THERE was a Seal made at the beginning of the Reign of King _Cha._ I. which being esteemed too little for the Grandure and Honour of the Sovereigns Commissions, if was afterwards Decreed in Chapter, held 18th of _April._ 13. Car. I. _That a new one should be made of a larger Size, with the accustomed Arms and Motto, and the care thereof commited to Sir_ Thomas Rowe, _Chancellor_; which Command he Executed with all due care and regard, as is manifestly evident by the nobleness of the design: One Representation being St. _George_, in Armour, adorned with a waveing Mantle, his Bever open, his Helmet plumed, holding a Shield of his Arms in his left Hand, and striking with a Sword in his right, his Body mounted on a bold Horse, Trampling over a Dragon, which Assails the Champion, the whole Figure is well contracted, and the Sun, a Rock, the Bones of devoured Men, and a Mountain in _Lointon_, in it is Circumscribed, _Magnum sigillum Nobilis Ordinis Garterij_; having the enrichments of festons between every Word placed pentagonally: The other Representation, is the Royal Garter imperially Crowned, enclosing a Shield of the Arms of St. _George_, impaling the Sovereign’s Arms, the same Bordered with Fret-work, and other Ornaments in Cartouche. In the same decree, direction was given also for a new Signet, the former being thought too big for Letters, and this was an Oval shaped so from its Impression, which was the Garter Crowned, wherein was St. _George_, and the Sovereigns Arms impaled.
IT was at the same Chapter further decreed; “That all Legations to deliver this Order to Foreign Princes, all other Acts, bearing the Stile of Commissions, all Patents of Offices and Fees, all Grants or Licences sent out of the Kingdom, should be Sealed with this Seal, which should be henceforward called the Great Seal of the Order; so also the Book of Statutes, sent to Elect Knights or Foreign Princes, being fixed to a Label of Blue Silk, and held according to antient Custom; and that all Letters concerning the Order, whether of signification of Election, or Lieutenancy, or Summons upon prorogation, or other Directions from the Sovereign, should only be Sealed with the Signet: Moreover, these Seals were appointed to be thenceforth Born before the Sovereign in all Publick Assemblies, during the Celebration of St. _George_’s Feast, or in other its Solemnities by the Chancellor of the Order, in a Purse of blue Velvet,” and Command given to Sir _Thomas Rowe_, to provid one accordingly; on the foreside of which Purse was richly Embroidred (by a Gold-Smith) with _Venice_ Gold and Silver, Gold and Silver Purls and Plates, and variety of _Naples_ Silks, the Arms of St. _George_ impaling the Sovereign, surrounded with a Garter Crowned, having a very fair Running Work, or Compartment round about it, the charge of which amounted to 13 _l._ 16 _s._ 10 _d._