THISTLE, ORDER OF THE, an ancient Scottish order of knight hood, sometimes called the order of St. Andrew. The claim to a high antiquity rests on no other authority than the legendary account recited in the warrant for the restitution of the order in 1637, and given most minutely by several Scottish antiquaries, attributing its formation to Achaius, king of the Scots, in commemoration of a victory obtained by himself and Hungus, king of the Picts, over Athelstan. Nieulas observes, as a fitting illustration of this legend, that Achains died upwards of a century before the reign of Atheistan. The investigation of Sir Nicholae Harris Nicolas, in the third volume of Ilistory of the Orders of Knighthood G!. the British Empire,' shows that the Order of the Thistle, as an organised fraternity, did not exist until the reign of James VII. of Scotland and II. of England. The warrant. of James II. for the re.in.stitution, as it is styled, of the "most ancient and honourable order of the Thistle," which is printed at full by Nicolas, and which asserts that by authentic proofs, documents, and records, the order " continued in groat glory and splendour for many hendreda of years," bears date 1Vindaor, May 20, 1637. Statutes were issued, and eight knights were nominated by James 11., but the patent for the restitution of the order never passed the great seal ; and on the abdication of James II., the order fell into abeyance, until it was revived by Anne In 1703. The statutes then authorised were much the same as those framed in 1637, and aro still in use. The order consisted originally- of the king and twelve brethren. This con
tinued without alteration until July 16, 1821, when, in consequence of the coronation of George IV., an ordinance was Issued for the appoint meat of four extra members, who should become regular knights as vacancies should occur ; and in May, 1827, the number of knights was permanently extended to alxteen. The decorations worn by the knights, consist of a collar of enamelled gold, composed of sixteen thistles, interlaced with sprigs of rue, fastened to the mantle by a white riband ; a small image of St. Andrew,alao of enamelled gold, suspended from the collar ; a medal or badge of gold, having an image of St. Andrew within a circle containing the motto of the order, " Nemo turtme ssCESwf" (No one provokes me with impunity), and a thistle; a green riband, to which the medal is attached, and which is thrown diagonally over the left shoulder ; and a star, consisting of a St. Andrew's cross of silver in the centre of which is a thistle enamelled in its natural colours upon a field of gold, and surrounded by the motto and rays of silver. The star is went on the left shoulder, on a. mantle of green velvet, which, with other parts of the dross, aro minutely described by Nicolas. The officers of the order are the dean, the secretary, the lordly king-at-arms, and the usher of the green rod, each of whom receives an annual salary, and a fee on the election of a knight. A complete list of knights of the Thistle, from the revival or creation of the order in 1687 to 1840, is given by Sir N. H. Nicolas in the work above cited.