TEMP. EI)W. I.]

ORDER OF THE BATH.

9

summons, to whom purple, fine linen, furs, and mantles embroidered with gold,were distributed, according to their respective ranks. And because the RoyalPalace was insufficient for the accommodation of so great a number, the apple-trees having been cut and the walls levelled, tents and pavilions were erectedfor them in the New Temple, wherein on the same night as many as theplace would hold, kept their vigils; but the Prince, with the most illustriousof the candidates, kept his vigils, by the command of the King his father, inthe Church of Westminster: there the noise of trumpets and pipes was sogreat, and the acclamations of the people so loud and extended, that thevoices of one choir could not be distinctly heard in another. On the morrowthe King girded his son with the belt of Knighthood, and created him Dukeof Aquitaine in his Palace, whence the Prince proceeded to the Abbey, andthere Knighted his Companions in Arms. The press occasioned by the con-course of people was so great before the high Altar, that two Knights werestifled and several fainted away, for every Knight had at least three otherKnights to conduct and support him ; but the Prince was obliged, by reason ofthe tumultuous crowd, to Invest his Companions upon the high Altar, having,by his guards, made way for them to pass through the people. Then werebrought and presented two Swans, introduced with much pomp, and coveredwith golden nets, adorned and embossed with studs, a solemnity highly gratefulto the spectators. The King offered a vow to God, upon the presentation ofthe Swans , 11 that he would make a descent upon Scotland, with a design,whether he should live or die in the attempt, to avenge the death of JohnComyn and the violated faith of the Scots.” On that occasion the Prince

d’Armes, iequel portoit en ses mains un Phaisant en vie, orne d’une rich collier d’or garny de pierresfines, et de perles .’—‘ Et apres la reverence le dit Toison d’Or parla a iceluy Due en cette maniere:Treshaut & trespuissant Prince & mon tres redoubte Seigneur, voyez icy les Dames, qui treshumble-ment se recomandent a vous; et pour ce, que e’est la coustume, qui a este anciennement institue, qu’esgrandes festes et nobles assemblees, on presente aux Prince, & Seigneurs, & aux nobles Hommes lePaon, ou quelqu’autre noble Oyseau, pour faire des voeux utils, & valables: pour ce subject on m’aenvoye avec ces deux Damoiselles, pour vous presenter ce noble Phaisant; vous prians que le veillezavoir en souvenance; ces paroles estans dites, iceluy Due prit un brief escrit, Iequel il bailla a Toisond’Or,’ &c., and thereon he vows an expedition against the Turks.—Hist. Chronolog. du Charles VIII.p. 672; and the same Narrative is in Olivier de la Marche, p. 428. Chifflet, Breviar. Hist. VellerisAurei, c. 3, endeavours to explain this custom.” See also St. Palaye; “ Memoires sur l’ancienne Che-valerie,” par Nodier. 8vo. 1836, vol. I. pp. 157—207; vol. II. pp. 1 et seq., 95, 288; and Trivet’sAnnals, p. 342. Sir Robert de Tony was described in the “ Siege of Caerlaverock” in 1301 (4to. 1828,pp. 42, 369, 370), as a Knight of the Swan :

“ Robert de Tony ki bien signeKe il est du Chevalier a Cigne.”

C