect, bare-headed, with his Cap and Feather in his Hand betwixt the two Knights Commissioners, who wore their Caps and Feathers till the Entrance into the Quire.

Thus entring the Quire, the poor Knights, and Officers of Arms, ma­king their usual Obeysances, went up to their former Station at the Steps before the Altar, while the Officers of the Order making the like Reve­rences, came before the Stall design'd for the senior Knight Elect, being the Fourth Stall on the Side called the Prince's Side; the three Superior Stalls on that Side being those of the King of Sweden, the Duke of York, and the Prince Elector of Brandenburgh: And Garter having orderly disposed the Mantle, Hood, Coller, &c. before the Stall design'd for the said Prince, came and stood in the Quire, with the other two Officers just before the said Stall.

Then the Knights Commissioners making the like Reverences, came in­to the lower or middle Row of Stalls directly under the designed Stall of the said Prince or senior Knight Elect, whom they introduced between [Page 9]them into the said lower Space or Row opposite to his Stall, where being placed, the Register of the said Order standing in the Quire before him, read his Oath to him, Garter holding the Book; the Form of which Oath is as follows.

The Oath being thus administred, and the said Elect Knight having kissed the Book, he was led by the Knights Commissioners up to the Stall appointed for him, through the middle Entrance, and by them placed be­fore it.

CHAP. VII.
The Installation of Prince George, being the Senior Knight Elect.

THE Prince thus standing in his Stall (which, as is said before, was the Fourth on the Princes Side) Garter advanced into the lower Row of Stalls to the place where the Prince took his Oath, and with an Obeysance to the Knights Commissioners, presented to them the Mantle wherewith they invested the Prince, and put on the Hood upon his Right Shoulder over the Mantle, bringing the Tippet athwart his Breast, and tucking it under his Belt or Girdle, in the doing whereof the Register read unto him the Admonition following.

Then the Knights Commissioners put on the great Coller of the Order about his Shoulders, tying it at each Shoulder over his Mantle and Hood, while the Register read to him the Admonition ensuing.

After this the said Knights Commissioners presented the new Invested Knight (the Prince) with the Book of Statutes; and having put the black Velvet Cap, adorned with Plumes of white Feathers upon his Head, the Prince standing all this while before his Stall, made his double Obeysances, first towards the High Altar, and then towards the Sovereign's Stall, where­upon the Knights Commissioners embracing him as their Fellow and Com­panion, [Page 10]place him, or set him down uncovered in his assigned Stall; and from this last Action the whole Ceremony is denominated an IN­STALLATION.

Which being performed, the Knights Commissioners making their Obey­sances came down into the Quire, and stood under their respective Banners.

CHAP. VIII.
The Installation of the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, being the two Elect Knight-Subjects.

THE Duke of Somerset being next to be Installed, the poor Knights and Officers of Arms, came down from the Steps before the Altar, and making their usual Obeysances, proceeded out of the Quire, the Officers of the Order, and Knights Commissioners following them, and thence to the Chapter-House again, as they did when they went to fetch in the Prince, Chap. 6. whence they conducted the next Elect Knight, scil. the Duke of Somerset, in the same Order as before, into the lower Space before his de­signed Stall, being the lowest Stall on the Sovereign's Side; where having taken the Oath before recited, the Knights Commissioners conducted him up to his proper Stall, and invested him with the Mantle, Hood and Great Coller, the Register reading unto him the several Admonitions before re­cited; after which they presented him with the Book of Statutes; and having put on his Velvet Cap with Feathers, placed him in his Stall, all things being performed in the same manner, as before for Prince George.

Lastly, the poor Knights, Officers of Arms, and Officers of the Order, conduct the Knights Commissioners out of the Quire again to the Chapter-House in the same manner as before, whence they brought betwixt them the third, or youngest Knight Elect, scil. the Duke of Northumberland, and installed him in the lowest Stall on the Prince's Side, performing all things as before for the first and second Knights.

All the three Knights being thus installed, the Officers of the Order con­ducted the Knights Commissioners to their respective Stalls, and making their usual Obeysances, went to their own Seat.

Then the Officers of Arms came down from the Altar into the Choire, to hear Divine Service; the Kings of Arms first, and after them the poor Knights to their Seats, the Eldest first.

CHAP. IX.
The Offering of Gold and Silver.

THen Divine Service began, and the Communion, or Second Service being performed as far as to the Offertory, at the Words, Let your Light so shine before Men, &c. The poor Knights making their Obeysan­ces, ascended to their Station at the Steps before the Altar, the Junior first, and after them the Heralds in like manner, flanking the said Poor Knights.

Then Garter came from his Form to the middle of the Choire, where making his usual Obeysances, he summmoned down from their Stalls the two Junior new Installed Knights, viz. the Dukes of Northumberland and So­merset, who made their double Reverences in the Quire, and then placed themselves just under their respective Banners.

Next he summon'd down the Junior Knight Commissioner, the Duke of Beaufort, and after him the senior Knight Commissioner, the Duke of Al­bemarle, and lastly the Prince, who severally making their Obeysances, placed themselves in like manner under their respective Banners.

The five Knights standing thus under their several Banners, the two Kings of Arms, called Clarenceux and Norroy came down into the Choire, and having made their double Reverences, as also their Obeysance to the Eldest Installed Knight, Prince George, they conducted him up towards the Altar, and he having made his usual Reverences both in the Quire and at the first step, or Hautpas, kneeled down on one Knee at the upper step (a Velvet Cushion being laid for that purpose) and offered Gold and Silver, two of the Prebends holding a large Gilt Basin in which they received it, making their Reverence to the said Knight Com­panion.

Having offered, the said Kings of Arms making their usual Obeysan­ces conducted him to the East end, or Passage into the Companions Stalls of the Prince's side where he made his Obeysances, and so passing through the Stalls, went up to his proper Seat or Stall, where he repeated the usual Obeysances and rested himself.

Then the two Senior Heralds conducted up the Senior Knight, Com­missioner, the Duke of Albemarle, who offered in like manner and returned to his Stall by the same way or passage as the Prince did to his, the Princes being the 4th. and His the 7th. on that side.

Then the two next Heralds conducted up the Junior Knight Commission­er, the Duke of Beaufort who offered Gold and Silver in like manner, and returned to his Stall being the Eighth Stall on the Soveraign side by the East Passage or Entrance on that side, making the like Reverences.

Lastly two other Heralds or Officers of Arms making their accustomed Reverences Conducted up the two Junior Installed Knights together (be­ing Pairs or Fellows to each other, which the Commssioners were not) who making their usual Obeysances offered Gold and Silver in manner as aforesaid, and return'd to their Respective Stalls, the Duke of Somerset to the 13th. or lowest Stall on the Soveraign side, and the Duke of Northum­berland to the 13th. or lowest Stall on the Princes side, each being con­ducted thither by one Officer of Arms.

CHAP. X.
The Conclusion.

THE Offering thus performed, and the Knights remaining in their Respective Stalls, the Officers of the Order at their peculiar Seat or Form, and the Officers of Arms and Poor Knights at the Steps before the Altar flanking on each side, Divine Service proceeded, and ending with particular Prayers for the Soveraign and Knights Companions the Bene­diction was pronounced.

Whereupon a Virger Reverently conducted down the two Prebends from the Altar to their own Seats among their Fellows in the Quire. Which done, Garter coming from his Form and making his Reverences in the Choir, Summon'd down all the Five Knights Companions, viz. the two Junior first, and then the three other one after another, who after their accustomed Reverences came and stood in the Quire under their Re­spective Banners.

Then the poor Knights descended from the Steps before the Altar by two & two the Junior first, and making their joint double Reverences in the mid­dle of the Quire, proceded out of the Chappel; then the Prebends descending from their Seats or Stalls into the middle of the Choir, made the like dou­ble Reverences jointly, and going out two by two the Junior first, follow­ed the Poor Knights; Next to them the Heralds descended from the Steps before the Altar, and making the like double Reverences joyntly in the middle of the Quire, followed the Brebends by two and two, the Pursi­vants first, then the three Officers of the Order making the like Reveren­ces followed the Officers of Arms, the Register in the middle, Garter on the Right-hand and the Ʋsher on the Left, lastly the five Knights Compa­nions in order followed the said Officers after having made their respective Obeysance, viz. the Duke of Northumberland and Duke of Somerset toge­ther being Fellows; Next the Duke of Beaufort, then the Duke of Albe­male, and lastly Prince George of Denmark.

Thus passing out of the Quire at the great West Door under the Organ, they proceeded through the North Isle and so through the Cloysters, where the Poor Knights and Prebends falling back to the Right and Left, the Of­ficers of Arms, and Officers of the Order conducted the said Knights to the Deans Lodgings, their Trains being held up by the Quiristers.

And thus the Ceremony ended.

To which only it is thought fit to add the Styles of the three New In­stalled Knights as they are Engraven in French on their Plates set up at the Back of their respective Stalls, together with a Scheme of the 26 Stalls as they now stand filled up by that present Installation.