VI

INTRODUCTION.

enfranchised, and accounted a gentleman ; * * 4 and if a personunder age and in wardship were Knighted, both his minorityand wardship terminated. 2

The more ancient manner of conferring Knighthood, was byinvestiture with “ the military girdle, instead of all other arms,because that part, more eminent amongst them, girdeth, sup-porteth, and adorneth the rest,” 3 whence Selden considers thatgirding with the sword and belt, was the most essential part ofthe ceremony; and it was long used in all solemn creations ofKnights, 4 together with golden spurs. Ashmole observes,“ that if we sum up the principal ensigns of Knighthood, ancientand modern, we shall find them to have been, or are, a horse,gold ring, shield and lance, a belt and sword, gilt spurs, and agold chain or collar,” 5 but the chain or collar does not, as willafterwards be shewn, appear to have been worn until thebeginning of the fifteenth century.

It was also often conferred with various other rites andceremonies; and from bathing being one of the principal,those who performed them were called “ Knights of the Bath,”and which eventually became a distinct class of Knights;but it was more frequently bestowed in the field, by laying asword on the shoulder of the candidate, kneeling, with theexclamation, “ Avancez Chevalier au nom de Dieu,” or “ Aunom de Dieu, de Saint Michel et de Saint George, Je te faisChevalier,” 6 and sometimes with the exhortation, “ Soyezpreux, hardi, et loyal,” 6 or “Be a good Knight in the name of

1 Glanville, 1. v. c. 5. Bracton, 1. iv. f. 198 b .

2 Selden’s Titles of Honour, pp. 652, 653. 3 Spelman’s Glossary.

4 Ashmole, pp. 12, 13. Vide History of the Order of the Bath, p. 4 et seq.

5 Ashmole, p. 30. 6 St. Palaye, vol. I. p. 63.