§ 12. The Proctor having receiv’d Possession of his Principal’s Stall, stays in the Choir, and performs the following Ceremonies, the chief of which is the Offering of Gold and Silver, according to the Degree and Seniority of his Principal’s Stall, in case the Installation be in the Morning; but if it be celebrated when St. George’s Feast is held by the Sovereign’s Lieutenant, the Proxy ought not to Offer till the Lieutenant hath first Offered for the Sovereign; and the Lieutenant also Offereth for himself before the Proctor, if his Stall be higher than the Stranger’s, for whom the Proctor is installed.
The Proctor in Offering doth it with all the Ceremony as if his Lord were present; when the Knights-Companions descend from their Stalls, (which Ceremony begins with the Junior Knight,) he also descends in his turn, and placeth himself below in the Choir before the Stall of his Principal, and if he have an opposite Knight-Companion, he joins himself to him, and proceeds towards the Altar to the Offering, with the Officers of Arms before him; but if no Knight-Companion be opposite, he then proceeds alone, having his Train born, and a Knight-Companion, or some other great Personage, suitable to his Degree, attending on his left Hand, to give him the Offering, which he Offers kneeling on a Cushion, and after him the rest of the Knights-Companions present Offer, every one according to the Seniority of their Stalls.
After the Offering, the Proctor taking his way by the East-end of the Stalls, returns back to the Stall of his Principal, and Divine Service being finish’d, and like Honour in all respects shewed to his Proxy as if his Principal had been present, he ought to remain in his Master’s Stall till his next Junior Knight hath left his Stall, and then descend after him, and stand below before his Stall, till his turn come to join himself again to the Proceeding, and so to pass out of the Choir.
Sometimes the Proctor hath been receiv’d at his coming down from his Lord’s Stall by the two Knights-Commissioners who installed him, as were the Proctors of Frederick II. King of Denmark, and John, Count Palatine of the Rhine, between whom they also proceeded to the Chapter-House Door, in the same manner they were conducted into the Choir; but notwithstanding this, the Proctor ought rather to take in his return the Place of his Principal, (as he did at the Offering, and which is indeed his right,) and so the Proctor of Francis I. went behind alone in his Principal’s place, and followed the Knights-Commissioners from the Choir to the place where he lodged; and this Method is since followed.
The Dinner.
§ 13. When the Installation hath past in the Morning, there hath usually been prepared a great Dinner at the Sovereign’s Charge; we need here only mention what is different in this particular from the Personal Installation of a Knight-Companion.
The Proxy washes alone, sits at the chief Place of the Table alone, and is serv’d alone, but the other Knights-Companions sit at the end of the Table; but if the Sovereign’s Lieutenant be present, the Proctor dines at the same Table with him, and then a little before the second Course is brought in, the Sovereign’s Stile is proclaimed with the usual Ceremony, in Latin, French, and English; but otherwise only the Stile of the new installed Prince, and but once. The Stile and Titles of Christian IV. King of Denmark, were proclaimed in Latin; and of Maurice, Prince of Orange, in French.
Dinner being ended, all rise in Order and Wash; first, the Proxy alone, and after him the Knights-Commissioners; and accompanying the Proctor to his Chamber, where leaving him, they retire to their own Lodgings, and there put off their Habits.
When the Solemnity of Installation is over, the Proctor is to take care, that Garter forthwith set up the Atchievements of his Principal over his Stall, and fix the Plate of his Arms on the back thereof; in Memorial of the Ceremony of Inauguration; to which end also Medals have frequently been struck, to perpetuate the Honour so received.