Date: Sun, 28 Feb 1999 14:30:59 PST
From: eagleman_50@hotmail.com
Subject: KNIGHTS OF THE ROD - VI

  This is the sixth in a series of stories about Roan, a teenager who 
lived in the Middle Ages.  It contains sex between teenagers, between 
men and teenagers and incest.
   Comments welcomed: Eagleman_50@Hotmail.com


    The King arrived with much pomp and splendor. People came from every 
surrounding village and manor to see him and his retinue.  The knights 
came behind the king, lances at ease, armor shining in the blazing sun, 
banners flowing in the gentle breeze as they rode up to the castle, 
across the drawbridge and into the courtyard. 
   William was standing in the courtyard to welcome the king.  Bruce was 
behind him, followed by Father Stephen, and other dignitaries.  Roan 
followed behind the initial group with Richard and Caxton, all dressed 
in finery that William had provided. 
   William led the king into the Great Hall and sat him on the dais. The 
others moved to their assigned seats and formal introductions were made.  
Everyone was presented in the order of their importance. Obviously, 
Roan, Richard and Caxton were just given a nod, they had no titles or 
position of importance.  Nevertheless, everyone turned to gaze at Roan, 
who was splendid in one of William's favorite frocks. William had 
deliberately wanted Roan to wear the outfit, because he knew what a stir 
it would cause and he was right. Everyone, from the king down, wanted to 
know who was this handsome young man, but Roan smiled and kept his 
distance.  He was with Richard and Caxton, the two most important people 
in his life and he felt he didn't need anyone else.
   After a light breakfast the entourage proceeded to the cathedral 
where a memorial service was held for the Duke.  The circumstances of 
John's death made it necessary for his service to be held on a smaller 
scale without the king in attendance.  After the service the king went 
back to the royal apartments to rest while the others went to the field 
for the jousting tournament.  Everyone watched as the knights sparred 
against each other with their lances.  It was a thrilling sight to see 
the armored knights riding their horses, with their banners flying, 
trying to unseat their rivals.  Bruce was the clear favorite and he came 
out unscathed, winning the king's reward. During the tournament a light 
lunch was provided on the great field. After the tournament everyone 
went to their quarters to clean up for dinner which was held in the 
Great Hall. The courses of food were tremendous.  Dozens of cows and 
pigs had been slaughtered for the occasion along with multitudes of 
fowls and of all kinds of fish.  These were served with diverse 
vegetables, legumes and breads. The wine and the beer flowed and 
everyone had a merry time.  After the dinner there were various 
entertainments and singers and it was very late before the crowd began 
dispersing.  Torches were provided for those who had to walk through the 
fields to the tents.  
   Edward had come up for the festivities.  Because of his friendship 
with Roan he had been allowed to enter the Great Hall.  He had even been 
able to eat after the others had eaten. Then he stood in the back with 
Roan, Richard & Caxton and watched the jesters, the jugglers and the 
trained animals.  He had never seen a pageant so great and he enjoyed 
every moment.  As he watched he was aware of a knight who kept looking 
at him.  He remembered him from the tournament as one who had unseated 
quite a few opponents before being unseated himself.  He had long brown 
hair and liquid brown eyes. His thick eyebrows and matching mustache 
contributed to his attractive appearance and he smiled easily and often.  
Everytime Edward looked across the room he noted that this knight was 
smiling directly at him.  At first Edward was uneasy and kept turning 
away, but after awhile he began returning the looks and the smile.  When 
it came time to go he decided to walk toward the knight, but after 
pushing his way through the crowd he couldn't find him.
   It was late so Edward started toward home, he was glad it was a full 
moon because no one had provided torches for those who lived in the 
village.  He walked with the crowd out of the courtyard and across the 
drawbridge, but just as he got across the bridge someone stepped out 
from behind a tree and grabbed his arm.
   "Need protection on your way home."  Edward looked up and recognized 
the knight who had stared at him in the Great Hall.
   "Not protection, company."  Edward grinned at him.
   "What's your name, mine's Timothy."  Timothy reached out his hand and 
shook Edward's.
   "I'm Edward, son of Wulstan, Timothy."
   "You live in the village?"
   "Yes, why were you staring at me in the Great Hall?"
   "I was staring at you at the tournament,too, but you didn't notice 
me. You're handsome, Edward, and I wanted to meet you, that's why I 
waited for you here."
   "How did you know I was coming this way?"
   "Oh, I asked about you.  I knew you were Edward, son of Wulstan 
before I asked you, I had been told."
   "Oh."  Edward did not know what to say. He was attracted to this 
handsome knight, but he was unsure of himself, it was a new situation 
for him.
   "Would you like to visit my tent?"
   "I dunno, Timothy, I mean, I would, but my father expects me."
   "I sent someone to tell him you would be staying at the castle. They 
were instructed to say you were with Roan."
   "How could you do that? I mean, you didn't know if I wanted to stay 
with you."
   "Do you?"  
   Edward looked down at the ground, he was blushing.  His face had 
turned a fiery red, matching the red of his hair. Even in the moonlight 
Timothy could see him blushing.
   "I didn't mean to embarass you, Edward.  If you don't want to stay I 
can walk you home and everything is fine."
   "I do, Timothy, it's just that I never expected anything like this to 
happen."
   Timothy led Edward to his tent on the edge of the field.  Edward 
liked the fact that it was down by the river where he and Roan used to 
play.  It was near another tent that was already occupied -  Nicolas' 
tent. Richard had come out to spend another night with him. 
   "Whose tent is that?"  Edward pointed to Nicolas' tent
   "My comrade-in-arms, Richard, son of John."
   "Why are these two tents off be themselves?"
   "Oh, we like our privacy. Lots of questions, huh?"  Timothy smiled at 
Edward and ushered him into his tent.
   Once in the tent Timothy wasted no time or words getting Edward 
undressed and into his arms. Then they stood, nude, kissing, caressing 
and exploring one another's body. Timothy's hair was brown, long and 
straight, falling almost to his shoulders.  His broad shoulders tapered 
down to a narrow waist. His stomach was flat and he had pecs that stood 
out almost an inch above it.  Muscled arms and legs gave the appearance 
of awesome strength. Timothy had no body hair, but he did have thick 
brown eyebrows that complimented his deep brown eyes.  
   Timothy pulled Edward down onto the pallet on top of him and began 
cupping his asscheeks. He liked the feel of Edward's melon buns and 
cooed into his ears as he grasped them, caressing him with his rough 
hands.
   "I want to fuck you, Edward, I want to plant my seed in you."
   "Take me, Timothy. I want you in me."
   Timothy eased out from under Edward and lay him on his back.  He 
watched as Edward lifted his legs, pulled his knees back to his chest 
and presented his little hole to him. Timothy had a vial of unguent 
which he used to lubricate himself.  Just before he put his cock at 
Edward's manhole he bent over and kissed him, letting his tongue run 
across the hole.  Edward moaned and Timothy kept up the attack on his 
slimy hole, licking and tasting with abandonment. Edward lifted his ass 
to give him greater access and Timothy pushed his head into the crevice 
as far as he could go. His tongue kept moving across the hole, back and 
forth, stopping to push in, taste and then return to slurping.  Edward 
moaned over and over, alerting anyone who was around that something 
sensuous was occuring in this tent.
   Timothy raised up, took his lubricated dick in his hand and placed it 
on the manhole.  He pushed in, spearing Edward with one thrust of his 
fleshly lance.  Edward cried out at the haste of the invasion, but began 
to relax as Timothy lay still on top of him. Timothy waited until Edward 
stopped wimpering and then he pulled out. Edward used his ass muscles in 
the way Roan had taught him and squeezed Timothy's thick staff.  Now it 
was Timothy's turn to moan and he did. 
   "Oh, yes, Edward, squeeze me, yes!"
   Edward began tightening and releasing the big dick that pushed in and 
pulled out of his narrow channel.  He realized that being fucked was the 
thing he liked most and this big dick was causing waves of sensations to 
flow through his body.  He held Timothy tightly and whispered in his 
ear, "Fuck me, harder, Timothy, harder."
   Timothy responded by increasing his pace and slamming harder against 
the rounded ass that encased his nine inch lance. He began pulling all 
the way out, looking at the hole, and then slamming back in.  He did 
this over and over and listened to Edward moan at each stroke.  Suddenly 
he put his hand over Edward's mouth.
   "Listen, shush!"  Edward strained his ears and heard someone moaning 
as he had been.  He listened carefully and knew it was a man who must 
have been experiencing what he was experiencing.  He didn't know it 
then, but he was listening to Nicholas moan as Richard's hard rod was 
being furiously pushed into his tight ass.
   Timothy resumed his slamming.  He pushed against Edward's prostate, 
noticed his reaction and then began a series of short jabbing thrusts 
against the sensitive organ.  Edward screamed out in his passion as the 
huge rod assaulted his pleasure button over and over.  Timothy kept at 
it until Edward's cock stiffened and then began erupting with powerful 
blasts of semen. Timothy pulled out and made Edward turn over on all 
fours.  He knelt behind him, pushed back in, put his hands on his 
shoulders to get leverage and began to plow harder and deeper.  Each 
stroke went to the depths of the teenager's being, causing him to 
continually moan.  In the next tent, Nicolas and Richard were now 
listening to them. 
   It went on like this in both tents for most of the night. Timothy was 
lost in the pleasure of Edward's hot tight ass.  He fucked him on and on 
without let up, emptying his jism into Edward's melon shaped ass and 
then starting all over again. Richard humped Nicholas, then turned over 
and took Nicholas' thick tool and afterward, took him again. There was a 
bonding taking place between both couples that was to be significant in 
time to come  
   
   In the morning Timothy was awakened by voices outside his tent.  He 
sat up, disturbing Edward who was asleep with his head on his chest, and 
listened.
   "Come out, Sir Timothy, come out and reveal yourself."  Timothy knew 
that voice so he rose up and went to the tent opening.  Looking out he 
saw Nicholas and a young man who he remembered had been with Edward in 
the Great Hall.
   "We want to see who shared you tent and gave you so much pleasure. 
You kept us up most of the night with your sounds of love."  Nicholas 
was grinning broadly.  He stare as Edward put his head in the opening.
   "Oh, another handsome one from the castle."  Richard smiled when he 
saw Edward.  Roan had told him about his times with Edward at the river 
so he knew Timothy must have had a great time.
   "Sir Nicholas, I think you owe us an apology, sir.  It was you and 
your friend here that kept us up.  We were unable to concentrate on our 
duties because of your noise making."  Nicholas laughed and pulled 
Timothy out into the opening.  He was naked and his cock had started to 
rise.  Edward followed him in the same state.  Both Richard and Nicholas 
laughed as they stared at the two who were trying to cover themselves.
   "C'mon, let's go down to the river and clean off the night's grime." 
Nicholas led the way, taking off his garments as he went.  By the time 
they got to the river bank all four young men were naked.  They plunged 
into the river and swam around, playing and washing at the same time.  
After awhile they came up and sat on the bank, drying in the early 
morning sun.
   "Hey, look at that!"  Nicholas jumped up and pointed toward the 
woods.  As everyone turned they saw two young men on a horse ride out of 
the woods and turn in their direction.  The interesting thing was that 
the two young men were naked.  When they saw the little group by the 
river they tried to turn back into the woods, but it was too late.
   "Roan, Roan, come here."  Richard and Edward both called out 
together.
   Roan spurred his horse and rode up to the little group that had been 
watching he and Caxton so intently. Roan jumped down and hugged his 
brother and then Edward.  He looked at the other two and smiled.
   "Do you always ride naked, my friend."  Timothy smiled at Roan.
   "Only in the mornings when we ride for exercise."  Roan giggled as he 
looked at his brother and his friends.
   "Who's exercise, the horses?"  Nicholas laughed as he thought about 
what had taken place between these two in the woods.
   "One thing is certain, the reports of your beauty were not 
exaggerated.  My, you are handsome!"  Timothy looked admiringly at Roan.  
"And you, my young friend, are lucky to share his bed and his horse." He 
patted Caxton on the shoulder and laughed. Turning to Edward he looked 
at him and said, "You, too, have been very fortunate."  Edward had told 
him about his experiences with Roan at the river.  Roan looked at Edward 
and winked.  Edward blushed and then smiled back.
   "I think I have been the fortunate one."  Roan smiled as he looked at 
Richard.  None of them knew about his love for Richard and their times 
together. "Listen, it will soon be time for the ceremony making William 
the duke.  We must be there for he will make an announcement about his 
realm and its rule and I think he has plans for us.  Let's go, we can 
meet in my rooms after the ceremony to hash out who is really lucky or 
fortunate or what."  Roan smiled as he thought about the prospects of 
six hot men in one room for a night, the others  giggled as the thought 
sunk in.
   "Let's go and get this over.  I'm more interested in the activities 
in this young man's room."  Nicholas turned and started back to the tent 
to get dressed.  The little group dispersed, all going to get ready, all 
thinking about the evening's plans.

   Father Stephen missed Roan, but he realized that his time with him 
was over.  He had seen Roan and Caxton together and knew as he watched 
them looking at each other during the festivities in the Great Hall that 
there was a special feeling between them. He was wise enough to know 
that his time with Roan was a special time to prepare him for what was 
to come and that time was over.  He was glad that he had been able to 
have the handsome youth share his bed and his body. He was ready to move 
on, but he didn't know who he was going to move with. Because he was one 
of the rare individuals of his time who could read and write, William 
had come to rely on him for help with the administrative duties of the 
domain. Even before the king was ready to leave Father Stephen found 
himself being called on to help with the various business aspects of the 
castle and the realm. He stayed up late and woke up early to help 
William have everything in order for the King's departure. On the 
evening before the ceremony of investiture he stayed with William long 
into the night.  After finishing his work he took a torch and walked 
back to his quarters.  He had moved from his little room to the more 
spacious quarters that had belong to Father Walter.  Like Roan, he had 
three rooms in his quarters and he was justly proud of his ascent. As he 
got back to his room and fell across the bed, he heard a knock on the 
door.  When he opened it he saw Clement, one of the cook's helpers 
standing with a tray of food.
   "Sir, Sir William asked me to bring this to you, he says you haven't 
eaten this evening."  Clement smiled as Stephen waved him into the room.
   "That was thoughtful of him, although I'm not really hungry for 
food."  Stephen looked at the handsome young man and smiled.
   "You are hungry, though?"  Clement put the tray down and turned to 
him. "I was told to serve you, sir."
   "I'm hungry, Clement, hungry for a strong body such as yours. Can you 
serve me?"  
   "Yes, I will be honored, sir."  Clement looked at Father Stephen, 
waiting for his next move.  Stephen looked at him and took in his 
handsome face.  He was,like Stephen, tall and thin.  Instead of black 
hair like the priest's, his was blonde and profuse.  He seemed to have 
hair everywhere, thick eyebrows, mustache, arms - everywhere. His face 
was handsome, although he had traces of smallpock scars on his cheeks. 
His eyes, which were a pale blue, seemed to sparkle as he laughed, which 
was often.
   "Take off your garments, Clement, let me see you."  Clement hurriedly 
removed his smock, his breeches and his undergarments.  Stephen noted 
the thick mat of hair on his chest, his hairy legs and the big bush of 
hair surrounding his now lengthening cock. He smiled as he thought about 
making love to this handsome youth.
   "How old are you, Clement."
   "Nineteen, sir."
   "Have you ever been with another man?"
   "Many times, sir, it is the only love I have known."
   Father Stephen smiled and wondered 'who else he had been with' but 
decided not to ask, at least not now.  He removed his clerical vestments 
and walked toward Clement who opened his arms to him. Clement took 
Stephen's kiss and stuck his tongue into his mouth to enflame his 
passions.  Stephen realized he was an aggressive lover and surrenedered 
himself to him.  Clement's hands were touching Stephen in all the right 
places as he kissed and fondled him.  Without warning, Clement released 
him, turned him around, pushed him against a wall, kneeling behind him.  
He reached up and with both hands he spread Stephen's asscheeks, looking 
into the hairy valley at the little hole that was hidden there. He 
leaned forward, stuck his tongue against the hole and began seriously 
washing it with his pink appendage. Stephen felt the tongue bathing his 
hole and moaned. He leaned his upper body against the wall and stuck his 
ass out further to get more of the insistent tongue. He liked the feel 
of Clement's hands on each of his asscheeks, holding them apart and 
caressing them as his tongue continued to wipe back and forth across the 
slimy portal. He looked around and saw Clement's head, stuck in his 
crevice, concentrating on the task before him. The feeling was 
fantastic! He cooed like a satisfied baby as Clement's tongue reached 
into his hot hole and wet his inner anus. After a long time, Clement 
stood up and leaned against Father Stephen, letting his hard cock push 
into the crevice his tongue had just vacated.
   "Can I fuck you?"  Clement whispered into Stephen's ear and then 
began chewing his earlobe.
   "Yes, please, I want you in me."  Stephen realized this kid was very 
hot and he wanted him very badly.
   Clement spit into his hand and used his saliva to lubricate his long 
cock.  He reached into the crevice and put his finger into the hole, 
opening it for the real digit.  He pressed his cock against the hole and 
began easing it in, moving slowly because he was big and didn't want to 
hurt the priest. Stephen was still leaning against the wall, his head on 
the wall and his ass stuck out.  He felt the huge cock slowly moving 
into his ass channel and moaned as it reached deeper and deeper. He knew 
that Clement was bigger than Roan but he welcomed the invasion as the 
huge cock finally touched bottom.  He realized Clement was fully in when 
he leaned against him and began sucking on his earlobe again.
   "I'm in, are you OK?"
   "Yes, Clement, I'm fine." To show him he was fine he squeezed ass 
muscles, grasping the hard cock that filled his rectum. 
   Clement moaned and then began the rhythmic plowing that he knew would 
bring them both to a plateau of pleasure. His long cock moved into the 
slimy tunnel and pulled back out in strokes that were calculated to give 
Stephen the ultimate pleasure. His thrusts were repeated over and over 
as he humped into the tight hole.  Because of their standing position 
and Father Stephen's height, he pumped up into him in a continuous 
sensuous pattern.  Every so often he would pull all the way out and then 
plow back in, slamming his pubes against Stephen's rounded ass.  He held 
him tightly with one arm as he chewed on his earlobes and used the other 
hand to stroke the priest's fleshly rod.  Stephen was moving with 
Clement, pushing and pulling against his taut body as the big cock 
entered and exited his grinding ass.  Clement pushed in, held his cock 
in place and began stirring it like a spoon.  Stephen moaned at the 
sensation of the big dick stirring within him and used his hand to pull 
the young man in tighter.  He loved what he was doing to him and wanted 
it to last as long as it could.  
   "Clement, fuck me, fuck me! Yeah!"  
   "This is just for you, Stephen, just for you!  Tell me when you've 
had enough."
   No one had ever said that to Stephen before.  The way he felt at that 
moment he didn't know if he would ever have enough.  But he also knew 
that the pressure of Clement's big dick and his hand stroking his hard 
cock was bringing him to an serious climax.
   "Cummmmmmmmmmmming, Clemmmmmmmmmmmmm, yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!"  Father 
Stephen shot his load against the wall in spurt after spurt.
   "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yesssssssssssss!"  Clement 
shot his deep inside Stephen.  His load was so profuse it oozed out of 
Stephen's tight ass and ran down his legs. 
   "Oh God, Clement, that was great!"
   "All for you, Father Stephen, all for you. I just wanted to please 
you.  Did I do all right?"  Clement looked into Stephen's eyes waiting 
for his response.
   "All right?  You were better than all right, Clement. You were 
awesome!"  Stephen pulled him to him and kissed him gently on the cheek.  
"You will stay with me tonight, yes?"
   "Oh, yes, sir, I would love that."
   Clement stayed that night.  Stephen ate the food that he brought and 
then lay down on his back, with his long legs draped over Clement's 
shoulders and took his big dick again.  Clement leaned on him and fucked 
him until they both came with cries of joys.  After that night Clement 
left the kitchen and became Father Stephen's personal assistant.  

   The ceremony of investiture took place at the cathedral.  The Bishop, 
assisted by Father Stephen, led the mass of celebration. Then, the King 
read a proclamation recognizing William's hereditary right to the domain 
of Farnham.  After that he took the ducal crown and placed it on 
William's head declaring him to the eighth duke of Farnham, Earl of 
Cheshire, etc. At that the assembled gathering broke into sustained 
applause as William rose to face them, blushing at the attention and 
trying to look very serious. Bruce was given the place of honor and 
behind him sat the six: Roan, Caxton, Richard, Nicholas, Timothy and 
Edward.  They had been given a place of honor by William in recognition 
of his special plans for them.  All except Nicholas and Timothy, were 
overawed at the attention they received and the honor that was given 
them.  They realized they were just peasant lads who had no claim to any 
honor or position of importance; but they also realized that William had 
plans for them.
   After the cathedral ceremony everyone marched back to the castle and 
assembled in the Great Hall for a royal feast.  As before, the food was 
prepared and served in heaps.  There were meats of all kinds, sauces, 
vegetables, grains, and many different kinds of sweets. There was an 
ample supply of beer and wine which servants kept pouring as soon as 
they saw an empty goblet.  At the height of the meal William stood on 
the dais and called for everyone's attention.
   "To his royal highness, Henry, King of England, to the Bishop and all 
the invited guests.  I am honored that you have come to my investiture.  
I will be short.  As the Duke of Farnham, Earl of Cheshire I will rule 
this domain as a fief from God and the King.  I will serve my ruler and 
be his knight whenever he needs me.  As the Duke I appoint Bruce as my 
captain.  He will establish in my name a band of knights who will serve 
me and thus our King.  This band of Knights, some of whom you see here, 
will be the Knights of the Rod. We pledge ourselves to protect the honor 
and realm of the king, the honor and realm of this domain and all who 
need our relief. We pledge ourselves to love each other and support each 
other to the limit of our being. I also invite all young men everywhere 
to join this band of men who have pledged themselves to support, honor 
and love each other under the banner of the Rod.  All of this has been 
spoken of to the King and he supports us in this endeavor."
   William bowed and sat down.  The assembled crowd broke into applause 
and many came to congratulate him on his accession to the throne.  The 
festivities lasted far into the night as many came and went, enjoying 
the food and the drink.

   Sometime in the evening, soon after William's speech, Roan and Caxton 
left the feast and went to their chambers.  Shortly afterward, Richard 
and Nicholas also left, followed by Edward and Timothy.  All six 
reassembled in Roan's suite of rooms.  For a while they lounged around, 
talking, playing and making merry.  No one remembers who started it but 
soon they were touching, pulling and grappling with each other.  That 
turned to kissing and caressing and then undressing.  In no time, six 
young horny men were standing together, naked, dicks hard and dripping 
and passions enflamed.
   The floor, the bed, the tables, the anteroom, the guest room, the 
bedroom - every part of the Roan's suite was used by these six young men 
as they tasted the joys of mansex throughout the night.  In other parts 
of the castle and in the tents in the fields similar activities were 
taking place, but none as sensuous or as hot as what took place in that 
room that night.
   Nicholas lay Roan on his back across a table and plowed his shapely 
ass until he filled it with his hot white jism.  As Roan looked around 
he saw Richard standing behind Edward, humping him while stroking his 
long cock at the same time.  When he looked the other way he saw Timothy 
laying on his back on the bed with fourteen year old Caxton thrusting 
into him. Then Roan plowed Nicholas as Edward stuffed his tool into 
Caxton while Richard was concentrating on invading Timothy's hungry 
hole. Finally the four watched as Richard made passionate love to his 
brother, Roan.  The sight of the two brothers making love was so hot and 
erotic it turned the others on and Caxton and Timothy got into a 69 
position while Nicholas and Edward did the same.  All of them came for a 
third time in a swirl of moans, cries and spent jism.
   The King left the next day at noon after a farewell mass in the 
castle chapel and another feast in the Great Hall.  His entire retinue 
lined up in the courtyard, bade farewell to the new Duke and his 
retainers and began their journey back to London.  All of the castle 
inhabitants watched until they disappeared over the hill and could not 
be seen any longer.  Then the clean up began.  Many of the peasants came 
up from the villages to help put everything back in place.  It took 
three days to take down the tents, clean up the courtyard and the Great 
Hall, and to return everything to normalcy. William fed the workers from 
the food that was left over from the King's visit and gave each worker a 
sovereign for their help.  

   Among his initial duties were to sign the papers freeing Roan and his 
family, as well as Edward and Caxton.  He released them to Bruce who 
began the serious training for knighthood. For the six, but especially 
for Roan, Caxton and Edward, it was a period of strenuous work and 
development.  They were introduced to the art of medieval war and 
knighthood.  They learned to use various weapons: lance, axe, mace, 
hatchet, sword and dagger.  They became accomplished riders and 
jousters; fierce fighters who could hold their own against any soldiers. 
It took Bruce almost two years but in the end they became Knights of the 
Rod and were ready to defend their Duke in any encounter.
   Other young men came to join this band of warriors so that Bruce soon 
had a small army of tough, capable men.  They were also trained in the 
art of war and taught to support each other fiercely and faithfully.  At 
the end of the training there was a solemn ceremony of knighthood and 
bonding that took place in the Great Hall.  Each young man was given a 
sword, a page and a horse. Then they recited the oath of allegiance that 
Father Stephen had written especially for them.  Each soldier held his 
two rods: his lance and his hard cock and pledged fealty to the King, to 
William and to each other.  They were now bound together for life and 
pledged to support and love each other as only Knights of the Rod can 
do.