[PW] Re: Honi soit ...

[Simon Cauchi]

On 4/08/2006, at 7:15 AM, Fuller, Thomas ((US - Washington D.C.)) wrote:

> Since this has come up, and since we're laboring through the summer
> sleepies, can anyone enlighten me on the meaning of the Garter's motto,
> "Honi soit qui mal y pense"?  Most reference books just translate it
> ("Shamed be he who thinks evil of it") and retell the story of Edward
> III picking up the Countess of Salisbury's fallen garter, as if that
> explains the whole thing.
>
> It never has, to me.  Why would anybody think evil of it?

I have no authority to cite, but have always believed that with these 
words the king was in effect telling the assembled courtiers that, no, 
he *wasn't* sleeping with the lady whose garter it was.

Simon Cauchi
<simon.cauchi at xtra.co.nz>