In Myles Falworth's day one of the greatest ceremonies of courtlylife was that of the bestowal of knighthood by the King, with thehonors of the Bath. By far the greater number of knights were atthat time created by other knights, or by nobles, or by officersof the crown. To be knighted by the King in person distinguishedthe recipient for life. It was this signal honor that the Earl,for his own purposes, wished Myles to enjoy, and for this end hehad laid not a few plans.
The accolade was the term used for the creation of a knight uponthe field of battle. It was a reward of valor or of meritoriousservice, and was generally bestowed in a more or less off-handway; but the ceremony of the Bath was an occasion of the greatestcourtly moment, and it was thus that Myles Falworth was to beknighted in addition to the honor of a royal belting.
A quaint old book treating of knighthood and chivalry gives afull and detailed account of all the circumstances of theceremony of a creation of a Knight of the Bath. It tells us thatthe candidate was first placed under the care of two squires ofhonor, "grave and well seen in courtship and nurture, and also infeats of chivalry," which same were likewise to be governors inall things relating to the coming honors.
First of all, the barber shaved him, and cut his hair in acertain peculiar fashion ordained for the occasion, the squiresof honor supervising the operation. This being concluded, thecandidate was solemnly conducted to the chamber where the bath oftepid water was prepared, "hung within and without with linen,and likewise covered with rich cloths and embroidered linen."While in the bath two "ancient, grave, and reverend knights"attended the bachelor, giving him "meet instructions in the orderand feats of chivalry." The candidate was then examined as to hisknowledge and acquirements, and then, all questions beinganswered to the satisfaction of his examiners, the elder of thetwo dipped a handful of water out from the bath, and poured itupon his head, at the same time signing his left shoulder withthe sign of the cross.
As soon as this ceremony was concluded, the two squires of honorhelped their charge from the bath, and conducted him to a plainbed without hangings, where they let him rest until his body waswarm and dry. Then they clad him in a white linen shirt, and overit a plain robe of russet, "girdled about the loins with a rope,and having a hood like unto a hermit."As soon as the candidate had arisen, the two "ancient knights"returned, and all being in readiness he was escorted to thechapel, the two walking, one upon either side of him, his squiresof honor marching before, and the whole party preceded by "sundryminstrels making a loud noise of music."When they came to the chapel, the two knights who escorted himtook leave of the candidate, each saluting him with a kiss uponthe cheek. No one remained with him but his squires of honor, thepriest, and the chandler.
In the mean time the novitiate's armor, sword, lance, and helmethad been laid in readiness before the altar. These he watched andguarded while the others slept, keeping vigil until sunrise,during which time "he shall," says the ancient authority, "passthe night in orisons, prayers, and meditation." At daylight heconfessed to the priest, heard matins, and communicated in mass,and then presented a lighted candle at the altar, with a piece ofmoney stuck in it as close to the flame as could be done, thecandle being offered to the honor of God, and the money to thehonor of that person who was to make him a knight.
So concluded the sacred ceremony, which being ended his squiresconducted the candidate to his chamber, and there made himcomfortable, and left him to repose for a while before the secondand final part of the ordinance.
Such is a shortened account of the preparatory stages of theceremonies through which Myles Falworth passed.
Matters had come upon him so suddenly one after the other, andhad come with such bewildering rapidity that all that week was tohim like some strange, wonderful, mysterious vision. He wentthrough it all like one in a dream. Lord George Beaumont was oneof his squires of honor; the other, by way of a fittingcomplement to the courage of the chivalrous lad, was the Sieur dela Montaigne, his opponent soon to be. They were well versed ineverything relating to knightcraft, and Myles followed all theirdirections with passive obedience. Then Sir James Lee and theComte de Vermoise administered the ceremony of the Bath, the oldknight examining him in the laws of chivalry.
