Poeticall Musick
- - English Renaissance music c. 1607
...fact & fiction
A
ccording to "
Knights"
by Julek Heller &
Deirdre Headon, knights were marauding bands of horsemen
with fighting abilities of brute force.
The words of today,
chevalier
(Fr.), and
ritter
(Gr.) define
as mounted warrior. In medieval Europe knights were sworn to
allegiance of their king or overlord, united in brotherhood. They
pledged to fight evil and injustice. In time, the knights
eventually toned down their behavior, becoming more courteous and
quite civilized....but, only toward members of their own class.
The brutality and savageness was never far from reach.
K
nights felt it was not erroneous to terrorize
anyone lower in class, or to extort money.
L
ifestyles of knights were indeed showing
that they were bullies, ruthless and cruel, yet often notorious. The
knight was very much his own master.
He had absolute territorial boundaries
surrounding his castle. A 'robber' knight would lurk in the forests
and attack travelers, robbing them. They believed in their own
superiority. He liked nothing better to do than to show his skills,
physical strengths, courage, and at some points, his courtesy.
Below I will place excerpts of what I find in my research.....
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With High King, Constantine of Britain slain,
Uther ascended the throne. Uther's counsellor, Merlin
told him "One day you'll have a great son that will
achieve far greater acclaim than his father, you, Uther".
In celebration of his new reign, and peace for England,
Uther held a great feast with many of Britain's
noblemen present. Among them was Gorloise, the Duke
of Cornwall. Gorloise's spouse, the beautiful Igraine,
was also in attendance.
Uther instantly fell in love with Igraine, his
infatuation growing stronger by the day. He seeked
for Merlin, and asked Merlin's help......
Merlin made a pact with Uther and did some magical
powers, making Uther's fantasies of Igraine come true.
Uther laid with the lovely Igraine while he was under
disguise from Merlin's magic (Uther laid with Igraine as
Gorloise).
In a heated surprise battle upon Gorloise and his men,
Gorloise was killed, making Igraine a widow. Then, it
was soon known to Igraine she was with child. Uther
and Igraine were wed. Months progressed, and Igraine
gave birth to a son. But in days prior, doing Uther's
lustful bidding, Merlin had rights by pact, to take
the child of Igraine. Uther took his newborn son to
Merlin. And at the castle gates, Merlin was given
the babe. In a far away castle, Merlin now handed the
boy to Sir Ector. He was to raise the newborn as a son.
Sir Ector also had a son of his own blood, Kay.
When Kay was dubbed knight, Aruthur, the son of Uther and
Igraine was to become Kay's squire..........
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Knights believed the first morsel of food that a baby boy
was fed, should be done so by the tip of the sword. Thus,
having tasted the steel of the blade, the boy would become
brave and honored knight. At the age of seven, the boy
would encounter his first training, as a page, removed from
his mother's care and sent to a overlord's castle, or
perhaps to a relative. There, he learned the skills. The
lady of the castle would teach the page, courtesy. Among
his skills, he would learn falconry, how to weild a lance,
ride, and how to vault from a horse. Oftentimes a page
would be expected to run errands, and maybe do some
household chores. Later, reading and writing was taught
usually by priests and their clerks.
In the
Babees Book
(circa 1475), states that a page
should be taught to not sit until bidden, should not fidget,
nor wriggle, scratch or lean against a post. Also, speak
only when spoken to.
Squires
were boys at the age
of fourteen. It was often celebrated by the family, or overlord's
family, presenting their 'son' to a priest. He was blessed,
and given a sword. The new squire would hone his skills learned
as a page. Often a
quintain
was used. --a post with a
fixed shield-- He would then sit on his mount, with lance in
hand, vaulting toward the quintain and striking. He was assigned
a knight and followed the knight wherever he went, always
riding behind. At tournaments, the squire would be the
knight's assistant. Sometimes he would guard the prisoners
acquired by his knight in the joust. During war or battles,
the squire rode with his knight. But, never actually fought,
only if he found himself in mortal danger.
Knights
were men of the age twenty-one.
By the 13th century, knighthood initiation was an elaborate
religious, and oftentimes mystical ritual. Usually, several
squires were dubbed knights at one ceremony. It starts with
a bath the night before, regarded as a purification. The
next day, the men would have
their beards and heads shaved, showing submission
to the will of their God. Then, the men were clothed in white
tunics with black hose and shoes. Over the tunic a red cloak
was adorned. Finally a white belt was placed around his waist.
The soon to be dubbed knights would then go to the church
where they would hold a vigil during the night. Meditations
of the ceremony for the following day would occur. And, to
contemplate the duties of knighthood. At church the following
morning their sword and arms would be blessed. His sponsor
would fit him with his armour. The sword was girded on his
right side. Fully armed, the man would kneel at the altar
to receive his accolade. This ritual always was held in
times of peace. If at war, often men were dubbed knights
right there in battle.
Horses
were a very important asset.
Knights usually had three, two palfreys (strong and elegant) and one
warhorse, the destrier. The destrier, was a special breed. It
was built to withstand heavy weights of the knights in armour and
also to carry the weight of their own armour and decorations. The
warhorse was always ungelded, and specially trained to obey the
the commands by leg and knee movements of the knight, keeping the
knight's arms free during battle.
Armour
up to the mid fourteenth century
was chain-mail (the hauberk), weighing in at 30 pouds or more. To
improve the protection factor, knights introduced the use of metal
plates into the chain-mail at the knees and elbows. Then, the plates
became part of the armour around the shins and forearms...and
hinged. Eventually the knight was entirely cover with metal armour,
and the suit had to be made for the individual, for fit. While
mounted on his steed, the knight was virtually impregnable.
Helmets
are recorded to weigh up
to 25 pounds in weight. To relieve some of the discomfort
knights would wrap their heads in cloth or wear leather
caps underneath the helmet for cushion.
Swords
were the prized possessions of the knight.
The sword gave the knight distinction,
with high social value and military
standing. If the knight was found guilty of treason or a
misdemeanor, his sword was broken! To make a blade, the concept
began at an ironsmith's shop,
then when the smith was finished, it went
the hafter who made the handles. The cruciform was part of a knight's
belief in his God. If wounded at battle, and dying, the knight
would raise his sword above and as witnessing the last light
the knight would die with the vision the the holy cross. The scabbard
was made by a sheather. Made of wood, it was then covered
with the finest of leathers. Ceremonial scabbards were donned
with jewels and precious metals. The sword did not change much
through 5 centuries. It weighed about 2 pounds and was razor-
sharp, being capable of severing a thread floating in the air!
The belt was often made by the knight's wife. The pommel was
usually designed with something significant to the knight, and
made of a hard wood such as walnut. The hilt often made from ivory.
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For further reading:
A Quest for Camelot
In search of King Arthur
(once a squire)
Excalibur
Knights of the Round Table
Glossary of Arms & Armour terms
List of Source Reading of Medieval-Renaissance
Love, Marriage & Culture
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Maiden Warrior's Pathway
Camelot Tour
