Men of Iron

by Howard Pyle

  CHAPTER 24

  In Myles Falworth's day one of the greatest ceremonies of courtly lifewas that of the bestowal of knighthood by the King, with the honors ofthe Bath. By far the greater number of knights were at that time createdby other knights, or by nobles, or by officers of the crown. To beknighted by the King in person distinguished the recipient for life. Itwas this signal honor that the Earl, for his own purposes, wished Mylesto enjoy, and for this end he had laid not a few plans.

  The accolade was the term used for the creation of a knight upon thefield of battle. It was a reward of valor or of meritorious service, andwas generally bestowed in a more or less off-hand way; but the ceremonyof the Bath was an occasion of the greatest courtly moment, and it wasthus that Myles Falworth was to be knighted in addition to the honor ofa royal belting.

  A quaint old book treating of knighthood and chivalry gives a full anddetailed account of all the circumstances of the ceremony of a creationof a Knight of the Bath. It tells us that the candidate was firstplaced under the care of two squires of honor, "grave and well seen incourtship and nurture, and also in feats of chivalry," which same werelikewise to be governors in all things relating to the coming honors.

  First of all, the barber shaved him, and cut his hair in a certainpeculiar fashion ordained for the occasion, the squires of honorsupervising the operation. This being concluded, the candidate wassolemnly conducted to the chamber where the bath of tepid water wasprepared, "hung within and without with linen, and likewise coveredwith rich cloths and embroidered linen." While in the bath two "ancient,grave, and reverend knights" attended the bachelor, giving him "meetinstructions in the order and feats of chivalry." The candidate was thenexamined as to his knowledge and acquirements, and then, all questionsbeing answered to the satisfaction of his examiners, the elder of thetwo dipped a handful of water out from the bath, and poured it upon hishead, at the same time signing his left shoulder with the sign of thecross.

  As soon as this ceremony was concluded, the two squires of honor helpedtheir charge from the bath, and conducted him to a plain bed withouthangings, where they let him rest until his body was warm and dry.Then they clad him in a white linen shirt, and over it a plain robe ofrusset, "girdled about the loins with a rope, and having a hood likeunto a hermit."

  As soon as the candidate had arisen, the two "ancient knights" returned,and all being in readiness he was escorted to the chapel, the twowalking, one upon either side of him, his squires of honor marchingbefore, and the whole party preceded by "sundry minstrels making a loudnoise of music."

  When they came to the chapel, the two knights who escorted him tookleave of the candidate, each saluting him with a kiss upon the cheek.No one remained with him but his squires of honor, the priest, and thechandler.

  In the mean time the novitiate's armor, sword, lance, and helmet hadbeen laid in readiness before the altar. These he watched and guardedwhile the others slept, keeping vigil until sunrise, during which time"he shall," says the ancient authority, "pass the night in orisons,prayers, and meditation." At daylight he confessed to the priest, heardmatins, and communicated in mass, and then presented a lighted candleat the altar, with a piece of money stuck in it as close to the flameas could be done, the candle being offered to the honor of God, and themoney to the honor of that person who was to make him a knight.

  So concluded the sacred ceremony, which being ended his squiresconducted the candidate to his chamber, and there made him comfortable,and left him to repose for a while before the second and final part ofthe ordinance.

  Such is a shortened account of the preparatory stages of the ceremoniesthrough which Myles Falworth passed.

  Matters had come upon him so suddenly one after the other, and had comewith such bewildering rapidity that all that week was to him like somestrange, wonderful, mysterious vision. He went through it all like onein a dream. Lord George Beaumont was one of his squires of honor; theother, by way of a fitting complement to the courage of the chivalrouslad, was the Sieur de la Montaigne, his opponent soon to be. They werewell versed in everything relating to knightcraft, and Myles followedall their directions with passive obedience. Then Sir James Lee and theComte de Vermoise administered the ceremony of the Bath, the old knightexamining him in the laws of chivalry.

  It occurs perhaps once or twice in one's lifetime that one passesthrough great happenings--sometimes of joy, sometimes of dreadfulbitterness--in just such a dazed state as Myles passed through this. Itis only afterwards that all comes back to one so sharply and keenly thatthe heart thrills almost in agony in living it over again. But perhapsof all the memory of that time, when it afterwards came back piece bypiece, none was so clear to Myles's back-turned vision as the longnight spent in the chapel, watching his armor, thinking such wonderfulthoughts, and dreaming such wonderful wide-eyed dreams. At such timesMyles saw again the dark mystery of the castle chapel; he saw again thehalf-moon gleaming white and silvery through the tall, narrow window,and throwing a broad form of still whiteness across stone floor, emptyseats, and still, motionless figures of stone effigies. At such timeshe stood again in front of the twinkling tapers that lit the altar wherehis armor lay piled in a heap, heard again the deep breathing of hiscompanions of the watch sleeping in some empty stall, wrapped each inhis cloak, and saw the old chandler bestir himself, and rise and comeforward to snuff the candles. At such times he saw again the day growingclearer and clearer through the tall, glazed windows, saw it change toa rosy pink, and then to a broad, ruddy glow that threw a halo of lightaround Father Thomas's bald head bowed in sleep, and lit up the bannersand trophies hanging motionless against the stony face of the west wall;heard again the stirring of life without and the sound of his companionsarousing themselves; saw them come forward, and heard them wish him joythat his long watch was ended.

  It was nearly noon when Myles was awakened from a fitful sleep byGascoyne bringing in his dinner, but, as might be supposed, he had butlittle hunger, and ate sparingly. He had hardly ended his frugal mealbefore his two squires of honor came in, followed by a servant carryingthe garments for the coming ceremony. He saluted them gravely, and thenarising, washed his face and hands in a basin which Gascoyne held; thenkneeled in prayer, the others standing silent at a little distance. Ashe arose, Lord George came forward.

  "The King and the company come presently to the Great Hall, Myles," saidhe; "it is needful for thee to make all the haste that thou art able."

  Perhaps never had Devlen Castle seen a more brilliant and goodly companygathered in the great hall than that which came to witness King Henrycreate Myles Falworth a knight bachelor.

  At the upper end of the hall was a raised dais, upon which stooda throne covered with crimson satin and embroidered with lions andflower-deluces; it was the King's seat. He and his personal attendantshad not yet come, but the rest of the company were gathered. The daybeing warm and sultry, the balcony was all aflutter with the featherfans of the ladies of the family and their attendants, who from thishigh place looked down upon the hall below. Up the centre of the hallwas laid a carpet of arras, and the passage was protected by woodenrailings. Upon the one side were tiers of seats for the castlegentlefolks and the guests. Upon the other stood the burghers from thetown, clad in sober dun and russet, and yeomanry in green and brown. Thewhole of the great vaulted hall was full of the dull hum of many peoplewaiting, and a ceaseless restlessness stirred the crowded throng. Butat last a whisper went around that the King was coming. A momentary hushfell, and through it was heard the noisy clatter of horses' feet comingnearer and nearer, and then stopping before the door. The sudden blareof trumpets broke through the hush; another pause, and then in throughthe great door-way of the hall came the royal procession.

  First of all marched, in the order of their rank, and to the number ofa score or more, certain gentlemen, esquires and knights, chosen mostlyfrom the King's attendants. Behind these came two pursuivants-at-armsin tabards, and following them a party of a dozen more banneretsand barons. Behind these
again, a little space intervening, came twoheralds, also in tabards, a group of the greater nobles attendantupon the King following in the order of their rank. Next came theKing-at-arms and, at a little distance and walking with sober slowness,the King himself, with the Earl and the Count directly attendant uponhim--the one marching upon the right hand and the other upon the left.A breathless silence filled the whole space as the royal processionadvanced slowly up the hall. Through the stillness could be heard themuffled sound of the footsteps on the carpet, the dry rustling ofsilk and satin garments, and the clear clink and jingle of chains andjewelled ornaments, but not the sound of a single voice.

  After the moment or two of bustle and confusion of the King taking hisplace had passed, another little space of expectant silence fell. Atlast there suddenly came the noise of acclamation of those who stoodwithout the door--cheering and the clapping of hands--sounds heraldingthe immediate advent of Myles and his attendants. The next moment thelittle party entered the hall.

  First of all, Gascoyne, bearing Myles's sword in both hands, the hiltresting against his breast, the point elevated at an angle of forty-fivedegrees. It was sheathed in a crimson scabbard, and the belt of Spanishleather studded with silver bosses was wound crosswise around it. Fromthe hilt of the sword dangled the gilt spurs of his coming knighthood.At a little distance behind his squire followed Myles, the centre ofall observation. He was clad in a novitiate dress, arranged under LordGeorge's personal supervision. It had been made somewhat differentlyfrom the fashion usual at such times, and was intended to indicate in amanner the candidate's extreme youthfulness and virginity in arms. Theouter garment was a tabard robe of white wool, embroidered at the hemwith fine lines of silver, and gathered loosely at the waist with a beltof lavender leather stitched with thread of silver. Beneath he was cladin armor (a present from the Earl), new and polished till it shone withdazzling brightness, the breastplate covered with a juppon of whitesatin, embroidered with silver. Behind Myles, and upon either hand, camehis squires of honor, sponsors, and friends--a little company ofsome half-dozen in all. As they advanced slowly up the great, dim,high-vaulted room, the whole multitude broke forth into a humming buzzof applause. Then a sudden clapping of hands began near the door-way,ran down through the length of the room, and was taken up by all withnoisy clatter.

  "Saw I never youth so comely," whispered one of the Lady Anne'sattendant gentlewomen. "Sure he looketh as Sir Galahad looked when hecame first to King Arthur's court."

  Myles knew that he was very pale; he felt rather than saw the restlesscrowd of faces upon either side, for his eyes were fixed directly beforehim, upon the dais whereon sat the King, with the Earl of Mackworthstanding at his right hand, the Comte de Vermoise upon the left, and theothers ranged around and behind the throne. It was with the same tensefeeling of dreamy unreality that Myles walked slowly up the length ofthe hall, measuring his steps by those of Gascoyne. Suddenly hefelt Lord George Beaumont touch him lightly upon the arm, and almostinstinctively he stopped short--he was standing just before the coveredsteps of the throne.

  He saw Gascoyne mount to the third step, stop short, kneel, and offerthe sword and the spurs he carried to the King, who took the weaponand laid it across his knees. Then the squire bowed low, and walkingbackward withdrew to one side, leaving Myles standing alone facing thethrone. The King unlocked the spur chains from the sword-hilt, andthen, holding the gilt spurs in his hand for a moment, he looked Mylesstraight in the eyes and smiled. Then he turned, and gave one of thespurs to the Earl of Mackworth.

  The Earl took it with a low bow, turned, and came slowly down the stepsto where Myles stood. Kneeling upon one knee, and placing Myles's footupon the other, Lord Mackworth set the spur in its place and latched thechain over the instep. He drew the sign of the cross upon Myles's bendedknee, set the foot back upon the ground, rose with slow dignity, andbowing to the King, drew a little to one side.

  As soon as the Earl had fulfilled his office the King gave the secondspur to the Comte de Vermoise, who set it to Myles's other foot with thesame ceremony that the Earl had observed, withdrawing as he had done toone side.

  An instant pause of motionless silence followed, and then the Kingslowly arose, and began deliberately to unwind the belt from around thescabbard of the sword he held. As soon as he stood, the Earl and theCount advanced, and taking Myles by either hand, led him forward and upthe steps of the dais to the platform above. As they drew a little toone side, the King stooped and buckled the sword-belt around Myles'swaist, then, rising again, lifted his hand and struck him upon theshoulder, crying, in a loud voice.

  "Be thou a good knight!"

  Instantly a loud sound of applause and the clapping of hands filled thewhole hall, in the midst of which the King laid both hands upon Myles'sshoulders and kissed him upon the right cheek. So the ceremony ended;Myles was no longer Myles Falworth, but Sir Myles Falworth, Knight byOrder of the Bath and by grace of the King!