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of thefe Books compiled, the one printed in Latin, f nthe Cuftos of the Regilter at Windfor, and the other inEnghjh, to be referv’d at White-hall , and call’d, Regijlrmyliilicuni.

C A P, VII.

T HE Habit and Enfigns of this matt Noble Orderare moft eminently diftinguiihable and magnifi-cent, and confift of thefe Particulars, viz. Garter,Mantle, Surcoat, Hood, George, and Collar; for as theRomans were very exa£l and particular in affigniiig eachDegree a peculiar Habit and Vefture, by which the Qua-lity and Rank of their Citizens might be difcernable, thsDiftin£lion of Apparel was afterwards taken up by di-vers other Nations, whence every Military, as well asEcclefiaftick Order of Knighthood, did appropriate toit felf a peculiar Drefs, Enfign, or Badge,-as a Mark ofDiftinftion one from another, to fet off the Luftre andHonour of their feveral Societies.

The four firft, viz. the Garter, Mantle, Surcoat,and Hood, were affigned the Knights-Companions, bythe Founder, and the George and Collar by KingHenry VIII. and all thele together are called the wholeHabit or Enfigns of the Order, concerning which wefhall treat of fufcinclly, beginning with the Garter.

The Royal Garter challengeth the Preheminence, forfrom it this famous Order receiv’d its Denomination:It is the firft part of the Habit prefented to ForeignPrinces and abfent Knights, and that wherewith they,and all other elefl Knights, are firft adorn’d, and of fogreat Honour and Grandeur,that by the bare Inveftiturewith this Noble Enfign, the Knights are efteem’d Com-panions of the greateft Military Order in the World.

The Materials whereof it was compos’d at firft, > san Arcanum ; nor is it deferibed by any before PolydortVirgil, and he but in general: As to the ornamental Partpf it, it was adorn’d with Gold and precious Stones,and had a Buckle of Gold at the End, to fatten it about

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