SIL. And dub me knight.
The following addition to the ceremony of dubbing topers knights _on
their knees_ in Shakspeare's time, from a contemporary pamphlet, may
not be unacceptable: "The divell will suffer no dissensions amongst
them untill they have executed his wil in the deepest degree of
drinking, and made their sacrifice unto him, and most commonly that is
done _upon their knees being bare_. The prophaneness whereof is most
lamentable and detestable, being duely considered by a Christian, to
think that that member of the body which is appointed for the service
of God is too often abused with the adoration of a harlot, or a base
drunkard, as I myself have been (and to my griefe of conscience) may
now say have in presence, yea and amongst others, been an actor in the
business, when _upon our knees_, after healthes to many private punkes,
a health have been drunke to all the whoores in the world."--Young's
_England's bane_, or the _description of drunkennesse_, 1617, quarto.