defiance on him who fhould dare to think amifs of so just an enterprize. Hiftorians differ greatly about the time this order was inftituted: it is probable the order of the Round Table was renewed fome years before that of the Garter was eftablished: from concurrent circumftances it appears to have been about the year 1349, the twenty-third of Edward's reign, and Windfor, where King Arthur had first celebrated his inftitution, was fixed on by him for the ceremony. When he had appointed the day and place, and made the neceffary preparations for keeping the first grand feftival of his new order, he fent his Heralds into the neighbouring kingdoms to invite all Knights to fhew their military out them. The following mottó which was wrought on his furcoat and fhield worn at a tournament, will serve as a specimen of them, and fhew how unintelligible and infignificant they now appear. Hay, hay, the Whyte Swan, prowess, prowess, and to perform other public exercises proper to the occafion. to the occafion. Agreeable to this invitation, many gallant Cavaliers came over to fignalize their valour; and what greatly added to the splendour of the folemnity was, the prefence of Queen Philippa, attended by three hundred of the faireft Ladies, bedecked with all imaginable gaiety. St. George of Cappadocia, that gallant Christian champion and martyr, was chosen by King Edward as one of the patrons of this order, he having been always esteemed the special guardian and protector of England; from whence this order came to be stiled the order of St. George. The founder alfo added another patron, whofe name he bore himself, namely Edward the Confeffor and we find he was wont to invoke both these Saints in any great difficulties and ftreights. At the fkirmish near Calais, lately recited, being hard preffed, he paffionately cried out at every blow, Ha, St. Edward! ; I Edward! Ha, St. George! which his foldiers hearing, they ran to his aid, and enabled him to put the French to flight. The ftatutes of this inftitution were fo judiciously devifed, and compacted upon fuch a folid foundation of honour and dignity, that they afterwards became a precedent to other orders. It is alfo much in its favour that the number of the KnightsCompanions have never been encreased; for as they were originally twenty-fix with the Sovereign, fo they ftill continue; whilft the infringement of this reftriction has brought feveral other military orders into contempt and ruin. No order of Knighthood was ever graced with the companionship of fo many fovereign Princes; Emperors having efteemed it the fummit of their glory, and the highest trophy of honour, to be enrolled in the number: it entitles thofe Knights and Noblemen whofe virtue has raised them to this eminence, to be companions and affociates with Kings; an an inestimable prerogative, and a recompence for the greatest merit. The ordinances and obligations of this inftitution tend not only to fortify the minds of its Knights with courage and perfeverance, but to promote the gentler virtues; and in these the first companions felected by the royal inftitutor abounded in an eminent degree. On the whole, every regulation must convince posterity of the goodness of the heart and dignity of the fentiments of its founder, Edward the Third. The Prince of Wales was the firft of these illustrious Companions; nor has succeeding ages ever produced a Knight, fo fraught by nature with those virtues and accomplishments required to grace the inftitution. The habit and enfigns of this order are too well known to need a minute defcription: the garter, the mantle, the furcoat, and the collar, contribute to make it the moft I 2 moft fuperb and becoming drefs that can be devifed. The materials of which they were first compofed, except the mantle, are at present unknown; but of those wrought in later ages particular accounts have been given. The garter fent to Emanuel Duke of Savoy, in the reign of Philip and Mary, was fet with letters of goldfmith's work, the buckle and pendant of the fame, and on the pendant a ruby with a pearl hanging at the end. That made for the Emperor Maximilian, by order of Queen Elizabeth, was richly wrought with letters of gold, fet off and garnifhed with ftones; the buckle and pendant weighing three ounces, were richly set with rubies and diamonds. The French King, Henry the Fourth, had one of purple velvet embroidered with letters of gold, and decked with diamonds and rubies. But the garter fent to Guftavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, by Charles the First, outvied all others conferred by former Sove reigns; |