The History of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

by Elias Ashmole

Touching the Necessity, and Power, of the Sovereign’s constituting a Deputy; it was provided for at the Institution of the Order; the Sovereign being then engaged in the Wars of France, thought it reasonable that Provision should be made by the Statutes, for to depute some Person in his stead.

When therefore such Occasion happened, a Commission was made out to one of the Knights-Companions, some reasonable time before the approach of the Feast; so that none of the ancient Ceremonies might be omitted, or any Impediment happen through his absence; and such Deputy hath usually been one of the chief of the Order, in Authority, Eminence, or Birth. The first so made was, John Duke of Bedford, 7 Hen. V. and the reason thereof given, in the Registrum Chartaceum, is, because the Sovereign was then employed in the Wars in Normandy.

And though the Title given by the Statutes to this Officer, be not particularly mentioned in the Blue-Book, where it speaks of the said Duke’s holding the Feast of St. George that Year, but rather implied in the Words Regiæ Sublimatis locum implevit; yet in the Registrum Chartaceum it is expresly set down, and the said Duke there styled, Depute de l’Ordre de Jaritiere. Sometimes he has been styled, Deputatis Ordinis, & præses clarissimæ Ordinis, &c.

About the beginning of the Reign of King Henry VIII. the Title of Locum Tenens, or Lieutenant, began to be taken up, and has, for the most part, continued in all succeeding Times; and the other Titles of Deputy, President, and Vicegerent, laid aside. As to the Business of this Officer, sufficient has been said already. As an Essential Honour to his Place, he has from ancient Time had some of the Knights-Companions assigned for his Assistants; the first mention of which is in the Registrum Chartaceum, 8 Hen. VIII. The Number of these Assistants were in those times uncertain; at the time aforesaid they were 4. 21 Hen. VIII. 3. and 32 Hen. VIII. we find but two; which Number has been a constant Rule ever since, except once, viz. the last of Hen. VIII. They were always appointed in Chapter, and have Letters of notice sent them thereof: But neither the Lieutenant, nor Assistants, can be Chosen two Years together, except the Sovereign should please to be present at the Day or Feast; and after it was Decreed, 23 and 24 Hen. VIII. that this Indulgence should extend to the term of three Years.

Lastly, We observe that this Officer always held the Feast at his peculiar Cost and Charge; and gave liberal Rewards to Garter, and for his Escutcheons, as also to the Officers of Arms, Gentlemen-Ushers, Alms-Knights, and to all the several Waiters and Attendants employed in the Ceremony.

The Ceremonies relating to the first Vespers.

§ 6. The first Chapter held on the Eve of St. George being finished, the Sovereign and Knights-Companions immediately proceed from the Chapter-House to the Choir, to hear Vespers. The Officers of Arms, Prebends, and Alms-Knights, having attended in the North-Isle of the Chappel, do now put themselves in Rank, and continue the Proceeding from the Chapter-House Door, along the said North-Isle, to the West Door of the Choir; in like manner as they did from the Presence Chamber, to the Chapter-House: The Organs then beginning to play, and so continue till Vespers begin.

When the Alms-Knights arrive at the West-Door, they first enter in a whole Body, while the rest of the Proceeding makes a short stand, and pass forward near the middle of the Choir, where they make a joint and low Obeysance; next, all turning about by the left Hand, to the Sovereign’s Seat; then still turning from the right, to the left Hand, they ascend the Haut Pas’s, even to the Rails set before the Altar; and forthwith divide themselves, flanking on each side, the Juniors nearest the Rails.

This done, the Prebends enter in a Body also, and having made the like Obeysances in the middle of the Choir, divide themselves, and take their Seats; which, by King Henry VIII’s Statutes, are appointed in the lower range of Seats, between, but not in, the Stalls of the Knights-Companions. While the Prebends are entering their Seats, the Pursuivants, Heralds, and Provincial Kings of Arms, in a Body, likewise enter the Choir; and after due Reverence, pass up to the Altar, and join the Alms-Knights; though anciently some difference was in this Ceremony.

Afterwards, the two Junior Knights-Companions enter, passing on till they come near their own Stalls, and there make their Reverences, and then divide, and take their stands directly before their Stalls; and so of the rest of the Knights-Companions.