4
MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS.
[PRECEDENCY.
Ordinance of 1815, the same rights and privileges were granted to the newlyestablished Knights Grand Cross as the Knights Companions had held andenjoyed. 3 Like the Knights of the Garter, they take precedence, within theOrder, according to the position of their Stalls. 4 In Processions to and fromthe Chapel Royal, on Collar Days, they are to attend the Sovereign in a Classby themselves, next to, and immediately after Privy Councillors. 5
It is impossible, for the reason just given, to say where the Knights of theThistle, and of Saint Patrick, are to be placed in England, fn Ireland, how-ever, under the Warrant above alluded to, the Knights of Saint Patrick havePrecedency next after the eldest sons of Barons, 6 which is immediately aboveKnights of the Garter. But neither in Scotland, nor in England, nor Ireland,is the position of the Knights of the Thistle defined. No practical incon-venience has arisen, because the Knights of both those Orders having alwaysbeen Peers, they were entitled to a higher Precedency than accrued to themfrom their Knighthood; but as the Statutes evidently contemplate the admis-sion of Commoners, some regulation on the point ought, undoubtedly, to beestablished.
On the Extension of the Order of the Bath to Three Classes in 1815,Precedency was given to the Knights Commanders, over all Knights Bache-lors, and to the Companions, over all Esquires of Great Britain and Ireland. 6
In August 1832, Place and Precedency were granted to the Knights GrandCross, the Knights Commanders, and the- Cavalieri and Companions of theOrder of Saint Michael and Saint George, next after the corresponding degreesof the Order of the Bath. 7
3 History of the Order of the Bath, pp. 126, 207. * Ibid. pp. 59, 207.
5 Ibid. pp. 72, 207. 6 Ibid. pp. 128, 129, 218.
" History of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, pp. 44, 80, 81.
8 As those Decrees will be frequently alluded to in the following Table, it is desirable to insertsuch parts of them as relate to Precedency :
“ The Decree and Establishment of the King’s Majesty, upon a controversy of Precedence betweenthe younger sons of Viscounts and Barons, and the Baronets; and touching some other points alsoconcerning, as well Bannerets, as the said Baronets.” 28th May, 10 James I. 1612.
His Majesty “ finally sentenced, adjudged and established, that the younger sons of Viscountsand Barons shall take place and Precedence before all Baronets.”—“The better to settle, andclear also all question of Precedence that may concern either Bannerets, or the younger sons ofViscounts and Barons, or the said Baronets, either as they have relation among themselves, or towardsothers respectively; his Majesty for himself, his Heirs and Successors, doth ordain and establish, that