obferved in other kingdoms; the perfon to be knighted was bathed in the evening, and laid in bed; then clothed in rich robes, and led to the church to perform his vigils: that being over and mafs heard, his fpurs were put on, and his fword girt about him, then drawn out and put into his right hand; whereupon the oath was forthwithe adminiftered to him; which taken, he that beftowed the dignity gave him a blow or ftroke on the neck, faying, "God affift

you in the performance of your promise." The oath or vow the Knights at this time made, was in general to relieve and protect the widow and the fatherlefs, the oppreffed and miferable, and to defend the Church of God. Thefe ceremonious methods have been abolished for fome ages; and even in the century we treat of, were performed in a more expeditious manner. Before the joining of a battle it was ufual for the Prince or General in the field, on fight of the adverse army, to give those whom he thought fit to advance to that honour (they

humbly

humbly kneeling before him) a gentle stroke with the flat part of a naked fword on their shoulders, without any other ceremony, except pronouncing," Rife, Sir Knight, &c." This mode is ftill continued, and termed dubbing, the old English word for creating a Knight; from "doopen," to dip; bathing, as before obferved, being part of the procedure.

The admonitions originally given at the installation of a Knight of the Garter were as follow; fome variation has been fince made to accommodate them to the alteration of the national religion. Whilft the cere mony of inveftiture with the mantle is per forming, the words are thefe:"Take this

1

mantle of heavenly colours, in fign and token of the moft honourable order you have received, and to the increafe of your honour, figned and marked as you see, with a red efcutcheon of our Lord's crofs, to the intent that you, being always defended by the virtue and. ftrength "thereof,

་

"thereof, may pafs through your enemies, "and them alfo overcome and vanquish; "fo that at the laft, for your worthy and "approved acts, you may, after this tem

poral chivalry, come to eternal triumphant joys in Heaven.” On the inveftiture with the collar the following words are alfo pronounced: "To the increase of your hos

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nour, and in token of the honourable

で

"order you have received, take this collar "about your neck, with the image of the "holy Martyr and Chrift's Knight, St. "George, by whofe aid you being de "fended, may pafs through the profperities "and adverfities of this world, that having "here the victory as well of your ghostly "as bodily enemies, you may not only re"ceive the glory and renown of temporal

66

chivalry, but also at the laft, the endless "and everlasting reward of victory." Such part of the ftatutes of the order, as they were reformed and explained by King Henry the Eighth, neceflary for our present purpofe, I fhall infert in the manner they

"

were

were originally spelt. Whereas the mooft famous, moost happiest, and victorious Prynce Edward, the Thirde of that name, his noble Progenitour fometyme Kyng of England and of Fraunce, and Lord of Irland, &c. To th' onnoure of Almighti God, and of the bleffed and immaculate Virgyn Marie, and the bleffed Martir Sainte George, patron of the right noble roialme of England; and of Saynt Edwarde, Kyng and Confeffor; to the exaltation of the holy faith Catholique, ordeyned, established, created, and founded within the Caftel of Wyndefore, a company of twenty-fix noble and worthi Knyghtes, for to be of the mooft noble ordre of Saynt George, named the Gartier, and for the honorable continuance, augmentation, and interteyning of the fame.

The feid mooft victorious Kyng did devyse and institute divers honorable estatuts, and laudable ordinances, for to be obferved and kept by the cobrethren and confreres,

Knyghtes

Knyghtes and Companyons of the faid mooft noble ordre; amonge the which eftatutes been certeyne doubtis and ambiguities, which to be more playnly declared, interpreted, and extended, it is thought right neceffary and expedient, and that certeyne other new ordinances and articles be to the faid eftatute added and adjoyned. Wherefore the faid mooft excellent and victorious Prynce, Henry VIII. Kyng of England and of Fraunce, Defenfor of the Faith, and Lord of Irland, and Soverayne of the faid moost noble order; and for the right fingular love, good zeal, ardent and intier affection that his royall Majeftie hath and bearith to the said mooft noble ordre, and to the estate of Chivalrie and Knyghthood, and for the honorable contynuance and increafing the fame; and alfo at the humble requefte and inftante defire of the Knyghtes and Companyons of the faid noble order, and by their advyfe, councell, and affent, the twenty-third day of April, in the year of grace MDXXII. and of his mooft noble K

reygn