introduction.

NIGHTHOOD, one of the mostancient dignities in Christendom,and universally considered “ thefirst of all military dignity, and thebasis and foundation of all Ho-nours in our nation,” 1 was ori-ginally both of a Religious andMilitary character; and was con-ferred upon Sovereigns, Princes,Peers, and all other persons of exalted birth, condition, ormerit, except ecclesiastics. King Edward the Third, KingHenry the Sixth, King Henry the Seventh, and King Edwardthe Sixth were Knighted after their accession to the Crown, bytheir own subjects, 2 as were Louis the Eleventh and Francis

1 Institutions, Laws, and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, by EliasAshmole, folio, 1672, p. 13. The praise which Mennenius (Deliciae Equestrium siveMilitarium Ordinum, 4to. 1613, p. 1.) bestows on Knighthood, approaches to extravagance :“ De Equestrium virorum symbolis et origine, sive Militaris Ordinis, tum antiquitate, cumprae caeteris eminentia scribendo vix me expedio, quin nescio quod mihi magnificum in eodemet quasi supra nobilitatem excellentius nomen hoc ab antiquo prae se ferre videatur, et soliaveluti ascendens Regia omnis nobilitatis civilis vindex, et pro tribunali quasi judex sedeat.”

2 Of the Knighthood of King Edward the Sixth, Bishop Burnet observes, “ The LordProtector Knighted the King, being authorized to do it by Letters Patents. So it seems,that the law of Chivalry required that the King should receive Knighthood from the hand

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