IV

PREFACE.

Of the Order of the Bath, before its revival, or moreproperly speaking, before its institution as a Capitular andMilitary Fraternity, by King George the First, Anstis collectedand published in 1725, in a small volume, nearly every factrelating to it, modestly entitled, “ Observations introductory toan Historical Essay upon the Knighthood of the Bath,” sincewhich period, brief accounts of the Order have occasionallybeen published in various books, but supplying little towards aproper History of the Institution.

Of the Order of the Thistle many particulars were givenby Nisbet, in his “ System of Heraldry,” in 1724; but thoughmore remarkable for the adoption of the fabulous story of itsorigin, than for accuracy or research, those observations werethe only source from which the little that had since been saidof that Institution was obtained.

Of the Order of Saint Patrick, founded by King Georgethe Third in 1783, scarcely anything, except its Statutes andsome Ceremonials of Investitures and Installations, was pub-lished ; while of the most recent of the British Orders, that ofSaint Michael and Saint George, still less was known.

Though as highly prized by the Navy and Army even as anOrder of Knighthood, the public were ignorant of every thing,except the existence, of those Honorary Medals, Clasps, andCrosses, which tell, in the most emphatic manner, of theactual presence of their possessors in one or more sanguinarycombats.

A full and complete Register of the Names of all theindividuals upon whom Honorary Distinctions have been con-