Origins of the Expression Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense

Origins of the Expression Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense Honi soit qui mal y pense are French words that  youll find on Britains royal coat of arms,  on the cover of British passports, in British courtrooms, and elsewhere of note. But why does this Middle French expression appear in weighty official uses in Britain?   Origins of Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense These words were first uttered by Englands King Edward III in the 14th century. At that time, he reigned over a part of France. The language spoken at the English court among the aristocracy  and clergy and in courts of law was Norman French,  as it had been since the time of William the Conqueror of Normandy, starting in 1066. While the ruling classes spoke Norman French, the peasants (who comprised the majority of the population) continued to speak English. French eventually fell out of use for reasons of practicality. By the middle of the 15th century, English again ascended to the throne, so to speak, replacing French in British centers of power.   Around 1348, King Edward III founded the Chivalric Order of the Garter, which today is the highest order of chivalry and the third most prestigious honor awarded in Britain. It is not known with certainty why this name was chosen for the order.  According to historian Elias Ashmole, the Garter is founded on the idea that as King Edward III prepared for the  Battle of Crà ©cy  during the Hundred Years War,  he gave forth his own garter as the signal. Thanks to Edwards introduction of the deadly longbow, the well-equipped British army proceeded to vanquish an army of thousands of knights under French King Philip VI in this decisive battle in Normandy. Another theory suggests a totally different and rather fun story: King Edward III was dancing with Joan of Kent, his first cousin and daughter-in-law. Her garter slipped down to her ankle, causing people nearby to mock her. In an act of chivalry, Edward placed the garter around his own leg saying, in Middle French, Honi soit qui mal y pense. Tel  qui sen rit aujourdhui, shonorera de la porter,  car ce ruban sera mis en tel honneur que les railleurs le chercheront avec empressement  (Shame on him who thinks evil of it. Those  who laugh at this today will be proud to wear it  tomorrow  because this band will be worn with such honor that those mocking now will be looking for it with much eagerness).   Meaning of the Phrase Nowadays, this expression could be used to say Honte celui qui y voit du mal, or Shame on the one who sees something bad [or evil] in it.   Je danse souvent avec Juliette...Mais cest ma cousine, et il ny a rien entre nous: Honi soit qui mal y pense!ï » ¿I often dance with Juliette. But she is my cousin, and there is nothing between us: Shame on the one who sees something bad in it! Spelling Variations Honi comes from the Middle French verb honir, which means  to shame, disgrace, dishonor. It is never used today. Honi is sometimes spelled honni with two ns. Both are pronounced like honey. Sources History.com Editors. Battle of Crecy. The History Channel, AE Television Networks, LLC, March 3, 2010. The Order of the Garter. The Royal Household, England.