BANNERETS, an order of knights, next in dig nity to the barons, and entitled to lead their vassals to battle at the royal summons, under their own basi. ner or flag. By this privilege they were distinguished from the knights bachelors, who were obliged to march under the banner of a superior. The origin of the name seems abundantly simple, being obviously no other than banner, a square flag ; and this etymo logy is supported by all the other appellations by which the bannerets were distinguished, such as nzilites vexilli ern, vexillarii, bannerarii, &c. But the origin of the order, like every thing uncertain, has given rise to much controversy among antiqua rians. Some contend that this dignity first origi nated in France ; while others assign that honour to Brittany, and others to England. Those who are of the last opinion trace the order of bannerets to Conan, lieutenant of Maximus, who commanded the Roman forces in England under the reign of Gra tian. Revolting from his government, say they, he portioned out England into forty cantons, over which he appointed forty knights, with power to assemble, when necessary, under their own banners, as many fighting men as they could muster in their several districts. Without pretending to decide as to the origin of the order, we can say, with sufficient cer tainty, when it expired ; for the last knight banne ret was Sir John Smith, who was invested with that dignity by Charles I., after the battle of Edgehill, as a reward for his bravery in rescuing the royal standard from the rebels.
In feudal times none could obtain the dignity of knight banneret, except gentlemen of family, whose property enabled them to bring into the field fifty nien at arms, with the suitable complement of arch ers and crossbowmen, amounting in. all to one hun
dred. This honour was in general conferred on those who had distinguished tharnsflves by their valour in battle. The king, at the lead of his victorious army, and surrounded by all his nobles and field offi cers, summoned the hero to repair to the royal stan dard, which was displayed on purpose to receive him. He was conducted to his sovereign by two knights, or men at arms, of approved bravery, bear ing in his hand his pennon or guidon of arms, and preceded by two heralds, who proclaimed his gallant exploits. When he came into the royal presence, 3 the king desired him to advance his banneret, and commanded the ends of his pennon to be torn off, which, being thus made square, was converted into a banner. Martial music attended him as he returned to his tent, to which he was accompanied by many of the mobility and principal officers, for whom a sumptuous banquet was prepared. This honour, in tended as the peculiar reward of personal gallantry, died with the individual who had earned it ; and nei ther the title nor supporters of the knights bannerets were hereditary. In the 28th of Edward I. a knight banneret had four shillings of daily pay, and his diet. at court ; and was entitled to take precedence of the younger sons of viscounts and barons. (F)