Star.
London, England, 1805-04-15 00:00:00

INETALATIoN OF THE KNIGHTS OP THE

VARTER.

. .
The public cnriofity excited by the etpedled cere-
mony of the Intlallation of the Knights of the Gar-
ter, naturally demands from us that full information
upon the fubjea which, on every acciaon, it is our
anxious duty to provide. The imperfeaaate of the
preparations does not enable us to gratify our Read
ers altogether, as we could with, but our account,
we are perfoaded, will Rill be gratifying, as it not
only deferibes Mit augua (cent, but will enable every
perfon who may have the gratification of witneffing
fo fplendiet and brilliant a foleinnity, to complehead
it in evert part. It is hardly neceffary to obferve,
that the Order of the Knights of the Garter was in-
(limed by that gallant Britifh King, Edward 111.
whole atchievements and military renown jufily ren-
der hisfacred memory the objeft of every honour in
the power of his focceffiws to bellow. As this Order
excels all other inflitutions of honour in the known
world, the following defcription of the Inflallation of
the Knights cannot be unacceptable. It is long fence
the ceremony of innalling the-Knights of the Garter
was omitted. It was difpenfed with by Letters Pa-
tent, dated aBth and nab of May, aot, with re-
ference to the. Dukes of Clarence, Cumberland,
Cambridge, Kent, Suffix, Saxe Gotha, Devonthire,
Beaufort, and feveral other of the Nobility, on whom
the honour was conferred. His Majefly King George
111. having determined to revive the chivalrous fo-
lemnity intlituted by his Royal Predeceffor, we (hall,
without calling the attention of our Readers to the
manner of appointing the Knights of the Garter,
proceed to the mode of inflalling them. The Com
miffioners appointed to infial the Knights cleft,
after h •ving robed themfelves in the complete habit
of the- Order, meet in the great Chamber of- the
Deanery, where Garter and the other Officers of the
Order, in their habits, and the Knights cleft in their
under habits, attend with their caps and feathers in
their binds. The Knights, not named in the King's
oommilfion, are fira condueled to the Chapel, pre-
ceded by the Poor Knights, Canons of Windfor, and
Officers at Arms, all in their proper habits, who,
on entering the choif, make their abeyance, firtt to the
altar and then to the Srvereign's Rail ; after which
they feat themlelves in their refpeftive flails. Then
the Poor Knights, Canons, &c. return to the Dean's
hall, from whence the proceffion begins in the fol-
lowing order:

Poor Knights two and two, Canons two and two, PortaWan
two and two, Heralds two and two, Kings at Arms.
The Knights Elea, with their caps and feathers In their bands,
• the juniors going Srft.
Regifter of the Order, with Garter King at Arms on hb right
hand, and Cfher of the Black Rod on his. left, in
their alit:don Latin mantles.
The Knights Comsniffioaera io their Robes, with their caps and
blathers.
The Knights are condusfted into the Nortb aiffe of
the Chapel, where the Knights Elea retire to their
feats, placed behind the altar, and the Officers, Re-
gitter, Garter, Black Rod, and Knights Commif-
fioners feat themfelves according to their feniority.—
After fome further ceremonies the Garter prefents
the Lords Cominiffioners with the furcoat of the fe.
nior Knight cleft, who burets him with it, at the
fame time reading this admonition :
d Take this robe of crimfon to the increate of your honour
and in token and figs of the Molt Noble Order you have received
wherewith you being defended, may be bold, not only thong to
fight, but alto to offer yourfelf to bed your blood for CHRIST'S
faith, the liberties of the Church, and the pat and neeettary de-
fence of them that are opPreffed'and needy."
Garter then prefents the crimfon velvet girdle to
the Lords Commiffioners, who buckle it on over the
furcoat, alfo the hanger and (word, which they gird
on. The Commiffioners then leaving the Knights
Elea in the Chapel Honk, proceed to the Choir,
and offer tsp the hatchments of the deceafed Knights,
proceeding thus—The Poor Knights two and two
enter fiat, and make their reverence, firs to the al-
tar, and then to the Sovereign's nail, and oroceed to
the Altar, placing themfelves on each fide. The
Canons follow, making the like reverence, and :land
b.:low the Poor Knights, except two, who are con-
duffed to the Altar, in order to receive the hatch-
ments as they are offered. Purfuivants and Heralds
at Arms two and two, next enter, making their re-
verences, and place themfelves on each fide below
the Canons.—Garter, Regifter, and Black Rod fol-
low next, and Rand before their refpeaive feats.—
The Commiffianers repair to their refpeaive flails,
and Garter then advances to the middle of the choir,
and various other ceremonies mice place, which it is
impoffible within our limits to defcribe.—Every thing
we have tins far related is concluded in St. George's
Chapel, to which a new Gothic entrance has recently
been made, by order of his Majelly, for the exprefs
purpofe of the proceffion. The Knights remain Rend-
ing in their refpeaive Balls, and a number of forme
are gone through, after which the Knights Elea are
concluded to their feats below their Balls, and take
the following oath, adminiftered by the Regifter of
the Garter
You being thirten to be one of the honourable company, of
the Mot Noble Order of the Garter, Stall promlfe and (wear, by
the Holy Evangditti, by you here touched, that wittingly sod
willingly you Shall not break any astute of the Paid Order, (many
article in than contained, the fame being agreeable and not re-
pugnant to the will of GOD and the laws of the realm, is far kith
RS to you belongeth and appertainsth, Co kelp you Gun and his
Lioly Word,"
The Kniights afterwards receive the mantle with
this adnionitson :
" Receive this robe of heavenly colour, the Barry of this molt
excellent Order, In augmentation of thy honour, ennobled with the
Shield and Red Craig of our-Lo ao, by whole power thou mayeft
feel), pierce troops of thine enemies, and be over them ever. vic-
torious ; and being in this temporal warfare glorious in cycli-
c*, and heroic aatons thou mayeft obtain eternal and triumphant
PT."
The Garter prefents to the Knights the Collar and
George, while the Regifter thus addreffes them :
" Wear this Collar about thy neck, adorned with the image of
the bleffed Martyr and Soldier in Cuatsr, St George, by whofe
imitation provoked, thou may'ft to o'crpsfa both profperous and
adverk encounters, that having fleetly vanguilhed thine Enemies,
both of body and foul, thou may'ft not only furtive this tranfient
combat, but be crowned with palms of eternal viaory."
The Statute Books of the Order are then prefent-
ed to the' Knights, and the ceremony of the inftalla-
lion is then complete. Divine tervice is afterwards
Perfurnicd, commencing with the Lord's Prayer,
Visite axefrereat Domino, ai ft Pfalm, a prayer for the
Sovereign, and Companions of the Order, &c. Stc.
There are many other formalities too tedious to be
enumerated ; after which the proceiGua from the