Stern decoration of the English man-of-war, the Royal Charles. England, mid-17th century. The Royal Charles was captured by the Dutch during the Chatham raid in June 1667 and brought back to the Republic as a trophy. Six years later, the ship was demolished. Only the decoration of the stern was kept. This is the part of the ship that towers up at the back and was often adorned with carvings. The stern of the Royal Charles was decorated with the relief carving of the arms of Charles II of England. The shield is flanked by a lion and a unicorn - who has lost his horn. The device 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Shamed be he who thinks evil of it) is the motto of the Order of the Garter, the highest English order of knighthood. Beneath the coat of arms is the motto of the English monarch: 'Dieu et mon droit' (God and my right).