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tialifts of the Age, did thereupon firft defign (in-duc’d by its ancient Fame ) the Reftoration of KingArthur's Round Table, to invite hither the Gallant Spi-rits ftom abroad, and endear them to himfelfj and ad-judging no Place more requifite than Wind for, uponNew-Year's-Day, A. D. 1544. he iffu’d out Letters ofProtection for the fafe going and return of ForeignKnights, to try their Valour at the Solemn Jufts to beheld there on Monday after the Feaft of St. Hilary fol-lowing (which happen’d Jan, 19.) And thefe Lettersof Safe-Condufl: continu’d in force until the OHaves ofthe Purification of our blefled Virgin enfuing, beingthe 18th Year of his Reign. At the-Time appointed,he provided a great Supper to begin the Solemnity,and then ordain’d this Feftival to be annually at Whit-Jontide 5 and immediately after thefe firft Exercifes wereover, for a future and better Accommodation, he im-prefs’d Workmen and Carriages for erefting a particu-lar Building in the Caftle, and therein plac’d a Tableof Two Hundred Foot Diameter, where the KnightsIhould have their Entertainment of Diet, at his Ex-pence of 100 /. fer Week ; to which Building he gavethe Name of The Round Table. And as at thefe greatConventions the Days were fpent in all Kinds ot no-ble Feats of Arms, Jufts and Turnaments, fo were agreat Part of the Nights confum’d in publick Ballsand dancing with the Ladies that attended the Queenthither 5 and perhaps it was hence conjedlur’d, that atfeme of thefe Balls the Queen’s Garter, or the Garterpf Catherine , Countefs of Salisbury, might flip off, andthe King’s taking it up occafion Smiles in the By-ftanders j and afterwards, when the King had modelledhis intended Order, a Garter offering it felf for itschief Enfign, might add to the ConjeClure ; but thatft was the principal Caufe, is a groundlefs Imagination,And tho’ King Edward advanc’d the Honour of theGarter, as to denominate the Order, yet was it not toenhance Reputation to, or perpetuate an effeminateOccafion, but to adorn Martial Prowefs, with Ho-nours, Rewards and Splendor , to increafe Vertue andValour in the Hearts of his Nobility, that fo trueWorth, after long and hazardous Exploits, fhouldnot

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