The History of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

by Elias Ashmole

The Proceeding to the Chappel in the Morning.

§ 1.

Notwithstanding the Celebration of the Feast takes up three Days, viz. part of the twenty second, all the twenty third, and part of the twenty fourth of April, yet the twenty third, St. George’s Day, is the Grand Part: The Ceremonies of which may be divided into Sacred and Civil, the first solemnized in the Chappel, the latter in St. George’s Hall.

In Order to which, the Knights-Companions in full Robes repair to the Sovereign’s Privy Lodgings, at the Hour appointed; as also the Officers of the Order. In the mean time the rest of the Degrees and Persons, which made up the Proceeding on the Eve of the Feast, take their several Stations then appointed them, to attend the Sovereign’s coming out of the Presence-Chamber.

When the Sovereign, having the Knights-Companions, and Officers of the Order before him, has entered the Presence, the Sword is delivered to the Nobleman appointed to bear it; and after the usual Salutations, the Proceeding sets forward to the Chappel in the same Order as on the Eve; the Knights-Companions having their Trains born by some of their own Gentlemen.

At the Foot of the Stairs, entering the Cloister, or Stone Gallery, twelve Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber attend, with a rich Canopy of Cloth of Gold, who, when the Sovereign approaches, receive him under it, and bear it over his Head, till he comes to the Choir Door of St. George’s Chappel; which Canopy is carried only on the Morning of the Feast Day, and not at any other time.

The Processional way to the Chappel, is the same they traversed on the Eve, if the Sovereign and Knights-Companions proceed to the Chapter-House first; for anciently it was the Custom to hold a Chapter in the Morning of the Feast Day, either before Mattins, or after, before the Grand Procession set forward. This Course received interruption in Queen Elizabeth’s time, during which, no Chapter was held in the Morning, except in the 26, 31, and 38 Years of her Reign, and then only for admitting some Officers of the Order: But the time of holding this Chapter was restored by King Charles I. who several times held it before the first Service began; as in the 5, 14, and 15, of his Reign.

But if no Chapter be held at this time, then, as soon as the Proceeding comes near the Chappel, instead of entering the Passage between the East-end of the Chappel, and King Henry VIII’s Tomb House, as it does on the Eve, by reason the Sovereign goes first to the Chapter-House, it proceeds straight on to the South Door, and thence into the Choir: Yet King Charles II. in the 15 of his Reign, appointed the whole Proceeding to pass by the said South Door, all along the South side of the Chappel, and then to enter at the West Door, which was then, and since observed.

When the Alms-Knights are come to the West Door of the Choir, they enter, and pass up above the Steps of the Altar, in the very same Manner and Order as they did on the Eve, and so exactly of the rest: Which being done, the Prelate begins the Morning Service, according to the Order observed in the Common-Prayer, only that the first Lesson being made proper to the Festival, is taken out of the 44 Chapter of Ecclesiasticus.

This Solemn Proceeding to the Chappel in the Morning of the Feast Day, is, and has been, most usual performed on Foot; yet there are Instances heretofore, where the Sovereign and Knights-Companions have proceeded on Horse-back, for the greater Splendor and Gallantry of the Order: As in 16 Edw. IV. when several Ladies rode in the Cavalcade, richly adorned, of which Habit mention is already made. So also 3 Hen. VII. when it was augmented by the Presence of the Queen, and the King’s Mother, attended by a splendid Train of Ladies: And again the 22 of the same King, when he held the Feast at Baynard’s-Castle, in London, he proceeded on Horse back to St. Paul’s: The like King Henry VIII. did at Windsor, on the Feast of St. George, 11 of his Reign; and King Philip, 1 and 2 of Phil. and Mar. and Queen Elizabeth, in the 6 of her Reign, in her whole Habit of the Order; so did the Sovereign’s Lieutenant at the same Feast ride to the first and second Vespers, and to the Morning Service the Day after.