252

HISTORY OF THE

[ESQUIRES.

most ; then the Esquires Governors in their surcoats, four in a breast, in likemanner; but in case the young Esquire, or Esquires Governors of the Knightsin the opposite Stalls, or either of them, be absent, then the young Esquires, orEsquires Governors present, shall go by him or themselves : after them thePrebendaries of the Church of Westminster, in their mantles, two and two, thejuniors going first, being followed by the Pursuivants, Heralds, and ProvincialKings of Arms in their tabards; and then the Knights, that are to be Com-panions, in the full robes of the Order,” &c . 6 During the ceremony, “ theEsquires Governors retire to their Seats under the Stalls of the Knights whomthey severally attend, the young Esquires standing before them .” 7

In the Procession at the Annual Convention of the Knights to the Chapel,it is provided, that “ in case any Companion deceased shall leave either or bothof his Esquires Governors surviving, such Esquire or Esquires shall proceed inbreast on the left hand of the Esquire or Esquires of the Knight who at thattime shall be in possession, or be entitled to be placed in the Stall wherein thedeceased Companion was seated; and the same method shall be observed withregard to the young Esquires who shall survive the Companions to whom theyofficiated .” 8

It is declared by the fifteenth Article of the Statutes, that “ the Coat-Armourof the Esquires Governors, and young Esquires, shall also be affixed to the backof the seats, under the Stalls of their respective Knights, in small enamelledEscutcheons, with their names, and the names of the Knights whom theyattended, with the respective dates of the times when their Knights wereInstalled; which shall be removed in like manner with the Plates of theirrespective Knights, to whom they performed service: all which said Esquiresshall, during the terms of their several lives, enjoy all rights, liberties, privileges,exemptions, and advantages, which the Esquires of the Sovereign’s Body, or theGentlemen of the Privy Chamber, do lawfully enjoy, or are entitled unto byvirtue of any grant, prescription, or custom, whatsoever. And the eldest son ofevery of these Esquires shall have and use the addition and title of Esquire, inall acts, proceedings, and pleadings: Provided, that all these Esquires, to beentitled to these privileges, shall have Certificates of their qualifications , 9 beforetheir respective admissions,, and likewise an exemplification of their actual

6 Art. VIII. p. 53, antea. 7 Ibid. p. 54, antea.

9 A copy of some of these Certificates will be found in the Appendix.

8 Art. X. p. 57, antea.