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Posted on 11/08/2006 6:45:45 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN
The process of training for knighthood began before adolescence, inside the prospective knight’s own home, where he was taught courtesy and appropriate manners. Around the age of 7 years, he would be sent away to train and serve at a grander household as a page. Here, he would serve as a kind of waiter and personal servant, entertaining and serving food to his elders. A page was usually the son of a vassal, who sent him to his or another lord’s castle to become a page. For seven years a page was cared for by the women of the house, who instructed him in comportment, courtesy, cleanliness, and religion. He would learn basic hunting and falconry, and also various battle skills such as taking care of, preparing, and riding horses, as well as use of weapons and armor. A page became a squire when he turned 14 years of age, being assigned or picked by a knight to become his personal aide. This allowed the squire to observe his master while he was in battle, in order to learn from his techniques. He also acted as a personal servant to the knight, taking care of his master’s equipment and horse. This was to uphold the knight’s code that promoted generosity, courtesy, compassion, and most importantly, loyalty. The knight acted as a tutor and taught the squire all he needed to know to become a knight. As the squire grew older, he was expected to follow his master into battle, and attend to his master if the knight fell in battle. Some squires became knights for performing an outstanding deed on the battlefield, but most were knighted by their lord when their training was judged to be complete. "The Vigil" by John Pettie A squire could hope to become a knight when he was about 18 to 21 years old. Once the squire had established sufficient mastery of the required skills, he was dubbed a knight. In the early period, the procedure began with the squire praying into the night, known as vigil. He was then bathed, and in the morning he was dressed in a white shirt, gold tunic, purple cloak, and was knighted by his king or lord. As the Middle Ages progressed, the process changed. The squire was made to vow that he would obey the regulations of chivalry, and never flee from battle. A squire could also be knighted on the battlefield, in which a lord simply performed the accolade, i.e. struck him on the shoulder saying “Be thou a knight”. The night before his knighting ceremony, the squire would take a cleansing bath, fast, make confession, and pray to God all night in the chapel, readying himself for his life as a knight. Then he would go through the knighting ceremony the following day. Knights followed the code of chivalry, which promoted honor, honesty, respect to God, and other knightly virtues. Knights served their lords and were paid in land, because money was scarce. In various traditions, knighthood was reserved for people with a minimum of noble quarters (as in many orders of chivalry), or knighthood became essentially a low degree of nobility, sometimes even conferred as a hereditary title below the peerage. Meanwhile kings strove, as an expression of absolutism, to monopolize the right to confer knighthood, even as an individual honor. Not only was this often successful, once established, this prerogative of the Head of State was even transferred to the successors of dynasties in republican regimes, such as the British Lord Protector of the Commonwealth. Knighthood as a purely formal title bestowed by the British monarch unrelated to military service was established in the 16th century. (However, military knights remained among the Knights of Malta until 1798.) The British title of baronet was established by James I of England in 1611 as an inheritable knighthood, ranking below Baron (the lowest Peerage title). Welcome to the Free Republic Canteen ~ honoring and entertaining our military and our allies and their families 24/7 every day of the year! A gentle reminder from Ms.B ~ please keep it family friendly and fun in the Canteen. We're here for our heroes and we want them to have a good time and not worry about all the political stuff going on. Pull up a chair, kick your feet up and relax!
Don't worry. We're making up for it up here in NYS!
Good evening, Rus! You relieved that the campaign is finally over. You did pretty darn good, by the way!
Thanks for our beautiful lesson from God's Word. Yes, HE DID IT...for sinners like us! Thank God!
This country has gone nuts! Who knew a porn author could win over a fine upstanding gentleman. Only in the new America. *sigh*
It's not quite over yet, is it?
Thanks for our pledge, Hope.
Only in America LUV ONLY IN AMERICA
Well report off Drudge site has UK Papers gloating about Dubya loss they claim it failrure of War on Iraq partly UK Telegraph lots of thing maybe scandels
From a brother in blue from Maryland:
"A lifetime ago, there came a day when I decided to follow in the steps of my knighted ancestors. To go forth bravely, the law to defend and the right to uphold. To seek evil and to conquer it, and to return, wearing my shield or upon it.
As a squire, I stood in the presence of the valiant knight and learned my lessons well. The greatest of my peers, I was certain, would never be fit their armor to bear. These truly were heroes worthy of story and song, and though few in number, daily they vanquished the foe.
In the fullness of time, I knelt before the king and received my blued sword and shield of gold. "Arise Sir Knight," he said, and arise I did, ready to take my place. Among the heroes I rode, but apart from them, rather than a part of them, for I was young.
A knight I was, and good enough for the king, but still I had to prove my worth to the others. After many campaigns, I was welcomed at the feast table of the knights. I laughed at their tales, but I remembered their battles, knowing someday their wisdom could save my life.
I learned other lessons, incredible they seemed to me, about the people for whom I was ready to hazard all. Weak they often were, and incapable of protecting themselves; needful of the knights, yet prepared to sacrifice us for our humanity. But we fought on, against all odds, for our cause was just.
Now, having long been a knight, sometimes I forget the young squires who still have lessons to learn. Those of my ilk, we few who remain, with armor dented and blackened with smoke of a thousand battles, teach them with our every deed. Unnoticed, they watch us. I pray we teach them well.
Soon, I will unbuckle my sword, and my shield will take its place with the others in the great hall. My crusades over, I will start on another path through life, a mere mortal. I will watch the knights as they gallop past, into the fray. I pray God will protect them; they're still my heroes."
John R. Somers
Sergeant, Maryland State Police
It's pretty cold up there?
It was nearly 90 degrees here today. I think we need moderation at least! LOL!
All I can do is shake my head.
It's gotten so weird.
Well report from Editior and Publisher report that maybe David Geffen want only LA Times screw Chicago Cubs he not going take it but Chicago Tribune claim it that no LA TIMES he want him make LA Times much hipper he know people who dont read LA Times especially Latino American crowd under age of 35
Thanks, I read all the posts at 2:30 this morning.
I am not stopping, I just started a petition to eliminate the tolls on the island.
I don't let them breath, keep punchin em.......
TT!!
You are also FIRST!
*HUG*
Ms.B
It's been rainy all day. Temps not too bad (for us) - maybe high 40s or low 50s, but we had our first snow flurries on the 3rd. Most all of the leaves are down. Winter's coming. (I'm not a big fan) lol!
Welcome to the Canteen, Argus.
Thank you Ms Feather, for The Canteen Blessings for the Troops.
Ms.B
That's the spirit, Rus...just keep them off their game. You have made inroads and the people there now know there is a different kind of candidate that they can support. I am proud of you.
Just keep punchin' 'em.....:D
Thank you for sharing Gods word, Russ!
*HUG*
Ms.B
I like it too!
Ms.B
That'll work. Congratulations to all of our warriors!
Our fighting men and women should enjoy equal stature with our ancestral warriors. Chances are, weapon for weapon, our fighting men and women could best them easily on the jousting field anyway.
;>
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