se, or by his lieutenant in the
wars.[60]

* * * * *

Sometime diverse ancient gentlemen, burgesses, and lawyers are called unto
knighthood by the prince, and nevertheless refuse to take that state upon
them, for which they are of custom punished by a fine, that redoundeth
unto his coffers, and (to say truth) is oftentimes more profitable unto
him than otherwise their service should be, if they did yield unto
knighthood. And this also is a cause wherefore there be many in England
able to dispend a knight's living, which never come unto that countenance,
and by their own consents. The number of the knights in Rome was also
uncertain: and so is it of knights likewise, with us, as at the pleasure
of the prince. And whereas the _Equites Romani_ had _Equum Publicum_ of
custom bestowed upon them, the knights of England have not so, but bear
their own charges in that also, as in other kind of furniture, as armour
meet for their defence and service. This nevertheless is certain, that
whoso may dispend forty pounds by the year of free land, either at the
coronation of the king, or marriage of his daughter, or time of his
dubbing, may be informed unto the taking of that degree, or otherwise pay
the revenues of his land for one year, which is only forty pounds by an
old proportion, and so for a time be acquitted of that title.[61]

* * * * *

At the coronation of a king or queen, there be other knights made with
longer and more curious ceremonies, called "knights of the bath." But
howsoever one be dubbed or made knight, his wife is by-and-by called
"Madam," or "Lady," so well as the baron's wife: he himself having added
to his name in common appellation this syllable "Sir," which is the title
whereby we call our knights in England. His wife also of courtesy so long
as she liveth is called "my lady," although she happen to marry with a
gentleman or man of mean calling, albeit that by the common law she hath
no such prerogative. If her first husband also be of better birth than her
second, though this latter likewise be a knight, yet in that she
pretendeth a privilege to lose no honour through courtesy yielded to her
sex, she will be named after the most honourable or worshipful of both,
which is not seen elsewhere.

The other order of knighthood in England, and the most honourable, is that
of the garter, instituted by King Edward the Third, who, after he had
gained