British Empire.

46*4
GENTRY.
ftalJ of his principal, in like manner, and Hood there uncovered,
holding his mantle on his right arm.
Then Bath turned himfelf to the two knights in the nest
flails, who, at the fame initant, made the like obcifanccs below,
and repeated them in their flails, and fat down uncovered.
In like manner all the refl of the knights and proxies did.
This being done, the efquires in a body made their obeifances,
and retired to their feats. After them the officers of arms, and
the heralds, according to a requell made to the great mafcci,
were allowed to fit on benches in this prefent ceremony, plated
at the feet of the prince's flail, the purfuivants ibtndiug be for.*
them.
Bath and the gentleman ufher forthwith arofe, and havuo
made their reverences in the middle of the choir, proceeded u>
infial the knights in the following manner.
The great mailer entered into the flail of the knight next, in
height to his own, and having there given the proxy of the Duke
of Richmond the tranfeript of the ftatutes, attefled under the
feal of the order, the dean adminiflered unto him the oatli in
the name of his principal, Bath holding the book of the gofpels •,
and the great mafter then feated the proxy down in his flail,
and riling, made his double reverences, and continued Handing
holding his mantle.
The great mailer, with the like attendants, having made his
double obeifance in the middle of the choir, then repaired to the
flail of the next knight, delivering to him a copy of the ftatutes,
and adminiflered the oath, which was as follows : " You fhali
" honour God above all things •, you fhall be ftedfaft in the
" faith of Chrift ; you fhall love the king, your fovereign lord,
" and hum and his right defend to your power; you fhall de-
" fend maidens, widows, and orphans, in their rights, and fhali
" fuffer no extortion, as far as you may prevent it; and of as
" great honour be this order unto you, as it was to your pro-
" genitors, or others." Bath then delivered the collar of the
order to the great mafter, who put it about the neck of the
knight, and placing the white hat on his head, feated him down
in his Hall, who, riling, mads his double obeifances, and the
great mafter having embraced and congratulated him, he then
fat down in his itall, covered with the white hat, adorned with
a plume of white feathers.
The great mailer having performed the like ceremonies to
all the other knights and proxies, returned to bis Hall, the dean
to his chair, and Bath and the gentleman ufher to their benches ;
divine fervice then began, during which time the knights placed
their hats upon the cufhions laid before them.
Upon the firft fentence of the offertory, " Let your light fo
fhinc.