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INTRODUCTION.

having again confounded the two transactions, and which is themore likely, from his stating that forty Knights tilted at theFeast of St. George in 1344.

Two instruments on the Patent Rolls of 1344 and 1345,which have been strangely overlooked, tend still farther toclear up the darkness in which the birth of the Order isinvolved. On the 10th of February 1344, the King issuedLetters Patent, reciting that he had been requested by someKnights of the County of Lincoln, for the recreation of militarymen, and for the practice of arms, to allow a certain number ofKnights, elected for that purpose, to meet at Lincoln everyyear on the Monday next after the Feast of Saint John theBaptist, and there to hold hastiludes or jousts, and that Henryof Lancaster, Earl of Derby, “ who delighteth in feats of arms,”might be the Captain of them. It then states, that the Kingremembering the deeds of the ancients (an evident allusion toKing Arthurs Round Table) how much the use and love of armshath exalted the name and glory of military men, and howgreatly the throne would be strengthened by the numerosityof persons expert in arms, and also the danger of dissensionswhich had often arisen from their not having employment, wasaccordingly pleased to grant that a certain number of Knights,elected for that purpose, might annually and peaceably as-semble at Lincoln on the said day in every year, and therequietly, without oppression of the populace in the said parts,or unlawful assemblies, hold hastiludes or jousts with all whomight come there to exercise arms, as well in time of peaceas of war; that Henry Earl of Derby should be their Cap-tain during his life; and that after his death, the Knights soelected might choose another fit person for their Captain, and