Just about any source you look at on the process of becoming a knight will mention how some squires did not want to become knights and so would stay squires for years (even their whole lives). But the sources never really go into any detail regarding why that is. What is it about becoming a knight that's so costly?
I understand that they had expensive equipment and several horses that they needed, as well as paying for a lot of the same stuff and wages for their own squire(s), servants, men-at-arms, and other soldiers like archers that would accompany them. But is that all they mean when they say it was so expensive? If you remain a squire or a man-at-arms you still have to have the same expensive equipment as a knight and perhaps some of these additional costs.
The sources tend to avoid going into any sort of detail when they make this claim. Did they have to pay their lord or the person knighting them for the dubbing ceremony? Did they have to pay a cleric for his or the church's part in it? Did they have to pay for a feast and possible tournament and festivities surrounding the event? Did the king require a one-time tax or fee at the time of being knighted, or was there a regular tax on knights I've never heard of?
Whatever the costs, they must have been insane, because there are accounts of squires paying several pounds to avoid being knighted even just temporarily (the one I saw was something like a 3 year delay bought for this payment). Are there any sources you know of that break down all these costs of becoming a knight and why they were so onerous?
Most of the time the sources I've read will just make some vague statement like: "Some squires chose not to be knighted because the dubbing ceremony was prohibitively expensive." I just don't find this to be very helpful and am hopeful that you fine people can do better.
Thanks in advance!
Honestly, I have never read anything related to a charge for Knighting. I'm not saying it is not true, anything is possible. As far as I know, a squire was knighted when it was deemed he was ready. Being a squire in and of itself was not free, but the aftermath of dubbing carried some specific and costly requirements. That may be what they are saying.
In The Greatest Knight, Thomas Asbridge sources the Biography of William Marshal, commissioned by his son after his death, and it does contain at least some breakdown of the expense a knight might face in just his mounts.
"The fundamental tools of the trade cost a small fortune to buy and maintain. Warhorses in particular were cripplingly expensive, with an initial outlay of around four or five times what an average knight might live on in a year."
He goes on to break down what that cost looked like.
For general riding and travel, William used a light ‘palfrey’, while a stout and stocky ‘sumpter’ carried baggage, weapons and armour. However, Marshal’s most valuable mount was his destrier or warhorse – the animal ridden in combat. These cost anywhere from £40 to £100, sometimes even more. Working from the rates current in the 1160s, for the average price of one destrier William could have purchased either 40 palfreys, 200 packhorses, 500 oxen or a staggering 4,500 sheep.
On top of that, he would need weapons. Sword, shield, and lance. The price for these would vary depending on the quality and maker. His armor would also be his responsibility. Not just the initial purchase, but the upkeep as well.