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HISTORY OF THE

€i>e fjeal

The Seal of the Order of the Bath contains on one side, the Effigy of KingGeorge the First in Armour, and on Horseback, wearing the Royal Crown onhis Helmet, and holding a Sword in his right hand, and an oval Shield in hisleft, charged with the Arms of the Order, Azure three Imperial Crowns, oneand two, Or, being “ the Arms usually ascribed to the renowned King Arthur,”with this circumscription, Sigillum Honoratissimi Ordinis Militaris deBalneo. On the reverse is a large round Shield, charged with the Arms ofthe Order, impaling those of King George the First, without any legend. 7

The Seal is to remain in the custody of the Great Master for the time being,and is to be affixed by him “to all Summons, Significations of Elections, Com-missions, Mandates, Certificates, and Transcripts of the Statutes to be deliveredto each person elected, and to all other Instruments whatsoever relating to thisOrder.” 8 Since the death of the first Great Master, the Seal has been usuallykept by the Secretary of State for the Home Department; but it is now in thepossession of the Acting Great Master.

No Signet, nor any other Seal than the one abovementioned, has ever beenused in the affairs of the Order.

gstantiarli of tire Drtier.

In the Additional Statute of the 20th of April 1727, respecting the Men atArms, whom the Knights Companions may be called upon to maintain, it isordained, that “ there shall always be a Standard of the Order, which shallbe borne by the said Men at Arms, which Standard shall be of Blue Silk, edgedwith gold fringe, with the Arms of the Order embroidered on each side.” 9

7 Letters Patent, p. 40, antea, and Statutes, p. 46, antea.

8 Statutes, Art. VI. p. 49, antea. 9 Vide p. 78, antea.