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.