CHIVALRV. 



389 



through 

 which the 

 c indidate 

 for knight 

 hood pass- 

 ed. 



*y. and exercises which they daily witnessed ; the discourses 

 of war and of feats of arms which they heard from 

 their master and his guests, all conpired to give them a 

 passion for the sterner and more laborious duties of chi- 

 valry. The sports in which the pages employed and 

 amused themselves, were of a military nature : unable, 

 from their extreme youth, to hurl the lance, they gra- 

 dually trained themselves up to that exercise, by throw- 

 ing the dart ; their hoods [chaperons') they used as hel- 

 mcti ; and, in short, by every method in their power, 

 exhibited and fulfilled their desire of becoming expert 

 warriors. 



In this manner was their time spent, till they reached 

 the age of fourteen years : when they passed from the 

 care of the women into the rank of pages, no ceremony 

 was deemed necessary ; but their introduction into the 

 rank of esquire was thought to require some solemnity. 

 Now, for the first time, arms were about to be placed in 

 their hands ; they were about to have a foretaste of tliose 

 honours and dignities, surrounded by which they had 

 passed the last seven years of their life. The ceremo- 

 nies used at the introduction of the page to the rank of 

 esquire, were very similar to those employed at the mi- 

 litary investiture which have already been described, and 

 noticed, as having been confounded with those of per- 

 fect chivalry. 



As soon as the youth had reached his fourteenth year, 

 he was led to the altar by his father and mother, each 

 carrying a wax taper in their hands. The officiating 

 priest took from the altar a sword and belt, which, hav- 

 ing previously bestowed his benediction on them, he 

 fastened to the side of the youth, who, from that mo- 

 ment, was authorised to carry arms. 



The esquires, the second degree of rank, consisted 

 of several classes and departments, each of which had 

 their respective duties and employments : there were 

 esquires of the body, who were attached to the per- 

 son, first of the lady, and afterwards of the lord; esquires 

 of the chamber ; esquires of the stable ; and carving 

 esquires ; besides these, the inferior departments t>f 

 the household, such as the wine cellar, and the pantry, 

 had their respective esquires. 



The highest rank was that of esquire of the body, 

 who was also called the esquire of honour : he was in 

 constant and close attendance on his master, especially 

 in times of difficulty and peril : he carried his banner 

 when he went into battle, and sounded his cry at arms. 

 It was also his office to dress and undress him. As a 

 Icnight always was attached to some lady, his messages 

 of love and gallantry, and the care of his interest when 

 he was occasionally absent, were committed to this es- 

 quire. 



But before the youth could expect to attain to this 

 high rank, it was necessary that he should perform many 

 r offices, and learn the preliminary and -interme- 

 diate duties. Th'.-sc consisted in receiving with hospi- 

 tality, and waiting upon with diligence and zeal, the 

 guests who came to his master's castle j in listening in 

 silence to the conversation of those who were of su- 

 perior rank, and in displaying, on all occasions, mo- 

 desty, diffidence, and attention. The first employ- 

 ment of the esquire seems to have been at the table, 

 where he was expected to display the qualities proper 

 for his station, iir the neatness, adroitness, and dispatch 

 witli which he cut the meat, and in the case and elegance 

 with which he served it to the guests. 



ft was the business of other esquires to arrange the 

 table ; to bring in wat?r with which the guests might 



wash themselves after the repast was over ; to take care Chivalry, 

 that every thing was replaced in its proper order and S> '"V^*' 

 situation ; and to arrange the grand hall for the dances 

 and amusements with which the evening generally closed. 

 When bed-time came, some of the esquires accompanied 

 the strangers to their rooms ; and according to the evi- 

 dence of some of the romances, they were even employ, 

 ed to make the beds. 



It is plain, from this account of the duties of this class 

 of the esquires, that their rank was not high : how long 

 they continued thus employed is not known ; but the 

 next step in dignity was that of squire of the stable. 

 The duties of this office were much more important, and 

 required a considerable degree of skill and experience. 

 As their name implies, they had the care of the horses ; 

 with the assistance of inferior esquires, they trained them 

 up to war, and taught them all the paces and movements 

 that were necessary in tournaments or in battle ; they 

 also kept tht-ir master's arms constantly clean and ready 

 for use. 



But it was when their master prepared to go forth 

 arrayed for battle, or for feats of arms, that the esquires 

 were all in active employment : while one held the stir- 

 rup as he was mounting his horse, others brought him 

 the different parts of his armour, and his pennon or ban- 

 ner. As it was not customary for a knight to ride on 

 his war-horse, except when an enemy was in sight, or in 

 actual battle, one of his esquires led it by his side, and 

 gave it him when requisite ; another generally preceded 

 him, mounted on a common horse, carrying his shield 

 and his helmet on the pommel of his saddle. Whenever 

 it was necessary that the knight should mount his war- 

 horse, and equip himself in full armour, each esquire per. 

 formed his allotted duty in fitting on, with skill and ex; 

 P'jdition, the different parts. When the knight entered 

 a church or any holy place, he took off his helmet 

 and his sword, and gave them into the hands of the 

 esquire of honour. 



In the time of battle or of single combat, it was the 

 duty of this c.-quire to watch all the movements of his 

 master, in ordi-r that he might profit by what he saw, 

 and that he might be ready to give him fresh arms or a 

 fresh horse if he required it. It was also lawful for the 

 esquire lo ward off the blows that were aimed at him ; 

 to point out how he mig'it attack or defend himself with 

 success and advantage ; and, if victorious, how he might 

 render his victory complete. The knights, likewise, 

 gave the prisoners whom they took in battle into the 

 custody of their esquires. 



The watchfulness and precaution so necessary in the 

 feudal times, were carefully and early taught the esquires ; 

 the castles which they inhabited were guarded by them 

 in all their different parts : they were stationed on the 

 towers, in order to give the alarm in case of the approach 

 of an enemy ; and they regularly traversed and examined 

 all the chambers and courts. 



Thus the time of the esquire was spent, from the age 

 of fourteen to that of twenty-one ; for it was not, in 

 general, till the latter period, that he was admitted to 

 the full honours of chivalry. Tlic cases in which this 

 regulation, with respect to age, were dispensed with, were 

 where the youths were of royal blood, or where their 

 merit was very conspicuous and pre-eminent. There are 

 examples of esquires having been made knights at the age 

 of sixteen, fifteen, and fourteen ; but even in cases of noble 

 birth, fifteen seems to have been the earliest legitimate 

 age, since the sovereign could not levy the aids of chi- 

 valry, for the purpose of defraying the expense i/f ma- 



