♦

J^tstorp of tfte #lost Bo MefBrtier of the barter.

ffifte there be Hiugfitts olb of the ©arttrCfjat in tfjcr ftmtg btb rtgf)t tnoi:tf) ill?,anil the honour tfjeg iriir to tfe Jlaurir,

.?s for it tfjep fiabr tfjer lanlr toljollg,

©her triumph else anir martial gtorg,fflSaijtcl) unto them ig more perfite rtcfjeg©bait ang toigfjt tntagin ran or gessr;

.if or one lefe gib in of tfjat noble tre©o ang blight tfjat fjatf) irone toortljilg,an it be bone go ag it ougfjt to be,

.®g more honour tfjan ang thing ertfjlg-

Chaucer.

HE Order of the Garter “ exceeds in majesty,honour, and fame, all Chivalrous Orders in theworld 1 but though it has engaged the attentionof able antiquaries, its early History still remainsin obscurity. Neither the cause, nor the exacttime of its foundation has been discovered; andfable and tradition have been called upon to supplythe want of facts and records. Only one contem-porary Chronicler alludes to the Institution; and the public muniments areentirely silent respecting it. The Annals of the Order itself, are extremelyimperfect for nearly two centuries; and afterwards so many chasms and

1 Selden.

B