KNIGHT

In English law. The next personal dignity after the nobility.. Ot knights there are several orders and degrees. The first in rank are knights of the Garter, instituted by Richard I. and improved -by Edward III. in 1344; next follows a knight banneret; then come knights ot the Bath, instituted by Henry IY., and revived by George I.; and they were so called from a ceremony of bathing the night before their creation. The last order are knights bachel• ors, who, though the lowest, are yet the most ancient, order of knighthood; for we find that King Alfred conferred this order upon his son Athelstan. 1 Bl Comm. 403. -Knighthood. The rank, order, character, or dignity of a knight,;...Knight's fee. See FEE.-Knights bachelors. In English law. '.l'he most ancient, though lowest, order of knighthood. 1 Bl. C-Omm. 404.-Knights banneret. In English law. Those created by the sovereign in person on the field of battle. They rank, generally. after knights of the Garter. 1 Bl. Comm. 403.-Knights of St. Michael and St. George, An English orffer of kniirbt• hood, instituted in 1818.-Knights of St, Patrick. Instituted in Ireland by George III., A. D. 1700. They have no rank in England. -Knights of the Bath. An order institut• ed by Henry IV.. and revived by George I. T·hey are so called from the ceremony formerly observed of bathing the night before their ere• ation.-Knights of the chamber, Those created.in the sovereign's chamber in time of peace, not in the field. · 2 Inst. 666.-Knights of the Garter. Otherwise called "Knights of the Order of St. George." This order was founded by Richard I.. arid improved by Ed· ward III.• A. D. 1344. They form the highest order of knights.-Knights of the post. A term for hireling witne es.-Knights of the shire, In English law. Members of parliament representing counties or shires, in contra• distinction to citizens or burge es. who repre• sent boroughs or corporations. A knight ot the shire is so called. because, as the terms of the writ for election still require, it was former• ly nece ary that he should be a knight. This restriction was coeval with the tenure of knight• service, when every man who received a knight's fee immediately of the crown was constrained to be a knight; but at present any person may be chosen to fill the office who is not an alien. The money qualification is abolished by 21 Viet. c. 26. Wbarton.-Knights of the Thistle. A Scottish order. of knighthood. This order· is said to have been instituted by Achaius, king of Scotland, A. D. 819. The bet• · ter opinion, however, is that it was instituted by Jame!! V. in 1534, was revived by James VII. (James,,II. of England) in 1687, and reestablished by Queen Anne in 1703. They have 110 rank in E·ngland. Wharton. KNIGHT-MARSHAL, In English law. An officer in the royal household who has jurisdiction and cognizance of offenses corn• mitted within the household and verge, and BLLAW Drnr.(2D ED.)-44 [s. 695]