In English law. The next personal dignity after the nobility. Of knights there are several orders and degrees. The first in rank are knights of the Garter, Instituted by Richard I. and improved by Edward III. in 1344; next follows a knight banneret; then come knights of the Bath, instituted by Henry IV., and revived by George I.; and they were so called from a ceremony of bathing the night before their creation. The last order are knights bachelors, who, though the lowest, are yet the most ancient, order of knighthood; for we find that King Alfred conferred this order upon his son Athelstan. 1 Bl. Comm. 403. Knighthood. The rank, order, character, or dignity of a knight. Knight’s foe. See FEE. Knights bachelors. In English law. The most ancient, though lowest, order of knighthood. 1 Bl. Comm. 404. Knights banneret. In English law. Those created by the sovereign in person on the field of battle. They rank, generally, after knights of the Garter. 1 Bl. Comm. 403. Knights of St. Michael and St. George. An English order of knighthood, instituted in 1818. Knights of St. Patrick. Instituted in Ireland by George III. A. D. 1763. They have no rank In England. Knights of the Bath. An order instituted by Henry IV., and revived by George I. They are so called from the ceremony formerly observed of bathing the night before their creation. Knights of the chamber. Those created in the sovereign’s chamber in time of peace, not in the field. 2 Inst. 666. Knights of the Garter. Otherwise called “Knights of the Order of St. George.” This order was founded by Richard I., and improved bv Edward III.. A. D. 1344. They form the highest order of knights. Knights of the post. A term for hireling witnesses. Knights of the shire. In English law. Members of parliament representing counties or shires, in contradistinction to citizens or burgesses, who represent boroughs or corporations. A knight of the shire is so called, because, as the terms of the writ for election still require, it was formerly necessary that he should be a knight. This restriction was coeval with the tenure of knight-service, when every man who received a knight’s fee immediately of the crown was constrained to be a knight: but at present any person may be chosen to fill the office who is not an alien. The money qualification is abolished by 21 Vict. c. 26. Wharton. Knights of the Thistle. A Scottish order of knighthood. This order is said to have been instituted by Achaius, king of Scotland, A. D. 819. The better opinion, however, is that it was instituted by James V. in 1534, was revived by James VII. (James II. of England) in 1687, and reestablished by Queen Anne in 1703. They have no rank in England. Wharton.