Truly hath the learned Selden written, "that the Order of the Garter hath
not only precedency of antiquity before the eldest rank of honour of
that kind anywhere established, but it exceeds in majesty, honour, and
fame all chivalrous orders in the world." Well also hath glorious Dryden,
in the "Flower and the Leaf," sung the praises of the illustrious
Institution:--
" Behold an order yet of newer date, Doubling their number, equal in
their state; Our England's ornament, the crown's defence, In battle
brave, protectors of their prince: Unchanged by fortune, to their
sovereign true, For which their manly legs are bound with blue. These
of the Garter call'd, of faith unstain'd, In fighting fields the laurel have
obtain'd, And well repaid the laurels which they gained."
In 1357 John, King of France, defeated at the battle of Poitiers by
Edward the Black Prince, was brought captive to Windsor; and on the
festival of Saint George in the following year; 1358, Edward outshone all
his former splendid doings by a tournament which he gave in honour of
his royal prisoner. Proclamation having been made as before, and
letters of safe conduct issued, the nobles and knighthood of Almayne,
Gascoigne, Scotland, and other countries, flocked to attend it, The
Queen of Scotland, Edward's sister, was present at the jousts; and it is
said that John, commenting upon the splendour of the spectacle,
shrewdly observed "that he never saw or knew such royal shows and
feastings without some after-reckoning.
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