Sir Ralph Harcourt and Sir Gervaise Tresham, step forward." The two young knights, colouring with pleasure at this unexpected honour, removed their helmets, and stood with bowed heads before the grand prior.

D'Aubusson went on, turning to the knights around him, "I am about, comrades, to undertake the office of knighting them.

Sir Louis Ricord and Sir John Boswell stand as their sponsors.

But before I proceed I would ask you all whether you, too, approve, and hold that Sir Ralph Harcourt and Sir Gervaise Tresham have proved themselves worthy of the honour of secular knighthood at my hands ?" There was a general reply in the affirmative, the answer of the survivors of Ricord's crew being specially emphatic.

The grand prior drew his sword, and the two young knights knelt before him, their sponsors standing beside them.
"Sir Ralph Harcourt, you have now been four years a knight of this Order, but hitherto you have had no opportunity of drawing sword against the infidels.