BATH. 



035 



Bath, so called from the ancient custom of bathing on the 

 Knights of- day previous to their installation. The origin of this 

 order is almost as remote as that of the feudal system 



in Europe. It was one of the highest honorary dis- 

 tinctions among the ancient Franks, and was confer- 

 red, with great solemnity, as at once the reward and 

 the pledge of extraordinary purity and virtue. Per- 

 sons who were to receive this honour, were obliged 

 to perform vigils, previous to which they underwent 

 an ablution as emblematical of their resolution to pre- 

 serve their minds pure and uncorrupted. At the same 

 time, they came under a solemn obligation to brave 

 any danger in the cause of virtue, and to adhere scru- 

 pulously to the belief in the Trinity, implied in their 

 motto, Triajuncta in uno. It seems probable, from 

 the discussions of some antiquarians, that this order 

 of knighthood was introduced into England by the 

 Saxons ; and Mr Anstishas fully ascertained that Wil- 

 liam the Conqueror, and his successors, were in the 

 practice of conferring it both in their Norman and 

 English dominions. It can scarcely be said, however, 

 to have been properly instituted in England till the 

 accession of Henry IV., who, on the day of his coro- 

 nation, conferred that dignity upon 46 esquires. From 

 that time, till the reign of Charles II., it was the 

 usual practice of the kings to create knights of the 

 Bath at their coronation, at the inauguration of the 

 Princes of Wales, and at the celebration, either of 

 their own nuptials, or those of any of the royal family. 

 No fewer than 68 knights of the Bath were installed 

 by Charles II. at his coronation; but from that time 

 the order was discontinued, till it was revived by 

 George I. in the year 1725. That monarch, deter- 

 mined to restore it in more than its former lustre, 

 erected it into a regular military order, to consist of 

 a grand master, and 36 companions, a succession of 

 whom was to be regularly continued. This order 

 was to be governed by particular statutes and ordi- 

 nances, each of them impressed with a seal engraven 

 on purpose ; having upon one side the figure of the 

 king on horseback, and clad in armour, the shield 



azure, three imperial crowns, or the arms ascribed to 

 the renowned king Arthur, with the circumscription, 



SlGILLUM HONORATISSIMI MlLITARIS OllDINLS De 



Balneo ; and on the reverse, the same arms impaling 

 the royal arms. The officers appropriated to the 

 order, are, besides the grandmaster, a dean, genealo- 

 gist, king of arms, register, secretary, usher, and mes- 

 senger. The dean of the collegiate church of St 

 Peter's, Westminster, for the time being, is ex officio, 

 dean of the order of the Bath ; the other officers are 

 appointed by the grand master, under the seal of the 

 order. 



The badge of this order is a rose, thistle, and 

 shamrock, issuing from a sceptre between three im- 

 perial crowns, surrounded with the motto, Triajuncta 

 in uno. It is of pure gold, chased and pierced, and 

 is worn by the knight elect, pendant from a red rib- 

 bon across the right shoulder. The collar is also of 

 gold, weighing 30 ounces troy weight, and is com- 

 posed of nine imperial crowns, and eight roses, thistles, 

 and shamrocks, issuing from a sceptre, enamelled in 

 their proper colours, tied or linked together with 17 

 gold knots, enamelled white, and having the badge of 

 the order pendant from it. The star consists of three 

 imperial crowns of gold, surrounded by the motto 

 upon a circle of red, with rays issuing from the silver 

 centre forming a star, and is embroidered on the left 

 side of the upper garment. The installation dress is 

 a surcoat of white satin, a mantle of crimson satin 

 lined with white, tied at the neck with a cordon of 

 crimson silk and gold, with gold tassels, and the star 

 of the order is embroidered on the left shoulder ; a 

 white silk hat adorned with a standing plume of white 

 ostrich feathers, white leather boots, edged and heeled, 

 spurs of crimson and gold, a sword in a white leather 

 scabbard, with cross hilts of gold. Each knight is 

 allowed three squires, who must be gentlemen of 

 blood, bearing coat armour. These esquires are en- 

 titled during life to all the privileges and exemptions 

 enjoyed by the esquires of the sovereign's body, or 

 the gentlemen of the privy chamber. (/*) 



Bath, 

 Knighis of. 



BATHING. 



Bathing. 



Bathing, or the act of applying water, under 

 various states and modifications, to the surface of the 

 body, is a subject of such acknowledged importance, 

 and such general interest, as to demand, in a work on 

 miscellaneous literature, a much fuller consideration 

 than it has usually obtained. In the present article, 

 we shall endeavour to give as complete and popular a 

 view of this subject, as is compatible with the nature 

 and limits of our undertaking. We propose, first, to 

 consider the several varieties of baths, and the effects 

 which each produces on the human body in its natural 

 healthy state ; thence to deduce some practical con- 

 clusions and precautions on the use of bathing, in 

 the preservation of health and the cure of disease ; 

 and to conclude with a brief historical sketch of the 

 practice of bathing among various nations, both in an- 

 cient and modern times. 



The term bath has, by many writers, been employ- Bathing, 

 ed in a very extensive sense, as comprehending not ^ u T* 

 only every kind of liquid in which the body can be baths, 

 immersed, but air, earth, sand, and other dry mate- 

 rials by which it can be surrounded. Thus, we hear 

 of baths of milk, whey, broth ; and if we may credit 

 the fables of mythology, and the legends of monkish 

 superstition, even human blood has been employed in 

 this capacity. When the naked body is exposed for 

 a considerable time to the cold air, this is termed the 

 air-bath, a practice recommended by Franklin and 

 others as a substitute for bathing; and when the naked 

 body is surrounded with sand, or half buried in the 

 earth, as has been practised on various occasions, 

 both by regular physicians and empirics, it is said 

 to be placed in a sand-bath, or an earth-bath. How- 

 ever convenient these terms may be in a medical point 

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