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16

HISTORY OF THE

Tablet affixed to the Chain is enamelled Azure, a Saltire Argent, and some-time the Effigy of Saint Andrew holding the Cross: the Motto, nemo me

not anywhere allude to the Order of the Thistle, though he treats of Knight-hood in general, and of the Orders of the Garter, Bath, Golden Fleece, SaintMichael, the Annunciation, and of numerous others.

A different idea is, however, conveyed by Ashmole, in his Treatise onMilitary Orders, published in 1672. After noticing the account of the Insti-tution of “ the Order of the Thistle,” by Bishop Lesley, Favine, Mennenius,and Mirseus, he says, “ To this agrees the relation which I received from SirCharles Erskine, now Lyon King of Arms in Scotland 2 and after describingthe Collar and Badge, he adds, upon that Officer’s authority, “ The time ofthis Society’s meeting was heretofore very religiously observed and celebrated,upon the Feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle annually, in the Church

center with a Crown composed of Flowers de Lis, Or. For the ordinaryand common Ensign, the Knights used a Green Ribbon, whereat hung a

Thistle of Gold, crowned with an Imperial Crown,

impune lacesset .” 1 Moreover, in his “ Honor Military and Civill,” publishedin 1602, one year only before King James’ Accession, Sir William Segar does

of the Town dedicated to his name, and in testimony ofthe high esteem and reverence they bore unto him as theirtitular Saint and Patron. During the Solemnity of theFeast, the Knights of the Order were habited in rich andcostly apparel, and wore their Parliament Robes, havingfixed on their left shoulders an azure Rundle, on whichwas embroidered Saint Andrew’s Cross, environed in

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within a Circle of Gold, containing also the foresaidEpigraph; but for more satisfaction, we have causedthe figures of these two to be here exactly represented,from the draughts of them sent me from the before-mentioned Sir Charles Erskine. As to the number ofthe Knights, there is nothing remembered by any author

we have seen; but herein I was supplied by the Right Honourable the Earl of

1 Segar adds only, “ The Motto I have read in Paulus Jovius thus applied: Franciscus Sforza,Duke of Milan, having by force taken the possession of that State, as right of inheritance by his wife,

Madona Bianca, of the family of the Viscontis, and by that means quieted that business, gave for his