The Manner of Creating the Knights of the Antient and Honourable Order of the Bath, &c.
1. WHen an Eſquire comes to Court, to receive the Order of Knighthood, in the time of peace, according to the Cuſtome of England, he ſhall be honourably received by the Officers of the Court; ſc. the Steward or the Chamberlain, if they be preſent, but otherwiſe, by the Marſhalls and Uſhers. Then there ſhall be provided two Eſquires of Honour, grave, and well ſeen in Courtſhip and Nurture; as alſo in the feats of chivalry; and they ſhall be Eſquires, and Governours in all things relating to him which ſhall take the Order aboveſaid.
2. And if the Eſquire do come before Dinner, he ſhall carry up one diſh of the firſt courſe to the Kings Table.
3. And after this the Eſquires Governours ſhall conduct the Eſquire that is to receive the Order, into his Chamber, without any more being ſeen that day.
4. And in the Evening the Eſquires Governours ſhall ſend for the Barber, and they ſhall make ready a Bath, handſomely hung with linnen, both within and without the Veſſel, taking care that it be covered with Tapiſtry, and blankets, in reſpect of the coldneſſe of2 the night. And then ſhall the Eſquire be ſhaven, and his hair cut round. After which the Eſquires Governours ſhall go to the King and ſay, Sir, it is now in the Evening, and the Eſquire is fitted for the Bath, when you pleaſe: whereupon the King ſhall command his Chamberlain, that he ſhall take along with him unto the Eſquires chamber, the moſt gentile and grave Knights that are preſent, to inform, counſell, and inſtruct him touching the Order, and feats of Chivalry: And in like manner, that the other Eſquires of the Houſhold, with the Minſtrels, ſhall proceed before the Knights, ſinging, dancing and ſporting, even to the Chamber door of the ſaid Eſquire.
5. And when the Eſquires Governours ſhall hear the noiſe of the Minſtrells, they ſhall undreſſe the ſaid Eſquire, and put him naked into the Bath; but at the entrance into the Chamber, the Eſquires Governours ſhall cauſe the Muſick to ceaſe, and the Eſquires alſo for a while. And this being done, the grave Knights ſhall enter into the Chamber, without making any noiſe, and doing reverence to each other, ſhall conſider which of themſelves it ſhall be that is to inſtruct the Eſquire in the Order and courſe of the Bath. And when they are agreed, then ſhall the chief of them go to the Bath, and kneeling down before it, ſay with a ſoft voice: Sir! Be this Bath of great honour to you; and then he ſhall declare unto him the feats of the Order, as far as he can, putting part of the water of the Bath upon the ſhoulder of the Eſquire; and having ſo done, take his leave. And the Eſquires Governours ſhall attend at the ſides of the Bath, and ſo likewiſe the other Knights, the one after the other, till all be done.
6. Then ſhall theſe Knights go out of the Chamber for a while; and the Eſquires Governours ſhall 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. And as ſoon as he is dry, they ſhall help him out of Bed; they ſhall cloath him very warm, in reſpect of the cold of the night; and over his inner garments ſhall put on a Robe of Ruſſet with long ſlieves, having a hood thereto, like unto that of an Hermite. And the Eſquire being out of the Bath, the Barber ſhall take away the Bath, with whatſoever appertaineth thereto, both within and without for his fee; and likewiſe for the Collar (about his neck) be he Earl, Baron, Banneret or Batchelour, according to the cuſtome of the Court.
37. And then ſhall the Eſquires Governours open the door of the Chamber, and ſhall cauſe the antient and grave Knights to enter, to conduct the Eſquire to the Chappel: And when they are come in, the Eſquires ſporting and dancing, ſhall go before the Eſquire, with the Minſtrels, making melody to the Chappel.
8. And being entred the Chappell, there ſhall be wine, and Spices ready to give to the Knights and Eſquires. And then the Eſquires Governours ſhall bring the ſaid Knights before the Eſquires, to take their leave of him; and he ſhall give them thanks all together, for the pains, favour and courteſie which they have done him: and this being performed, they ſhall depart out of the Chappel.
9. Then ſhall the Eſquires Governours ſhut the door of the Chappel, none ſtaying therein except themſelves, the Prieſt, the Chandler and the Watch. And in this manner ſhall the Eſquire ſtay in the Chappel all night, till it be day, beſtowing himſelf in Oriſons and Prayers, beſeeching Almighty God, and his bleſſed Mother, that of their good grace they will give him ability to receive this high temporal dignity, to the honour, praiſe, and ſervice of them; as alſo of the holy Church, and the Order of Knighthood. And at the Day-break, one ſhall call the Prieſt to confeſſe him of all his ſins, and having heard Mattins and Maſſe, ſhall afterwards be commended, if he pleaſe.
10. And after his entrance into the Chappel, there ſhall be a Taper burning before him; and ſo ſoon as Maſſe is begun, one of the Governours ſhall hold the taper, untill the reading of the Goſpel; and then ſhall the Governour deliver it into his hands, who ſhall hold it himſelf, till the Goſpel be ended; but then he ſhall receive it again from him, and ſet it before him, there to ſtand during the whole time of Maſſe.
11. And at the elevation of the Hoſt, one of the Governours ſhall take the Hood from the Eſquire, and afterwards deliver it to him again, untill the Goſpel in Principio; And at the beginning thereof, the Governour ſhall take the ſame hood again, and cauſe it to be carried away,4 and ſhall give him the taper again into his own hands.
12 And then having a Penny, or more, in readineſſe, near to the Candleſtick, at the words verbum caro factum eſt, the Eſquire kneeling, ſhall offer the Taper and the Penny; that is to ſay, the Taper to the honour of God, and the Penny to the honour of the perſon that makes him a Knight. All which being performed, the Eſquires Governours ſhall conduct the Eſquire to his Chamber, and ſhall lay him again in Bed till it be full Day-light. And when he ſhall be thus in Bed, till the time of his riſing, he ſhall be cloathed with a covering of Gold, called Singleton, and this ſhall be lined with blew Cardene. And when the Governours ſhall ſee it fit time, they ſhall go to the King, and ſay to him, Sir! When doth it pleaſe you that our Maſter ſhall riſe? Whereupon the King ſhall command the grave Knights, Eſquires and Minſtrels, to go to the chamber of the ſaid Eſquire, for to raiſe him, and to attire and dreſſe him, and to bring him before him into the Hall. But before their entrance, and the noiſe of the minſtrels heard, the Eſquires Governours ſhall provide all neceſſaries ready for the Order, to deliver to the Knights, for to attire and dreſſe the Eſquire.
And when the Knights are come to the Eſquires Chamber, they ſhall enter with leave, and ſay to him; Sir! Good morrow to you, it is time to get up, and make your ſelf ready; and thereupon they ſhall take him by the Arme to be dreſſed, the moſt antient of the ſaid Knights reaching him his Shirt, another giving him his Breeche•, the third his Doublet; and another putting upon him a Kirtle of red Tartarin: two others ſhall raiſe him from the Bed, and two others put on his nether ſtockings, with ſoles of leather ſewed to them; two others ſhall lace his ſlieves, and another ſhall gird him with a Girdle of white leather without any buckles thereon: Another ſhall combe his Head; another ſhall put on his Coife; another ſhall give him his mantle of ſilk, (over the Baſes or Kirtle of red Tartarin) tyed with a lace of white ſilk, with a5 pair of white gloves hanging at the end of the Lace. And the Chandler ſhall take for his Fees, all the Garments, with the whole array and neceſſaries, wherewith the Eſquire ſhall be apparelled and clothed on the day that he comes into the Court to receive the Order: As alſo the Bed wherein he firſt lay after his Bathing, together with the Singleton and other neceſſaries: In conſideration of which Fees, the ſame Chandler ſhall find at his proper coſts, the ſaid Coife, the Gloves, the Girdle and the Lace.
13. And when all this is done, the grave Knights ſhall get on horſepack, and conduct the Eſquire to the Hall, the Minſtrels going before making muſick: but the horſe muſt be accoutred as followeth: The Saddle having a cover of black leather, the bow of the Saddle being of white wood quartered; the Stirrop-leathers black, the Stirrops gilt; the Paitrel of black leather gilt, with a Croſſe pate gilt, hanging before the breaſt of the Horſe, but without any Crooper: the Bridle black, with long notched Reines after the Spaniſh faſhion, and a Croſſe pate on the front. And there muſt be provided a young Eſquire, courteous, who ſhall ride before the Eſquire bare-headed, and carry the Eſquires ſword, with the Spurs hanging at the handle of the Sword: and the Scabbard of the Sword ſhall be of white leather, and the Girdle of white leather, without buckles. And the Youth ſhall hold the Sword by the point, and after this manner muſt they ride to the Kings Hall, the Governours being ready at hand.
14. And the grave Knights ſhall conduct the ſaid Eſquire; and ſo ſoon as they come before the Hall door, the Marſhals and Uſhers are to be ready to meet him, and deſire him to alight: And being alighted, the Marſhal ſhall take the Horſe for his Fee, or elſe C. s. Then ſhall the Knights conduct him into the Hall, up to the high table; and afterwards up to the end of the ſecond table, until the Kings coming, the Knights ſtanding on each ſide of him, and the Youth holding the ſword upright before him, between the two Governours.
625. And when the King is come into the Hall, and beholdeth thy Eſquire ready to receive his high Order, and temporal dignitie, he ſhall ask for the Sword and Spurs, which the Chamberlain ſhall take from the Youth, and ſhew to the King. And thereupon the King taking the right Spur, ſhall deliver it to the moſt noble and gentile perſon there, and ſhall ſay to him, Put this upon the Eſquires heel; and he kneeling on one knee, muſt take the Eſquire by the right Leg, and putting his foot on his own knee, is to faſten the Spur upon the right heel of the Eſquire; and then making a croſſe upon the Eſquires knee, ſhall kiſſe him: which being done, another Knight muſt come, and put on his left Spur in like manner. And then ſhall the King of his great favour, take the Sword and gird the Eſquire therewith: whereupon the Eſquire is to lift up his Armes, holding his hands together, and the Gloves betwixt his thumbs and fingers.
16. And the King putting his own armes about the Eſquires neck, ſhall ſay, Be thou a good Knight, and afterwards kiſſe him. Then are the antient Knights to conduct this new Knight to the Chappel with much muſick, even to the High Altar, and there he ſhall kneel; and putting his right hand upon the Altar, is to promiſe to maintain the rights of holy Church during his whole life.
17. And then he ſhall ungirt himſelf of his Sword, and with great devotion to God and Holy Church, offer it there; praying unto God and all his Saints, that he may keep that Order which he hath ſo taken, even to the end: all which being accompliſhed, he is to take a draught of Wine.
18. And at his going out of the Chappel, the Kings Maſter-Cook being ready to take off his Spurs for his own Fee, ſhall ſay, I the Kings Maſter-Cook am come to receive your Spurs for my Fee; and if you do any thing contrary to the Order of Knighthood (which God forbid) I ſhall back your Spurs from your heels.
19. After this the Knights muſt conduct him again into7 the Hall, where he ſhall ſit the firſt at the Knights table, and the Knights about him, himſelf to be ſerved as the others are, but he muſt neither eat nor drink at the table, nor ſpit, nor look about him, upwards nor 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. And when the King is riſen from his table, and gone into his Chamber, then ſhall the new Knight be conducted with great ſtore of Knights and minſtrels proceeding before him unto his own chamber; and at his entrance the Knights and Minſtrels ſhall take leave of him, and go to Dinner.
20. And the Knights being thus gone, the Chamber door ſhall be faſtened, and the new Knight diſ-robed of his attire, which is to be given to the Kings of Armes, in caſe they be there preſent, and if not, then to the other Heraulds, if they be there; otherwiſe to the Minſtrels, together with a mark of ſilver, if he be a Knight Batcheler; if a Baron, double to that; if an Earl, or of a ſuperiour rank, double thereto. And the ruſſet Night-cap muſt be given to the Watch, or elſe a Noble.
21. Then is he to be clothed again with a blew robe, the ſlieves whereof to be ſtreight, ſhaped after the faſhion of a Prieſts; and upon his left ſhoulder to have a Lace of white ſilk, hanging: and he ſhall wear that Lace upon all his garments, from that day forwards, until he have gained ſome honour and renown by Armes, and is regiſtred of as high record, as the Nobles, Knights, Eſquires, and Heraulds of Armes; and be renowned for ſome feats of Armes, as aforeſaid, or that ſome great Prince, or moſt noble Lady can cut that Lace from his ſhoulder, ſaying; Sir! we have heard ſo much of the true renown concerning your honour, which you have done in divers parts, to the great fame of Chivalry, as to your ſelf, and of him that made you a Knight, that it is meet this Lace be taken from you.
22. After Dinner the Knights of honour and Gentlemen, muſt come to the Knight, and conduct him into the preſence8 of the King, the Eſquires Governours going before him, where he is to ſay, Right Noble and Renowned Sir! I do in all that I can, give you thanks for theſe Honours, Courteſies, and Bounty which you have vouchſafed to me: and having ſo ſaid, ſhall take his leave of the King.
23. Then are the Eſquires Governours to take leave of this their Maſter, ſaying, Sir, We have according to the Kings command, and as we were obliged, done what we can; but if through negligence we have in ought diſpleaſed you, or by any thing we have done amiſſe at this time, we deſire pardon of you for it. And on the other ſide, Sir, as right is, and according to the Cuſtomes of the Court, and antient Kingdomes, we do require our Robes and Fees, as the Kings Eſquires, companions to Batchelers and other Lords.
Books lately Printed for Phil. Stephens, at the Kings Armes over againſt Middle-Temple Gate in Fleetſtreet.
AN Entertainment for Lent, by the Famous Pen of Nic. Cauſinus, Author of the Holy Court.
The Great Anti-chriſt never till now diſcovered: and proved no Pope, or Turk, nor any ſingle perſon, nor any one Monarch, or Tyrant in any Polity; but a Pack, or multitude of wicked men, that have combined themſelves together by Solemn League and Covenant, to ſlay the two Witneſſes of God — By the Right Reverend Father in God Gruffith Lord Biſhop of Oſſory.
Some Sermons of Mr. George Maſterſon, Preached at the Temple, St. Gregories near St. Pauls, and at St. Clements.