With Courage Went Loyalty
Knights at their time were the first and foremost warriors, whose heyday was the late Middle Ages, dominating the medieval battlefields during the Twelfth and Fourteenth centuries. Knights fought from horseback, wore covering armor and used numerous top-of-the-line weapons at that time. Other than fighting, Knights had somewhat of a home life and families (Corrick 8). The English word "Knight" comes from an Anglo-Saxon word for servant. Although some Knights came from aristocratic families, most early knights were freeborn peasants. The prospects of a Knight were to get married to a wealthy heiress, inherit a large piece of land and to serve a noble as a high official (Hull). Knights were professional soldiers who were paid for their duties at a price, and they were expected to work for at least 40 days out of the entire year (Wiliams 46). James Corrick an author of many Knightly books declared that, "in order for a boy to grow to be a Knight he must dedicate his entire life to the training and hardships of fighting for his king". There are three stages to becoming a knight, and these stages include a Page, childhood through seven years old; a Squire, seven through 14 years old; and finally a Knight, 14 to life (Corrick 2
In order for the Squire to become a Knight, he had to go through many rituals. Some of the rituals he had to experience were, he had to bathe all of his sins and dress in a certain manner the night before. The garments he had to wear consisted of a white robe to emphasize his cleanliness; a scarlet cloak to signify his blood, which he is ready to shed for God and the church; and brown stockings, the color of the earth to which all must come at last, a reminder to always be ready to die well (Cairns 46). Each Knight would then be taken to the King's castle and given a sword by which he bowed to the King and his men (Corrick 37). This sword was not just an ordinary sword, it was an ancient sword that was past down through many generations and was now the newly born Knights. As soon as the Squire became a Knight, he was equipped with the top of the line armor of his days and presented with a war-horse. The Knight's equipment was designed so that he could deliver a shattering blow to his enemy's troops, infantry, and enemy Calvary alike. This set him apart from all the other fighters of the Middle Ages. Good armor and fine weaponry required time and money to make for the Knights of the Middle Ages. Steel and iron were used most, but usually iron would be used because it was cheaper and faster to make than steel (Corrick 13). Groups of Knight's were then placed in groups called orders and they all vowed loyalty to the King they fought under and formed military organizations to defend his land and property (Corrick 25). With courage went loyalty. A Knight would pledge his life to his lord and would die in battle to protect
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Approximate Word count = 1109
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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