There is some doubt as to when he obtained this honour. Richard II.
bestowed titles in so lavish a manner as to cause discontent among
many who didn't receive them. In 1377, immediately on his accession,
the earldom of Nottingham was given to Thomas Mowbray, and on the same
day three other earls and nine knights were created. We have not been
able to discover the names of these knights, but we confidently expect
to unearth them some day, and to find the name of Sir John Falstaff
among them. We have already stated that Falstaff had done no service
in the field at this time, so he could not have earned his title in
that manner. No doubt he got it through the influence of Mowbray, who
was in a position to get good things for his friends as well as for
himself. It was but a poor acknowledgment for the inestimable benefit
of occasionally talking with Falstaff over a quart of sack.

We will not pursue Falstaff's life further than this. It can from this
point be easily collected. It is a thankless task to paraphrase a
great and familiar text. To attempt to tell the story in better words
than Shakespeare would occur to no one but Miss Braddon, who has
epitomised Sir Walter, or to Canon Farrar, who has elongated the
Gospels. But we feel bound to add a few words as to character. There
are, we fear, a number of people who regard Falstaff as a worthless
fellow, and who would refrain (if they could) from laughing at his
jests. These people do not understand his claim to grateful and
affectionate regard. He did more to produce that mental condition of
which laughter is the expression than any man who ever lived. But for
the cheering presence of him, and men like him, this vale of tears
would be a more terrible dwelling-place than it is. In short, Falstaff
has done an immense deal to alleviate misery and promote positive
happiness. What more can be said of your heroes and philanthropists?