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Oon Raymond, Iaft Earl of Barcelona , having in theSear H49- reduced the City of Tortoja from the Moors,on the Thirty Firft following they laid a frefh Siege toit, in hopes to recover it. The Inhabitants were atlength reduced to great Streights 5 they defired Reliefof the Earl, but he not being in a Condition to anfwertheir Requeft, they had Thoughts of a Surrender jwhich the Women to prevent put on the Apparel of theMen, and by a refolute Salley forced the Moors to raifethe Siege. The Gallantry of the Action the Earl ac-knowledged by granting them feveral Privileges, aridto perpetuate the Memory inflituted this Order,fomewhat like a Military one, and none were to be ad-mitted, only thofe brave Women, and the Honour to de-rive to their Defendants, and affignedthem for a Badgea Thing like a Fryer’s Capouche , /harp at the Top, afterthe Form of a Torch, of a Crimfon Colour, to be wornupon their Head-Cloaths 5 that at all publick Meetingsthe Women fhould have Precedence of the Men, andIbould be exempted from all Taxes, and that all theApparels and Jewels left by their dead Husbands fhouldbe theirs.

A more general Ornament of Honour peculiar to theFair Sex is the Cordon , which fome will have to be anOrder, or Equivalent thereunto. The Inftitution isattributed to Anne Britaigne, Wife to Charles VIII. ofFrance, who in/lead of the Military Belt or Collar, be-llowed a Cordon or Lace on feveral Ladies, admonifhingthem to live chaltly and devoutly, always mindful ofthe Cords and Bonds of our Saviour, and to engagethem to a greater Efteem of it, /lie furrounded herF.fcutcheon of Arms with the like Cordon 5 from whichExample the Arms of unmarried Ladies and Gentle-women are ufually adorn’d with them.

CAP.