Historical Memoranda of John Stowe: The manner of making Knights of the Bath

The maner of makynge Knyghtes aftar y^e 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 y^e order of knyghthode in tyme of peace, after y^e custome of England, he shalbe worshipfully receyvyd of y^e offycers of the cowrte, as of y^e stywarde or chamberleyn, yf they be present, and ellys of y^e marshall and usshers, in y^e absence of y^e stwwarde and chamberlyne. And then ther shalbe ordeyned ij worshipffull esquyers, wise and well noryshid in curtesye, and experte in y^e 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 y^e governonwrs shall goo unto y^e 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 y^e 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 y^e sayd knyghtes unto the tyme that they come unto the chambre dore of y^e 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 y^e 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 y^e esquier in the bathe of y^e order and y^e makynge to performe y^e kyngs commaundement. And whan they bene accordyd than shall y^e fyrst goo in to the bathe, and there he shall knele be fore y^e bathe, sayenge secretely to y^e esquier thus: " Ryght dere broder, great worshype be this order unto yow. Allmyghty God gyve yow y^e 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 y^e bathe, and shall put it uppon y^e shulders of y^e esquiers and take his leve to go and departe. And the governowrs at all tymes shall keppe y^e sydes of y^e 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 y^e bede shall not be of great valewe, but with owtyn cowlowrs and curtyns. And when y^e 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 y^e coppe in maner of an heremyte. The esquier thus arrayed and made redye, y^e barbar shall put awaye y^e bathe; and all thynge that is abowt y^e 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 y^e custome everiche shall have after his estate, and principally yf judgement be requiryd it shalbe then at y^e will of y^e kyngs majestie. After this y^e governors shall open the dore of y^e chamber, and y^e 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 y^e 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 y^e chapell, the governours shall shitte the dore till y^e downynge wex clere and y^e daye come, and ther shall abyde none in y^e chapell, but y esquier governours, and y^e wayte his chaplyne chaundeler. In this wyse shal y^e esquier all nyght tyll it be day abude ever in his prayers praynge and besechyng Almyghty God and y^e blesyd Virgyn Marie his moder that thylke passynge temporall dignyte he may receve to his worshipe and praysynge of God and y^e blessyd Virgyn Marie his moder, holy churche and the order of knyghthode. And when y^e 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 y^e chapell he shall evar more have a serge or a tapir of wax brenynge afore hyme. And when masse is begonnen, on of y^e governours shall holde a taper brenynge afore hym unto the tyme of y^e gospell be begonne, and then he shall be take it unto his maister whiche shalle holde it in his hands tyll y^e gospell be endyd, allwaye his hede beynge coveryd; and at y^e end of y^e gospell the governowr shall reseyve the taper agayne and putt it afore his maister unto thend of the masse. And at y^e levacion of the sacrament one of y^e govornowrs shall put of the hode of his mainster, and aff[t]ar y^e syght of y^e 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 y^e sayd taper in his honde, havynge in y^e sayde taper stikynge a peny nye to the light; and when y^e priste saythe Verbum caro factum est he shall knele downe and offer y^e taper and y^e peny to y^e worshipe of God, and y^e peny to y^e worshipe of hym that shall make hym knyght. Thes thynges done, y^e 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 y^e rest that y^e wache of y^e nyght made wery. So than y^e bedde shall be amendyd and refresshed before y^e 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 y^e kynge and sayne to hyme thus: "Most victoriws prince, when that it lykythe unto yowre mayestie, owr maister shall a wake." And ther uppon y^e kynge shall commaund y^e knyghties squere to wake hym, arraye hym selffe. But before y^e comynge of y^e knyghts in to y^e esquirers chambre y^e govowrnors shall ordegne all manar necessaries redie by ordre for to be delyvered unto y^e knyghtes. And when thes knyghtes be commen unto theyr chambre they shall enter softlye with owt eny noyse and say to y^e esquier, "Ser, good daye, it is tyme to aryse." And with that y^e govornowrs shall take and arayse hym uppe by y^e armes. Than y^e moaste worthy and moste wyse knyght shalk take to hym his sherte, and other next worthye his breche, y^e third his dowblett, y^e 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 y^e 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 y^e brede of an ynche; an othar shall kembe his hedd; an othar shall gyve hym his mantylle, of y^e sewite of y^e kyrtyll of rede tarteryn fastenyd with a lace of white silke, with a payre of whit gloves hangynge at y^e ende of y^e lace, but he shall have of the chaundeler of y^e howsholde y^e corse girdill and y^e gloves, and on y^totharsyde y^e chaundelar shall take for his fee all y^egarments and all y^e arraye with all y^e necessaries in y^e which y^e esquyre was arrayd and clothid that day he enteryd into y^e courte for to take y^e ordre, togedre with y^e bedd in y^e whiche he laye first after y^ebathe, as well y^e clothe of golde called secleton as y^e other necessaries towchnge y^e sayd bedd; and, this fully done, this wyse knyghts shall lede this esquiere on horse bake unto y^e kynge hall, at all tymes y^e mynstrells beynge before, makynge theyre mynstrellsye. Ther horse shall be arrayed in this wyse; he shall have a sadell coveryd with balke leder, y^e 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 y^e brest of y^e horse, his bridle shall be blake lethar plyane, with longe reynes in ye guyse of Spayne, and a crosse patent in y^e 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 y^e swere of y^e esquirey^e poynt downwarde, with sporrs hangynge uppoon y^e swerd, and y^e swerd shall have a white scabard and frett with y^e gerdle nad scales, with whit ledar, with owt eny herenesse, and y^e yonge gentill esquiere shall holde y^e swerde by the poynt. In this wyse they shall ride to y^e kyngs hall, all tymes y^e sayd governors beynge redye to y^e maystar as it is fittinge to be. And the forsayd noble and wyse knyghtes shall soberlye lede this esquire as they awen. And when y^e esquier commythe before y^e hall dore, y^e marshalls and usshers shall be redye afore hym in y^e moste honest wise that they can, saynge thus, "Come downe." And than he shall come downe. The marshall for his fee shall take y^e hors, or CC^s This thyng so done, these wise knyghts shall lede y^e esquier in to y^e hall or in to y^e great chambre unto his table, and forthe with he shall be put at the begynynge of y^e second table tyll that y^e kynge come, the sayd knyghtes abowght his person as one on every syde, and y^e yonge squiere swerd berar before hym, standynge with y^e swerde betwixt y^e ij govournowrs aforesayd. When y^e kynge comythe in to y^e hall and perseyvythe y^e esquer redy to take y^e ordre in dwe wyse he askythe for y^e swerde and y^e spurs. y^e kynges chamberleyne shall take y^e swerde and y^e spurrs owt of y^e handes of y^e yonge squiere, and shall take and shewe hym unto y^e kynge. The kynge shall receyve y^e ryght spure and betake it unto one of y^e most worthy that standyth abowte, comaoundynge hum that he put it on y^e ryght hele ofy^e esquier, and by y^e kyngs commaundement that lorde knelynge on y^e one kne shall take y^e ryght legg and putte y^e foote uppon his kne, and shall putte y^e spurr apon his helle, and he shall make a crosse uppon y^e kne of y^e esquer and shall kysse it. Then shall an othar lorde putt uppon that othar hele an othar spurr on y^e same wysse that y^e other dyd; then y^e kynge of y^e mekenese of his hieghe myght takynge y^e esquier lyft upp his armys on hieghe, and y^e kynge shall putte his armys aboute y^e neke of y^eesquier, and lyftynge upp his right hand he shall smyte y^e esequier in y^e in y^enekke syange thus, "Be ye a good knyght,"Kyssynge hym. Afterwarde these noble and wyse knyghtes afore seyde this newe knyght shall lede in to y^e chapell as it is to fore wnto y^e 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 y^e goynge owte of y^e chapell y^e master coke shall be redy to do of his spwrrs, and shall take them to hym for his fee; and y^e reson is this, that in casse that y^e knyght do afftar eny thynge that be defame or reproffe unto y^e 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 y^e spurrs of a new knyght in ordre takynge shall be fee unto y^e master coke perteynynge dwely unto his office. Than shall this wyse knyghtes afore sayde lede this newe knyght in to y^e hall agayne, the whiche beginynge y^e table of knyghtes shall syt ot mete; and y^e sayde noble and wyse knyghts shall sett abowte hym at y^e table, and y^e noble knyghts shall be servyd lyke as other bene; and as for that tyme he shall not ete nor drynke at y^e 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 y^e whiche, yf eny nede come, he may serve hym. And whan y^e kynge arrysythe from y^e table and goythe in to y^e chamber y^e kynge arrysythe from y^e table and with greate myltytwde of knyghtes, squires, and mynstrells yonge syngeynge and dawnsynge in to y^e entre of his chambre. And there y^e knyghtes, esquires, and mynstrills shall take thare leve, and y^e newe knyght shall go to eate, the dore shall be closyd, and he shall do of his arraye, whiche shall be gyven to y^e kyngs of armes; and also y^e sayd kynges nd haurawds shall have thoffice of armes of every duke, erle, baron, and bachiler aftar thayr estates, and at y^e leste xx^s for theyr honors to shew them in y^e kyngs presence and in y^e sayd cowrte, y^e graye cope shall be unto y^e 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 y^e lefte shwldar a whit lace of sylke hangynge, and that lace he shall kepe in y^s 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 y^e earys of y^e worthy prince whiche hathe made hym knyght, or of some odar, or ellys of some noble lady, for to take awaye y^e lace frome y^e shulder, sayenge thus: "Ryght dere lorde, I have herde so moche of yowr worshyppe and renowne that y^e have done in dyvers partes unto y^e 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 y^e worshipfull and worthy knyghts and esquiers shall come afore y^e sayd newe knyght, and hym shall lede to y^e kyngs presnece, all tymes beynge before him y^e sayd esquirs, govornors. And when y^e new knyght comythe in to y^e pressence of y^e kynge he shall knele before y^e 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 y^e worshypes, curtesies, godenesse, whiche ye have doen unto me;" and this sayde he shall take leve of y^e 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 y^e custome of y^e kynges cowrt we aske and reqwere you of robes and fees to the terme of owr lyffe covenable to y^e kyngs esquirers, felowes to y^e 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.")]