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Author Topic: Who's Garter was it?  (Read 4236 times)

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Offline Prince_Lieven

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Who's Garter was it?
« on: January 05, 2006, 08:22:49 AM »
Hi all.  ;) We all know the story of Edward III's founding of the Order of the Garter - the whole 'evil be on him who thinks ill of it' (i.e - keep your dirty thoughts to yourself  ;D). But my question is, do we actually know who the woman was dropped the garter was?

I've heard it was either the Countess of Salisbury, or Joan, Fair Maid of Kent. The Countess has sometimes been described as Edward's mistress. Can anyone confirm this? If it indeed the Countess' garter, who was she? Was she Edward's mistress in reality?
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Offline Kimberly

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2006, 08:38:01 AM »
Legend says that the unfortunate incident of the garter happened at a Ball held in Calais and it was the Countess of Salisbury (or Joan of Kent ;)) who was the wearer of the said Garter. It is  believed by some to be a myth and one put about by the French to denigrate the Order. Historians think that the actual "garter", was, in reality, the leather strap used to hold armour together.
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Offline Prince_Lieven

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2006, 09:40:53 AM »
Oooh, thanks.  :) Who was the Countess of Salisbury at the time?
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Offline Kimberly

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2006, 09:53:25 AM »
I've "googled" her. She was none other than Joan the Fair Maid of Kent :o
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Offline Prince_Lieven

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2006, 09:55:05 AM »
Quote
I've "googled" her. She was none other than Joan the Fair Maid of Kent :o


<delves into Alison Weir book>  ;D

Ok, at the time, Joan was married William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, so that's explained.  ;) But surely she wasn't rumoured to be Edward's mistress!  :o
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Offline Kimberly

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2006, 09:58:18 AM »
Yep  ;D
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Offline Prince_Lieven

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2006, 09:59:26 AM »
Is there other evidence for this besides the garter story?  :o
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Offline Kimberly

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2006, 10:02:57 AM »
Some sources think it wasn't her, it was her mother-in-law. I presume they mean Catherine Grandison. Not wanting to besmirch the Fair Maid, but do you think its possible she was a gal who "liked a good time"
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Offline Prince_Lieven

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Re: Who's Garter was it?
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2006, 10:04:52 AM »
Given Joan's marital history (and the fact she was a Plantagenet by birth!) I wouldn't count out the possibility!  ;D  Married firstly Thomas Holland, then bigamously married William de Montacute, that marriage annulled and told to go back to Holland. As a widow with 5 kids she netted the Prince of Wales. ;D ;D
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"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?"
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