'The Good' James Douglas was created a Knight Banneret
on the field of battle, at Bannockburn. This article is based on the
English system, but is presumably relevant in Scotland.
A Knight Banneret was a Knight Bachelor who had distinguished himself in
battle and became entitled to bear a small square banner rather than a
swallow-tailed pennon. He commanded a body of officers and men, i.e.
knights, esquires and soldiers, whom he raised to serve under his
banner, but who were paid by the Crown. However, some wealthy knights,
(as in the case of a distinguished soldier, Sir Thomas Tryvet, prior to
the battle of Troyes in France in 1380) claimed the dignity of Banneret,
saying that they had sufficient revenue to maintain that estate by their
own means.
Bannerets were part of the army from possibly the time of King Henry
III, but certainly the time of King Edward I.
The procedure for becoming a Knight Banneret seems to have been that, on
being advanced to that honour, the Knight Bachelor would, whilst in the
field, be escorted by two senior knights to the King or his Lieutenant.
With him came the Heralds carrying a swallow-tailed flag called a
pennon, with his arms painted on it. The Heralds would announce to the
King or Lieutenant (usually a General) that the knight concerned had
shown himself valiant in the field of battle and deserved to be advanced
to the degree of Knight Banneret. The King or General then ordered the
points of his pennon to be cut off. He now had a smaller banner or
Banneret. The new Knight Banneret then received his fees; however, if he
was previously a Knight Bachelor he had to pay the Heralds their
attendance fees.
Knights Banneret were created only in the field of battle and it could
happen that if they were unable to support this dignitary a grant of
money was made. This appears to have varied between £200 and £500 a
year, depending on their income. The wages of Knights Banneret were the
same as those of Barons and double those of Knights Bachelor, i.e. in
war a Baron or Banneret received 4s. a day, a knight 2s. and an Esquire
1s. The wife of a Banneret was called a Banneress.
The creation of a Knight was in the past always accompanied with
ceremonies involving vigils, bathing, investiture, the receiving of the
accolade and the taking of vows. These ancient ceremonies are echoed
today, in the Annual Service of Dedication held in the Chapel of the
Imperial Society, where newly created Knights Bachelor (together with
earlier created knights and their guests) are invited to attend and
encouraged to make their vows.
The last creation of a Knight Banneret was by King Charles I, at the
Battle of Edgehill in October 1642, in recognition of the rescue of the
Royal Standard.
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