Heralds, and Provincial Kings, fall off all upon the right hand, oppo∣site to the Knights-Companions Table, the Iunior Pursuivant standing towards the lower end of the Hall.
Then the Knights-Companions passing up beyond them, formerly divided themselves on either side, according to the Decree an. 16. H. 8. and made a stand, each taking place, according to the order of their Stalls. But at the Feast held at Whitehall an. 19. Car. 2. the Soveraign directed, that they should stand all on the right hand side, facing their Table.
Next the five Officers of the Order follow, who ascending beyond the Se∣nior Knight, retire on the right hand; After them the Soveraign, who coming up last (all the Officers of Arms doing him reverence as he passeth by) goes directly to the Haut-pas, before his own Table, where turning himself to∣wards the Knights-Companions, and putting off his Cap, they return their Re∣verences jointly to him.
After this, in order to the Soveraigns sitting down to Supper, he is first ser∣ved with Water by some Noblemen appointed for that Service. Next Grace is said by the Prelate, and then doth the Soveraign place himself in his Chair, set in the middle of the Table. After whom the Senior Knight, conducted to his Table by two Officers of Arms, sits down, and so do all the rest in due order, at the Tables appointed for them. Whereupon the Officers of the Order and of Arms, retire out of the Hall to Supper.
Now in regard all these last mentioned particulars are ordered alike, and in the same manner, at the other Meals of this Grand Feast, as here at this: We chuse rather to transfer the further enlargement upon them, to our Discourse of the Dinner on the Feast day, where these, and such things and services as are also common to every Meal, are once for all brought to view, and handled at large.
If a Lieutenant be constituted, he proceeds to Supper in full Robes, and in the same order as doth the Soveraign, whether it be to St. George's Hall, or else∣where, and sits alone at the Soveraign's Table, yet on the left hand of the Cloth of State; being served in all points with Water, and by a Cupbearer, Carver, and Sewer, as is the Soveraign himself.
This, and the other Meals were usually heretofore closed with Comfits, Spi∣ces, and Wine, and of late times with a costly Banquet: which, after the So∣veraign hath washed, is brought in and placed upon the Table.
This Banquet after Supper, is that which in some places is called the Voyd, as an. 31. H. 8. it is observed, that Supper being ended, the Pnesident and Knights-Companions had a Voyde of Comfits and Hypocras, and an. 4. Eliz. a Voyde of Spices and Wine. So an. 6. & 7. of the same Queen, it is said, they were served of the Voyde and departed, and an. 20. Eliz. it is likewise said, Supper being ended, and Voydance brought, they departed for that night. So also is it phrased in King Henry the Eighth's Statutes, Art. 3.
But somewhat more fully an. 5. Eliz. when St. George's day falling upon a Fri∣day, at the return from the second Vespers, instead of a Supper (it being a fast∣ing night) the Lieutenant standing in the middle before the Cloth of State, and the Knights along on either hand, the Comfits, Spices, Sugar, and Wine were brought in, and in several Bowls (or Chargers) presented; first a Bowl to the Soveraign's Lieutenant, and then a Bowl to each two of the Knights-Companions; and the Relator, at the close, noting also the posture they took the Banquet in, calls it a Voyde; for he says, they had the Voyde standing. And lastly, the Feast hapning on a Friday, an. 27. of the same Queen, celebrated at Greenwich, it is noted by Robert Cook then Clarenceux, that when the Banquet was brought in, the Lieutenant and all the Knights-Companions standing in order, were served of the Voyde, because they had no Supper.
When Supper is ended, and the Banquet taken away, the Soveraign and Knights-Companions proceed back (in the same order as they came) into the Presence-Chamber; where the Soveraign (or his Lieutenant) standing on the step before the State, saluteth them as before, and then appoints the hour and