was then taught to get on and off a horse with his heavy armor on, to
wield the battle axe, and practise tilting with a spear. His service
to the ladies had now reached the point where he picked out a lady to
serve loyally. His endeavor was to please her in all things, in order
that he might be known as her knight, and wear her glove or scarf as a
badge or favor when he entered the lists of a joust or tournament.

To become a knight was almost as solemn an affair as it was to become
a priest. Before the day of the ceremony he fasted, spent the night in
prayer, confessed his sins, and received the Holy Sacrament. When
morning came he went, clothed in white, to the church or hall, with a
knight's sword suspended from his neck. This the priest blessed and
returned to him. Upon receiving back the sword he went and knelt
before the presiding knight and took the oath of knighthood. The
friends who accompanied him now came forward and handed him the spurs,
the coat of mail, the armlet and gauntlet, and having put these on he
girded on his sword. The presiding knight now bade him kneel, and,
touching him three times on the shoulder with the flat of his sword,
he pronounced the words that received him into the company of worthy
knights: "In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I make
thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal!" After this he
received his helmet, his shield, and his spear, and the ceremony was
completed.

The knight's real work, and greatest joy, was fighting for some one
who needed his help. Tournaments and jousts gave them chances to show
off their skill in public. We must remember that there were no big
open-air theatres in those days, such as the Greeks had, no public
races or trials of strength such as the Greeks held in the stadiums,
nor were there chariot races or fighting gladiators such as the Romans