THE NEW KNIGHT KNEELS AND THANKS THE KING FOR THE HONOR DONE HIM

THE TWO GOVERNORS TAKING LEAVE OF THE NEW KNIGHT ON THE COMPLETION OF THE CEREMONIES

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before the King that he might kneel and thank His Majesty for the honour bestowed upon him. "Most dread and most mighty Prince of little power I thank you for all the worships, courtesies, and goodness which you have done unto me." And so saying he took leave of His Majesty.

All the ceremonies now being completed, and the new Knight finally back in his chamber, he was allowed to partake of some food. After this meal the two worshipful squires who have been his Governors, and have safely conducted him through the intricate mazes of his initiation as a Knight of the Bath, now approach to take leave. But before doing so they have a request to prefer. Worshipful Sir, by the King's command, we have served you to the best of our power, and if we have failed in any thing we beg pardon for our negligence. Furthermore as is the custom at the King's Court we ask and require of you Robes and fees suitable for a Knight's squires, and to remain in your service for the rest of your days."

Before leaving the Knights of old it may be of interest to notice their armour, of which many very fine sets may be seen in the Tower. There is a good deal of glamour thrown over the Knights and their heroic deeds which an examination of their armour somewhat tends to diminish. One point which immediately strikes a cavalry soldier is that the Knights in the lists engaged each other left hand to left hand. Charging right hand to right hand they could not possibly have missed each other, for an expert lancer thus charging at speed will knock a florin off a cleft stick. Next it will be noticed that the helmets are blind on the left side, probably to save the eye from splinters, the result being that the Knight had not only to charge left hand to left hand, but was blind that side. Next came the question of speed. A horse of the modern stamp and breeding, unhampered with armour, and with a light weight in the saddle, would charge at great speed, but a heavily armoured horse 1 See P. 260.

with a Knight in armour on his back could move but slowly, a modest canter at most. The tilting lance used by the Knights, too, though large and formidable looking, was made of very friable wood and easily splintered. Indeed we must put aside all idea that tournament fighting was anything but a fairly harmless amusement, not nearly so dangerous as a modern game of polo. This view is emphasized by the scoring sheets of the sixteenth century which still are preserved showing that the combatants received so many marks according to the parts of the opponent's armour which they hit. The highest marks being scored for a point on the helmet, the next highest for one on the breast, and so on; the Knight who scored the greatest number of marks in the tournament was proclaimed champion, and crowned with laurels by the Queen of Beauty.

In Edward VI reign, owing it is said to want of time, the ceremonies of initiation into the Order were held in abeyance. The elected Knights were merely called in turn, by the Garter Principal King of Arms, before the King wearing his crown, and knighted. This indulgence, however, appears to have cost the Knights dear, for they were ordered to pay double the fees usually charged, according to their degrees and estates.

A delicate situation arose when a Queen, in the person of Queen Mary, came to the throne, for she manifestly could not officiate at the bathing operations of a large number of young Knights. The difficulty was, however, surmounted, both in her reign and in that of Queen Elizabeth, by a deputy of high rank being appointed to conduct the ceremonies in place of the Sovereign.

The ancient ritual of the Order of the Bath, as associated with the Tower of London, has undergone many changes and abbreviations since it passed out of its history. At the present day the ceremony has reached a very brief and to the Knight most welcome simplicity of procedure. The Knight elect enters the Royal presence and bows, he then advances a few steps and bows again; a third time he bows as he arrives close to the

King. He then kneels on his right knee, and the King places the ribbon of the Order over his neck, and, taking a sword, strikes him on each shoulder, and says "Rise, Sir Thomas" (or whatever his Christian name may be). The new Knight then rises, kisses the King's hand, and backs out the way he came, making three bows as before. Nor does any cost now fall on a Knight of the Bath, unlike in the olden days. Even in the reign of George I, besides all other expenses, the share of a Knight was £700 towards the ball given at Ranelagh, or elsewhere, by the new Knights to from 2000 to 2500 guests. As late even as Queen Victoria's reign a Companion of the Bath was, with the insignia, handed by the Treasury a bill for £50. This sum could, however, be recovered by his heirs if they returned the Order. This fee also was abolished owing to an incident which arose in connection with a foreign officer. The Queen bestowed the C.B. on him as a mark of honour, and with the insignia came the usual bill for £50. The foreign officer had not £50, or did not care to spend it thus; he therefore very politely returned the Order. This brought matters to a climax and the fee was abolished. The insignia of the Order now becomes the absolute property of the officer who receives it and his heirs, free of cost.

The Order of the Bath still retains its pre-eminence as an Order of chivalry, and until recent years could as a rule only be earned by service in the field; one of the qualifications being that the recipient must be a Field Officer, and must have been mentioned by name in despatches. With the institution of the Civil Companionship of the Order the doors were opened to diplomatists and civil servants of the Crown, as well as to soldiers and sailors. This, whilst admitting many distinguished members, removed the purely fighting qualification. Before the Great War probably there were more members who had been received into the Order for duties in peace time than for distinction on the battlefield, but the balance should now be the other way.

IX

THE TWO QUEENS

Queen Anne Boleyn-Record of the trial-The original bag and manuscript Her personal appearance and charm of mannerA daughter of yeoman stock-Introduced at Court-Marries. the King-Three happy years-Ambassadors on the trailThe fête at Greenwich-Imprisoned in the Tower-The Indictment-The preliminary enquiry-The King's royal body-Its inward displeasure and heaviness-The trial and sentence-To be burned or beheaded as shall please the King— Anne Boleyn's room in the Lieutenant's Lodgings-“ ANNE” inscribed Her letter to the King-Found amongst Earl of Essex papers-Her trial more fully described-Her dress and demeanour-The executioner from Calais-By sword rather than by axe- -Anne Boleyn's last days-Her dress at her execution-Last words and last deeds-Coffined in an arrow chest-Buried in St. Peter's ad Vincula-Queen Katherine Howard-The fifth wife-Honourable, clean, and maidenlyThirteen months of marriage-The informer Lascelles-The Archbishop's letter to the King-The King's incredulity— Enquiry ordered-Some unknightly gentlemen-Justly hanged -The Queen attainted by Parliament-Sentenced to death— Lady Rochford shares her fate-Otwell Johnson's account of the execution-Queen Katherine Howard buried in St. Peter's ad Vincula.

ANNE BOLEYN (b. 1507; d. May 13th, 1536)

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F Henry VIII's six wives two ended their days on the scaffold on Tower Green, and rest together before the altar in the chapel of

St. Peter ad Vincula. Both young, both beautiful, and both condemned for the same crimes against His Majesty's regal dignity. These were Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen Katherine Howard, and perhaps few at this day would be prepared to justify, or even extenuate, these extreme examples of the untempered power of despotic monarchy.

When one reads that the charges against Queen Anne