a 6 2 )

Thorns. The Figure of the Annunciation is enamell’dinvarious Colours, pendant at three Chainets to another Rofe*colour’d both White and Red. He firft appointed thegreat Mantle of Crimfon Velvet, his own being furr’dwith Ermines, but the reft of the Knights with Mi-niver, fring’d and border’d with Savoy Knots in fineGold $ under this Mantle is worn a Surcoat of fine Da-mask. Duke Emanuel Philibert, his Son, alter’d theColour of the Mantle to Azure, and lin’d it with WhiteTaffaty, of which Silk he made the Surcoats. CharlesEmanuel chang’d the Mantle into an Amaranthm or Pur-ple Colour, feeded with Roles and Flames in embroi-dery of Gold and Silver, and lin’d with Cloth of Sil-ver tiffu’d Blue, now in ufe; under which, inftead ofthe White Taffaty Surcoat, is now worn a White SatinSuit embroider’d with Silk, the Hofe gather’d upwardsin the fafhion of Troufes.

24. r The Thiftle in France.'

Was inftituted on New-Year's Day 1570. by Lewis II.Duke of Bourbon , upon his Marriage with Anne , Daugh-ter to the Count Daulpkine in Auvergne. The firft Solem-nities of this Order were perform’d at Nofire Dame deMaulins in Bourbonnois, where he founded a College ofTwelve Canons, in Honour of the blefled Virgin 5 theIntent was, to corroborate his Intereft for the Aid ofthe Duke of Orleans , againft the Faction of the Houfe of'Burgundy, and by joyning of Flowers de Lys and Thi-ftles (the Symbols of Hope and Courage) emblemati-cally to exprefs the Noblenefs of his Spirit againft allthe Power of Fortune. He ordain’d the Number ofKnights to be Twenty Six, comprehending himfelf andhis Succeflors, Dukes of Bourbon, as Chiefs, and oblig’dthem to wear daily a Belt, a Girdle of Watch el colour-ed Velvet, lin’d with Crimfon Sattin embroider’d withGold, and therein the Word Efperance curiouflywrought. The Girdle was fatten’d with a Buckle andThong of Gold, bearded and chequer’d with Green,enamel’d in Form like the Head of a Thiftle. On theAnniverfary of the Feftival (the Conception of ourLady) the Knights wore Caflocks or Surcoats of Car-nation