2). Kids who aspired to become knights would begin training at an early age, around five or six years old. Before becoming a knight, two ranks must be achieved, taking over ten years. It became a custom that a boy must be a page first, a servant second, and be knighted last.At the age of seven a boy would become a page. Pages learned good manners and such skills as singing, dancing, and playing chess. These activities taught the lad such qualities as intelligence, maturity, and strategy (Scher 1). Fun activities were important for these children to keep their interest in learning alive. After about seven or eight years as a page, the young man became a squire (Scher 1).Around the age of fourteen, he would be promoted to a squire (Steele 13). This was a step up from a page in both duties and stature. At the new position boys would fight by their master's, trained knights, sides. To do this well they trained constantly by jousting with peers or dummies and horse riding practices (Steele 13). This was a major time period in the youth's life, for he gets his first taste of knighthood.After approximately four years of experience in warfare, the squire may finally be "dubbed" a knight (Steele 13). The dubbing process was a very important and sacred event and had numerous traditions attached to it. On the night before the ceremony, squires performed rituals such as bathing and wearing special clothes. All night long the squire prayed alone in a church (Scher 1). It was not until the elder knight tapped the squire on both shoulders and said, "I dub thee knight," that the ceremony was completed (Scher 2). This motion was symbolic of the recognition of the knight by somebody of higher ranking. After this, the new knight would receive the blessed sword and weapons used by the knight who trained him (Scher 2).A knight had certain possessions that were necessary to carry out his deeds.No knight was well equipped without at least thr...
