INTRODUCTION.

vii

God .” 7 The Knights created by either of those modes, werecalled “ Knights Bachelors, or of the Spur, who are indiffe-rently styled Knights, Milites, and Chivalers, and sometimes

was formerly vested. Notwithstanding the assertion of Ash-mole, that “it is apparent enough that they who never were,

bestowed in England, since the commencement of the twelfth

7 Sir Thomas Smith, who was Secretary of State to King Edward the Sixth and toQueen Elizabeth, and died in 1577, says, “ When any man is made a Knight, he kneeling

saying, ‘ Sus,’ or ‘ Sois Chevalier au nom de Dieu,’ and (in times past) they added 4 SaintGeorge;’ and at his arising, the Prince saith, ‘ Avauncer.’ This is the manner of dubbingof Knights at this present; and the term 4 Dubbing ’ was the old term in this point, and notCreation.”—De Republica Anglorum, ed. 1584, p. 24. The present manner of conferringKnighthood in England, is for the Sovereign to lay a Sword, usually the Sword of State, oneach shoulder of the individual, and then to bid him to “ Rise” by his Christian name, withthe addition of “ Sir.”

8 Selden’s Titles of Honour, p. 632. Knights were also called “ Equites aurati,” fromtheir gilded spurs. Selden (p. 642) adverting to the statement of Walsingham, that itwas supposed Sir John Oldcastle intended to Knight William Murle, the rich brewer ofDunstable in the field, 44 because he brought with him two horses trapped with gold, anda pair of gilt spurs hid in his bosom, whence, as in other nations, they have the names ofEquites aurati ,” says, “ But I understand not how that agrees with an Act of Parliamentunder Henry the Fifth, 4 Q’ nulle persone enorre en temps a venir ascunes des geynes ap-pellez shethes, ne metafile, sinon argent; ne argente nulle metaile, forsprisez les esperons desChivalers et tout l’apparaill q’ appartient al Baroun, et desuis cell estate.’” (Rot. Pari. IV.126). Upton expressly says, “ Qui quidem Princeps tenetur alium veteranum Militemeidem assignare qui sibi calcaria deaurata praeparabit, et secum transibit ad assaltumfaciendum;” and in the illuminations of early Chronicles, Knights are represented withgilt or gold spurs.

9 Ashmole, p. 35.

Milites

times .” 8 9

Simplices, for

distinction from Bannerets in the elder

to state

One of the greatest difficulties in treating of Chivalry is,fate whom the power of conferring Knighthood

and others who never could

be Knighti

have conferred this

dignity,

it is extremely

doubtful whether it has ever been

down, is stroken of the Prince, with his Sword naked, upon the back or shoulder, the Prince