BATH, KNIGHTS or THE, an order of knights, so called from the ancient custom of bathing on the day previous to their installation. The origin of this order is almost as remote as that of the feudal system in Europe. It was one of the highest honorary dis tinctions among the ancient Franks, and was confer red, with great solemnity, as at once the reward and the pledge of extraordinary purity and virtue. Per sons who were to receive this honour, were obliged to perform vigils, previous to which they underwent an ablution as emblematical of their resolution to pre serve their minds pure and uncorrupted. At the same time, they came under a solemn obligation to brave any danger in the cause of virtue, and to adhere scru pulously to the belief in the Trinity, implied in their motto, Tria juncta in uno. It seems probable, from the discussions of some antiquarians, that this order of knighthood was introduced into England by the Saxons ; and Mr Anstis has fully ascertained that Wil liam the Conqueror, and his successors, were in the practice of conferring it both in their Norman and English dominions. It can scarcely be said, however, to have been properly instituted in England till the accession of Henry IV., whi5, on the day of his coro
nation, conferred that dignity upon 46 esquires. From that time, till the reign of Charles II., it was the usual practice of the kings to create knights of the Bath at their coronation, at the inauguration of the Princes of Wales, and at the celebration, either of their own nuptials, or those of any of the royal family. No fewer than 68 knights of the Bath were installed by Charles II. at his coronation; but from that time the order was discontinued, till it was revived by George I. in the year 1725. That monarch, deter mined to restore it in more than its former lustre, erected it into a regular military order, to consist of a grand master, and 36 companions, a succession of whom was to be regularly continued. This order was to be governed by particular statutes and ordi nances, each of them impressed with a seal engraven on purpose ; having upon one side the figure of the king on horseback, and clad in armour, the shield