The highest rank was that of esquire of the body, who was also called the esquire of honour : he was in con stant and close attendance on his master, especially in times of difficulty and peril : he carried his banner when he went into battle, and sounded his cry at arms. It was also his office to dress and undress him. As a knight always was attached to some lady, his messages of love and gallantry, and the care of his interest when he was occasionally absent, were committed to this esquire.
But before the youth could expect to attain to this high rank, it was necessary that he should perform many in ferior offices, and learn the preliminary and intermediate duties. These consisted in receiving with hospitality, and waiting upon with diligence and zeal, the guests who came to his master's castle ;—in listening in silence to the conversation of those who were of superior rank, and in displaying, on all occasions, modesty, diffidence, and at tention. The first employment of the esquire seems to have been at the table, where he was expected to display the qualities proper for his station, in the neatness, adroit ness, and dispatch with which he cut the meat, and in the ease and elegance with which he served it to the guests.
It was the business of other esquires to arrange the table ; to bring in water, with which the guests might wash themselves after the repast was over ; to take care that every thing was replaced in its proper order and si tuation; and to arrange the grand hall for the dances and amusements with which the evening generally closed. When bed-time came, some of the esquires accompanied the strangers to their rooms ; and according to the evi dence of some of the romances, they were even employ ed to make the beds.
It is plain, from this account of the duties of this class of the esquires, that their rank was not high : how long they continued thus employed is not known ; but the next step in dignity was that of squire of the stable. The duties of this office were much more important, and re quired a considerable degree of skill and experience. As their name implies, they had the care of the horses ; with the assistance of inferior esquires, they trained them up to war, and taught them all the paces and movements that were necessary in tournaments or in battle ; they also kept their master's arms constantly clean and ready for use.
But it was when their master prepared to go forth ar rayed for battle, or for feats of arms, that the esquires were all in active employment : while one held the stir rup as he was mounting his horse, others brought him the different parts of his armour, and his pennon or ban ner. As it was not customary for a knight to ride on his
war-horse, except when an enemy was in sight, or in ac tual battle, one of his esquires led it by his side, and gave it him when requisite ; another generally preceded him, mounted on a common horse, carrying his shield and his helmet on the pommel of his saddle. Whenever it was necessary that the knight should mount his war-horse, and equip himself in full armour, each esquire perform ed his allotted duty in fitting on, with skill and expedi tion, the different parts. When the knight entered a church or any holy place, he took off his helmet and his sword, and gave them into the hands of the esquire of honour.
In the time of battle or of single combat, it was the duty of this esquire to watch all the movements of his master, in order that he might profit by what he saw, and that he might be ready to give him fresh arms or a fresh horse if he required it. It was also lawful for the esquire to ward off the blows that were aimed at him ; to point out how he might attack or defend himself with success and advantage ; and, if victorious, how he might render his victory complete. The knights, likewise, gave the prisoners whom they took in battle into the cus tody of their esquires.
The watchfulness and precaution so necessary in the feudal times, were carefully and early taught the esquires; the castles which they inhabited were guarded by them in all their different parts ; they were stationed on the towers, in order to give the alarm in case of the approach. of an enemy ; and they regularly traversed and examin ed all the chambers and courts.
Thus the time of the esquire was spent, from the age of fourteen to that of twenty-one ; for it was not, in general, till the latter period, that he was admitted to the full honours of chivalry. The cases in which this regulation, with respect to age, were dispensed with, were where the youths were of royal blood, or where their merit was very conspicuous and pre-eminent. There are examples of esquires having been made knights at the age of sixteen, fifteen, and fourteen ; but even in cases of noble birth, fifteen seems to have been the earliest legitimate age, since the sovereign could not levy the aids of chivalry, for the purpose of defraying the ex.