Garter

According to legend, Joan, counte of Salisbury, accidentally dropped her garter at a court ball. It was picked up by her royal partner, Edward III., who gallantly diverted the attention of the guests from the lady by binding the blue band round his own knee, saying, as he did so, “Honi so it qui mal y pense.” The earl’s greatest of all grandmothers Was grander daughter still to that fair dame Whose garter slipped down at the famous ball. Robert Browning, A Blot on the ’Scutcheon , i., 3.