The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-24

! BY LA MARaUISE DE FONTENON.
NIGHT BACHELORS are. not nee &c,
| U sarlly bachelor knights. The
designation Is indeed ulislead-
ing. 1t is applied 10 those who
! have received the honor OF simple
knighthood, with the prefix of Sir
J to their Christian name, but without
1 membership or any of the SPECIFIC
orders OF chivairy, such as the Orders
of the Bath, OF st. Michael and St.
George, the Victorian Order. the This
| tie. the Star of india etc. There has
never been any requirement of cell
bacy on the part OF these knight
Bachelors. and the term, according TO
some, is corruption OF the old French
words Bias Chevalier," or Lower
Knight. indicating that the Chevalier
| than those who We're knights OF any
of the orders then existing, such as
the Garter and the Bath, In England
the Thistle in Scotland. the ST. Louis
and the St. Esprit in France. and the
Golden Fleece in Burgundy. and after
wards in Germany and in Spain.
The Bias Cheyalier, or knight Bache-
| Tor, was likewise Inferior TO the knight
Banneret dignity which has now
gone out OF existence, and which
though not hereditary, was only be
slowed for services in the field. The
Bannerets were usually already in pos
session of, the dignity of ordinary
lknighthood, and the ceremony or in
giving directions that their pointed
pennant should be clipped in such
fashion as to convert II into square
banner. the value of this change being
derived from the fact that no other
person below the rank OF peer OF
the realm was allowed to display his
armorial bearings on square banner.
The last instance OF the bestoWal OF
the dignity of knight Banneret vas al
naval review at Portsmouth in 1913,
when George III. conferred it upon
Admirals Pye and Sprye, and upon Cap
tains Bickerton and Vernon.
Other authorities, again, argue tina,
the term Knight Bachelor is derived
from the Norman French word Bat
teller. owing to the fact that knight
hood in olden times was bestowed Tor
military services only, while stu
others argue that the word Bachelor
hood by King Henry III, in order 20
signify that the honor would die with
the person to whom it was granted
The first civilian to receive the honor one,
liam Walworth, the Lord Mayor OF
London, who Is remembered in his
tory as having struck down the rebel
! Wat Tyler, leader OF an insurrection
against Richard II. The daring act OF
the Lord Mayor in thus killing Tyler
at the head of the rebel forces so
ldemoralized his followers that the ris-
+ ing came to an end then and there
the King knighting the Lord Mayor
| on the very spot.
The knight Bachelors have within
the last few years enrolled themselves
into a society. and have just been en-
abled through the generosity of one
of their members, Col. Sir Henry Pei
Rifles, to acquire by purchase the hall
of old Clifford's Inn, one of the an
cient Inns of Court, which dates from
1910, and in which Sir Matthew Hale
i Jt,,, r1,,ty 1l1. IE,S n Il
1866. Lamb, Scott, Coleridge and
Southey We're all members OF this mn,
which has had several vicisstudes
OF Court, and to be restricted to the
use of the legal profession. II Is
there that henceforth the knight
Bachelors from all parts OF the Eng :,
make their Headquarters whilst in
London and hold their banquets.
| Their last banquet, held a few weeks
ago. took place in thes Fishmongers
Hall, a particularly appropriate PLACE.
since it was the Guild to which SIR
William Walworth belonged. His eft.
! hgy in wood adorns he staircase Of
the grand old building; and the aag l
| with which ho slew Wat Tyler, Is pre-,
| served as one of the most cherlsleu
| treasures of the company.
| Sir Henry BargraVe Deane Is pres
| ident of the Society OF knights Batne-
lor, and Sir William Bull Is the regis
| trar and secretary.
An endeavor is being thus made 70
restore some of the prestige OF tns
order, which in some reigns has been
! sadly diminished by. indiscrimlnate
Ibestowal Thus the Niceroys OF Ire.
land used to enjoy the prerogative OF
| bestowins knighthood on whom they
listed, until Duke Of Richmond. while
| Lord lieutenant. got himself into
trouble by knighting the Boots OF {, an !
/ i,,,, ,,ft "a
/ Jared not wisely but too Well, RealM-
ing on the following morning with
returning sobriety what he had done
he offered considerable sum OF money ss
,rhe man himself was willing, hut his
1 wife. who was one Of the chamber-.