THE DEAN.]

ORDER OF THE BATH.

237

The Dean wears the same Mantle as the Knights Companions or KnightsGrand Cross, having the original Star 8 embroidered on the left shoulder,pursuant to the following clause in the Statutes: “ In all Ceremonies of theOrder he shall be invested with the like Mantle and Ensign that the Companionsare to wear, and in the Processions shall be covered .” 9 He ranks with, butafter, the Knights Companions or Grand Cross, and was the only Officer whodined with the Knights after Installations, when he sat next below the JuniorKnight . * 1

His Fees, as well as those of all the other Officers, have been already men-tioned . 2

ing to the terms of this privilege, the Arms of the Church of Westminster ought to be in the first orsecond place, because of the ambiguity probably of interpreting the true sense of the word impaling,as used in this place; for it may be objected, that it might have been more plainly expressed, andhave determined the matter, and that in this matter it should have been plain, in case it had beensaid, impaled with the Church of Westminster. These Statutes were drawn with much hurry, andformed mostly upon the practice and plan of the Garter, in which the Prelate bears the Arms of theSee of Winchester, surrounded with the Garter (and anciently the Coat Arms of the Bishop were notjoined with those of that See within the Garter): and since the Office of Chancellor of the Garterhas been restored to the Bishop of Salisbury, there hath been a grant of that nature to that Bishopalso by a late decree, whereof I have not the particular words at this place (the Herald’s Office), thebook being at Mortlake. But I have, therefore, placed the Arms of the Church of Westminster in thefirst place, because that seems to be most consonant to the practice, and also to the design: for aperson must be first Dean of that Church before he can be the Officer of the Order, and that the Armsof a Spiritual preferment should also precede any Coat of a Family: and I believe I have no occa-sion to ask the sentiments of the Great Master of the Order for his particular explanation in this case.

I likewise guess that, in the hurry wherein these Statutes were framed, it was not then certainlyknown whether there were any particular Arms appropriated to the Dean of Westminster, distinct fromthose of the Church itself, and therefore the latter were mentioned : but it is now lawful for the Deanhimself to bear the Arms of the Church itself, for these Statutes have the force of the Great Seal. Ihave not described the Arms of the Church of Westminster; for as that Church (if we include the timeof the Abbots) hath borne three different Coats, besides another the little time it was a Bishoprick, Icannot tell which of them is now used: and it might be that upon the new foundation by QueenElizabeth another Coat might be given, which hath been done in several foundations: but the personsof that Church can determine this point. I am, your most humble servant, John Anstis.” —Nichols’Illustrations of the Literary History of the Eighteenth Century, vol. IV. p. 129. A letter on thesubject was printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine in March 1799, vol. LXIX. p. 194.

8 Vide the History of the Order of the Garter, pp. 433, 434, for remarks on the use of theEnsign of an Order by the Prelate and Chancellor.

9 Art. XVIII. p. 60, antea.

1 See the Engraving in “ Pine’s Procession and Ceremonies at the Installation in 1725.”

2 Vide Fees, antea.