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THE Fellowship of the Order of the Garter is of all o∣thers by far the most honourable, making Knights, and sometime those of the lesser Nobility, not onely equall to No∣ble men at home, but Companions to Kings themselves, and Emperours: A fellowship of all the Orders of the Christian World most ancient and famous; Encircling all Titles and De∣grees of Nobility from the Throne downward, as will appear by the following account, which Order was first establisht by that victorious Prince King Edward the third, in the 23 year of his reign, and by him called the blue Garter, but com∣monly the Garter, appointing his successours the Kings of Eng∣land as chief, and 25 Knights which he called Fellowes or Companions of the Order of the Garter, or St. George, whose day, viz. 23. April, was by them celebrated with much gran∣deur and magnificence, at Windsore, the birth-place of that great Prince. To omit their Rights and Ceremonies, their Statutes and Habits, I shall onely note, beside their grand Col∣ler, they on ordinary dayes are distinguisht and known by a blue Garter, whereto on their brest is affixt the figure of Saint George and the Dragon, and about their left leg they weare a blue Garter or Band, with studs, buckles, and these French words of Gold, HONI SOIT QVI MALY PENSE Much may be said in honour of this great Dig∣nity, but let the worth and estimation it had in Europe ap∣pear in the following Register, by the eminence of the Compa∣nions of this great Order. An account of whose names and Coat-Armours I shall adventure to give the world, as faith∣fully as I can, although there be many whose abilities and name would have been more advantagious to the Work, then
Fr. Nower.