Page:The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of the British Empire Part 1.djvu/858

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THE MOST DISTINGUISHED

Order of St Michael and St. George.

INSIGNIA AND HABIT.

The STAR of a Knight Grand Cross is composed of seven rays of silver, having a small ray of gold between each of them, and over all the Cross of St. George, gules. In the centre is a representation of the Archangel St. Michael encountering Satan, within a blue circle, inscribed with the motto, Auspicium Melioris Ævi.

The COLLAR is formed alternately of lions of England, of Maltese crosses, and of the ciphers S M and S G, having in the centre the imperial crown, over two winged lions, passant-guardant, each holding a book and seven arrows. At the opposite end of the collar are two similar lions. The whole is of gold except the crosses which are of white enamel, and it is linked together by small gold chains.

The BADGE is a white star of seven double rays, edged with gold, having in the centre, on one side, the Archangel St. Michael, encountering Satan, and on the other, St. George on horseback, encountering a dragon, within a blue circle, on which the motto of the Order is inscribed. The Cross is surmounted by an imperial crown, and is worn by the Knights Grand Cross to the Collar, or to a wide Saxon blue ribbon, with a scarlet stripe from the right shoulder to the left side.

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