I

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! 'Patroni Ordinis .

fedus, quicquid circa nobililfimum Ordinem factitavit, ad hujus hono-rier

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rem referri volebat. Nec ab ejus animo recellit Edoardus quartus, qmfilis Commilitonibus Mariam ablolutilfime commendavit, honorequelingulari profequendam elle decrevit. Georgium infiiper Cappadocem ,elediffimum Chrifti Militem, Martyremque præclarifïimum, hujus Or-dinis peculiariflimum effecere Patronum. Nec ob id tantum, quod vivenschriftianæ fidei candidatus, Profelfor intimus, ac defenlor integerrimus,furiofi Daciam Vidor inclitilfimus,& Idololatriæ diabolicæque DominationisExtindor invidiffimus, aut quod armatus Chrifti Miles vel Eques po-tius ad omne pietatis egregium Opus & facinus formidabile paratifti-mus ex animo propugnator extiterit : Verum multo magis etiam quodpoll modum in hiis bellis, quæ contra perfidos holies fulcepere fideles, cer-tiffimus adjutor adfuerit. Legitur enim in hifloriis, quod cum eo tempo-re C.h rifliani proficifcerentur ad capiendum Hierofolymam , & nymbolb quo-dam impetu tela de moenibusevolantiacrederenturintollerabilia,perelegan-tem hiis Juvenem, Armis candidis rubraq; Cruce communitis apparuiftè.Erat is (aiunt) Georgius , in hifce pugnis Commilito Chrillianorum indivi-duus, qui moenia primus aflìliens* reliqüos poli le catervatim attraxit, & utCivitas capi poterat, oftendit. Quare Chriftiariórum optime fecerunt Angit,quod talem fibi Ducem & Patronum tanquam a Deo fignatum, dê quofucclamitent, afTumplere, qui fe talem fore velle talibus præmonflravit Ex-emplis. Georgium autem iftiulmodi Martyrem & Chrifti Militem minime

de-

ments, and that her Image ßouldhe painted on their Shields, Armour, andEnfigns.After whomEdwaxà the third,having a peculiar Veneration for her whatever he didin Relation to this noble Order, would have it entirely afcribed to her Honour. Andof his Mind was Edward the fourth, who without any ReflriBion recommendedMary to his Fellow-Knights, and decreed that fie fiould have fingular Honourspaid to her. But George the Cappadocian an eleB Soldier of Chriß, and glori-ous Martyr was the moß peculiar Patron of this Order. Nor was he chofe forthis only, becaufe when he was alive, he was a Difciple, Profejfor, and ßncereDefender of the chrißian Faith, a glorious ViBor over the furious Dacianus, cmindefatigable Supprejfor of Idolatry and diabolical Ufurpation ; or that beingChrißs armed Soldier, or Knight rather, he was always a moß ready Affert orof Religion, and prepared for any great and hazardous Undertaking. It wasnot fo much for any ofthefe Reafons, as for that afterwards, he was a fure and cer-tain Afßßant in thefe Wars, in which the Faithful were engaged againß the Inßdels.For we read in Hißory, that, when the Chrißians attempted to take Jerufalem, andit was thought impofßble to withßand the Showers of Arrows which were dartedfrom the Walls, a very beautiful Youth appeared to them in fiining Arms with a redCrofs. It is faidthis was George an infeparable Companion of the chrißian Soldiersin thefe Wars 5 who by ßrß climbing the Walls, drew whole Troops after him, andfiewed them that the City was to be taken. Wherefore of all Chrißians the Engliilihave done befi, who have chofe fuch a Leader and Patron, deßgned as it were byGod himfelf whom they might call upon : And who by fuch great Examples, ßrßfiewed himfelf willing to be Patron and Intercejfor for fuch Men. But he who willcredit St. Ambrofe, will not detraBfrom the Honour of our George the Soldier

and