Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivaley,
but the invention of trial " by a man ' s peers , gave the people that jreliance on justice ^ yrhicb was ^ The dress and ceremonies of conferring 3 & % hthood into Britain ^ are supposed to have been introduced from France , then the most civilized country in Europe , atput the time of William the C ^^ queror j the first order in England being that of the Blue Star .
The ceremonial of creating a Knight of the Bath , which was instituted b ^ M ^ a niQst elaborate afiair ; and to convey a knowledge of how such matters were Accomplished , and as they doubtless were carried out among the Germanic tribes after religion , became a part 6 f the ceremonial , we give it in full . The candidates ^ on the evenin g before the day appointed for the
investiture , were clothed in ash- * coloured gray cloaks and hoods , in the manner of herrnits ; a sm ^ gmnasckes of tEe same on their legs . Thus habited in the garb of penancie aiid humility , they proceeded to dnireh , in order to consecrate their lives to Christ , and in the defence of his faith to spend their years in war , even to the last drop of their blood . On their
return from the church , after this pious and heroic resolution , they supped together , each candidate being attended by two esquires to serve him . After supper each retired to his separate cha ^ bed was hung with crimson or other red silk curtains , blazoned with his armorial bearings . In the apartment was a bath , in which , after prayer , the individual bathed himself , and adjusted his hair according to a peculiar form ; and , we are also told , in which they were imitated by their esquires , who went through the same operation .
We are left to guess whether the esquires went into the same water , which , as they had not at that early period the ready appliances for emptying and filling a bath as we have now , we suppose they must necessarily have done . On the following morning ,
by break of day , they were awakened by the sound of music , and having again assumed the hermit ' s attire , they were called before the lord high constable and marshal of England , who required them then , on the book of the holy Evangelists , to promise
and swear— "to love God above all things ; to defend the Church ; to honour the king , and maintain his royal rights ; and to support and succour widows , maids , and orphans , to their utmost power . " After taking this obligation , they were conducted to matins , preceded by the heralds and kings-at-arms with instruments of music Matins being finished , they were re-conducted to their chambers
in the same manner as they came . Here the hermit's clothing was removed , and in its stead they were attired in a dress of carnation-coloured silk , over Which was placed a mantle of fine scarlet cloth . A white hat , with a linen cap , covered the head , and the gloves were fastened to the mantle by long white silk tassels looped up to the shoulder .
A charge or exhortation , it appears , was delivered by the presiding officer , or some one appointed for the especial purpose , to the Knights thus consecrated , inculcating the practice of those great Christian YOI-. in . 5 i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivaley,
but the invention of trial " by a man ' s peers , gave the people that jreliance on justice ^ yrhicb was ^ The dress and ceremonies of conferring 3 & % hthood into Britain ^ are supposed to have been introduced from France , then the most civilized country in Europe , atput the time of William the C ^^ queror j the first order in England being that of the Blue Star .
The ceremonial of creating a Knight of the Bath , which was instituted b ^ M ^ a niQst elaborate afiair ; and to convey a knowledge of how such matters were Accomplished , and as they doubtless were carried out among the Germanic tribes after religion , became a part 6 f the ceremonial , we give it in full . The candidates ^ on the evenin g before the day appointed for the
investiture , were clothed in ash- * coloured gray cloaks and hoods , in the manner of herrnits ; a sm ^ gmnasckes of tEe same on their legs . Thus habited in the garb of penancie aiid humility , they proceeded to dnireh , in order to consecrate their lives to Christ , and in the defence of his faith to spend their years in war , even to the last drop of their blood . On their
return from the church , after this pious and heroic resolution , they supped together , each candidate being attended by two esquires to serve him . After supper each retired to his separate cha ^ bed was hung with crimson or other red silk curtains , blazoned with his armorial bearings . In the apartment was a bath , in which , after prayer , the individual bathed himself , and adjusted his hair according to a peculiar form ; and , we are also told , in which they were imitated by their esquires , who went through the same operation .
We are left to guess whether the esquires went into the same water , which , as they had not at that early period the ready appliances for emptying and filling a bath as we have now , we suppose they must necessarily have done . On the following morning ,
by break of day , they were awakened by the sound of music , and having again assumed the hermit ' s attire , they were called before the lord high constable and marshal of England , who required them then , on the book of the holy Evangelists , to promise
and swear— "to love God above all things ; to defend the Church ; to honour the king , and maintain his royal rights ; and to support and succour widows , maids , and orphans , to their utmost power . " After taking this obligation , they were conducted to matins , preceded by the heralds and kings-at-arms with instruments of music Matins being finished , they were re-conducted to their chambers
in the same manner as they came . Here the hermit's clothing was removed , and in its stead they were attired in a dress of carnation-coloured silk , over Which was placed a mantle of fine scarlet cloth . A white hat , with a linen cap , covered the head , and the gloves were fastened to the mantle by long white silk tassels looped up to the shoulder .
A charge or exhortation , it appears , was delivered by the presiding officer , or some one appointed for the especial purpose , to the Knights thus consecrated , inculcating the practice of those great Christian YOI-. in . 5 i