The maner of makynge Knyghtes aftar ye custome of
England in tyme of peace, and at the cornoacion,
that is to say, Knyghtes of the Bathe.
When an esquier commythe in to courte for to receyve ye order
of knyghthode in tyme of peace, after ye custome of England, he
shalbe worshipfully receyvyd of ye offycers of the cowrte, as of ye
stywarde or chamberleyn, yf they be present, and ellys of ye marshall
and usshers, in ye absence of ye stwwarde and chamberlyne. And
then ther shalbe ordeyned ij worshipffull esquyers, wise and well
noryshid in curtesye, and experte in ye dedes of knyghthode, and
they shalbe govowrnowrs to hym to serve and ordeyn what shall
longe to hym for the tyme. And in case that the esquire come
before dyner he shall serve the kynge of water, or of a dyshe onely
of the fyrst course. And that is do to take leve of service of
esquires. Then his governowrs shall lede hym in to his chamber
with owten eny more to be sene that daye; and at even the governowrs
shall sende aftar the barbowr, and he shall make redy a bathe
in the best wyse that he kan, the fatt with in and with owt wrapped
with lynnyn colthe clene and white, and coveryd with thikke
carpites for colde of the nyght. Then shall the esquers berd be
shave and his hede rounded; which done ye governonwrs shall goo
unto ye kynge and to hym say thus: " Moaste myghtye prynce, owr
soverayne lorde, lo it wexithe nere unto the eve, and owr maystor is
redy unto the bathe when it pleasythe yowr royall majestye. " And
uppon that the kynge shall commaund his chamberleyne to go unto
the esquiers chamber that is to be made knyght, and to take with
hym the moste worthy and wityeste knyghtes that bene then present
to thentent that they shall the same esquier trewly councell, enforme,
and teache wysely of ye order of knyghthode. And so with that
othar yonge esquiers of the howsholde with mynstrells syngynge
and daunsyng shall go be fore the chamberleyn and ye sayd knyghtes
unto the tyme that they come unto the chambre dore of ye said
esquier that is to be made knyght. When the govornowrs herythe
noyse of mynstvills. anon they shall make naked theyr master, and
all nakyd shalbe put in to the bathe. The mynstrells be fore the
entrie of the chamberleyne and other noble knyghtes shall abyde
and be styll with owtyn noyse, to gyder with the sayde esquires
levynge theyr noyse for the tyme; which thynge done the chamberlyne with ye sayd noble knyghtes shall enter privelye with owten
noyse in to the chamber of the seyd esquire; and when they enter
everyche to othar shall than do reverence and worshype whiche of
them shalbe the fyrst for to counsell ye esquier in the bathe of ye
order and ye makynge to performe ye kyngs commaundement. And
whan they bene accordyd than shall ye fyrst goo in to the bathe,
and there he shall knele be fore ye bathe, sayenge secretely to ye
esquier thus: " Ryght dere broder, great worshype be this order unto
yow. Allmyghty God gyve yow ye preysynge of knyghthod, lo
this that order be ye stronge," &c. (fn. 1) Whan the esquire is councellyd
the same knyght counselour shall take in his hond watar of ye bathe,
and shall put it uppon ye shulders of ye esquiers and take his leve to
go and departe. And the governowrs at all tymes shall keppe ye
sydes of ye bathe. In this wyse shall all the orders of knyghtes
aforesaye do everiche aftar othar in the best wyse that they can,
and this done the knyghtes with owt noyse shall go owte of the
chamber for the tyme; then shall theyr govornors take their maister
owt of the bathe and laye hym saftlie in his bed to drie. And ye
bede shall not be of great valewe, but with owtyn cowlowrs and
curtyns. And when ye esquier is well dryed he shall ryse owt of
his bed, and shall clothe hym warme for the wache of the nyght.
And uppon all his clothes he shall have a cope of blakke russet with
longe sleves, and the hode sewyd unto ye coppe in maner of an
heremyte. The esquier thus arrayed and made redye, ye barbar shall
put awaye ye bathe; and all thynge that is abowt ye bathe, also well
with owt as with in, the barbowr shall take all for his fee. And
all so he shall have for his shavynge lyke as it foloythe here afftar.
That is to wete, yf he be a duke, an erle, as baronne, or a bachelowr,
aftar ye custome everiche shall have after his estate, and
principally yf judgement be requiryd it shalbe then at ye will of ye
kyngs majestie. After this ye governors shall open the dore of ye
chamber, and ye knyghtis shall entar in agayne with mynsteryles
playnge in ther instrumentes and esquiers before them syngynge and
daunsynge shall lede the esquier in to the chapell. Ther shalbe
ordenyd spicis and wyne for ye knyghtes and esquiers; whiche thyng
done, the governours shall lede thies knyghtes aforne thes squeres (fn. 2)
for to take there leve, and he with silence shall thanke them of
their labours and worshypes that they have done unto hym.
In that wyse they shall goo owt of ye chapell, the governours
shall shitte the dore till ye downynge wex clere and ye daye
come, and ther shall abyde none in ye chapell, but y esquier
governours, and ye wayte his chaplyne chaundeler. In this wyse
shal ye esquier all nyght tyll it be day abude ever in his prayers
praynge and besechyng Almyghty God and ye blesyd Virgyn
Marie his moder that thylke passynge temporall dignyte he may
receve to his worshipe and praysynge of God and ye blessyd Virgyn
Marie his moder, holy churche and the order of knyghthode. And
when ye dawnynge comythe he shall have a prest an be confessyd
if it will lyke hym of his synns and trespas; whiche thynge
done he shall have his mattyns and masse and be comynt yf he will.
After his entre in to ye chapell he shall evar more have a serge or
a tapir of wax brenynge afore hyme. And when masse is begonnen,
on of ye governours shall holde a taper brenynge afore hym unto
the tyme of ye gospell be begonne, and then he shall be take it unto
his maister whiche shalle holde it in his hands tyll ye gospell be
endyd, allwaye his hede beynge coveryd; and at ye end of ye gospell
the governowr shall reseyve the taper agayne and putt it afore his
maister unto thend of the masse. And at ye levacion of the sacrament
one of ye govornowrs shall put of the hode of his mainster, and aff[t]ar
ye syght of ye sacrement he shall do it on agayne tyll In principio
be begunne; and then one of his governours shall put of his hode and
make hym stonde and holde ye sayd taper in his honde, havynge in
ye sayde taper stikynge a peny nye to the light; and when ye priste
saythe Verbum caro factum est he shall knele downe and offer ye
taper and ye peny to ye worshipe of God, and ye peny to ye worshipe
of hym that shall make hym knyght. Thes thynges done, ye
govowrnors shall lede hym agayne in to his chamber and lay hym
agayne in his bede till it be forthe dayes. And there shall he take
ye rest that ye wache of ye nyght made wery. So than ye bedde
shall be amendyd and refresshed before ye tyme that his mastar
wake, that is to wete with covertwr of clothe of golde callyd seclecon; (fn. 3)
and that shall be lynyd with carde. And when they se tyme thay
shall goo to ye kynge and sayne to hyme thus: "Most victoriws prince,
when that it lykythe unto yowre mayestie, owr maister shall a wake."
And ther uppon ye kynge shall commaund ye knyghties squere to
wake hym, arraye hym selffe. But before ye comynge of ye knyghts
in to ye esquirers chambre ye govowrnors shall ordegne all manar
necessaries redie by ordre for to be delyvered unto ye knyghtes.
And when thes knyghtes be commen unto theyr chambre they shall
enter softlye with owt eny noyse and say to ye esquier, "Ser, good
daye, it is tyme to aryse." And with that ye govornowrs shall take
and arayse hym uppe by ye armes. Than ye moaste worthy and
moste wyse knyght shalk take to hym his sherte, and other next
worthye his breche, ye third his dowblett, ye fowrthe shall clothe
hym with a gowne of redd tarteryn; othar ij shall lyfte hum owt
of his bedd; othar ij shall doo on his hossyn, whiche shall be of
blake sylke or blake clothe, wher of ye sowlls shall be of blake
lethar sowyd to them; ij shall boten his sleves; one othar shall girde
hym with a gyrdle of white ledar with owt hernys of eny mettall
and ye brede of an ynche; an othar shall kembe his hedd; an othar
shall gyve hym his mantylle, of ye sewite of ye kyrtyll of rede
tarteryn fastenyd with a lace of white silke, with a payre of whit
gloves hangynge at ye ende of ye lace, but he shall have of the
chaundeler of ye howsholde ye corse girdill and ye gloves, and on
ytotharsyde ye chaundelar shall take for his fee all yegarments
and all ye arraye with all ye necessaries in ye which ye esquyre was
arrayd and clothid that day he enteryd into ye courte for to take ye
ordre, togedre with ye bedd in ye whiche he laye first after yebathe,
as well ye clothe of golde called secleton as ye other necessaries
towchnge ye sayd bedd; and, this fully done, this wyse knyghts
shall lede this esquiere on horse bake unto ye kynge hall, at all
tymes ye mynstrells beynge before, makynge theyre mynstrellsye.
Ther horse shall be arrayed in this wyse; he shall have a sadell
coveryd with balke leder, ye arsons of whit tree fowre sqware, and
blake stiroppes with gylde irons, and his sadell shall have no cropar
but a paytryll of gilt patee before, hangynge uppon ye brest of ye
horse, his bridle shall be blake lethar plyane, with longe reynes in
ye guyse of Spayne, and a crosse patent in ye forhede. And ther
shall be ordaynyd a yonge gentyll esquier for to ride before this
esquiere that is to be made knyght. And he shall be open hede,
and shall bere ye swere of ye esquireye poynt downwarde, with
sporrs hangynge uppoon ye swerd, and ye swerd shall have a white
scabard and frett with ye gerdle nad scales, with whit ledar, with
owt eny herenesse, and ye yonge gentill esquiere shall holde ye
swerde by the poynt. In this wyse they shall ride to ye kyngs
hall, all tymes ye sayd governors beynge redye to ye maystar as it
is fittinge to be. And the forsayd noble and wyse knyghtes shall
soberlye lede this esquire as they awen. And when ye esquier
commythe before ye hall dore, ye marshalls and usshers shall
be redye afore hym in ye moste honest wise that they can, saynge
thus, "Come downe." And than he shall come downe. The marshall
for his fee shall take ye hors, or CCs This thyng so done, these wise
knyghts shall lede ye esquier in to ye hall or in to ye great chambre
unto his table, and forthe with he shall be put at the begynynge
of ye second table tyll that ye kynge come, the sayd knyghtes
abowght his person as one on every syde, and ye yonge squiere
swerd berar before hym, standynge with ye swerde betwixt ye ij
govournowrs aforesayd. When ye kynge comythe in to ye hall and
perseyvythe ye esquer redy to take ye ordre in dwe wyse he askythe
for ye swerde and ye spurs. ye kynges chamberleyne shall take ye
swerde and ye spurrs owt of ye handes of ye yonge squiere, and shall
take and shewe hym unto ye kynge. The kynge shall receyve ye
ryght spure and betake it unto one of ye most worthy that standyth
abowte, comaoundynge hum that he put it on ye ryght hele ofye
esquier, and by ye kyngs commaundement that lorde knelynge on
ye one kne shall take ye ryght legg and putte ye foote
uppon his kne, and shall putte ye spurr apon his helle, and he
shall make a crosse uppon ye kne of ye esquer and shall kysse it.
Then shall an othar lorde putt uppon that othar hele an othar spurr
on ye same wysse that ye other dyd; then ye kynge of ye mekenese
of his hieghe myght takynge ye esquier lyft upp his armys on hieghe,
and ye kynge shall putte his armys aboute ye neke of yeesquier, and
lyftynge upp his right hand he shall smyte ye esequier in ye in yenekke
syange thus, "Be ye a good knyght,"Kyssynge hym. Afterwarde
these noble and wyse knyghtes afore seyde this newe knyght shall
lede in to ye chapell as it is to fore wnto ye hyghe awtar, and ther
he shall unknyte hym and his swerde with prayers and devocions
shall offer to God and to Holy Churche moste devowtly, beschynge
God that thilke ordre moste worthy dewlie he may kepe unto his
ende. Thes thyngs so done he shall take a sope in wyne. And in ye
goynge owte of ye chapell ye master coke shall be redy to do of his
spwrrs, and shall take them to hym for his fee; and ye reson is this,
that in casse that ye knyght do afftar eny thynge that be defame or
reproffe unto ye ordre of knyghthode, the master coke then with a
gret knyfe, with whiche he dressethe his messes, shall smyt of his
spurrs frome his heles; and therefore in remembrunce of this thynge
ye spurrs of a new knyght in ordre takynge shall be fee unto ye
master coke perteynynge dwely unto his office. Than shall this
wyse knyghtes afore sayde lede this newe knyght in to ye hall agayne,
the whiche beginynge ye table of knyghtes shall syt ot mete; and
ye sayde noble and wyse knyghts shall sett abowte hym at ye table,
and ye noble knyghts shall be servyd lyke as other bene; and as for
that tyme he shall not ete nor drynke at ye table but yf grete nede
be, nor he shall not meve hym, nor loke hidre or thedar more than
a wyfe newe weddyd; and evarmore one of his ij govornowrs shall
stand by hym with a kerchyffe, of ye whiche, yf eny nede come, he
may serve hym. And whan ye kynge arrysythe from ye table and
goythe in to ye chamber ye kynge arrysythe from ye table and
with greate myltytwde of knyghtes, squires, and mynstrells yonge
syngeynge and dawnsynge in to ye entre of his chambre. And there
ye knyghtes, esquires, and mynstrills shall take thare leve, and ye
newe knyght shall go to eate, the dore shall be closyd, and he shall
do of his arraye, whiche shall be gyven to ye kyngs of armes; and
also ye sayd kynges nd haurawds shall have thoffice of armes of
every duke, erle, baron, and bachiler aftar thayr estates, and at ye
leste xxs for theyr honors to shew them in ye kyngs presence and in
ye sayd cowrte, ye graye cope shall be unto ye wayte or a noble for it.
And aftat this mete this noble new knyght anon shall be arayed
with a robe of blewe with streyght sleves, and he shall have uppon
ye lefte shwldar a whit lace of sylke hangynge, and that lace he
shall kepe in ys wyse above his clothynge with owt forthe frome
that daye hensforthe contynewally unto that tyme he gete sum
manor of worshype by desrvynge by wytnes of worthye knyghtes
and squeres of armes and hereawdes dewlye afftarward reportyd;
whiche reporte mouste enter in to ye earys of ye worthy prince
whiche hathe made hym knyght, or of some odar, or ellys of some
noble lady, for to take awaye ye lace frome ye shulder, sayenge
thus: "Ryght dere lorde, I have herde so moche of yowr worshyppe
and renowne that ye have done in dyvers partes unto ye grete
worshype of knyghthofe to yowr selffe and to hym that made yow
knyght, that deserfe and ryght wyll that this lace be put and take
awaye." But aftar dynar ye worshipfull and worthy knyghts and
esquiers shall come afore ye sayd newe knyght, and hym shall lede
to ye kyngs presnece, all tymes beynge before him ye sayd esquirs,
govornors. And when ye new knyght comythe in to ye pressence of
ye kynge he shall knele before ye kynge and shall say thus: "Moste
drede and moste myghty prynce, of my lytyll powre of that that I
may I thanke yow of all ye worshypes, curtesies, godenesse, whiche
ye have doen unto me;" and this sayde he shall take leve of ye
kyngs commaundement we have servyd yow, and that commaundement
fulfyllyd and parfwrmyd to owr powe. amd what we have
done in yowr service ayene yowr reverence we praye yow of yowr
grace for to pardon us of owr neglygence. Fortharmore of ye
custome of ye kynges cowrt we aske and reqwere you of robes and
fees to the terme of owr lyffe covenable to ye kyngs esquirers,
felowes to ye knyghtes of othar lands," &c.
Explicit.
[Note.—This article seems to have been transcribed by Stowe from the Cottonian
MS. Nero C. ix. 168b., from which it has already been printed by Anstis in his
Observations Introducory, Coll. No. 88, and by Nicolas in his History of the
Order of the Bath, pp. 12–26. It is on the whole a very accurate transcript. The
speech addressed to the esequire at p. 107 is, however, abbreviated, the passage standing
in the original as follows:—
seynge secretly to the squyer thus:—"Right dere brother, greate worshipe be this
ordre un to yow; and Almyghty God geve yow the praysynge of all knyghthod.
Lo, this is the ordre. Be ye stronge in the feith of Holy Cherche, and wydows and
maydones oppressed releve as right commaundith. Yeve ye to everych his owne
with all thy mynde above all thynge. Love and drede God. And above all other
erthly thinges love the Kynge they soverayn lord, hym and his defende unto thy
powere. And be fore all worldly thynges putte hym in worshipp and thynges that
be not to be taken beware to begynne." In this wyse or better, &c. And when the
knyght is thus counselled (&c. as above, Stowe having corected the word "knyght"
here into "esquire.")]