Page:Debrett's Illustrated Peerage and Titles of Courtesy.djvu/70

 TITLES, ORDEES, ANDDEOREE? OF PRECEDENCE AND DIGNITY. John, five hundred pounds hy the yeere, to he received for him and his heires,' &c. And when the Black Prince was engaged in the wars of Spain and Portugal, he delivered a banner to John Chandos, not previously knighted, with these words : 4 Sir John, in the name of God, who hlesse this day's service of yours, that it may speed well and turn to your glorie, beare yourself manfully, and give proof what a knight you are.' Having thus received the banner, Sir John rejoined his company with a cheerful heart, saying, ' My fellow-soldiers, there is my banner and yours, it case yee defend it courageously as your owne.' " The degree was in later times conferred with much form by the King, regent, or lieutenant-general, " who " (according to Camden), " after good words and wishes in parting, happie fortune, commandeth the tip or point of the said pennon to bee cat off, that of a long pennon it might be made a four square banner." One writer of minute research says, in reference to this dignity, "I find that of old, banneret (or ban-rent) hath been with us a title higher than a baron ; for barons may choose their own commissioners, but bishops, dukes, earls, lords, and ban-rents are to be summoned to Parliament hy the King's special precept, and it is probable that these ban-rents were knights of extraordinary reputation, who were allowed to raise a company of men under their own banner. . . . . But I conceive that those could not now sit in Parliament upon the King's precept, the former Act of Parlia- ment being in desuetude. They have their precedency from baronets, though their wives have not, this being hut a temporary dignity, and the other an heritable."