KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER AND HOW THEY ARE MADE.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume X, Issue 87, 31 January 1907, Page 3

KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER AND HOW THEY ARE MADE.

'AN HONOUR WHICH KINGS ’ARE PROUD TO WEAR. If inquiry were made of any competent authority, not in England only, but throughout the civilized world, “What is the greatest distinction and highest honour which could be bestowed, even upon a monarch ?” the unhesitating reply would be, “The knighthood of the Garter.” Its splendid and unsullied traditions, the rigid limitation of its membership both in numbers and personnel, its magnificence of ceremonial, dress, surroundings, all combine to make a K.G. the summit of honour, and its insignia to be justly regarded as the proudest distinction which can be worn by even any Sovereign in tho world.

The origin of this illustrious Order has been much disputed. The Popular legend, to which despite all doubts thrown upon it, general belief still attaches, gives its origin in the picturesque story that Joan, Countess of Salisbury, a beautiful dame of whom Edward 111. was cnarmoured, while dancing at a high festival accidentally slipped her garter of blue embroidered velvet. It was picked up by her Royal partner, who noticing the significant looks of his courtiers, used the words to them which afterwards became the motto of the Order : “Honi soit qui mn’ y pense ” (“Evil be to him whom evil thinks ”■), adding “that in a short lime they would see that garter advanced to so high honour and estimation as to account themselves happy to wear it.” Pretty as .this story is, however, it! does not bear the light of prosaic investigation. Equally unsubstantial are the other stories of its origin, one asserting that it was first instituted by Richard Coeur de Lion in his assaults upon Cyprus, when he girded the legs of a chosen band of his bravest knights with a leathern garter. Going back to tho dim' shades of legend some writers have maintained that the Order is really only a revival by Edward HI, of the Order of Knights of the Round Table established by King Arthur.

Colour was lent to this story by tiie undoubted fact that Edward ITJ. who unquestionably instituted the Garter in its present form, when bent upon prosecuting his claims to the throne of France, gave forth that he intended a restoration of King Arthur’s Round Table, and issued proclamations throughout the whole of England, Scotland and Europe, inviting all knights desirous of approving their valour, to a solemn feast and jousts, to be liolden within, the Castle of Windsor on St. George’s Day, 1345. The flower of the chivrflry of Europe—excepting France —were present at the tournament, and at this chivalrous convocation the institution of the Order of the Garter was first arranged, but the actual foundation took place in 1348.

r rbe constitution of the Order then founded was substantially the same as it exists to-day, the only alteration having been made in 1831 when all lineal descendants of George I. were declared to be, as such, members of the Order.

The knighthood consists of the Sovereign—who is invariably the head of the Order—twenty-five knights, the Prince of Wales, and such other knights “being reigning Sovereigns of their Heirs Apparent,” as may bo admitted by the King’s (or Queen’s) mandate. The dross of Knights of the Garter for ceremonial occasions is, as befitting the premier Order of the world' most magnificent, and, with slight variations in detail, is the same as worn on the first installation, when “the King accompanied by the twenty-five knights-companions, attired in gowns of russet, with mantles of fine blue woollen cloth, powdered with garters and bearing the other insignia, the garter, surcoat and hood, held the first chapter of the Order.” Velvet lined with taffeta was substituted by Henry VI. in the material of the mantle, and, the famous “George and collar ” wore added by Henry VIII., who revived and greatly added to the glories of the Order.