Certificates of Acceptation.
§ 4. After delivering the Sovereign’s Letter, signifying Election by the Ambassador, and the elect Stranger doth readily accept the Order, he is obliged, by the Statutes, to return the Sovereign a Certificate of such his Acceptance, and desire of Ratification. And ’tis observable, before the additional Clause made by King Henry VIII. this ceremonious Course had been the Practice of ancient Times; and both expected from, and observed by the King of Denmark, who having been elected, 6 Hen. V. was the eighth of the same King taken notice of for not returning, before that Time, an Answer, whether he accepted the Honour or no: And it appears, before the next Feast of St. George, he sent over his ready Acceptance, both of the Honour of Election, and of the Ensigns of the Order; and thereupon Directions were given for his Installation by the Lord Fitz Hugh, his Proxy.
But for an instance, after the said additional Clause, there is one remarkable enough, in the Preamble of the Sovereign’s Credential Letters to the Duke of Savoy, 1 and 2 Phil. and Mar. sent with the Habit and Ensigns of the Order; in which it appears: That the Sovereign having given notice of his Election into this most Noble Order, he had returned back his cheerful and ready Acceptance of, and singular Satisfaction in the said Choice; and therefore cordially wished it might attain its due Effect.
In succeeding Times it was thought necessary, where the whole Habit was sent to a Stranger, together with the Sovereign’s Letters of notice, to make a provisional Decree, (which passed, 13 Car. I) That Garter, and all others, whom he pleased to join in Commission with him, should be most punctually careful, that they delivered not the Ensigns of the Order to any elect Stranger, till they were satisfied, by his Letters Patent, of his kind and grateful Acceptance thereof; or in case of refusal, to forbear their Presentation.
And the same care was also taken, where only the Garter and George were sent; as appears by the Instructions sent, 19 Car. I. to Sir William Boswel, then appointed by the Sovereign to present those two principal Ensigns to William, Prince of Orange; where, among other things, he is expressly commanded, To take a Testimonial from the said Prince, of his kind Acceptation thereof, before he should deliver those Ensigns of Honour to him: So likewise in the Institutions of the same Date, for delivery of the Garter and George to the Duke de Espernon.
Of an Election not accepted.
§ 5. That sometimes this Honour hath not been accepted, appears in the single case of Philip II. Duke of Burgundy, who having been elected by King Henry V. then in France, had not, Anno 1 Henry VI. sent his Answer. It was therefore concluded on at the Feast of St. George, held at Windsor the said Year, by Humphry, Duke of Gloucester, then Deputy to the Sovereign, and by, and with the unanimous consent of the Knights-Companions present, to send Letters to the said elect Duke, by which he was desired to know, whether he gave his Acceptance or no? The Duke of Burgundy, it seems, made no Answer to this Letter: It was therefore again debated at the next Year’s Feast, and then thought fit, to send Persons over to him with the Nomination, who should press him for his final Answer. And then it appears, that the said Duke weighing the Statutes, and reflecting on the Quarrels between the Duke of Gloucester, and the Duke of Brabant his Unckle, made a plausible Excuse, refusing the Election, lest he should be forced either dishonourably to violate the pious Constitutions of the Order, or the obligations of Alliance; and upon this they proceeded to a new Election.
But this is the only instance of this kind; and it hath been the constant way of all elect Strangers, not only to accept, but to receive with the highest Marks of Satisfaction, the notice of their Election, and the Investiture of the Order.