How to be Knight in 10 easy stages

How to be Knight in 10 easy stages

Stage 1 Become a squire If you'd lived in the Middle Ages, you wouldn't have gone to school. Instead, boys and girls from rich families were sent to live with another rich family in their castle or manor. They learnt how to read, write and play a musical instrument. They learnt good manners and had to serve their lord and lady at mealtimes. Boys were called pages. Girls were called . . . girls!

At the age of 14, a page became a squire. He would learn how to look after his master's horse and keep his armour and weapons in good order. One day he would go into battle, so he learnt how to fight. He used a wooden sword to learn hand-to-hand combat. He practised with the longbow. He learnt how to hold a lance by running at the quintain. If he didn't get out of the way quickly, the sack of sand would swing round and hit him.

Stage 2 Make a few promises When he was 21, the squire's training was finished. He was ready to become a knight. But first, he had to pray all night in a church. The next day, in front of lots of important people, the young squire knelt before his lord. . .

. . . and made some promises. This was the Code of Chivalry. A knight must： be brave. . . show courage in battle. be loyal. . . obey his lord and fight for him in battle show mercy. . . if his enemy surrenders the Knight must spare his life. be generous. . . look after his servants and share any plunder he gets in battle show justice. . . be fair in everything he does be humble. . not boast about things he has done I dub thee knight! Arise, Sir Greentree. Then the lord touched the squire's shoulders with s sword.

Stage 3 Get some armour Every knight needed a suit of armour to protect himself in battle. The armour was made of metal plates shaped to fit his body. They were tied together with leather straps so he could move easily.