Dubbing

    Dubbing is the adoubment ceremony, by which squires and young men in arms became knights.  This ceremony began at its base from the knighting ceremony of Prince Dafydd ap Gwalchmai, of the “Middle Kingdom.”  Later coronations became a customized ceremony that were used throughout history by all of those ordained into knighthood.  Appearing to be a simple serene ceremony, preparation and dedication was required years before this authentic event took place where a squire was proclaimed a knight.

    Knights went through a lot before they were dubbed actual knights.  The preparatory education of candidates for knighthood began at a young age and it was long and arduous.  At seven years of age the noble children were usually removed from their father's house to the court or castle of their future patron, and placed under the care of a governor, who taught them the first articles of religion and respect and reverence for their lords and superiors.  Initiated through ceremonies of a court, they were called pages, valets or varlets, and their office was to carve, to wait on tables, and to perform other menial services which were not then considered humiliating.  In their leisure hours they learned to dance and play on the harp, were instructed in the mysteries of woods and rivers, that is, in hunting, falconry, and fishing, and in wrestling, tilting with spears, and performing other military exercises on horseback.

     At fourteen the page became a squire, and began a course of severer and more laborious exercises.  To vault on a horse in heavy armor; to run, to scale walls, and spring over ditches, under the same encumbrance; to wrestle, to wield the battle-ax for a length of time, without raising the visor or taking a breath; to perform with grace all the evolution's of horsemanship—necessary preliminaries to the reception of knighthood.  They were usually conferred at twenty-one years of age, when the young man's education was supposed to be completed.  In the meantime, the squires were no less assiduously engaged in acquiring all those refinements of civility which formed what was in the age called courtesy.  The same castle in which they received their education was usually thronged with young persons of the other sex, and the page was encouraged, at a very early age, to select some lady of the court as the mistress of his heart, to whom he was taught to refer all his sentiments, words, and actions.  The service of his mistress was the glory and occupation of knight, and her smiles, bestowed at once by affection and gratitude, were held out as the recompense of his well directed valor.  Religion united its influence with those of loyalty and love, and the order of knighthood, endowed with all the sanctity and religious awe that attended the priesthood, became an object of ambition to the greatest sovereigns.

     On the eve of the knighting it was customary to give the candidates a vigil.  This was a time for reconciliation, speaking with the chivalry, peers and wise nobles present.  Also a time for introspection to consider the responsibilities and joys of accepting the accolade.  At 10 p.m. the vigil began a roundtable on chivalry, where those present would discourse on the meaning, exemplars, symbols, duties, and responsibilities of knighthood and peerage.  This round table would be moderated by the candidate's Knight and continued until midnight.  Thereafter a time of prayer and contemplation commenced, when ancient, wise, and grave gentles came singly and in pairs to instruct the candidate in the ways, honor and history of the orders of peerage and knighthood.

    The candidate fasted on the vigil and prayed unto God, confessing his difficulties that he had done against God.  He stayed awake all night and said his prayers and he out to have heard the word of God and things touching the deeds of chivalry. Before being dubbed a knight, the candidate bathed in order that felony be washed away and be fulfilled with courtesy, honesty and kindness.   The candidate was claded in white next to his skin, that he would hold himself clean, chaste and pure of heart and mind, and then wore a cloak of red that symbolized understanding and consideration that he would be required to spill his blood in order to defend his God, his King and his people.  The candidate wore shoes and hose of brown and black so that he would always have in mind death, and earth to lie in low.

     He then repaired to the church where the ceremony was to take place, bearing a knightly sword suspended from his neck, which the officiating priest took and blessed, and then returned to him.  The candidate then, with folded arms, knelt before the presiding knight, who, after some questions about his motives and purposed in requesting admission, administered to him the oaths, and granted his request.  Some of the knights present, sometimes even ladies and damsels, handed to him in succession the spurs, the coat of mail, the hauberk, the armlet and gauntlet, and lastly he girded on the sword.  He then knelt again before the president, who, rising from his seat, gave him the “accolade,” which consisted of three strokes, with the flat of a sword, on the shoulder or neck of the candidate, accompanied by the words:  “In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal!”  Then he received his helmet, his shield, and spear; and thus the investiture ended.

    A knighting is perhaps the defining moment for combatants who have worked for years trying to improve their prowess and their understanding of the other knightly virtues.  For many, not even a victorious Crown Tournament carries the same power.  Although the ceremonies created differ in content from their medieval counterpart, if done well their power creates a nearly mystical experience not only for the candidate, but for all who witness the ceremony as well.

2.  Leidor, Carl.  “Knighting Ceremony of Urien ap Taliesin.” chronique.com  (11 July 1997).

3.  Wyrme, Mark. "Wyrme's Encyclopedia of Knighthood." wyrme@hotmail.com (Spring 1998).