ORDER OF THE THISTLE.

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Image of Saint George in his hat on the morning after the ceremony, and that aChardon and a Rose were interlaced about the Royal Arms of Scotland,impaled with those of England, in the window of the Great Chamber, he takesno notice whatever of any Collar or other Decoration of Saint Andrew,or of the Thistle. 2

The first appearance of a Collar is on the gold Bonnet pieces, struck in1539, where King James the Fifth 3 is represented with a Collar composedalternately of Thistle Heads, and what seem to be Knots, or links in theform of the figure of an Eight, or of the letter S reversed; and a similar Collaris placed round the Royal Arms on another gold piece in the same year. 4The Collar is not, however, retained on the Coin struck in the following year;and it is extraordinary, that no notice should occur of any Collar of thatdescription, in the elaborate Inventories of the Royal Jewels made in March1539, in November 1542, and in November 1543, though the Crown, theSceptre, Swords of Honour, Royal Robes, and the Collars of the Orders ofthe Golden Fleece, of the Garter, and of Saint Michael, are described withgreat accuracy. 5 The only allusions to the Thistle in those Inventories are,

Item the Hatt that come fra the Paip of gray velvett, with the Haly Gaist sett all with orientperle.

Item the Ordoure of the Empriour with the Goldin Fleis.

Item the Ordoure of Ingland with Sanct George, with ane Habit, the Goun of crammesy velvett,with ane Kirtill of purpour velvett, with an Hude of crammesy velvett.

Item the Ordoure of France of the Cokill and Sanct Michael, with ane Habit of ane claith ofsilver bordourit with the Cokkill of gold, with the Hude of the samyne sat.”

The Inventar of the silver werk, jowellis, and abilyementis pertening to the rycht nobill andmichtie Prince James, be the graice of God King of Scottis the Fyift of that name, made at Edin-burgh the day of November, the year of God m.dxlii.”

Item ane gryt Coup of gold with Thrissillis and Flour delices upoun the sayme.”

Item ane gryt Cheyn of gold, round linkit (and various other Chains).

Item twa Quhissillis of gold.

Item four Ordouris of France of gold, with ane image of Sanct Michael!.”

Item ane ring of gold with ane Quhissill.

Item ane Bonett of velvott with ane tergat and ane image havand ane dyamont in hir hand, withane gryt rubie under hir feit. And upoun the samyne Bonet tene settis, in every sett four dyamonttis,on the ta syd ane rubie and ane tabill dyamont with xxiiij settis of perle, in every set four perle withtene lytill Thirssillis of gold with ane lytill Chene in every lug.”

Item ane Bonet with twantie Thrissillis.’’

Item ane Bonet with an S. and T. set with fyve tabill dyamontis, xj S. of gold accowterit withsmall buttonis.”

In another Inventory of the King’s Wardrobe, of the same date as the preceding, made by theKeeper of the Wardrobe, the “Order of the Emperor with the Golden Fleece,” the “Order ofFrance, with the Cockle and Saint Michael,” and the Cap, Kirtle, and Hood belonging to it, and the

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