ORDER OF THE BATH.

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before all worldly things put him in worship, and things that be not to be takenbeware to begin; In this wise or better,’ &c. And when the Knight [Esquire]is thus counselled, the same Knight counsellor shall take in his hand water ofthe Bath, and shall put it upon the shoulders of the Squire, and take his leaveto go, and [so] depart; and the Governors at all times shall keep the sides ofthe Bath; in this wise shall all the other Knights aforesaid do, each one afterother, in the best wise, that they can; and this done, the Knights without noiseshall go out of the Chamber for the time; then shall their Governors take theirMaster out of the Bath, and lay him softly in his bed, to dry; and the bed shallnot be of great value, but without celour [silour] or curtains: and when theSquire is well dried, he shall rise out of his bed, and shall clothe him warm forthe watch of night, and upon all his clothes he shall have a cape of black russet,with long sleeves, and the hood sewed unto the cape, in manner of an hermit:the Squire thus arrayed, and made ready, the Barber shall put away the Bath,and all thing, that is about the Bath, as well within, as without: the Barbershall take all for his fee; and also he shall have for his shaving, like as itfolloweth hereafter, that is to wit, if he be a Duke, an Earl, a Baron, or aBatchelor after the custom of the Court, each one shall give after his estate;and principally if judgment be required, it shall be then at the will of the King’sMajesty. After this, the Governors shall open the door of the Chamber, and theKnights shall wisely enter in again with Minstrels playing on their instruments,and Squires before them, singing, and dancing, shall lead the Squire into theChapel; and when they be in the Chapel, there shall be ordained spices, andwine for the Knights, and Squires; which thing done, the Governors shall leadthese Knights afore the Squire, for to take their leave, and he with silence shallthank them of their labours, and worships, that they have done unto him; inthat wise they shall go out of the Chapel, the Governors shall shut the door, tillthe dawning wax clear, and the day come, and there shall abide in the Chapelnoon, but the [Squire] Squires Governors, Officers of Arms and the Wait. Inthis wise, shall the Squire all night [in the Chapel] till it be day, abide everin his Prayers, praying, and beseeching Almighty God, and the blessed VirginMary his Mother, that that passing temporal dignity, he may receive to hisworship, and praising [pleasing] of God, the blessed Virgin Mary his Mother[of] Holy Church, and the Order of Knighthood : and when the dawningcometh, he shall have a Priest, and be confessed, if it will like him, of his sinsand trespasses, which thing ended, he shall have his Matins, and Mass, and be