The Collar of &^. 117 



edition of The Compkat Angler (1653) 

 was published. 



It was also during this period that 

 occurred the incident of his being instru- 

 mental in preserving the lesser George 

 which belonged to Charles II., as related/ 

 by Ashmole in his history of the Order of 

 the Garter. 



Soon after the battle of Worcester, 

 September 3rd, 1651, when Cromwell 

 defeated the King with a loss of six thou- 

 sand men and all their baggage, a collar 

 of %>%>* and a garter which belonged to 

 his majesty, formed part of the spoil, and 

 were brought to Parliament a few days 

 afterwards by Major Corbet, who was 

 despatched by Cromwell with an account 

 of his victory. The sovereign's lesser 

 George was, however, preserved by Colonel 

 Blague, who, having taken shelter at Blore 

 Pipe House, two miles from Eccleshall, 

 in Staffordshire, then the residence of 

 Mr. George Barlow, delivered the jewel 

 into that gentleman's custody. In the 

 ensuing week Mr. Barlow carried it to 



* In his charming little work Hie ct Ubique, 

 Sir William Fraser has this note : " Endless dis- 

 putes have been held in relation to the collar 

 of 5!?. I presume to suggest that they are 

 intended to indicate the word ' sanctissimus,' 

 abbreviated." 



