So we've looked at the peerage, the greater nobility.

我们看过爵士了高等级的贵族
Then there was the lesser nobility

然后是相对低级的贵族
which contemporaries referred to usually as the 'gentry'.

现在通常被称为绅士
They were themselves internally differentiated into

他们内部也有分化
knights, esquires and mere gentlemen.

分成骑士骑士随从和绅士
Knights were created by the monarch for service,

骑士是为国王效劳而诞生的
for service in war, usually,

通常是参与战争
or in government--as indeed they still are.

或为政府工作就像现在那样
High-ranking civil servants in Britain and military officers

英国高等级的文官和军官
very often get a knighthood at the end of their active careers,

在职业生涯结束后通常会被授予骑士
though the notion of service has broadened somewhat

尽管现在受勋的领域被扩充到
nowadays to include other roles in society.

其他社会角色