Knights Of The Bath.

the same original with those people , introduced it into England . Dugdale , an author generally accredited , published his "Antiquities of Warwickshire , " in the year 1656 , that is , upwards of 200 years back , and he quotes a French author , who gives the manner of creating knights

of the bath , which account is by Uugdale , illustrated with descriptive engravings . 1 . "When an esquire comes to court to receive the order of knighthood , he shall be honourably received and shall have two grave squires of honour , who shall be governours in all things relating to him .

2 and 3 . If the esquire do come before dinner , he shall carry up one dish of the first course to the king ' s table , after which the governours shall conduct him into his chamber without any more being seen that day . 4 In the evening the governors shall send for the

harbour and they shall make ready a bath , handsomely hnng with linen , both within and without the vessel ) . taking care that it be covered with tapistrie and blankets in respect of the coldness of the night , and then shall the esquire be shaven and his hair cut round . This accomplished , the king is to be informed the esquire

is ready for the bath . 5 . The governours put him naked into the bath , when ¦ one of them says to the esquire , " Sir , he this bath of great honour to you , " & c . 6 . Then the governours take the esquire out of the bath , and help him to his bed , there to continue till his

body be dry , which bed shall be plain and without curtains . As soon as day they shall help him out of bed , and shall cloath him very warm in respect of the cold of the nights , and over his inner garments shall put on a xobe of russet with long slieves , having a hood thereto like unto that of an hermit .

7 ana 8 . The grave governours conduct him to the ¦ chapel , where none remain except themselves , the priest , the chandler , and the watch ; and there the esquire stays all night in orisons and prayers , at daybreak he confesses to a priest all his sins . 9 and 10 . The esquires , his former friends , take leave

of him at the chapel , then is there mass , and the esquire "holds a taper until it is ended . 11 and 12 . One or two other little ceremonies , and his governours put him to bed again till it be full daylight . The king ' s pleasure is then asked . The governours enter the squire ' s chamber , and say , " Sir , good morrow to you ,

it is time to get up and make yourself ready . " Thereupon they help him to dress , the most ancient reaching him his shirt , another gives him his breeches , a third his doublet , and another putting upon him a girdle of red tartaric , & c , & c . Another shall combe his head , & c . 13 and 14 . And when all this is done the grave

governors shall get on horseback and conduct him to the hall . In this procession he has a young squire , who carries the sword with the spurs hanging to the handle thereof . 15 and 16 . The king takes the sword and spurs , when the right spur is given to the most noble present , who fixes it on the right heel of the esquire ; another noble puts on the other spur . The king then girds on the sword , and putting his own arms about the esquire ' s

Knights Of The Bath.

neck , says , " Be thou a good knight , " and kisses him . Then is he conducted to the chapel , and with his right hand on the altar , promises to maintain the rights of holy church I 17 and 18 . He then ungirds his sword and offers it up in devotion , when he drinks a draught of wine . On going

out , the king ' s master-cook gives him notice , that if he does anything contrary to the order of knighthood he will hack the spurs from his heels . 19 and 20 . He then is to attend the knight ' s table in the hall , himself to be served as others are , but he must neither eat , nor drink , nor spit , nor look about him

upwards or downwards more than a bride ; and this being done one of his governours having a handkerchief in his hand , shall hold it before his face when he is to spit . The king retires , when the new knight with great ceremony is led to bis own chamber ; there the nobles take leave of him and go to dinner . Thus in retirement , the door fastened , he is disiobed of his attire .

21 and 23 . The nobles having finished their dinner , they come to the knight and conduct him to the king , whom he thanks for the honor done to him , and takes his leave . Then is he clothed afresh with a blue robe , the slieves whereof be straight shaped , after the fashion of a priest , and upon Ms left shoulder he is to wear a lace

of luldte silk hanging , and he is to wear it upon all his garments from that day forward until he have gained honour and renown by arms . In an historical account of the honourable Order of the Bath , published in 1725 , when the

revival of the order took place , reference is made to the lace of white silk hanging from the left shoulder . In one publication of 1661 , it states the kuight shall wear the lace of white silk from his left shoulder , whereas in another publication of

1661 , after his majesty has presented the sword so that it might hang on the left side , he put the red ribband , with the order hanging at it , over the knight's head , which order has three crowns of gold , enamelled with green , and encompassed with this motto , in uno triajtmcta .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

BUEGH EECOEDS ( j ? B 03 I p . 308 . ) From Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen . —Spalding Club . The following minute records the circumstance of the Earl of Marr being made a burges . 28 th December , 1439 .

" Item xxviii die mensis Decembris anno Domini etc . xxxix ™ - per prepositum et balliuos ac couimuni concilium Eeeeptus fuit nobilis dominus et potens dominus Eobertus de Erskyne conies de Marr ac dominus de Erskyne in liberum burgen . et eonfratrem g ilde prestito solito juramento exceptia illis de scot et lot wak et ward pro v . s . "