INTRODUCTION.

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Though never carried into effect, it is proper to observe,that King Charles the Second, immediately after his Resto-ration, entertained the intention of Instituting an Order ofKnighthood, for those persons of rank and fortune who hadsupported the Royal Cause during the Rebellion, which was tobe called The Order of the Royal Oak. The Knights wereto wear a silver Medal or Badge (having thereon a repre-sentation of the King in an Oak tree), pendent to a Ribbandabout their necks; and a list of 687 persons, who were to havereceived the Order, was compiled, (arranged in Counties, withthe value of their estates annexed), among whom were severalBaronets and Knights. But the design was abandoned, lestthe existence of such an Order, and the public exhibition ofthe Badge, should excite those party feelings and politicalanimosities which it was the object of the Government tosoothe and extinguish. 1

In 1725, King George the First revived, as it was termed,the Order of the Bath, but little of the original Institution,except the most objectionable parts, was retained; that is tosay, a Name which was wholly inappropriate; a Motto andEnsigns that conveyed no obvious meaning, and inculcatedno moral or patriotic duty; and Ceremonies which were soinconsistent with the feelings of the age, that they werenever even intended to be performed. The new Order wasto consist of the Sovereign, a Great Master, and Thirty-sixother Companions; but, from the practice of making Extra

1 The List alluded to is printed in “The English Baronetage,” ed. 1741, vol. V. p. 363,from a MS. that belonged to Peter le Neve, Norroy King of Arms, then in the collection ofMr. Joseph Ames, and was reprinted with Dugdale’s Ancient Usage of Arms, and otherHeraldic tracts, by T. C. Banks, Esq. folio, 1812.

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