Page:Debrett's Illustrated Peerage and Titles of Courtesy.djvu/72

TITLES, 0RDERS, AND DEGREES OF PRECEDENCE AND DIGNITY. religious character, including previous confession and absolution, vigils in the church, &c. " And after the gospel," we are told by Ingulphus. who flourished shortly before the Norman invasion, " the priest was to put the sword, being previously blessed, upon the knight's neck, with his benediction ; and thus, after he had heard mass again and received the sacrament, he became a lawful knight." For a long time ecclesiastics claimed the duty and privilege of dubbing knights. William Rufus was knighted by Archbishop Lanfranc ; but this custom was put an end to, and afterwards kings were accustomed to send their sons to neighbouring courts to receive the honour of knighthood. Thus Henry 31. sent to David King of Scots ; Malcolm, King of Scots, to Henry II., and Edward I. to the King of Castile, to take of them " military or virile arms," a term used in those ages for the creation of a knight: The gilt spurs, the privilege of using a signet, &c., were amongst the conditions of knighthood. Not only the King, but the great earls, created knights, as we are told by Matthew Paris: "Here the Earle of Gloucester invested with a militarie girdle his brother William," and Gilbert de Clare was also knighted by Simon de Montfort. In fact, any knight could create a new one. But this was afterwards prohibited, and the privilege restricted to the Sovereign, or some high personage deputed by him. The title of knight was desired and granted as an honourable addition or mark of distinction to the highest dignity, name, and rank; but this was only when it was received under honourable circumstances like those just described, for the possession of property at one time entitled to knighthood; and in the reign of Henry 111., freeholders with a stated income were compelled to become knights under a fine. A proclamation was issued that whoever had 15 in land and above " should be dight in his armes," and endowed with knighthood, or be fined, " to the end that England as well as Italic might be strengthened with chivalry." But those knights in virtue of property, simply called milites, held a very different position from the milites gladio cincti, or knights whom the King had created by cincture of sword and belt. This class of knighthood was highly prized, and (as a contemporary writer observes, not without some exaggeration) " if any thing was promised on the faith and honour of a knight, it was always performed in the most scrupulous and punctilious manner, at whatever risk it was undertaken." This was the theory the fact was rather different. Yet it is abundantly certain that the obligations of knighthood tended powerfully to elevate the mind and chasten the morals of those bound thereby. This was especially the case when the dignity was conferred by the king, aided by religious ceremonials. Thus, " The Bishop administered the following oath : ' Sir, you that desire to receive the order of knighthood, swear, before God, and this holy book, that you will not fight against the king, who now bestoweth the order of knighthood upon you ; you shall also swear to maintain and defend all ladies, gentlewomen, widows, and orphans ; and you shall shun no adventure of your person in any way where you shall happen to be.' The oath being taken, two lords led him to the King, who drew his sword, and laid it upon his head, saying, ' God and St. George make thee a good knight.' Seven ladies then girt on his sword, and four knights his spurs, and much othet ceremony followed." Of late all this was dispensed with, and he on whom the title was conferred knelt down, when the King with his drawn sword slightly