AN ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONY OF INVESTING His ELECTORAL HIGHNESS OF BRANDENBURG; WITH THE Order of the Garter. PERFORMED At Berlin on the 6th of June, 1690.  
By James Johnston Esq His Majesty's Envoy extraordinary to His Electoral Highness, and Principal Commissioner. And Gregory King Esq the other Commissioner for this Investiture. With the Speeches made at this Solemnity by the said Mr. Johnston, and Monsieur Fulks, Minister of State to his Electoral Highness.  
WE arrived here on Tuesday the 27th of May, Old stile, with Mr. Johnston, His Majesty's Envoy extraordinary; and Mr. King, Commissioner for the Investiture. The The Elector came hither Post on the Saturday thereafter, from Coningsberg. On Monday following, being the second of June, the Commissioners had a private Audience; at which they delivered the Credential Letters and Book of Statutes; after which they put on the Elector the Ribbon-Garter and George.— They had likewise a private Audience of Her Electoral Highness, of the Princess Electress, and of the Margraff, and two other Princes, the Elector's Brothers. This they did for the dispatch, and that they might have the freedom of going to Court, and seeing the adjusting of the States, and the putting of all other things in Order, against the time of the Solemn Investiture. But they could not have a public Audience, nor could the Ceremony of Investiture be performed, till the Elector's Court, and his Coaches and Horses should arrive; which happened on Thursday night. In the mean time all other things were made ready, and the next day, being Friday the 6th of June, was appointed both for the public Audience, and the Ceremony of Investiture. The Commissioners were willing that these two should be joined together, that no time might be lost, nor the Elector's Journey to the Rhine stopped so much as one moment, upon the account of the Solemnity.  
On Friday morning the Baron of Shiarm, the eldest Privy Counsellor, or Minister of State (as they speak here) came from Court, accompanied with a great many other Gentlemen, and particularly with Monsieur Bescat, (whose Office it was to regulat the Ceremony) all in Rich , with six of the Elector's Coaches, and six Horses in each of them, and carried the Commissioners and their Retinue to Court; twenty four Trabants', or Horse-Guards, walking along all the way on both sides of the Coaches: Not to mention a great many of the Elector's Servants that did also attend them. At Court they were received with Double Guards, and Colours Displayed, Twenty four Trumpets, and two pair of Kettledrums sounding all the while. The Commissioners Coach passed through the Inner-Court of the Castle; at the foot of the Stairs the Commissioners were received by the Grand Marshal, with his Silver Staff of Office: At the head of the Stairs they were met by the Elector's Great Chamberlain, the Count of Denherff, and so were conducted to the Elector's Chamber; all the Rooms, as they pass along, being full of the Nobility and Gentry of the Court, and the Trebants making the Guard up the Stairs, and along the two first Rooms.  
From the Elector's Apartment, they went to an Audience of the Electrice, where were all the Princes and Princesses of the Family, and the Ladies of the Court, richly dressed: Then they were conducted to the Rooms where the Robes of Order were before placed, where all things being in readiness, they went to another Room near adjoining, in which his Electoral Highness was, and thence began the Procession to the Great Hall, which is one of the noblest Rooms that is to be seen any where, being above 100 foot long, and above 50 foot broad, adorned all about with the Marble Statues of the Electors of the Family, and the Roof richly painted. They went in this Order: First, The Nobility and Officers of the Court in great number; The Grand Marshal and Marshal with their Silver Staves of Office, being the last of them. Next came two belonging to the Commissioners, one of them carrying the King's Commission, and the other the Cap and Feather; then followed Mr. Gregory King in the Mantle of the Kings at Arms, bearing the Habit and Ensigns of the Order on a Velvet Cushion. Next came Mr. Johnston alone; and in the last place his Electoral Highness, attended by the Prince of Anhalt, and the Grand Chamberlain.  
Thus they went through a long Gallery (having the Trabants' on each side) into the Hall, and so into the Rails which divided the upper end of the Hall, that was raised four Steps, making the due Reverences to the Sovereign's State; the Electrice, with the Princesses and Princes Ladies, and public Ministers, having before taken their places within the Rails.  
The Elector being placed under his State, and the Robes being laid on a Table near his Highness, the two Commissioners seated themselves in two armed Chairs, and the Trumpets and Music ceasing, Mr. Johnston made a Discourse in English. But not to oblige the Elector to stand, because of an hurt in his Leg, the Expedient fallen upon was this; That in stead of four Discourses (as the Custom is) two by one of the Commissioners, and two by one belonging to the Elector; that one only should be made by Mr. Johnston in the beginning, and another at the end of the Ceremony by Monsieur Fulks, one of the Elector's Ministers of State. And therefore Mr. Johnston having put his two Discourses into one, and having only told the substance of them in English, he presented a Translation in High Dutch to the Elector, which he ordered his Chief Secretary to read; the Elector and the Commissioners having stood during the pronouncing of the English, but sitting when the Dutch Copy was read. Then they presented the King's Commission to the Elector, which he gave to a Minister of state, who 〈◊〉 it to the Secretary to be read, the Elector and all others standing up; which being again delivered to the Elector, his Highness gave it to Mr. King; After which, the Commissioners having taken off his Highness '▪ Coat, Sword, Belt, Ribbon George and Garter, Mr. Johnston invested the Elector with the Diamond Garter, the Surcoat, the Sword and Belt, the great Mantle, the Hood, and at last the great Collar and George, in the order as they were delivered to him by Mr. King; who pronounced in Latin the usual Forms of Admonitions upon Mr. Johnston's putting on the Elector each Ensign. Then they presented to his Electoral Highness the Book of Statutes under the great Seal of the Order, and he delivered them Letters certifying his reception of the Order, and containing an Engagement to observe the Statutes with the usual Exceptions. These Letters had already his Sign, and Seal at them, yet his Electoral Highness had a Pen given him, and he made a show of writing his Name.  
Next they presented him with the Cap and Feather, which his Electoral Highness had enriched with Diamonds to the value of above 50000 l. one of the stones cost above 10000 l.  
Then Mr. King did congratulate his Electoral Highness, and proclaimed the Sovereigns and New-Knights Titles, upon which the Trumpets sounded, and the Drums beat, and Music played.  
This being over, Mr. Johnston did also congratulate his Highness in in a short Compliment, and then Monsieur Fulks made an handsome Speech to the praise of the Sovereign and the Order. This Speech was in High-Dutch, that it might be understood by the whole Assembly; and a Copy of it being given to Mr. Stepney, Mr. Johnston's Secretary, he read it publicly, the Elector and Commissioners sitting all the while that Monsieur Fulks spoke, and that the Copy was read. Then they presented the Stars or Glories, and the Riboon of the Order; and returning to their Chairs, the Drums beat, the Trumpets sounded, and the Cannon round the Town was thrice discharged. Then the Elector and Commissioners returned in procession as they came, and Mr. Norton, Colonel Norton's Grandson, he had the honour to carry the Elector's Train.  
A little after this, they came back to the Hall again to Dinner, where his Electoral Highness and the two Commissioners only did sit at the Table, his Highness being in the Robes, and the Court attending: The Elector began first the King's Health; 2dly, the Queen's; 3dly 〈◊〉 Knights of the Order; 4thly, Prosperity to the English Nation; 5thly, Success to the Campaign. Mr. Johnston began first the Elector's Health; 2dly, the Electorices; 3dly, the Electoral Families; the Elector and Commissioners stood up, and the Guns were discharged at every Glass. After Dinner the Commissioners were carried home in the same manner as they were brought in the morning; at night they returned to Court in two Coaches with six Horses, and supped with the Elector, the Electrice, and the Princess, where many of the same Healths were drunk again with the same Ceremony of firing, and standing up.  
After supper the Fireworks began, and were much admired by every one, considering they had only three days to prepare them: There were many Rockets of all sorts, and four great Fireworks of 40 or 50 foot high, the chief  blue, and was composed of the representation of a Garter, having within it these four Letters, V W. M. R. signifying Vivant Willielmus Maria Reges; and without the Garter were the supporting Crown and Crest of England. The other three were Pyramids burning in bright white fire, with Crowns on the tops of them; the middlemost having the Letter B. and the other two, F. and H. signifying Britannia, Francia, Hibernia. The Elector hath ordered the Garter to be put on the Plate. Ever since the public Audience, we have been entertained at our Lodgings at the Elector's charge, and attended by his Officers. Both the Commissioners have received Rich Presents, the principal Commissioners being double the value of what was given to the other. The Servants of the first, to the number of 16, and those of the other Commissioner, 3, had all considerable Presents according to their several Offices. In a word, every thing was done for the honour of the Sovereign of it, and of the new Knight; and in a manner more noble than it could have been expected the shortness of time would have allowed.  

Mr. Johnston's Speech to his Electoral Highness.  
May it please Your Electoral Highness,  
NOthing excites in men the desire of Glory so much as signal and lasting marks of Honour. For to Noble and Generous Minds, Honour is certainly the greatest Reward, and such marks are the most acceptable 〈◊〉 of it to wit, a public acknowledgement that men 〈◊〉.  
Of these marks, the most eminent have been appropriated to Chivalry. Religion hath its Treasury above. Justice, and the other peaceable Virtues without Arms, would be of little or no use. Therefore Military Glory, as most necessary, hath been preferred to all others; besides, it is acquired with greater danger, and is founded on nobler Passions.  
Amongst all incitements to it, nothing hath proved so effectual as the Institution of the Orders of Knights, Companions and Brethren.  
Such Orders do engage Princes by the strictest Ties of Honour, to give in their own Persons an example of Military Virtue, as also the highest Encouragement imaginable to follow it: For by these Fraternities they descend from their Greatness, and consent, that brave and gallant Men should be brought into a sort of Equality with themselves.  
Amongst Military Orders, there are none that can dispute either Antiquity or Dignity with that of the Garter; which may indeed be called the Mother Order, For the other great Orders have sprung out of this Root, being form upon the Model of it.  
Such Institutions, like other things of the same nature, in their first conceptions use to be imperfect, and calculated for receiving the Reformations that time only brings: But the Rules of this Order were from the beginning so well digested, that they have admitted of few or no material Changes.  
To the Antiquity and Wisdom of the Institution, I may add the Chastity of the Order: The Knights have at no time exceeded the first foundation of Twenty six, contrary to the fate of other Orders, of which none have supported their Dignity as this hath done, considering jointly the small number, and singular eminency of those that have been of it, viz. Four hundred ninty seven only. And yet amongst these, there have been eight Emperors (of whom two, Sigismond, and Charles the Vth went to England and received it there, so much did they value the Honour of being of it;) Forty five Kings, including those of England; and above sixty Princes, for the most part Sovereigns; Not to mention that the others generally deserving to be Princes, were therefore by the Order in a manner made such.  
The Qualities of Edward III. who founded this Order, gave a peculiar Lustre to it; He was the Greatest and Bravest Prince of his Time, in the opinion of all others, as well as of the Germans, who first made Him Vicar-General of the Empire, and afterwards offered 〈…〉 perial Diadem.  
He claimed the Crown of France as his Just and Lawful Inheritance, and studied by the Institution of this Order, to engage the most martial Spirits of the Age, in his Quarrel. It was with his Garter that he gave the Signal at the Battle of Cressey; remembering, it seems, that which was reported of one of his Predecessors, Richard the 1st, That he had upon a like occasion, with great Success, made use of a Garter. In this Battle the whole Power of France fell before Him; upon which Augury he made the Garter the chief Sign of the Order. Richard the 1st, is also said upon such an account to have had the same design. Besides, a Garter is the Symbol and Badge of Unity, and therefore most proper to signify these Bonds of Amity and Affection, into which all the Companions were to reckon themselves knit.  
He delighted much in Devices, and chose for the Device of the Order, these words, Honi soit qui mal y Pense; in English, May he be ashamed that thinks ill (or does not approve) of it. That is, either of the Order itself, or of his Title to the Crown of France, which gave occasion to the Institution.  
He made Blew the chief Colour, that being the Colour of the Field of the Arms of France, which, with the Title he had about that time assumed to himself, his Successors have ever since used: Besides, Blue denotes the Sublime and Celestial Temper of those who were to be of the Order. The Pilgrims that returned from the Holy Land, brought over such an account of St. George (than the Christian Mars) particularly of his Tutelary care of the English in that War, that according to the Persuasions of those Times, he made him the Patron of the Order, as well as of the Nation.  
He wisely considered that other Sovereign Princes might think it a lessening of them, to come into an Order subject to the Laws and Government of England; therefore he entirely separated its Concerns, and made it a distinct Body with Seals and Officers, and Statutes peculiar to it; over which the Seals and Laws of England have no sort of Authority.  
This is the Order, Sir, so deservedly famous over all Christendom, these Three hundred and forty Years, of which we have now the Honour, in the Name of the King our Master, to Present Your Electoral Highness the Ensigns. The same Order which His Highness, Your Illustrious Father, desired so much, and received as a great Honour done him, and to which he did great Honour: He wore it in a time of Action, when the Fate not only of the North, but of the whole Empire; nay, I may add, of all Europe, turned according to the Measures that he took, and which is more, turned often with the approbation of all good men. It was thus that he run his Career, which he finished with an happiness that might be called the obtaining of the Prize, if that were to be done here; For he being full of Honour and Years, in Peace and Quiet, Beloved and Esteemed by the better part of Mankind, died; leaving behind him the only Two things to be left, a Great and Good Name, and a Glorious Successor.  
It is also the same Garter, as well as the same Order, with which we are to invest your Highness. This I should call a happy Omen, that the Order is still to receive the same Honour: But your Highness hath not left the World to Divination and Conjecture; you have begun your Regence in a way worthy of the Son of such a Father, and already given Mankind real instances of that which they may expect: And now this day you are to put the Order in possession of the Honour which you have, as it were, advanced to it, and to which the Order hath a Natural Claim, your Highness having acquired the same, as the Founder did his, by defeating the acient Enemies of both Nations. For this Reason, I suppose, the King, my Master, as well as for doing your Highness greater Honour, hath sent you a Sword, amongst the Ensigns of the Order, which hitherto was never done to any other.  
Sir, Nothing is more evident than that this Society was instituted for carrying on a War with France, in which War, the Emperor, the Princes of Brandenburg, Bavaria, Lorraine, and many others, were engaged by a Confederacy with the Founder of this Order, as your Highness, and others, their Successors, are now with the present Sovereign of it. It seems in all Ages it hath been the Wisdom of Great Princes to have no other thing to do with that Crown. Sure that which hath happened in this Age, doth not alter the Case; nay, the present Confederacy is a Demonstration, that it is the Sense of Mankind, that the Public quiet can be no longer secured by the Faith of Treaties; and therefore, that a firm Peace is only to be obtained by a thorough War: For Men that having enriched themselves by Violence, are fallen in love with it, will love on till they lose by it, than it will be seasonable. To trust to Treaties, the incapacity such Men shall be in to break them, 〈…〉.  
Edward the 3d designed a Conquest, and succeeded in it: But there is here place for yet a more Noble Design, that of a Redemption. The Work of an Hero is not to mind his own Business only, much less to do hurt, to plunder the World with Alexander, or ruin his own Country with Caesar; but to do good chief to others; to chain up the Disturbers of the Public Peace, to set Bounds to Exorbitant Power, and the Will of Man; and so to deserve the Blessings of those that were ready to perish. All this the King, my Master, hath done, by redeeming his own Country from Ruin, and other Countries from the danger of it, in suffering them to become his own: Thus endeavouring every where to stem the Inundations of the present Times, as his Ancestors did those of theirs.  
But to this, not only the Example of the Sovereign invites those of the Order, but the Order itself, in a particular manner, engages them, Pugnare pro jure & tuitione oppressorum & indigentium, To fight for the relief of the poor and the oppressed.  
This, Reason, Humanity, common Christianity, and Interest too, requires of all Men, much more of Princes, that are to act as God's Vicegerents, who Glories in nothing oftener than in his firm purposes to avenge and Protect Widows and Orphans, and such others, the Innocent, though Unfortunate part of Mankind, to wit, by commanding all those that have power to do it, to punish their Oppressors.  
Thus it is here, That a Capacity to do good, not only gives a Title to it, but makes the doing of it a Duty. It is strange, That among Christians in all Times there should have been some who doubted of this, and have had narrower Thoughts of Heroical Erterprises than either the Jews or Heathens had; nay, of whom some have believed all War to be unlawful, since the Design of Christianity was to exalt our Natures to a higher and sublimer pitch of Perfection, and not to stifle and undo, with specious pretences, that which is most Commendable in them, the Inclinations and Ties we may have to do one another good.  
The Jews of old had so Noble an Opinion of such Performances, that they imputed them to Inspiration; they thought, that without extraordinary Assistances, Men had neither Goodness nor Largeness of Soul sufficient for them.  
It is true, several among them endeavoured thus to defend the Irregularities that sometimes did accompany such Actions, and supposed an express Order from God▪ as necessary to justify them. Yet Rules and Laws are means for obtaining the ends which they relate to, and in that relation cannot be too well observed; but they are not the ends themselves which must still be pursued, though in another way, if the ordinary way fails. No doubt the Letter of the Law, that upon great occasions opposes itself to the public Safety, which is intended by all Laws, must needs be the Letter that kills. This those high Pretenders came at last to understand (and to fight even on their Sabbaths) though their Laws were given them by God; and that it was their humour to swallow Camels, and strain at Gnats; to let go the Substance for the Law, and perish in defence of the Letter of it. The true standing Character in all Ages and Nations, and ordinarily the Fate too, of Weak, and Warm, and Obstinate (though often Well meaning) Men.  
Those Jews are much more in the right, who ascribe great Events more particularly to God, because of that which is singular (as well as of his Concern) in them. Thus they would, no doubt, judge of the late Revolution in Britain, where we have an Illustrious Example of such sorts of Events. In which the concurrence of great Dangers, of an unexpected Opportunity to be delivered from them; of the Capacity and Circumstances of the Deliverer, as if they had been given for this End; of the evident infatuation of those, whose Interest (and in whose Power) it was to have prevented it; of a multitude of mere Accidents previous and absolutely necessary to it, which by Humane Wisdom could neither have been foreseen nor procured: In aword, of a Chain and Coincidency of various, and often, in appearance Cross Events, yet in effect, so well agreeing with the Methods resolved on, that Divine Goodness and Humane Prudence seem to have had a Correspendence. All this, with the sudden vanishing of Difficulties that had appeared, in a manner insuperable, and a Success worthy of the Care of Providence (such as History cannot parallel) without Blood, Danger, or Disorder; So 〈◊〉 Public Peace and Quiet seemed rather not interrupted than restored; as if no change had happened, except in our Hearts and Thoughts. All this I say, does complete an Event so much above the ordinary course of things, that whoever believes, that God does at all concern himself in Humane Affairs (much more such as believe, that the Hairs of our Heads are numbered), must needs conclude, that this whole business was (to speak so) laid and concerted by him. Sed praestat de Carthagine, ut aiunt, silere quam pauca dicere. And therefore to return to my Subject.  
The Heathens went yet further in doing Honour to the Authors of such great Undertake; They thought they could not do too much to encourage Men to venture upon them: And therefore upon such accounts they Defied their Hero's; Men seemed to them in the performance so like their Gods, that they could not abstain from Honouring the Copies with the Names of the Originals. The Heathens considered the Public Good that was done; for as their Hero's became their Gods for chastising Oppressors, in their Opinions the Enemies of Mankind, so others became their Hero's for destroying Monstrous Beasts of the same Temper, if we may not rather believe, as no doubt we may, that the Poets, the Historians of those Times, meant Men (and to them gave the other borrowed Name, as more proper than their own) whose Souls, by Success in their Passions, were become as Monstrous as they described the Shapes and Voracity of those Beasts to have been.  
Sir, How great and noble Thoughts would those Jews and Heathens have of the present Undertaking in which the King, my Master, your Electoral Highness, and so many other Princes are engaged? An Undertaking such as Humane Nature requires, where Honour, and Duty, and Interest go hand in hand together: And the most necessary thing to be done, is the greatest and best thing that can be done.  
In particular, it is an Undertaking that will transmit your Highness Name glorious to Posterity: for you first gave life and motion to it, by saving the Town of Cullen, and that whole Electorat, by taking Keiserswert, Rhinberg and Bonner; by routing the Forces sent to assist them, and so delivering the Lower Rhine from the Chains that in time must have proved those of the Empire.  
Sir, You have thus outdone the Enemy in Diligence, their most commendable Quality, if it were well employed: You have overcome them, where they themselves, and others too, think them most invincible, behind Walls: You have defeated their Troops, neither by number nor surprise; Advantages are to be taken; but it is greater not to stand in need of them.  
Thus your Highness hath begun the War, where it must end with Victory, and taken to yourself a share in it suitable to the Dignity of your Family, and the importance of the Conjuncture, which gave your Highness the opportunity to Signalise the beginnings of your Regence by doing the public such eminent Services; as if Providence, in compliance with the Integrity of your Intentions, took care, that no sooner you should be in a capacity to do good, but that the Public should require and receive the benefit of it, to signify to your Highness, that the good of the Public aught to be the end of your Greatness, and to others, That it is the end, and will be so.  
Sir, The great Power that God has put in your Hands, can at no Time be better employed. Without Controversy, the Peace and Happiness of Europe, during this Age, depends upon the Success of this War.  
All Laws, Divine and Humane, of Peace and War, the Fences of the public Sufety are broke through; Those eternal Dictates of Reason, the obligations of Honour, Humanity, Oaths, Promises, Religion, as well as the Customs of Nations, which the Necessities of Humane Affairs have rendered inviolable, and without which the great Society of Mankind can no more subsist, than private Societies can without Rules and Laws: All these have been openly and avowedly trampled on.  
Now if the Ambition, and other Passions of Men that have done such things, have carried them so far, notwithstanding the just apprehensions which, no doubt, they had of a general resentment; whither will the same passions not carry them, if the present Confederacy should happen to be frustrated, and there should remain nothing more for them to be afraid of.  
But better things, no doubt, are reserved for this Age. The Chariot Wheels of those that have asked Brick, and forbidden Straw, begin already to move heavily. And provided the easterly Wind continue to blow steady, and neither little private Interests, (sure little in comparison) nor certain points of Honour (only tolerable when Innocent) disorder the present Harmony, the event is infallible.  
Sir, Nothing can contribute more to this than the happy Union that is between the King my master, and your Electoral Highness, which states His Majesty, and your Highness, in the best Circumstances imaginable for preventing or removing differences.  
This, among other Reasons, giveth ground to hope, that the Confederacy is not to be broke, since the Union I speak of cannot be dissolved. It is strong, by all that is Sacred amongst men, the Ties of Honour, Religion, Blood, Friendship, Obligations, Engagements, and I may add of the same Interests and Designs, with relation to the Public.  
To so many Ties it may seem there needed no addition of a new one. But His Majesty was resolved not to lose any opportunity of giving public Instances of the great Affection and esteem that he hath for your Electoral Highness: And the Knight's Companions were unanimously of Opinion, That his Majesty could not better dispose of the greatest Honour that he can give, than by sending it to your Electoral Highness; from whom the Order may expect the greatest return of Honour that it can at present receive.   

Monsieur FULCKS, Minister of State, His Speech.  
SIR,  

HIS most Serence Highness, the Elector of Brandenburg, our Gracious Prince, receives the Honour his Royal Majesty of Great Britain has been pleased to confer on him, in sending him the Badges of the most Noble Order of the Garter, with all due Respect and Esteem. For whether its Antiquity be regarded, it being Three Hundred Thirty Nine Years since its first beginning, or the glorious Founder of it, Edward the Third, together with his Royal Qualities, especially his unheard of Courage, and the Happiness that attended him; or whether the Splendour and Excellency of those that have been honoured with the most Noble Order be considered; amongst whom are reckoned several great Monarches, and what is wonderful, Eight Emperors, Five and Forty Kings, Sixty Electors and Princes, vested with Sovereign Power, besides a great many others Hero's renowned both by their Birth and Actions; or whether the design of the Institution be looked on, which was the defence of Justice, the relieving the oppressed, and the encouragement of true Virtue, it will be found, that it gives place to no Order in the World, but on the contrary does far excel them all. The Excellency whereof is visible, by those two things that are absolutely required in every true Knight, which are, not to have been tainted of any Baseness, or of any Cowardice. But the Dignity of this Order his been so fully shown by His Majesty's Envoy, that 'twould be superfluous to add any thing to what he has said. Indeed in the ancient Histories of the Greeks and Romans, many Examples may be found, where Kingdoms and Provinces have been given away to others by the Possessors thereof; but Desert and Right were not always the Cause of such Donations. They were oftener made by blind Chance or Favour, or else Reasons of State were the occasions of them. But that Honour which is foundded only on Merits, and which proceeds from a true and solid consideration of Worth only, is to be preferred above Sceptres and Crowns. And the conferring of this Noble Order must be thus looked upon, since it is done by a King who does nothing but with an exact knowledge and mature deliberation. For although his Electoral Highness could not but have always thought it an Honour to have been of this Order, yet he looks upon it as greater still in this, That the Dignity is conferred upon him by his present Majesty of Great Britain. The Diamonds and Gold which shine on the Badges thereof, receive yet a greater lustre from so glorious a Hand, which the Divine Providence has made choice of to render this Age famous even for Miracles, to be a terror and chastisement to Tyrants, to deliver the oppressed, raise up those that were fallen, restore those that are driven out, to establish Tottering Crowns, and which having already freed Two Kingdoms, will in all probability gloriously recover a Third in a short time. Things that come from such an august hand cannot but be of excellent Virtue and Effect. His incomparable Valour and Courage, and the blessing of Heaven, have had this great effect, that the most Famous Nations in the World, have put Four Crowns on his Head, and on that of his Royal Consort, adorned likewise with all the same Virtues and Perfections. Which Crowns, in stead of adding any Ornament to the Persons that are possessed of them, become more Illustrious from the heads of those that wear them. His Electoral Highness was the first of any Foreign Prince that has received this Noble Token of Favour from His Royal Majesty. From whence his Highness cannot but acknowledge, That though His Royal Majesty, and his Electoral Highness, were before nearly Related, His Royal Majesty has thought fit to make still a closer Union, 'Tis not to be questioned but that it proceeds from the Secret Providence of God; That as this Order was instituted by Edward the Third, especially against the French, who then, as at present, began to strive for the Universal Monarchy, so now is conferred by William the Third, on Frederwick the Third, at a time when they Two first of all displayed their Colours for the Freedom of Europe, and with United Forces, opposed Themselves to that monstrous and dreadful Enemy, rendering the Thing more Ominous, by the Badge which this Ordermakes use of, Honi soit qui maly pense. Let him perish shamefully who dares rashly despise this inseparable Alliance. To this without doubt, His Royal Majesty had regard, when He sent the Sword to His Electoral Highness, which otherwise relates not to the Badges of the Order, and was never before conferred on any Knight; and with which he would have him girt with so great Solemnity, that he might make use of it in his Wars, for the asserting the Freedom of Europe. His Electoral Highness certainly designs to do that which His Majesty intended by conferring this Honour on him, and will always think himself so strictly united to His Majesty, that no Force nor Artifice shall ever be able to break the Union: But he will esteem whatever Fortune whether bad or good, that attends his Majesty, to be the same as if it happened to his Highness, making no other difference betwixt his Majesties Concerns and his own, than to give those of his Majesty the first place. Moreover, his Electoral Highness will never render himself unworthy the Honour conferred, or forget the Statutes of the Order. And because his Electoral Highness is now become one of the Members of the Order, instituted amongst the English Nation, his Highness will always endeavour to promote their Interest and Glory, Lastly, His Highness thanks the Commissioners, in that they have been pleased to undertake the conferring this Noble Present on him, and thanks his Royal Majesty for having chosen them for this Solemnity, to whom his Electoral Highness will on all occasions show all Favour and Esteem.   

SErenissimus Princeps, Elector Brandenburgious, Dominus Noster Clementissinus, debito cum respectu atque aestimatione acceptat honorem, quo Regia Majestas Magnae Britanniae condecorare ippsum voluit transmissis insignibus toto Orbe celebratissimi Ordinis Equitum Divi Georgli Anreae Periscetidis. Sive enim respiciamus Antiquitatem inclytissimi Ordinis, qui jam trecentos triginta novem annos à primis suis incunabulis numerat; seu gloriam Fundatoris, Edvardi tertii, cum omnibus to fastigio dignis Virtutibus, tùm imprimis inusitatâ sortitudine ac selicitate clarissimi Regis; sive Splendorem ac praestantiam corum queis istius Ordinis bonos obtigit, inter quos multi sublimes Monarchae, & quod jamjam non sine admiratione audivimus, Octo Imperatores Romani, quadraginta quinque Reges, Sexaginta Electores, & ut plurimùm Supremo Imperio gaudentes Principes, praeter plurimos alios non minus Splendore Nataelium, quàm rerum gestarum gloria celeberrimos Heroes numerantur; sive etiam scopum instituti qui praecipnè ad desensionem Justitiae, sublevationem oppressorum, & cultum virae atque infucatae Virtutis tendit; manifessò deprehendetur, isthune nulli alteri ejus generis Ordini toto Orbe concedere, multis autem rebus alios longe antecellere. Cujus praestantiae infallibile documentum perspicitur in duobus palmariis genuini Equitis requisitis, ut quod turpisugâ tergum hosti obverterit, infi●●lati potuerit. Sed quae ad dignitatem kujus Ordinis spectant, ea jam à Domino Legato itae luculenter ac solide deducta sunt, ut superfluum suerit eidem aliquid superaddere velle. Equidem in Antiquâ Historia Graecorum comprimis & Romanorum multa licet videre Exempla. Regnorum ac insignium Provinciarum à Possessoribus in alios collatorum. Sed tantorum munerum causa non semper meritum antony's jus reperitur: Saepe ista caeca fortuna, aut enormi favori debennur, aut quia Reipublicae rationes ïsta per alios potius possideri suaserunt. Ast qui solo Virtutis merito utitur, & ex verâ solidâque praestantiae aestimatione promanet honos ipsisSceptris Corenisque longè praestabilior habendus. Atque eodem modulo quoque collatio inclyti hujus Ordinis mensuranda est, imprimis cum ea proficiscatur à Rege, cui nil nisi praeviâ exacta cognitione & maturo judicio suscipitur. Quanquem enim Serenitas sua Electoralis semper sibi decorum babitura fuerat illustrissime huie Ordini adscrib●. Quod tamen id à Regiâ Majestate Magnae Britanniae, quae nunc rerum potitur, fiat, id multis modis gaudium, quo ipsius mens ex tá-perfunditur, adauget. Quin ipsi Adamantes & Aurum, qutis insignia Ordinis radiant, multò vividiorem Splendorem mutuantur à manu tam gloriosi collatoris, quam Manum Divina Providentia elegit ad Seculum hoc Miraculis insigniendum, quae Tyrannis Terrorem incutit, torumque insolentiam castigat & solo affligit, quae Oppressos liberat, & è ruinis sublevat, spoliatos ●estituit, titubantes Corenas stabilit, immo quae adhuc calet ab admiranda liberatione duorum Regnorum, cui & de tertio propediem trophaeum statuendum Auguramur. Quae à tam Augustâ menu dantu● singulari Virtute & effectu vacua esse non possunt velut quae incomparabili suâ fortitudine animique constantiâ, ac coelitùs prosperate successu effecit, ut celeberrima toto orbe Natio quatuor Coronas ipsins & serenissimae Consortis Reginae, omnium Virtutum ac gratiarum Matris, capiti exornando porrexerit: Quibus Corenis tamen divinum Lumen quo caput isind circumsunditur, plus splendoris affert quam ab iisdem Accipit. Quo & illud Accedit, quod serenitas sua Electoralis inter externos Principes prima fit, quam Regia sua Majestas illustri bocce aestimationis ac benevolentiae sua signo muneravit. Ex quo & eadem agnoscit, quòd licet jam antea Regia sua Majestas & serenitas sua Electoralis sanctissimo sanguinis & propinquae cognationis vinculo divinitùs sint combinaiae, Regiae tamen Majestas isthane necessitudinem isthoc ordinis ligamine arctius adbue adstringere praeclarum duxerit. Nec dubitare fas est, quin & istud ex occultâ operations Divinae providentiae promanâ it, ut cùm bie Ordo primum ab Edvardo tertio institutus fuerit, & quidem praecipuè contra Gallos, qui jam tum insolentiam & dominands libidinem, quâ nunc totum foè Orbem subversum eunt, parturithant, idim nunc à Guiliclmo tertio in Fridericum tertium conferatur, & to quidem tempore, quo bi duo primi signum ad excutiendum, quod Europae cervicibus imminebar, jugum fustulerunt, ac junctis animis viribusque immani ac truculento isti hosti sese objecerunt, anspicatissimis victoriarum monumentis simboli, quô bic ordo utitur, Omen firmaturi, Hony solt qui mal y pense, dedecore obrutus pereat, qui insolubilem hanc conjunctionem contemnere, aut temerare Awus suerit. Quò etiam, sine dubio, prosolitâ sibi Sapientiâ, respexit Regia Sacra Majestas, cùm Serenttati suae Electorali Gladium, qui aliàs cum Ordinis insignibus transmitti non solet. Ad insignia Ordiois haud spectat, & antea nemini Equitum oblatus fuit, Offerri, todemque illam in tantâ Solennitate accingi jusserit; ut nimirum eadem in Belli & Periculorum Societate; ad afferendam Europae Libertatem à jugo Gallico uteretur. Sanè Serenitas sua Electoralis Regia Suae Majestatis scopum, ad quem delato hocce Honore collimat, ex asse implebit. Eadem its arctè Regiae suae Majestati sese obstrictam judicabit, ut nulla vis aut fraus ad eam divellendam valitura fit: Quaecunque Regiae Sua Majestati, prospere aut secùs eveneriut, sibi quoque accidisse judicabit. Denique Regiaesuae Majestatis & proprias rationes non alio discrimine habebit, quam quod istis exra priorque locus deforendus sit. De caesero, Serenitas sua Electoralis delato bocce. Honore nunquam sese indignum reddet, ac Statuta Ordinis Memori semper ment tenebit. Et quia Serenitas sua Electoralis nunc inter Membra Ordinis recepta est, ab intlytâ Natione Anglicana instituti, bujus Gloria & Emolumentum eidem semper quam maxime cordi trunt: Ad Extremum Serenitas sua Electoralis Dominis Legatis Gratias agit, quod officium tam egregii & acceptissimi Muneris offerendi in se suscipere voluerunt: Eidem gratissimum est à suà Regia Majestatá istos potissimùm huic Functioni obeundae delectos, quos & quâ Aestimatione & Affectu Sua Serenitas Electoralis prosequatur, nulla occasione demonstrare omittet.     

LICENCED  
G. SARUM. Chancellor of the Order. July 15.   

Printed at London, and reprinted at Edinburgh, by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to Their most Excellent Majesties, 1690.