(Vol. ii., pp. 89. 194. 248.)
The Collar of SS. "is to this day a mystery to the most learned and
indefatigable antiquaries," according to Mr. Planché, in his valuable
little work on _The History of British Costume_: what has appeared in
"NOTES AND QUERIES" certainly has not cleared away the obscurity.
ARMIGER tells us (Vol. ii., p. 195.): "As to the derivation of the name
of the collar from _Soverayne_; from St. Simplicius; from the martyrs of
Soissons (viz. St. Crespin and St. Crespinian, upon whose anniversary
the battle of Agincourt was fought); from the Countess of Salisbury;
from the word _Souvenez_; and, lastly, from Seneschallus or Steward,
(which latter is MR. NICHOLS' notion)--they may be regarded as mere
monkish (?) or heraldic gossip." If the monastic writers had spoken
anything on the matter, a doubt never would have existed: but none of
them has even hinted at it. Never having seen the articles in the
_Gentleman's Magazine_, I do not know MR. NICHOLS' reasons for supposing
"Seneschallus or Steward" could have furnished an origin of the SS.; but
I am at loss to think of any grounds upon which such a guess could rest.
From the searches I have made upon this question, it seems to me that
these SS. are taken as a short way of expressing the "SANCTUS, SANCTUS,
SANCTUS" of the Salisbury liturgy and ritual. I hope soon to be able to
lay before the public the documents out of which I draw this opinion, in
a note to the third and forthcoming volume of _The Church of our
Fathers_.