xiv

HISTORY OF THE

[APPENDIX,

viz. on an oval argent Saint Andrew’s Cross, surmounted of a Thistle, and round the same the motto‘ Nemo me impune lacessit,’ which he commonly wears, and behind the shield he carries two batons insaltier, to shew he is actually in post, a figure whereof I have caused cut in the plates of Achievementssubjoined to the first volume of my System of Heraldry. And I see no reason but the rest of theOfficers of this Most Ancient Order, viz. the Secretary, Lyon, &c. may outwardly adorn and trim theirArmorial Shields with the Collars and Badges of their several Offices after the like manner. KingGeorge did also create new Knights Companions of this Noble Order, in the room of old ones deceased,viz. John Earl of Sutherland, as does also, his son who now reigns, who on Saint Andrew’s day yearly,November 30th, goeth with the Royal Family to his Royal Chapel, and wears Saint Andrew’s Crossesin honour of that day; so that this Royal Order of Knighthood continues still its honour andreputation at this very day, though above eight hundred and twenty years standing since its firstInstitution by King Achaius. And besides (which adds very much to the honour of this high Order),according to the ancient and primitive Institution, this Order is to consist of no more than thirteenpersons, viz. the Sovereign and twelve Knights, in memory of our Saviour and his twelve Apostles;whereas the great increase of Knights Companions of other Orders, has been the occasion of their ruinand disesteem.

“ The solemn meeting of these Knights of old, was annually on Saint Andrew’s Day, in the churchof the town dedicate to his name ; during the festivity the Knights were richly habited, and wore theirParliament Robes, having fixed on their left shoulders an azure roundel charged with a saltier argent,or Saint Andrew’s Cross enfiled in centre, with a Crown composed of flower-de-luces, or; for theordinary and common ensigns, the Knights used a green Ribbon, whereat hung a Thistle of gold,crowned with an Imperial Crown, within a circle of gold, containing the epigraph, ‘ Nemo me impunelacessit.’ But now they have sewed to their left breast, an Irradiation (like that of the Knights of theGarter) over a saltier silver, the Irradiation charged with a blue roundel of Saint Andrew’s Cross. Asalso the said Saint Andrew’s Church, the ancient Chapel of the Order, being ruined at the Refor-mation, which happened in the reign of Queen Mary, and besides, this Noble Order was laid asideand continued so (as I observed before) till his late Majesty, King James VII., restored it again by aPatent dated at Windsor the 29th of May 1687, appointing also his Chapel Royal, in his Palace atHolyrood House, to be hereafter the Chapel of the Order, instead of the said Saint Andrew’s Churchwhich was ruined ; which Chapel he caused beautifully to be repaired and fitted up by the hands ofmany exquisite workmen, foreign and domestic, who adorned the same with the effigies of our Saviour,his twelve Apostles, and other admirable pieces of Sculpture, for the greater honour and conveniency ofthe said Royal Knights. But in December 1688, the city of Edinburgh having empowered CaptainWallace, who was posted to defend the said Royal Palace of Holyrood House, they without oppositionwent first to the said Royal Chapel and broke and destroyed to pieces all the curious workmanshiptherein, which had cost the said King James a considerable sum to perform, and carried severalparcels of these pieces of work up to the Cross of Edinburgh, and burnt them there. The author of aJourney through Scotland, London, 1729, p. 61, tells us, ‘ that this Church or Chapel is very neat, withthe highest roof (says he) I have seen, and the pillars as exquisite as Saint George’s Chapel atWindsor, with two rows of stone galleries above. King James VII. (continues he) erected here amagnificent Throne for the Sovereign, and twelve Stalls for the twelve Knights Companions of theOrder of the Thistle or Saint Andrew, all of oak, and the finest masters in carved work, all overEurope, employed in it. The floor was finely paved with marble: a fine organ was also erected:but the mob at the Revolution pulled it all to pieces, thinking that it smelt too rank of Popery, andleaving not so much as a stone of the pavement but what they pulled up and carried away.’ Yetnotwithstanding hereof, Her late Majesty, Queen Anne, upon her again restoring this Royal Order ofKnighthood, by a Warrant under her Royal Hand and Signet, dated at St. James’s, 31st December1703, did again ordain and confirm her Royal Father’s order, in appointing the Royal Chapel in herPalace of Holyrood House, to be the Chapel of this Order, in time coming, and which continues so atthis day.

“ Andrew Favin, in his Theatre of Honour, lib. v. cap. iii. p. 96, tells us that the aforesaid Achaius,King of Scotland, having won the love and alliance of the King Charlemagne, and the most ChristianKings of France his successors, found himself to be so strong and mighty, that he took for his device