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.