I am Sir Jeffrey, a knight of the royal court of England in the twelfth century. The twelfth century was the High Middle Ages when noble men in shining armor ruled the land. My story is full of the adventures and glory that only a knight could have known. I spent years on the Second and Third Crusades, fighting to capture the city of Jerusalem. This city had been occupied for many years by Arab Muslims. So, in 1187, Pope Gregory VIII stated that all knights should ride across Europe to the Middle East and take the city. But before I could do that, I had to spend many years becoming a knight.
I began my journey to knighthood as a page at the age of seven. I left home to live at the castle of a lord. As a page, I played many training games with other pages, such as wrestling, sword fighting, and lance practice. When we practiced sword and lance skills, we used wooden weapons to be safe.
My other lessons involved the lady and lord of the castle. I would spend the day serving my lord in all things. If his armor was rusted or dirty, it was my job to clean it. My lord taught me how to hunt, usually with a bow and arrow, but also with a hawk. The lady of the castle showed me how to be a gentleman by teaching me good manners. This was very important because a knight is not only a warrior, but a noble person who always does what is right. Another big part of my day involved learning about God and religion. This was important because many knights, including myself, were deeply religious Christians.
When I was 14, I was chosen to become a squire, a knight’s servant or apprentice. A squire takes care of the knight’s weapons and carries them for him. In battle, the squire quickly replaces any damaged shield or armor, so the knight can continue fighting. During my time as a squire, I learned the ways of combat and warfare from my lord. Now, instead of training with wooden weapons, the other squires and I used real ones. We studied siege warfare, or how to surround and blockade a city, and the art of commanding soldiers. As squires, we became expert horsemen. We learned to ride horses and fight at the same time. We also practiced fighting while wearing heavy armor. Sometimes during a battle, we were allowed to fight alongside our lord instead of just serving him.
A squire could become a knight between the ages of eighteen and twenty. When I was thought worthy of becoming a knight, I did everything a squire must do just before a knighting ceremony. I prayed throughout the night, refusing to eat or sleep. When morning came, I took a warm bath and put on a special padded vest and hood. Next, I put on my full armor, which was well-polished and shiny. Over this armor, I put on a fine white tunic or shirt. White was the color of purity. I was finally ready to be knighted, or "dubbed," a knight.
For the ceremony, I knelt before my lord and I received my sword, my lance, and golden spurs. I recited a special oath, or promise, to be loyal and obey him in all things. I also took the oath of chivalry to protect the weak and defenseless, defend the church, speak the truth, respect women, and live an honorable life. Then the lord performing the ceremony touched me on the shoulders with a sword and said, "I dub thee Sir Knight." I had knelt as a squire, but I rose as a knight.
As a knight, I was free to travel, but I always had to be available for my lord in both peace and in war. But most of the time, before I went on the Crusades, I fought in tournaments. Tournaments were very common events that allowed knights to compete against each other in combat with swords and lances. Even though the competitions were games, they were very dangerous and many knights died. These events could determine a knight’s fortune, since knights often bet their wealth on a tournament. To be beaten was to lose money and reputation. To win was to gain wealth and fame.
After the Crusades, I eventually returned to England. I continued to participate in tournaments and fight wars to gain land and money. I even taught my own pages and squires as I had been taught. When I look back on my life, I am proud to say that I was a true knight, performed my duties well, and fought for my beliefs.