Next to the Knights-Companions, the Black-Rod, Garter, and Register, enter in a Breast, who, proceeding to the middle of the Choir, make their Obeysances, and then pass to their Form, placed on the South-side of the Choir, before the Sovereign’s Stall, and stand before it. After them, the Chancellor and Prelate in the like manner, stand before their Form, placed near the Sovereign’s Seat: And for these Forms, whereon the Officers of the Order sit in the Chappel, there is a special Decree for the allowance of them, entered at the end of the Constitutions of their Offices.
Last of all the Sovereign enters, (having the Sword born before him, but his Band of Pensioners stay at the Choir Door, to keep off the Crowd,) who, coming to the Steps which ascend the Royal Seat, makes a Reverence toward the Altar, and then takes Place therein, before he makes a second Reverence.
When the Lieutenant, in the Sovereign’s absence, proceeds to the first Vespers; as soon as he enters the Choir, and comes near the Sovereign’s Stall, he stands and makes a little pause there; then doing his Reverences, after he has again stood a while, before he ascends his own; where being arrived, he makes the double Reverence a second time, and then sits down.
And now to placing the Knights-Companions in their Stalls: Garter, as soon as the Sovereign, or his Lieutenant, is placed, makes again the usual Reverence in the middle of the Choir; then turns to the Senior Knights, and doth his Reverence to each of them; whereupon, at one Instant, they make their double Reverences below, where they stood, and strait ascend at the first, or western Entrance, that goes to the side Stalls; where being arrived, they make again their double Reverences, and then seat themselves. But when the Sovereign’s Lieutenant is present, each Knight adds a third Reverence to him, both when they ascend to, and descend from, their Stalls; and so likewise do all Persons, who pass in the Proceeding, add to their double Reverences so often as there is occasion to make it, after such time as the Lieutenant is entered his Stall; and so long as he continues therein, both on the Eve, the Feast Day, and the Morrow after.
The Knights-Companions being all seated, the Prelate and Chancellor pass into the middle of the Choir, and having made double Reverences, return to their Forms, and sit down. And after them, in the same manner, the Register, Garter, and Black-Rod, proceed.
As to the Sovereign’s other Attendants, the Nobleman who carries the Sword retires before the Sovereign’s Stall, a little on the right Hand; and the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold, if not a Knight of the Garter, and the Vice Chamberlain, on the left, till the Sovereign give them leave to sit down. The Clerk of the Closet stands at the Sovereign’s right Hand, but the young Noblemen, that carry up the Sovereign, and the Gentleman of the Robes, sometimes repose themselves on the Steps going to the Sovereign’s Stall.
This being done, preparation for Vespers begin; in reference to which, the Prelate ascends the Altar, it being the Duty of his Office, which if he omits, he is fined twenty Marks, to the use of the College, unless he give sufficient reason for his absence; in which Case, or on the vacancy of the See of Winchester, the Sovereign hath sometimes appointed another Bishop to Officiate for him. The Proceeding to the Altar, on this occasion, is as follows.
First, The Serjeant of the Vestry makes a double Reverence, then comes before the Prelate, and makes a single one to him; who thereon arises from his Seat, and the Serjeant proceeds before him into the middle of the Choir, where the Prelate makes a double Reverence; and passing forward after the Serjeant, and having ascended the uppermost Haut-pas before the Altar, he makes one single Reverence toward the same, and so goes to the North side of it.
After which, the two Provincial Kings, Heralds, and Pursuivants, leaving their fore-mentioned Stations, join together till they come near the Forms of the Register, Garter, and Black-Rod; where, making their double Reverences, they divide again on each side, and there stand.
Lastly, The Alms-Knights come down into the Choir in a Body, and there make their joint double Reverences, and then take their Chairs; all which being finished, Divine Service is begun by the Prelate.