549. SAINT GEORGE OF MERY ENGLAND. St. George became the patron Saint of England in 1344, when Edward III consecrated to him the Order of the Garter. Church and Percival say that _merry_ means _pleasant_ and referred originally to the country, not the people. Cf. Mereweather. lxii. Observe that lines 1, 2, 5, 6 are spoken by the Knight, the rest by Contemplation.