KNIGHT, in a modern sense, properly signifies a person, who, for his virtue and martial prowess, is by the king raised above the rank of gentlemen, into an higher class of dignity and honour.
Knighthood was formerly the first degree of honour in the army, and usually conferred with a great deal of ceremony on those who had distinguished themselves by some notable exploit in arms: the ceremonies at their creation have been various; the principal was a box on the ear, and a stroke with a sword on the shoulder; they put on him a shoulder-belt, and a gilt sword, spurs, and other military accoutrements; after which being armed as a knight, he was led to the church in great pomp. Camden describes the manner of making a knight-bachelor among us, which is the lowest, though the most ancient order of knighthood, to be thus: the person kneeling, was gently struck on the shoulder by the prince, and accosted in these words, "Rise, or be a knight, in the name of God."