Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - V. Later Catholic Period in Sweden - B. The Reign of Magnus Ladulås - C. Knighthood, or Chivalry
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Knighthood, or Chivalry 69
antry. In pagan days the freeman was both soldier,
priest, and tiller of the soil. Now each of these occupa-
tions formed a separate estate.
The King’s Council. When important matters were
to be decided the king summoned the most important
members of the first two estates for consultation, as
he had to assure himself beforehand that he would not
have the mightiest men in the kingdom against him
when important matters were concerned. These great
lords formed the King’s Council. They were lordly
men, and it required powerful kings, like Magnus La-
dulas, to keep them in check. When specially important
matters were to be decided, the king summoned all the
lords, not simply the foremost, to meetings which were
known as Diets of Lords (Herredagar) .
C. KNIGHTHOOD, OR CHIVALRY
Training of a Knight. The foremost nobles were
the knights, mounted men-at-arms. The training for
knighthood began at the early age of seven. The lad
was sent to be educated at the castle of some renowned
lord. The future knight was first taught obedience and
service. There were daily exercises in knightly sports,
as shooting with the bow, handling the lance, the sword,
and the shield while managing his steed. Occasionally
a boy might be taught to play the lute and to sing, but
in general the knights were dreadfully ignorant. Many
could not even write their names.
Ceremony of Knighting. At the age of twenty-one
the youth who had successfully passed his period of
probation was solemnly dubbed a knight. He then
made the knightly vow: "I will with life and effects
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
