GARTER, ORDER OF 'CITE. The highest Order of chivalry in Great Britain. The Order of the Garter was instituted by King Edward III., and though not the most ancient is one of the most famous of the chivalrous Orders of Europe. The original number of the knights of the Garter was twenty-five, the Sovereign himself making the twenty-sixth. The story goes that the Coun tess of Salisbury let fall her garter while dancing with the King, and that the King stooped quick ly to pick it up. This occasioned some indelicate jokes which caused the Countess to withdraw. The King exclaimed angrily, Honi soil qui mal y pense, "Shame to him who evil thinks," and added that he would make this blue ribbon so glorious that all the courtiers would desire it. This story has absolutely no foundation in fact. Edward had formed the plan for the Order in 1344 and instituted it on April 23, 1349. It was founded in honor of the Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, Saint Edward the Confessor, and Saint George; but the last, who had become the tutelary saint of England, was considered its special patron, and for this reason it has borne the title of 'The Order of Saint George' as well as of 'The Garter.' A list of the original knights
or knights founders is given by Sir Harris Nico las. The Order was reorganized in 1831, when the number of knight companions was left at twenty-five, but the membership extended to in clude the Prince of Wales, and such descendants of George 1. and foreign sovereigns as might be chosen. The emblem of the Order is a dark blue ribbon edged with gold, bearing the motto, Honi soit qui mal y pease, in gold letters. It is worn on the left leg below the knee. The Grand Master is always the monarch of England. The number in the Order is at present about fifty. The officers are the prelate (the Bishop of Win chester), the chancellor (the Bishop of Oxford), the registrar (the Dean of Windsor), the Garter King-of-Arms (q.v.), and the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. Consult Nicolas, History of British Orders of Knighthood (London, 1841-42).
See ORDERS.