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diff --git a/40021-8.txt b/40021-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e365405..0000000 --- a/40021-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11117 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Chivalry, Volume I (of 2), by -Charles Mills - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The History of Chivalry, Volume I (of 2) - Or, Knighthood and Its Times - -Author: Charles Mills - -Release Date: June 17, 2012 [EBook #40021] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF CHIVALRY, VOL 1 *** - - - - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - - The History of Chivalry - or - Knighthood and its times. - - - By CHARLES MILLS, Esqr. - Author of the History of the Crusades - - - IN TWO VOLUMES. - - Vol: I. - - - [Illustration: Engraved by A. Le Petit - from a sketch by R. W. Sievier.] - - - London. - Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown and Green - MDCCCXXV. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The propriety of my writing a History of Chivalry, as a companion to my -History of the Crusades, was suggested to me by a friend whose -acquaintance with middle-age lore forms but a small portion of his -literary attainments, and whose History of Italy shows his ability of -treating, as well as his skill in discovering, subjects not hitherto -discussed with the fulness which their importance merits.[1] - -The works of Menestrier and Colombiere sleep in the dust of a few ancient -libraries; and there are only two other books whose express and entire -object is a delineation of the Institutions of chivalry. The first and -best known is the French work called "Mémoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie; -considérée comme un Etablissement Politique et Militaire. Par M. de la -Curne de Sainte Palaye, de l'Académie Françoise," &c. 2 tom. 12mo. Paris, -1759. The last half, however, of the second volume does not relate to -chivalry, and therefore the learned Frenchman cannot be charged with -treating his subject at very great length.[2] It was his purpose to -describe the education which accomplished the youth for the distinction of -knighthood, and this part of his work he has performed with considerable -success. But he failed in his next endeavour, that of painting the martial -games of chivalry, for nothing can be more unsatisfactory than his account -of jousts and tournaments. As he wished to inform his readers of the use -which was made in the battle field of the valour, skill, and experience of -knights, a description of some of the extraordinary and interesting -battles of the middle ages might have been expected. Here also -disappointment is experienced; neither can any pleasure be derived from -perusing his examination of the causes which produced the decline and -extinction of chivalry, and his account of the inconveniences which -counterbalanced the advantages of the establishment. - -Sainte Palaye was a very excellent French antiquarian; but the limited -scope of his studies disqualified him from the office of a general -historian of chivalry. The habits of his mind led him to treat of -knighthood as if it had been the ornament merely of his own country. He -very rarely illustrates his principles by the literature of any other -nation, much less did he attempt to trace their history through the -various states of Europe. He has altogether kept out of sight many -characteristic features of his subject. Scarcely any thing is advanced -about ancient armour; not a word on the religious and military orders; and -but a few pages, and those neither pleasing nor correct, on woman and -lady-love. The best executed part of his subject regards, as I have -already observed, the education of knights; and he has scattered up and -down his little volume and a half many curious notices of ancient manners. - -The other work is written in the German language, and for that reason it -is but very little known in this country. It is called Ritterzeit und -Ritterwesen, (two volumes octavo, Leipzig, 1823,) and is the substance of -a course of lectures on chivalry delivered by the author, Mr. Büsching, to -his pupils of the High School at Breslau. The style of the work is the -garrulous, slovenly, ungrammatical style which lecturers, in all -countries, and upon all subjects, think themselves privileged to use. A -large portion of the book is borrowed from Sainte Palaye; much of the -remainder relates to feudalism and other matters distinct from chivalry: -but when the writer treats of the state of knighthood in Germany I have -found his facts and observations of very great value. - -Attention to the subjects of the middle ages of Europe has for many years -been growing among us. It was first excited by Warton's history of our -national verse, and Percy's edition of the Relics of ancient English -Poetry. The romances of chivalry, both in prose and metre, and the -numberless works on the Troubadour, and every other description of -literature during the middle ages which have been published within the -last few years, have sustained the interest. The poems of Scott convinced -the world that the chivalric times of Europe can strike the moral -imagination as powerfully and pleasingly in respect of character, passion, -and picturesqueness of effect, as the heroic ages of Greece; and even very -recently the glories of chivalry have been sung by a poetess whom Ariosto -himself would have been delighted to honour.[3] Still, however, no attempt -has been hitherto made to describe at large the institutions of -knighthood, the foundation of all that elegant superstructure of poetry -and romance which we admire, and to mark the history of chivalry in the -various countries of Europe. Those institutions have, indeed, been allowed -a few pages in our Encyclopædias; and some of the sketches of them are -drawn with such boldness and precision of outline that we may regret the -authors did not present us with finished pictures. Our popular historians -have but hastily alluded to the subject; for they were so much busied with -feudalism and politics, that they could afford but a small space for the -play of the lighter graces of chivalry. - -For a description, indeed, of antique manners, our materials are not so -ample as for that of their public lives. But still the subject is not -without its witnesses. The monkish chroniclers sometimes give us a glimpse -of the castles of our ancestors. Many of the knights in days of yore had -their biographers; and, for the most interesting time of chivalry, we -possess an historian, who, for vividness of delineation, kindliness of -feeling, and naïveté of language, is the Herodotus of the middle ages. - -"Did you ever read Froissart?" - -"No," answered Henry Morton. - -"I have half a mind," rejoined Claverhouse, "to contrive that you should -have six months' imprisonment, in order to procure you that pleasure. His -chapters inspire me with more enthusiasm than even poetry itself." - -Froissart's[4] history extends from the year 1316 to 1400. It was begun by -him when he was twenty years old, at the command of his dear lord and -master, Sir Robert of Namur, Lord of Beaufort. The annals from 1326 to -1356 are founded on the Chronicles compiled by him whom he calls "The -Right Reverend, discreet, and sage Master John la Bele, sometime canon in -St. Lambertis of Liege, who with good heart and due diligence did his true -devoir in writing his book; and heard of many fair and noble adventures -from his being well beloved, and of the secret counsel of the Lord Sir -John of Hainault." Froissart corrected all this borrowed matter on the -information of the barons and knights of his time regarding their -families' gestes and prowesses. He is the chronicler both of political -events and of chivalric manners. Of his merits in the first part of his -character it falls not within my province to speak. For the office of -historian of chivalry no man could present such fair pretensions. His -father being a herald-painter, he was initiated in his very early years -into that singular form of life which he describes with such picturesque -beauty. "Well I loved," as he says of his youth, in one of his poems, "to -see dances and carolling, and to hear the songs of minstrels and tales of -glee. It pleased me to attach myself to those who took delight in hounds -and hawks. I was wont to toy with my fair companions at school, and -methought I had the art well to win the grace of maidens."--"My ears -quickened at the sound of opening the wine-flask, for I took great -pleasure in drinking, and in fair array, and in fresh and delicate viands. -I loved to see (as is reason) the early violets, and the white and red -roses, and also chambers brilliantly lighted; dances and late vigils, and -fair beds for my refreshment; and for my better repose, I joyously quaffed -a night-draught of claret, or Rochelle wine mingled with spice." - -Froissart wrote his Chronicles "to the intent that the honourable and -noble adventures of feats of arms, done and achieved in the wars of France -and England, should notably be enregistered, and put in perpetual memory; -whereby the preux and hardy might have ensample to encourage them in their -well-doing."[5] To accomplish his purpose, he followed and frequented the -company of divers noble and great lords, as well in France, England, and -Scotland, as in other countries; and in their chivalric festivals he -enquired for tales of arms and amours. For three years he was clerk of the -chamber to Philippa of Hainault, wife of Edward III. He travelled into -Scotland; and, though mounted only on a simple palfrey, with his trunk -placed on the hinder part of his saddle, after the fashion in which a -squire carried the mail-harness of a knight, and attended only by a -greyhound, the favourite dog of the time, instead of a train of varlets, -yet the fame of his literary abilities introduced him to the castle of -Dalkeith, and the court of the Scottish King. - -He generally lived in the society of nobles and knights,--at the courts of -the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Namur, and the Earl of Blois. He knew -and admired the Black Prince, Du Guesclin, the Douglas, and Hotspur; and -while this various acquaintance fitted him to describe the circumstances -and manners of his times, it prevented him from the bias of particular -favouritism. The character of his mind, rather than his station in life, -determined his pursuits. His profession was that of the church: he was a -while curate of Lestines, in the diocese of Liege; and, at the time of his -death, he was canon and treasurer of the collegiate church of Chimay. But -he was a greater reader of romances than of his breviary; and, churchman -though he was, knighthood itself could not boast a more devoted admirer -of dames and damsels. He was, therefore, the very man to describe the -chivalric features of his time. - -The romances of chivalry are another source of information. Favyn says, -with truth and fancy, "The greater part of antiquities are to be sought -for and derived out of the most ancient tales, as well in prose as verse, -like pearls out of the smoky papers of Ennius." The romance-writers were -to the middle ages of Europe what the ancient poets were to Greece,--the -painters of the manners of their times. As Sir Walter Scott observes, "We -have no hesitation in quoting the romances of chivalry as good evidence of -the laws and customs of knighthood. The authors, like the artists of the -period, invented nothing, but, copying the manners of the age in which -they lived, transferred them, without doubt or scruple, to the period and -personages of whom they treated." - -From all these sources of information I have done my devoir, in the -following pages, to describe the origin of chivalry; and, after escaping -from the dark times in which it arose, to mark the various degrees of the -personal nobility of knighthood. An enquiry into the nature and duties of -the chivalric character then will follow; and we cannot pass, without -regard and homage, the sovereign-mistress and lady-love of the adventurous -knight. After viewing our cavalier in the gay and graceful pastime of the -tournament, and pausing a while to behold him when a peculiar character of -religion was added to his chivalry, we shall see him vault upon his good -steed; and we will accompany him in the achievement of his high and hardy -emprises in Britain, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy. - -As a view of chivalry is, from its nature, a supplement or an appendix to -the history of Europe, I have supposed my readers to be acquainted with -the general circumstances of past ages, and therefore I have spoken of -them by allusion rather than by direct statement. I have made the -following work as strictly chivalric as the full and fair discussion of my -subject would permit me, avoiding descriptions of baronial and feudal -life, except in its connection with knighthood. I have not detailed -military circumstances of former times, unless they proceeded from -chivalric principles, or were invested with chivalric graces. Thus the -celebrated battle of the Thirty had nothing in it of a knightly character, -and therefore I have left it unnoticed. Judicial combats had their origin -in the state of society from which both feudalism and chivalry sprang; but -they were not regulated by the gentle laws of knighthood, and therefore -have not been described by me. I have not imposed any dry legal facts and -discussions upon my readers; for the incidents attached to the tenure of -land called the tenure in chivalry were strictly feudal; and the courts of -the constable and marshal, holding cognisance as they did of all matters -regarding war, judicial combats, and blazonry of arms, relate not so much -to chivalry as to the general preservation of the peace of the land, and -the good order of society. And it should be mentioned, that it has not -been my purpose to give a minute history of every individual cavalier: for -a work strictly confined to biographical detail, however convenient it -might be for occasional reference, would be tiresome and tedious by reason -of the repetition of circumstances only varied with the difference of -names, and would be any thing but historical. I have brought the great -characters of chivalry, who have received but slight attention from the -political historian, in illustration of the principles of knighthood. Thus -full-length portraits of those English knights of prowess, Sir John -Chandos and Sir Walter Manny, will be more interesting than pictures of -Edward III. and the Black Prince, whose features are so well known to us. -From the lives of these royal heroes I have therefore only selected such -chivalric circumstances as have not been sufficiently described and dwelt -upon, or which it was absolutely incumbent on me to state, in order to -preserve an unbroken thread of narrative. - -I shall not expatiate on the interest and beauty of my subject, lest I -should provoke too rigid an enquiry into my ability for discussing it. I -shall therefore only conclude, in the good old phrase of Chaucer,-- - - "Now, hold your mouth, pour charitie, - Both knight and lady free, - And herkneth to my spell, - Of battaille and of chivalry, - Of ladies' love and druerie, - Anon I wol you tell." - - - While these volumes were passing through the press, the Tales of the - Crusaders appeared. In the second of them is contained a series of - supposed propositions from Saladin for peace between his nation and - the English. The conclusion of those propositions is thus - expressed:--"Saladin will put a sacred seal on this happy union - betwixt the bravest and noblest of Frangistan and Asia, by raising to - the rank of his royal spouse a Christian damsel, allied in blood to - King Richard, and known by the name of the Lady Edith of Plantagenet," - vol. iv. pp. 13, 14. Upon this passage of his text the author remarks - in a note: "This may appear so extraordinary and improbable a - proposition that it is necessary to say such a one was actually made. - The historians, however, substitute the widowed Queen of Naples, - sister of Richard, for the bride, and Saladin's brother for the - bridegroom. They appear to be ignorant of the existence of Edith of - Plantagenet. See MILL'S (MILLS') History of the Crusades, vol. ii. p. - 61." - - In that work I observe, that "Richard proposed a consolidation of the - Christian and Muhammedan interests; the establishment of a government - at Jerusalem, partly European and partly Asiatic; and these schemes of - policy were to be carried into effect by the marriage of Saphadin - (Saladin's brother) with the widow of William King of Sicily." - - M. Michaud, the French historian of the Crusades, makes a similar - statement. He says that Richard "fit d'autres propositions, auxquelles - il intéressa adroitement l'ambition de Malec Adel, frère du Sultan. La - veuve du Guillaume de Sicile fut proposée en marriage au Prince - Musulman." Hist. des Croisades, vol. ii. p. 414. - - Whether or no "the historians" are ignorant of the existence of "Edith - of Plantagenet" is not the present question. The question is, which of - the two opposite statements is consistent with historical truth. The - statement of M. Michaud and myself is supported by the principal - Arabic historians, by writers, who, as every student in history knows, - are of unimpeachable credit. Bohadin, in his life of Saladin, says, - that "the Englishman was desirous that Almalick Aladin should take his - sister to wife. (Her brother had brought her with him from Sicily, - when he passed through that island, to the deceased lord of which she - had been married."[6]) To the same effect Abulfeda observes, "Hither - came the embassadors of the Franks to negotiate a peace; and offered - this condition, that Malek al Adel, brother of the Sultan, should - receive the sister of the King of England in marriage, and Jerusalem - for a kingdom."[7] That this sister, Joan, the widowed Queen of - Sicily, was with Richard in the Holy Land is proved by a passage in - Matthew Paris, p. 171. She and the wife of Richard are mentioned - together, and no other person of royal rank. - - Thus, therefore, "the historians" are correct in their statement, that - the matrimonial proposition was made by the English to Saladin, and - that the parties were to be the brother of Saladin and the widowed - Queen of Sicily. The novelist has not supported his assertion by a - single historical testimony; and we may defy him to produce a tittle - of evidence on his side. - - In the composition of his tales, the author of Waverley has seldom - shown much respect for historical keeping. But greater accuracy than - his no person had a right to expect in the text of a mere novel; and - as long as he gave his readers no excuse for confounding fiction with - truth, the play of his brilliant and excursive imagination was - harmless. Thus in the Talisman, the poetical antiquarian only smiles - when he finds the romance of the Squire of Low Degree quoted as - familiar to the English long before it was written; and when, in the - Betrothed, Gloucester is raised into a bishoprick three centuries and - a half before the authentic æra, we equally admit the author's licence - of anachronism. On these two occasions, as in innumerable other - instances, in which the novelist, whether intentionally or - unwittingly, has strayed from the path of historical accuracy, he has - never given formal warranty for the truth of his statements, and he is - entitled to laugh at the simple credulity which could mistake his - Tales for veracious chronicles: But his assertion respecting the - marriage of Saladin with his "Edith of Plantagenet" is a very - different case. For here he throws aside the fanciful garb of a - novelist, and quits the privilege of his text, that he may gravely - and critically vouch in a note for the errors of our historians, and - his own superior knowledge. If this can possibly be done merely to - heighten the illusion of his romance, it is carrying the jest a little - too far; for the preservation of historical truth is really too - important a principle to be idly violated. But if he seriously - designed to unite the province of the historian with that of the - novelist, he has chosen a very unlucky expedient for his own - reputation; and thus, in either case, he has rather wantonly led his - readers into error, and brought against others a charge of ignorance, - which must recoil more deservedly on himself. - - - - -CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. - - - Page - - CHAP. I. THE ORIGIN AND FIRST APPEARANCES OF CHIVALRY IN EUROPE. - - General nature of chivalry ... Military and moral chivalry ... - Origin of chivalry ... Usages of the Germans ... Election of - soldiers ... Fraternity ... Dignity of obedience ... Gallantry - ... The age of Charlemagne ... Chivalry modified by religion ... - Ceremonies of Anglo-Saxon inauguration ... Chivalry sanctioned by - councils, and regarded as a form of Christianity ... Nature of - chivalric nobility ... Its degrees ... Knight banneret ... His - qualifications ... By whom created ... His privileges ... His - relation to the baron ... And incidentally of the war-cry and the - escutcheon ... The knight ... Qualifications for knighthood ... - By whom created ... The squirehood ... General view of the other - chapters on the institutions of chivalry 1 - - - CHAP. II. THE EDUCATION OF A KNIGHT. THE CEREMONIES OF - INAUGURATION AND OF DEGRADATION. - - Description in romances of knightly education ... Hawking and - hunting ... Education commenced at the age of seven ... Duties of - the page ... Personal service ... Love and religion ... Martial - exercises ... The squire ... His duties of personal service ... - Curious story of a bold young squire ... Various titles of - squires ... Duties of the squire in battle ... Gallantry ... - Martial exercises ... Horsemanship ... Importance of squires in - the battle-field ... Particularly at the battle of Bovines ... - Preparations for knighthood ... The anxiety of the squire - regarding the character of the knight from whom he was to receive - the accolade ... Knights made in the battle-field ... - Inconveniences of this ... Knights of Mines ... General - ceremonies of degradation ... Ceremonies in England 26 - - - CHAP. III. THE EQUIPMENT. - - Beauty of the chivalric equipment ... The lance ... The pennon - ... The axe, maule, and martel ... The sword ... Fondness of the - knight for it ... Swords in romances ... The shield ... Various - sorts of mail ... Mail ... Mail and plate ... Plate harness ... - The scarf ... Surcoats ... Armorial bearings ... Surcoats of the - military orders ... The dagger of mercy ... Story of its use ... - Value of enquiries into ancient armour ... A precise knowledge - unattainable ... Its general features interesting ... The broad - lines of the subject ... Excellence of Italian armour ... Armour - of the squire, &c. ... Allegories made on armour ... The horse of - the knight 65 - - - CHAP. IV. THE CHIVALRIC CHARACTER. - - General array of knights ... Companions in arms ... The nature of - a cavalier's valiancy ... Singular bravery of Sir Robert Knowles - ... Bravery incited by vows ... Fantastic circumstances ... The - humanities of chivalric war ... Ransoming ... Reason of - courtesies in battles ... Curious pride of knighthood ... - Prisoners ... Instance of knightly honour ... Independence of - knights, and knight-errantry ... Knights fought the battles of - other countries ... English knights dislike wars in Spain ... - Their disgust at Spanish wines ... Principles of their active - conduct ... Knightly independence consistent with discipline ... - Religion of the knight ... His devotion ... His intolerance ... - General nature of his virtue ... Fidelity to obligations ... - Generousness ... Singular instance of it ... Romantic excess of - it ... Liberality ... Humility ... Courtesy ... EVERY-DAY LIFE OF - THE KNIGHT ... Falconry ... Chess playing ... Story of a knight's - love of chess ... Minstrelsy ... Romances ... Conversation ... - Nature and form of chivalric entertainments ... Festival and vow - of the pheasant 117 - - - CHAP. V. DAMES AND DAMSELS, AND LADY-LOVE. - - Courtesy ... Education ... Music ... Graver sciences ... Dress - ... Knowledge of medicine ... Every-day life of the maiden ... - Chivalric love ... The idolatry of the knight's passion ... - Bravery inspired by love ... Character of woman in the eyes of a - knight ... Peculiar nature of his love ... Qualities of knights - admired by women ... A tale of chivalric love ... Constancy ... - Absence of jealousy ... Knights asserted by arms their mistress's - beauty ... Penitents of love ... Other peculiarities of chivalric - love ... The passion universal ... Story of Aristotle ... - Chivalric love the foe to feudal distinctions ... But preserved - religion ... When attachments were formed ... Societies of - knights for the defence of ladies ... Knights of the lady in the - green field ... Customs in England ... Unchivalric to take women - prisoners ... Morals of chivalric times ... Heroines of chivalry - ... Queen Philippa ... The Countess of March ... Tales of Jane of - Mountfort and of Marzia degl' Ubaldini ... Nobleness of the - chivalric female character 181 - - - CHAP. VI. TOURNAMENTS AND JOUSTS. - - Beauty of chivalric sports ... Their superiority to those of - Greece and Rome ... Origin of tournaments ... Reasons for holding - them ... Practice in arms ... Courtesy ... By whom they were held - ... Qualifications for tourneying ... Ceremonies of the - tournament ... Arrival of the knights ... Publication of their - names ... Reasons for it ... Disguised knights ... The lists ... - Ladies the judges of the tournament ... Delicate courtesy at - tournaments ... Morning of the sports ... Knights led by ladies, - who imitated the dress of knights ... Nature of tourneying - weapons ... Knights wore ladies' favours ... The preparation ... - The encounter ... What lance-strokes won the prize ... Conclusion - of the sports ... The festival ... Delivery of the prize ... - Knights thanked by ladies ... The ball ... Liberality ... - Tournaments opposed by the popes ... The opposition unjust ... - The joust ... Description of the joust to the utterance ... Joust - between a Scotch and an English knight ... Jousting for love of - the ladies ... A singular instance of it ... Joust between a - French and an English squire ... Admirable skill of jousters ... - Singular questions regarding jousts ... An Earl of Warwick ... - Celebrated joust at St. Inglebertes ... Joust between Lord Scales - and the Bastard of Burgundy ... The romance of jousts ... The - passage of arms ... Use of tournaments and jousts 258 - - - CHAP. VII. THE RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. - - General principles of the religious orders ... Qualifications for - them ... Use of these orders to Palestine ... Modern history of - the Knights Templars ... Their present existence and state ... - Religious orders in Spain ... That of St. James ... Its objects - ... Change of its objects ... Order of Calatrava ... Fine - chivalry of a monk ... Fame of this order ... Order of Alcantara - ... Knights of the Lady of Mercy ... Knights of St. Michael ... - Military orders ... Imitations of the religious orders ... - Instanced in the order of the Garter ... Few of the present - orders are of chivalric origin ... Order of the Bath ... Dormant - orders ... Order of the Band ... Its singular rules ... Its noble - enforcement of chivalric duties towards woman ... Order of - Bourbon ... Strange titles of orders ... Fabulous orders ... The - Round Table ... Sir Launcelot ... Sir Gawain ... Order of the - Stocking ... Origin of the phrase Blue Stocking 332 - - - CHAP. VIII. PROGRESS OF CHIVALRY IN ENGLAND, FROM THE NORMAN - CONQUEST TO THE CLOSE OF THE REIGN OF EDWARD II. - - Chivalry connected with feudalism ... Stipendiary knights ... - Knighthood a compulsory honour ... Fine instance of chivalry in - the reign of Edward I. ... Effect of chivalry in Stephen's reign - ... Troubadours and romance writers in the reign of Henry II. ... - Chivalric manners of the time ... Coeur de Lion the first - chivalric king ... His knightly bearing ... John and Henry III. - ... Edward I. ... His gallantry at a tournament ... His - unchivalric cruelties ... He possessed no knightly courtesy ... - Picture of ancient manners ... Edward II. ... Chivalric - circumstance in the battle of Bannockburn ... Singular effect of - chivalry in the reign of Edward II. 382 - - - - -THE HISTORY OF CHIVALRY. - - - - -CHAP. I. - -THE ORIGIN AND FIRST APPEARANCES OF CHIVALRY IN EUROPE. - - _General Nature of Chivalry ... Military and Moral Chivalry ... Origin - of Chivalry ... Usages of the Germans ... Election of Soldiers ... - Fraternity ... Dignity of Obedience ... Gallantry ... The Age of - Charlemagne ... Chivalry modified by Religion ... Ceremonies of - Anglo-Saxon Inauguration ... Chivalry sanctioned by Councils, and - regarded as a Form of Christianity ... Nature of Chivalric Nobility - ... Its Degrees ... Knight Banneret ... His Qualifications ... By whom - created ... His Privileges ... His relation to the Baron ... And - incidentally of the War-Cry and the Escutcheon ... The Knight ... - Qualifications for Knighthood ... By whom created ... The Squirehood - ... General View of the other Chapters on the Institutions of - Chivalry._ - - -There is little to charm the imagination in the first ages of Chivalry. No -plumed steeds, no warrior bearing on his crested helm the favour of his -lady bright, graced those early times. All was rudeness and gloom. But -the subject is not altogether without interest, as it must ever be curious -to mark the causes and the first appearances in conduct of any widely -spread system of opinions. - -[Sidenote: Nature of Chivalry.] - -The martial force of the people who occupied northern and central Europe -in the time of the Romans, was chiefly composed of infantry[8]; but -afterwards a great though imperceptible change took place, and, during all -the long period which forms, in historic phrase, the middle ages, cavalry -was the strongest arm of military power. Terms, expressive of this martial -array, were sought for in its distinguishing circumstances. Among the -ruins of the Latin language, _caballus_ signified a horse, _caballarius_ a -horseman, and _caballicare_, to ride; and from these words all the -languages that were formed on a Latin basis, derived their phrases -descriptive of military duties on horseback. In all languages of Teutonic -origin, the same circumstance was expressed by words literally signifying -service. The German _knight_, the Saxon _cnight_, are synonymous to the -French _cavalier_, the Italian _cavaliere_, and the Spanish _caballero_. -The word _rider_ also designated the same person, preceded by, or standing -without, the word _knight_. - -[Sidenote: Military and Moral Chivalry.] - -In the kingdoms which sprang from the ruins of the Roman empire, every -king, baron, and person of estate was a knight; and therefore the whole -face of Europe was overspread with cavalry. Considered in this aspect, the -knighthood and the feudalism of Europe were synonymous and coexistent. But -there was a chivalry within this chivalry; a moral and personal -knighthood; not the well-ordered assemblage of the instruments of -ambition, but a military barrier against oppression and tyranny, a -corrective of feudal despotism and injustice. Something like this -description of knighthood may be said to have existed in all ages and -countries. Its generousness may be paralleled in Homeric times, and vice -has never reigned entirely without control. But the chivalry, the gallant -and Christian chivalry of Europe, was purer and brighter than any -preceding condition of society; for it established woman in her just rank -in the moral world, and many of its principles of action proceeded from a -divine source, which the classical ancients could not boast of. - -[Sidenote: Origin of Chivalry.] - -[Sidenote: Usages of the Germans.] - -[Sidenote: Election of Soldiers.] - -Some of the rules and maxims of chivalry had their origin in that state of -society in which the feudal system arose; and regarded particularly in a -military light, we find chivalry a part of the earliest condition of a -considerable part of the European world. The bearing of arms was never a -matter of mere private choice. Among the Germans, it rested with the -state to declare a man qualified to serve his country in arms. In an -assembly of the chiefs of his nation, his father, or a near relation, -presented a shield and a javelin to a young and approved candidate for -martial honours, who from that moment was considered as a member of the -commonwealth, and ranked as a citizen. In northern as well as in central -Europe, both in Scandinavia and Germany, the same principle was observed; -and a young man at the age of fifteen became an independent agent, by -receiving a sword, a buckler, and a lance, at some public meeting.[9] - -[Sidenote: Fraternity.] - -The spirit of clanship, or fraternity, which ran through the chivalry of -the middle ages, is of the remotest antiquity. It existed in Germany, in -Scandinavia, and also in Gaul.[10] In all these countries, every young -man, when adorned with his military weapons, entered the train of some -chief; but he was rather his companion than his follower; for, however -numerous were the steps and distinctions of service, a noble spirit of -equality ran through them all. These generous youths formed the bulwark of -their leader in war, and were his ornament in peace. This spirit of -companionship shewed itself in all its power and beauty in the field. It -was disgraceful for a prince to be surpassed in valour by his companions; -their military deeds were to be heroic, but the lustre of them was never -to dim the brightness of his own fame. The chief fought for victory, the -followers fought for their chief. The defence of the leader in battle, to -die with him rather than to leave him, were, in the minds of the military -fathers of Europe, obvious and necessary corollaries of these principles. -The spirit of companionship burnt more fiercely in remote ages, than in -times commonly called chivalric; for if, by the chance of war, a person -was thrown into the hands of an enemy, his military companions would -surrender themselves prisoners, thinking it disgraceful to live in -security and indolence, when their chief and associate was in misery.[11] - -And to bring the matter home to English readers, it may be mentioned, that -in the history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors, many instances are recorded -where vassals refused to survive their lord. Cyneheard, brother of the -deposed king Sigebyrcht, slew the usurper Cynewulf; and though he offered -freedom to the attendants of the slain, yet they all preferred death to -submission to a new lord, and they died in a vain and wild endeavour to -revenge him. Immediately afterwards fortune frowned on Cyneheard, and his -eighty-four companions, save one, were slain, though liberty had been -offered to them; but declaring that their generosity was not inferior to -the generosity of the attendants of Cynewulf, they perished in a hopeless -battle.[12] - -[Sidenote: Dignity of obedience.] - -The feeling which, in chivalric times, became designated as the dignity of -obedience, may be traced in these circumstances, but it is more clearly -shewn in a singular record of the domestic manners of ancient Europe; for -we learn from Athenæus, in his treatise of the suppers of the Celts, that -it was the custom of the Gaulish youths to stand behind the seats, and to -attend upon their fathers during the principal daily meal.[13] Here we see -the germ, if not of the duties of the squire to the knight, yet of the -feeling which suggested their performance. The beautiful subordination of -chivalry had its origin in the domestic relations of life; obedience -became virtuous when nature sanctioned it, and there could be no loss of -personal consideration in a youth performing services which his own father -had performed, and which, as years and circumstances advanced, would be -rendered to himself. - -[Sidenote: Gallantry.] - -The gallantry of knighthood, that quality which distinguishes, and -distinguishes so much to its advantage, the modern from the ancient world, -was not created by any chivalric institution. We know indeed that it was -cradled in the same sentiments which nursed the other principles of -chivalry, but its birth is lost in the remoteness of ages; and I would -rather dwell in my ignorance of the precise period of its antiquity, than -think with Plutarch that the feeling arose from a judicious opinion -delivered by some women on occasion of a particular dispute between a few -of the Celtic tribes.[14] It was in truth the virtue of the sex, and not -any occasional or accidental opinion, that raised them to their high and -respectful consideration. The Roman historian marked it as a peculiarity -among the Germans, that marriage was considered by them as a sacred -institution[15], and that a man confined himself to the society of one -wife. The mind of Tacitus was filled with respect for the virtuous though -unpolished people of the north; and, reverting his eyes to Rome, the -describer of manners becomes the indignant satirist, and he exclaims, that -no one in Germany dares to ridicule the holy ordinance of marriage, or to -call an infringement of its laws a compliance with the manners of the -age.[16] In earlier times, when the Cimbri invaded Italy, and were -worsted by Marius, the female Teutonic captives wished to be placed among -the vestal virgins, binding themselves to perpetual chastity, but the -Romans could not admire or sympathize with such lofty-mindedness, and the -women had recourse to death, the last sad refuge of their virtue. Strabo -picturesquely describes venerable and hoary-headed prophetesses seated at -the council of the Cimbri, dressed in long linen vestments of shining -white. They were not only embassadresses, but were often entrusted with -the charge of governing kingdoms.[17] The courage of the knight of -chivalry was inspired by the lady of his affections, a feature of -character clearly deducible from the practice among the German nations, of -women mingling in the field of battle with their armed brothers, fathers, -and husbands. Women were always regarded as incentives to valour, and when -warring with a nation of different manners, the German general could -congratulate his soldiers on having motives to courage, which the enemy -did not possess.[18] The warrior of the north, like the hero of chivalry, -hoped for female smiles from his skill in athletic and martial exercises; -and we may take the anecdote as an instance of the general manners of -European antiquity, that the chief anxiety of a Danish champion, who had -lost his chin and one of his cheeks by a single stroke of a sword, was, -how he should be received by the Danish maidens, when his personal -features had been thus dreadfully marred.--"The Danish girls will not now -willingly or easily give me kisses, if I should perhaps return home," was -his complaint. - -Harald the Valiant was one of the most eminent adventurers of his age. He -had slain mighty men; and after sweeping the seas of the north as a -conqueror, he descended to the Mediterranean, and the shores of Africa. -But a greater power now opposed him, and he was taken prisoner, and -detained for some time at Constantinople. He endeavoured to beguile his -gloomy solitude by song; but his muse gave him no joy, for he complains -that the reputation he had acquired by so many hazardous exploits, by his -skill in single combat, riding, swimming, gliding along the ice, darting, -rowing, and guiding a ship through the rocks, had not been able to make -any impression on Elissiff, or Elizabeth, the beautiful daughter of -Yarilas, king of Russia.[19] - -[Sidenote: The Age of Charlemagne.] - -Such were the features of the ancient character of Europe, that formed the -basis of the chivalry of the middle ages; such was chivalry in its rude, -unpolished state, the general character of the whole people, rather than -the moral chastener of turbulence and ferocity. From receiving his weapons -in an assembly of the nation; associating in clans; protecting and -revering women; performing acts of service, when affection and duty -commanded them: from these simple circumstances and qualities, the most -beautiful form of manners arose, that has ever adorned the history of man. -It is impossible to mark the exact time when these elements were framed -into that system of thought and action which we call Chivalry. Knighthood -was certainly a feature and distinction of society before the days of -Charlemagne, and its general prevalence in his time is very curiously -proved, by the permission which he gave to the governor of Friesland to -make knights, by girding them with a sword, and giving them a blow.[20] - -[Sidenote: Chivalry modified by Religion.] - -But the key-stone of the arch was wanting, and religion alone could -furnish it. A new world of principles and objects was introduced. The -defence of the church was one great apparent aim of knightly enterprise, -and on this principle, narrow and selfish as it was, many of the -charities of Christianity were established. The sword was blessed by the -priest, before it was delivered to the young warrior. By what means this -amalgamation was effected, we know not; the less interesting matter, the -date of the circumstance can be more easily ascertained. It was somewhere -between the ninth and the eleventh centuries. It surely was not the custom -in the days of Charlemagne, for he girt the military sword on his son -Louis the Good, agreeably to the rude principles of ancient Germanic -chivalry[21], without any religious ceremonies; and a century afterwards -we read of the Saxon monarch of England, Edward the Elder, cloathing -Athelstan in a soldier's dress of scarlet, and fastening round him a -girdle ornamented with precious stones, in which a Saxon sword in a sheath -of gold was inserted.[22] In the century following, however, during the -reign of Edward the Confessor, we meet with the story of Hereward, a very -noble Anglo-Saxon youth, being knighted by the Abbot of Peterborough. He -made confession of his sins, and, after he had received absolution, he -earnestly prayed to be made a legitimate _miles_ or knight. - -[Sidenote: Ceremonies of Anglo-Saxon inauguration.] - -It was the custom of the English, continues the historian, for every one -who wished to be consecrated into the legitimate militia, to confess his -sins to a bishop, abbot, monk, or other priest, in the evening that -preceded the day of his consecration, and to pass the night in the church, -in prayer, devotion, and mortifications. On the next morning it was his -duty to hear mass, to offer his sword on the altar, and then, after the -Gospel had been read, the priest blessed the sword, and placed it on the -neck of the _miles_, with his benediction. The sacrament of the Lord's -Supper was then communicated to the knight.[23] This passage, though -professedly descriptive only of the military customs of England, may be -applied to the general state of Europe, with the exception of Normandy, -whose people despised the religious part of the ceremony. But this feeling -of dislike did not endure through all ages, for there is abundant evidence -to prove, that in the reign of the Norman dynasty in England, the -ceremonies of knighthood were religious as well as military; and in the -same, the eleventh, century, the usage was similar over all Continental -Europe. - -[Sidenote: Chivalry sanctioned by Councils, and regarded as a form of -Christianity.] - -The eleventh century is a very important epoch in the history of chivalry; -for it was declared by the celebrated Council of Clermont, (which -authorised the first Crusade) that every person of noble birth, on -attaining twelve years of age, should take a solemn oath before the bishop -of his diocese, to defend to the uttermost the oppressed, the widows, and -orphans; that women of noble birth, both married and single, should enjoy -his especial care; and that nothing should be wanting in him to render -travelling safe, and to destroy tyranny. In this decree we observe, that -all the humanities of chivalry were sanctioned by legal and ecclesiastical -power; and that it was intended they should be spread over the whole face -of Christendom, in order to check the barbarism and ferocity of the times. - -The form of chivalry was martial; but its objects were both religious and -social, and the definition of the word from military circumstances ceased -to express its character. The power of the clergy was shewn in a singular -manner. Chivalry was no longer a soldierly array, but it was called the -Order, the Holy Order, and a character of seriousness and solemnity was -given to it.[24] It was accounted an honourable office, above all offices, -orders, and acts of the world, except the order of priesthood, for that -order appertained to the holy sacrament of the altar. The knightly and -clerical characters were every where considered as convertible, and the -writers of romances faithfully reflected manners, when their hero at the -commencement of the tale was a Sir Knight, and when at the close of his -quests, we find him a Sir Priest; - - "And soothly it was said by common fame, - So long as age enabled him thereto, - That he had been a man of mickle name, - Renowned much in arms and derring do. - But being aged now, and weary too - Of war's delight, and world's contentious toil, - The name of Knighthood he did disavow; - And hanging up his arms and warlike spoil, - From all this world's incumbrance did himself assoil."[25] - -[Sidenote: Nature of Chivalric Nobility.] - -Knighthood was an institution perfectly peculiar to the military and -social state of our ancestors. There was no analogy between the knights of -chivalry and the equites of Rome, for pecuniary estate was absolutely -necessary for the latter; whereas, though the European cavalier was -generally a man of some possessions, yet he was often a person promoted -into the order of chivalry, solely as a reward for his redoubted behaviour -in battle. The Roman equites discharged civil functions regarding the -administration of justice and the farming of the public revenue; but the -chivalry of the middle ages had no such duties to perform. Knighthood was -also distinct from nobility; for the nobility of Europe were the governors -and lords of particular districts of a country, and although originally -they held their dignities only for life, yet their title soon became -hereditary. But knighthood was essentially and always a personal -distinction. A man's chivalry died with him. It was conferred upon -noblemen and kings, not being like their other titles, the subject of -inheritance. It was not absorbed in any other title of rank, and the -common form of address, Sir[26] King, shews its high consideration. In the -writs of summons to parliament, the word _Chevalier_ sometimes followed -the baronial title, and more frequently the barons were styled by their -martial designation, than named by the titles of their baronies.[27] - -[Sidenote: Its degrees.] - -There were three degrees in the Chivalry of Europe, Knights-Banneret, -Knights, and Esquires. - -[Sidenote: Knight-Banneret.] - -[Sidenote: His qualifications.] - -[Sidenote: By whom created.] - -A soldier must have passed through the ranks of esquire and knight, before -he could be classed with the knights-banneret. That high dignity could -only be possessed by a knight who had served for a length of years in the -wars, and with distinction, and who had a considerable retinue of -men-at-arms, and other soldiers. To avoid the inconveniences of too minute -a division of the martial force of a country, every knight-banneret ought -to have had fifty[28] knights and squires under his command, each being -attended by one or more horse soldiers, armed with the cross-bow, or with -the long-bow and axe. Several followers on foot completed the equipment. -But as we often meet with instances of elevating men of very few -followers[29] to the rank of knights-banneret, it is probable that kings -usurped the right of conferring the distinction upon their favorites, or -men of fame, not chusing that any title of merit should be demanded as a -right, or that the royal name should be used only as a passive instrument; -for a knight who had proved his chivalry and power, could demand from his -sovereign the distinction of banneret. The laws and usages of the world -allowed the well-tried and nobly attended soldier to carry his emblazoned -pennon to the constable or marshal of the army before or after a battle, -and in the field of contest itself, and require leave to raise his banner. -A herald exhibited the record of his claim to the distinction, and the -leader of the forces cut off the end of the pennon, and this military -ensign then became a square banner. A brief exhortation to valiancy and -honour was generally added by the constable or herald. These were the -whole ceremonies of creation. - -[Sidenote: His privileges.] - -The privileges of a knight-banneret were considerable. He did not fight -under the standard of any baron, but he formed his soldiers under his -own. Like the rest of the feudal force, he was subject to the commands of -the king; but his pride was not galled by being obliged to obey the -behests of men of his own rank. - -[Sidenote: His relation to the Baron.] - -[Sidenote: The war-cry.] - -Every Baron had his banner, and a feudal array of knights, men-at-arms, -and others, was numbered by its banners. The banneret and the baron were -therefore soldiers of equal authority. The banneret, too, like the baron, -had his words of courage, his cry of arms, which he shouted before a -battle, in order to animate his soldiers to the charge, and whose sound, -heard in the moment of direst peril, rallied the scattered troops by the -recollection of the glories of their commander's house, and their own -former achievements. The war-cry was also the underwritten ornament of the -armorial shield, and worked on the surcoat and banner, and was carved on -the tomb both of the knight-banneret and the baron. Each of these -representatives of chivalry and nobility had his square escutcheon. The -wife of a banneret was styled _une dame bannerette_, and the general title -of his family was a _hostel bannière_. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: The Knight.] - -The second and most numerous class of chivalric heroes consisted of -Knights, who were originally called Bas-Chevaliers, in contradiction to -the first class, but in the course of time the word bachelor designated -rather the esquire, the candidate for chivalry, than the cavalier himself. -These knights of the second class were in Spain called _Cavalleros_, in -distinction from the _riccos hombres_, or knights-banneret; and in France, -the illiberal and degrading title of _pauvres hommes_ was sometimes -applied to them, to mark their inferiority to the bannerets. - -[Sidenote: Qualifications for knighthood.] - -A general qualification for knighthood was noble or gentle birth, which, -in its widest signification, expressed a state of independence. Noblemen -and gentlemen were words originally synonymous, describing the owners of -fiefs. In countries where there were other forms of tenure, some military -merit in the occupiers of land seems to have been necessary for elevation -to the class of gentlemen. The mere frankelein was certainly not entitled -to the designation of gentle; but if he became a distinguished man, an -honorary rank was given to the family, and they were esteemed noble.[30] -It is scarcely necessary to mention, that that distinction could alone be -obtained by military achievements; for in the early periods of society, -the only path to glory was stained with blood. The gentility of a father -was more regarded than that of a mother[31]; and in strictness, if a man -were not noble on his paternal side, his lord might cause his spurs to be -cut off on a dunghill.[32] The amount of estate necessary for knighthood -was not regulated by any chivalric institution. But the expence of the -order was by no means inconsiderable. His inauguration was a scene of -splendour; and liberality was one of the chiefest duties of his character. -He could not travel in quest of adventures without some charge[33], and -his squire and other personal attendants were of course maintained by him. -Though a man, says Froissart, be never so rich, men of arms and war waste -all; for he that will have service of men of war, they must be paid truly -their wages, or else they will do nothing available.[34] The knight's -harness for the working day was not without its ornaments; and the -tournament was rendered splendid by the brilliancy of his armour and his -steed's caparisons. There was always a rivalry of expence among knights -who formed an expedition; and of all the recorded instances of this -feeling, perhaps the most interesting one is furnished by Froissart. -Speaking of a projected invasion of England by the French about the year -1386, he says, that gold and silver were no more spared than though they -had rained out of the clouds, or been skimmed from the sea. The great -lords of France sent their servants to Sluse, to apparel and make ready -their provisions and ships, and to furnish them with every thing needful. -Every man garnished his ship, and painted it with his arms. Painters had -then a good season, for they had whatever they desired. They made banners, -pennons, and standards of silk so goodly, that it was a marvel to behold -them; also they painted the masts of their ships from the one end to the -other, glittering with gold, and devices, and arms; and especially the -Lord Guy de la Tremouille garnished his ship richly; the paintings cost -more than two thousand francs.[35] - -[Sidenote: By whom created.] - -We have seen that originally a body of soldiers was selected by the state -from the general mass of the people. Afterwards, kings and nobles in their -several jurisdictions maintained the power of creation. It was also -assumed by the clergy, but not retained long; nor were they anxious to -recover it, for, as they assisted in the religious ceremonies of -inauguration, they possessed a considerable share of power by the milder -means of influence. Knighthood never altogether lost its character of -being a distinction, a reward of merit, presumed, indeed, rather than -proved, in the original instances which have been mentioned. But though it -was often bestowed as an ornament of custom on the nobility and gentry of -a state, yet it often was the bright guerdon of achievements in arms. Of -military merit every knight was supposed to be a sufficient judge; and -therefore every knight had the power of bestowing its reward. Men-at-arms -and other soldiers were often exalted to the class of knights, and the -honour was something more than a chimera of the imagination; for the title -and consideration of a gentleman immediately accompanied the -creation.[36] Thus, in the time of Richard II., the governor of Norwich, -called Sir Robert Sale, was no gentleman born, says Froissart; but he had -the grace to be reputed sage and valiant in arms, and for his valiantness -King Edward had made him a knight. The same sovereign also knighted a -man-at-arms, who had originally been a tailor, and who, after the -conclusion of the king's wars in France, crossed the Alps into Italy, and -under the name of Sir John Hawkwood, headed the company of White or -English adventurers, so famous in the Italian wars.[37] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Squirehood.] - -The third and last class of Chivalry was the Squirehood. It was not -composed of young men who carried the shields of knights, and were -learning the art of war; but the squires were a body of efficient -soldiers, inferior in rank to the knight, and superior to the -men-at-arms.[38] They had been originally intended for the higher classes -of chivalry, but various considerations induced them to remain in the -lowest rank. It was a maxim in chivalry, that a man had better be a good -esquire than a poor knight. Many an esquire, therefore, declined the honor -of knighthood, on account of the slenderness of his revenues. Edward III., -during his wars in France, would have knighted Collart Dambreticourte, the -esquire of his own person; but the young man declined the honor, for, to -use his own simple phrase, he could not furnish his helmet.[39] Barons, -knights, and esquires, form Froissart's frequent description of the parts -of an army; and although there were many young men in the field, who, -released from their duties on knights, were aiming at distinction, yet -there were many more who remained squires during all their military -career, and therefore became recognised as a part of the chivalric array. -Some men of small landed estate, wishing to avoid the expences and the -duties of knighthood, remained esquires. They lost nothing of real power -by their prudence, for they were entitled to lead their vassals into the -field of battle under a penoncele, or small triangular streamer, as the -knight led his under a pennon, or a banneret his under a banner. Military -honours and commands also could be reached by the squirehood, as well as -by the knighthood of a country. Both classes were considered gentle, and -were entitled to wear coat armour. - - * * * * * - -Such was the general form of the personal nobility of Chivalry. Some parts -of the outline varied in different countries, as will be seen when we -watch its progress through Europe; but previously to that enquiry, the -education, the duties, and the equipment of the knight require -description; and as _loyauté aux dames_ is the motto alike of the writers -and the readers of works on Chivalry, I shall make no apology for -suspending the historical investigation, while I endeavour to portray the -lady-love of the gallant cavalier, and delay my steps in that splendid -scene of beauty's power, the Tournament. - - - - -CHAP. II. - -THE EDUCATION OF A KNIGHT. THE CEREMONIES OF INAUGURATION AND OF -DEGRADATION. - - _Description in Romances of Knightly Education ... Hawking and Hunting - ... Education commenced at the age of Seven ... Duties of the Page ... - Personal Service ... Love and Religion ... Martial Exercises ... The - Squire ... His Duties of Personal Service ... Curious Story of a bold - young Squire ... Various Titles of Squires ... Duties of the Squire in - Battle ... Gallantry ... Martial Exercises ... Horsemanship ... - Importance of Squires in the Battle Field ... Particularly at the - Battle of Bovines ... Preparations for Knighthood ... The Anxiety of - the Squire regarding the Character of the Knight from whom he was to - receive the Accolade ... Knights made in the Battle Field ... - Inconveniences of this ... Knights of Mines ... General Ceremonies of - Degradation ... Ceremonies in England._ - - -[Sidenote: Description in Romances of knightly education.] - -The romances of Chivalry, in their picturesque and expressive -representation of manners, present us with many interesting glimpses of -the education in knighthood of the feudal nobility's children. The romance -of Sir Tristrem sings thus; - - "Now hath Rohant in ore[40], - Tristrem, and is full blithe, - The childe he set to lore, - And lernd him al so swithe[41]; - In bok while he was thore - He stodieth ever that stithe[42], - Tho that bi him wore - Of him weren ful blithe, - That bold. - His craftes gan he kithe[43], - Oyaines[44] hem when he wold. - - "Fiftene yere he gan him fede, - Sir Rohant the trewe; - He taught him ich alede[45] - Of ich maner of glewe;[46] - And everich playing thede, - Old lawes and newe. - On hunting oft he yede[47], - To swich alawe he drewe, - Al thus; - More he couthe[48] of veneri - Than couthe Manerious." - -Very similar to this picture is the description of the education of Kyng -Horn, in the romance which bears his name. - - "Stiward tac thou here, - My fundling for to lere - Of thine mestere, - Of wode and of ryvere, - Ant toggen o' the harpe, - With is nayles sharpe; - Ant tech him alle the listes - That thou ever wystes - Byfore me to kerven, - Ant of my coupe to serven; - Ant his feren devyse - With ous other servise. - Horn, child, thou understand - Tech him of harpe and of song."[49] - -For only one more extract from the old romances, shall I claim the -indulgence of my readers in the words of the minstrel, - - "Mekely, lordynges gentyll and fre, - Lysten awhile and herken to me." - -The life of Sir Ipomydon is a finished picture of knightly history. His -foster-father, Sir Tholomew, - - ----"a clerk he toke - That taught the child upon the boke - Bothe to synge and to rede, - And after he taught him other dede. - Afterwards to serve in halle, - Both to grete and to small. - Before the king meat to kerve - Hye and low feyre to serve. - Both of houndis and hawkis game, - After he taught him all and same, - In se, in field, and eke in river, - In wood to chase the wild deer; - And in the field to ride a steed, - That all men had joy of his deed." - -[Sidenote: Hunting and Hawking.] - -The mystery of rivers and the mystery of woods were important parts of -knightly education. The mystery of woods was hunting; the mystery of -rivers was not fishing, but hawking, an expression which requires a few -words of explanation. In hawking, the pursuit of water-fowls afforded most -diversion. Chaucer says that he could - - "ryde on hawking by the river, - With grey gos hawk on hand." - -The favourite bird of chase was the heron, whose peculiar flight is not -horizontal, like that of field birds, but perpendicular. It is wont to -rise to a great height on finding itself the object of pursuit, while its -enemy, using equal efforts to out-tower it, at length gains the advantage, -swoops upon the heron with prodigious force, and strikes it to the ground. -The amusement of hawking, therefore, could be viewed without the -spectators moving far from the river's side where the game was sprung; and -from that circumstance it was called the mystery of rivers.[50] - -But I shall attempt no further to describe in separate portions the -subjects of knightly education, and to fill up the sketches of the old -romances; for those sketches, though correct, present no complete outline, -and the military exercises are altogether omitted. We had better trace the -cavalier, through the gradations of his course, in the castle of his lord. - - * * * * * - -The education of a knight generally commenced at the age of seven or eight -years[51], for no true lover of chivalry wished his children to pass their -time in idleness and indulgence. At a baronial feast, a lady in the full -glow of maternal pride pointed to her offspring, and demanded of her -husband whether he did not bless Heaven for having given him four such -fine and promising boys. "Dame," replied her lord, thinking her -observation ill timed and foolish, "so help me God and Saint Martin, -nothing gives me greater sorrow and shame than to see four great sluggards -who do nothing but eat, and drink, and waste their time in idleness and -folly." Like other children of gentle birth, therefore, the boys of this -noble Duke Guerin of Montglaive, in spite of their mother's wishes, -commenced their chivalric exercises.[52] In some places there were -schools appointed by the nobles of the country, but most frequently their -own castles served. Every feudal lord had his court, to which he drew the -sons and daughters of the poorer gentry of his domains; and his castle was -also frequented by the children of men of equal rank with himself, for -(such was the modesty and courtesy of chivalry) each knight had generally -some brother in arms, whom he thought better fitted than himself to grace -his children with noble accomplishments. - -[Sidenote: Duties of the Page.] - -[Sidenote: Personal Service.] - -The duties of the boy for the first seven years of his service were -chiefly personal. If sometimes the harsh principles of feudal -subordination gave rise to such service, it oftener proceeded from the -friendly relations of life; and as in the latter case it was voluntary, -there was no loss of honourable consideration in performing it. The -dignity of obedience, that principle which blends the various shades of -social life, and which had its origin in the patriarchal manners of early -Europe, was now fostered in the castles of the feudal nobility. The -light-footed youth attended the lord and his lady in the hall, and -followed them in all their exercises of war and pleasure; and it was -considered unknightly for a cavalier to wound a page in battle. He also -acquired the rudiments of those incongruous subjects, religion, love, and -war, so strangely blended in chivalry; and generally the intellectual and -moral education of the boy was given by the ladies of the court. - -[Sidenote: Love and Religion.] - -From the lips of the ladies the gentle page learned both his catechism and -the art of love, and as the religion of the day was full of symbols, and -addressed to the senses, so the other feature of his devotion was not to -be nourished by abstract contemplation alone. He was directed to regard -some one lady of the court as the type of his heart's future mistress; she -was the centre of all his hopes and wishes; to her he was obedient, -faithful, and courteous. - -While the young Jean de Saintré was a page of honour at the court of the -French king, the Dame des Belles Cousines enquired of him the name of the -mistress of his heart's affections. The simple youth replied, that he -loved his lady mother, and next to her, his sister Jacqueline was dear to -him. "Young man," rejoined the lady, "I am not speaking of the affection -due to your mother and sister; but I wish to know the name of the lady to -whom you are attached _par amours_." The poor boy was still more confused, -and he could only reply, that he loved no one _par amours_. The Dame des -Belles Cousines charged him with being a traitor to the laws of chivalry, -and declared that his craven spirit was evinced by such an avowal. -"Whence," she enquired, "sprang the valiancy and knightly feats of -Launcelot, Gawain, Tristram, Giron the courteous, and other ornaments of -the round table; of Ponthus, and of those knights and squires of this -country whom I could enumerate: whence the grandeur of many whom I have -known to arise to renown, except from the noble desire of maintaining -themselves in the grace and esteem of the ladies; without which -spirit-stirring sentiment they must have ever remained in the shades of -obscurity? And do you, coward valet, presume to declare that you possess -no sovereign lady, and desire to have none?" - -Jean underwent a long scene of persecution on account of his confession of -the want of proper chivalric sentiment, but he was at length restored to -favour by the intercession of the ladies of the court. He then named as -his mistress Matheline de Coucy, a child only ten years old. "Matheline is -indeed a pretty girl," replied the Dame des Belles Cousines, "but what -profit, what honour, what comfort, what aid, what council for advancing -you in chivalrous fame can you derive from such a choice? You should elect -a lady of noble blood, who has the ability to advise, and the power to -assist you; and you should serve her so truly, and love her so loyally, -as to compel her to acknowledge the honourable affection which you -entertain for her. For, be assured, that there is no lady, however cruel -and haughty she may be, but through long service, will be induced to -acknowledge and reward loyal affection with some portion of mercy. By such -a course you will gain the praise of worthy knighthood, and till then I -would not give an apple for you or your achievements: but he who loyally -serves his lady will not only be blessed to the height of man's felicity -in this life, but will never fall into those sins which will prevent his -happiness hereafter. Pride will be entirely effaced from the heart of him -who endeavours by humility and courtesy to win the grace of a lady. The -true faith of a lover will defend him from the other deadly sins of anger, -envy, sloth, and gluttony; and his devotion to his mistress renders the -thought impossible of his conduct ever being stained with the vice of -incontinence."[53] - -[Sidenote: Martial exercises.] - -The military exercises of the page were not many, and they were only -important, inasmuch as they were the earliest ideas of his life, and that -consequently the habits of his character were formed on them. He was -taught to leap over trenches, to launch or cast spears and darts, to -sustain the shield, and in his walk to imitate the measured tread of the -soldier. He fought with light staves against stakes raised for the nonce, -as if they had been his mortal enemies, or met in encounters equally -perilous his youthful companions of the castle.[54] During the seven years -of these instructions he was called a valet, a damoiseau, or a page. The -first title was of the most ancient usage, and was thoroughly chivalric; -the second is of nearly equal authority[55], but the word page was not -much used till so late a period as the days of Philip de Comines.[56] -Before that time it was most frequently applied to the children of the -vulgar. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: The squire.] - -[Sidenote: His duties of personal service.] - -The next titles of the candidate for chivalry were armiger, scutifer or -escuyer: but though these words denoted personal military attendance, yet -his personal domestic service continued for some time. He prepared the -refection in the morning, and then betook himself to his chivalric -exercises. At dinner he, as well as the pages, furnished forth and -attended at the table, and presented to his lord and the guests the water -wherewith they washed their hands before and after the repast. The knight -and the squire never sat before the same table, nor was even the relation -of father and son allowed to destroy this principle of chivalric -subordination. We learn from Paulus Warnefridus, the historian of the -Lombards in Italy, that among that nation the son of a king did not dine -with his father, unless he had been knighted by a foreign sovereign.[57] -Such too was the practice among nations whose chivalry wore a brighter -polish than it shone with among the Italian Lombards. In Arragon, no son -of a knight sat at the table of a knight till he had been admitted into -the order.[58] The young English squire in the time of Edward III. carved -before his fader at the table; and again, in the Merchant's Tale, it is -said,-- - - "All but a squire that hight Damian, - That carft before the knight many a day." - -[Sidenote: Curious story of a squire.] - -And about the same time the sewers and cup-bearers of the Earl of Foix -were his sons.[59] The squire cup-bearer was often as fine and spirited a -character as his knight. Once, when Edward the Black Prince was sojourning -in Bourdeaux, he entertained in his chamber many of his English lords. A -squire brought wine into the room, and the prince, after he had drank, -sent the cup to Sir John Chandos, selecting him as the first in honour, -because he was constable of Acquitain. The knight drank, and by his -command the squire bore the cup to the Earl of Oxenford, a vain, weak man, -who, unworthy of greatness, was ever seeking for those poor trifles which -noble knights overlooked and scorned. Feeling his dignity offended that he -had not been treated according to his rank, he refused the cup, and with -mocking gesture desired the squire to carry it to his master, Sir John -Chandos. "Why so?" replied the youth, "he hath drank already, therefore -drink you, since he hath offered it to you. If you will not drink, by -Saint George, I will cast the wine in your face." The Earl, judging from -the stern and dogged manner of the squire that this was no idle threat, -quietly set the cup to his mouth.[60] - -After dinner the squires prepared the chess tables or arranged the hall -for minstrelsy and dancing. They participated in all these amusements; and -herein the difference between the squire and the mere domestic servant was -shown. In strictness of propriety the squire's dress ought to have been -brown, or any of those dark colours which our ancestors used to call -'_sad_.' But the gay spirit of youth was loth to observe this rule. - - "Embroudered was he, as it were a mede, - Alle ful of freshe floures, white and rede." - -His dress was never of the fine texture, nor so highly ornamented as that -of the knight. The squires often made the beds of their lords, and the -service of the day was concluded by their presenting them with the vin du -coucher. - - "Les lis firent le Escuier, - Si coucha chacun son seignor." - -[Sidenote: Various titles of squires.] - -Personal service was considered so much the duty of a squire that his -title was always applied to some particular part of it. The squires of a -lord had each his respective duties--one was the squire of the chamber, or -the chamberlain; and another the carving squire. Every branch of the -domestic arrangements of the castle was, under the charge of an aspirant -to chivalry. Spenser, who has opened to us so many interesting views of -chivalric manners, has admirably painted the domestic squire discharging -some of his duties:-- - - "There fairly them receives a gentle squire, - Of mild demeanour and rare courtesy, - Right cleanly clad in comely sad attire; - In word and deed that show'd great modesty, - And knew his good to all of each degree, - Hight reverence. He them with speeches meet, - Does faire entreat, no courting nicety, - But simple, true, and eke unfained sweet, - As might become a squire so great persons to greet."[61] - -[Sidenote: His duties in battle.] - -The most honorable squire was he that was attached to the person of his -lord; he was called the squire of the body, and was in truth for the time -the only military youth of the class: every squire, however, became in -turn by seniority the martial squire. He accompanied his lord into the -field of battle, carrying his shield and armour, while the page usually -bore the helmet.[62] He held the stirrup, and assisted the knight to arm. -There was always a line of squires in the rear of a line of knights; the -young cavaliers supplying their lords with weapons, assisting them to rise -when overthrown, and receiving their prisoners.[63] The banner of the -banneret and baron was displayed by the squire. The pennon of the knight -was also waved by him when his leader was only a knight, and conducted so -many men-at-arms, and other vassals, that, to give dignity and importance -to his command, he removed his pennon from his own lance to that of his -attendant. We can readily believe the historians of ancient days, that it -was right pleasant to witness the seemly pride and generous emulation with -which the squires of the baron, the banneret, and the knight displayed the -various ensigns of their master's chivalry. - -[Sidenote: Gallantry.] - -But whatever were the class of duties to which the candidate for chivalry -was attached, he never forgot that he was also the squire of dames. During -his course of a valet he had been taught to play with love, and as years -advanced, nature became his tutor. Since the knights were bound by oath -to defend the feebler sex, so the principle was felt in all its force and -spirit by him who aspired to chivalric honours. Hence proceeded the -qualities of kindness, gentleness, and courtesy. The minstrels in the -castle harped of love as well as of war, and from them (for all young men -had not, like Sir Ipomydon, clerks for their tutors) the squire learnt to -express his passion in verse. This was an important feature of chivalric -education, for among the courtesies of love, the present of books from -knights to ladies was not forgotten, and it more often happened than -monkish austerity approved of, that a volume, bound in sacred guise, -contained, not a series of hymns to the Virgin Mary, but a variety of -amatory effusions to a terrestrial mistress.[64] Love was mixed in the -mind of the young squire with images of war, and he, therefore, thought -that his mistress, like honour, could only be gained through difficulties -and dangers; and from this feeling proceeded the romance of his passion. -But while no obstacle, except the maiden's disinclination, was in his way, -he sang, he danced, he played on musical instruments, and practised all -the arts common to all ages and nations to win the fair. In Chaucer, we -have a delightful picture of the manners of the squire:-- - - "Singing he was or floyting all the day, - He was as fresh as is the month of May.[65] - He could songs make, and well endite, - Just and eke dance, and well pourtraie and write; - So hote he loved, that by nighterdale (night time) - He slept no more than doth the nightingale." - -[Sidenote: Martial exercises.] - -Military exercises were mingled with the anxieties of love. He practised -every mode by which strength and activity could be given to the body. He -learnt to endure hunger and thirst; to disregard the seasons' changes, and -like the Roman youths in the Campus Martius, when covered with dust, he -plunged into the stream that watered the domains of his lord. He -accustomed himself to wield the sword, to thrust the lance, to strike with -the axe, and to wear armour. The most favourite exercise was that which -was called the Quintain: for it was particularly calculated to practise -the eye and hand in giving a right direction to the lance. A half figure -of a man, armed with sword and buckler, was placed on a post, and turned -on a pivot, so that if the assailant with his lance hit him not on the -middle of the breast but on the extremities, he made the figure turn -round, and strike him an ill-aimed blow, much to the merriment of the -spectators. The game of the Quintain was sometimes played by hanging a -shield upon a staff fixed in the ground, and the skilful squire riding -apace struck the shield in such a manner as to detach it from its -ligatures.[66] - -[Sidenote: Horsemanship.] - -But of all the exercises of chivalry, none was thought so important as -horsemanship. - - "Wel could he sit on horse and fair ride," - -is Chaucer's praise of his young squire. Horsemanship was considered the -peculiar science of men of gentle blood. That Braggadochio had not been -trained in chivalry was apparent from his bad riding. Even his valiant -courser chafed and foamed, for he disdained to bear any base burthen.[67] - -Notions of religion were blended with those of arms in the mind of the -squire, for his sword was blessed by the priest, and delivered to him at -the altar. As he advanced to manhood he left to younger squires most of -the domestic duties of his station. Without losing his title of squire he -became also called a bachelor, a word also used to designate a young -unmarried knight. He went on military expeditions. The squire in Chaucer, -though but twenty years old, had - - "Sometime been in chevauchee, - In Flanders, in Artois, and in Picardy." - -Love was the inspirer of his chivalry: for he - - "Bore him well, as of so little space, - In hope to stonden in his lady's grace."[68] - -[Sidenote: Importance of squires in battles.] - -[Sidenote: Particularly at the battle of Bovines.] - -For the squire, instead of being merely the servant of the knight, often -periled himself in his defence. When the knight was impetuous beyond the -well-tempered bravery of chivalry, the admirer of his might followed him -so close, and adventured himself so jeopardously, as to cover him with his -shield.[69] A valiant knight, Ernalton of Saint Colombe, was on the point -of being discomfited by a squire called Guillonet, of Salynges; but when -the squire of Sir Ernalton saw his master almost at utterance, he went to -him, and took his axe out of his hands, and said, "Ernalton, go your way, -and rest you; ye can no longer fight;" and then with the axe he went to -the hostile squire, says Froissart, and gave him such a stroke on the head -that he was astonied, and had nigh fallen to the earth. He recovered -himself, and aimed a blow at his antagonist, which would have been fatal, -but that the squire slipped under it, and, throwing his arms round -Guillonet, wrestled, and finally threw him. The victor exclaimed that he -would slay his prostrate foe, unless he would yield himself to his master. -The name of his master was asked: "Ernalton of Saint Colombe," returned -the squire, "with whom thou hast fought all this season." Guillonet seeing -the dagger raised to strike him, yielded him to render his body prisoner -at Lourde within fifteen days after, rescue or no rescue.[70] The squires -were brought into the _mêlée_ of knights, at the famous battle of Bovines, -on the 27th of July, 1214. The force of Philip Augustus was far inferior -in number to that of the united Germans and Flemish; and, in order to -prevent them from surrounding him, he lengthened his line by placing the -squires at the two extremities of the knights. The mail-clad chivalry of -the emperor Otho were indignant at such soldiers daring to front them; but -the young warriors were not dismayed by haughty looks and contumelious -speeches, and their active daring mainly contributed to the gaining of the -victory, the most considerable one that France had ever obtained.[71] - -[Sidenote: Preparations for knighthood.] - -Seldom before the age of twenty-one was a squire admitted to the full -dignity of chivalry. Chaucer's squire was twenty, and had achieved feats -of arms. St. Louis particularly commanded that the honour of knighthood -should not be conferred upon any man under the age of twenty-one. As the -time approached for the completing and crowning of his character, his -religious duties became more strictly enforced. Knighthood was -assimilated, as much as possible, to the clerical state, and prayer, -confession, and fasting were necessary for the candidate for both. The -squire had his sponsors, the emblems of spiritual regeneration were -applied to him, and the ceremonies of inauguration commenced by -considering him a new man. He went into a bath, and then was placed in a -bed. They were symbolical, the bath of purity of soul, and the bed of the -rest which he was hereafter to enjoy in paradise. In the middle ages -people generally reposed naked[72], and it was not till after he had slept -that the neophyte was clad with a shirt. This white dress was considered -symbolical of the purity of his new character. A red garment was thrown -over him to mark his resolution to shed his blood in the cause of Heaven. -The vigil of arms was a necessary preliminary to knighthood. The night -before his inauguration he passed in a church, armed from head to -foot[73], and engaged in prayer and religious meditation. One of the last -acts of preparation was the shaving of his head to make its appearance -resemble that of the ecclesiastical tonsure. To part with hair was always -regarded in the church as a symbol of servitude to God.[74] - -[Sidenote: The inauguration.] - -The ceremony of inauguration was generally performed in a church, or hall -of a castle, on the occasion of some great religious or civic festival. -The candidate advanced to the altar, and, taking his sword from the scarf -to which it was appended, he presented it to the priest, who laid it upon -the altar, praying that Heaven would bless it, and that it might serve for -a protection of the church, of widows, and orphans, and of all the -servants of God against the tyrannies of pagans and other deceivers, in -whose eyes he mercifully hoped that it would appear as an instrument of -terror. The young soldier took his oaths of chivalry; he solemnly swore to -defend the church, to attack the wicked, to respect the priesthood, to -protect women and the poor, to preserve the country in tranquillity, and -to shed his blood, even to its last drop, in behalf of his brethren. The -priest then re-delivered the sword to him with the assurance that, as it -had received God's blessing, he who wielded it would prevail against all -enemies and the adversaries of the church. He then exhorted him to gird -his sword upon his strong thigh, that with it he might exercise the power -of equity to destroy the hopes of the profane, to fight for God's church, -and defend his faithful people, and to repel and destroy the hosts of the -wicked, whether they were heretics or pagans. Finally, the soldier in -chivalry was exhorted to defend widows and orphans, and to restore and -preserve the desolate, to revenge the wronged, to confirm the virtuous; -and he was assured that by performing these high duties he would attain -heavenly joys.[75] - -The young warrior afterwards advanced to the supreme lord in the assembly, -and knelt before him with clasped hands;--an attitude copied from feudal -manners, and the only circumstance of feudality in the whole ceremony. The -lord then questioned him whether his vows had any objects distinct from -the wish to maintain religion and chivalry. The soldier having answered in -the negative, the ceremony was permitted to advance. He was invested with -all the exterior marks of chivalry. The knights and ladies of the court -attended on him, and delivered to him the various pieces of his -harness.[76] The armour varied with the military customs of different -periods and of different countries, but some matters were of permanent -usage. The spurs were always put on first, and the sword was belted on -last. The concluding sign of being dubbed or adopted into the order of -knighthood was a slight blow[77] given by the lord to the cavalier, and -called the accolade, from the part of the body, the neck, whereon it was -struck. The lord then proclaimed him a knight in the name of God and the -saints, and such cavaliers as were present embraced their newly-made -brother. The priest exhorted him to go forth like a man, and observe the -ordinances of heaven. Impressed with the solemnity of the scene, all the -other knights renewed in a few brief and energetic sentences their vows of -chivalry; and while the hall was gleaming with drawn swords, the man of -God again took up the word, blessing him who had newly undertaken, and -those who had been long engaged in holy warfare, and praying that all the -hosts of the enemies of heaven might be destroyed by Christian chivalry. -The assembly then dispersed. The new knight, on leaving the hall, vaulted -on his steed, and showed his skill in the management of the lance, that -the admiring people might know that a cavalier had been elected for their -protection. He distributed largesses among the servants and minstrels of -the castle, for whoso received so great a gift as the order of chivalry -honoured not his order if he gave not after his ability. The remainder of -the day was passed in congratulation and festivity.[78] - -Many of the most virtuous affections of the heart wound themselves round -that important circumstance in a man's life, his admission into -knighthood. He always regarded with filial piety the cavalier who invested -him with the order. He never would take him prisoner if they were ranged -on opposite sides, and he would have forfeited all title to chivalric -honours if he had couched his lance against him. - -[Sidenote: Squires anxious to be knighted by great characters.] - -A noble aspirant to chivalry would only receive the accolade from a -warrior, whose fame had excited his emulation, or sometimes the feelings -of feudal attachment prevailed over the higher and sterner sense of -chivalry. In expectation of a battle, the Earl of Buckingham called forth -a gentle squire of Savoy, and said, "Sir, if God be pleased, I think we -shall this day have a battle; therefore I wish that you would become a -knight." The squire excused himself by saying, "Sir, God thank you for the -nobleness that ye would put me unto; but, Sir, I will never be knight -without I am made by the hands of my natural lord, the Earl of Savoy."[79] - -A very singular tribute was paid to bravery during the famous battle of -Homildon Hill. When the cloth-yard arrows of the English yeomen were -piercing the opposite line through and through, Sir John Swinton exhorted -the Scotsmen not to stand like deer to be shot at, but to indulge their -ancient courage and meet their enemy hand to hand. His wish, however, was -echoed only by one man, Adam Gordon, and between their families a mortal -feud existed. Generously forgetting the hatred which each house bore to -the other, Gordon knelt before Swinton, and solicited to be knighted by so -brave a man. The accolade was given, and the two friends, like companions -in arms, gallantly charged the English. If a kindred spirit had animated -the whole of the Scottish line the fate of the day might have been -reversed; but the two noble knights were only supported by about an -hundred men-at-arms devoted to all their enterprises; and they all -perished.[80] - -[Sidenote: Knights made in battle-field.] - -[Sidenote: Inconvenience of this.] - -The ceremonies of inauguration which have been described were gone through -when knighthood was conferred on great and public occasions of festivity, -but they often gave place to the power of rank and circumstances. Princes -were exempted from the laborious offices of page and squire. Men were -often adopted into chivalry on the eve of a battle, as it was considered -that a sense of their new honours would inspire their gallantry. Once -during the war of our Black Prince in Spain, more than three hundred -soldiers raised their pennons; many of them had been squires, but in one -case the distinction was entirely complimentary, for Peter the Cruel, who -could boast neither chivalric qualities nor chivalric services, was -dubbed. There was scarcely a battle in the middle ages which was not -preceded or followed by a large promotion of men to the honour of -knighthood. Sometimes, indeed, they were regularly educated squires, but -more frequently the mere contingency of the moment was regarded, and -soldiers distinguished only for their bravery and ungraced by the gentle -virtues of chivalry were knighted. We often read of certain squires being -made cavaliers and raising their pennons, but very often no pennons were -raised, that is to say, the men who were knighted were not able to summon -round their lances a single man-at-arms; hence it ocurred that the world -was overspread with poor knights, some of whom brought chivalry into -disgrace by depredations and violence; others wandered about the world in -quest of adventures, and let out their swords to their richer brethren. In -the romance of Partenopex of Blois, there is a picture of a knight of this -last class. - - "So riding, they o'ertake an errant knight, - Well hors'd, and large of limb, Sir Gaudwin hight, - He nor of castle nor of land was lord, - Houseless he reap'd the harvest of the sword; - And now, not more on fame than profit bent, - Rode with blithe heart unto the tournament; - For cowardice he held it deadly sin, - And sure his mind and bearing were akin, - The face an index to the soul within; - It seem'd that he, such pomp his train bewray'd, - Had shap'd a goodly fortune by his blade; - His knaves were point device, in livery dight, - With sumpter nags, and tents for shelter in the night." - -[Sidenote: Knights of Mines.] - -Cavaliers sometimes took their title from the place where they were -knighted: a very distinguished honor was to be called a Knight of the -Mines, which was to be obtained by achieving feats of arms in the -subterranean process of a siege. The mines were the scenes of knightly -valour; they were lighted up by torches; trumpets and other war -instruments resounded, and the general affair of the siege was suspended, -while the knights tried their prowess; the singularity of the mode of -combat giving a zest to the encounters. No prisoners could be taken, as a -board, breast high, placed in the passage by mutual consent, divided the -warriors. Swords or short battle-axes were the only weapons used. - -In the year 1388, the castle of Vertueill, in Poictou, then held by the -English, was besieged by the Duke of Bourbon. Its walls raised on a lofty -rock were not within the play of the battering ram, and therefore the -tedious operation of the mine was resorted to: both parties frequently met -and fought in the excavated chambers, and a battle of swords was one day -carried on between Regnaud de Montferrand, the squire of the castle, and -the Duke of Bourbon, each being ignorant of the name and quality of the -other. At length the cry "Bourbon, Bourbon! Our Lady!" shouted by the -attendants of the Duke, in their eager joy at the fray, struck the ears of -the squire, and arrested his hand. He withdrew some paces, and enquired -whether the duke were present: when they assured him of the fact, he -requested to receive the honour of knighthood in the mine, from the hands -of the duke, and offering to deliver up the castle to him in return for -the distinction, and from respect for the honour and valour he found in -him. Never was a castle in the pride of its strength and power gained by -easier means. The keys were delivered to the Duke of Bourbon by Regnaud de -Montferrand, and the honor of knighthood, with a goodly courser and a -large golden girdle, were bestowed on the squire in return.[81] - -[Sidenote: General ceremonies of degradation.] - -Such were the various ceremonies of chivalric inauguration. Those of -degradation should be noticed. What the offences were which were -punishable by degradation it is impossible to specify. If a knight -offended against the rules of the order of chivalry he was degraded, -inasmuch as he was despised by his brother knights; and as honour was the -life-blood of chivalry, he dreaded contempt more than the sword. Still, -however, there were occasions when a knight might be formally deprived of -his distinctions. The ceremony of degradation generally took place after -sentence, and previous to the execution of a legal judgment against -him.[82] Sometimes his sword was broken over his head, and his spurs were -chopped off; and, to make the bitterness of insult a part of the -punishment, these actions were performed by a person of low condition; but -at other times the forms of degradation were very elaborate. The knight -who was to be degraded was in the first instance armed by his brother -knights from head to foot, as if he had been going to the battle-field; -they then conducted him to a high stage, raised in a church, where the -king and his court, the clergy, and the people, were assembled; thirty -priests sung such psalms as were used at burials; at the end of every -psalm they took from him a piece of armour. First, they removed his -helmet, the defence of disloyal eyes, then his cuirass on the right side, -as the protector of a corrupt heart; then his cuirass on the left side, as -from a member consenting, and thus with the rest; and when any piece of -armour was cast upon the ground, the king of arms and heralds cried, -"Behold the harness of a disloyal and miscreant knight!" A basin of gold -or silver full of warm water was then brought upon the stage, and a herald -holding it up, demanded the knight's name. The pursuivants answered that -which in truth was his designation. Then the chief king of arms said, -"That is not true, for he is a miscreant and false traitor, and hath -transgressed the ordinances of knighthood." The chaplains answered, "Let -us give him his right name." The trumpets sounded a few notes, supposed to -express the demand, "what shall be done with him?" The king, or his chief -officer, who was present replied, "Let him with dishonour and shame be -banished from my kingdom as a vile and infamous man, that hath offended -against the honour of knighthood." The heralds immediately cast the warm -water upon the face of the disgraced knight, as though he were newly -baptized, saying, "Henceforth thou shalt be called by thy right name, -Traitor." Then the king, with twelve other knights, put upon them mourning -garments, declaring sorrow, and thrust the degraded knight from the stage: -by the buffettings of the people he was driven to the altar, where he was -put into a coffin, and the burial-service of the church was solemnly read -over him.[83] - -[Sidenote: Ceremonies in England.] - -The English customs regarding degradation are minutely stated by Stowe in -the case of an English knight, Sir Andrew Harcley, Earl of Carlisle who -(in the time of Edward II.) was deprived of his knighthood, previously to -his suffering the penalties of the law for a treasonable correspondence -with Robert Bruce. "He was led to the bar as an earl, worthily apparelled, -with his sword girt about him, horsed, booted, and spurred, and unto him -Sir Anthony Lucy (his judge) spoke in this manner: 'Sir Andrew,' quoth he, -'the king for thy valiant service hath done thee great honour, and made -thee Earl of Carlisle, since which time thou as a traitor to thy lord, the -king, led his people, that should have helped him at the battle of -Heighland, away by the county of Copland, and through the earldom of -Lancaster, by which means our lord the king was discomfited there of the -Scots, through thy treason and falseness; whereas, if thou haddest come -betimes, he hadde had the victory, and this treason thou committed for the -great sum of gold and silver that thou received of James Douglas, a Scot, -the king's enemy. Our lord the king wills, therefore, that the order of -knighthood, by the which thou received all the honour and worship upon thy -body, be brought to nought, and thy state undone, that other knights of -lower degree may after thee beware, and take example truly to serve.' Then -commanded he to hew his spurs from his heels, then to break his sword over -his head, which the king had given him to keep and defend his land -therewith, when he made him earl. After this, he let unclothe him of his -furred tabard, and of his hood, of his coat of arms, and also of his -girdle; and when this was done, Sir Anthony said unto him, 'Andrew,' quoth -he, 'now art thou no knight, but a knave; and for thy treason the king -wills that thou shalt be hanged and drawn, and thy head smitten off from -thy body, and burned before thee, and thy body quartered, and thy head -being smitten off, afterwards to be set upon London bridge, and thy four -quarters shall be sent into four good towns of England, that all others -may beware by thee;' and as Sir Anthony Lucy had said, so was it done in -all things, on the last day of October."[84] - - - - -CHAP. III. - -THE EQUIPMENT. - - _Beauty of the chivalric Equipment ... The Lance ... The Pennon ... - The Axe, Maule, and Martel ... The Sword ... Fondness of the Knight - for it ... Swords in Romances ... The Shield ... Various sorts of Mail - ... Mail ... Mail and Plate ... Plate Harness ... The Scarf ... - Surcoats ... Armorial Bearings ... Surcoats of the Military Orders ... - The Dagger of Mercy ... Story of its Use ... Value of Enquiries into - ancient Armour ... A precise Knowledge unattainable ... Its general - Features interesting ... The broad Lines of the Subject ... Excellence - of Italian Armour ... Armour of the Squire, &c. ... Allegories made on - Armour ... The Horse of the Knight._ - - -The fierce equipage of war deserves a fuller consideration than was given -to it in the last chapter. The horse whereon the knight dashed to the -perilous encounter should be described, the weapons by which he -established the honour of his fame and the nobleness of his mistress's -beauty deserve something more than a general notice. Never was military -costume more splendid and graceful than in the days which are emphatically -called "the days of the shield and the lance." What can modern warfare -present in comparison with the bright and glittering scene of a goodly -company of gentle knights pricking on the plain with nodding plumes, -emblazoned shields, silken pennons streaming in the wind, and the scarf, -that beautiful token of lady-love, crossing the strong and polished steel -cuirass. - -[Sidenote: The lance.] - -The lance was the chief offensive weapon of the knight: its staff was -commonly formed from the ash-tree. - -[Sidenote: The pennon.] - -Its length was fitted to the vigour and address of him who bore it, and -its iron and sharpened head was fashioned agreeably to his taste.[85] To -the top of the wooden part of the lance was generally fixed an ensign, or -piece of silk, linen, or stuff. On this ensign was marked the cross, if -the expedition of the soldier had for its object the Holy Land, or it bore -some part of his heraldry; and in the latter case, when the lance was -fixed in the ground near the entrance of the owner's tent, it served to -designate the bearer. Originally this ensign was called a gonfanon, the -combination of two Teutonic words, signifying war and a standard. -Subsequently, when the ensign was formed of rich stuffs and silks, it was -called a pennon, from the Latin word pannus.[86] The pennon cannot be -described from its exact breadth, for that quality of it varied with the -different fancies of knights, and it had sometimes one, but more often two -indentations at the end. - -When the pennon was cut square on occasion of a simple knight becoming a -knight banneret it received the title of a banner, the ancient German word -for the standard of a leader, or prince.[87] - -[Sidenote: The axe.] - -[Sidenote: The maule and martel.] - -To transfix his foe with a lance was the ordinary endeavour of a knight; -but some cavaliers of peculiar hardihood preferred to come to the closest -quarters, where the lance could not be used. The battle-axe, which they -therefore often wielded, needs no particular description. But the most -favourite weapons were certain ponderous steel or iron hammers, carrying -death either by the weight of their fall or the sharpness of the edge. -They were called the martel and the maule, words applied indifferently in -old times; for writers of days of chivalry cared little about extreme -accuracy of diction, not foreseeing the fierce disputes which their want -of minuteness in description would give rise to. This was the weapon which -ecclesiastics used when they buckled harness over rochet and hood, and -holy ardour impelled them into the field; for the canons of the church -forbad them from wielding swords, and they always obeyed the letter of the -law. Some cavaliers, in addition to their other weapons, carried the -mallet, or maule, hanging it at their saddle bow, till the happy moment -for 'breaking open skulls' arrived. When it was used alone, this -description of offensive armour was rather Gothic than chivalric; yet the -rudeness of earlier ages had its admirers in all times of chivalry, the -affected love of simplicity not being peculiar to the present day. A lance -could not execute half the sanguinary purposes of Richard Coeur de Lion, -and it was with a battle-axe[88], as often as with a sword, that he -dashed into the ranks of the Saracens. Bertrand du Guesclin had a -partiality for a martel, and so late as the year 1481 the battle-axe was -used. - -Among the hosts of the Duke of Burgundy was a knight named Sir John -Vilain. He was a nobleman from Flanders, very tall, and of great bodily -strength: he was mounted on a good horse, and held a battle-axe in both -hands. He pressed his way into the thickest part of the battle, and, -throwing his bridle on the neck of his steed, he gave such mighty blows on -all sides with his battle-axe that whoever was struck was instantly -unhorsed, and wounded past recovery.[89] Generally speaking, however, the -polite and courteous knights of chivalry thought it an ungentle practice -to use a weapon which was associated with ideas of trade; and the -romance-writers, who reflect the style of thinking of their times, -commonly give the lance to the knight, and the axe or mallet to some rude -and ferocious giant.[90] - -[Sidenote: The sword.] - -[Sidenote: Fondness of the knight for it.] - -The usual weapon for the press and mêlée was the sword, and there were a -great many interesting associations attached to it. The knight threw round -it all his affections. In that weapon he particularly trusted. It was his -_good_ sword, and with still more confidence and kindness he called it his -_own good_ sword. He gave it a name, and engraved on it some moral -sentence, or a word referring to a great event of his life. Not indeed -that these sentences were confined to the sword; they were sometimes -engraven on the frontlet of the helmet, or even on the spurs[91], but the -hilt or blade of the sword were their usual and proper places. The sword -rather than the lance was the weapon which represented the chivalry of a -family, and descended as the heir loom of its knighthood. When no one -inherited his name, there was as much generous contention among his -friends to possess his good sword, as in the days of Greece poetry has -ascribed to the warriors who wished for the armour of Achilles.[92] The -sword was the weapon which connected the religious and military parts of -the chivalrique character. The knight swore by his sword, for its cross -hilt was emblematical of his Saviour's cross. - - David in his daies dubbed knights, - And did hem _swere on her sword_ to serve truth ever. - P. PLOUGHMAN. - -The word Jesus was sometimes engraven on the hilt to remind the wearer of -his religious duties. The sword was his only crucifix, when mass was said -in the awful pause between the forming of the military array and the -laying of lances in their rests. It was moreover his consolation in the -moment of death. When that doughty knight of Spain, Don Rodrigo Frojaz was -lying upon his shield, with his helmet for a pillow, he kissed the cross -of his sword in remembrance of that on which the incarnate son of God had -died for him, and in that act of devotion rendered up his soul into the -hands of his Creator.[93] - -The handle of the sword was also remarkable for another matter. The -knight, in order not to lose the advantage of having his seal by him, -caused it to be cut in the head of his sword, and thus by impressing his -seal upon any wax attached to a legal document, he exhibited his -determination to maintain his obligation by the three-fold figure of his -seal, the upholden naked sword, and the cross.[94] - -The sword of the knight was held in such high estimation, that the name of -its maker was thought worthy of record. Thus when Geoffery of Plantagenet -received the honor of knighthood, a sword was brought out of the royal -treasury, the work of Galan, the best of all sword smiths.[95] Spain was -always famous for the temper and brilliancy of its swords. Martial speaks -in several places of the Spanish swords which, when hot from the forge, -were plunged in the river Salo near Bilbilis in Celtiberia. The armourers -at Saragossa were as renowned in days of chivalry as those of Toledo in -rather later times, for it was not only the sword of Toledo that became a -proverbial phrase for the perfection of the art. Sometimes the armourers -had establishments in both towns. The excellence, however, of the swords -of Julian del Rey, who lived both at Saragossa and Toledo, is referred to -by the keeper of the lions in Don Quixote. The weapons of this artist had -their peculiar marks. El perillo, a little dog; el morillo, a Moor's head, -and la loba, a wolf.[96] - -But perhaps it may be thought I am passing the bounds of my subject. To -return then to earlier days. The girdle round the waist, or the bauldrick -descending from the shoulder across the body was simple tanned leather -only, or sometimes its splendour rivalled that of prince Arthur in the -Fairy Queen. - - Athwart his breast a bauldrick brave he ware - That shind like twinkling stars, with stones most precious rare; - - * * * * * - - And in the midst thereof, one precious stone - Of wond'rous worth, and eke of wondrous mights, - Shapt like a lady's head, exceeding shone, - Like Hesperus among the lesser lights, - And strove for to amaze the weaker sights: - Thereby his mortal blade full comely hung - In ivory sheath, ycarv'd with curious slights, - Whose hilt was burnish'd gold, and handle strong - Of mother perle, and buckled with a golden tong. - Book 1. c. 7. st. 29, 30. - - -[Sidenote: Swords in romances.] - -Many of the historical circumstances just now related regarding the sword -of the knight are pleasingly exaggerated in the beautiful extravagancies -of romantic fabling. The most famous sword in the imagination of our -ancestors was that of king Arthur; it was called Escalibert (corrupted -into Caliburn). The romance of Merlin thus explains the name. Escalibert -est un nom Ebricu qui vault autant à dire en Français, comme tres cher fer -et acier, et aussi dissoyent il vrai. The history of this sword enters -largely into the romances of Arthur, and the knights of the round table, -and the subject was fondly cherished by those who detailed the exploits of -other heroes. The fame of Caliburn was remembered when Richard the first -went to the East. The romances affirm that he wore the terrible and trusty -sword of Arthur. But, instead of mowing down ranks of Saracens with it, he -presented it to Tancred, king of Sicily. - - And Richard at that time gaf him a faire juelle. - The good sword Caliburne, which Arthur luffed so well.[97] - -The romancers followed the practices of the northern scalds[98], of naming -the swords of knights: that of Sir Bevis of Hampton was called Morglay; -and that of the Emperor Charlemagne himself Fusberta joyosa.[99] The poets -were also as faithful delineators of manners as their predecessors the -romance writers had been, and therefore we find in Ariosto that the sword -of the courteous Rogero was called Balisarda, and that of Orlando, -Durindana. - -In the romance of Sir Otuel, the address of the same Orlando to his sword -is perfectly in the spirit of chivalry. - - Then he began to make his moan - And fast looked thereupon, - As he held it in his hond. - "O sword of great might, - Better bare never no knight, - To win with no lond! - Thou hasty--be in many batayle, - That never Sarrazin, sans fayle - Ne might thy stroke withstond. - Go! let never no paynim - Into battle bear him, - After the death of Roland! - O sword of great powere, - In this world n'is nought thy peer, - Of no metal y--wrought; - _All Spain and Galice_, - Through grace of God and thee y--wis, - To Christendom ben brought. - Thou art good withouten blame; - In thee is graven the holy name - That all things made of nought."[100] - -Regarding inscriptions on swords mentioned in the concluding lines, there -is a very interesting passage in the romance of Giron the courteous. On -one occasion where the chaste virtue of that gentle knight and noble -companion of Arthur was in danger, his spear, which he had rested against -a tree, fell upon his sword, and impelled it into a fountain. Giron -immediately left the lady with whom he was conversing, and ran to the -water. He snatched the weapon from the fountain, and, throwing away the -scabbard, began to wipe the blade. Then his eyes lighted on the words -that were written on the sword, and these were the words that were thus -written:--Loyaulte passe tout, et faulsete si honneit tout, et deceit tous -hommes dedans quals elle se herberge. This sentence acted with talismanic -power upon the heart of that noble knight Giron the courteous, and so his -virtue was saved. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: The shield.] - -[Sidenote: Impresses.] - -Leaving those pictures of manners which the old romances have painted, I -come to the defensive harness of the knight, a subject which has many -claims to attention. The shield was held in equal esteem in chivalric as -in classic times; for - - "To lose the badge that should his deeds display," - -was considered the greatest shame and foulest scorn that could happen to a -knight. The shape of the shield was oblong or triangular, wide at the top -for the protection of the body, and tapering to the bottom.[101] Other -shapes were given to it agreeably to the fancy of the knight, and it was -plain or adorned with emblazonry of arms and other ornaments of gold and -silver, according to his estate, and the simplicity or comparative -refinement of his age. Some knights, as gentle as brave, adorned their -shields with a portrait of their lady-love[102], or stamped on them -impresses quaint, with a device emblematical of their passion. Knights -formed of sterner stuff retained their heraldic insignia, and their -mottoes breathed war and homicide; but gallant cavaliers shewed the -gentleness of their minds, and their impressed sentences were sometimes -plain of meaning, but oftener dark to all, except the knight himself, and -the damsel whose playful wit had invented them. We can readily imagine -that those amorous devices and impresses were not so frequently used in -the battle field as in the tournament, and that they were sometimes worn -together with gentilitial distinctions. - -[Sidenote: Various sorts of mail.] - -The casing of the body is a very curious subject of enquiry. The -simplicity of ancient times, in using the skins of beasts, is marked in -the word _loricum_, from the word _lorum_, a thong, and the word -_cuirasse_ is traceable to _cuir_, leather. Body harness has three general -divisions; mail; plate and mail mixed; plate mail entirely. Rows of iron -rings, sown on the dress, were the first defences, and then, for -additional defence, a row of larger rings was laid over the first. These -rings gave way to small iron plates which lapped over each other, and this -variety of mail is interesting, for armour now resembled the _lorica -squammata_ of the Romans, and hence ancient mail of this description has -generally been called scale-mail, while the ordinary appearance of armour -being like the meshes of a net, gained it the title of mail from the -_macula_ of the Latins, and the _maglia_ of the Italians. Sometimes the -plates were square, and sometimes of a lozenge form: but it would be -considering the matter much too curiously to divide armour into as many -species as the shapes and forms which a small piece of iron or steel was -capable of being divided into.[103] - -All this variety of mail harness was sown on an under garment of leather -or cloth, or a more considerable wadding of various sorts of materials, -and called a gambeson. If the garment were a simple tunic or frock the -whole was called a hauberk. The lower members were defended by -_chausses_, which may be intelligible to modern understandings by the -words breeches or pantaloons. When the mailed frock and _chausses_ were -joined, the union was called the haubergeon. In each case, the back and -crown of the head were saved harmless by a hood of mail, which sometimes -formed part of the hauberk or haubergeon, and sometimes was detached. In -Spain, the hood and the other parts of the dress were united, if the case -of the Cid be held as evidence of the general state of manners; for after -his battles, he is always represented as slowly quitting the field with -his gory hood thrown back. The mail covered also the chin, and sometimes -the mouth; in the latter case the office of breathing being entirely -committed to the care of the nose. Finally, the sleeves of the jacket were -carried over the fingers, and a continuation of the _chausses_ protected -the toes. - - "A goodly knight all armed in harness meet - That from his head no place appeared to his feete." - -It is curious that foppery in armour began at the toe. It was the fashion -for the knight to have the toe of the mail several inches in length and -inclining downwards. To fight on foot with such incumbrances was -impossible, and, therefore the enemies of the crusaders (for foppery -prevailed even in religious wars) shot rather at the horses than at the -men. The fashion I am speaking of crossed the Pyrenees, for in the -pictorial representation of a tournament at Grenada, between Moorish and -Christian knights, the former are drawn with the broad shovel shoes of -their country, while the latter have long pointed shoes, like the -cavaliers of the North. - -Such were the various descriptions of mail armour from the earliest æra of -chivalry to the thirteenth century. They were worn at different times in -different countries, and often in the same country at the same time by -different individuals: but at length so excellent an improvement was made -in chain mail, that military fashion could have no longer any pretence for -variety. The different descriptions of mail armour show the skill of the -iron-smiths among our ancestors, and that they were capable of inventing -the next and last great change. But as it was made at a time when the -Asiatic mode of warfare was known in Europe, and as the improvement I am -about to mention was the general mode of the Saracenian soldiers, it is as -probable that it was borrowed, as that it was invented. The rings of mail -were now no longer sewn on the dress, but they were interlaced, each ring -having four others inserted into it, and consequently the rings formed a -garment of themselves. The best coats of mail were made of double -rings.[104] The admirable convenience of this twisted or reticulated mail -secured its general reception. A knight was no longer encumbered by his -armour in travelling. His squire might be the bearer of his mail, for it -was both flexible and compact, or it could be rolled upon the hinder part -of a saddle. - -[Sidenote: Mail and plate.] - -[Sidenote: Plate harness.] - -Before, however, this last great improvement in mail-armour took place, -changes were made in that general description of harness which foretold -its final fall, although it might be partially and for a time supported by -any particular invention of merit. Plates of solid steel or iron were -fixed on the breast or other parts of the body, where painful experience -had assured the wearer of the insufficiency of his metal rings. The new -fashion of reticulated mail added nothing to the strength of defence, and, -therefore, ingenuity and prudence were ever at work to make defensive -armour equal to offensive. New plates continually were added, and many of -them received their titles from the parts of the body which they were -intended to defend: the pectoral protected the breast, the cuisses were -for the thighs, the brassarts for the arms, the ailettes for the -shoulders, while the gorget defended the throat, and a scaly gauntlet -gloved the hand. The cuirass was the title for the defence of the breast -and the back. This mixed harness gained ground till the knight had nearly -a double covering of mail and plate. The plate was then found a perfect -defence, and the mail was gradually thrown aside; and thus, finally, the -warrior was entirely clad in steel plates. This harness was exceedingly -oppressive to the limbs, and therefore we find the circumstance so -frequently mentioned in old writers, that when a knight alighted at his -hostel or inn, he not only doffed his armour, but went into a bath. No -wonder that it was necessary to keep changes of dress to present to the -cavaliers who arrived. Plate-armour must have been as destructive of -clothes as the old chain mail, and describing his knight, Chaucer says, - - "Of fustian he wered a gipon - Alle besmotred with his habergeon. - For he was of late y come fro his viage, - And wente for to don his pilgrimage." - -The plate harness was in one respect far more inconvenient than the armour -it superseded. The coat of chain mail could be put on or slipped off with -instantaneous celerity; but the dressing of a plate-armed knight was no -simple matter. - - "From the tents - The armourers, accomplishing the knights, - With busy hammers closing rivets up, - Give dreadful note of preparation." - -Besides this deprivation of rest before a battle, the knight, in order to -prevent surprise, was obliged to wear his heavy harness almost constantly. - -It is curious to observe, that chain mail formed some part of the harness -of a knight until the very last days of chivalry, chivalric feelings -seeming to be associated with that ancient form of armour. It was _let -into_ the plates round the neck, and thus there was a collar or tippet of -mail; and it also generally hung over other parts of the body, where, -agreeably to its shape and dimensions, it became, if I may again express -myself in the language of ladies, if not of antiquarians, an apron or a -short petticoat. - -[Sidenote: The scarf.] - -[Sidenote: Surcoats.] - -The armour of the knight was often crossed by a scarf of silk embroidered -by his lady-love. He wore also a dress which in different times was -variously designated as a surcoat, a cyclas, or a tabard. It was long[105] -or short, it opened at the sides, in the back, or in the front, as fashion -or caprice ruled the wearer's mind; but it was always sleeveless. -Originally simple cloth was its material; but as times and luxury advanced -it became richer. For the reason that this sort of dress was almost the -only one in which the lords, knights, and barons could display their -magnificence, and because it covered all their clothing and armour, they -had it usually made of cloths of gold or silver, of rich skins, furs of -ermine, sables, minever, and others.[106] There was necessarily more -variety in the appearance of the surcoat than in that of any other part -of his harness, and hence it became the distinction of a knight. In public -meetings and in times of war the lords and knights were marked by their -coats of arms; and when they were spoken of, or when any one wished to -point them out by an exterior sign, it was sufficient to say, that he -wears a coat of or, argent, gules, sinople, sable, gris, ermine, or vair, -or still shorter, he bears or, gules, &c. the words coat of arms being -understood. But as these marks were not sufficient to distinguish in -solemn assemblies, or in times of war every lord, when all were clothed in -coats of arms of gold, silver, or rich furs, they, in process of time, -thought proper to cut the cloths of gold, and silver, and furs, which they -wore over their armour, into various shapes of different colours, -observing, however, as a rule never to put fur on fur, nor cloths of gold -on those of silver, nor those of silver on gold; but they intermixed the -cloths with the furs, in order to produce variety and relief.[107] With -these cloths and furs were mingled devices or cognizances symbolical of -some circumstance in the life of the knight, and with the crest the whole -formed in modern diction the coat of arms. - -[Sidenote: Armorial bearings.] - -Every feudal lord assumed the right of chusing his own armorial -distinctions: they were worn by all his family, and were hereditary. It -was also in his power to grant arms to knights and squires as marks of -honour for military merit; and from all these causes armorial distinctions -represented the feudalism, the gentry, and the chivalry of Europe. One -knight could not give more deadly offence to another than by wearing his -armorial bearings without his permission, and many a lance was broken to -punish such insolence. Kings, as their power arose above that of the -aristocracy, assumed the right of conferring these distinctions;--an -assumption of arms without royal permission was an offence, and the -business of heralds was enlarged from that of being mere messengers -between hostile princes into a court for the arranging of armorial -honours. Thus the usurpation of kings was beneficial to society, for -disputes regarding arms and cognisances were settled by heralds and not by -battle. - -It is totally impossible to mark the history of these circumstances. -Instances of emblazoned sopra vests are to be met with in times anterior -to the crusades. They were worn during the continuance of mail and of -mixed armour: but they gradually went out of usage as plate armour became -general, it being then very much the custom to enamel or emboss the -heraldic distinctions on the armour itself, or to be contented with its -display on the shield or the banner. On festival occasions and -tournaments, however, all the gorgeousness of heraldic splendour was -exhibited upon the cyclas or tabard. - -[Sidenote: Surcoats of the military orders.] - -A word may be said on the surcoats of the military orders. The knights of -St. John and the Temple wore plain sopra vests, and their whole harness -was covered by a monastic mantle, marked with the crosses of their -respective societies. The colour of the mantle worn by the knights of St. -John was black, and from that colour being the usual monastic one, they -were called the military friars. Their cross was white. The brethren of -the Temple wore a white mantle with a red cross, and hence their frequent -title, the Red Cross Knights. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Helmets.] - -The history of the covering of the head is not altogether unamusing. The -knight was not contented to trust the protection of that part of himself -to his mailed hood alone; he wore a helmet, whose shape was at first -conical, then cylindrical, and afterwards resumed its pristine form. The -defence of the face became a matter of serious consideration, and a broad -piece of iron was made to connect the frontlet of the helm with the mail -over the mouth.[108] This nasal piece was not in general use, it being a -very imperfect protection from a sword-cut, and the knight found it of -more inconvenience than service when his vanquisher held him to earth by -it. Cheek-pieces of bars, placed horizontally or perpendicularly, attached -to the helmet, were substituted or introduced. Then came the aventaile, or -iron mask, joined to the helmet, with apertures for the eyes and mouth. It -was at first fixed and immoveable, but ingenuity afterwards assisted those -face defences. By means of pivots the knight could raise or let fall the -plates or grating before the face, and the defence was called a vizor. -Subsequently, plates were brought up from the chin, and this moveable -portion of the helmet was called, as most people know, the bever, from the -Italian _bevere_, to drink. In early times the helmet was without -ornament; it afterwards (though the exact time it is impossible to fix) -was surmounted by that part of the armorial bearings called the crest. A -lady's glove or scarf was often introduced, and was not the least -beautiful ornament. The Templars and the knights of St. John were not -permitted to adorn their helmets with the tokens either of nobility or of -love; the simplicity of religion banishing all vain heraldic distinctions, -and the soldier-priests being obliged, like the monks themselves, to -pretend to that ascetic virtue which was so highly prized in the middle -ages. - -All the splendour of chivalry is comprised in the helmet of prince Arthur. - - "His haughty helmet, horrid all with gold, - Both glorious brightness and great terror bred; - For all the crest a dragon did enfold - With greedy paws, and over all did spred - His golden wings: his dreadful hideous head - Close couched on the bever, seem'd to throw - From flaming mouth bright sparkles fiery red, - That sudden horror to faint hearts did show, - And scaly tail was stretch'd adowne his back full low. - - "Upon the top of all his lofty crest - A bunch of hairs discoloured diversely, - With sprinkled pearl and gold full richly drest, - Did shake and seem'd to dance for jollity, - Like to an almond-tree ymounted hye - On top of green Selinis all alone, - With blossoms brave bedecked daintily; - Whose tender locks do tremble every one - At every little breath that under heaven is blown."[109] - -The helmet, with its vizor and bever, was carried by the squire, or page, -on the pommel of his saddle, a very necessary measure for the relief of -the knight, particularly when the sarcasm of the Duke of Orleans was -applicable, that "if the English had any intellectual armour in their -heads, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces."[110] - -The reader should know, with the barber in Don Quixote, that, except in -the hour of battle, a knight wore only an open casque, or bacinet, a light -and easy covering. The bacinet derived its title from its resemblance to a -basin; but the word was sometimes used, however improperly, for the -helmet, the close helmet of knighthood. A vizor might be attached to the -bacinet, and then the covering for the head became a helmet. Bacinez à -visieres are often spoken of. - -The helmet of war appeared to complete the perfection of defensive -harness; for the lance broke hurtless on the plate of steel, the arrow and -quarrel glanced away, and it is only in romance that we read of swords -cutting through a solid front of iron, or piercing both plate and mail, as -some bolder spirits say. - - "From top to toe no place appeared bare, - That deadly dint of steel endanger may."[111] - -[Sidenote: The dagger of mercy.] - -The only way by which death could be inflicted was by thrusting a lance -through the small holes in the vizor. Such a mode of death was not very -common, for the cavalier always bent his face almost to the saddle-bow -when he charged. The knight, however, might be unhorsed in the shock of -the two adverse lines, and he was in that case at the mercy of the foe who -was left standing. But how to kill the human being inclosed in the rolling -mass of steel was the question; and the armourer, therefore, invented a -thin dagger, which could be inserted between the plates. This dagger was -called the dagger of mercy, apparently a curious title, considering it was -the instrument of death; but, in truth, the laws of chivalry obliged the -conqueror to shew mercy, if, when the dagger was drawn, the prostrate foe -yielded himself, rescue or no rescue. - - * * * * * - -It may be noticed that a dagger or short sword was worn by the knight even -in days of chain mail, for the hauberk was a complete case. - - "Straight from his courser leaps the victor knight, - And bares his deadly blade to end the fight; - The uplifted hauberk's skirt he draws aside, - In his foe's flank the avenging steel is dyed."[112] - -[Sidenote: Story of its use.] - -Froissart's pages furnish us with an interesting tale, descriptive of the -general chivalric custom, regarding the dagger of mercy. About the year -1390, the lord of Langurante in Gascony rode forth with forty spears and -approached the English fortress called Cadilhac. He placed his company in -ambush, and said to them, "Sirs, tarry you still here, and I will go and -ride to yonder fortress alone, and see if any will issue out against us." -He then rode to the barriers of the castle, and desired the keeper to shew -to Bernard Courant, their captain, how that the lord Langurante was there, -and desired to joust with him a course. "If he be so good a man, and so -valiant in arms as it is said," continued the challenger, "he will not -refuse it for his ladies sake: if he do, it shall turn him to much blame, -for I shall report it wheresoever I go, that for cowardice he hath refused -to run with me one course with a spear." - -A squire of Bernard reported this message to his master, whose heart -beginning to swell with ire, he cried, "Get me my harness, and saddle my -horse; he shall not go refused." Incontinently he was armed, and mounted -on his war steed, and taking his shield and spear, he rode through the -gate and the barriers into the open field. The lord Langurante seeing him -coming was rejoiced, and couched his spear like a true knight, and so did -Bernard. Their good horses dashed at each other, and their lances struck -with such equal fierceness that their shields fell in pieces, and as they -crossed Bernard shouldered sir Langurante's horse in such a manner that -the lord fell out of the saddle. Bernard turned his steed shortly round, -and as the lord Langurante was rising, his foe, who was a strong as well -as a valiant squire, took his bacinet with both his hands, and wrenching -it from his head, cast it under his horse's feet. On seeing all this the -lord of Langurante's men quitted their ambush, and were coming to the -rescue of their master, when Bernard drew his dagger, and said to the -lord, "Sir, yield you my prisoner, rescue or no rescue; or else you are -but dead." The lord, who trusted to the rescue of his men, spoke not a -word; and Bernard then gave him a death-blow on his bare head, and dashing -spurs into his horse, he fled within the barriers.[113] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Value of enquiries into ancient armour.] - -Such was the general state of armour in days of chivalry. A more detailed -account of the subject cannot be interesting; for what boots it to know -the exact form and dimensions of any of the numerous plates of steel that -encased the knight. Nor indeed was any shape constant long; for fashion -was as variable and imperious in all her changes in those times as in -ours; and as we turn with contempt from the military foppery of the -present day, little gratification can be expected from too minute an -inspection of the vanities of our forefather. Chaucer says, - - "With him ther wenten knights many on, - Some wol ben armed in an habergeon, - And in a breast-plate, and in a gipon; - And som wol have a pair of plates large; - And som wol have a pruse sheld or a targe. - Som wol ben armed on his legges well, - And have an axe, and some a mace stele. - Ther n'is no newe guise, that it n'as old. - _Armed they weren_, as I have you told, - _Everich after his opinion_." - -[Sidenote: A precise knowledge unattainable.] - -A chronological history of armour, minutely accurate, is unattainable, if -any deduction may be made from the books of laborious dulness which have -hitherto appeared on the armour of different countries. Who can affirm -that the oldest specimen which we possess of any particular form of -harness is the earliest specimen of its kind? No one can determine the -precise duration of a fashion; for after ruling the world for some time it -suddenly disappears, but some years afterwards it rears it's head again to -the confusion and dismay of our antiquarians. - -Our best authorities sometimes fail us. The monumental effigies were not -always carved at the moment of the knight's death: that the bust is -tardily raised to buried merit is not the peculiar reproach of our times. -It is complimenting the sculptors of the middle ages too highly if we -suppose that they did not sometimes violate accuracy, in order to -introduce some favorite fashion of their own days. As for the -illuminations of manuscripts which are so much boasted of, they are often -the attempts of a scribe to imitate antiquity, beautiful in respect of -execution, but of problematical accuracy, and more frequently mark the age -when the manuscript was copied, than that when the work was originally -written. We know that violation of costume was common in the romances. -Thus, in the Morte d'Arthur, an unknown knight, completely armed, and -having his vizor lowered so as to conceal his features, entered the hall -of the king. Again, - - "Cometh sir Launcelot du Lake, - Ridand right into the hall; - His steed and armour all was blake - His visere over his eyen falle,"[114] - -Now if the romance whence the above lines are extracted is to be -considered as a picture of the earliest days of chivalry it is certainly -incorrect, for it was not before the middle age of knighthood that the -face was concealed by a vizor, the earlier defence of the nasal piece -certainly not serving as a mask. The romances are unexceptionable -witnesses for the general customs of chivalry, but we cannot fix their -statements to any particular time, for they were varied and improved by -successive repetitions and transcriptions, and when they were rendered -into prose still further changes were made in order to please the taste of -the age. Thus, in an old Danish romance, a knight fighting for his lady -remains on his horse; but when in the fifteenth century the tale was -translated into the idioms of most chivalric countries, he is represented -as alighting from his milk-white steed and giving it to his fair companion -to hold; and the reason of this departure from the old ballad was, that -the translators, wishing to make their work popular, adapted it to the -manners of the age; and it was the general fashion then for the knights to -dismount when they fought. - -[Sidenote: Its general features interesting] - -In spite of all our attempts at chronological accuracy, something or other -is perpetually baffling us. We commonly think that mixed armour was the -defensive harness in the days of our Edward the Third; but in Chaucer's -portrait of the knightly character of that time, only the haubergeon is -assigned to the cavalier. Plate-armour seems to have been the general -costume of the fifteenth century; and in any pictorial exhibition of the -murder of John Duke of Burgundy in the year 1419, the artist who should -represent the Duke as harnessed in chain-mail, would be condemned by a -synod of archæologists as guilty of an unpardonable anachronism; yet we -know, on the unquestionable authority of Monstrelet, that when the Duke -lay on the ground, Olivier Layet, assisted by Pierre Frotier, thrust a -sword under the haubergeon into his belly; and that after he had been thus -cruelly murdered, the Dauphin's people stripped from him his coat of -mail.[115] But though it is difficult to determine the fashion of any part -of armour in any particular century, and life may afford nobler -occupations than considering the precise year and month when the Normans -gave up the clumsy expedient of inserting the sword through a hole in the -hauberk, and adopted the more graceful and convenient form of a -belt[116], yet viewing the subject of armour in some of its broad -features, matter of no slight interest may be found. We may not regard the -precise form and fashion of a warrior's scarf, or care to enquire whether -the embroidery were worked with gold or silver, but the general fact -itself involves the state of manners and feelings among our ancestors: it -carries us to the lady's bower where she was working this token of love; -our fancy paints the time and mode of bestowing it; and we follow it -through all the subsequent career of the knight as his silent monitor to -courage and loyalty. - -[Sidenote: The broad lines of the subject.] - -It is curious also to mark the perpetual efforts of defensive armour to -meet the improvements in the art of destruction. Chain-mail was found an -inadequate protection; plates of steel were added, and still this mixed -harness did not render the body invulnerable. The covering of steel alone -at length became complete, and defensive harness reached its perfection. -It is utterly impossible for us to state with accuracy the year when -plate-armour began to be mixed with chain-mail in any particular country, -or to determine what particular part of the body the first plate that was -used defended; but the general features of the subject are known well -enough to enable us to sketch to our imagination the military costume of -some of the most remarkable events in the warfare of the middle ages. In -the first crusade, the armour was in the rude state of mail worn on the -tunic. There was the emblazoned surcoat, for that part of dress was of -very early use; the hood was the common covering of the head, and when the -helmet was worn it was of the simplest form, and occasionally had a nasal -piece. The crusades began at the close of the eleventh century, and before -the end of the thirteenth, not only was the hauberk composed of twisted -mail, but mixed armour of plate and mail was common. The English wars in -France during the reign of our Edward III. are the next subject to which -our chivalric recollections recur. By that time plate had attained a -general predominance over chain-mail. Perhaps, at no period of chivalry -was armour more beautiful than in those days when France was one vast -tilting ground for the culled and choice-drawn cavaliers of the two mighty -monarchies of Europe. It was equally removed from the gloomy sternness of -chain-mail, and the elaborate foppery of embossed steel: its solid plates -satisfied the judicious eye by showing that the great principle of armour -was chiefly attended to, and the surcoat and scarf gave the warrior's -harness a character of neat and simple elegance. The horses, too, were -barded in the most vulnerable parts; the symmetry of the form not being -obscured, as it was in after-times by a casing of steel which left only -part of the legs free of action. The helmet had its crest and silken -ornament; the former being the sign of nobility, the latter of love: and -no warriors were so justly entitled to those graceful tokens of ladies' -favour, as the warriors of Edward III., for love was the inspiring soul of -their chivalry.[117] - -In the second series of our French wars complete plate-armour was in -general fashion. Gradually, as armour became more and more ponderous, the -knights preferred to fight on foot with their lances. That mode of -encounter was found best fitted for the display of skill, for in the rude -encounter of the horses many cavaliers were thrown, and the field -presented a ludicrous spectacle of rolling knights.[118] Some traces of -the custom of cavalry dismounting may be found in the twelfth century. The -practice grew as plate-armour became mixed with mail; and when complete -suits of steel were worn, knights sought every occasion of dismounting; -and they were wont to break their lances short for the convenience of the -close conflict. - -As the spirit of chivalry died away, the military costume of chivalry -increased in brilliancy and splendour. Ingenuity and taste were -perpetually varying decorations: the steel was sometimes studded with -ornaments of gold and silver, and sometimes the luxury of the age was -displayed in a complete suit of golden armour. - - "In arms they stood - Of golden panoply, refulgent host." - -But such splendour was only exhibited in the courteous tournament; less -costly armour sheathed the warrior of the working day. Armour gradually -fell out of use as infantry began to be considered and felt as the -principal force in war. It was not, however, till the beginning of the -seventeenth century that the proud nobility of Europe would abandon the -mode of combat of their ancestors, and no longer hope that their iron -armour of proof should hang up in their halls as an incentive to their -children's valour. "They first laid aside the jambes or steel boots; then -the shield was abandoned, and next the covering for the arms. When the -cavalry disused the lance, the cuisses were no longer worn to guard -against its thrust, and the stout leathern or buff coat hung down from -beneath the body armour to the knees, and supplied the place of the -discarded steel. The helmet was later deprived of its useless vizor; but -before the middle of the seventeenth century nothing remained of the -ancient harness but the open cap and the breasts and backs of steel, which -the heavy cavalry of the Continent have more or less worn to our times. In -our service these have been but lately revived for the equipment of the -finest cavalry in Europe, the British Life-guards, who, unaided by such -defences, tore the laurels of Waterloo from the cuirassiers of -France."[119] - -[Sidenote: Excellence of Italian armour.] - -The history of armour would be interesting in another point of view, if -any of the great battles in the middle ages had been decided by the -superior qualities of any particular weapon possessed by either side. No -such circumstances are recorded. Nor can we trace the progress of armour -through the various countries of chivalry. But the superiority of Italian -civilisation, and our knowledge that the long-pointed sword was invented -in Italy, authorise our giving much honour to the Italians; and we also -know that down to the very latest period of chivalric history Milanese -armour was particularly esteemed.[120] Germany, as far as the ancient -martial costume of that country is known, can claim nothing of invention, -nor did armour always take in that country during its course from Italy -through other lands. France quickly received all the varieties in armour -of Italian ingenuity, and in a few years they, passed into England. This -geographical course was not however the usual mode of communicating ideas -in chivalric ages. Knights of various countries met in tournaments, and -in those splendid scenes every description of armour was displayed, and -fashions were interchanged. - -Notwithstanding the general similarity of costume which these gallant and -friendly meetings of cavaliers in tournaments were likely to produce, each -nation had its peculiarities which it never resigned. Thus it may be -mentioned that the swords of the Germans and also of the Normans were -always large, and that those of the French were short. As the bow was the -great weapon of the Normans, the attendants of the English knights used -the bow more frequently than similar attendants in any other country. The -peasantry of Scotland, in spite of repeated statutes, never would use the -bow: spears and axes were their weapons, while their missiles were -cross-bows and culverins. The mace was also a favourite, and their swords -were of excellent temper. Their defensive armour was the plate-jack, -hauberk, or brigantine; and a voluminous handkerchief round their neck, -"not for cold but for cutting," as one of their writers describes it. -Almost all the Scottish forces, except a few knights, men-at-arms, and the -border prickers, who formed excellent light cavalry, acted upon -foot.[121] - -[Sidenote: Of the knight's armour; of the squire, &c.] - -Little need be said concerning the military costume of the esquire, and -the men-at-arms. The esquire wore silver spurs in distinction from the -golden spurs of the knight; but when an esquire as a member of the third -class of chivalry held a distinct command, he was permitted to bear at the -end of his lance a penoncel, or small triangular streamer. In countries -where the bow was not used, the weapons of the men-at-arms were generally -the lance and the sword. This was the case when the knight led his -personal retainers to battle; but when his followers were the people of -any particular town which he protected, few chivalric arms were borne, and -the bill more frequently than the spear was brought into the field. The -cross-bow can hardly be considered a weapon of chivalry. It required no -strength of arm like the long-bow; it allowed none of that personal -display which was the soul of knighthood. The popes, to their honour, -frequently condemned its use; and it was more often bent by mercenaries -than the regular attendants of knights. - -The men-at-arms generally fought on horseback, and it often happened that -archers, after the Asiatic mode, were mounted. The defensive armour of the -knight's attendants was not so complete as his own, for they could not -afford its costliness, and difference of rank was marked by difference of -harness. Thus, in France, only persons possessed of a certain estate were -permitted to wear the haubergeon, while esquires had nothing more than a -simple coat of mail, without hood or hose[122], though their rank in -nobility might equal that of the knights. The men-at-arms had generally -the pectoral and the shield, and the morion or open helmet, without vizor -or beaver. They frequently wore a long and large garment called the -aketon, gambeson, or jack, formed of various folds of linen cloth or -leather: but it is totally impossible to give any useful or interesting -information on a subject which caprice or poverty perpetually varied. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Allegories made on armour.] - -Armour had other purposes in the mind of the knight besides its common and -apparent use. Days of chivalry were especially times when imagination was -in its freest exercise, and every thing was full of allegories and -recondite meanings. To the knight a sword was given in resemblance of a -cross to signify the death of Christ, and to instruct him that he ought to -destroy the enemies of religion by the sword. This is intelligible; but -there is something apparently arbitrary in the double edge signifying that -a knight should maintain chivalry and justice. The spear, on account of -its straitness, was the emblem of truth, and the iron head meant -strength, which truth should possess. The force and power of courage were -expressed by the mace. The helmet conveyed the idea of shamefacedness; and -the hauberk was emblematical of the spiritual panoply which should protect -a man and a soldier from the vices to which his nature was liable. The -spurs meant diligence. The gorget was the sign of obedience; for as the -gorget went about the neck protecting it from wounds, so the virtue of -obedience kept a knight within the commands of his sovereign and the order -of chivalry; and thus neither treason nor any other foe to virtue -corrupted the oath he had taken to his lord and knighthood. The shield -showed the office of a knight; for as the knight placed his shield between -himself and his enemy, so the knight was the barrier between the king and -the people, and as the stroke of a sword fell upon the shield and saved -the knight, so it behoved the knight to present his body before his lord -when he was in danger. The equipment and barding of the horse furnished -also subjects of instruction. The saddle meant safety of courage; for as -by the saddle a knight was safe on his horse, so courage was the knight's -best security in the field. The great size of the saddle was regarded as -emblematical of the greatness of the chivalric charge. It was added, that -as the head of a horse went before its rider, so should reason precede -all the acts of a knight; and as the armour at the head of a horse -defended the horse, so reason kept the knight from blame. The defensive -armour of a horse illustrated the necessity of wealth to a knight; for a -knight without estate could not maintain the honours of chivalry, and be -protected from temptation, for poverty opens the door to treason and vice. - -It was in this manner that the romantic imaginations of the knights of -chivalry drew moralities from subjects apparently little capable of -furnishing instruction; and then assuming a more sober and rational tone, -they would exclaim that chivalry was not in the horse, nor in the arms, -but was in the knight, who taught his horse well, and accustomed himself -and his sons to noble actions and virtuous deeds; and a foul and recreant -knight, who taught himself and his son evil works, converted one into the -other, the cavaleresque and equestrian qualities, making himself and his -son beasts, and his horse a knight.[123] - -[Sidenote: The horse of the knight.] - -Before we close our account of the cavalier's equipment, something must be -said regarding his steed, his _good_ steed, as he was fond of calling him. -The horse of the knight was necessarily an animal of great power when his -charge was a cavalier with his weighty armour. The horses of Spain were -highly famed. In the country itself those of Asturia were preferred, but -in other chivalric states they regarded not the particular province -wherein the horse was bred.[124] The favourite steed of William the -Conqueror came from Spain. The crusades were certainly the means of -bringing Asiatic horses into Europe; and it was found that the Arabian, -though smaller than the bony charger of the west, had a compensating power -in his superior spirit. French and English romance writers were not from -natural prejudices disposed to praise any productions of Heathenesse, yet -the Arabian horse is frequently commended by them. That doughty knight, -Guy, a son of Sir Bevis of Hampton, - - ----"bestrode a _Rabyte_,[125] - That was mickle and nought _light_,[126] - That Sir Bevis in Paynim lond - Had iwunnen with his hond." - -The Arab horse was the standard of perfection, as is evident from the -romancer's praise of the two celebrated steeds, Favel and Lyard, which -Richard Coeur de Lion procured at Cyprus. - - "In the world was not their peer, - Dromedary, nor destreer, - Steed, Rabyte, ne Camayl, - That ran so swift sans fail. - For a thousand pounds of gold - Should not that one be sold." - -The Arabian horse must have been already prepared for part of the -discipline of a chivalric horse. On his own sandy plains he had been -accustomed to stop his career when his fleetness had cast the rider from -his seat; and in the encounter of lances so often were knights overthrown, -that to stand firm, ready to be mounted again, was a high quality of a -good horse. The steed of the Cid was very much celebrated in Spain; and, -in acknowledgment for an act of great kindness, the owner wished to -present him to the king, Alfonso of Castile. To induce the king to accept -him, he showed his qualities. - - "With that the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furr'd and wide, - On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in his side; - And up and down, and round and round, so fierce was his career, - Stream'd like a pennon on the wind Ruy Diaz' minivere. - - And all that saw them prais'd them,--they lauded man and horse, - As matched well, and rivalless for gallantry and force. - Ne'er had they look'd on horseman might to this knight come near, - Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier. - - Thus, to and fro a-rushing, the fierce and furious steed, - He snapp'd in twain his hither rein:--'God pity now the Cid;' - 'God pity Diaz,' cried the Lords;--but when they look'd again, - They saw Ruz Diaz ruling him with the fragment of his rein; - They saw him proudly ruling, with gesture firm and calm, - Like a true Lord commanding,--and obey'd as by a lamb. - - And so he led him foaming and panting to the king, - But 'No,' said Don Alphonso, 'it were a shameful thing - That peerless Bavieca should ever be bestrid - By any mortal but Bivar,--mount, mount again, my Cid.'"[127] - -It has been often said that the knight had always his ambling palfrey, on -which he rode till the hour of battle arrived; and that the war-horse, -from the circumstance of his being led by the right hand of the squire, -was called dextrarius.[128] With respect to sovereigns and men of great -estate this was certainly the custom, but it was by no means a general -chivalric practice. Froissart's pages are a perfect picture of knightly -riding and combatting; and each of his favorite cavaliers seems to have -had but one and the same steed for the road and the battle-plain. Even -romance, so prone to exaggerate, commonly represents the usage as similar; -for when we find that a damsel is rescued, she is not placed upon a spare -horse, but the knight mounts her behind himself.[129] - -The _destrier_, _cheval de lance_, or war-steed, was armed or barded[130] -very much on the plan of the harness of the knight himself, and was -defended, therefore, by mail or plate, agreeably to the fashion of the -age. His head, chest, and flanks were either wholly or partially -protected, and sometimes, on occasions of pomp, he was clad in complete -steel, with the arms of his master engraven or embossed on his bardings. -His caparisons and housings frequently descended so low that they were -justly termed bases, from the French _bas à bas_, upon the ground. His -head, too, was ornamented with a crest, like the helmet of a knight. The -bridle of the horse was always as splendid as the circumstances of the -knight allowed; and thus a horse was often called Brigliadore, from -_briglia d'oro_, a bridle of gold. The knight was fond of ornamenting the -partner of his perils and glories. The horse was not always like that of -Chaucer's knight; - - "His hors was good, but he was not gay." - -Bells were a very favourite addition to the equipment of a horse, -particularly in the early times of chivalry. An old Troubadour poet, -Arnold of Marsan, states very grave reasons for wearing them. He says, -"Let the neck of the knight's horse be garnished with bells well hung. -Nothing is more proper to inspire confidence in a knight, and terror in an -enemy." The war-horse of a soldier of a religious order of knighthood -might have his collar of bells, for their jangling was loved by a monk -himself. - - "And when he rode men might his bridel hear, - Gingeling in a whistling wind as clere, - And eke as loud as doth the chapel bell." - -But here the comparison ceases, for the horse-furniture of the religious -soldiers was ordered to be free from all golden and silver ornaments.[131] -This regulation was however ill observed; for the knights-templars in the -middle of the thirteenth century were censured for having their bridles -embroidered, or gilded, or adorned with silver.[132] - - - - -CHAP. IV. - -THE CHIVALRIC CHARACTER. - - _General Array of Knights ... Companions in Arms ... The Nature of a - Cavalier's Valiancy ... Singular Bravery of Sir Robert Knowles ... - Bravery incited by Vows ... Fantastic Circumstances ... The Humanities - of Chivalric War ... Ransoming ... Reason of Courtesies in Battles ... - Curious Pride of Knighthood ... Prisoners ... Instance of Knightly - Honour ... Independence of Knights, and Knight Errantry ... Knights - fought the Battles of other Countries ... English Knights dislike Wars - in Spain ... Their Disgust at Spanish Wines ... Principles of their - active Conduct ... Knightly Independence consistent with Discipline - ... Religion of the Knight ... His Devotion ... His Intolerance ... - General Nature of his Virtue ... Fidelity to Obligations ... - Generousness ... Singular Instance of it ... Romantic excess of it ... - Liberality ... Humility ... Courtesy ..._ EVERY DAY LIFE OF THE KNIGHT - _... Falconry ... Chess playing ... Story of a Knight's Love of Chess - ... Minstrelsy ... Romances ... Conversation ... Nature and Form of - Chivalric Entertainments ... Festival and Vow of the Pheasant._ - - -[Sidenote: General array of knights.] - -The knight was accompanied into the field by his squires and pages, by his -armed vassals on horseback and on foot, all bearing his cognisance. The -number of these attendants varied necessarily with his estate, and also -the occasion that induced him to arm; and I should weary, without -instructing my readers, were I to insert in these volumes all the petty -details of history regarding the amount of force which in various -countries, and in different periods of the same country's annals, -constituted, to use the phraseology of the middle ages, the complement of -a lance. Armies were reckoned by lances, each lance meaning the knight -himself with his men-at-arms, or lighter cavalry, and his foot soldiers. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Companions in arms.] - -The knight was not only supported by his vassals, who formed the furniture -of his lance, but by his brother in arms, when such an intercourse -subsisted between two cavaliers; and instances of such unions are -extremely frequent in chivalric history: they may be met with in other -annals. In the early days of Greece, brotherhood in arms was a well-known -form of friendship: the two companions engaged never to abandon each other -in affairs however perilous, and in pledge of their mutual faith they -exchanged armour. No stronger proof of affection could be given than thus -parting with what they held most dear. Among barbarous people the -fraternity of arms was established by the horrid custom of the new -brothers drinking each other's blood: but if this practice was barbarous, -nothing was farther from barbarism than the sentiment which inspired it. - -The chivalry of Europe borrowed this sacred bond from the Scandinavians, -among whom the future brothers in arms mingled their blood, and then -tasted it. - - "Father of slaughter, Odin, say, - Rememberest not the former day, - When ruddy in the goblet stood, - For mutual drink, our blended blood? - Rememberest not, thou then dids't swear, - The festive banquet ne'er to share, - Unless thy brother Lok was there?"[133] - -This custom, like most others of Pagan Europe, was corrected and softened -by the light and humanity of religion. Fraternal adoptions then took place -in churches, in presence of relations, and with the sanction of priests. -The knights vowed that they would never injure or vilify each other, that -they would share each other's dangers; and in sign of the perfection of -love, and of true unity, and in order to possess, as much as they could, -the same heart and resolves, they solemnly promised true fraternity and -companionship of arms.[134] They then received the holy sacrament, and the -priest blessed the union. It was a point rather of generous understanding -than of regular convention, that they would divide equally all their -acquisitions. Of this custom an instance may be given. Robert de Oily and -Roger de Ivery, two young gentlemen who came into England with the duke of -Normandy, were sworn brothers. Some time after the conquest, the king -granted the two great honours of Oxford, and St. Waleries, to Robert de -Oily, who immediately bestowed one of them, that of St. Waleries, on his -sworn brother, Roger de Ivery[135]. - -Fraternity of arms was entered into for a specific object, or general -knightly quests, for a limited term, or for life. It did not always occur, -however, that the fraternity of arms was established with religious -solemnities: but whatever might have been the ceremonies, the obligation -was ever considered sacred; so sacred, indeed, that romance writers did -not startle their readers by a tale, whose interest hangs upon the -circumstance of a knight slaying his two infant children for the sake of -compounding a medicine with their blood which should heal the leprosy of -his brother in arms.[136] - -This form of attachment was the strongest tie in chivalry. - - "From this day forward, ever mo - Neither fail, either for weal or wo, - To help other at need, - Brother, be now true to me, - And I shall be as true to thee." - -So said Sir Amylion to Sir Amys, and it was the common language of -chivalry. Friendship was carried to the romantic extremity of the Homeric -age. Brethren in arms adopted all the enmities and loves of each other, - - "A generous friendship no cold medium knows, - Burns with one love, with one resentment glows." - -And so powerful was the obligation that it even superseded the duty of -knighthood to womankind. A lady might in vain have claimed the protection -of a cavalier, if he could allege that at that moment he was bound to fly -to the succour of his brother in arms. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Qualities of the chivalric character.] - -Thus accompanied, the knight proceeded to achieve the high emprises of his -noble and gallant calling. Both the principles and the objects of chivalry -having been always the same, a general similarity of character existed -through all the chivalric ages; and as certain moral combinations divide -human nature into classes, so the knight was a distinct character, and the -qualities peculiar to his order may be delineated in one picture, -notwithstanding individual and national variations, which had better be -described when we come to mark the degrees of the influence of chivalry in -the different countries of Europe. - -[Sidenote: The nature of their valiancy.] - -[Sidenote: Singular bravery of Sir Robert Knowles.] - -The courage of the knight is the part of his character which naturally -calls for our first attention. It was daring and enterprising: but I -cannot insist upon recklessness of danger as the quality of chivalry only, -for in every nation's battles, to be the first to advance and the last to -retreat have been the ambition of warriors. The knight however cared -little for the cause or necessity of his doing battle so that he could -display his valour. About the year 1370, Sir Robert Knowles marched -through France, and laid waste the country as far as the very gates of the -capital. A knight was in his company, who had made a vow that he would -ride to the walls or gates of Paris, and strike at the barriers[137] with -a spear. And for the finishing of his vow he departed from his company, -his spear in his hand, his shield suspended from his neck, armed at all -points, and mounted on a good horse, his squire following him on another, -with his helmet. When he approached Paris he put on the glittering -head-piece, and leaving his squire behind him, and dashing his spurs into -his steed, he rode at full career to the barriers which were then open. -The French lords, who were there, weened that he would have entered the -town, but that was not his mind, for when he had struck the barriers -according to his vow, he turned his rein and departed. Then the knights of -France immediately divined his purpose, and cried, "Go your way; you have -right well acquitted yourself."[138] - -About the same time a band of English knights advanced to the French town -of Noyon, and spread their banners abroad, as a defiance to the garrison. -But the French made no sally; and a Scottish knight, named Sir John -Swinton, impatient of rest, departed from his company, his spear in his -hand, and mounted on a _cheval de lance_, his page behind him, and in that -manner approached the barriers. He then alighted, and saying to his page, -"Hold, keep my horse, and depart not hence," he went to the barriers. -Within the pallisades were many good knights, who had great marvel what -this said knight would do. Then Swinton said to them, "Sirs, I am come -hither to see you; as you will not issue out of your barriers, I will -enter them, and prove my knighthood against yours. Win me if you can!" He -then fought with the French cavaliers, and so skilfully, that he wounded -two or three of them; the people on the walls and the tops of the houses -remaining still, for they had great pleasure to regard his valiantness, -and the gallant knights of France charged them not to cast any missiles -against him, but to let the battle go fairly and freely forward. So long -they fought that at last the page went to the barriers, and said to his -master, "Sir, come away; it is time for you to depart, for your company -are leaving the field." The knight heard him well, and then gave two or -three strokes about him, and armed as he was he leapt over the barriers, -and vaulting upon his horse behind his faithful page, he waved his hand to -the Frenchmen, and cried, "Adieu, Sirs, I thank you." He then urged his -noble horse to speed, and rode to his own company. This goodly feat of -arms was praised by many folks.[139] - -[Sidenote: Bravery incited by vows.] - -This love of causeless perils was often accompanied by curious -circumstances. On the manners of the ancestors of the heroes of chivalry -it has been said, - - "In the caverns of the west, - By Odin's fierce embrace comprest, - A wond'rous boy shall Rinda bear, - Who ne'er shall comb his raven hair, - Nor wash his visage in the stream, - Nor see the sun's departing beam, - Till he on Hoder's corse shall smile - Flaming on the fun'ral pile!" - -[Sidenote: Fantastic circumstances.] - -And king Harold made a solemn vow never to clip or comb his hair till he -should have extended his sway over the whole country. Tacitus informs us, -that the youthful Germans, particularly those among the Catti, did not -shave the hair from the head or chin until they had achieved renown in -arms. The same feeling influenced the knight of chivalry. He was wont to -wear a chain on his arm or leg until he had performed some distinguishing -exploit; and when his merit became conspicuous, the mark of thraldom was -removed with great solemnity.[140] A young knight would not at first -assume his family arms, but wore plain armour and shield without any -device till he had won renown. He would even fight blindfold, or pinion -one of his hands to his body, or in some other manner partially disable -himself from performing his deed, of arms. Before the gate of Troyes there -was an English squire, resolved to achieve some high and romantic feat. -His companions were unable to judge whether or not he could see, but with -his spear in his hand, and his targe suspended from his neck, he -recklessly spurred his horse to the barriers, leaped over them, and -careered to the gate of the town, where the Duke of Burgundy and other -great lords of France were standing. He reined round his foaming steed and -urged him back towards the camp. The duke shouted applause at his -boldness: but some surrounding men-at-arms had not the same generous -sympathy for noble chivalry, and they hurled their lances like javelins at -the brave squire, till they brought him and his horse dead to the ground, -wherewith the Duke of Burgundy was right sore displeased.[141] Equally -singular, and more fantastic, was the conduct of certain young knights of -England during the French wars of Edward III., for each of them bound up -one of his eyes with a silk ribbon, and swore before the ladies and the -peacock, that he would not see with both eyes until he had accomplished -certain deeds of arms in France.[142] - -[Sidenote: The sageness of knights]. - -Nothing appears incredible in romances after reading these tales of a very -faithful historian; but we should wrong chivalry were we to suppose that -this wild, this phrenetic, courage was its chief character. Perhaps it was -in general the quality of young soldiers only; for discretion was -certainly a part of cavaleresque valour. That a knight was sage is -frequently said to his honour. Not, indeed, that his skill ever -degenerated into the subtlety of stratagem, for bold and open[143] battle -was always preferred to the refinements of artifice, and he would have -debased his order if he had profited by any mischance happening to his -foe. But in the choice of ground, in the disposition of his squires and -men-at-arms, he exerted his best skill, for to be adventurous was only one -part of valour. The soldier in chivalry was also imaginative, a word -constantly used by our old authors to show a mind full of resources, and -to express military abilities.[144] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Their humanities of war.] - -There was not so much ruthlessness in his heroism as distinguished those -ages of the ancient world which fancy and poetry have sometimes painted -as chivalrous. The prostrate and suppliant foe seldom sued for mercy in -vain from the true knight. It was a maxim, that a warrior without pity was -without worship.[145] Even the pride of knighthood often softened the -fierce and rugged face of war, for inferior people were spared, because -they were unworthy of the lance. A knight trained to warlike exercises -cared little for a battle unless he could prove his skilful bearing; and -what honour could he gain from slaying rude and unarmed peasantry? The -simple peasant was often spared from motives of prudence. Richard -Brembrow, an English knight, was ravaging Brittany, in the year 1350, but -was reproached for his conduct by Beaumanoir, a partisan of the house of -Blois, who was astonished that a valiant cavalier should make war, not -only on men bearing arms, but on labourers and others. "In all wars guided -by chivalric principles," continued the knight of Brittany, "true soldiers -never injure the tillers of the ground; for if they were to do so, the -world would be destroyed by famine."[146] More generous feelings, -however, sometimes had their influence. The stern Du Guesclin, when on his -death-bed, desired his old companions in arms to remember that "neither -the clergy, nor women, nor children, nor poor people, were their enemies;" -and the charge came with peculiar propriety from him, for his past life -could furnish no instance of needless severity. - -To show the reverse of such mildness was the unhappy fate of the Black -Prince, who, by his massacre of three thousand people at Limoges[147], -tarnished the lustre of all his former glories. The narrative of this -affair which Froissart has left us, shews that such barbarities were not -so frequent in chivalric times as modern hatred of aristocratical power -has represented. We may learn from our historian that the massacre at -Limoges proceeded from the unhappy disposition to cruelty which at that -time clouded the mind of the Prince of Wales, and not from the general -principles of chivalry; for he tells us, that the knights prepared -themselves to do evil, to slay men, women, and children, because they were -so commanded; and he whose heart leaped for joy in describing a manly -conflict, where banners and standards waved in the wind, with horses -barded, and knights and squires richly armed, yet sighs over the massacre -of Limoges, and says it was "great pity" to see the slaughter.[148] It was -only when cities that belonged to the enemies of the church were taken, -that the sword of the victorious Christian was embrued in blood to the -very hilt; for pagans, Saracens, Jews, and heretics were not considered -within the pale of the humane courtesies of chivalry. - -Frequent pauses were made in the single encounters of knighthood, for -generousness was thought an essential part of bravery, and the soldier -would rather vanquish by his skill than by any accidental advantage. A -giant of the first enormity requested of his antagonist, Sir Guy of -Warwick, a momentary respite for the purpose of slaking his thirst in a -neighbouring stream. The noble knight assented to this request, and the -giant, perfectly recovered from his fatigue, renewed the combat with fresh -vigour. Sir Guy, in his turn, was oppressed by heat and fatigue, and -requested a similar favour; but the uncourteous giant refused.[149] In a -battle between the celebrated Roland and a Saracen knight, named Sir -Otuel, a stroke of the former's sword cut into the brain of his -antagonist's horse. The paladin of Charlemagne, with true chivalric -courtesy, reined in his steed, and rested on his arms till Sir Otuel had -disengaged himself from the equipments of his horse. The Saracen rallied -him for want of skill in missing his gigantic frame; but on the renewal of -the battle Otuel was guilty of a similar awkwardness, and conscious that -his raillery might now be retorted with double force, he imitated the -knightly courtesy of Roland, and waited till his foe was completely free -from his fallen steed.[150] The preliminaries of a battle between the -famous Oliver and a Saracen cavalier, hight Sir Ferumbras, was still more -courteous, for the Christian knight assisted his foe to lace his helmet, -and before they encountered, the combatants politely bowed to each -other.[151] - -Veracious chroniclers confirm the stories of romance writers. In a battle -of honour between the English and French, when it was thought contrary to -chivalry for either party to be more numerous than the other, the knights -contended for several hours with intervals of repose. When any two of them -had fought so long as to be fatigued, they fairly and easily departed, and -sat themselves down by the side of a stream, and took off their helmets. -On being refreshed they donned their armour, and returned to the -fight.[152] - -[Sidenote: Ransoming] - -[Sidenote: Reason of courtesies in battles.] - -We commonly refer to the principles of honour in chivalry to account for -the interesting fact, that a victorious knight permitted his prisoner to -go to his own country or town, in order to fetch his ransom; and we know -that his word of honour was considered a sufficient pledge for his return -at the appointed season. The true reason of this general practice of -chivalry may be learnt from a passage in Froissart. After describing a -battle between the English and French in the year 1344, he says, that the -English dealt like good companions with their prisoners; and suffered many -to depart on their oaths and promises to return again at a certain day to -Bergerac or to Bourdeaux.[153] The Scots were equally courteous to the -English after the truly chivalric battle of Otterbourn. They set them to -their ransom, and every man said to his prisoner, "Sir, go and unarm -yourself, and take your ease;" and so made their prisoners as good cheer -as if they had been brethren, without doing them any injury.[154] A short -while after the battle Sir Matthew Redman yielded himself prisoner to Sir -James Lindsay, rescue or no rescue, so that he dealt with him like a good -companion.[155] It was, therefore, because all the knights of Europe were -united in one universal bond of brotherhood, that one knight showed -courtesy to another. It was the principle of fraternity which the -Christian religion inculcates, that created all the kindly consideration -in war which distinguished chivalry; and base and barbarous, as we may -chuse to call our ancestors, I know not whether the principles of -Christian friendship were not as well understood in their days as in our -own age of boasted light and improvement. There is truth as well as beauty -in Froissart's observation, that "nobleness and gentleness ought to be -aided by nobles and gentles." Not only were prisoners released on their -parole of honour, but their ransom was never set so high that they could -not pay it at their ease, and still maintain their degree.[156] - -[Sidenote: Curious pride of knighthood.] - -[Sidenote: Prisoners.] - -One curious particular, illustrative of knightly dignity, remains to be -mentioned. It was beneath the bearing of chivalry for a cavalier to -surrender himself prisoner to one of the raskall rout, and if he ever was -reduced to such a sad necessity he would amuse his pride by raising his -conqueror to the rank of chivalry. The Earl of Suffolk, during our wars in -France, was taken prisoner by William Renaud; but he would not surrender -to him until he had given him the accolade, bound a sword round him, and -thus dignified him with knighthood. But there was no loss of chivalric -dignity in a knight being taken prisoner by a squire, for a squire, though -inferior in rank, was of the same quality as a knight. The renowned Du -Guesclin, whom I so often mention as a pattern of chivalry, yielded to the -prowess of a squire of England who fought under the standard of Sir John -Chandos. - -[Sidenote: Instance of knightly honour.] - -In the course of the fourteenth century the Duke of Gueldres was taken -prisoner by a squire named Arnold, and was removed to a castle, where he -promised to pay his ransom. The lords of Prussia, hearing that the duke -had been captured in his course to their country, summoned a mighty force, -and marched to the place of the duke's confinement. The squire dreaded -their power, and resolved to quit the castle: but before his departure he -went to the Duke of Gueldres, and said to him, "Sir duke, you are my -prisoner, and I am your master: you are a gentleman and a true knight; you -have sworn and given me your faith, and whithersoever I go you ought to -follow me. I cannot tell if you have sent for the great master of Prussia -or not, but he is coming hither with a mighty power. I shall not remain: -you may tarry if you list, and I will take with me your faith and -promise." Gueldres made no answer. The squire soon afterwards mounted -horse and departed, telling the Duke that he would always find him at such -a place, naming a strong castle, in a remote situation. The Prussians soon -arrived and liberated their friend: but he resolved to perform his promise -to the squire whom he called his master, and neither absolution, nor -dispensation, nor argument, nor raillery could induce him to break his -faith. His friends and relations then treated with the squire for his -freedom, and by paying the customary ransom the Duke of Gueldres recovered -that honourable liberty of mind which above all things was dear to the -true knight.[157] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Independence of knights and knight errantry.] - -Certainly the virtues of a knight were not necessarily patriotic. They -were rather calculated to weaken than to strengthen his tendencies to -king and country. Although as an individual he was bound to his native -land, yet the character of his knighthood was perpetually pressing him to -a course of conduct distinct from all national objects. He was the judge -of right and wrong[158]; he referred to no external standard of equity; he -was an independent agent. These qualities of chivalry gave birth to knight -errantry, that singular feature in the character of the middle ages. - - "Long so they travell'd through wasteful ways, - Where dangers dwelt and perils most did wonne, - To hunt for glory and renowned praise: - Full many countries they did overrun, - From the uprising to the setting sun, - And many hard adventures did atchieve; - Of all the which they honour ever wonne, - Seeking the weak oppressed to relieve, - And to recover right for such as wrong did grieve."[159] - -It was considered the first praise of knighthood to efface foul outrage, -and the advantages arising to society from this disposition are confessed -even by satirists. - - ------------"Knyghtes shoulde - Ryden and rappe adoune in remes aboute, - And to take trespassours and tye them faste. - - * * * * * - - Truly to take, and truly to fight, - Is the profession and the pure order that apendeth to knights."[160] - -The happy consequences to woman of this chivalric principle, and its -tendencies to ameliorate manners, will best be seen in our delineation of -the character of dames and damsels in the middle ages. With respect to the -general interests of society it may be observed, that knight errantry was -a very considerable means of correcting the state of violence and misrule -in feudal times. The monks of St. Albans held a body of knights in pay, -who defended the abbey and preserved the roads free from robbers, whether -of the baronial or the vulgar class.[161] Until the discipline of laws had -tamed the world into order, force was the only measure of power; and it -was by the sword alone that injuries committed by the sword could be -avenged. The protection of the wronged being a great principle of -chivalry, no oppressed person was at a loss for a mode of redress. Some -gentle knight was ever to be found who would lay his lance in its rest to -chastise the evil doer. While Edward the First was travelling in France, -he heard that a lord of Burgundy was continually committing outrages on -the persons and property of his neighbours. In the true spirit of chivalry -Edward attacked the castle of this uncourteous baron. His prowess asserted -the cause of justice; and he bestowed the domains which he had won upon a -nobler and more deserving lord.[162] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Knights fought the battles of other countries.] - -[Sidenote: Englishmen's disgust at Spanish wines.] - -When he was neither engaged in his country's wars, nor errant in quest of -adventures, the knight fought among the chivalry of foreign princes. This -was a matter of daily occurrence; the English knights obtaining licences -from the king on their pledging the honour of their chivalry not to -disclose the secrets of the court, nor to fight on the side of the -nation's enemies. It is curious to observe that the service of France was -always preferred by the English adventurers to that of Spain or Portugal. -France, they said, was a good, sweet country, and temperate, possessing -pleasant towns and fair rivers, but Castile was full of barren rocks and -mountains, the air was unwholesome, the waters were troubled, and the -people were poor and evil arrayed. The wines of Spain formed, however, the -principal grievance. The English complained that they were so strong and -fiery as to corrupt their heads, dry their bowels, and consume their very -livers; and what with hot suns and hot wines Englishmen, who in their own -country were sweetly nourished, were in Castile burnt without and within. -There is another passage of Froissart which I shall lay before the reader -in the right genuine and expressive old English of John Bourchier, knight, -Lord Berners. "The Englishmen ate grapes (in Spain) when they might get -them, and drank of the hot wines, and the more they drank the more they -were set on fire, and thereby burnt their livers and lungs; for that diet -was contrary to their nature. Englishmen are nourished with good meats and -with ale, which keep their bodies in temper." In Spain the nights were hot -because of the great heat of the day, and the mornings marvellously cold, -which deceives them; for in the night they could suffer nothing on them, -and so slept all naked, and in the morning cold took them ere they were -aware, and that cast them into fevers and fluxes without remedy, and as -well died great men as mean people.[163] - -[Sidenote: Principles of this active conduct.] - -All this adventurousness proceeded from the principle, that the life of a -knight was not to be regarded as a course of personal indulgence. His -virtues were of an active, stirring nature, and he was not permitted to -waste his days in dark obscurity, or to revel in ease. Like falcons that -disdained confinement, he could not remain long at rest without wishing to -roam abroad. "Why do we not array ourselves and go and see the bounds and -ports of Normandy?" were the words of war by which our English knights and -squires would rouse one another to arms. "There be knights and squires to -awake us and to fight with us."[164] And Honour was always the quest of -the true knight. - - "In woods, in waves, in wars she wont to dwell, - And will be found with peril and with pain; - Nor can the man that moulders in idle cell, - Unto her happy mansion attain. - Before her gate high God did sweat ordain, - And wakeful watchers ever to abide: - But easy is the way and passage plain - To pleasure's palace: it may soon be spide, - And day and night her doors to all stand open wide."[165] - -[Sidenote: Knightly independence consistent with discipline.] - -It has often been supposed[166] that the chivalric array must have been -inconvenient to the feudal and national disposition of armies, and that -knightly honours would be continually striving with other distinctions for -pre-eminence. But this supposition has arisen from a want of attention to -chivalric principles. Chivalry was not opposed to national institutions; -it was a feeling of honour that pervaded without disturbing society; and -knightly distinctions were altogether independent of ranks in the state. -As every lord was educated in chivalry, he was of course a knight; but he -led his troops into the field in consequence of his feudal possessions; -and any that were attached to his knighthood, it would be in vain to -enquire after. The array of an army was always formed agreeably to the -sageness and imagination of the constable, or marshal, or whatever other -officer of the nation was commander, without the slightest reference to -chivalry. A squire frequently led knights, certainly not on account of his -chivalric title, but by reason of favour or merit, or any other of the -infinity of causes that occasion advancement. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Religion of the knight.] - -[Sidenote: His devotion.] - -The religion of the knight was generally the religion of the time; and it -would be idle to expect to see religious reformers start from the bands of -an unlettered soldiery, whose swords had been consecrated by the church. -The warrior said many orisons every day; besides a nocturne of the -Psalter, matins of our Lady, of the Holy Ghost, and of the cross, and also -the dirige.[167] The service of the mass was usually performed by both -armies in the presence of each other before a battle; and no warrior would -fight without secretly breathing a prayer to God or a favourite saint. -Brevity was an important feature in a soldier's devotion, as the following -anecdote proves. When the French cavalier, Lahire, had just reached his -army, he met a chaplain, from whom he demanded absolution. The priest -required him to confess his sins. But the knight answered he had not time, -for he wanted immediately to attack the enemy. He added, that a minute -disclosure of his offences was not necessary, for he had only been guilty -of sins common to cavaliers, and the chaplain well knew what those sins -were. The priest thereupon absolved him, and Lahire raised his hands to -heaven, and exclaimed, "God, I pray thee that thou wouldest do to-day for -Lahire as much as thou wouldest Lahire should do for thee, if he were God -and thou wert Lahire." He then dashed spurs into his horse, and his -falchion was stained with foeman's blood before the good chaplain had -recovered from his astonishment at this singular form of prayer. The union -of religion and arms was displayed in a very remarkable manner at a joust -which was held at Berwick, in the year 1338. The lance of an English -knight pierced the helmet of his Scottish opponent, William de Ramsey, and -nailed it to his head. It being instantly perceived that the wound was -mortal, a priest was hastily sent for. The knight was shriven in his helm, -and soon afterwards died, and the good Earl of Derby, who was present, was -so much delighted at the religious and chivalric mode of the Scotsman's -death, that he hoped God of his grace would vouchsafe to send him a -similar end.[168] - -The knight visited sacred places, and adopted all the superstitions, -whether mild or terrible, and the full spirit of intolerant fierceness, of -his time. The defence of the church formed part of his obligation. - - "Chevaliers en ce monde cy - Ne peuvent vivre sans soucy: - Ils doivent le peuple défendre, - Et leur sang pour la foi espandre." - -[Sidenote: His intolerance.] - -The knight knew no other argument than the sword to gainsay the infidel, -and he was ready at all times to "thrust it into the belly of a heretic as -far as it would go." This was the feeling in all chivalric times; but St. -Louis was the knight who had the merit of arraying it in the form of a -maxim. - -The wars of these soldiers of the church were not purely defensive. The -cavalier fought openly and offensively against heretics. This was part of -the spirit and essence of his character, encouraged by the crusades, and -the principles of the military orders; and thus no knight's military -reputation was perfect, unless it was adorned with laurels which had been -won in Heathennesse as well as in Christendom; for it was the general -opinion, that, as Heaven had chosen learned clerks to maintain the holy -Catholic faith with Scripture and reason against the miscreants and -unbelievers, so knights had also been chosen, in order that the miscreants -might be vanquished by force of arms.[169] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: General nature of his virtue.] - -The highest possible degree of virtue was required of a knight: it was a -maxim in chivalry, that he who ordained another a knight must be virtuous -himself; for it was argued if the knight who made a knight were not -virtuous, how could he give that which he had not; and no man could be a -true son of chivalry unless he were of unsullied life.[170] He was not -only to be virtuous, but without reproach; for he considered his -honourable fame as a polished mirror, whose beauty may be lost by an -impure breath and an unwholesome air, as well as by being broken into -pieces. But there was nothing so abstract and refined in the nature of -knightly virtue as has been generally thought. It was the duty of the -cavalier to peril himself in the cause of the afflicted and of the church; -and his exertions and endeavours to perform the conditions of his oath of -chivalry were to be rewarded, not by the mere gratification of any -metaphysical fancies, but by the hope of joy in heaven. This was the -leading principle of his duty, however often it might be abused or -forgotten; and this was the feeling which his oath taught him to -encourage. But it did not exclude from his conduct the operation of -personal motives. Thus, in displaying his love of justice, he displayed -his chivalric skill; and by the same action he gratified his laudable -aspirations for fame, and soothed and satisfied his conscience. - -Certes all knights were not religious, even in the sense in which religion -was understood in chivalric times. One cavalier made it his heart's boast -that he had burnt a church, with twenty-four monks, its contents.[171] The -joyousness of youth often broke out in witty sentences, and the sallies of -the buoyant spirits of the young cavalier were neither decent nor moral. -When his imagination was inflamed by chivalry and love, he forgot his -rosary, and said that paradise was only the habitation of dirty monks, -priests, and hermits; and that, for his own part, he preferred the -thoughts of going to the devil; and, in his fiery kingdom, he was sure of -the society of kings, knights, squires, minstrels, and jugglers, and, -above all the rest, the mistress of his heart.[172] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Fidelity to obligations.] - -Of his moral virtues perfect fidelity to a promise was very conspicuous, -for his nobleness disdained any compromise with convenience or -circumstances. However absurd the vow, still he was compelled to perform -it in all the strictness of the letter. Notwithstanding the obvious -inconveniences of such a course, a man frequently promised to grant -whatever another should ask; and he would have lost the honour of his -knighthood, if he had declined from his word when the wish of him to whom -the promise had been made was stated. Sir Charles du Blois promised Sir -Loyes of Spain whatever gift he might require for the service he had -rendered him. "Then," said Sir Loyes, "I require you to cause the two -knights that are in prison in Favet to be brought hither, and give them to -me to do with them at my pleasure, for they have injured me, and slain my -nephew. I will strike their heads off before the town, in sight of their -companions." Sir Charles was obliged to comply and deliver up the knights; -only remonstrating with Sir Loyes on the cruelty of putting two such -valiant knights to death, and on the impolicy of such a measure, as giving -occasion to their enemies of dealing in a similar manner with them when -the fortune of war changed her face.[173] - -[Sidenote: Generousness.] - -[Sidenote: Singular instance of it.] - -There was a generousness about chivalry unknown to other warfare. If in -these days of improved jurisprudence we revert our eyes with horror and -contempt to times when every question was decided by the sword, still an -air of graceful courtesy hung over them, which charms the imagination. A -cavalier always granted safe-conduct through his territories to all who -required it, even to those who asserted pretensions, which, if -established, would deprive him of his possessions. When Matilda landed -near Arundel, to contend for the throne of England, Stephen gave her -honourable conduct to the castle of his brother, the Earl of -Gloucester.[174] This instance of chivalric generousness seems scarcely -credible to those who view ancient times by the light of modern -prejudices. It was not the passive virtue that declined to profit by any -mischance happening to an adversary, but it was one knight drawing the -sword, and placing it in the hands of his foe. - -[Sidenote: Romantic excess of it.] - -More full in its circumstances, and equally romantic in its character, is -the following tale. About the year 1388, Sir Peter Courtenay, an English -knight of approved valiancy, went to France in order to joust with the -renowned Sir Guy of Tremouille. They ran one course with spears, and the -king then stopped the martial game, saying that each had done enough. He -made the stranger-knight fair presents, and set him on his way to Calais, -under the care of the Lord of Clary, who is characterised by our old -chivalric chronicler as a lusty and frisky knight. They rode together till -they reached Lucen, where resided the Countess of St. Poule, sister of the -King of England, and whose first husband had been a Lord of Courtenay. -During the noble entertainment with which she greeted her guests, the -Countess enquired of Sir Peter his opinion of France. He complimented the -country in most of its forms, and praised the demeanour of the French -chivalry, except in one thing, for he complained that none of their -knights would do any deed of arms with him, although he had with great -trouble and cost left England to encounter them. The Lord of Clary heard -with pain the knights of his country reviled, in the presence of the -sister of the King of England; but he restrained his feelings, because Sir -Peter was then under his protection. - -The next day they took their leave of the Countess, who, like a noble -lady, threw a chain of gold round the neck of each. They proceeded to -Calais, and when they reached the frontier, and Sir Peter stepped on the -English territory, the Lord of Clary reminded him of the language he had -used at the board of the Countess St. Poule, regarding the French -chivalry, and added, that such an opinion was not courteous nor honorable, -and that simple knight as he was he would do his devoir to answer him, -saying, however, that he was influenced not by any hatred to his person, -but the desire of maintaining the honor of French knighthood. - -Accordingly they jousted in the marshes of Calais, in the presence of -noble cavaliers and squires of the two nations. In the second course the -lance of Lord Clary pierced the shoulder of Sir Peter, and the wounded -knight was led to the neighbouring town. The Lord of Clary returned to -Paris, proud that he had vindicated the chivalric honor of his country, -and expecting praise. But when it was reported that a strange knight, -travelling under the royal safeguard, had been required to do a deed of -arms, the king and his council felt alarmed, lest the honor of their -nation had received a stain. It was also thought that the joust had been -intentionally a mortal one, a matter which aggravated the offence. The -Lord of Clary was summoned before them, and interrogated how he had -presumed to be so outrageous, as to hold a joust to the utterance with a -knight-stranger that had come to the king's court for good love and to -exalt his honor, to do feats of arms, and had departed thence with good -love and joy, and to the intent that he should not be troubled in his -return, he had been delivered to his charge. - -The Lord of Clary, in reply, simply related his tale, and instead of -deprecating the anger of his liege lord, he claimed reward for his -vindication of the French chivalry. He said he would abide the judgment of -the constable and the high marshal of France, the knights and squires of -honor in every land; and so highly did he esteem the chivalry of that -noble knight himself, Sir Peter Courtenay, that he would appeal to his -voice and discretion. - -Notwithstanding this defence, the Lord of Clary was committed to prison, -nor was he delivered thence till after a long time, when the entreaties of -the Countess of St. Poule, the Lord of Bourbon, the Lord of Coucy, and -other nobles, prevailed with the king. He was dismissed with this reproof -and exhortation: "Sir of Clary, you supposed that you had done right well, -howbeit you acted shamefully, when you offered to do arms with Sir Peter -Courtenay, who was under the king's safeguard, and delivered to you to -conduct to Calais. You did a great outrage when you renewed the words, -which were spoken only in sport before the Countess of St. Poule. Before -you had so renewed them, you ought to have returned to the king, and then -what counsel the king had given, you should have followed; because you did -not this, you have suffered pain. Beware better another time, and thank -the Lord of Bourbon and the Lord of Coucy for your deliverance, for they -earnestly solicited for you, and also thank the Lady of St. Poule."[175] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Liberality.] - -The virtue of liberality seems to have been a striking feature of the -chivalric character. It proceeded from that loftiness of spirit which felt -that avarice would have debased a heroism that should contend for crowns -and kingdoms. The minstrels of the times, who kept alive the flame of -chivalry, encouraged this virtue above all others, for upon it depended -their own subsistence. But it often sprang from better motives than pride -or vanity. The good Lord de Foix gave every day five florins, in small -money, at his gate, to poor folks, for the love of God; and he was liberal -and courteous in his gifts to others; for he had certain coffers in his -chambers, out of which he would oft-times take money to give to lords, -knights, and squires, such as came to him, and none departed from him -without a gift.[176] A knight, indeed, was taught to consider nothing his -own, save his horse and arms, which he ought to keep as his means of -acquiring honour, by using them in the defence of his religion and -country, and of those who were unable to defend themselves.[177] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Humility.] - -The valiancy of chivalry was beautifully chastened by humility; - - "And of his port as meek as is a maid." - -Every hero, as well as Chaucer's knight, demeaned himself in all things as -if he had been in the hands of God, and in his name used his arms, -without vaunting or praising himself; for praise was regarded as blame in -the mouth of him who commended his own actions. It was thought that if the -squire had vain-glory of his arms, he was not worthy to be a knight, for -vain-glory was a vice which destroyed the merits and the claims of -chivalry. - -The heroes of the Round Table were the mirror of all Christian knights; -and the generous modesty of Sir Lancelot was reflected in the conduct of -many a true soldier of chivalry. In the lofty fancies of romantic Europe -that valiant friend of Arthur was the prowest of all the heroes of -Britain; yet he always gave place to Sir Tristram, and often retired from -the field of tournament when that noble son of arms was performing his -devoir. Even when he was entitled to the prize, Sir Lancelot would not -receive it, maugre the offering of king, queen, and knights; but when the -cry was great through the field, "Sir Lancelot, Sir Lancelot hath won the -field, this day!" that noble subject of praise cried, on the contrary, -"Sir Tristram hath won the field; for he began first, and endured last, -and so hath he done the first day, the second, and the third day."[178] - -[Sidenote: Courtesy.] - -The catalogue of knightly virtues is not yet complete; and nothing can be -more beautiful to the moral eye than some of the characteristics of the -ancient chivalry. Kindness and gentleness of manner, which, when adopted -by kings from knightly customs, were called courtesy, were peculiar to the -soldier of the middle ages, and pleasingly distinguished him from the -savage sternness of other warriors, whether Roman or barbarian. Courtesy -was the appearance, in the ordinary circumstances of life, of that -principle of protection which, in weightier matters, made the sword leap -from its scabbard; and, like every other blessing of modern times, it had -its origin in the Christian religion. The world thought that courtesy and -chivalry accorded together, and that villainous and foul words were -contrary to an order which was founded on piety.[179] Whether historians -or fabulists speak of a true knight, he is always called gentle and -courteous. To be debonnaire was as necessary as to be bold; - - "Preux chevalier n'en doutez pas, - Doit ferir hault et parler bas."[180] - -The following anecdote curiously marks the manners of chivalric ages with -relation to the quality of courtesy:--The wife and sister of Du Guesclin -were once living in a castle which was attacked and taken by a force of -Normans and Englishmen. The success was great and important; but public -indignation was excited against the invaders, because they had -transgressed the licence of war, and been guilty of the uncourteous action -of surprizing and disturbing ladies while they were asleep.[181] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Every-day life of the knight.] - -[Sidenote: Falconry.] - -These military and moral qualities of knighthood were sustained and -nourished by all the circumstances of chivalric life, even those of a -peaceful nature. Hunting and falconry, the amusements of the cavalier, -were images of war, and he threw over them a grace beyond the power of -mere baronial rank. Dames and maidens accompanied him to the sport of -hawking, when the merry bugles sounded to field; and it was the pleasing -care of every gallant knight to attend on his damsel, and on her bird -which was so gallantly bedight; to let the falcon loose at the proper -moment, to animate it by his cries, to take from its talons the prey it -had seized, to return with it triumphantly to his lady, and, placing the -hood on its eyes, to set it again on her hand. Every true knight could -say, like the cavalier in Spenser, - - "Ne is there hawk which mantleth her on perch, - Whether high towering or accosting low, - But I the measure of her flight do search, - And all her prey and all her diet know." - -These amusements of every-day life were always mingling themselves with -the humanities of war. Edward III., when in France, in the year 1359, was -attended by sixty couple of dogs, and by thirty falconers, on horseback, -carrying birds. Various barons in the army had their dogs and birds with -them, like the king. During the reign of Richard II., when the Duke of -Lancaster was in France and Spain, many ladies accompanied the army, for -the objects of the expedition were not altogether military; pleasure was -as much the occupation as affairs of moment, and for the space of a month -or more the Duke lay at Cologne, and removed not, except it were hunting -or hawking; for the Duke and other lords of England had brought with them -hawks and hounds for their own sport, and sparrow-hawks for the -ladies.[182] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Chess-playing.] - -To play the game of chess, to hear the minstrel's lays, and read romances, -were the principal amusements of the knight when the season and the -weather did not permit hawking and hunting. A true knight was a -chess-player, and the game was played in every country of chivalry; for -as the chivalric states of midland Europe obtained a knowledge of it from -the Scandinavians, so the southern states acquired it from the Arabs. - - "When they had dined, as I you say, - Lords and ladies went to play; - Some to tables, and some to chess, - With other games more and less."[183] - -[Sidenote: Story of knights' love of chess.] - -The fondness of our ancestors for the game of chess appears by the -frequent mention of the amusement in the ancient romances. Sometimes a -lover procured admittance to the place where his mistress was confined, by -permitting the jailor to win from him a game at chess. Again, the -minstrels in the baronial hall, spread over their subject all the riches -of their imagination. They were wont to fancy the enchanted castle of a -beautiful fairy, who challenged a noble knight to play with her at chess. -Flags of white and black marble formed the chequer, and the pieces -consisted of massive statues of gold and silver, which moved at the touch -of a magic wand held by the player. Such fables show the state of manners: -but a curious story remains on historical record, which displays the -practical consequences of chess-playing. During part of the reign of our -Edward III. the town and castle of Evreux were French. A noble knight of -the neighbourhood, named Sir William Graville, who was secretly attached -to the English side, thought he could win the place, and he formed his -scheme on his knowledge of the governor's character. He first gained some -friends among the burgesses, who were not very strongly attached to the -French cause. As he had not declared himself the friend of either party, -he was permitted to walk in whatever quarters of the city he chose, and -one day he loitered before the gate of the castle till he attracted the -attention of the governor. They saluted each other, and conversed awhile -on the topics of the season. Sir William found his auditor credulous to -every tale, till, when he had told one of wondrous improbability, the -governor demanded his authority. "Sir," replied the knight of Graville, "a -cavalier of Flanders wrote this to me on the pledge of his honour, and -sent with the letter the goodliest chess-men I ever saw." - -The governor dropped all care for the story at the mention of chess-men, -and he anxiously desired to see them. - -"I will send for them," said Sir William, "on condition that you will play -a game with me for the wine." - -The governor assented, and Sir William desired his squire to fetch the -chess-men and bring them to the gate. - -The two knights then passed through two wickets into the castle yard; and -while the stranger was viewing the edifice, his faithful squire ran at -speed to the burgesses' houses, and summoned them to arms. They soon -donned their harness and repaired with him to the castle gate, where, -agreeably to a concerted scheme, he sounded a horn. - -When Sir William heard it, he said to the governor, "Let us go out of the -second gate, for the chess-men are arrived." Sir William passed the -wicket, and remained without. In following him the governor stooped and -put out his head. Sir William drew a small battle-axe from under his -cloak, and therewith smote to death his defenceless foe. He then opened -the first gate, the burgesses entered in numerous and gallant array, and -incontinently the castle was taken.[184] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Minstrelsy.] - -The minstrel's lay, the poetry of the troubadour, the romance of the -learned clerk, all spoke of war and love, of the duties and sports of -chivalry. Every baronial knight had his gay troop of minstrels that -accompanied him to the field, and afterwards chaunted in his hall, whether -in their own or another's verse, the martial deeds which had renowned his -house. A branch of the minstrelsy art consisted of reciting tales; and -such persons as practised it were called jesters. - - "I warn you first at the beginning, - That I will make no vain carping - Of deeds of arms nor of amours - As do minstrelles and jestours, - That make carping in many a place - Of Octoviane and Isembrase, - And of many other jestes, - And namely when they come to festes; - Nor of the life of Bevis of Hampton, - That was a knight of great renown; - Nor of Sir Guy of Warwick, - All if it might some men like."[185] - -Minstrels played on various musical instruments during dinner, and -chaunted or recited their verses and tales afterwards both in the hall, -and in the chamber to which the barons and knights retired for amusement. - - "Before the king he set him down, - And took his harp of merry soun, - And, as he full well can, - Many merry notes he began. - The king beheld, and sat full still, - To hear his harping he had good will. - When he left off his harping, - To him said that rich king, - Minstrel, me liketh well thy glee, - What thing that thou ask of me - Largely I will thee pay; - Therefore ask now and asay."[186] - -A minstrel's lay generally accompanied the wine and spices which concluded -the entertainment.[187] Kings and queens had their trains of songsters, -and partly from humour and partly from contempt, the head of the band was -called king of the minstrels.[188] But men of the first quality, -particularly the younger sons and brothers of great houses, followed the -profession of minstrelsy, and no wonder, if it be true that they gained -the guerdon without having encountered the dangers of war; for many a -doughty knight complained that the smiles for which he had perilled -himself in the battle field were bestowed upon some idle son of peace at -home. The person of a minstrel was sacred, and base and barbarian the man -would have been accounted, who did not venerate him that sang the heroic -and the tender lay, the magic strains of chivalry, and could shed a -romantic lustre over fierce wars and faithful loves. - - "In days of yore how fortunately fared - The minstrel! wandering on from hall to hall, - Baronial court or royal; cheered with gifts - Munificent, and love, and ladies' praise: - Now meeting on his road an armed knight, - Now resting with a pilgrim by the side - Of a clear brook: beneath an abbey's roof - One evening sumptuously lodg'd; the next - Humbly, in a religious hospital; - Or with some merry outlaws of the wood; - Or haply shrouded in a hermit's cell. - Him, sleeping or awake, the robber spared; - He walk'd--protected from the sword of war - By virtue of that sacred instrument - His harp, suspended at the traveller's side; - His dear companion wheresoe'er he went, - Opening from land to land an easy way - By melody, and by the charm of verse."[189] - -Every page of early European history attests the sacred consideration of -the minstrel, and the romances are full of stories, which at least our -imagination can credit, of many a knight telling his soft tale in the -dress of a love-singing poet. That dress had another claim to respect, for -it was fashioned like a sacerdotal robe, as we learn from the story of two -itinerant priests gaining admittance to a monastery, on the supposition of -their being minstrels; but as soon as the fraud was discovered the poor -ecclesiastics were beaten and driven from the monastery by their happier -brethren.[190] The minstrel also was often arrayed in a dress of -splendour, given to him by a baron in a moment of joyous generosity. The -Earl of Foix, after a great festival, gave to heralds and minstrels the -sum of five hundred franks; and he gave to the minstrels of his guest, the -Duke of Tourrain, gowns of cloth of gold, furred with ermine, valued at -two hundred franks.[191] - -[Sidenote: Romances.] - -There were other classes of poets in days of chivalry, who, under the -names of troubadours, trouveurs, and minnesingers, were spread over all -chivalric countries, and sang the qualities by which a knight could render -himself agreeable to his mistress. The board of a baron was sometimes -enlivened by a tenson, or dialogue in verse, on the comparative merits of -love and war; and the argument was often supported by warmer feelings than -those which could influence a hireling rhymer, for the harp of the -troubadour was borne by kings, and lords, and knights. The romances, or -poems longer than the minstrels' or troubadour lay, were also faithful -ministers of chivalry. All their heroes were advocates of the church, and -enemies of the Saracens and pagans. The perilous adventures of the Gothic -knights, their high honor, tender gallantry, and solemn superstition were -all recorded in romances[192], and there was not a bay window in a -baronial hall without its chivalric volume, with which knights and -squires drove away the lazy hours of peace. - -The fictitious tales of Arthur and Charlemagne were the study and -amusement of the warrior in his moments of ease, and even the few relics -of classical literature, which, after the Gothic storm, were cast on the -shores of modern Europe, were fashioned anew by chivalry. The heroes of -Troy were converted into knights, and Troilus and Cressida moved like a -warrior and damsel of chivalric times. Indeed, as the tale of Troy Divine -was occasioned by a lady, it blended very readily with the established -fictions of the times. And the romancers, like the minstrels and -troubadours, were highly favoured by the great, who knew that their -actions, unless recorded by _clerc_, could have no duration, and therefore -they often made handsome presents to authors in order to have their names -recorded in never-dying histories.[193] - -[Sidenote: Conversation.] - -The conversation of knights, like their lives and literature, related only -to love and war. - - "Then were the tables taken all away, - And every knight, and every gentle squire, - Gan choose his dame with _basciomani_[194] gay, - With whom he meant to make his sport and play, - - * * * * * - - Some fell to dance; some fell to hazardry; - Some to make love; some to make merriment." - -Every knight was welcome at another knight's castle, if it were only for -the intelligence he could communicate regarding the deeds of arms that -had been done in the countries which he had visited; and the great charm -of the castle of the Earl of Foix, to the imagination of Froissart, was -the goodly company of knights and squires of honor, pages and damsels, -that he met in the hall, chamber, and court, going up and down, and -talking of arms and amours.[195] - - "After meat they went to play, - All the people, as I you say; - Some to chamber, and some to bower, - And some to the high tower, - And some in the hall stode, - And spake what them thought gode; - Men that were of that cytè, - Enquired of men of other contrè."[196] - -[Sidenote: Nature and forms of chivalric entertainments.] - -Knights were wont, at these entertainments, to repose on couches, or sit -on benches. The guests were placed two by two, and only one plate was -allotted to each pair; for to eat on the same trencher or plate with any -one was considered the strongest mark of friendship or love.[197] Peacocks -and pheasants were the peculiar food of knights on great and festival -occasions; they were said to be the nutriment of lovers, and the viand of -worthies. The peacock was as much esteemed in chivalric as in classic -times; and as Jupiter clothed himself with a robe made of that bird's -feathers, so Pope Paul, sending to King Pepin a sword, in sign of true -regard, accompanied it with a mantle ornamented with a peacock's plumes. -The highest honours were conferred on these birds; for knights associated -them with all their ideas of fame, and vowed by the peacock, as well as by -the ladies, to perform their highest enterprises. A graceful splendour -often characterised the circumstances in which the vow of the pheasant or -peacock was made. - -On a day of public festival, and between the courses of the repast, a -troop of ladies brought into the assembly a peacock, or a pheasant, -roasted in its feathers, in a golden or silver dish.[198] The hall was -adorned with scenes, and wooden or other semblances of men, animals, or -nature, all being expressive of the object for which the vow of the -peacock was to be taken. If the promotion of religious wars was in view, a -matron, clad in habiliments of woe, entered the room, and, approaching the -dais, or lofty seat, which the chief lords and knights surrounded, she -recited a long complaint, in verse, on the evils she suffered under the -yoke of infidels, and complained of the tardiness of Europe in attempting -her deliverance. Some knights then advanced, to the sound of solemn -minstrelsy, to the lord of the castle, and presented two ladies, who bore -between them the noble bird, in its splendid dish. In a brief speech the -ladies recommended themselves to his protection. The lord promised to make -war upon the infidels, and sanctioned his resolution by appealing to God -and the Virgin Mary, the ladies and the peacock. All the knights who were -in the hall drew their swords and repeated the vow; and, while bright -falchions and ladies' eyes illumined the scene, each knight, inflamed by -thoughts of war and love, added some new difficulty to the enterprise, or -bound himself, by grievous penalties, to achieve it. Sometimes a knight -vowed that he would be the first to enter the enemy's territory. Others -vowed that they would not sleep in beds, nor eat off a cloth, nor drink -wine, till they had been delivered of their emprise. The dish was then -placed upon the table, and the lord of the festival deputed some renowned -knight to carve it in such a manner that every guest might taste the bird. -While he was exercising his talents of carving and subdivision, a lady, -dressed in white, came to thank the assembly, presenting twelve damsels, -each conducted by a cavalier. These twelve represented, by emblematical -dresses, Faith, Charity, Justice, Reason, Prudence, Temperance, Strength, -Generosity, Mercy, Diligence, Hope, and Courage. This bevy of bright -damsels trooped round the hall, amidst the applauses of the assembly, and -then the repast proceeded.[199] - - * * * * * - -These were the military, the religious, and the social qualities of a -preux chevalier. The gentler feelings of his heart will be best delineated -in the next chapter; and, as we have seen him adventurous and imaginative, -so we shall find him amorous and true.[200] - - - - -CHAP. V. - -DAMES AND DAMSELS, AND LADY-LOVE. - - _Courtesy ... Education ... Music ... Graver Sciences ... Dress ... - Knowledge of Medicine ... Every-day Life of the Maiden ... Chivalric - Love ... The Idolatry of the Knight's Passion ... Bravery inspired by - Love ... Character of Woman in the Eyes of a Knight ... Peculiar - Nature of his Love ... Qualities of Knights admired by Women ... A - Tale of chivalric Love ... Constancy ... Absence of Jealousy ... - Knights asserted by Arms their Mistress's Beauty ... Penitents of Love - ... Other Peculiarities of chivalric Love ... The Passion universal - ... Story of Aristotle ... Chivalric Love the Foe to feudal - Distinctions ... But preserved Religion ... When Attachments were - formed ... Societies of Knights for the Defence of Ladies ... Knights - of the Lady in the Green Field ... Customs in England ... Unchivalric - to take Women Prisoners ... Morals of chivalric Times ... Heroines of - Chivalry ... Queen Philippa ... The Countess of March ... Tales of - Jane of Mountfort and of Marzia degl' Ubaldini ... Nobleness of the - chivalric Female Character._ - - -[Sidenote: Courtesy.] - -If we fancy the knight of chivalry as valiant, noble-minded, and gentle, -our imagination pictures to our minds the lady of his love in colours -equally fair and pleasing. But we must not lose her individuality in -general expressions of admiration, for she had a distinct and peculiar -character, which from the circumstances of her life can be accurately -traced. The maiden of gentle birth was, like her brother, educated in the -castle of some knight or baron, her father's friend, and many of her -duties were those of personal attendance. As the young candidate for -chivalric honours carved at table, handed the wines, and made the beds of -his lord, so his sister's care was to dress her lady, to contribute by -music and conversation to her amusement, and to form a part of her state -retinue[201]: and while there was no loss of dignity in this description -of service, the practice being universal and of immemorial antiquity, -feelings of humility insensibly entered the mind, and a kind consideration -for those of harder fortunes softened the severity of feudal pride. Thus a -condescending deportment to inferiors was a duty which their moral -instructors enforced. It was represented to them by the pleasing image of -the sparrow-hawk, which, when called in gentle accents, would come and -settle on her hand, but if, instead of being courteous, she were rude and -cruel, he would remain on the rock's pinnacle heedless of her calls. -Courtesy from persons of superior consideration was the fair right of -people of gentle birth though of small estate, for gentility was always to -be respected, and to the poor man or woman it ought to be shown, because -it gives pleasure to them, and reflects honour on those who bestowed it. A -lady once in company of knights and ladies took off her hood and humbled -herself courteously unto a mechanic. One of her friends exclaimed in -astonishment, "Why, noble dame, you have taken off your hood to a -tailor."--"Yes," she replied, "and I would rather have doffed it to him -than to a gentleman:" and her courteous friends reputed that she had done -right well.[202] - -[Sidenote: Education.] - -[Sidenote: Music.] - -The mental education of women of those days was not of a very high polish. -To repeat the prayers of the church, to sing the brief piece of poetry -called the lai, or the longer romaunt were the only tasks on the -intellect. - - "The king had a daughter dear, - That maiden Ysonde hight; - That glee was lef to hear - And romance to read aright."[203] - -The ladies also played upon the harp. - - "They were wont to harp and syng, - And be the merriest in chamber comyng."[204] - -The same particular of ancient manners is recorded by another poet: - - "The lady that was so fair and bright, - Upon the bed she sat down right, - The harpers notes sweet and fine, - Her maids filled a price of wine. - And Sir Degore sat him down, - For to hear the harper's sown."[205] - -[Sidenote: Graver sciences.] - -But sometimes the graver sciences were introduced into female education, -and Felice, the daughter of Rohand, Earl of Warwick, was not without -parallels. - - "Gentle she was, and as demure - As ger-fauk, or falcon to lure, - That out of mew were y-drawe. - So fair was none, in sooth sawe. - She was thereto courteous, and free and wise, - And in the seven arts learned withouten miss. - Her masters were thither come - Out of Thoulouse all and some, - White and hoar all they were; - Busy they were that maiden to lere; - And they her lered of astronomy, - Of armsmetrick, and of geometry; - Of sophistry she was also witty, - Of rhetorick, and of other clergy: - Learned she was in musick; - Of clergy was her none like."[206] - -Maidens were taught that a mild dignity of demeanour beseemed them, and -moralising their duty into a thousand similies, their teachers declared -that they ought not to resemble the tortoise or the crane, which turn the -visage and the head above their shoulders, and winde their head like a -vane; but their regard and manner ought to be steadfast, in imitation of -the beautiful hare, which always looks right on. If an occasion required a -damsel to look aside, she ought to turn the visage and body together, and -so her estate would be more firm and sure; for it was unmaidenly lightly -to cast about her sight and head, and turn her face here and there.[207] - -[Sidenote: Dress.] - -Simplicity of dress was another part of instruction: but there was to be -no lack of jewels of price and other splendid ornaments on festive -occasions, and, consistently with the general magnificence of religious -worship of the age, maidens were commanded to wear their gorgeous robes at -church, and not merely at courtly festivals. There was a gravity about -chivalry which accorded well with the recommendation for women not quickly -to adopt new dresses introduced from strange countries. Modesty of attire -was the theme of many a wise discourse, and every castle had its story of -the daughter of a knight who lost her marriage by displaying too -conspicuously the graces of her figure, and that the cavalier who was her -intended suitor preferred her sister who had modesty, though not beauty, -for her dower.[208] - -[Sidenote: Knowledge of medicine.] - -All the domestic oeconomy of the baronial mansion was arranged by these -young maidens: and the consideration which this power gave them was not a -little heightened by their sharing with the monks in the knowledge which -the age possessed of vulnerary medicaments. This attribute of skill over -the powers of nature was a clear deduction from that sublime, prophetic, -and mysterious character of women in the ages which preceded the times -both of feudalism and chivalry. The healing art was not reduced to an -elaborate system of principles and rules, for memory to store and talent -to apply, but it was thought that the professors of medicine enjoyed a -holy intercourse with worlds unknown to common minds. The possession of -more than mortal knowledge was readily ascribed to a pure, unearthly being -like woman, and the knight who felt to his heart of hearts the charm of -her beauty was not slow in believing that she could fascinate the very -elements of nature to aid him. There are innumerable passages in the -various works which reflect the manners of chivalric times on the -medicinal practice of dames and damsels. A pleasing passage of Spenser -illustrates their affectionate tendance of the sick. - - "Where many grooms and squires ready were - To take him from his steed full tenderly; - And eke the fairest Alma met him there - With balm and wine and costly spicery, - To comfort him in his infirmity. - Eftesoones she caus'd him up to be conveyed, - And of his arms despoiled easily: - In sumptuous bed she made him to be laid, - And, all the while his wounds were dressing, by him stay'd."[209] - -Chirurgical knowledge was also a necessary feminine accomplishment, and we -will accept the reason of the cavalier with "high thoughts, seated in a -heart of courtesy," for such a remarkable feature in their character. "The -art of surgery," says Sir Philip Sidney, "was much esteemed, because it -served to virtuous courage, which even ladies would, even with the -contempt of cowards, seem to cherish."[210] A fair maiden could perform as -many wonderful cures as the most renowned and skilful leech. The gentle -Nicolette successfully treated an accident which her knight Aucassin met -with. - - "So prosper'd the sweet lass, her strength alone - Thrust deftly back the dislocated bone; - Then, culling curious herbs of virtue tried, - While her white smock the needful bands supplied: - With many a coil the limb she swath'd around, - And nature's strength return'd, nor knew its former wound." - -Spenser favours us with the ladies' method of treating a wound. - - "Mekely she bowed down, to weete if life - Yet in his frozen members did remain; - And, feeling by his pulses beating rife - That the weak soul her seat did yet retain, - She cast to comfort him with busy pain: - His double-folded neck she reared upright, - And rubb'd his temples and each trembling vein; - His mailed haberieon she did undight, - And from his head his heavy burganet did light. - - Into the woods thenceforth in haste she went, - To seek for herbs that mote him remedy; - For she of herbes had great intendiment, - Taught of the nymph from whom her infancy - Her nourced had in true nobility. - - * * * * * - - The soveraine weede betwixt two marbles plain, - She powder'd small, and in pieces bruize; - And then atweene her lily handes twain - Into his wound ye juice thereof did scruze; - And round about, as she could well it use, - The flesh therewith she suppled and did steepe - T'abate all spasm and soke the swelling bruise; - And, after having search't the intuse deep, - She with her scarf did bind the wound, from cold to keep."[211] - -[Sidenote: Every-day life of the maiden.] - -The every-day life of a young maiden in chivalric times is described with -a great deal of spirit in the fine old English tale, of the Squire of Low -Degree. I am not acquainted with any other passage of the metrical -romances which contains so vivid a picture of the usages of our ancestors. -To dissipate his daughter's melancholy for the loss of her lover, the King -of Hungary says, - - "To-morrow ye shall on hunting fare, - And ride, my daughter, in a chair,[212] - It shall be covered with velvet red, - And cloths of fine gold all about your head; - With damask white and azure blue - Well diapered with lilies new. - Your pomelles shall be ended with gold, - Your chains enameled many a fold; - Your mantle of rich degree, - Purple pall and ermine fre. - - Jennets of Spain that be so white - Trapped to the ground with velvet bright. - Ye shall have harp, sawtry, and song, - And other myrthes you among; - Ye shall have Rumney and Malmesyne, - Both ypocrass and vernage wine, - Mount rose and wine of Greek, - Both algrade and despice eke; - Antioch and bastard, - Piment also and gamarde; - Wine of Greek and muscadell, - Both clare piment and rochell,[213] - The red your stomach to defy, - And pots of osey set you by. - - You shall have venison ybake,[214] - The best wild fowl that may be take. - A lese of greyhounds with you to strike, - And hart and hind and other lyke, - Ye shall be set at such a tryst[215] - That hart and hind shall come to your fist. - Your disease to drive you fro, - To hear the bugles there yblowe. - Homeward thus shall ye ride, - On hawking by the river's side, - With goss hawk and with gentle falcon, - With egle-horn, and merlyon.[216] - When you come home your men among, - Ye shall have revel dance and song, - Little children great and small - Shall sing as doth the nightingale. - - Then shall ye go to your even song, - With tenors and trebles among, - Threescore of ropes of damask bright - Full of pearls they shall be pight,[217] - Your censers shall be of gold - Indent with azure many a fold: - Your choir nor organ song shall want - With counter note and discant. - The other half on organs playing, - With young children full fair singing. - - Then shall ye go to your supper, - And sit in tents in green arbour, - With cloth of arras pight to the ground, - With saphires set and diamond. - The nightingale sitting on a thorn - Shall sing you notes both even and morn. - An hundred knights truly told, - Shall play with bowls in alleys cold, - Your disease to drive away, - To see the fishes in pools play. - And then walk in arbour up and down, - To see the flowers of great renown. - To a draw-bridge then shall ye, - The one half of stone, the other of tree; - A barge shall meet you, full right, - With twenty-four oars full bright, - With trumpets and with clarion, - The fresh water to row up and down. - - * * * * * - - Into your chamber they shall you bring - With much mirth and more liking. - Your blankets shall be of fustain, - Your sheets shall be of cloths of Rayne;[218] - Your head sheet shall be of pery pyght,[219] - With diamonds set and ruby bright. - When you are laid in bed so soft, - A cage of gold shall hang aloft, - With long pepper fair burning, - And cloves that be sweet smelling, - Frankinsence and olibanum,[220] - That when you sleep the taste may come, - And if ye no rest can make, - All night minstrels for you shall wake." - -[Sidenote: Chivalric love.] - -In that singular system of manners which we call chivalric, religion was a -chief influential principle of action; but scarcely less consequence ought -in truth to be given to another feeling apparently incompatible with it; -and if Venus, in the Greek mythology, was called the universal cause, her -empire seems not to have been less extensive in days of knighthood. A -Latin poet, of no mean authority in such subjects, has described love as -the sole employment of woman's life, and of man's only a part[221]; and -Boccacio says, that he composed his tales for the solace of fair and noble -ladies in love, who, confined within their melancholy chambers, had no -other occupation, but perpetually to revolve in their minds the same -consuming thoughts, rendered intolerable by shame and concealment: while -man might hunt, hawk, fish, and had a thousand channels for his thoughts. - -But the state of society at Rome was not similar to that in days of -knighthood, and though Boccacio lived in those days, he describes the -manners of commercial cities rather than of chivalric courts, of fair -Florence and not of a frowning baronial castle. The ideas of God and of -love were always blended in the heart of the true knight, and to be loving -was as necessary as to be devout. Cervantes expresses the feelings of -chivalry in the declaration of Don Quixote, that "a knight without a -mistress was like a tree without either fruit or leaves, or a body -without a soul." A ship without a rudder, a horse without a bridle, were -other illustrations of the prevailing sentiment, and more expressive of -the characteristic of chivalric love, which assigned superiority to woman, -which made her the directress of the thoughts, and inspirer of the courage -of her chosen cavalier. "A knight may never be of prowess, but if he be a -lover," was the sentiment of Sir Tristram, a valiant peer of Arthur, and -it was echoed by every gentle son of chivalry.[222] Not, indeed, that -every knight felt this strength and purity of passion. Spenser has -described four cavaliers, and each represents a large class. - - "Druon's delight was all for single life, - And unto ladie's love would lend no leasure; - The more was Claribell engaged rife - With fervent flames, and loved out of measure: - So eke lov'd Blandamour, but yet at pleasure - Would change his liking, and new lemans prove: - But Paridell of love did make no threasure, - But lusted after all that did him move: - So diversely these four disposed were to love."[223] - -[Sidenote: The idolatry of the knight's passion.] - -The true knight, he whose mind was formed in the best mould of chivalric -principles, was a more perfect personification of love than poets and -romancers have ever dreamed. The fair object of his passion was truly and -emphatically the mistress of his heart. She reigned there with absolute -dominion. His love was, - - "All adoration, duty, and observance." - -Our old English poet, Gower, whose soul was filled with romantic -tenderness and gallantry, says, - - "In every place, in every stead, - What so my lady hath me bid, - With all my heart obedient, - I have thereto been diligent." - -And every gallant spirit of Gower's days, the reign of Edward III., said -of his mistress, - - "What thing she bid me do, I do, - And where she bid me go, I go. - And when she likes to call, I come, - I serve, I bow, I look, I lowte, - My eye followeth her about. - What so she will, so will I, - When she would set, I kneel by. - And when she stands then will I stand, - And when she taketh her work in hand, - Of wevying or of embroidrie, - Then can I not but muse and prie, - Upon her fingers long and small." - -Gower, in describing the knight's mode of tendance on his mistress, has -drawn a pleasing picture of the domestic life of chivalry. - - "And if she list to riden out, - On pilgrimage, or other stead, - I come, though I be not bid, - And take her in my arms aloft, - And set her in her saddle soft, - And so forth lead her by the bridle, - For that I would not be idle. - And if she list to ride in chare, - And that I may thereof beware, - Anon, I shape me to ride, - Right even by the chares side, - And as I may, I speak among, - And other while, I sing a song."[224] - -These quotations show that the expression in ancient times of knights -being servants of the ladies was not a mere figure of the imagination. The -instances from Gower, however, which prove the propriety of the title, may -not be thought exclusively chivalric. A story in Froissart will fully -supply the want. A Bourbon knight, named Sir John Bonnelance, a valiant -soldier, gracious and amorous, was once at Montferrand, in Auvergne, -sporting among the ladies and damsels of the town. While commending his -chivalry, they urged him to undertake an enterprise against the English, -and she who, as his lady-love, was ruler of his actions, told him that she -would fain see an Englishman, for she had heard much of the valiancy of -the knights of England. Bonnelance replied, "that if it should ever be his -good fortune to take one, he would bring him into her presence." Soon -afterwards he was able to perform his word. He took to Montferrand some -English prisoners, and addressing her who fancied the wish of seeing an -Englishman, he said "that for her love he had brought them to the town." -The ladies and damsels laughed, and turned the matter to a great sport. -They thanked him for his courtesy, and entertained him right sweetly -during his three days abode at Montferrand.[225] - -[Sidenote: Love inspired bravery.] - -The knight, whose heart was warmed with the true light of chivalry, never -wished that the dominion of his mistress should be less than absolute, and -the confession of her perfect virtue, which this feeling implied, made him -preserve his own faith pure and without a stain. Love was as marked a -feature in the chivalric character as valour; and, in the phrase of the -time, he who understood how to break a lance, and did not understand how -to win a lady, was but half a man. He fought to gain her smiles, for love -in brave and gentle knights kindled aspirations for high desert and -honour. "Oh! that my lady saw me," was the exclamation of a knight in the -pride of successful valour as he mounted the city's wall, and with his -good sword was proving the worth of his chivalry.[226] He wore her -colours, and the favour of his lady bright was the chief ornament of his -harness. She judged the prize at the tournament, assisted him to arm, and -was the first and the most joyous to hail his return from the perils of -war. - - "A damisel came unto me, - The seemliest that ever I se, - Luffumer[227] lifed never in land, - Hendly she take me by the hand; - And soon that gentle creature - Al unlaced mine armure - Into a chamber she me led, - And with a mantle she me cled; - It was of purpur fair and fine, - And the pane of rich ermine; - Al the folk war went us fra, - And there was none than both we twa; - She served me hendely to hend, - Her manners might no man amend; - Of tong she was true and renable, - And of her semblant soft and stabile. - Fullfain I would, if that I might, - Have woned[228] with that sweet wight: - And when we sold go to sopere - That lady with a lufforn chere, - Led me down into the hall, - That war we served wele at all."[229] - -[Sidenote: Character of woman in the eyes of a knight.] - -A soldier of chivalry would go to battle, proud of the title, a pursuivant -of love[230], and in the contests of chivalric skill, which, like the -battles of Homer's heroes, gave brilliancy and splendour to war, a knight -challenged another to joust with a lance for love of the ladies; and he -commended himself to the mistress of his heart for protection and -assistance. In his mind woman was a being of mystic power; in the forests -of Germany her voice had been listened to like that of the spirit of the -woods, melodious, solemn, and oracular; and when chivalry was formed into -a system, the same idea of something supernaturally powerful in her -character threw a shadowy and serious interest over softer feelings, and -she was revered as well as loved. While this devotedness of soul to -woman's charms appeared in his general intercourse with the sex, in a -demeanor of homage, in a grave and stately politeness, his lady-love he -regarded with religious constancy. Fickleness would have been a species of -impiety, for she was not a toy that he played with, but a divinity whom he -worshipped. This adoration of her sustained him through all the perils -that lay before his reaching his heart's desire; and loyalty (a word that -has lost its pristine and noble meaning) was the choicest quality in the -character of the preux chevalier. - -[Sidenote: Peculiar nature of his love.] - -It was supported, too, by the state of the world he lived in. He fought -the battles of his country and his church, and he travelled to foreign -lands as a pilgrim, or a crusader, for such were the calls of his -chivalry. To be the first in the charge and the last in the retreat was -the counsel which one knight gave to another, on being asked the surest -means of winning a lady fair. Love was the crowning grace, the guerdon of -his toils, and its gentle influence aided him in discharging the duties of -his gallant and solemn profession. The lady Isabella, daughter of the Earl -of Jullyers, loved the lord Eustace Damberticourt for the great nobleness -of arms that she had heard reported of him; and her messengers often -carried to him letters of love, whereby her noble paramour was the more -hardy in his deeds of arms.[231] "I should have loved him better dead than -alive," another damsel exclaimed, on hearing that her knight had survived -his honour. - -[Sidenote: Qualities in knights admired by women.] - -[Sidenote: A tale of chivalric love.] - -No wonder that in those ages of violence bravery was the manly quality, -dear, above all others, in woman's eyes. Its possession atoned for want of -every personal grace; and the damsel who, on being reproached for loving -an ugly man, replied, "he is so valiant I have never looked in his face," -apologised for her passion in a manner that every woman of her time could -sympathise with. As proficiency in chivalric exercises was the only -distinction of the age, it would have been contrary to its spirit and laws -for a gentle maiden to have loved any other than a knight who had achieved -high deeds of arms. The advancement of his fame was, therefore, among the -dearest wishes of her heart, and she fanned his love of noble enterprise -in order to speed the hour of their union. The poets and romance-writers -of the days of chivalry bear ample testimony to the existence of this -state of feeling, and to the perils which brave men underwent to gain fair -ladies' smiles; but all their tales must yield in pathos to the following -simple historical fact:--When the Scots were endeavouring to throw off the -yoke which Edward I. had imposed on them, the recovery of the castle of -Douglas was the unceasing effort of the good Lord James. It was often lost -and won; for if the vigilance of the English garrison relaxed for a -moment, the Scots, who lived in the neighbourhood, and were ever on the -watch, aided their feudal lord in regaining the fortress, which, however, -he could not maintain long against the numerous chivalry of England. The -possession of this castle seemed to be held by so perilous a tenure, that -it excited the noblest aspirations for fame in the breasts of the English; -and a fair maiden, perplexed by the number of knights who were in suit of -her, vowed she would bestow her hand upon him who preserved the -adventurous or hazardous castle of Douglas for a year and a day. Sir John -Walton boldly and gladly undertook the emprise, and right gallantly he -held possession of the fortress for some months. At length he was slain in -a sally which Douglas provoked him to make. On his person was found a -letter which he had lately received from his lady-love, commending his -noble chevisance, declaring that her heart was now his, and praying him to -return to her forthwith, without exposing himself to further peril. The -good Lord James of Douglas grieved when he read this letter, and it was -generous and gallant of him to lament that a brother knight should be -slain when his fairest hopes of happiness seemed on the point of being -realised.[232] - -[Sidenote: Constancy.] - -The loves of chivalric times must often have been shaded with gloom, and -so convulsed was the state of Europe, so distant were its parts often -thrown from each other, that the course of true love seldom ran smoothly, -and affianced knights and damsels more frequently breathed the wish of -annihilating time and space than is necessary in the happier monotony of -modern times. In almost every case of attachment absence was unavoidable, -and constancy, therefore, became a necessary virtue of love in chivalry. - - "Young knight whatever, that dost arms profess, - And through long labours huntest after fame, - Beware of fraud, beware of fickleness, - In choice, and change, of thy dear loved dame; - Least thou of her believe too lightly blame, - And rash misweening do thy heart remove; - For unto knight there is no greater shame - Than lightness and inconstancy in love."[233] - - * * * * * - -His mistress was ever present to his imagination, and he felt there would -be a witness to his disloyalty. Even if he could dismiss her picture from -his mind, his own sense of honour preserved his virtue, and the reply of a -knight to a beautiful temptress, that though his sovereign-lady might -never know of his conduct, yet his heart, which was constantly near her, -could not be ignorant, was conceived in the purest spirit of chivalry. - -[Sidenote: Absence of jealousy.] - -The troubadours, who were the teachers of the art of love, refined upon -this respectful passion of the knight in a very amusing manner. They were -wont to affirm, that though a knight saw cause for jealousy, yet if his -lady-love were to deny the circumstances, he was to reply that he was -convinced of the verity of her assertions; but he really did believe he -had witnessed such and such matters.[234] - -[Sidenote: Knights asserted by arms their mistress' beauty.] - -Chivalric love had, indeed, its absurdities as well as its impieties. It -was a pleasing caricature of chivalry, when the knight of La Mancha -stationed himself in the middle of a high road, and calling to the -merchants of Toledo, who were bound to the silk fairs at Murcia, forbad -them to pass, unless they acknowledged that there was not in the universe -a more beautiful damsel than the empress of La Mancha, the peerless -Dulcinea del Toboso. For the knights of chivalry were not satisfied to -fight in defence of the ladies, and to joust in their honour, but from the -extravagancy of their love, each knight maintained at the point of his -lance, that his mistress surpassed all other ladies in beauty.[235] The -knight Jehan de Saintré (whose education in chivalry has been already -described by me) vowed to wear a helmet of a particular shape, and to -visit, during three years, the courts of Europe, maintaining against all -their chivalry the beauty of his mistress. Four knights and five squires, -who had made a similar vow, were his companions. At a tournament held by -the Emperor of Germany, the noble undertaking was held to be accomplished, -and the emblems of the emprise were unchained from the left shoulder of -the gallant knights and squires.[236] Indeed, wherever a knight went, to -court or to camp, he asserted the superiority of his lady and his love, -but he hurled his defiances not against simple merchants, as our right -worshipful knight Don Quixote did, but against persons of his own rank, -who were in amours as well as himself. Instances of this chivalric -disposition occur frequently in chivalric history: but Cervantes -caricatured the romances, and not the sober chronicles of chivalry, when, -in reply to the natural enquiry of one of the merchants regarding the -beauty of the lady, he made his hero exclaim, "Had I once shown you that -beauty, what wonder would it be to acknowledge so notorious a truth? the -importance of the thing lies in obliging you to believe it, confess it, -affirm it, swear it, and maintain it, without seeing her." But the display -of chivalric bravery in avowal of woman's beauty proceeded from so noble a -feeling, that it must not be censured or satirised too severely, for - - "Who is the owner of a treasure - Above all value, but, without offence, - May glory in the glad possession of it?" - -[Sidenote: Penitents of love.] - -As history, however, should be a record, and not a panegyric, I proceed to -observe, that the most marked display of the extravagancies of our knights -took place in the courts of love; but as I have dilated on that topic in -another work, I am precluded of treating the subject here, and it is the -tritest of all the subjects of chivalry. Equally ridiculous among the -amatory phrenzies of the middle ages was the society of the penitents of -love, formed by some ladies and gentlemen in Poictou, at the beginning of -the fourteenth century. They opposed themselves to nature in every thing, -on the principle that love can effect the strangest metamorphoses. During -the hottest months of summer, they covered themselves with mantles lined -with fur, and in their houses they sat before large fires. When winter -came they affected to be burning with the fires of love, and a dress of -the slightest texture wrapt their limbs. This society did not endure long, -nor was its example pernicious. A few enthusiasts perished, and reason -then resumed her empire.[237] - -[Sidenote: Other peculiarities of chivalric love.] - -The knight was as zealous in the gentle as in the more solemn affections -of the soul. He believed that both God and love hated hard and -hypocritical hearts. In a bolder strain of irreverence he thought that -both God and love could be softened by prayer, and that he who served both -with fidelity would secure to himself happiness in this life and the joys -of Paradise hereafter. On other occasions the gallant spirit of chivalry -spoke more rationally. Love, according to one renowned knight, is the -chaste union of two hearts, which, attached by virtue, live for the -promotion of happiness, having only one soul and one will in common. - - "Liege lady mine! (Gruélan thus return'd,) - With love's bright fires this bosom ne'er hath burn'd. - Love's sovereign lore, mysterious and refined, - Is the pure confluence of immortal mind; - Chaste union of two hearts by virtue wrought, - Where each seems either in word, deed, and thought, - Each singly to itself no more remains, - But one will guides, one common soul sustains."[238] - -[Sidenote: The passion universal.] - -[Sidenote: Story of Aristotle.] - -So prevailing was amatory enthusiasm, that not only did poets fancy -themselves inspired by love, but learned clerks were its subjects, and in -spite of its supposed divinity some natural satire fell upon the scholar -who yielded to its fascination. In Gower's Confessio Amantis, the -omnipotence of love is strikingly displayed; for besides those whom we -might expect to see at the feet of the goddess, we are presented with -Plato and Socrates, and even him who was the object of veneration -bordering on idolatry in the ages which we in courtesy to ourselves call -dark. Gower, the moral Gower, says with some humour, - - "I saw there Aristotle also, - Whom that the queen of Greece also - Hath bridled, that in thilke time - She made him such a syllogisme - That he forgot all his logike." - -The story whereon this sentence was founded was among the most popular of -the times. The delights of love had made Alexander pause in the career of -ambition. His host of knights and barons were discontented at the change, -and Aristotle, as the tutor and guardian of his youthful course, -endeavoured to rouse anew the spirit of the hero. The prince attempted no -lengthened reply to this appeal to his chivalry; - - "Sighing, alone he cried, as inly mov'd, - Alas! these men, meseems, have never lov'd." - -The grave saws of the sage took root, however, in Alexander's heart, and -he absented himself from his mistress. She wailed her fate for some time -in solitude, but at length assured that it was not the mere capriciousness -of passion which kept him from her, she forced herself into the presence -of her lord. Her beauty smiled away all dreams of glory from his mind, and -in the fondness of his love he accused Aristotle of breaking in upon his -joy. But the dominion of his passion was only momentary, and recovering -the martial tone of his soul, he declared the sad necessity of their -parting. She then requested a brief delay, promising to convince the king -that his tutor's counsel derived no additional recommendation from his -practice, for that he stood in need of as much instruction as Alexander -himself. Accordingly, with the first appearance of the next morning, the -damsel repaired to the lawn before the chamber where Aristotle lay. As she -approached the casement, she broke the stillness of the air by chanting a -love ditty, and the sweetness of her wild notes charmed the philosopher -from his studious page. He softly stole to the window, and beheld a form -far fairer than any image of truth which his fancy had just previously -been conceiving. Her face was not shrouded by vail or wimple, her long -flaxen tresses strayed negligently down her neck, and her dress, like -drapery on an antient statue, displayed the beauty of a well-turned limb. -She loitered about the place on pretence of gathering a branch of a -myrtle-tree, and winding it round her forehead. When her confidence in her -beauty assured her that Aristotle was mad for her love, she stole -underneath the casement, and, in a voice checked by sighs, she sang that -love detained her there. Aristotle drank the delicious sounds, and gazing -again, her charms appeared more resplendent than before. Reason faintly -whispered that he was not born to be loved, and that his hair was now -white with age, his forehead wrinkled with study; but passion and vanity -drove away these faint remonstrances, and Aristotle was a sage no more. -The damsel carelessly passed his window, and in the delirium of his love -he caught the floating folds of her robe. She affected anger, and he -avowed his passion. She listened to his confession with a surprize of -manner that fanned his flame, and she answered him by complaining of the -late coldness of Alexander. The greybeard, not caring for a return of -love, so that she accepted his suit, promised to bring his pupil to her -feet, if she would but confer some sign of favour upon himself. She -feigned an intention of compliance, but declared that, before she yielded, -she must be indulged in a foolish whim which long had distracted her -fancy. Aristotle then renewed his professions of devoted love, and she in -sentences, broken by exclamations of apparent shame at her folly, vowed -that she was dying to mount and ride upon the back of a wise man. He was -now so passionately in love, that the fancies of his mistress appeared -divinest wisdom to his mind, and he immediately threw himself along the -ground in a crawling attitude. She seated herself in a gorgeous saddle -which she placed on his back, and, throwing a rein round his neck, she -urged him to proceed. In a few moments they reached the terrace under the -royal apartments, and the king beheld the singular spectacle. A peal of -laughter from the windows awoke the philosopher to a sense of his state, -and when he saw his pupil he owned that youth might well yield to love, as -it had power to break even the frost of age. - -Such was the lay of Aristotle which the wandering minstrel chanted in the -baronial hall, and the damsel in her lady's bower, and the pleasing moral -of the fable was not more sincerely echoed by the shouts of the gallant -knights and squires than by the broken sighs of beauty. - - "Mark ye, who hear me, that no blameful shade - Be thrown henceforth on gallant or on maid. - For here, by grave example taught, we find - That mighty love is master of mankind. - Love conquers all, and love shall conquer still, - Last the round world how long soe'er it will."[239] - -It is singular to observe that in the north and in the south, in Germany -and in Languedoc, the love of the cavalier bore the same character, the -same blending of tender and devotional feelings. The troubadour burned -tapers, and caused masses to be said for the success of his love, and -when the fervour of passion for his mistress was crossed by religious awe, -he declared that the part of his heart which God held was still under the -superior dominion of his lady-love. The German knight wrote poems to the -honour of the Virgin Mary and the damsel of his heart, and it is not -always easy to distinguish to which of these persons his vows are -addressed.[240] He adored the shadow, nay, the very neighbourhood of his -mistress, and declared that nothing could induce him to violate his vow of -fidelity. Here, however, the resemblance ceases, for the knights of -France, England, and Spain were not more highly distinguished for -chivalric courtesy, than the Germans were remarkable for ferocity and -savageness.[241] Once, and once only, were there courts of love in -Germany. They were established by Frederic Barbarossa, and they did not -long survive their founder. - -[Sidenote: Chivalric love the foe to feudal distinctions.] - -Chivalric love took delight in reconciling and joining the opposites of -the world.[242] It was no cold and calculating principle; it abrogated the -distinctions of wealth and rank, and many a knight, whose whole fortune -lay in his prowess, gained the hand of high-born beauty. "How can I -hope," observed a young candidate for chivalry to a lady of high estate, -"how can I hope to find a damsel of noble birth, who will return the -affection of a knight that, ungraced by rank, has only his good sword to -trust to?"--"And why should you not find her?" replied the lady; "are you -not gently born? are you not a handsome youth? have you not eyes to gaze -on her, ears to hear her, feet to move at her will, body and heart to -accomplish loyally her commands? and, possessed of these qualities, can -you doubt to adventure yourself in the service of a lady, however exalted -her rank?"[243] - -A squire of low degree often aspired to the hand of a king's daughter: - - "And I have seen that many a page - Have become men by marriage." - -The intenseness of passion, and the generousness of soul implied in this -state of manners, were sternly opposed by feudal pride and tyranny; but -chivalry could not always beat down the absurd distinctions of society. -When the Countess of Vergy returned the passion of Sir Agolane, she was -obliged to love in secret, lest the dignity of the court of Burgundy -should be offended.[244] The maidens themselves sometimes sanctioned the -prejudices of feudalism, in opposition to the generous feelings of -chivalry and nature. Felice, daughter of Rahand, Earl of Warwick, -disdained to return the passion of Guy, her father's steward, till an -angel in a dream commanded her to love him.[245] - -[Sidenote: But preserved religion.] - -Agreement in religious opinions was as necessary as sympathy of souls in -the loves of chivalry; and many a story is related of a knight reposing in -a lady's chamber, where, instead of adoring the divinity of the place, he -assailed her with a fierce invective against her religious creed.[246] On -such occasions he forgot even his courtesy, and shamed his knighthood by -calling her a heathen hound: - - "I will not go one foot on ground - For to speak with an heathen hound; - Unchristen hounds I rede ye flee, - Or I your heart's blood will see." - -But - - "'Mercy,' she cried, 'my lemman sweet!'-- - (She fell down and 'gan to weep)-- - 'Forgive me that I have mis-said, - I will that ye be well assayed! - My false gods I will forsake, - And Christendom for thy love take.' - 'On that covenant,' said Sir Bevis than, - 'I will thee love, fair Josyan!'"[247] - -[Sidenote: When attachments were formed.] - -The occasions which kindled the flame of love in the heart of the knight -and the maiden of chivalry were various, and many of them well calculated -to give rise to romantic and enthusiastic attachments. Sometimes the -parties had been educated in the same castle, and passion insensibly -succeeded childish amusements. The masque and the ball were often the -theatre of love; but, above all other scenes, it spread its light over the -brilliant tournament. Performed in honour and in view of the ladies, it -was there that love exerted its mightiest power. She who gave the prize -bestowed almost universally her heart upon the brave and skilful -vanquisher, and many were the tears she shed, if she found that the -knight had been proving his puissance only to win the heart of some other -fair one. It often happened that the circumstances of life carried a young -cavalier to a baronial castle, where he found more peril in the daughter's -fair looks than in the frowning battlements of her father. At the feast -which welcomed the stranger, eyes mingled in love, and the suddenness of -passion was always considered as the strongest proof of its purity and -strength. The damsel might then avow her affection without any violation -of maidenly shame; for generous, confiding love, reading another's heart -in its own, dreaded no petty triumphs of vanity from confessing its -fondness. It often occurred that a knight, weary and wounded, was confided -to the ministrations of woman's tenderness; and Spenser, who had read the -history as well as the romance of chivalry, tells us, - - "O foolish physick, and unfruitful pain, - That heals up one, and makes another wound." - -[Sidenote: Societies of knights for defence of ladies.] - -[Sidenote: Knights of the Lady in the Green Field.] - -The rude state of society, which it was the noble object of chivalry to -soften, presented many occasions for the display of generous affections, -and love was the grateful return of protection. A cavalier called the -Knight of the Swan reinstated a lady in the possessions of which the Duke -of Saxony had deprived her. Indignant that the throne, and not chivalry, -should be regarded as the fountain of justice, knights sometimes formed -themselves into associations for the express object of defending the -rights of all ladies that required their aid. At one period (during the -reign of Charles VI.) of great violence in France, the ladies and -gentlewomen of the country laid before the king grievous complaints of -their sufferings from powerful lords, and lamented that gallantry was so -much degenerated, that no knights and squires had attempted to defend -them. They appealed, therefore, to the king, as the fountain of justice, -to afford them protection. This appeal roused the dormant chivalry of -France; and the valiant knight and marshal, Boucicaut[248], whose skill as -a jouster will be described anon, gathered round him twelve preux -chevaliers, and the fraternity avowed themselves champions of oppressed -dames and damsels. The gallantry of their object was proclaimed to the -world by the device on their shields of a fair lady in a green field, and -their letters of arms, circulated throughout France, promised that they -would assist all ladies and gentlewomen who were injured in their honours -or fortunes.[249] - -[Sidenote: Custom in England.] - -The same generous feeling warmed the hearts of the English chivalry. We -become acquainted with this feature of our ancient national character, not -in dry monkish chronicles, but in the living page of one of our earliest -and greatest poets. Chaucer makes all the persons of his dramatic tale -speak agreeably to their rank and station in the world; and he puts into -the mouth of his very perfect and gentle knight the following spirited -description of the gallant feelings of English nobles and gentles in the -time of Edward III. - - "For every knight that loved chivalry, - And would his thanks have a passant name, - Hath prayed that he might be of that game, - And well was him that thereto chosen was! - For if there to-morrow such a case, - Ye knowen well that every lusty knight - That loveth _par amour_, and hath his might, - Were it in Engleland, or elsewhere, - They would, hir thanks, willen to be there. - _To fight for a lady, a! benedicite, - It were a lusty sight for to see!_"[250] - -And thus it continued in every age of chivalric history. Noble knights of -prowess were ever perilling themselves in the cause of woman. So late as -the year 1425, when the title to certain territories in Hainault was -contested between the English Duke of Gloucester and John of Brabant on -behalf of the lady Jacquiline, those gallant cavaliers, the bastard of St. -Pol, and André de Humieres appeared at Hesden with silver rings on their -right arms, proclaiming the superior title of Jacquiline.[251] - -These are a few of the historical facts, which shew that the ancient -romancers did not paint from their imagination when they described gallant -cavaliers wandering over the gloomy waste of feudal Europe, in order to -redress wrongs and injuries, to relieve widows, and defend the honor of -damsels. Sometimes a knight rode alone, and like the valorous Don Quixote -left it to his horse's discretion to go which way he pleased. In other -cases they went in parties of three or four in quest of adventures. That -they might surprise the enemy they sought for, they changed or disguised -their armorial distinctions. A year and a day was the general term for -enterprises of this nature; and at the conclusion they rendered to their -sovereign mistresses an account of their adventures, and ingenuously -confessed their faults and misfortunes.--But I find myself stepping into -the regions of romance, which are not the province of this work. I return -therefore, to the realities of chivalry, which are no less pleasing than -its fictions. - -[Sidenote: Unchivalric to take women prisoners.] - -The protection of widows and orphans, and all ladies of virtuous repute, -was indeed the serious duty ever present to the imagination of a preux -chevalier. The praiseworthy soldier was he who chose to fight for dames -and damsels in preference to contending in vain-glorious frays, and with -equal spirit it was thought that death was too slight a punishment for the -man who could offer scathe or dishonour to, or deceive or wrong a gentle -lady. From this generous consideration for woman proceeded the honorable -maxim in chivalry, of its not being just or courteous to take ladies in -war.[252] When a town was captured, the heralds of the conqueror -proclaimed his will, that no violence nor displeasure should be done to -any lady or gentlewoman. In the reign of Edward III. Caen fell into the -hands of the English, and Sir Thomas Holland preserved many ladies, -damsels, and nuns, from outrage worse than death. About the same time the -castle of Poys was taken by the English, and two noble knights (one was -the renowned Sir John Chandos) saved from violation two fair damsels, -daughters of the Lord of Poys. The ladies were conducted into the presence -of Edward, who, for his honor, made them good cheer, and caused them to be -carried in safety to a town friendly to their family.[253] And the -generous feelings of cavaliers for ladies were nobly requited. In the wars -of the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, the Emperor Conrad, as an offended -sovereign, had refused all terms of capitulation to the garrison of -Winnisberg; but as a courteous knight, he permitted the women to depart -with such of their precious effects as they themselves could transport. -The gates of the town were thrown open, and a long procession of matrons, -each bearing a husband, or a father, or brother, on her shoulders, passed -in safety through the applauding camp.[254] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Morals of chivalric times.] - -Some writers have severely censured the morals of the chivalric æra, and -according to them every species of licentiousness was practised by its -dames and damsels. This opinion is as erroneous as the one which it -superseded, that in the times we speak of every knight was brave, and -every woman was chaste; an assertion bearing more liberality than truth on -its face, considering that it refers to a period of seven or eight -centuries, and that the objects of the panegyric were the largest part of -the European world. For my part, I shall not, like the knight of La -Mancha, challenge to a _joust à l'outrance_ any discourteous cavalier who -has the audacity to declare that Queen Madasima was scandalously familiar -with a barber-surgeon; but I think that our imaginations do not altogether -deceive us in painting the days of chivalry as days of feminine virtue. - -If we regard the times in reference only to their baronial and feudal -features, the view is deeply dyed with turpitude, and the romances, whence -the denunciations against the ladies of forepast ages have been drawn, are -not sparing in their pictures of licentiousness. But chivalry was the -golden thread that ran through the middle ages, the corrective of vice, -the personification of virtue. That it did not altogether succeed in -colouring with its brightness the surrounding gloom is sufficiently true, -and the times warranted the assertion of a character in Amadis de Gaul, -that our country yields, as others do, both good and bad. The romances -present us with instances of the profligacy of women, and so they also do -of the baseness of knights: but as no one will contend that chivalry did -not in general inspire its professors with sentiments of honour, so its -virtuous influence cannot in fairness be denied to the maidens of its age. -Let us not, as Spenser says, blame the whole sex for the fault of one. - - "Fair ladies that to love captived are - And chaste desires do nourish in your mind, - Let not her fault your sweet affections mar; - Ne blot the bounty of all womankind, - 'Mongst thousands good, one wanton dame to find: - Amongst the roses grow some wicked weeds: - For this was not to love, but lust, inclin'd; - For love doth always bring forth bounteous deeds, - And in each gentle heart desire of honour breeds."[255] - -The romance writers were satirists, but they had more humour than -malignity. Every one of them introduces a magical test of feminine virtue, -a drinking cup, a mantle or a girdle. This is harmless; and their general -censure of women is without point; for they were for the most part men of -profligate habits, and judged the other sex by the standard of their own -vices. - - "Safe her, I never any woman found - That chastity did for itself embrace - But were for other causes firm and sound; - Either for want of handsome time and place, - Or else for fear of shame and foul disgrace."[256] - -This is the burthen of all their declamations against women; and Spenser -has shewn how little credit he gave to it, for he does not let it proceed -from the mouth of any of his preux chevaliers, but from a wretched -profligate, misnamed the squire of dames.[257] - -However highly some enthusiastic minds may have coloured the manners of -the chivalric ages, still it is unquestionable that the love of the knight -was not the mere impulse of passion, but that the feeling was raised and -refined by respect. Now, as nature is ever true to herself, as certain -causes have had certain operations in all ages and in all countries, so -this purity of love must have been followed by a corresponding correctness -of morals. Women had every reason to retain and support the virtues of -their nature; for it was only in behalf of those of fair reputation and -honour, that the knight was compelled by his principles to draw his sword; -all others were without the pale of chivalry; and although many instances -can be found in the romances of feminine indiscretion, yet the princess in -the celebrated romance of Tirante the White accurately describes the -general feeling when she submits to lose all her claims on the noble -chevisance of knights, if she failed in observing a promise of marriage -which she had given to a gallant cavalier that loved her. - -The knights, though courteous to the highest polish of refinement, were -rigid and inflexible censors; and in those days as well as in these, each -sex formed the character of the other.[258] The cavalier in travelling -would write on the door of a castle where a dame of tarnished reputation -resided, some sentence of infamy; and on the contrary, he would pause at -the door of a lady of pure honour and salute her courteously. Even on -solemn and public occasions distinctions were made between women in -matters of ceremony. If any lady of sullied fame took precedence of a dame -of bright virtue, a cavalier would advance and reverse the order, saying -to her who was displaced, "Lady, be not offended that this lady precedes -you, for although she is not so rich or well allied as you are, yet her -fame has never been impeached."[259] Here, therefore, chivalry vindicated -its purity, and showed itself as the moral guide of the world. Its -tendencies were beneficent; for Christianity was deeply infused into all -its institutions and principles, and it not only spread abroad order and -grace, but strung the tone of morals to actions of virtue. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Chivalric heroines.] - -All ladies were not of the opinion of Amadis de Gaul, that their best -weapons were sighs and tears. What they admired they imitated; and a -high-spirited damsel would, in private, divest herself of her robe, gird -round her a belt, and drawing its sword from the scabbard, fight with the -air till she was wearied. The gallant youths of chivalry called a lady of -this martial temperament--le bel cavalier. Were we to meet in romances -with dames engaged in mortal combat, we should say that the writers had -not faithfully represented the manners of the times; but such facts are -recorded by sober chroniclers. Two ladies decided some fierce disputes by -the sword. Each summoned to her aid a band of cavaliers, and the stoutest -lances of Normandy felt no loss of dignity in being commanded by a woman. -The lady Eloisa and the lady Isabella rode through their respective ranks -with the address of experienced leaders, and their contest, like that of -nations, was only terminated by burning and plundering each other's -states. In the crusades, parties of fair and noble women accompanied the -chivalry of Europe to the Holy Land, charming the seas 'to give them -gentle pass,' and binding up the wounds of husbands and brothers after a -well foughten field with the bold Mussulman. Sometimes they wielded the -flaming brand themselves, and the second crusade in particular was -distinguished by a troop of ladies harnessed in armour of price, and -mounted on goodly steeds. A lady often wore a sword even in times of -peace, and every great landed proprietress sat _gladio cincta_ among the -justices at sessions and assizes.[260] In England, particularly, was this -martial spirit recognised, for in the time of Edward the first a lady held -a manor by sarjeanty to conduct the vanguard of the king's army as often -as he should march into Wales with one; and on its return it was her duty -to array the rear-guard.[261] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Queen Philippa.] - -The victory of the English over the Scots at Neville Cross is mainly -attributable to the spirited demeanour of Philippa, wife of Edward the -third. At her father's court in Hainault, she had witnessed war in its -splendid image, the tournament; and now, in a perilous moment, when the -king her husband was far away, and the fate of England was in her hands, -she showed that she was not unworthy of her race or her alliance. She rode -among the battles or divisions of her host, exhorting them to perform -their _devoir_, to defend the honour of her lord the king of England, and -in the name of God she implored every man to bear a good heart and -courage, promising them that she would reward them better than if her lord -the king were personally in the field. She then quitted the ranks, -recommending her soldiers to the protection of God, and of St. George, -that special defender of the realm of England. This exhortation of the -queen nerved the hearts of the English yeomen, and they shot their arrows -so fiercely and so wholly together, that the Scottish battle-axe failed -of its wonted might.[262] - -[Sidenote: The countess of March.] - -For the heroism of women, the page of Scottish history furnishes a -remarkable instance. In the beginning of the year 1338, William de -Montague, Earl of Salisbury, by command of the Earl of Arundel, the leader -of the army of Edward III., laid siege to the castle of Dunbar, the chief -post which the Scots possessed on the eastern coast of their country. The -castle stood upon a reef of rocks which were almost girdled by the sea, -and such parts of it as could be attacked were fortified with great skill. -The Earl of March, its lord, was absent when Salisbury commenced the -siege, but the defence lacked not his presence. His wife was there, and -while to the vulgar spirits of the time, she was known, from the unwonted -darkness of her eyes and hair, as Black Agnes, the chivalric sons of -Scotland joyfully beheld a leader in the person of the high-spirited -daughter of the illustrious Thomas Ranulph, Earl of Moray. The Countess -of March performed all the duties of a skilful and vigilant commander. She -animated her little band by her exhortations and munificence; she roused -the brave into heroism, and shamed the timid into courage by the firmness -of her bearing. When the warlike engines of the besiegers hurled stones -against the battlements, she, as in scorn, ordered one of her female -attendants to wipe off the dust with a handkerchief, and when the Earl of -Salisbury commanded the enormous machine called the sow, to be advanced to -the foot of the walls, she scoffingly cried out, 'Beware, Montague, thy -sow is about to farrow,' and instantly by her command a huge fragment of -rock was discharged from the battlements, and it dashed the engine to -pieces. Many of the men who were about it were killed, and those who -crawled from the ruin on their hands and knees were deridingly called by -the Scots, Montague's pigs. Foiled in his attempts, he endeavoured to gain -the castle by treachery: he bribed the person who had the care of the -gates to leave them open; but the man, faithful to his duty as well as to -his pecuniary interest, disclosed the whole transaction to the Countess. -Salisbury himself headed the party who were to enter; finding the gates -open, he was advancing, when John Copeland, one of his attendants, hastily -passing before him, the portcullis was let down, and Copeland, mistaken -for his lord, remained a prisoner. The Countess, who from a high tower was -observing the event, cried out to Salisbury with her wonted humour, -'Farewell, Montague; I intended that you should have supped with us, and -assisted in defending this fortress against the English.' - -The English turned the siege into a blockade, but still without success. -The gallantry of the Countess was supported by some favourable -circumstances, and finally, in June, the Earl of Salisbury consented to a -cessation of hostilities, and he abandoned the place.[263] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Tale of Jane of Mountfort.] - -But the most interesting of all the heroines of chivalry was Jane Countess -of Mountfort, who, as Froissart says, had the courage of a man and the -heart of a lion. She was a worthy descendant of those German women whom -Tacitus describes as mixing with the warriors, administering refreshment, -and exhorting them to valour. About the year 1341, the right to the duchy -of Bretagne was disputed between the Earl of Mountfort and Charles of -Blois. The question turned on certain points of inheritance which the -earl dreaded the court of Paris would decide in favor of his rival, who -was a relation of the French king. He, therefore, sought another alliance, -and repairing to England, he performed homage for the duchy to Edward -III.[264] His next steps were directed to Paris, but his journeys were not -so secretly taken as he expected; for on presenting himself before King -Philip he was charged with having acknowleged the sovereignty of the -English monarch. The earl pretended that his journey to England had only -related to his private affairs, but the king did not credit his story, and -in distrust of his purposes he ordered him to remain in Paris. Mountfort, -equally suspicious of his sovereign's honor, effected his escape from the -city in the guise of a merchant. He went to Brittany, and took his station -in the castle of Nantes. The decision of the court at Paris was adverse to -his claims; and the successful candidate, Charles of Blois, levied an -army, and pursued his former rival, who was taken in his retreat, conveyed -to Paris, and lodged in the Louvre. - -To those who did not know the noble spirit of his countess the cause of -the Mountfort family seemed hopeless. She was at Rennes when he was taken -prisoner, and although she had great sorrow in her heart, yet she -valiantly recomforted her friends and soldiers, and showing them her -little son John, she said, 'Sirs, be not too sore abashed of the earl my -lord, whom you have lost, (he was but a man): behold my little child, who -shall be by the grace of God his restorer, and he shall advance you all, -and I have riches enough: you shall not lack; and I trust that I shall -prosper in such wise that you shall be all recomforted.'[265] All her -friends and soldiers vowed to die in her service; and she then went to her -other fortresses and towns, replenishing them with warlike stores and -provisions, and exhibiting her little son to the people, in order to rouse -the allegiance of the friends of her family. She stationed herself in -Hennebon, a town seated near the shores of Brittany.[266] - -In the following summer Charles of Blois was aided by the whole puissance -of France in his attempt to make himself complete master of Brittany; but -so able were the dispositions of the countess, that, instead of sweeping -over the whole country as they expected, they were detained before Rennes, -and it was not till after much labour that they won it. The countess, in -the mean while, had sent one of her knights, Sir Amery of Clysson, into -England, desiring royal succour, on condition that the Earl of Mountfort's -son and heir should marry a daughter of the king, who was to be adorned -with the highly splendid title, the Duchess of Brittany. Edward III., -always anxious to strengthen his power in France, accepted the alliance, -and ordered one of his noblest knights of prowess, Sir Walter Manny, to -join the valiant countess with three thousand archers. Charles of Blois, -after the capture of Rennes, was counselled to lay siege to Hennebon; but -before he reached that town Jane de Mountfort was apprised of his purpose, -and she commanded the watch-bell to be sounded, and every man to be -armed, and standing at his post. When Sir Charles and the Frenchmen came -near the town, they pitched their tents; but many of their gay and -valorous spirits went skirmishing to the barriers. Some of the cavaliers -of Hennebon did not suffer them to brandish their swords in the air; and -it was only the shades of night that separated those preluders of battle. -The next day the Frenchmen spent in council, and it was resolved that a -general assault should be made on the barriers. Accordingly, on the third -morning they fiercely pressed to the outward works of the town, and -continued the assault till noon, when they retired with diminished forces. -The lords of France rallied their soldiers, and urged the assault anew; -but they that were within defended themselves right valiantly. The -countess herself, clad in mail, and mounted on a goodly courser, rode from -street to street, exhorting her people to defend their posts; and if in -the din of battle her woman's voice was sometimes drowned, nothing could -mar her cheering smiles, which lighted the flame of noble chevisance in -every gallant breast. She caused damsels and other women to cut short -their kirtels, and carry stones and pots full of lime to the walls, to be -cast upon the enemy. She then mounted a tower, and espied that the -Frenchman's camp was deserted. Her resolution was immediately taken: she -drew around her three hundred of her best knights, and, grasping a targe -and spear, and mounting again her good steed, she quitted the town by a -gate which the enemy had overlooked. At the head of her gallant troop she -made a short circuit, and then dashed into the Frenchmen's lodgings. When -the assailants, reverting their eyes, saw their tents on fire, and heard -cries of terror from a few boys and varlets in the camp, they quickly -returned to their lodgings to stop the conflagration. The countess and her -noble band could not cope with so vast a force, and her retreat to the -city being cut off, she took the road to the castle of Brest, where she -was received with great joy. For five days the good soldiers of Hennebon -wist not of the fate of their right valiant lady; but on the sixth morning -they saw her golden banners glittering in the rising sun, and a hill in -the distance crowned by a noble troop of five hundred lances, which her -beauty and her just cause had drawn to her side at Brest. With the gay -curvetting pace of gallant cavaliers progressing to a tournament, they -gallantly held on their way to the town, smiling defiance to the martial -front of the French, and entered Hennebon amidst the flourishes of their -own trumpets, and the exulting cries of the people. - -But the siege was advanced by the French with such courage, and their -engines so dreadfully injured the walls, that the soldiers of Hennebon -were in time discomfited. All except the countess were anxious to yield -the town upon honourable terms; but she hoped for succour from Edward; and -while her knights and men-at-arms sullenly guarded the walls which fronted -the enemy, a solitary warder paced the ramparts that looked towards -England. One day the members of her council were on the point of -compelling her to submit, when, casting her eyes on the sea, whereon she -had so often gazed in vain, she saw a dark mass rising out of the horizon. -Her smile of fearful joy, before she discovered that it was the English -fleet, excited the attention of her friends. They all rushed to the -window, but her sight was the most piercing, for her heart was the most -deeply anxious, and she was the first to exclaim, "I see the succours of -England coming!" The joyful news quickly spread, the walls of Hennebon -were crowded with the townsfolk, and the English fleet entered the -harbour. When the soldiers landed, she went to them with great reverence, -and feasted them right hospitably. She lodged the knights and others in -the castle and in the town, where she dressed up halls and chambers for -them; and the next day she made them a great feast at dinner. The -exploits of Sir Walter Manny and his archers will be more appropriately -related in another place. The siege of Hennebon was raised, and it is not -unworthy of notice as a trait of manners, that on one occasion of valiancy -on the part of the English, the countess descended from the castle with a -glad cheer, and went and kissed Sir Walter Manny and his companions, one -after another, two or three times, like a valiant lady.[267] - -After some time a truce was concluded between Sir Charles of Blois and the -Countess of Mountfort, their aiders and assisters; and the countess, on -the invitation of Edward III., took ship for England, accompanied by the -Earls of Richmond, Pembroke, Salisbury, Suffolk, Oxford, the barons -Stamford, Spenser, Bourchier, and divers other knights of England, and -their companies. When they were off Guernsey they were approached by Sir -Loyes of Spain and his fleet. At first the countess supposed it was with a -friendly purpose, for Sir Loyes, as the ally of Sir Charles of Blois, was -virtually bound by the treaty: but she was soon assured of his -unchivalric purpose. The mariners cried to the knights, "Sirs, arm -yourselves quickly, for these Genoese and Spaniards will soon attack you." -All in a moment the Englishmen sounded their trumpets, and reared their -standards with the great banner of St. George, and marshalled themselves -on the decks of the ships, the archers, as on land, being in front. - - "Looking far forth into the ocean wide, - A goodly ship with banners bravely dight, - And flag in her top-gallant I espied, - Through the main sea making her merry flight; - Fair blew the wind into her bosom right, - And the heavens look'd lovely all the while, - That she did seem to dance as in delight, - And at her own felicity did smile."[268] - -[Sidenote: A.D. 1345.] - -And in this gallant trim the English fleet bore down upon the superior -force of their ungenerous foe. The arrows of the one side, and the -cross-bows of the other, did murderous execution; and when the lords, -knights, and squires came together, the battle was so dreadful that it -furnished matter of song to the minstrels of England and France for years -afterwards. The countess that day was worth the bravest knight; she had -the heart of a lion, and, with a sharp glaive in her hand, she fought -fiercely. They contended till it became so dark that one could scarcely -know another. The fleets then separated, the men remaining in their -harness, intending to renew the battle next morning. But at midnight a -tempest arose so horrible that every one thought the end of the world was -approaching; and those very cavaliers who, a few hours before, had -gallantly courted death, would now have abandoned their chivalry and their -cause, if a safe landing could have been effected.[269] The battle was not -renewed the next day; the English fleet sailed to Brittany; the troops -landed near Vannes, which they immediately besieged, the countess being -always foremost in the press. Soon afterwards Edward III. went to France, -in the contest for whose throne the affairs of Brittany were lost, and the -noble Countess of Mountfort disappeared from the scene[270], while her -husband escaped from prison only to die of a fever at Hennebon.[271] - -[Sidenote: And of Marzia.] - -A few years after this beautiful display of the chivalric character of -woman in France, the gloom of war in Italy was illuminated by a noble -trait of female heroism. Marzia, a lady of the family of the Ubaldini, so -celebrated for its virtue and noble gestes, was the wife of Francesco -d'Ordelaffi, lord of Forli, the only prince in Romagna who maintained his -independence against the tyranny of the papal power. Knowing her firmness -and spirit, he entrusted the defence of the town of Cesena to his wife, -while he himself maintained the more important position of Forli. In the -beginning of the year 1357, Marzia tore herself from her husband, and, -throwing aside the gorgeous robe of peaceful power, donned the casque and -the cuirass. She stationed herself in Cesena with two hundred soldiers, -equipped like knights, and the same number of ordinary troops. She was -accompanied also by her son and daughter, and that sage counsellor of the -Ordelaffi family, Sgariglino de Pétragudula. An army ten times more -numerous than all the defenders of Cesena soon beleaguered the place. At -the end of April some of the terrified burgesses opened the gates of the -lower part of the town to the enemy; but in that moment of peril Marzia -remembered that her husband had declared that, unless the pope would treat -with him on honourable terms, he would sustain a siege in every one of his -castles, and when he had lost them he would defend the walls of Forli, and -then its streets, its squares, his palace, and the last tower of his -palace, rather than give his consent to surrender that which was his own. -Marzia retreated into the upper part of the town with such of the soldiers -and citizens who continued faithful to her. She now discovered that -Sgariglino had been a traitor. Justice then had her due, and the head of -him whom no feelings of honour or gallantry could preserve in the path of -virtue was rolled from the battlements among the besieging army. Marzia -relied entirely on her own wisdom and courage; she took on herself all the -duties of governor and captain, and, wearing her cuirass both by night and -day, she braved all those hardships which, in former moments of happiness -and ease, she would have thought herself incapable of supporting. But the -besiegers smiled with indifference at her courage, for their miners were -slowly and surely effecting her ruin. She was compelled to retreat to the -citadel with four hundred soldiers and citizens, who vowed to be faithful -to death. The miners persevered, and at length the citadel almost hung in -air. The father of Marzia at that moment reached Cesena, and his passage -had been facilitated by the legate. He entreated his heroic daughter to -surrender, as bravery had accomplished its utmost, and still the besiegers -were gradually prevailing. Her reply was simple and firm,--that her -husband had given her a duty to perform, and that she must obey, without -forming any opinion on the nature of his command. Her heroism was not -supported by the people, for they unanimously declared the folly of -further resistance. Compelled, then, to surrender, she herself opened the -negociations; and so skilfully did she act, so much dreaded was the -despair to which she might be tempted, that she obtained from the legate a -treaty, whereby it was agreed that all the soldiers who had bravely -supported her might return home with their arms and equipments. On the -21st of June she opened the gate of the citadel: she disdained to ask any -favour for herself; and the legate, untouched by any chivalric sympathy -for female heroism, cast her and her children into prison.[272] - -[Sidenote: Chivalric titles of ladies.] - -The honorary titles of ladies in days of chivalry favoured this martial -spirit in women. The wife of a knight was often called equitissa or -militissa, or chevaliére. In France, too, ladies, as ruling over fiefs, -having the right of war, judicature, and coining money, could confer the -honour of knighthood. But in general the feudal law opposed the chivalry -of women, for a woman alone could not hold a fief, it not being supposed -that she could head her vassals or accompany her liege lord into the -field. The instances, therefore, that are scattered over the middle ages -of the brave gestes of women sprang from the spirit of chivalry and not -from any other principle of society. They were always praised, and -joyfully remembered; and when the direction of war was entirely usurped by -men, the world reverted with a melancholy pleasure to the chivalry of -womankind. - - "Where is the antique glory now become, - That whilome wont in women to appeare? - Where be the brave atchievements done by some? - Where be the battles, where the shield and spear, - And all the conquests which them high did rear, - That matter made for famous poets verse, - And boastful men so oft abasht to hear? - Be they all dead, and laid in doleful hearse? - Or do they all sleep, and shall again reverse?"[273] - -Though 'meek-eyed women' were 'without fear,' yet this martial disposition -was never displayed at the sacrifice of the sex's milder qualities. The -same lady who placed a lance in rest was in her castle gentle and -courteous, dispensing hospitality, tending the sick, or reading romance in -hall and bower. Her heart was as tender as her's who was rocked in -pleasure's wanton lap. Spenser's picture of his martial maid, Britomart, -in love, represents the whole class of chivalric heroines: - - "Thenceforth the feather in her lofty crest, - Ruffed of love, gan lowly to availe; - And her proud portance and her princely gest, - With which she erst triumphed, now did quail, - Sad, solemn, sour, and full of fancies frail, - She woxe yet wist she neither how, nor why; - She wist not, silly maid, what she did ail, - Yet wist she was not well at ease perdy, - Yet thought it was not love, but some melancholy."[274] - -There were other points in the character of women in days of chivalry -hardly necessary to be noticed as not being peculiar to the times. The -artifices and sleights of some of them would beseem more refined ages. To -repress the presumption of lovers when circumstances did not favour an -avowal of passion, they would reprove the sighs and glances which they -pretended to see interchanged between the young squires and maidens of the -table; but the admirer of the dame sometimes mistook this demeanour for -the sign of a coquettish spirit, and left the lady to lament his -dulness.[275] The spirit of chivalry, which disposed the heart to all -noble feelings, was not universal in its influence, and we accordingly -read of ladies who were deformed by the mood of envy and detraction. - - "Then was the lady of the house - A proud dame and malicious, - _Hokerfull, iche mis-segging_[276] - Squeamous and eke scorning."[277] - -[Sidenote: Nobleness of the chivalric character.] - -But the subject need not be pursued further; for it is woman, as formed by -chivalric principles, and not as uninfluenced by that noble spirit whose -lineaments it is my purpose to pourtray. That lofty consideration in which -she was held had, as we have seen, a remoter origin than the days of -chivalry, and to that elevation much of her moral dignity may be ascribed. -But chivalry saved her from being altogether oppressed into slavery and -degradation under the tyranny of feudalism. That odious system endeavoured -to bring under its sway even the very affections of the heart; for not -only no woman of rank and estate could marry without the consent of her -sovereign, but in some countries she was obliged to accept a husband at -his nomination, unless for a large pecuniary payment he restored her to -the privileges of her sex. By preserving woman in her noble state of moral -dignity, chivalry prevented the harsh exercise of feudal rights. A -sovereign who prided himself on his knighthood could never offend the -inclinations of one of that sex which by his principles he was bound to -protect and cherish. Chivalry hung out the heart-stirring hope that beauty -was the reward of bravery. A valiant, but landless knight was often hailed -by the whole martial fraternity of his country as worthy the hand of a -noble heiress, and the king could not in every case bestow her on some -minion of his court. Woman was sustained in her proud elevation by the -virtues which chivalry required of her; and man paid homage to her mind as -well as to her beauty. She was not the mere subject of pleasure, taken up -or thrown aside as passion or caprice suggested, but being the fountain of -honour, her image was always blended with the fairest visions of his -fancy, and the respectful consideration which she, therefore, met with, -showed she was not an unworthy awarder of fame. Fixed by the gallant -warriors of chivalry in a nobler station than that which had been assigned -to her by the polite nations of antiquity, all the graceful qualities of -her nature blossomed into beauty, and the chastening influence of feminine -gentleness and tenderness was, for the first time in his history, -experienced by man. - - - - -CHAP. VI. - -TOURNAMENTS AND JOUSTS. - - _Beauty of Chivalric Sports ... Their Superiority to those of Greece - and Rome ... Origin of Tournaments ... Reasons for holding them ... - Practice in Arms ... Courtesy ... By whom they were held ... - Qualifications for Tourneying ... Ceremonies of the Tournament ... - Arrival of the Knights ... Publication of their Names ... Reasons for - it ... Disguised Knights ... The Lists ... Ladies the Judges of the - Tournament ... Delicate Courtesy at Tournaments ... Morning of the - Sports ... Knights led by Ladies, who imitated the Dress of Knights - ... Nature of tourneying Weapons ... Knights wore Ladies' Favours ... - The Preparation ... The Encounter ... What Lance Strokes won the Prize - ... Conclusion of the Sports ... The Festival ... Delivery of the - Prize ... Knights thanked by Ladies ... The Ball ... Liberality ... - Tournaments opposed by the Popes ... The Opposition unjust ... The - Joust ... Description of the Joust to the Utterance ... Joust between - a Scotch and an English Knight ... Jousting for Love of the Ladies ... - A singular Instance of it ... Joust between a French and an English - Squire ... Admirable Skill of Jousters ... Singular Questions - regarding Jousts ... An Earl of Warwick ... Celebrated Joust at St. - Inglebertes' ... Joust between Lord Scales and the Bastard of - Burgundy ... The Romance of Jousts ... The Passage of Arms ... Use of - Tournaments and Jousts._ - - -[Sidenote: Beauty of chivalric sports.] - -[Sidenote: Superiority to those of Greece and Rome.] - -All our most delightful imaginings of chivalry are associated with the -tournament. We see in fancy's mirror the gay and graceful knight -displaying on his plumed steed the nobleness of his bearing, and the lady -of his affections smiling upon his gallant skill, while the admiring -people in rude and hearty joy shout their loud acclaims. Those who were -illustrious for ancestral or newly acquired renown met in the listed -plain. The fierceness of war was mellowed into elegance, and even -feudalism abated something of its sternness, when called on to perform -tendance on the ladies and damsels who graced the scene. Baronial pomp, -knightly gallantry, woman's beauty, gay caparisons, rich attire, and -feudal pageantry, throng the mind in wild and splendid confusion, when we -hear the herald's trumpet-clang summoning the knights to achievement. It -was in the tournament especially that the chivalric nations of Europe -asserted their superior claims to gracefulness and humanity; for though -the Greeks might vaunt their Olympic games, yet in them woman's favour did -not bestow the garland, and though matrons mingled with senators in the -Coliseum, and a virgin gave the signal for the commencement of the sports, -yet the tortures and death of their fellow-creatures constituted the -amusement. - -[Sidenote: Origin of tournaments.] - -Our ancestors were so proud of the Trojan descent which their historians -deduced for them, that they even regarded the games which Æneas celebrated -to the honour of his dead father, Anchises, as the origin of their own -knightly joust and tournament. But in those games there was no encounter -of two lances as in the joust, and no courteous battle between two parties -of warriors, as was the case in the tournament. This learned enthusiasm -was needless and absurd; for the knights might have discovered in the -nature and tendency of circumstances, and in the practice of their known -and immediate forefathers, sufficient matter of originality. The Romans -were wont to exercise themselves in mock combats, and so were the -Goths[278]; but it would be difficult to prove any chain of connection -between these people. War was an art in the middle ages, and a long and -painful education preceded the practice of it. It was the delight as well -as the occupation of the world; for fame[279], fortune, and woman's -love[280], could only be obtained by gallant bearing. Hence we find that -thoughts of war were not abandoned in times of peace, and that some -softened images of battle formed the grace of festive solemnities. - -[Sidenote: Reasons for holding them.] - -[Sidenote: Practice in arms.] - -[Sidenote: Courtesy.] - -The martial spirit of the world was nourished by such customs, for kings -were always eager to hold tourneys for the better training up of soldiers -in feats of arms.[281] It was the beneficial nature of tournaments to shed -the amenities and courtesies of peace over the horrid front of war. Thus -there were rules for conducting these images of battle which no knight -could violate without forfeiting his title to chivalry. The display of -address, with as little danger as possible to life and limb, was the chief -character of these encounters, and skill, therefore, in real war, became -more esteemed than brute violence. To profit by the mischance of an -adversary would, in the tournament, have been considered unknightly; and -it followed that even in the most deadly encounters of nations no cavalier -would avail himself of any accident happening to his foe. - -[Sidenote: By whom they were held.] - -Military exercises, when performed by two parties of cavaliers with -hurtless weapons, were called tournaments. If the occasion were high and -solemn, heralds repaired to different courts, announcing their sovereign's -purpose of holding martial exercises at a particular time, and inviting -all those who valued their knighthood, and respected dames and maidens, to -repair to the appointed city, and prove their chivalry.[282] - -In Germany matters were somewhat different, and should be stated. Except -in Saxony (which had its own tournaments), the Germans who were entitled -to appear in the tourneying lists were divided into four companies; -namely, that of the Rhine--of Bavaria--of Swabia--and of Franconia. The -assembled cavaliers were called the chivalry of the four countries. Each -country by rotation held the tournament, and chose its leader or judge of -the sports, who appointed three ladies to give the arms to the knights, -and three others to distribute the prizes. It was usual for one of the -ladies to be a wife, another a widow, and the third a maiden.[283] - -[Sidenote: Qualifications for tourneying.] - -Originally, in most countries, no person could tourney unless he proved -himself to be maternally a knight of gentle birth, by four descents, and -displayed a legitimate coat-armour. But this regulation was every where -relaxed in favour of hardy knights who could not boast of ancestral -honours.[284] In early times, knights, whether bannerets or bachelors, -contended in the listed plain; but, subsequently, the squire (both the -follower of the knight and the soldier of the third class of chivalry) was -permitted to joust or tourney with knights. - -Safe-conduct through hostile lands was always allowed to those who wished -to tourney; and the silence and solitude of the country in those dark -times were pleasingly relieved by bands of jolly and amorous cavaliers, -with trains of squires and pages, riding apace to court to the tune of a -merry roundelay. It was particularly the custom of newly-made knights to -attend a tournament in order to show that they deserved their spurs, and -to establish their prowess.[285] - -Nor did simple knights alone thus progress to the tournament. Kings and -princes pricked over the plain in gallant and graceful array; for though -their rank excused them from performing many knightly observances, yet -their chivalric spirit disdained the pride of their station, and their -souls were inflamed with the noble desire of illustrating their royalty by -deeds of high knighthood. - -[Sidenote: Ceremonies of the tournament.] - -[Sidenote: Arrival of the knights.] - -[Sidenote: Publication of their names.] - -[Sidenote: Reasons for it.] - -The knights were wont to arrive, at the respective hostels or tents -assigned them by the kings-at-arms and the heralds somewhile before the -day of tournament; and they affixed their armorial ensigns over the -entrances, and raised their banners and pennons in front of their parades. -The tourneying knights were known by their heraldry, and this publication -of their names was made for a very noble purpose. If any one of them had -been guilty of unchivalric deportment, the matter might be proved before -the ladies or other judges of the tournament, and they would strike down -his banner. None could tourney who had blasphemed God, or offended the -ladies: he who had been false to gratitude and honour; he who had violated -his word, or deserted his brother in arms in battle, was unworthy of -appearing at the splendid show; and the high courtesy of chivalry was -maintained by the law, that no one could tourney who had without warning -assailed his enemy, or by indirect means had despoiled his territory.[286] - -[Sidenote: Disguised knights.] - -These rules, however, were not always observed; for cavaliers were often -permitted to partake of chivalric sports, though they declined to name -themselves to the heralds. If they were novices in arms, and not very -confident in their prowess, they would conceal their names till they had -won renown; and if the chance of the game were against them, the -spectators knew not who had failed to acquire honour. The baron who held -the tournament might be the enemy of a gallant knight, who, from prudence, -would not wish to make himself known, unless he could appear with the bold -front of a conqueror. Sometimes the persons of the knights were not -concealed by common armour, but by the guise which fancy had thrown over -the fabled knights of yore. A troop of cavaliers calling themselves King -Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table often dashed into the lists; and -their trumpet's defiance was answered by that of another band meeting them -at speed from the other end, and calling themselves Charlemagne and his -Paladins. This was a beautiful mode of realising the romances of chivalry. -Other disguises were not equally praiseworthy; and I can only state as an -historical fact, without attempting to apologise for its madness and -impiety, that at a tournament held at Valladolid in the year 1428, the -King of Castille was accompanied by twelve knights, who personated the -twelve Apostles.[287] - -[Sidenote: The lists.] - -The place of combat was the lists, a large space surrounded by ropes or -railing in single or double rows. Sometimes there was a wooden division in -the lists or area to prevent the horses of the adverse knights from -careening against each other.[288] The lists were decorated with the -splendid richness of feudal power. Besides the gorgeous array of heraldic -insignia near the champions' tents, the galleries, which were made to -contain the proud and joyous spectators, were covered with tapestry, -representing chivalry both in its warlike and amorous guise: on one side -the knight with his bright faulchion smiting away hosts of foes, and on -the other kneeling at the feet of beauty. - -[Sidenote: Ladies were the judges of tournaments.] - -The ladies were the supreme judges of tournaments; and if any complaint -was raised against a knight, they adjudged the cause without appeal.[289] -Generally, however, they deputed their power to a knight, who, on account -of this distinction, was called the _Knight of Honour_. He bore at the end -of his lance a ribbon or some other sign of woman's favour; and with this -badge of power he waved the fiercest knights into order and obedience. - -The heralds read to the knights the regulations of the sport, and -announced the nature of the prize they were to contend for. The dames and -maidens sometimes proposed jewels of price, a diamond, a ruby, and a -sapphire, as rewards of valour. But the meed of renown was often more -military; and the reader of Italian history remembers that at a tournament -celebrated at Florence in the year 1468, Lorenzo de' Medici bore away the -prize of a helmet of silver with a figure of Mars as the crest. It was -the general wont of tournaments for a vanquished knight to forfeit his -armour and horse to his victor. - -[Sidenote: Delicate courtesy at tournaments.] - -Nothing was more beautiful than the courtesy of chivalric times. At a -martial game held in Smithfield, during the reign of Richard II., the -Queen proposed a crown of gold as the reward of the best jouster, were he -a stranger; but if an English knight had the praise, then a rich bracelet -was to be his reward. The same polite preference of strangers influenced -the chivalry of England, and they promised to give to the lord of best -desert, if he were a foreign knight, a fair horse, with his trappings; but -if he were one of their own land, then only a falcon should reward him. - -[Sidenote: Morning of the sports.] - -On the morning of the tournament, - - "When the day 'gan spring, - Of horse and harneis, noise and clattering, - Ther was in the hostelries all about."[290] - -[Sidenote: Knights led by ladies,] - -The knights then trooped to the listed plain, with lords, ladies, and -damsels, the chivalry and beauty of the country, mounted on -gaily-caparisoned steeds and palfreys, whose housings swept the ground. -Sometimes a lady fair led the horse of her chosen knight, and in the song -of the minstrel the bridle became a golden chain of love. At the day -appointed for a merry tournament, in the reign of Richard II., there -issued out of the Tower of London, first, three-score coursers, apparelled -for the lists, and on every one a squire of honour riding a soft pace. -Then appeared three-score ladies of honour, mounted on fair palfreys, each -lady leading by a chain of silver a knight sheathed in jousting harness. -The fair and gallant troop, with the sound of clarions, trumpets, and -other minstrelsy, rode along the streets of London[291], the fronts of the -houses shining with martial glory in the rich banners and tapestries which -hung from the windows. They reached Smithfield[292], where the Queen of -England and many matrons and damsels were already seated in richly -adorned galleries. The ladies that led the knights joined them; the -squires of honour alighted from their coursers, and the knights in good -order vaulted upon them. - -[Sidenote: who imitated the dress of knights.] - -This mode of conducting knights to the tournament was not the only -pleasing prelude of the sports. As it was in perfect harmony with the -general tone of chivalric feeling for knights to array themselves in -weeds, which woman's taste had chosen or approved of, so dames and -maidens, with equal courtesy, imitated in their attire the semblance of -knights. They often rode to the tournament with their girdles ornamented -with gold and silver, to resemble military belts, and, sportively, -wielding short and light swords, embossed with emblems of love and war. - -[Sidenote: Nature of tourneying weapons.] - -When the knights reached the lists, their arms were examined by the -constable; and such as were of a frame and fabric contrary to good -chivalry were rejected. The lances were hurtless, the points being either -removed altogether, or covered with broad pieces of wood, called -_rockets_. The gallant manners of the age gave such lances the title of -_Glaives Courtois_. The swords were blunted and rebated. Instances are on -record of knights encountering with swords made of whalebone, covered with -parchment, the helmet and hauberk being made of leather. - -There existed very often, however, a disposition to convert tournaments -into real battles. National rivalry broke through the restraints of -knightly gentleness; envy of martial prowess, or of woman's love, had -found an occasion of venting its passion; and, in spite of the authority -of the king-at-arms and heralds to reject weapons of violence, bribery and -power appear often to have introduced them. As the nature of offensive -armour may be judged from the defensive harness, so in the laws of a -country we may read the state of manners. The practice of converting the -elegant tournament into a deadly fray occasioned an oath to be imposed on -all knights that they would frequent tournaments solely to learn military -exercises[293]; and, by a law of England made towards the close of the -thirteenth century, a broad-sword for tourneying was the only weapon that -was allowed to the knight and squire; and there was a stern prohibition of -a sword pointed, a dagger pointed, or a staff or mace. Knights banneret -and barons might be armed with mufflers, and cuishes, and shoulder-plates, -and a scull-cap, without more. Spectators were forbidden from wearing any -armour at all, and the king-at-arms and heralds, and the minstrels, were -allowed to carry only their accustomed swords without points. - -[Sidenote: Knights wore ladies' favors.] - -The tilting armour in which knights were sheathed was generally of a light -fabric, and splendid. Its ornaments came under a gentler authority than -that of royal constables and marshals. If the iron front of a line of -cavaliers in the battle-field was frequently gemmed with the variously -coloured signs of ladies' favors, those graceful additions to armour yet -more beseemed the tournament. Damsels were wont to surmount the helmets of -their knights with chaplets, or to affix streamers to their spears[294], -and a cavalier who was thus honoured smiled with self-complacency on the -highly emblazoned surcoat of his rival in chivalry. - -The desire to please ladies fair formed the very soul of the -tournament.[295] Every young and gallant knight wore the device of his -mistress, while, indeed, the hardier sons of chivalry carried fiercer -signs of their own achievements: but they were unmarked by the bright -judges of the tourney, for their eyes could only follow through the press -their own emblems of love. - -Nothing was now to be heard but the noise and clattering of horse and -armour. - - "Ther mayst thou see devising of harneis - So uncouth[296], and so rich, and wrought so wele - Of goldsmithey, of brouding[297], and of stele, - The sheldes bright, testeres[298], and trappures; - Gold hewn helms, hauberks, cote-armures; - Lords in paramentes[299], on hir courseres, - Knights of retinue, and eke squires, - Nailing the speres, and helmes buckling, - Gniding[300] of sheldes, with lainers[301] lacing; - Ther as need is they were nothing idle: - The fomy steeds on the golden bridle - Gnawing, and fast the armourers also - With file and hammer pricking to and fro; - Yeomen on foot, and communes many on, - With short staves, thick as they may gone; - Pipes, trompes, nakeres[302], and clariounes, - That in the bataile blowen blody sounes."[303] - -[Sidenote: The preparation.] - -After the arms had been examined, "_à l'ostelle, à l'ostelle_, to -achievement knights and squires to achievement," was cried by the -well-voiced heralds from side to side, and the cavaliers, making their -obeisances to the ladies, retired within their tents to don their harness. -At the cry, "Come forth, knights, come forth," they left their pavilions, -and mounting their good steeds, stationed themselves by the side of their -banners. The officers-at-arms then examined their saddles; for though they -might grow unto their seats, yet it could only lawfully be done by noble -horsemanship, and not by thongs attaching the man and horse together.[304] - -[Sidenote: The encounter.] - -The ladies and gallant spectators being fairly ranged round the lists, and -the crowds of plebeian gazers being disciplined into silence and order, -the heralds watched the gestures of the knight of honour, and, catching -his sign that the sports might begin, they cried, "_Laissez aller_." The -cords which divided the two parties were immediately slackened, and the -cavaliers dressing their spears to their rests, and commending themselves -to their mistresses, dashed to the encounter, while the trumpets sounded -the beautiful point of chivalry, for every man to do his devoir.[305] - -Each knight was followed by his squires, whose number was, in England, by -the ancient statute of tournaments already alluded to, limited to three. -They furnished their lord with arms, arranged his harness, and raised him -from the ground, if his foe had dismounted him. These squires performed -also the more pleasing task of being pages of dames and damsels. They -carried words of love to re-animate the courage and strength of the -exhausted cavalier, and a ribbon drawn from a maiden's bosom was often -sent to her chosen knight, when in the shock of spears her first favour -had been torn from the place where her fair hand had fixed it.[306] - -The chivalric bands were so well poised, that one encounter seldom -terminated the sport. Lances were broken, horses and knights overthrown, -and the tide of victory flowed to either end of the lists. The air was -rent with names of ladies. War-cries were changed for gentler invocations. -Each noble knight called upon his mistress to assist him, thinking that -there was a magic in beauty to sustain his strength and courage. "On, -valiant knights, fair eyes behold you!" was the spirit-stirring cry of -those older warriors who could now only gaze at and direct the amusements -of chivalry. The poursuivants-at-arms cried at every noble achievement, -"Honor to the sons of the brave!"[307] The minstrels echoed it in the -loudest notes of their martial music, and the chivalric spectators replied -by the cry, "Loyauté aux dames!" - -[Sidenote: What lance-strokes won the prize.] - -The keen and well-practised eyes of the heralds noted the circumstances of -the contest. To break a spear between the saddle and the helmet was -accounted one point or degree of honour. The higher on the body the lance -was attainted or broken, the greater was the consideration; and the -difficulty of breaking it on the helmet was regarded as so considerable, -that the knight who performed this feat was thought to be worthy of ten -points. Either to strike one of the opposite party out of his saddle, or -to disable him so that he could not join the next course, was an -achievement that merited three points. A curious question once arose at a -tournament held in Naples. A knight struck his antagonist with such -violence as to disarm him of his shield, cuirass, and helmet, and in turn, -he was unhorsed. The judges had some difficulty in determining who merited -least reproach; and it was at length decided, quite in consonance with -chivalric principles, that he who fell from his horse was most -dishonoured, for good horsemanship was the first quality of a knight. -Hence it was thought less dishonourable for a tourneying cavalier to fall -with his horse than to fall alone. He who carried his lance comelily and -firmly was more worthy of praise, although he broke not, than he who -misgoverned his horse, and broke. He who ran high and sat steadily, -accompanying his horse evenly and gently, was worthy of all commendation. -To take away the rest of his adversary's lance merited more honour than to -carry away any other part of his harness. To break his lance against the -bow or pommel of the saddle was accounted greater shame than to bear a -lance without breaking. It was equally dishonourable to break a lance -traverse, or across the breast of an opponent, without striking him with -the point; for as it could only occur from the horse swerving on one -side, it showed unskilful riding.[308] The courtesies of chivalry were -maintained by the laws that he who struck a horse, or a man, when his back -was turned, or when he was unarmed, deserved no honor. Any combatant might -unhelm himself, and until his helmet was replaced, none could assail -him.[309] - -[Sidenote: Conclusion of the sports.] - -[Sidenote: The festival.] - -[Sidenote: Delivery of the prize.] - -[Sidenote: Knights thanked by ladies.] - -When all the knights had proved their valiancy, the lord of the tournament -dropped his warder[310], or otherwise signed to the heralds, who cried -"_Ployer vos bannieres_." The banners were accordingly folded, and the -amusements ended. The fair and noble spectators then descended from their -galleries, and repaired to the place of festival. The knights who had -tourneyed clad themselves in gay weeds of peace, and entering the hall -amidst long and high flourishes of trumpets, sat under the silken banners -whose emblazonings recorded the antique glory of their families. Favourite -falcons were seated on perches above their heads, and the old and -faithful dogs of the chace were allowed to be present at this joyous -celebration of their master's honor. Sometimes the knights encircled, in -generous equality, a round table. On other occasions the feudal long table -with its dais, or raised upper end, was used; and to the bravest knights -were allotted the seats which were wont to belong to proud and powerful -barons.[311] Every preux cavalier had by his side a lady bright. The -minstrels tuned their harps to the praise of courtesy and prowess; and -when the merriment was most joyous, the heralds[312] presented to the -ladies the knights who had worthily demeaned themselves.[313] She, who by -the consent of her fair companions was called _La Royne de la Beaulté et -des Amours_, delivered the prizes to the kneeling knights.[314] This queen -of beauty and love addressed each of them with a speech of courtesy, -thanking him for the disport and labour which he had taken that day, -presenting to him the prize as the ladies' award for his skill, and -concluding with the wish that such a valorous cavalier would have much joy -and worship with his lady.[315] "The victory was entirely owing to the -favor of my mistress, which I wore in my helmet," was the gallant reply of -the knight; for he was always solicitous to exalt the honor of his -lady-love. As tournaments were scenes of pleasure, the knight who appeared -in the most handsome guise was praised; and, to complete the courtesies of -chivalry, thanks were rendered to those who had travelled to the lists -from far countries.[316] - -[Sidenote: The ball.] - -[Sidenote: Liberality.] - -Dancing then succeeded, the knights taking precedence agreeably to their -feats of arms in the morning. And now, when every one's heart was exalted -by the rich glow of chivalry, the heralds called for their rewards. -Liberality was a virtue of every true knight, and the officers-at-arms -were more particular in tracing the lines of his pedigree, than in -checking him from overleaping the bounds of a prudent and rational -generosity. - -One day's amusement did not always close the tournament: but on the second -morning the knights resigned the lists to their esquires, who mounted upon -the horses, and wore the armour and cognisances of their lords. They also -were conducted by young maidens, who possessed authority to adjudge and -give the prize to the worthiest esquire. At the close of the day the -festival was renewed, and the honours were awarded. On the third morning -there was a mêlée of knights and esquires in the lists, and the judgment -of the ladies was again referred to, and considered decisive.[317] - -[Sidenote: Tournaments opposed by the popes.] - -[Sidenote: The opposition was unjust.] - -Such were the general circumstances and laws of tournaments during the -days of chivalry. These warlike exercises even survived their chief -purpose, for they formed the delight of nations[318] after the use of -artillery had driven the graceful and personal prowess of chivalry from -the battle-field.[319] In all the time of their existence they were -powerfully opposed by the papal see, avowedly on the ground of humanity. -There was some little excuse for this interference; for though the lances -were headless, and the swords rebated, yet the shock of the career -sometimes overthrew men and horses, and bruises were as deadly as the -lances' wounds. The historians of the middle ages, who generally echoed -the wishes of the Vatican, carefully record every instance where a life -was lost in a tournament; and, perhaps, a dozen such unfortunate events -are mentioned by the chroniclers of all European nations during the -fourteenth century: a number exceedingly small when we reflect upon the -nature of the conflict; that the time now spoken of was the very noonday -of chivalry; and that not a circumstance of public joy, not a marriage -among the nobles and high gentry of the land, but was celebrated by a -tournament. The Vatican might thunder its denial of Christian sepulture to -those who fell in a tilting ground; but still the knights would don their -gorgeous harness to win the meed of noble chevisance. While learned -casuists were declaring from the pulpits that they who were killed at -tournaments were most assuredly damned[320], heralds' trumpets in every -baronial court were summoning knights and squires to gentle exercise and -proof of arms; and though fanatical monks might imagine visions where -knights were perishing in hell flames[321], yet gallant cavaliers, warm -and joyous with aspirations for fame and woman's love, could not be scared -by such idle phantasms. - -It was not, however, from any sincere considerations for humanity that the -popes opposed themselves to the graceful exercises of the age; for, at the -celebrated council held at Lyons in 1245, it was openly and for the first -time declared, that tournaments were iniquitous, because they prevented -the chivalry of Europe from joining the holy wars in Palestine. The shores -of Syria might drink torrents of Christian blood, and the popes would -bless the soil; but if in the course of several centuries a few -unfortunate accidents happened in the lists of peace and courtesy, all the -graceful amusements of Europe were to be interdicted, and the world was to -be plunged into the state of barbarism from which chivalry had redeemed -it. Tournaments were also interdicted on account of their expensiveness. -Wealth poured forth its treasures, and art exercised its ingenuity in -apparelling the barons, knights, and ladies; and even the housings of the -horses were so rich as to rival the caparisons of Asiatic steeds: but the -popes could see no advantage to the social state in all this gay and -prodigal magnificence, and they wished that all the treasures of the West -should be poured into the Holy Land.[322] - -[Sidenote: The joust.] - -The joust was the other chief description of military exercises. It was so -far inferior to the tournament, that he who had tourneyed, and had given -largess to the heralds, might joust without further cost; but the joust -did not give freedom to the tournament, nor was it the most favourite -amusement, for baronial pomp was not necessary to its display, and many a -joust was held without a store of ladies bright distributing the prize. -There were two sorts of jousts, the _joute à l'outrance_, or the joust to -the utterance, and the _joute à plaisance_, or joust of peace. - -[Sidenote: Description of the joust to the utterance.] - -And, first, of the serious joust. The joust to the utterance expressed a -single combat between two knights, who were generally of different -nations. In strictness of speech, the judicial combat was a joust _à -l'outrance_, and so was every duel, whether lawful or unlawful; but with -such jousts chivalry has no concern.[323] - -[Sidenote: Joust between a Scotch and English knight.] - -In a time of peace, during the year 1398, there were sundry jousts and -combats between Scots and Englishmen, for proof of their valiant activity -in feats of arms, and to win fame and honour. The most remarkable -encounter was that which took place between Sir David de Lindsay, first -Earl of Crawford, and the Lord Wells, in the presence of Richard II. and -his court. They agreed[324] to run certain courses on horseback, with -spears sharply ground, for life or death. The place appointed for these -jousts was London bridge; the day was the feast of St. George. The doughty -knights appeared sheathed in armour of proof, and mounted on mighty -war-horses. They ran together with all the fierceness of mortal hate; and -though they attainted, yet both kept their saddles. Lord Crawford retained -his seat with such remarkable firmness that the people cried out that -assuredly he was locked in his saddle. Incontinently that right noble -knight leaped from his steed, and again, armed as he was, vaulted on his -back, and amazed the beholders by his perfect horsemanship. The battle was -renewed on foot; the skill of the Scotsman prevailed, and the life of the -Lord Wells was in his power. De Lindsay now displayed the grace and -courtesy of his chivalry, for he raised his foe from the ground, and -presented him as a gift to the queen, wishing, like a true knight, that -mercy should proceed from woman. The queen thanked the valiant and -courteous Scot, and then gave liberty to the Lord Wells.[325] - -[Sidenote: Jousting for love of the ladies.] - -Woman's love was as frequent a cause for a joust to the utterance as -national rivalry. Many a knight would sally from a besieged town during a -suspension of general hostilities, and demand whether there was any -cavalier of the opposite host who, for love of his lady bright, would do -any deed of arms. "Now let us see if there be any amorous among you[326]," -was the usual conclusion of such a challenger, as he reined in his fiery -steed, and laid his spear in its rest. Such an invitation was generally -accepted; but if it passed unheeded, he was permitted to return to the -gates of his town; for it would not have been thought chivalric to -surround and capture a cavalier who offered to peril himself in so noble a -manner. - -[Sidenote: A singular instance of it.] - -Two parties of French and English met by adventure near Cherbourg, and, -like valiant knights, each desired to fight with the other. They all -alighted, except Sir Launcelot of Lorrys, who sat firm and erect upon his -horse, his spear in his hand, and his shield hanging from his neck. He -demanded a course of jousting for his lady's sake. There were many present -who right well understood him; for there were knights and squires of the -English part in love as well as he was. All was bustle, and every man ran -to his horse, anxious to prove his gallantry against the noble Frenchman. -Sir John Copeland was the first who advanced from the press, and in a -moment his well-pointed ashen lance pierced through the side of Lorrys, -and wounded him to death. Every one lamented his fate, for he was a hardy -knight, young, jolly, and right amorous[327]; and the death of a gallant -cavalier was always lamented by his brethren in arms; for the good -companionship of chivalry was superior to national distinctions. - -[Sidenote: Joust between a French and an English squire.] - -This noble feeling of knighthood was very pleasingly displayed in a -circumstance that happened in France, during the year 1380. The Duke of -Brittany profited by the weakness and confusion consequent on the death of -King John, and easily made his peace with the court of the new monarch. -The Duke of Buckingham, uncle of Richard II. of England, had been acting -as the ally of the Duke of Brittany; but now, as the war was over, he -prepared to conduct most of his army home. He had been joined by some -knights from Cherbourg, then an English town, and in the new martial -arrangements it was agreed that they should return to their garrison; but -they were not allowed to wear their harness during their march. The -Constable of France, who was then at the castle of Josselyn, gave them -safe-conduct. After embracing their good companions at Vannes, they -mounted their palfreys, and commenced their course. An hour's riding -brought them to Josselyn, and they rested awhile in the town, without the -castle, intending merely to dine there, and then depart. While they were -at their lodging, certain companions of the castle, knights and squires, -came to see them, as was the wont of men of war, and particularly -Englishmen and Frenchmen. - -A French squire, named John Boucmell, discovered among the stranger band a -squire called Nicholas Clifford, with whom, on former occasions, he had -often exchanged looks and words of defiance. Thinking that a very fair -opportunity for chevisance had presented itself, he exclaimed, "Nicholas, -divers times we have wished and devised to do deeds of arms together, and -now we have found each other in place and time where we may accomplish it. -Let us now, in presence of the Constable of France, and other lords, have -three courses on foot with sharp spears, each of us against the other." - -Nicholas replied, "John, you know right well that we are now going on our -way by the safe-conduct of my lord your constable. What you require of me, -therefore, cannot now be done, for I am not the chief of this -safe-conduct, for I am but under those other knights who are here. I would -willingly abide, but they will not." - -The French squire replied, "You shall not excuse yourself by this means: -let your company depart, if they list, for I promise you, by covenant, -that when the arms are performed between you and me, I will bring you to -Cherbourg without peril. Make you no doubt of that." - -Nicholas answered, that he did not mean to gainsay his courtesy, but that -he could not fight, as he and the rest of the English were journeying -without their armour. - -This objection was readily answered by the Frenchman, who proffered his -own stores of harness; and Nicholas, though exceedingly indisposed to a -joust, was obliged to say, that if the lords whom he accompanied would not -permit the encounter there, he promised him, as soon as he arrived at -Cherbourg, and was apprised of John's arrival at Boulogne, he would come -to him, and deliver him of his challenge. - -"Nay, nay," quoth John, "seek no respite: I have offered, and continue to -offer, so many things so honourable, that you cannot depart and preserve -your good name, without doing deeds of arms with me." - -The Frenchmen then retired to the castle, leaving the Englishmen to dine -in their lodging. - -After dinner the travelling knights repaired to the castle, to require -from the Constable a troop of cavaliers to conduct them through Brittany -and Normandy to Cherbourg. The subject of the challenge had been much -discussed by the Frenchmen, and as the execution of it appeared to be -within their own power, they earnestly requested their leader to forbid -the further journey of the Englishmen, while the deed of arms remained -unaccomplished. The Constable received the strangers sweetly, and then, -softening the harshness of his words by the chivalric courtesy of his -manner, he said to them, "Sirs, I arrest you all, so that ye shall not -depart this day; and to-morrow, after mass, you shall see deeds of arms -done between our squire and yours; and you shall dine with me, and after -dinner you shall depart with your guides to Cherbourg." - -The English were right glad to be summoned to a chivalric sport, and, -after drinking of the Constable's wine, they took their leave, and -returned to their lodging. - -On the next morning each squire heard mass, and was confessed. They then -leapt on their horses, and, with the lords of France on one part, and the -Englishmen on the other, they rode all together to a fair plain, near the -castle of Josselyn. - -John Boucmell had prepared, according to his promise, two suits of -harness, fair and good, and offered the choice to Nicholas; but the -Englishman not only waved his choice, but, with still further courtesy, -assisted John to arm. The Frenchman, in return, helped him to don the -other suit of harness. - -When they were armed they took their spears, and advanced against each -other on foot, from the opposite ends of the lists. On approaching they -couched their spears, and the weapon of Nicholas struck John on the -breast, and, sliding under the gorget of mail, it entered his throat. The -spear broke, and the iron truncheon remained in the neck. The English -squire passed onwards, and sat down in his chair. The Frenchman appeared -transfixed to the spot, and his companions advanced to him in alarm. They -took off his helmet, and, drawing out the truncheon, the poor squire fell -down dead. Grief at this event was general, but the saddest and sincerest -mourners were Nicholas and the Earl of March, the former for having slain -a valiant man of arms, and the other because John Boucmell had been his -squire. The Constable spoke all the words of comfort to his noble friend -which his kindness could prompt, and then made the knightly spectators -repair to the castle, in whose hospitable hall every disposition to -jealousy and revenge was discarded. After dinner the English troop bade -farewell to the noble Constable, and, under the conduct of the gentle -knight, the Barrois of Barres, they resumed their course to -Cherbourg.[328] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Jousts of peace.] - -I come now to describe the joust _à plaisance_. Jousts of this friendly -description often took place at the conclusion of a tournament; for a -knight who had shown himself worthy of the tourneying prize caracoled his -prancing steed about the lists; and, animated by the applauding smiles of -dames and damsels, he called on the surrounding cavaliers by their -valiancy, and for love of the ladies, to encounter him in three strokes -with the lance. - -[Sidenote: Skill of jousters.] - -More frequently jousts were held at places appointed expressly for the -occasion. When they were jousts of peace, the mode of combat was always -specifically described. A knight would often challenge another for love of -his lady to joust three courses with a spear, three strokes with a sword, -three with a dagger, and three with an axe.[329] It was the rule for -knights to strike at each other only on the body, or within the four -quarters, as the times phrased their meaning. The loss of his good name -and the forfeiture of his horse and arms were the penalties of violating -this usage. Sometimes the weapons were similar to those used in -tournaments; but more frequently they were weapons of war[330]; and though -the lances were sharp, and the bright swords were not rebated, seldom was -blood shed in these jousts, so truly admirable was the military skill of -the soldiers in chivalry. The tournaments are interesting in the general -circumstances of their splendour and knightly gallantry; but the jousts -give us a far more curious knowledge of ancient manners. - -[Sidenote: Singular questions regarding jousts.] - -But before I describe these martial amusements, let me call my reader's -attention for a few moments to the subtlety of intellect with which -questions respecting the circumstances that happened at jousts were -discussed. - -Two gentlemen agreed to fight on horseback, and he who first fell was to -be deemed the vanquished man. By the chance of battle it happened that -they both fell together, and the sage spirits of chivalry were agitated by -the question, who should be accounted victorious. Some thought that the -defender ought to have the honour, for in all doubtful cases the -challenged person should be favoured; others contended, that as the fall -of the challenger might proceed from his own force, and not the virtue of -the enemy, the judgment ought to lie dead: but the best and general -decision was this:--if the combat were for trial of skill or love of the -ladies, the challenger ought to lose the honour; but if it were for the -decision of any mortal quarrel, the battle ought to be resumed some other -day, because in combats of that kind no victory was gained until one of -the parties were either slain or yielded himself prisoner, or had with his -own mouth denied the words whereon the combat was occasioned. - -On another occasion, seven knights agreed with seven of their companions -to run certain courses for honour and love of the ladies. When the joust -took place, five of one side acquitted themselves right chivalrously, but -their two brother-tilters were overthrown. On the other side, two only -performed their courses well, the rest of that company lost many lances -and ran very foul. It was then debated whether unto five well-doers and -two evil, or unto two well-doers and five evil, the honour ought to be -allotted. As the question did not regard the merit of any particular man, -but which party in general best performed the enterprise, it was alleged -that the party wherein were most well-doers ought to have the honour, -notwithstanding the fall of two of their companions. This opinion was met -by the acknowledged rule of arms, that the fall from horseback by the -enemies' force or skill was the most reproachful chance that could happen -to a knight. Therefore it was contended that the misadventure of two men -only might reasonably be the loss of honour to the rest.[331] But further -details of chivalric subtleties would afford little pleasure, and -contenting myself with having shown that our ancestors' intellects were as -sharp as their swords, we will progress to the tilting ground. - -[Sidenote: An earl of Warwick.] - -One of the earls of Warwick went to France dressed in weeds of peace, but -carrying secretly his jousting harness. In honour of his lady he set up -three shields on three pavilions, and his heralds proclaimed his -challenges, apparently from three different knights, among the lords, -knights, and squires of honour in France. The devices on his shields and -the names he assumed were emblematical of love and war. Three skilful -jousters of France on three successive days touched the shields, and the -earl, dressed in different guises, overthrew them all. They now became his -friends: he entertained them with chivalrique magnificence, and gave -jewels of price to them all. For himself he had acquired renown, and that -was all he wished; for he now could return to his lady, and showing how -he had sped in his chivalric courses, could proudly claim the reward of -valour.[332] - -[Sidenote: Celebrated joust at St. Ingelbertes.] - -"Ye have heard oftentimes, it said, how the sport of ladies and damsels -encourageth the hearts of young lusty gentlemen, and causeth them to -desire and seek to get honour."[333] - -Such is Froissart's beautiful and romantic prelude to his account of a -very interesting joust. - -In the year 1389, the King Charles V. tarried several days at Montpellier, -delighting himself with the pastime of the ladies; and the gentlemen of -his court were no bad imitators of his fancy. Three cavaliers, in -particular, were chiefly marked. They were the young Sir Boucicaut, Sir -Raynold of Roy, and the Lord of St. Pye. Their valour was inspired by -gallantry, and they resolved to achieve high feats of arms in the ensuing -summer; and if it had been possible for a knight to entertain any other -object in his imagination, than the favour of his sovereign lady, the -gallant knights of France had a very noble motive to enterprise, for some -reflections had lately been cast upon their honour by an English cavalier. -The noble knighthood that was in them felt a stain like a wound; and this -imputation on their honor gave the form and color to the joust they -meditated; for they resolved to perform their deeds of arms in the -frontier near Calais, hoping that Englishmen might be incited to meet -them. - -The holding of the joust at such a place was not deemed courteous by some -members of the king's council, for it was thought that the English would -consider it presumptuous; and the more sage and prudent knights murmured -their opinion, that it was not always right to consent to the purposes of -young men, for incidents rather evil than good often sprang from them. The -king, however, who was young and courageous, overruled all scruples, and -ordered that the joust should proceed, because the knights had promised -and sworn it before the ladies of Montpellier. - -Then the king sent for the three knights into his chamber, and said to -them, "Sirs, in all your doing regard wisely the honor of us and of our -realm; and to maintain your estate, spare nothing, for we will not fail -you for the expence of ten thousand franks." - -The three knights knelt before the king, and thanked his grace. So -important to the national honor was this joust considered, that the -challenge was not published till it had been revised by Charles and his -council. - -This was its form:--"For the great desire that we have to come to the -knowledge of noble gentlemen, knights, esquires, strangers, as well of the -nation of France, as elsewhere of far countries, we shall be at St. -Ingelbertes, in the marshes of Calais, the 20th day of the month of May -next coming, and there continue thirty days complete, the Fridays only -excepted, and to deliver all manner of knights and squires, gentlemen, -strangers of any nation, whosoever they be, that will come thither for the -breaking of five spears, either sharp or rockets, at their pleasure; and -without our lodgings shall be the shields of our arms, both shields of -peace and of war, and whosoever will joust, let him come or send the day -before, and with a rod touch which shield he pleases. If he touch the -shield of war, the next day he shall joust with which of the three he -will; and if he touch the shield of peace, he shall have the jousts of -peace and of war; so that whosoever shall touch any of the shields shall -shew their names to such as shall be then limited by us to receive them. -And all such stranger-knights as will joust shall bring each some nobleman -on his part who shall be instructed by us what ought to be done in this -case. And we require all knights and squires, strangers that will come and -joust, that they think not we do this for any pride, hatred, or evil will, -but that we only do it to have their honorable company and acquaintance, -which with our entire hearts we desire. None of our shields shall be -covered with iron or steel, nor any of theirs that will come to joust with -us, without any manner of fraud or unfair advantage, but every thing shall -be ordered by them to whom shall be committed the charge of governing the -jousts. And because that all gentlemen, noble knights, and squires, to -whom this shall come to knowledge, should be assured of its being firm and -stable, we have sealed the present writing with the seals of our arms. -Written at Montpellier the twentieth day of November, in the year of our -Lord God one thousand, three hundred, four-score and nine, and signed -thus. Raynolde du Roy--Boucicaut--St. Pye." - -When this challenge was published, the knights and squires of England -entertained great imaginations to know what to do; and most of them -thought it would be deeply to their blame and reproach that such an -enterprise should take place near Calais, without their passing the sea. -They therefore thanked the French chivalry for deporting themselves so -courteously, and holding the joust so near the English marshes. - -Accordingly, in the fresh and jolly month of May, when the spring was at -its finest point, the three young knights of France mounted their gay -steeds, and sportively held their course from Paris to Boulogne. They then -progressed to the abbey of St. Ingilbertes, and were right joyful to learn -that a number of knights and squires of merry England had, like good -companions, crossed the sea, and were arraying themselves for the joust. -The Frenchmen raised three green pavilions, in a fair and champaign spot, -between St. Ingilbertes and Calais. To the entrance of each pavilion they -affixed two shields, with the arms of the knights, one shield of peace, -and the other of war; and again proclaimed that such knights as would do -deeds of arms should touch one of the shields, or cause it to be touched, -whichever mode pleased him, and he should be delivered according to his -desire. - -On the day appointed for the jousts, all the respective chivalries of -France and England poured from the gates of St. Ingilberte and Calais, -eager for the gallant fray. Such as proposed to be mere spectators met in -friendly union, without regard to national differences. The King of France -was present in a disguise.[334] The three French knights retired within -their pavilions, and squires donned their harness. The English jousters -apparelled themselves, and took their station at the end of the plain, -opposite the pavilions. A flourish of clarions proclaimed the commencement -of the joust, and the herald's trumpet sounded to horse. - -When all was hushed in breathless expectation, Sir John Holland, Earl of -Huntingdon, pricked forth with the slow and stately pace of high-born -chivalry, from the end of the lists which had been assigned to the English -strangers. He was a right gallant cavalier, and he commanded his squire to -touch the war-shield of Sir Boucicaut. Incontinently, that noble son of -chivalry, ready mounted, left his pavilion with shield and spear. The -knights marked each other well, and then spurred their horses to the -encounter. The spear of Sir Boucicaut pierced through the shield of the -English knight; but it passed hurtless over his arm, and their good steeds -bounded to either end of the plain. This course was greatly commended. The -second course was altogether harmless; and in the third course the horses -started aside, and would not cope. The Earl of Huntingdon, who was -somewhat chafed, came to his place, waiting for Sir Boucicaut taking his -spear; but he did not, for he showed that he would run no more that day -against the Earl, who then sent his squire to touch the war-shield of the -Lord of St. Pye. He issued out of his pavilion, and took his horse, -shield, and spear. When the Earl saw that he was ready, he spurred his -horse, and St. Pye did not with less force urge his own good steed. They -couched their spears: at the meeting their horses crossed, but with the -crossing of their spears the Earl was unhelmed. He returned to his -squires, and incontinently was rehelmed. He took his spear, and St. Pye -his, and they ran again, and met each other with their spears in the -middle of their shields. The shock nearly hurled both to the ground, but -they saved themselves by griping their horses with their legs, and -returned to their places, and took breath. Sir John Holland, who had great -desire to do honourably, took again his spear, and urged his horse to -speed. When the Lord of St. Pye saw him coming, he dashed forth his horse -to encounter him. Each of them struck the other on the helms with such -force that the fire flew out. With that attaint the Lord of St. Pye was -unhelmed; and so they passed forth, and came again to their own places. -This course was greatly praised, and both French and English said that -those three knights, the Earl of Huntingdon, Sir Boucicaut, and the Lord -St. Pye, had right well done their devoirs. Again the earl desired, for -love of his lady, to have another course; but he was refused, and he then -mixed with the knights, and spectators, and gave place to others, for he -had ran all his six courses well and valiantly, so that he had laud and -honour of all parties. - -These noble jousts continued for four days.[335] The gallant champions -assembled after matins, and did not quit the course till the vesper-bell -of the abbey summoned them to prayer. Of the noble company of knights and -squires there were few who did not add something to their fame; for if a -knight happened to be unhelmed, yet perhaps he did not lose his stirrups, -and he was admired for sustaining a severe shock. - -Such was the noble chevisance of the jousters that no mortal wound was -inflicted.[336] The lance was the only weapon used. To unhelm the adverse -knight by striking his frontlet was the chiefest feat of arms, and in the -fierce career of opposing steeds, the firmest strength and the nicest -skill could alone achieve it. Helms struck fire, lances were splintered, -and the lance-head was lodged in the shield: but sometimes the shield -resisted the lance, and men and steeds reeled back to their several -pavilions. - -Each gallant knight, however, - - "grew unto his seat, - And to such wond'rous doing brought his horse - As he had been incorps'd and demi-natur'd - With the brave beast." - -The knighthood and squirery of England sent forth nearly forty of their -host to vindicate their chivalry, and right nobly did they deport -themselves against the doughtiest lances of France. There was only one -knight who disgraced the order of chivalry. By birth he was a Bohemian, in -station an attendant of the King of England. It was demanded of him with -whom he would joust. He answered, with Boucicaut. They then prepared -themselves and ran together, but the Bohemian struck a prohibited part of -the armour, and he was greatly blamed that he demeaned his course so -badly. By the laws of the joust he should have forfeited his arms and -horse, but the Frenchman, out of courtesy to the Englishmen, forgave him. -The Bohemian to redeem his shame required again to joust one course. He -was demanded against whom he would run; and he sent to touch the shield of -Sir Raynolde du Roy. That gallant knight was not long before he answered -him. They met in the middle of their shields, and the French cavalier -struck his antagonist from his horse; and the Englishmen were not -displeased that he was overthrown, because he had ran the first course so -ungoodly. - -This Sir Raynolde du Roy was one of the best jousters in all the realm of -France, and no wonder; for our faithful and gallant chronicler reports -that he lived in love with a young maiden, which availed him much in all -his affairs.[337] One of his most valiant antagonists was a gentle knight -of England, young and fresh, a jolly dancer and singer, called Sir John -Arundell. At the first course they met rudely, and struck each other on -the shields, but they held themselves without falling, and passed forth -their course. The second course they struck each other on the helms; the -third course they crossed and lost their staves; the fourth course -resembled the second; the fifth course they splintered their spears -against their shields, and then Sir John Arundell ran no more that day. - -At the conclusion of the jousts the Earl of Huntingdon, and the Earl -Marshal, and the Lord Clifford, the Lord Beaumont, Sir John Clinton, Sir -John Dambreticourt, Sir Peter Sherborne, and all other knights that had -jousted those four days with the French knights, thanked them greatly for -their pastime, and said, "Sirs, all such as would joust of our party have -accomplished their desires; therefore now we will take leave of you: we -will return to Calais, and so cross to England; and we know that whoever -will joust with you will find you here these thirty days, according to the -tenor of your challenge." - -The French knights were grateful for this courtesy, saying, that all new -comers should be right heartily welcome; "and we will deliver them -according to the rights of arms, as we have done you; and, moreover, we -thank you for the grace and gallantry that you have shewn to us." - -Thus in knightly manner the Englishmen departed from Saint Ingilbertes, -and rode to Calais, where they tarried not long, for the Saturday -afterwards they took shipping and sailed to Dover, and reached that place -by noon. On the Sunday they progressed to Rochester, and the next day to -London, whence every man returned to his home. - -The three French knights remained the thirty days at Saint Ingilbertes, -but no more Englishmen crossed the sea to do any deed of arms with -them.[338] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Joust between Lord Scales and the Bastard of Burgundy.] - -Perhaps the most interesting joust in the middle ages was that which was -held between Lord Scales, brother of the Queen of Edward the Fourth, and -the Bastard of Burgundy. Many of the circumstances which attended it are -truly chivalric.[339] - -On the 17th of April, 1465, the Queen and some ladies of her court, in a -mood of harmless merriment, attached a collar of gold, enamelled with the -rich floure of souvenance[340], to the thigh of that right worshipful and -amorous knight, Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales, for an emprise of arms on -horseback and on foot.[341] The most renowned cavalier at that time was -the Bastard of Burgundy, and accordingly Lord Scales addressed him in -courteous wise, praising his prowess, and vowing before God and the ladies -that his own great desire was to rival his fame. In order, then, that -there might exist that love and fraternity between them which became -knights of worship, he related the goodly adventure at the court of -England, and requiring the Bastard, in all affection for the honour of -chivalry, to do him so much favour as to discharge him of his bond. The -Earl of Worcester, Lord High Constable of England, certified the fact of -the delivery of the floure of souvenance to the Lord Scales, and the -King's permission for his herald to cross the seas to Burgundy. - -The Bastard received the letter on the last day of April, and with -permission of his father, the Duke of Burgundy, he consented to assist the -Lord Scales in accomplishing his emprise. Lord Scales and the court of -England were right joyous and grateful at the news, and Edward granted a -safe-conduct to the adventurous Burgundian, the Earl of Roche, and a -thousand persons in his company, to come into England, to perform certain -feats of arms with his dearly beloved brother Anthony Woodville, Lord -Scales, and Nucelles.[342] - -The Bastard accordingly set sail for England, nobly accompanied by four -hundred of his father's prowest chivalry. By Edward's command, Garter -king-at-arms met him at Gravesend. The gallant squadron sailed towards -London, and at Blackwall it was joined by the Earl of Worcester, attended -by a noble troop of lords, knights, and squires, and also by many of the -aldermen and rich citizens of London. The Lord of Burgundy landed at -Billingsgate, and was welcomed by another party of the nobility and trades -of England, (so general was the interest of the expected joust,) who -conducted him on horseback through Cornhill and Cheap to the palace of the -Bishop of Salisbury in Fleet Street, which royal courtesy had appointed -for his abode. Lord Scales soon afterwards came to London, attended by the -nobility and chivalry of his house, and the King assigned him the palace -of the Bishop of Ely in Holborn for his residence. The noble stranger was -introduced to Edward on his coming to London from Kingston, in order to -open the parliament. - -The ceremonies of the joust were then arranged by well experienced -knights, and strong lists were erected in Smithfield, one hundred and -twenty yards and ten feet long, eighty yards and ten feet broad, with fair -and costly galleries around. On the morning appointed for the gallant -show, the King and Queen with all the chivalry and beauty of the land, -repaired to Smithfield. The King sat under a richly canopied throne, at -one end of the lists; on each side were lords and ladies, and underneath -him were ranged the knights, the squires, and the archers of his train. -The city magistrates then appeared; the lord mayor bowing, and the -mace-bearer lowering his sign of authority, as they passed the King in -their procession to the other end of the lists, where scaffolds of similar -form, but inferior magnificence to the royal chambers, were erected for -them. The eight guards of the lists entered on horseback, and received -their charge from the Earl Marshal and Lord High Constable of England, who -gently paced their horses to and fro beneath the throne. - -When every thing was fairly arranged, Lord Scales appeared at the gate of -the lists. At the sound of his trumpet the Constable advanced and -demanded his purpose. The young lord, with the grace and modesty of -chivalry, replied, that he solicited the honor of presenting himself -before his sovereign liege the King, in order to accomplish his arms -against the Bastard of Burgundy. The gate was then thrown open by command -of the Constable, and the Lord Scales entered the lists, followed by nine -noblemen on horseback, bearing parts of his harness and arms, and nine -pages riding on gaily caparisoned steeds. They advanced to the King, and -after having made their obeisances, they retired to a pavilion at one end -of the lists. - -With similar forms the Lord of Burgundy, attended by the chosen chivalry -of his country, approached the King, and then repaired to his tent. - -The heralds commanded silence, and forbad any one, by the severest -penalties, from intermeddling with the jousters. Two lances and two swords -were taken to the King, who, being satisfied of their fitness, commanded -the lords who bore them to take them to the combatants. The -stranger-knight made his election, and dressed his lance to its rest. Lord -Scales prepared himself with equal gallantry, and they dashed to the -encounter. Their spears were sharp; but so perfect was their knowledge of -chivalry, that no wounds were inflicted. The nicest judges could mark no -difference of skill, and the noble knights jousted their courses, when the -King dropped his warder, and the amusements ended. - -The next day the court and city repaired to Smithfield, with their -accustomed pomp, and the spectacle was varied by the jousters contending -with swords. The sports were, however, untimely closed by the steed of -Lord Scales with the spike of his chaffron overthrowing the Bastard of -Burgundy and his horse; and the King would not allow the tourney to -proceed, though the bruised knight gallantly asserted his wish not to fail -his encounter companion. - -Not wearied by two days' amusement, the chivalry and beauty of England -assembled in the lists of Smithfield on the third morning. The noblemen -now fought on foot with pole-axes. At last the point of Lord Scales's -weapon entered the sight of the Burgundian's helmet, and there was a -feeling of fear through the galleries that a joust of peace would have a -fatal termination. But before it could be seen whether Lord Scales meant -to press his advantage, the King dropped his warder, and the Marshals -separated them. The Bastard of Burgundy prayed for leave to continue his -enterprise; and the Lord Scales consented. But the matter was debated by -the assembled chivalry; and it was declared by the Earl of Worcester, -then Constable of England, and the Duke of Norfolk the Marshal, that if -the affair were to proceed, the knight of Burgundy must, by the law of -arms, be delivered to his adversary in the same state and condition as he -was in when they were separated. This sentence was a virtual prohibition -of the continuance of the joust, and the Bastard therefore relinquished -his challenge. The herald's trumpet then sounded the well known point of -chivalry that the sports were over; but as the times were joyous as well -as martial, the knights and ladies before they parted held a noble -festival at Mercer's Hall.[343] - -The feats of arms at St. Ingilbertes displayed the martial character of -the joust; and the emprise of Lord Scales shows how beautifully love could -blend itself with images of war, and the interest which a whole nation -could take in the circumstance of certain fair ladies of a court binding -round the thigh of a gallant knight a collar of gold, enamelled with a -floure of souvenance. - -[Sidenote: The romance of jousts.] - -But the high romantic feeling of chivalric times is, perhaps, still more -strikingly displayed in the following tale. In the beginning of the year -1400, an esquire of Spain, named Michel d'Orris, being full of valour and -love, attached a piece of iron to his leg, and vowed that he would endure -the pain till he had won renown by deeds of chivalry. The prowess of the -English knights most keenly excited his emulation; and, as his first -measure to cope with it, he journeyed from Arragon to Paris. He then -issued his defiance to the English chivalry at Calais, to perform -exercises on foot with the battle-axe, the sword, and the dagger, and to -run certain courses on horseback with the lance. - -A noble soldier, hight Sir John Prendergast, a companion of Lord Somerset, -governor of Calais, being equally desirous to gain honour and amusement, -like a gentleman, to the utmost of his power, accepted the challenge in -the name of God, of the blessed Virgin Mary, and of his lords Saint George -and Saint Anthony. Like a true brother in chivalry, he expressed his wish -to relieve the Arragonian esquire from the pain he was suffering; and, -agreeably to the nobleness and modesty of his profession, he avowed his -joy at the occasion of making acquaintance with some of the French -nobility[344], and learning from them the honourable exercise of arms; and -then, in a fine strain of gallantry, he concludes his acceptance of the -challenge by praying that the Author of all good would grant the gentle -esquire joy, honour, and pleasure, and every description of happiness to -the lady of his affection, to whom Sir John Prendergast entreated that -those letters might recommend him. - -Political affairs recalled Orris to Arragon, and the English knight, not -knowing that circumstance, wrote to him at Paris, pressing the performance -of the emprise, reminding him how much his honour was concerned in the -matter, and entreating Cupid, the god of love, as Orris might desire the -affections of his lady, to urge him to hasten his journey.[345] No answer -was returned to this heart-stirring epistle; and, after waiting several -months, Prendergast again addressed Orris, expressing his astonishment -that the challenge had not been prosecuted, and no reason rendered for the -neglect by the valiant esquire. He was ignorant if the god of love, who -had inspired him with courage to undertake the emprise, had since been -displeased, and changed his ancient pleasures, which formerly consisted in -urging on deeds of arms, and in promoting the delights of chivalry. He was -wont to keep the nobles of his court under such good government, that, to -add to their honor, after having undertaken any deeds of arms, they could -not absent themselves from the country where such enterprise was to be -performed, until it was perfectly accomplished. Anxious to preserve the -favour of the god of love, and from respect to the ladies, Sir John -Prendergast was still ready, with the aid of God, of Saint George, and -Saint Anthony, to deliver him whom he still hoped was the servant of -Cupid; and unless within a short time the emprise was accomplished, he -intended to return to England, where he hoped that knights and esquires -would bear witness that he had not misbehaved towards the god of love, to -whom he recommended his own lady and the lady of Orris.[346] - -The esquire returned to Paris, after he had finished his military duties -in Arragon, still wearing the painful badge of iron. He found at Paris all -the letters of Prendergast. His chivalric pride was wounded at the thought -that the god of love had banished him from his court, and made him change -his mind; and he informed his noble foe that assuredly, without any -dissembling, he should never, in regard to the present emprise, change his -mind, so long as God might preserve his life; nor had there ever been any -of his family who had not always acted in such wise as became honest men -and gentlemen. - -Notwithstanding the appeal of Orris to the chivalry of Prendergast no -deeds of arms were achieved. The delay of answers to his letters had -offended the English knight, and some misunderstanding regarding the petty -arrangements of the joust abruptly terminated the affair.[347] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: The passage of arms.] - -A very favourite description of joust was that which was called a passage -of arms. A knight and his companions proclaimed that they would on a -certain day guard a particular road or bridge from all persons of -cavaleresque rank, who attempted to pass.[348] Those who undertook such an -emprise had their arms attached to pillars at the end of the lists with -some plain shields of different colours, in which were marked the nature -of the adventure, and the description of arms that were to be employed, so -that he, who repaired to the passage, with the design of trying his -skill, chose his mode of combat by touching one of the shields whereon it -was specified. Officers at arms were in waiting to collect and register -the names of such as touched the different shields, that they might be -called out in the rotation of their first appearance. - -In the spring of the year 1443, the Lord of Chargny, a noble knight of the -court of Burgundy, made known to all princes, barons, cavaliers, and -esquires without reproach, that, for the augmentation and extension of the -most noble profession and exercise of arms, it was his will and intention, -in conjunction with twelve knights, squires, and gentlemen, of four -quarterings, whose names he mentioned, to guard and defend a pass d'armes, -situated on the great road leading from Dijon toward Exonne, at the end of -the causeway from the said town of Dijon, at a great tree called the -Hermit's Tree, or the Tree of Charlemagne. He proposed to suspend on the -tree two shields, (one black, besprinkled with tears of gold, the other -violet, having tears of sable,) and all those who by a king at arms or -pursuivant should touch the first shield should be bounden to perform -twelve courses on horseback, with him the Lord of Chargny, or one of his -knights and squires, with blunted lances; and if either of the champions, -during their twelve courses, should be unhorsed by a direct blow with the -lance on his armour, such person so unhorsed should present to his -adversary a diamond of whatever value he pleased. Those princes, barons, -knights, and esquires, who should rather take their pleasure in performing -feats of arms on foot, were to touch the violet shield, and should perform -fifteen courses with battle-axes or swords, as might be most agreeable to -them, and if during those courses any champion should touch the ground -with his hand or knees he should be obliged to present to his adversary a -ruby of whatever value he pleased. - -The Lord of Chargny was a right modest as well as a valiant knight, for he -besought all princes, barons, knights, and esquires, not to construe his -intention as the result of pride and presumption, for he assured them that -his sole motive was to exalt the noble profession of arms, and also to -make acquaintance by chivalric deeds with such renowned and valiant -princes and nobles as might be pleased to honor him with their presence. - -For the forty days that followed the first of July, the passage of arms -lasted, and right nobly did the Burgundian chivalry comport themselves. -Their most skilful opponent was a valiant knight of Spain, hight Messire -Pierre Vasque de Suavedra, with whom the Lord of Chargny jousted on -horseback and on foot, and the nicest eye of criticism could not determine -which was the doughtiest knight. At the conclusion of the jousts the -cavaliers repaired to the church of our Lady at Dijon, and on their knees -offered the shields to the Virgin.[349] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Use of tournaments and jousts.] - -Such were the martial amusements and exercises of preux chevaliers. All -the noble and graceful virtues of chivalry were reflected in the -tournament and joust, and the warrior who had displayed them in the lists -could not but feel their mild and beneficent influence even in the -battle-field. He pricked on the plain with knightly grace as if his -lady-mistress had been beholding him: skill and address insensibly -softened the ferocity of the mere soldier, and he soon came to consider -war itself only as a great tournament. Thus the tourneying lists were -schools of chivalric virtue as well as of chivalric prowess, while the -splendour and joyousness of the show brought all classes of society into -kind and merry intercourse. - -Through the long period of the middle ages tournaments were the elegant -pastimes of Europe, and not of Europe only, but of Greece; and knighthood -had its triumph over classical institutions when the games of chivalry -were played in the circus of Constantinople. The Byzantines learnt them -from the early Crusaders; and when the French and Venetians in the twelfth -century became masters of the East, chivalric amusements were the common -pastimes of the people, and continued so even when the Greeks recovered -the throne of their ancestors; nor were they abolished until the -Mussulmans captured Constantinople, and swept away every Christian and -chivalric feature.[350] - -In the West the tournament and joust survived chivalry itself, whose image -they had reflected and brightened, for changes in the military art did not -immediately affect manners; and the world long clung with fondness to -those splendid and graceful shows which had thrown light and elegance over -the warriors and dames of yore. - - - - -CHAP. VII. - -THE RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. - - _General Principles of the Religious Orders ... Qualifications for - them ... Use of these Orders to Palestine ... Modern History of the - Knights Templars ... Their present Existence and State ... Religious - Orders in Spain ... That of St. James ... Its Objects ... Change of - its Objects ... Order of Calatrava ... Fine Chivalry of a Monk ... - Fame of this Order ... Order of Alcantara ... Knights of the Lady of - Mercy ... Knights of St. Michael ... Military Orders ... Imitations of - the Religious Orders ... Instanced in the Order of the Garter ... Few - of the present Orders are of Chivalric Origin ... Order of the Bath - ... Dormant Orders ... Order of the Band ... Its singular Rules ... - Its noble Enforcement of Chivalric Duties towards Woman ... Order of - Bourbon ... Strange Titles of Orders ... Fabulous Orders ... The Round - Table ... Sir Launcelot ... Sir Gawain ... Order of the Stocking ... - Origin of the Phrase Blue Stocking._ - - -Such were the institutions by which the character of the true knight was -formed; and we might now resume our historical course did not a matter of -considerable interest detain us, which, as it belongs to chivalry in -general, and not entirely to any state in particular, can no where be -treated with so much propriety as in this place. - -It has been shown that from the union of religion and arms chivalry arose, -and that the defence of the church and the promoting of its interests were -among the chief objects of the new system of principles and manners. But -knighthood had various duties to discharge, and the cavalier, who was -sometimes distracted by their number, consecrated his life to the single -purpose of upholding the cross of Christ. Thus orders called the Religious -Orders of Knighthood were founded, and in imitation of them, fraternities, -called Military Orders, appeared, all being ranged within the general pale -of chivalry. - -[Sidenote: General principles of the religious orders.] - -The religious orders, as might be expected, were sanctioned by papal -authority. They were both martial and monastic in their general -principles, but their internal conduct was entirely regulated by the -discipline of the cloister; and, like the establishments of monks, they -took some existing rule of a favourite saint as their guide. Theirs was a -singular compound of the chivalric and the cloisteral characters, - - "The fine vocation of the sword and lance - With the gross aims and body-bending toil - Of a poor brotherhood who walk the earth - Pitied."[351] - -Like the monks they were bound by the three great monastic vows of -chastity, poverty, and obedience. The first of these matters needs no -explanation[352]; the second meant a total oblivion of individuality, the -community and not a peculiar possession of property; and by the third, the -members were confined to obey the head of their order, to the exclusion of -all other authority. These general principles of the religious societies -of knighthood gave way, however, and fitted themselves to the occasions -and demands of society, for like the chain-mail, which was flexible to all -the motions of the body, the orders of chivalry have varied with every -change of European life. Ascetic privations gave place to chivalric -gallantry, the vow of chastity was mitigated into a vow of connubial -fidelity; and when men of noble birth and high fortune became knights of -the holy and valiant societies of Saint John, the Temple, or Saint James, -the vow of poverty was dispensed with, or explained away to the -satisfaction of conscientious scruples. In the fraternity of the Temple a -knight was permitted to hold estates, so that at his death he bequeathed -some portion of them to his order.[353] - -In another very important respect the religious brotherhoods were moulded -to the general frame of political society. Their independence of civil -authority was given up, as the papal power declined, and kings refused -admittance of the bulls of Rome into their states without their previous -license. The knights of the religious fraternities became connected with -the state by professing that their duties to God and their country were -prior and paramount to the rules and statutes of the brotherhood; and -they adopted this form of phrase rather to prevent the suggestions of -malice than from any existing necessity, for they contended that the -obligations of chivalry, instead of contravening the duty of a citizen, -gave it strength, and dignity, and grace.[354] - -[Sidenote: Qualifications for them.] - -In their origin all the military orders and most of the religious ones -were entirely aristocratic; proofs of gentility of birth were scrupulously -examined; and no soldier by the mere force of his valiancy could attain -the honours of an order, though such a claim was allowed for his admission -into the general fraternity of knighthood. These requisites for nobleness -of birth kept pace with the political state of different countries, for -the sovereigns of Europe and chivalry did not accord upon any particular -form. Thus a French candidate for the knighthood of Saint John of -Jerusalem must have shown four quarters of gentility on his coat-armour, -but in the severer aristocracies of Spain and Germany no less than eight -heraldic emblasonings were requisite. In Italy, however, where commerce -checked the haughtiness of nobility, it was not expected that the pedigree -should be so proud and full, and at length the old families conceded, and -the new families were satisfied with the concession, that the sons of -merchants should be at liberty to enter into the religious orders. - -It would be tedious and unprofitable to detail the history of all these -chivalric societies; and were I to repeat or abridge the usual books on -the topic I should in many cases be only assisting to give currency to -fraud, for the title, a religious order of knighthood, was often -improperly bestowed on an establishment, while in truth it was only a -fraternity of monks who maintained some soldiers in their pay: other -associations obtained a papal sanction, but they were small and -insignificant, and their history did not affect the general state of any -country. - -[Sidenote: Use of these orders to Palestine.] - -Not so, however, the noble fraternities of Saint John and the Temple[355], -and next, though the intervening space of dignity was considerable, the -Teutonic knights. These religious orders of chivalry by their principles -and conduct are strongly marked in the political history of the world, for -they formed the firm and unceasing bulwark of the Christian kingdom in -Palestine during the middle ages. They were its regular militia, and -maintained the Holy Land in the interval between the departure of one -fleet of crusaders and the arrival of another. Generous emulation -sometimes degenerated into envy, and the heats and feuds of the knights of -Saint John and the Temple violated the peace of the country; but these -dissensions were usually hushed when danger approached their charge, and -the atabal of the Muselmans was seldom sounded in defiance on the frontier -of the kingdom without the trumpets of the military orders in every -preceptory and commandery receiving and echoing the challenge. - -[Sidenote: Particularly of the Templars.] - -The valiancy of the Templars was particularly conspicuous in the moments -of the kingdom's final fate; for when the Christians of the Holy Land were -reduced to the possession of Acre, and two hundred thousand Mameluke -Tartars from Egypt were encamped round its walls, the defence of the city -was entrusted to Peter de Beaujeau, Grand Master of the Templars. And well -and chivalrously did he sustain his high and sacred charge. Acre fell, -indeed, but not until this heroic representative of Christian chivalry and -most of the noble followers of his standard had been slain. The memory of -the Templars is embalmed in all our recollections of the beautiful romance -of the middle ages, for the red cross knights were the last band of -Europe's host that contended for the possession of Palestine. A few -survived the fall of Acre and retired to Sis in Armenia. They were driven -to the island of Tortosa, whence they escaped to Cyprus, and the southern -shore of the Mediterranean no longer rang with the cry of religious war. - -The origin and peculiar nature of these three great religious orders have -been detailed by me in another work, and also their history as far as it -was connected with the crusades; but on one subject our present deductions -may be carried further: for though the annals of the cavaliers of Saint -John and also of the Teutonic knights are mixed with general European -history, yet those of the Templars stand isolated. In the History of the -Crusades, I described the circumstances of the iniquitous and sanguinary -persecution of the brotherhood of the Temple, the consequent suspension -of their functions[356], and the spoliation of all those possessions with -which the respect of the world had enriched them. - -[Sidenote: Modern history of the Templars.] - -But the persecution of the Templars in the fourteenth century does not -close the history of the order, for though the knights were spoliated the -order was not annihilated. In truth, the cavaliers were not guilty, the -brotherhood was not suppressed, and, startling as is the assertion, there -has been a succession of Knights Templars from the twelfth century down -even to these days; the chain of transmission is perfect in all its links. -Jacques de Molai, the Grand Master at the time of the persecution, -anticipating his own martyrdom, appointed as his successor, in power and -dignity, Johannes Marcus Larmenius of Jerusalem, and from that time to the -present there has been a regular and uninterrupted line of grand masters. -The charter by which the supreme authority has been transmitted is -judicial and conclusive evidence of the order's continued existence. This -charter of transmission, with the signatures of the various chiefs of the -Temple, is preserved at Paris, with the ancient statutes of the order, the -rituals, the records, the seals, the standards, and other memorials of the -early Templars. The brotherhood has been headed by the bravest cavaliers -of France, by men who, jealous of the dignity of knighthood, would admit -no corruption, no base copies of the orders of chivalry, and who thought -that the shield of their nobility was enriched by the impress of the -Templars' red cross. Bertrand du Guesclin was the grand master from 1357 -till his death in 1380, and he was the only French commander who prevailed -over the chivalry of our Edward III. From 1478 to 1497, we may mark Robert -Lenoncourt, a cavalier of one of the most ancient and valiant families of -Lorraine. Philippe Chabot, a renowned captain in the reign of Francis I., -wielded the staff of power from 1516 to To 1543. The illustrious family of -Montmorency appear as Knights Templars, and Henry, the first duke, was the -chief of the order from 1574 to 1614. At the close of the seventeenth -century the grand master was James Henry de Duras, a marshal of France, -the nephew of Turenne, and one of the most skilful soldiers of Louis XIV. -The grand masters from 1734 to 1776 were three princes of the royal -Bourbon family. The names and years of power of these royal personages who -acknowledged the dignity of the order of the Temple were Louis Augustus -Bourbon, Duke of Maine, 1724-1737; Louis Henry Bourbon Condé 1737-1741; -and Louis Francis Bourbon Conty 1741-1746. The successor of these princes -in the grand-mastership of the Temple was Louis Hercules Timoleon, Duke de -Cossé Brissac, the descendant of an ancient family long celebrated in -French history for its loyalty and gallant bearing. He accepted the office -in 1776, and sustained it till he died in the cause of royalty at the -beginning of the French Revolution. The order has now its grand master, -Bernardus Raymundus Fabré Palaprat, and there are colleges in England and -in many of the chief cities in Europe. - -[Sidenote: Present existence and state of the Templars.] - -Thus the very ancient and sovereign order of the Temple is now in full and -chivalric existence, like those orders of knighthood which were either -formed in imitation of it, or had their origin in the same noble -principles of chivalry. It has mourned as well as flourished; but there is -in its nature and constitution a principle of vitality which has carried -it through all the storms of fate. Its continuance, by representatives as -well as by title, is as indisputable a fact as the existence of any other -chivalric fraternity. The Templars of these days claim no titular rank, -yet their station is so far identified with that of the other orders of -knighthood, that they assert equal purity of descent from the same bright -source of chivalry. Nor is it possible to impugn the legitimate claims to -honorable estimation, which the modern brethren of the Temple derive from -the antiquity and pristine lustre of their order, without at the same time -shaking to its centre the whole venerable fabric of knightly honor.[357] - -[Sidenote: Religious orders in Spain.] - -The Holy Land was not the only country which gave birth to the religious -orders of knighthood. Several arose in Spain, and their arms were mainly -instrumental in effecting the triumph of the Christian cause over that of -the Moors. War with the usurpers was the pristine object of some of these -societies, and in other cases it was based and pillared upon a foundation -of charity. Perpetual enmity to the Arabian infidels was the motto of all. -Unlike the Christian kings of Spain, the orders never relaxed in their -hostility; they never mingled with the Moors in the delights of peace, and -their character was formed by their own rules and principles, unaffected -by the graceful softenings of oriental luxury and taste. - -[Sidenote: That of St. James.] - -The most considerable of these Spanish religious orders of knighthood was -that of Saint James, of Compostella, which sprang from the association of -some knights and monks in the middle of the twelfth century, for the -protection of the pilgrims who flocked from all countries to bow before -the relics of the tutelar saint of Spain.[358] The monks were of the -society of St. Eloy, a holy person of great fame among our English -ancestors; for Chaucer's demure prioress was wont to verify her assertions -by appealing to his authority. - - "Her greatest oath n'as but by St. Eloy." - -The monks and knights lived in friendly communion, the prior of the -convent regulating the spiritual concerns, and a grand master, chosen by -the cavaliers, leading the soldiers. They were taken under the protection -of the papal see, on their professing the vows of chastity, poverty, and -obedience; but afterwards Pope Alexander the Third sank the ascendancy of -the monastic portion of their character, for he permitted an oath of -connubial fidelity to be substituted for that of chastity. A descent of -two degrees of gentle birth was required for admission into the order of -Saint James, and the Christian blood must have been uncontaminated with -any Jewish or Moorish mixture. - -[Sidenote: Its objects.] - -The guarding of the passages to the shrine of Saint James from the -incursions of the Moors became extended into a general defence of the -kingdom against the hostilities of those enemies of the Christian name; -and in time their active military operations far exceeded their defensive -wars in consequence and splendour. The simple object of their association -being forgotten, their glories became associated with the earliest -struggles of the Christians for the repossession of their inheritance; and -they pretended to trace their line up to the ninth century, when Saint -James himself, riding on a white horse, and bearing a banner marked with a -red cross in his hand, assisted them to discomfit the Moors. A cross, -finished like the blade of a sword, and the hilt crossleted, became the -ensign of the order, and the order was then appropriately called _La -Orden de Santiago de la Espada_. The centre of the crosslet was ornamented -with an escalop-shell, the badge of Saint James; and nothing can more -strongly mark the popularity of his shrine in the middle ages than the -fact of the escalop-shell being the usual designation of an European -palmer. The cross was worn on a white cross mantle, and was painted red, -agreeably, as it might seem, to that on the banner already alluded to. But -Don Rodrigo Ximines, an archbishop of Toledo, who dealt in allegories, -observed the reason to be that the sword was red with the blood of the -Arabs, and that the faith of the knights was burning with charity. - -The grand master of the order of Saint James had precedence over the grand -masters of other Spanish orders; but the internal government of the -fraternity was in the hands of a council, whose decrees were obligatory, -even on the grand master himself. The order of Saint James had two great -commanderies, one in Leon and the other in Castile; and to them all other -establishments were subordinate. There were perpetual disputes for -precedency between these commanderies, and the kings of Castile and Leon -fomented them, thus preventing an union which might be dangerous to the -state itself, and obtaining military aid in return for occasional -interference. The gratitude of sovereigns enriched the order with various -possessions; but it was its own good swords that won for it the best part -of its territories. - -Notwithstanding that, like all other religious orders of knighthood, the -order of Saint James had originally enjoyed independence of royal -authority, yet in the course of time the kings of Castile acquired the -right of delivering to every newly-elected grand master the standard of -the order. The obedience was only titular till the beginning of the -sixteenth century, when the Emperor Charles V. obtained from Popes Leo X. -and Adrian VI. the supreme direction of all the affairs of the order, and, -consequently, the dignity of grand master became attached to the crown. -But the power of the king was not suffered to be absolute; for the popes -compelled him to consent that the affairs of the order should be managed -by a council, with a right of appeal to the pope himself. The power of the -Spanish kings then became a species of influence, rather than of direct -prerogative. - -[Sidenote: Change of its objects.] - -The object of the association, the expulsion of the Moors from Spain, -being accomplished, this religious order became an order of merit,--a -feather in the plume of Spanish dignity. It could be gained only by the -nobility; for it then behoved every knight to prove the gentility of his -descent, maternal and paternal, for four degrees. The old vows of poverty, -obedience, and conjugal chastity were preserved, with a mental reservation -regarding the two former. - -In the year 1652, the knights of St. James as well as the knights of -Calatrava and Alcantara, in the fervour of their zeal for what they called -religion, added a vow to defend and maintain the doctrine of the -immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. The people of Madrid were -invited to three churches to witness the taking of the vows by the -knights. After the celebration of the mass a cavalier in the name of all -his brothers pronounced the vow[359], and every one repeated it, placing -his hand on the cross and the Gospels. And thus an order, which in its -origin was charitable, in its progress patriotic, had the bright glories -of its days of honor sullied by superstition.[360] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Order of Calatrava.] - -The next station in the dignity of rank was occupied by the knights of -Calatrava, who, considering the circumstances of their origin, may be -regarded as a more honourable fraternity than the brotherhood of St. -James. About the year 1147, Alfonso King of Spain recovered from the Moors -the fortress of Calatrava, which was the key of Toledo. The king committed -it to the charge of the Knights Templars. That noble order of Christian -soldiers was then in the very infancy of its career of honour, and so few -were the red crosses in Spain, that they could not drive back the swelling -tide of Muselman power. After retaining it for only eight years, the -Templars resigned it into the hands of Don Sancho, successor of Alfonso, -who endeavoured to secure for it defenders, by proposing to accord -Calatrava and its lands in perpetual possession to such knights as would -undertake the guarding of the fortress. The chivalry of Spain, remembering -that the brave militia of the Temple had quailed before the Moors, hung -back in caution and dismay; and Sancho already saw the fate of Calatrava -sealed in Arabian subjection, when the cloisters of a convent rang with a -cry of war which was unheard in the baronial hall. - -[Sidenote: Fine chivalry of a monk.] - -The monastery of Santa Maria de Fetero in Navarre contained a monk named -Diego Velasquez, who had spent the morning of his life in arms, but -afterwards had changed the mailed frock for a monastic mantle, for in days -of chivalry, when religion was the master spring of action, such -conversions were easy and natural. The gloom of a convent was calculated -only to repress the martial spirit; but yet the surrounding memorials of -military greatness, the armed warrior in stone, the overhanging banner and -gauntlet, while they proved the frail nature of earthly happiness, showed -what were the subjects wherein men wished for fame beyond the grave. The -pomp of the choir-service, the swelling note of exultation in which the -victories of the Jews over the enemies of Heaven were sung, could not but -excite the heart to admiration of chivalric renown, and in moments of -enthusiasm many a monk cast his cowl aside, and changed his rosary for the -belt of a knight. - -And thus it was with Velasquez. His chivalric spirit was roused by the -call of his king, and he lighted a flame of military ardor among his -brethren. They implored the superior of the convent to accept the royal -proffer; and the king, who was at first astonished at the apparent -audacity of the wish, soon recollected that the defence of the fortress of -Calatrava could not be achieved by the ordinary exertions of courage, and -he then granted it to the Cistertian order, and principally to its station -at Santa Maria de Fetero, in Navarre. And the fortress was wisely betowed; -for not only did the bold spirits of the convents keep the Moors at bay -in that quarter, but the valour of the friars caused many heroic knights -of Spain to join them. To these banded monks and cavaliers the king gave -the title of the Religious Fraternity of Calatrava, and Pope Alexander -III. accepted their vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. The new -religious order of knighthood, like that of Saint James of Compostella, -was a noble bulwark of the Christian kingdom. - -[Sidenote: Discipline of the order.] - -[Sidenote: Fame of this order.] - -Nothing could be more perfect than the simplicity of the knights of -Calatrava. Their dress was formed from the coarsest woollen, and the edges -were not like those of many a monk of the time, purfiled or ornamented -with vair or gris, or other sorts of rich fur. Their diet, too, reproached -the usual luxury of the monastery, for the fruits of the earth sustained -them. They were silent in the oratory, and the refectory, one voice only -reciting the prayers, or reading a legend of battle; but when the first -note of the Moorish atabal was heard by the warder on the tower, the -convent became a scene of universal uproar. The caparisoning of steeds, -and the clashing of armour, broke the repose of the cloister, while the -humble figure of the monk was raised into a bold and expanded form of -dignity and power. Through all the mighty efforts of the Christians for -the recovery of their throne, the firm and dense array of the knights of -Calatrava never was tardy in appearing on the field; but the kingdom, as -its power and splendour increased, overshadowed the soldiers of every -religious order of chivalry. The grand mastership of the Calatrava -fraternity became annexed to the thrones of Castile and Leon by the decree -of Pope Innocent VIII., and the Kings of Spain kept alive the chivalry of -their nation by using the crosses and other emblems of the ancient -knighthood as signs of military merit.[361] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Order of Alcantara.] - -Inferior in dignity and power to both these orders was the order of -Alcantara. It was formed soon after the establishing of the fraternity of -Saint James of Compostella, at a town called Saint Julian of the -Pear-tree, near Ciudad Rodrigo. The ancient badge was a pear-tree, in -allusion to the origin of the order. The knights of the Pear-tree were so -poor in worldly estate and consideration, that the knights of Calatrava -took them under their protection, and gave them the town of Alcantara. The -knights of the Pear-tree then quitted their humble title for a name of -loftier sound, though ideas of dependence were associated with it. For -nearly two centuries the cavaliers of Alcantara remained the vassals and -retainers of the knights of Calatrava; but the spirit of independence -gradually rose with their prowess in the field; and about the year 1412 -their martial array was led to battle by their own grand master. Until the -union of the Spanish crowns in the persons of Ferdinand and Isabella, they -rivalled their former lords and the knights of Saint James in power and -rank: the crown then placed them within its own control, and like the -other fraternities, the main object of whose institution had been the -expulsion of the Moors from Spain, the cross of the order of Alcantara -became a mere decoration of nobility.[362] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Knights of our Lady of Mercy.] - -Co-existent with these religious brotherhoods was a charitable -establishment, which completed the blessings of chivalry in Spain. -Experience of the wretchedness of imprisonment taught James I. of Arragon -to sympathise with the hapless fate of others; and about the year 1218 he -associated several valiant knights and pious ecclesiastics in Barcelona, -whose whole thoughts and cares were to have for their chief end and aim -the applying of the alms of the charitable towards the liberation of -Christian captives. Knights of our Lady of Mercy was their title; and -every cavalier at his inauguration professed his heart's resolve to -observe the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, to apply the whole -energies of his mind and feelings to succour such of his unhappy -countrymen as, by the chance of battle, were in Moorish prisons, and if -necessary to remain a slave in the hands of the Saracens rather than -abandon his duty of procuring the redemption of captives. The general -course of their lives was directed by the rule of Saint Benedict, for a -knight as a monk,-- - - "When he is reckless,[363] - Is like to a fish that is waterless."[364] - -So zealous were the Spaniards in promoting the noble objects of this -order, that within the first six years of its institution no less than -four hundred captives were ransomed. Originally the government of the -order was in the hands of the knights, afterwards the priests obtained a -share of the command, and finally they usurped it altogether, a matter of -little reprehension, considering that the purpose of the institution had -no military features. After the complete triumph of the Christian cause -the scene of charity was changed from Spain to Africa; and it is curious -to observe, that the order sullied the impartiality of its principle by -releasing first the monks who had fallen into the hands of the African -Moors, and then, but not before, the laity.[365] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Knights of St. Michael.] - -Superstition as well as charity gave birth to some religious orders of -knighthood. The Knights of the Wing of Saint Michael, in Portugal, a very -honourable order in chivalric times, had their origin in the opinion of -Alfonso, King of Portugal, that Saint Michael the Archangel assisted him -in 1171 to gain a great victory over the Moors. Only persons of noble -birth could be admitted members of this order. The knights lived in their -monastery agreeably to the rule of Saint Benedict. Their most anxious care -in private life was to discharge the chivalric duty of protecting widows -and orphans, and when they marched into the field of battle, the support -of the Catholic faith was the motto on their standard.[366] - -[Sidenote: Military orders.] - -But it would be profitless to pursue the subject; for the religious orders -of knighthood are only worthy of enquiry as far as they are connected with -the defence of the Holy Land, and the expulsion of the Moors from Spain. - - "Turn we now all the matere, - And speke we of" - -the military orders founded in imitation of those whose history has just -been related; not that I shall transcribe their statutes or paint their -costume,--such matters belong to the herald. It is the part of the -historian to notice their existence, to trace the principles which gave -rise to them, and to mark such parts of their rules or their annals as -reflect the state of manners. - -Though knights were often created before battle, for the purpose of -stimulating them to achieve high exploits, yet many were invested after -they had fought, and proved themselves worthy of their spurs. But -knighthood was so much diffused through society, that it almost ceased to -be a distinction; and kings and other rulers who wished to shew their -power or their gratitude were obliged to give a new form to chivalric -dignity. The religious orders of knighthood presented a fair example of -the benefits of close fraternity; and as those societies often gave a -patriotic direction to chivalric feelings, so kings found the orders of -military merit which they established admirable means of uniting in a bond -of brotherhood their high-spirited nobles. When Louis, King of Hungary, -avenged the murder of his brother Andrew, he endeavoured to unite the -Hungarian and Neapolitan nobles by associating them in a fraternity called -the Order of the Knot. The order did not live long. There were some -singular provisions in this order of the Knot: there was to be an annual -meeting of the knights on the day of Pentecost; and each knight was -obliged to deliver to the chaplain of the order a written account of his -adventures in the preceding year. The chaplain delivered it to the king -and council, who ordered such parts as they approved of to be registered -in the great book of the order. The order of the Argonautes of Saint -Nicholas, at Naples, was instituted by Charles the Third, for the avowed -purpose of fraternising his lords; and in the year 1579, when indeed the -days of chivalry may be considered as past, the order of the Holy Ghost -was established in France: the friendly union of the nobility and prelates -of the land was declared to be a great purpose of the order. The throne of -France had already been strengthened by the order of Saint Michael, -founded about a century before by Louis XI., to draw the affections of the -nobility to himself. - -Knights who were associated under one title, and lived under one code of -regulations, were in truth companions in arms; and, like any two cavaliers -who had vowed to live in brotherhood, the banded knights were united for -weal or woe, and were bound to assist each other with council and arms, as -if a perfect community of interest existed. This was the general -principle, but it was relaxed in favour of knights of foreign countries. -Kings frequently interchanged orders, stipulating at the same time that in -case of war they should be at liberty to return them. Instances of this -nature occur repeatedly in the history of the middle ages; and in the last -days of chivalry the principle of the companionship of knights was very -artfully applied by Henry VII. to the support of his own avarice. The -French king wished to borrow from him a sum of money in order to prosecute -a war with the King of Naples; but Henry replied that he could not with -honour aid any prince against the sovereign of Naples, who had received -the Garter, and was therefore his companion and ally. To give such -assistance would be to act contrary to the oath which he had taken to -observe the statutes of the order.[367] - -[Sidenote: Imitations of the religious orders.] - -[Sidenote: Instanced in the Garter order.] - -The rewarding of noble achievements in the higher classes of society was a -principle that ran through all the martial orders, but they were not -exclusively aristocratic when simple knighthood fell into disuse, and the -military brotherhood represented the ancient chivalry. These associations -of merit adopted many of the principles and usages of the religious orders -of knighthood. Notwithstanding the real causes of their foundation, -religious objects were always set forth. Fraternisation and the reward of -military merit were undoubtedly the reasons for instituting the most noble -order of the Garter; and yet in the statutes the exaltation of the holy -faith, Catholic, is declared to be the great purpose of the brotherhood. -This is expressed in the statutes of the order promulgated in the reign of -Henry the Eighth, and the words are evidently copied from earlier -authorities.[368] As the exaltation of the Roman Catholic religion is -certainly not in the minds of the modern members of the Garter, I may -adduce these facts in proof of my position in an early part of this -chapter, that the orders of knighthood have always been flexible to the -change of society. - -The military, like the religious orders, had their establishments of -priests. Thus, to the knights companions of the Garter were added a -prelate, a chancellor, and the chapel of Saint George at Windsor, with its -dean and chapter. Prayers and thanksgivings were perpetually to be offered -to heaven, and masses were ordered to be celebrated for the souls of -deceased companions. Some military orders, like their religious exemplars, -forgot not the promotion of charitable objects, and Edward the Third, with -particular propriety, connected with that most noble order which he -founded, a number of poor or alms-knights, men who through adverse -fortune were brought to that extremity, that they had not of their own -wherewith to sustain them, or live so richly and nobly as became a -military condition.[369] - -Every military fraternity had a cross of some shape or other among its -emblems. To the highest order of merit in England a cross, as well as a -garter, was assigned; but the silver star of eight points, which Charles -I. with so little propriety, and with such wretched taste, commanded the -knights to wear, renders insignificant the original chivalric designation -of the order. The associations of nobles were always expressed to have -been formed to the honor of God, or of some of his saints. Thus, even in -the present days, a knight of the Garter is admonished at his installation -to wear the symbols of his order, that, by the imitation of the blessed -martyr and soldier of Christ, Saint George, he may be able to overpass -both adverse and prosperous adventures; and that, having stoutly -vanquished his enemies, both of body and soul, he may not only receive the -praise of this transitory combat, but be crowned with the palm of eternal -victory. - -[Sidenote: Few of the present orders are of chivalric origin.] - -Considering the fact that many of the honours of the present day have a -chivalric form, we might expect that most of our military orders could be -traced to the splendid times of knighthood. Attempts to prove so high an -origin have been often made. Knights of the order called the Most Ancient -Order of the Thistle justly think that a foundation in the sixteenth -century scarcely merits so august a title. They have ascended, therefore, -to the days of Charlemagne himself; and, boasting an union between their -king Fergus and that emperor, have contended that the order of the Thistle -was founded to commemorate the glorious event. The supporters of this -hypothesis tread with timid steps the sombre walks of antiquity; others, -with bolder march, have ascended several centuries higher, and fancied -that they saw a great battle between the Scots and the English, when the -former won the victory by the aid of Saint Andrew, and that an equestrian -order, properly called the Order of St. Andrew, and vulgarly, the Order of -the Thistle, was founded. With equal extravagance, the order of St. -Michael, in France, pretends to the possession of a regular descent from -Michael the Archangel, who, according to the enlightened judgment of -French antiquarians, was the premier chevalier in the world, and it was -he, they say, who established the earliest chivalric order in Paradise -itself. But, in simple truth, the order of Saint Michael was founded by -Louis XI., King of France in the year 1469, and the name of Michael was -used, for he stood as high in favour in France as Saint George did in -England. Except the orders of the Garter and the Golden Fleece, the one -established in 1344, the other in 1429, and the order of St. Michael -already mentioned, a chivalric origin cannot be successfully claimed for -any of the institutions of knighthood. Thus, the order of Saint Stephen -was founded in 1561, that of Saint Michael, in Germany, in 1618, and those -of the Holy Ghost in 1579, and of Saint Louis in 1693; and none of these -years dates with the age of chivalry. A view, therefore, of most of the -military orders that now flourish comes not within the scope of the -present work. On one of them, however, a few words may be said. - -[Sidenote: Order of the Bath.] - -England, above all other countries, can pride herself on the chivalric -nature of her military rewards; for her Most Honourable Order of the Bath -is a revival of an institution of chivalry, while her Most Noble Order of -the Garter has suffered no suspension of its dignity. In tracing the -progress of chivalry in England, I shall show that the knighthood of the -Bath was an honour distinct from that which constituted the ordinary -knighthood of the sword; and that from very early times to the days of -Charles II. it was conferred on occasions of certain august solemnities, -with great state, upon the royal issue male, the princes of the -blood-royal, several of the nobility, principal officers, and other -persons distinguished by their birth, quality, and personal merit. George -I., in the year 1727, not only revived that order of knighthood, but -converted it into a regular military order. - -The curious ceremonies regarding the Bath itself were dispensed with; but -in many other respects the imitation was sufficiently exact. It was -ordained that a banner of each knight was to be placed over, and a plate -of his crest, helmet, and sword, was to be affixed to his stall in the -chapel of Henry VII. in Westminster Abbey. All the romantic associations -of early times were pleasingly attended to; for on the seal of the order -were to be represented three imperial crowns _Or_, being the arms usually -ascribed to the renowned King Arthur. The lady-love of chivalric times was -to be commemorated in the collar; for its seventeen knobs, enamelled -white, which linked imperial crowns of gold and thistles, were intended to -represent the white laces mentioned in the ancient ceremonial of -conferring knighthood of the Bath, and which were worn till the knight had -achieved some high emprise, or till they had been removed by the hand of -some fair and noble lady. The collar, however, is an honorary distinction -of the order, whereas the white laces were regarded as a stigma. The form -of the old oath was also strictly preserved, even with the singular clause -that a knight would defend maidens, widows, and orphans, in their rights; -and, as it had been said in old times, a newly-made companion was -admonished to use his sword to the glory of God, the defence of the -Gospel, the maintenance of his sovereign's right and honour, and of all -equity and justice, to the utmost of his power. At the close of the -ceremony, and without the door of the abbey, the king's master-cook made -the usual admonition to him, viz. "Sir, you know what great oath you have -taken; which, if you keep it, will be great honour to you; but if you -break it, I shall be compelled, by my office, to hack off your spurs from -your heels." - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Dormant orders.] - -Of those orders, which are either dormant or extinct, the account needs -only be brief; for their history contains little matter that is either -fanciful or instructive. An enlightened curiosity could find no -satisfaction in investigating the annals of the extinct order of Saint -Anthony of Hainault, or of the order of the Sword of Cyprus, and a -thousand others, whose history, presenting only a list of grand masters, -and the ceremonies of knightly inauguration, adds nothing to our pleasure -or our knowledge. - -[Sidenote: Order of the Band.] - -[Sidenote: Its singular rules.] - -A few exceptions may be made to this opinion. In the year 1330 Alphonso -XI., King of Spain, attached many of the nobility to his interests by -founding an order of merit, which from the circumstance of every knight -wearing a red ribbon three inches broad across the breast and shoulder was -called the order of the Band or Scarf. Some of the rules of the -institution are exceedingly interesting, as reflecting the state of -manners and opinions in Spain during the fourteenth century. Not only were -the duties of patriotism and loyalty inculcated by the statutes of the -order, but, singular as it may seem in the history of Spain, virtue was to -be cultivated at court, for every knight was charged to speak nothing but -truth to his sovereign, and to abhor dissimulation and flattery. He was -not to be silent whenever any person spoke against the king's honour, upon -pain of being banished from the court, and deprived of his band: but he -was to be always ready to address the king for the general good of the -country, or on the particular affairs of any individual; and supposing -that his patriotic virtue might be checked by his attachment to his -sovereign, the punishment for neglecting this duty was a forfeiture of all -his patrimony, and perpetual banishment. Of the two extremes, taciturnity -was to be preferred to loquaciousness: he was to be rather "checked for -silence" than "taxed for speech;" and if in his conversation he uttered an -untruth, he was to walk in the streets without a sword for a month. He was -bound to keep his faith to whomever he had pledged it; but he was to -associate only with men of martial rank, despising the conversation of -mechanics and artisans. - -Every knight was enjoined always to have good armour in his chamber, good -horses in his stable, good lances in his hall, and a good sword by his -side; nor was he to be mounted upon any mule nor other unseemly hackney, -nor to walk abroad without his band, nor to enter the king's palace -without his sword; and he was to avoid all ascetic practices, for he was -particularly enjoined not to eat alone. The vices of flattery and of -scoffing were to be shunned; and the penalty for committing them was for -the knight to walk on foot for a month, and to be confined to his house -for another month. Boasting and repining were both prohibited: the reproof -of the grand master and the neglect of him by his companions were to -punish the offender. A knight was not permitted to complain of any -hurt[370]; and even while he was being mangled by the surgeons of the -times, he was to deport himself with stoical firmness. In walking, either -in the court or the city, the gait of the knight was to be slow and -solemn; and he was exhorted to preserve a discreet and grave demeanour, -when any vain and foolish person mocked at and scorned him. - -[Sidenote: Duties to women.] - -Chivalric duties to women were more insisted upon in this order than in -any other. If a knight instituted an action against the daughter of a -brother-knight, no lady or gentlewoman of the court would ever afterwards -be his lady-love, or wife. If he happened, when he was riding, to meet any -lady or gentlewoman of the court it was his duty to alight from his horse, -and tender her his service, upon pain of losing a month's wages and the -favour of all dames and damsels. The circumstance was scarcely conceived -to be possible, but the statutes of the order, to provide for every -imaginable as well every probable offence, decreed that he who refused to -perform any service which a fair lady commanded should be branded with the -title, The Discourteous Knight. - -The statutes echoed the voice of nature in all her appeals to the heart; -and thus every cavalier was enjoined to select from the ladies of the -court some one upon whom his affections might rest, some one who was to be -to him like a light leading him forward in the noble path of chivalry. -There was no penalty for disobedience to this command, for disobedience -seems to have been thought impossible. All the higher acts of chivalric -devotion to his lady-love were presumed to be performed by the knight; and -to show that his daily duties to his Order were to give way to his -attention to his mistress, it was commanded that whenever she pleased to -walk, he was to attend upon her on foot or on horseback, to do her all -possible honour and service. When by his valiant feats against the Moors -he had proved himself worthy of her love, the day of his marriage was a -festival with his brother-knights, who made rich presents to the lady, and -honoured the nuptials with cavaleresque games and shows. Nor did this -generous consideration for woman stop here; for when a knight died, his -surviving brothers were bound to solicit the King to make such grants of -land and money to the family as would enable the widow to maintain her -wonted state, and would furnish the marriage-portions of his daughters. - -The band of the deceased knight was, agreeably to the general usage of the -military orders, to be re-delivered to the king, who was to be solicited -to bestow it upon one of the sons of its last wearer. The king was to -select the knights from among the younger sons of men of station in the -country, but no elder brother or other heir-apparent could be received; -for it was the purpose of the founder to advance the fortunes of the nobly -born, but indifferently provided, gentlemen of his court. Only one species -of exception was made to this form of introduction. The honor of the order -was conferred upon any stranger-knight who overcame one of the companions -in the joust or tournament. This regulation was made for the general honor -of chivalry, and the promotion of noble chevisance among the knights of -the band. It was a bold defiance, and was seldom answered.[371] - -The order of Bourbon, called of the Thistle, and of Our Lady, must not -pass unnoticed. It was instituted at Moulins, in the Bourbonnois, in the -year 1370, by Louis II., Duke of Bourbon, who was named, on account of his -virtues, the Good Duke. It had for its object the winning of honor by -acts of chivalry. The device of the order was a golden shield; and when it -was given to knights they were exhorted to live as brethren, and die for -each other if occasion should require it. They were told that every good -action which beseemed chivalry ought to be performed by the knights of -Bourbon. Above all things, they were exhorted to honor ladies, not -permitting any man to speak slanderous matters of them, because, after -God, comes from them all honor which men can acquire. Nothing could be -more base than to vilify that sex which had not the strength to redress -its wrongs. The knights were charged not to speak evil of each other, for -that was the foulest vice which a nobleman or gentleman could be taxed -with; and in conclusion, as the summary of their duty, they were exhorted -to practise faith and loyalty, and to respect each other as became knights -of praise and virtue.[372] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Strange titles of orders.] - -The occasions of the titles of many of the military orders are more -interesting than a view of the external marks of their chivalry. -Notwithstanding the haughtiness of knighthood, one of the most celebrated -orders took its name from no chivalric source. The order was instituted -by Philip Duke of Burgundy, who named the fraternity the Knights of the -Golden Fleece, in gratitude to the trade in woollens by which he and his -family had been so much enriched. In the fifteenth century, the order of -the Porcupine was highly celebrated in France; and it was furnished with -its singular title from the fancy of the founder (Louis Duke of Orleans, -second son of Charles V. King of France), that by such a sign he should -commemorate the fact, that he had been abandoned by his friends in -adversity, and that he was able to defend himself by his own weapons. -While the Porcupine was a favourite order in France, that of the -Dragon-overthrown was famous in Germany; and by this ferocious title, the -Emperor Sigismond intended to express his conquest over heresy and schism. -The Dukes of Mantua fancied that they possessed three drops of our -Saviour's blood; and an order of knighthood was instituted in the year -1608, which took for its title the order of the Precious Blood of our -Saviour Jesus Christ, at Mantua. - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Fabulous orders.] - -The chivalric nations of Europe attached as much consequence to orders -which existed only in their own fervid imagination as to those whose -lineage was certain. To Constantine the Great was ascribed the honor of -inventing the first military order of knighthood. The great captains of -his court were said to have been associated under the title of the order -of the Constantinian Angelic Knights of Saint George, that Saint being in -Greece, as well as in England, the patron of military men. The -grand-mastership resided in the Imperial family. After the fall of the -Eastern empire, the order passed into Italy; and the knights of that -country imagined the existence of papal bulls, which permitted the grand -masters to sit at the same table with the Popes, to coin money, and to -confer titles of honor, whether in nobility or learning, and exercise -every prerogative of independent princes. But it would be in vain to -enquire after the names of any of these mensal companions of the Pope; and -no cabinet of curiosities contains any coins which they struck in -attestation of their power. - -The memory of Charles Martel's great victory over the Moors was preserved -in the middle ages of France, by the belief that the conqueror had -established an order of knighthood called the Order of the Gennet; and -lists of cavaliers were drawn out, and statutes imagined, attesting only -the love of the French for chivalric distinctions. The Spaniards delighted -to imagine that their early victories over the Moors were commemorated by -an order called the Order of the Oak in Navarre, and founded on occasion -of the Holy Cross, adored by an infinite number of angels, appearing to a -Gothic chief who led the Christians. - -[Sidenote: The Round Table.] - -But of all these imaginary orders none is so interesting as that of the -Round Table, instituted by Uther Pendragon, King of Great Britain, and -which reached its perfection of martial glory in the reign of his son -Arthur. While our ancient historians exaggerated into heroism the -patriotic efforts of the last of the British kings, the minstrels who sang -in the baronial halls superadded the charms of chivalric circumstance. -Since the time of Adam, God hath not made a man more perfect than Arthur, -was the favourite opinion; and when his remains were discovered in the -Abbey of Glastonbury, in the year 1189, the people from their idea that -prowess always corresponded with size of limb fancied that his bones were -of gigantic frame.[373] - -The court of Arthur was supposed to be the seminary of military discipline -of knights of all countries; and it was thought that his hundred and -fifty[374] good companions felt it their chief devoir to protect widows, -maidens, and orphans[375], not only in England, but in every country -whither they might be invited. They were champions of the public weal, and -like lions repulsed the enemies of their country. It was their duty to -advance the reputation of honor, and suppress all vice, to relieve people -afflicted by adverse fortune, to fight for holy church, and protect -pilgrims. They were likewise supposed to be enjoined to bury soldiers that -wanted sepulture, to deliver prisoners, ransom captives, and heal men who -had been wounded in the service of chivalry and their country. -Independently of these patriotic and humane charges, they were thought to -have formed a standing court for the redress of injuries; for Arthur, in -case of any complaint being laid before him, was bound to send one of his -knights to redress it. - -[Sidenote: Sir Launcelot.] - -The virtues of the knights of the Round Table were the mirror in which the -chivalry of England arrayed themselves. These virtues are admirably -described in the lamentation of Sir Ector over the dead body of Sir -Launcelot of the Lake, the prowest of all the companions of Arthur:--"Thou -wert never matched of none earthly knight's hands; and thou wert the -curtiest knight that ever bare shield; and thou wert the truest friend to -thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou wert the truest lover of a -sinful man that ever loved woman; and thou wert the kindest man that ever -struck with sword; and thou wert the goodliest person that ever came among -press of knights; and thou wert the meekest man and the gentlest that ever -ate in hall among ladies; and thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal -foe that ever put spere in the rest."[376] Next in rank to Sir Launcelot -was his friend Sir Tristram, the history of whose emprises and love -entered so largely into the fancies and conversation of our ancestors. -Then came Sir Gawaine, a nephew of Arthur, the bright exemplar of -courtesy, the virtue which was so highly prized in chivalric times. -Chaucer makes a very pleasing allusion to him in his Squire's Tale. -Describing the entrance of the strange knight, our old bard says that he - - "Salueth king and lordes alle - By order as they sat in the hall, - With so high reverence and observance, - As well in speech as in his countenance, - That Gawain with his old courtesy, - Though he were come agen out of faerie, - Ne coude him not amenden with a word."[376] - -The most prominent of all the chivalric virtues which the institutions of -Arthur shadowed forth was that of fraternity: for it was believed that -round one vast and mysterious table, the gift of the enchanter Merlin, -Arthur and all his peerage sat in perfect equality; and to this idea may -be traced the circumstance that the friendly familiarity of a chivalric -round table broke down the iron distinctions of feudal haughtiness, and -not only "mitigated kings into companions, but raised private men to be -fellows with kings." Localities unlock the gates of memory, whether the -stores within be treasured there by imagination or the sterner powers of -the mind; and with a more serious interest than that with which the modern -traveller follows Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena our ancestors were wont -to mark Winchester and Windsor, Camelot in Somersetshire, Carlion in -Monmouthshire, where - - "Uther's son, - Begirt with British and Armoric knights," - -held his solemn feasts about the Round Table. - -[Sidenote: Order of the Stocking.] - -[Sidenote: Origin of the phrase Blue Stocking.] - -Many of the orders whose histories fill the pages of works on knighthood -have no claims to their places; for they were only associations of -cavaliers without royal or pontifical authority, and wearing no badge or -cross, except in the imagination of the writer. Only one of these -fraternities merits mention here. The Society de la Calza (of the -Stocking) was formed at Venice in the year 1400, to the honor of the -inauguration of the Doge, Michele Steno. The employments of the members -were conversation and festivity; and so splendid were the entertainments -of music and dancing, that the gay spirits of other parts of Italy -anxiously solicited the honor of seats in the society. All their statutes -regarded only the ceremonies of the ball or the theatre; and the members -being resolved on their rigorous performance, took an oath in a church to -that tendency. They had banners and a seal like an authorised order of -knighthood. Their dress was as splendid and elegant as Venetian luxury and -taste could fashion it; and, consistently with the singular custom of the -Italians of marking academies and other intellectual associations by some -external signs of folly, the members when they met in literary discussion -were distinguished by the colours of their stockings. The colours were -sometimes fantastically blended, and at other times one colour, -particularly the _blue_, prevailed. The Society de la Calza lasted till -the year 1590[377] when the foppery of Italian literature took some other -symbol. The rejected title then crossed the Alps, and found a congenial -soil in the flippancy and literary triflings of Parisian society, and -particularly branded female pedantry as the strongest feature in the -character of French pretension. It diverged from France to England, and -for a while marked the vanity of the small advances in literature of our -female coteries. But the propriety of its application is now gradually -ceasing; for we see in every circle that attainments in literature can be -accomplished with no loss of womanly modesty. It is in this country, above -all others, that knowledge asserts her right of general dominion, or -contends that if she be the sustaining energy of one sex, she forms the -lighter charm, the graceful drapery of the other. - - - - -CHAP. VIII. - -PROGRESS OF CHIVALRY IN ENGLAND, FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE CLOSE OF -THE REIGN OF EDWARD II. - - _Chivalry connected with Feudalism ... Stipendiary Knights ... - Knighthood a compulsory Honour ... Fine Instance of Chivalry in the - Reign of Edward I ... Effect of Chivalry in Stephen's Reign ... - Troubadours and Romance Writers in the Reign of Henry II ... Chivalric - Manners of the Time ... Coeur de Lion the first Chivalric King ... His - Knightly Bearing ... John and Henry III ... Edward I ... His Gallantry - at a Tournament ... His unchivalric Cruelties ... He possessed no - knightly Courtesy ... Picture of ancient Manners ... Edward II ... - Chivalric Circumstance in the Battle of Bannockburn ... Singular - Effect of Chivalry in the Reign of Edward II._ - - -In the first chapter we traced, by the help of the few lights which yet -remain, the rise of chivalry in Europe. We may now mark its progress, and, -in order to avoid the inconvenience of frequent transitions, it will be -better to follow the historical train in each chivalric country, than to -attempt to form one general collection of knightly events. And first, of -its influence in England. - - * * * * * - -Many chivalric principles and customs were known to the Anglo-Saxons[378], -and affected, in some degree, the character of the nation.[379] Many of -the elements of chivalry were brought into England by the Normans, and, in -the course of time, they were framed, by the energy which was involved in -them, into a fair and noble system. The adventurousness of knighthood -comported well with a people who, quitting the inhospitable shores of -Scandinavia, had impressed their conquests on France, Italy, and even -Greece. The Norman nation was one vast brotherhood, and therefore it was -natural for them to nourish the principles of chivalric fraternity.[380] -It is recorded of them that they brought from the north a love of -splendor, and having learnt courtesy of manner from the French, they were -fitted to admire the shows and the gallantry of knighthood.[381] They -affected, indeed, to despise the religious parts of the Saxon ceremonies -of initiation into knighthood, but they soon adopted them; for we find -that William Rufus himself was knighted by Archbishop Lanfrank.[382] - -[Sidenote: Chivalry connected with feudalism.] - -[Sidenote: Stipendiary knights.] - -Chivalry became established as part of the national constitution when -William the Conqueror divided the country into about sixty thousand -knights' fees, with the tenure of military service. The clergy, as well as -the laity, were compelled to furnish armed knights, on horseback, as the -price of their possessions, when the king went abroad against his enemies; -and, consequently, knights became attached to every ecclesiastical -foundation. These servants of the church were generally younger members of -baronial families; and as there was constant occasion for them, chivalry -became a military profession. In England, as in every country, the feudal -array was found insufficient for foreign wars, and wide-spread domestic -rebellions; for few contests could be finished in forty days,--and that -was the brief space which, in the earliest simplicity of feudal times, had -been fixed for the duration of military service. As petty states swelled -into kingdoms, and their public operations became extensive, many a -martial enterprise was broken up before achievement, because the time of -service had expired. So frequent were the calls on the holders of knights' -fees, that they were glad to compromise for attendance by pecuniary -penalties. The sovereigns were exorbitant in their exactions, in order to -be able to pay the stipendiary substitutes; but one of the most important -provisions of Magna Charta gave to parliament alone the power of imposing -this escuage or military tax.[383] When the custom of escuage arose is a -matter which no antiquarian researches have settled. The clause in Magna -Charta shows not only its existence, but its being used as an instrument -of tyranny; and under this aspect of chivalric history, the reign of John -is important. Most of these stipendiary subsidiaries were knights, with -their equipments of men-at-arms and archers; and the sovereign was -accustomed to contract with his barons for their attendance upon him in -his foreign expeditions. Chivalry and feudal tenure were, therefore, no -longer convertible terms; yet the spirit of knighthood long survived the -decay of the forms of feudal obligation; for the practice of escuage was -fully established in the days of Edward III.; and that was the brightest -era of English chivalry. - -[Sidenote: Knighthood a compulsory honor.] - -In England, knighthood was always regarded as the necessary distinction of -people of some substance and estate.[384] In the reigns of our three first -Edwards the qualification for knighthood varied from land of the yearly -value of forty to that of fifty pounds. The King was the sovereign and -supreme judge of chivalry, and he might confer knighthood on whomsoever he -chose. He could compel men of worth to be knights, for knighthood was -honourable to the kingdom. Like the performance of every other duty in all -states of society, that of knighthood could be commuted for by money; and -the royal invitation to honour was so extensive as to be inconvenient; for -a statute was passed in the reign of Edward II. whereby the King respited -for some time the payment of the fines of such persons whose station in -the world made knighthood a necessary part of their consequence. Besides -all these ways of forming the knighthood of England, must be added the -custom of elevating to chivalric dignities men who had gained renown by -martial exploits. This was indeed a mode more pure in principle, and, -therefore, more honourable than any we have mentioned. - -The military necessities of many of our sovereigns favoured the growth of -chivalry. William Rufus invited to his court the prowest cavaliers from -every country[385]; for as his father had effected the subjugation of -Harold not merely by the feudal force of Normandy, but by hired soldiers, -it was the natural policy of the kings of the Norman line to attach to -their person valiant men who were not connected by ties of nature with the -people. - -[Sidenote: Fine instance of chivalry in reign of Henry I.] - -The principles and feelings of chivalry were firmly established in England -in the reign of Henry I., and gave the tone and character to our foreign -military warfare. This state of things is proved in an interesting manner -by a circumstance that occurred during the war of Henry with Louis the -French king. The reader remembers that the latter had espoused the cause -of William the son of Robert, Henry's elder brother, who was kept by his -uncle from his rightful inheritance of Normandy. The chivalric anecdote is -this: The two armies were approaching each other near Audelay, when, -instead of rushing to the conflict with their whole masses, five hundred -knights on the English side and four hundred on the French prepared for an -encounter, a joust to the utterance. About eighty Normans, friends of the -French king, charged the centre of Henry's line with true chivalric fire. -The English monarch was severely wounded in the head, but the Normans -could not pierce the firm line of the English, and they were all taken -prisoners. The three hundred remaining knights of Louis made a fine -attempt to redeem their companions in arms. Again the English line was -impenetrable, and the recoil of the shock scattered the French. Henry's -soldiers now were assailants; and so fiercely did they press their -advantage, that even the French king scarcely escaped with life.[386] - -[Sidenote: Effect of chivalry in Stephen's reign.] - -The knightly character had an important effect on England during the -troublous reign of Stephen. As he was deserted by his barons, he called -in foreign cavaliers to assist him in his resistance to the Empress Maud. -Their valour was rewarded by the grant of estates; and thus a new order of -nobility arose to shake the arrogance of the old; and new opinions, -feelings, and manners, became blended with English habits. - -[Sidenote: Troubadours and romance writers,--reign of Henry II.] - -[Sidenote: Chivalric manners of the time.] - -The arms of chivalry grew rusty in the long and unwarlike reign of Henry -II.; but many of the milder graces of knighthood were cultivated in -consequence of the love of letters entertained by the sovereign and his -queen. The Troubadours found royal and, from the force of example, noble, -patronage in England; and, however offensive to a classic ear their -conceits and bombast may sound, yet, since they treated love as an affair -of the fancy rather than as an appetite, they contributed to purify the -manners of the age. By another channel literature promoted the cause of -arms. Romance with her bold fictions and splendid colouring inspired the -tamest hearts with the love of adventure. Such of the traditions and -fables regarding Arthur and the knights of the Round Table as dwelt in the -memory of the people of Britanny (that ancient colony of England) were -collected by an Archdeacon Walter, of Oxford, and formed part of a Latin -history of Great Britain that was written in the time of Henry I. by -Jeffry of Monmouth. Wace, the translator-general of the age, turned it -into Anglo-Norman verse, mingling with it all the stories of his hero that -were floating in the English mind. The subject was fitted to the martial -taste of the time; and as the book was now rendered into the language of -the upper classes of life, it found its way into the baronial hall and the -lady's bower. This was the earliest of the French metrical romances; and -before the close of the twelfth century nothing was read by the nobility -but romances of Arthur and his knights. And the sports and exercises of -the time nourished the chivalric spirit. A writer of those days has given -us a graphic description of them. "Every Sunday in Lent, immediately after -dinner, crowds of noble and sprightly youths, mounted on war-horses, -admirably trained to perform all their turnings and evolutions, ride into -the fields in distinct bands, armed with lances and shields, and exhibit -representations of battles, and go through all their martial exercises. -Many of the young nobility, who have not yet received the honour of -knighthood, issue from the king's court, and from the houses of bishops, -earls, and barons, to make trial of their courage, strength, and skill in -arms. The hope of victory rouses the spirits of these noble youths; their -fiery horses neigh and prance, and champ their foaming bits. At length -the signal is given, and the sports begin. The youths, divided into -opposite bands, encounter one another. In one place some fly, and others -pursue, without being able to overtake them. In another place, one of the -bands overtakes and overturns the other."[387] - -[Sidenote: Coeur de Lion, the first chivalric king.] - -Martial daring, thus fostered and promoted, broke out with fresh vigour in -the reign of Richard Coeur de Lion; and England, which hitherto had but -partially and occasionally engaged in the crusades, now took up those -sacred and perilous enterprises with the ardour of the French. Richard was -the first king of England of knightly character; for I cannot, with some -writers, place William Rufus among our chivalric sovereigns. I cannot with -them see any thing magnanimous in his receiving under his banners an -enemy's soldier who had unhorsed him, and who had foreborne to slay him -because he declared himself king of England. The conduct of the soldier -merited reward; and William acted only with common selfishness in taking -so good a soldier into his service. Rufus had mere brutal courage, but -that quality was not the character of chivalry. His bravery was not -directed either by religion or the love of fame, nor was it tempered into -virtue by the charities of life. When with Robert he besieged his brother -Henry in his castle, Rufus was guilty of one of the most unchivalric acts -on record. Henry's supply of water was exhausted, and he solicited some -from his brothers on the true knightly principle that valour should decide -a triumph, and that it was unworthy of a soldier's pride to gain a victory -merely by the circumstance of his antagonists being in want of the common -necessaries of life. Robert, with fine chivalric generosity, supplied his -brother, much to the regret of William, who ridiculed and was angry at his -simplicity.[388] - -[Sidenote: His knightly bearing.] - -But in Richard the whole knightly character appeared in all its martial -dignity and splendor. His courage was not the mere savage confidence in -superior strength, but the fine display of chivalric exercises. Such was -the might of his arm, and such the fierceness of his spirit, that he could -sweep from the field whole squadrons of knights. When we see his javelin -transfixing a Turk on the walls of Acre[389], the exploits of Grecian -heroes appear to be no longer poetical fictions; and when he appears on -the plains of Palestine, grasping his lance and riding from wing to wing -of the Saracenian host without meeting an enemy who dared to encounter his -career, the stories of Arthur and the Round Table seem the calm relations -of truth. - -No one was more attentive than Richard to the regulations of chivalry. In -the course of his crusade he was assailed by some rustics, against whom it -was unlawful for a knight to use his sword. He beat them with the flat -part of it till it broke, and he then took up stones, and drove them -away.[390] Richard's mind was framed in the finest spirit of chivalric -liberality. His largesses, both to his own soldiers and those of his ally, -Philip Augustus, while in Sicily during their voyage to Palestine, were -so magnificent, that it was acknowledged he had given more treasure in a -month than his predecessors in a year.[391] - -Like the knights of romance, he revelled in gorgeousness and splendour, -and his court resounded with the minstrel's lay. One of the Provençal -poets followed him into Palestine: nor did he entirely want the minds of -others to soften into grace his martial spirit; for often his own fancy -played with poetical images. In the history of chivalric amusements, -Richard is an important character. All his predecessors in sovereignty had -forbidden jousts and tournaments; and their absurd regulations had only -been violated in the time of Stephen. When Richard was in the Holy Land, -he observed the inferiority of the English chivalry to that of the French: -his own knights were rude soldiers, with none of the dexterity and skill -of their crusading brethren, which could only be acquired in tournaments, -the schools of war. Richard broke through the jealousy of adopting foreign -customs, and, like a politic monarch, he allowed and encouraged his -soldiers to practise martial exercises.[392] - -These circumstances and the various other events of his chivalric life, -which I have described at length in another work complete the authentic -character of our lion-hearted King, for I dare not invest the severe -simplicity of history with those golden fictions, which romance has -delighted to throw over the story of his Eastern atchievements. - -[Sidenote: John and Henry III.] - -There was nothing chivalric in the character and conduct of his brother -and successor King John, or he would not have suffered the foreign -possessions of England's crown to be wrested from it. In the reign of -Henry III. the flame of chivalry was kept alive by some English knights, -who assisted the Emperor in his Milanese wars, and whose prowess was the -most distinguished of the day. The crusades to the Holy Land were not -altogether forgotten; but the page of our history is marked with the -peculiar disgrace that English knights assisted the French in their -inhuman war on the Albigenses. - -[Sidenote: Edward I.] - -[Sidenote: His gallantry at a tournament.] - -There was much of the chivalric character in Edward I. He was a diligent -reader of the ancient romances; and, as soon as he was invested with -knighthood, he went to foreign courts, in order that he might display his -prowess.[393] For the sake of acquiring military fame, he exposed his -person in the Holy Land, and, during his journey homeward, though ill and -forespent with travel, he displayed remarkable heroism at a tournament in -Savoy.[394] The challenger was the Count of Chalons; but if pontifical -authority could have destroyed chivalry, the knights never would have met. -The pope feared that some hostility was menaced, and earnestly dissuaded -Edward from the tournament. He warned him of his danger: he exhorted him, -as a son of the church, to decline these encounters, which the church had -forbidden; and he added, that as Edward now was king, he might decline the -challenge, as kings were not wont to risk their persons in these perilous -shocks. But most of these reasons were so many stimulants of his courage: -the more danger, the greater share of honour, and it was beneath the -gallantry of his bearing to have thrown his rank as a shield before his -knighthood. Followed by a thousand men-at-arms, and archers on horseback -and on foot, Edward pressed his bounding steed upon the chosen plain, and -the Count of Chalons met him with equal spirit, and nearly twice the -number of companions. The English king soon found that no lofty courtesy, -no love of chivalric exercises, had influenced the French lord. The -graceful tournament soon became a deadly fray. The cause of honour -triumphed, and the knights of Chalons were either slain or driven from the -field. After many cavaliers on each side had been disabled, the lords of -either host encountered. Their lances met and shivered; and if Chalons had -been a courteous knight, he would have passed to the other end of the -plain, and seized a new lance to continue his emprise; but, maddened at -his weapon failing, he threw himself upon Edward, endeavouring to crush -him by his prodigious weight. At that moment Edward's horse started -forwards, and the Count was thrown on the ground. His companions raised -him; but he was so much bruised by the fall that he cried for mercy. His -conduct had put him without the pale of chivalry, and Edward, therefore, -treated him like a base-born churl. He beat him with the flat part of his -sword; and, refusing to take him as his prisoner, he compelled him to -surrender himself to a man of mean condition.[395] - -[Sidenote: His unchivalric cruelties.] - -[Sidenote: He possessed no knightly courtesy.] - -Edward's love of chivalric exercises was imitated by his nobility. -Tournaments and jousts were held in various parts of the country; and -Kenilworth is particularly marked as famous for its Round Table, to which -knights from every nation flocked.[396] In his Scotch wars, therefore, -his armies were not deficient in chivalric bravery. At the battle of -Falkirk the strength of the Scots was foot, as that of the English was -horse; and the repeated charges of Edward's chivalry decided the fate of -that memorable day. In his Welsh wars he had sullied his reputation for -knightly generosity by making a public exhibition of the head of his -worsted foe, Llewelyn ap Gryffyth, the last sovereign of Wales[397]; and -his well-known conduct to Wallace betrayed such an absence of all -nobleness of mind, that he forfeited his claims to knightly consideration. -The beautiful parts, the embellishments of chivalry, were subservient to -his ambition. Before his second war in Scotland he vowed, in Wesminster -Abbey, by God, and also by two swans which were introduced into the -assembly with great pomp and splendour, that he would punish the Scottish -nation for their breach of faith, and for the death of Comyn. Nor did any -of the courtesies of chivalry grace Edward: the queen of Bruce and her -ladies fell into his power, and in defiance of all chivalric gallantry, -he treated them as prisoners. There was something peculiarly ferocious in -his treatment of the Countess of Buchan, who was also his captive. Her -offence was, that she had crowned Bruce. Edward exclaimed, with the -deliberation of malignity, "As she has not used the sword, she shall not -perish by the sword; but for her lawless conspiracy, she shall be shut up -in a stone and iron chamber, circular as the crown she gave; and at -Berwick she shall be suspended in the open air, a spectacle to travellers, -and for her everlasting infamy."[398] And the English Tamerlane did not -relent.[399] - -[Sidenote: Picture of ancient manners.] - -The close of the reign of Edward I. is remarkable for a very splendid -scene illustrative of the ancient mode of creating knights, and of the -chivalric manners of our forefathers. Before his last and fatal journey -to Scotland, Edward caused proclamation to be made throughout England, -that all persons who were entitled to the honour of knighthood by custom -of hereditary succession, or who had estates sufficient to support the -dignity, should, at the next feast of Pentecost, repair to Westminster, -and that to every one would be delivered out of the King's wardrobe, at -the King's expence, the festive and inauguratory dress of a knight. - -Accordingly, at the time and place appointed, there was a fair and gallant -show of three hundred young gentlemen, sons of earls, barons, and knights, -and among these aspirants to chivalry were distributed in ample measure, -according to their different ranks, purple, fine linen, furs, and mantles -embroidered with gold. The royal palace, though magnificently spacious, -could not accommodate all these young esquires with their retinue of -yeomen and pages. Many of them repaired to the New Temple, where, cutting -down the trees and levelling the walls of the garden, they set up their -tents and pavilions in brave emulation of actual war. They performed their -vigils in the Temple church, while the Prince of Wales, by command of the -King his father, passed the night in prayer in Westminster Abbey. - -On the following day, the King invested his son with the military belt, -and assigned to him the duchy of Aquitaine. The Prince, being knighted, -went to the Abbey that he might confer the like military honor on his -companions. So close was the press of spectators round the high altar, -that two knights were stifled, and several fainted, though each was -supported by three knights of experienced prowess. The Prince, accompanied -by his father and the chief nobility, at length reached the altar, and his -guards made a passage for his friends to receive knighthood at his hands. -After he had dubbed and embraced them all, his attendants introduced two -swans covered with golden nets, which were adorned and embossed with studs -of gold. This was the most joyous part of the ceremony in the eyes of the -people, and their rude and joyous shouts drowned the clangor of the -trumpets. The King, as before stated, vowed by heaven and the swans that -he would go to Scotland; and even if he should die in the enterprise, he -would avenge the death of Comyn and the violated faith of the Scots. He -then adjured the Prince and the nobles, and his band of knights by their -fealty and chivalry, that if he should die in his journey to Scotland, -they would carry his body forwards, and never bury it till his son had -established his dominion. Every heart assented to this high resolve, and -the ceremony closed. The knights were feasted that day at the royal -palace; and while they were quaffing muscadel in honour of chivalry and -the ladies, the minstrels in their songs reminded them of their duty to -pledge themselves before the swans to perform some rare feats of arms. The -Prince vowed that he would never rest two nights in one place until he had -performed his father's high behests; and the other knights made various -fantastic vows for the promotion of the same object.[400] - - * * * * * - -[Sidenote: Edward II.] - -[Sidenote: Chivalric circumstances in the battle of Bannockburn.] - -The defeat of the English chivalry at the battle of Bannockburn, (24th -June, 1315,) was the most remarkable circumstance in the reign of Edward -II. On the preceding day, Douglas[401] and Sir Robert Keith, marshal of -Scotland, were dispatched by Robert Bruce from the main body of his army -to descry whether the enemy was approaching. - - "And soon the great host have they seen, - Where shields shining were so sheen, - And basinets burnished bright, - That gave against the sun great light. - They saw so fele[402] brawdyne[403] baners, - Standards, and pennons, and spears, - And so fele[402] knights upon steeds, - All flaming in their weeds. - And so fele[404] bataills[405], and so broad, - And too so great room as they rode - That the maist host, and the stoutest - Of Christendom, and the greatest - Should be abaysit[406], for to see - Their foes into such quantity." - The Bruce, vol. ii. p. 111. - -The English vanguard, commanded by the Earls of Gloucester and Hereford, -soon came in general sight. The appearance of Edward's army is described -by Barbour in a rich chivalric style. - - "The sun was bright, and shined clear, - And armouris that burnished were, - So blomyt[407], with the sun's beam, - That all the land was in a leme[408], - Banners right fairly flawinand[409], - And pensels to the wind wawand."[410] - Barbour, xi. 188-193. - -Bruce was riding on a palfrey and marshalling his men, when Sir Henry de -Bohun started from the opposite host, and careered his horse against him. -Sir Henry was a fierce rather than a gallant knight, or he would not have -pressed his war-steed upon a foe who was riding on a palfrey.[411] But -his want of chivalric gallantry was justly punished. - - "And when Glosyter and Hertfurd were, - With their battle approaching near, - Before them all there come riding, - With helm on head and spear in hand, - Sir Henry Boune, the worthy, - That was a wight knight, and a hardy; - And to the Earl of Hertfurd cousin; - Armed in arms good and fine; - Come on a steed, a bow-shot nere, - Before all other that there were. - And knew the King, for that he saw - Him so range his men in row; - And by the crown, that was set - Also upon his bacinet, - And towards him he went on haste. - And the King so apertly - Saw him come, forth all his feres[412] - In hy[413] to him the horse he steers. - And when Sir Henry saw the King - Come on forouting abaysing,[414] - To him he rode in full great hy[415] - He thought that he should well lightly - Win him and have him at his will, - Since he him horsed saw so ill. - Sprent[416] they came unto a ling,[417] - Sir Henry missed the noble king. - And he, that in his stirrups stood, - With the axe, that was hard and good, - With so great mayn[418] reached him a dint, - That neither hat nor helm might stynt, - The hewy dusche[419] that he him gave, - That near the head to the harness clave. - The hand-axe shaft fruschyt[420] in tow; - And he down to the yird gan go - All flatlyngs[421], for him failed might. - This was the first stroke of the fight." - Barbour, vol. ii. p. 122. - -The fine generousness of chivalry was very nobly displayed in another -circumstance which preceded the great battle. It was a main object with -the English to throw succours into the castle of Stirling; and Edward, -therefore, commanded Sir Robert Clifford and eight hundred horsemen to -make a circuit by the low grounds to the east, and approach the castle. -Bruce, in anticipation of the Englishmen's purpose, had charged Randolph -who commanded his left wing to prevent Stirling from being relieved; and -when he saw the English troops holding on their gallant course unchecked, -he cried, "A rose has fallen from thy chaplet, Randolph,"[422] and -bitterly reproached him for his want of vigilance. Nothing but the utmost -desperateness of valour could efface this shame; and gathering round him a -few hundred bold spirits, the Scottish General advanced against the -English. Clifford, in his pride of chivalry, thought that he could soon -disperse a band of lightly armed troops of foot-soldiers, who were now -being marshalled into a circle with their spears resting on the ground, -the points protruded on every side. The English charged, but the -resistance was more gallant than what they had foreseen. Still, however, -the Scots seemed gradually sinking under the force of numbers; and -Douglas, who saw the peril, requested the King's permission to go and join -him. "You shall not move from your ground," cried the King: "let Randolph -extricate himself as he best may. I will not alter my order of battle, and -lose the advantage of my position." But Douglas reiterated his request, -and wrung leave from the King. He flew to the assistance of his friend. -But before he reached him he saw that the English were falling into -disorder, and that the perseverance of Randolph had prevailed over their -impetuous courage. "Halt," cried Douglas, like a generous knight, "these -brave men have repulsed the enemy; let us not diminish their glory by -sharing it." - -Of the battle of Bannockburn itself little need be said by me, because -there was not much chivalric character about it. Some historians describe -the defeat of the English as having been principally occasioned by the -Scottish cavalry throwing the rear of their archers into confusion. Others -affirm that Bruce, seeing the inadequacy of his own cavalry to cope with -that of the English, formed the battles or divisions of his army entirely -of foot-soldiers, and dug trenches before his line, slightly covering them -with turf and hurdles. The gallant knights of England, with the sun -streaming on their burnished helms and gilt shields, advanced to charge -the bristled front of the Scots: but the turf sunk beneath the pressure of -their horses' feet, and men and their steeds lay at the mercy of their -enemy. One or other of these circumstances turned the event of the battle, -and the Scotch reserve being judiciously brought up, completed the -victory. In every way the generalship of Bruce was admirable: but the fate -of the battle reflects nothing on the personal character of the English -chivalry; for they were not worsted in an encounter of lance to lance, and -horse to horse. The bravery of one English knight must not pass -unrecorded. Sir Giles D'Argentyn, upon seeing some of his friends around -him pause in alarm, cried that he was not used to fly, and spurring his -war-steed into the thickest of the press, gallantly perished. Nor was this -a solitary instance of courage; and even Edward seemed for a moment to be -inspired with the fire of the Plantagenets. He dashed into the enemy's -lines, and was by force drawn away by the Earl of Pembroke, when courage -was evidently unavailing.[423] - -[Sidenote: Singular effect of chivalry in his reign.] - -Though the chivalric character was only for one moment of his life -sustained by Edward II., yet it was too deeply fixed in the national mind -to die on account of its neglect by any particular monarch. There is a -singular circumstance on record illustrative of the power of this feeling. -During his war with the barons, which his system of unprincipled -favouritism had provoked, one of the lords refused the Queen the -hospitality of his castle. This act of individual insult had general -consequences. Disgusted with a cause which was blended with so much -uncourtesy, barons and knights immediately flocked round the standard of -the King; his arms completely triumphed, and the Spencers were -recalled.[424] - - -END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. - - - LONDON: - Printed by A. & R. Spottiswoode. - New-Street-Square. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The History of Italy, from the Fall of the Western Empire to the -Commencement of the Wars of the French Revolution. By George Perceval, -Esq. 2 vols. 8vo. 1825. - -[2] A third volume was added in the year 1781, which also bears the title -"Mémoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie;" though more than half of the volume -relates to the sport of hunting, which is a baronial or feudal rather than -a chivalric subject. - -[3] The Troubadour, &c. By L. E. L., author of The Improvisatrice. 12mo. - -[4] Jean Froissart, called Sir Jean Froissart, (the title, Sir, being in -the middle ages common to all who were either in the holy orders of the -church or in the holy order of knighthood,) was born at Valenciennes in -the year 1337, and died in 1397. - -[5] The Prologue of Froissart--Lord Berners' translation. - -[6] I subjoin Schultens' Latin version of the Arabic passage in Bohadin, -vita et res gestæ Saladini, c. 127. p. 209. "Cupere Anglum ut Almalichus -Aladilus sororem ipsius in matrimonium duceret (eam e Sicilia cujus functo -domino nupta fuerat, secum avexerat frater, quum insulam illam -trajiceret)." - -[7] Reiske's Latin version of Abulfeda is this:--"Illuc commeabant -Francorum pacis causa legati, eam offerentes conditionem, ut -Malec-al-Adel, frater Sultani sororem Regis Angliæ in matrimonium, et -Hierosolymas in regnum acciperet." Abulfeda, vol. iv. p. 111. - -[8] Tacitus Germania, sec. 6. Cæsar de Bello Gallico, lib. i. s. 48. - -[9] Tacitus Germania, s. 13. Mallet's Northern Antiquities, vol. i. p. -197. - -[10] Tacitus Germania. Cæsar, lib. 6. s. 14. - -[11] Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. 16. c. 13. - -[12] Chron. Saxon, 57, &c. Florence, ad an. 784. William of Malmsbury, 7. - -[13] Athenæus, lib. iv. c. 36. - -[14] Treatise on the Virtue of the Female Sex. - -[15] Tacitus Germania, s. 18. c. 19. - -[16] Ibid. - -[17] Strabo, lib. iv. Tacitus Historia, lib. iv. c. 61. 65. Pomponius -Mela, lib. iii. c. 6. - -[18] Tacitus, Hist. lib. iv. c. 18. Life of Agricola, s. 32. Germania, s. -7. - -[19] Barthol. p. 54. as cited by Warton, Dissert. I. Of the Origin of -Romantic Fiction in Europe, in the first volume of the late admirable -edition of his History of English Poetry. - -[20] It is also curious that this blow was said to have been -customary.--"Dato eisdem, sicut consuetudinis est, manu colapho." - -[21] Not exactly according to the form, for by this time a belt with a -sword inserted was girded round the military candidate, instead of -delivering a javelin to him. See the preceding page. - -[22] William of Malmsbury, lib. ii. c. 6. - -[23] Ingulph, p. 512. - -[24] Caxton, Fayts of Arms and Chivalry, chapter entitled "Of the Honor -that ought to be done to a Knight." - -[25] Spencer's Fairy Queen, book v. canto 5. st. 37. The romance of the -Morte D'Arthur says, that in early times there were no hermits, but who -had been men of worship and prowess; "and the hermits held great -household, and refreshed people that were in distress." Lib. 18. c. 10. - -[26] The reader will find in Johnson's Dictionary the etymology of _sir_. -When this word, acknowledging power and superiority, was first used as the -title of chivalry, I do not know. Instances exist as high as the reign of -Henry II. - -[27] Coke, Instit. 4. In the Reports of the Lords' Committees respecting -the Peerage, (printed 2d July 1821), doubts are often expressed regarding -the meaning of the word Banneret. A little attention to the difference -between the personal nobility of chivalry, and the nobility which arose as -a franchise appurtenant to land, would have prevented the entertaining of -such doubts, and the conclusion might have been drawn from principles, -instead of being guessed from precedent, that the title of banneret had no -relation to the dignity of Lord of Parliament. The Lords' Committees seem -surprised that barons should sometimes have had the addition of knights, -and at other times of bannerets but in truth chevalier was the title which -comprehended all others, and, like the word 'Lord,' was used in a general -sense. - -[28] See Du Cange, Dissertation 9. on Joinville. This learned commentator -seems inclined to confound knights-banneret with barons, chivalry with -nobility; and a herd of subsequent writers, refining on his error, have -gravely placed knights-banneret as an order or class of society mediate -between Nobility and Knighthood. - -[29] Some fortune was, however, always thought necessary for the support -of the dignity of knight-banneret. In the 28th of Edward III. John de -Cobham was made a banneret, and had a grant of an annuity of 100 marks, -out of the issues of the county of Norfolk, expressly for the better -support of that dignity. Dugdale's Baronage, vol. ii. p. 66. Many similar -instances are mentioned in the Parliamentary Rolls. - -[30] A note of Waterhouse on Fortescue will illustrate this. "The title of -franklein is 'good man;' and yet they have oft knights' estates. Many are -called by courtesy 'masters,' and even 'gentlemen;' and their sons are -educated in the inns of court, and adopted into the orders of knights and -squires." - -[31] Illegitimacy seems not to have been a matter of the slightest -consequence. Froissart. ii. 26. - -[32] Favyn. i. 6. - -[33] When Don Quixote was dubbed a knight, the landlord asked him whether -he had any money. "Not a cross," replied the knight; "for I never read in -any history of chivalry, that any knight-errant ever carried money about -him."--"Respondio Don Quixote que no traia blanca, porque él nunca habia -leido en las historias de los caballeros andantes, que ninguno los hubiese -traido." This was a very singular error in Cervantes, for in Amadis de -Gaul, which he characterizes as the best work of its class, and which is -evidently one of his textbooks, we read that the queen gave Adrian the -Dwarf enough money to last Amadis de Gaul his master for a whole year. -Book III. c. 6. - -[34] Froissart, i. c. 448. - -[35] Froissart, ii. c. 49. - -[36] Thus, as Bracton observes, if a villain be made a knight, he is -thereby immediately enfranchised, and consequently accounted a gentleman, -l. iv. f. 198. b. - -[37] Froissart, i. 384. - -[38] Du Cange says, the third order of Chivalry consisted of the Esquires; -but he evidently thinks they were the personal attendants of knights, for -he calls them infancons or damoiseaux. He does not seem to have thought -that a grave old squire ever existed. - -[39] ----"Mais le dit escuyer s'excusa; et dit qu'il ne pouvoit trouver -son bacinet."--Froissart, i. 211. - -[40] favour. - -[41] soon. - -[42] diligently. - -[43] attempted. - -[44] against. - -[45] rule. - -[46] the minstrelsy art. - -[47] went. - -[48] knew. - -[49] Geste of Kyng Horn, v. 233. - -[50] Mr Rose's note on the Romance of Partenopex of Blois, p. 51. - -[51] Caxton, Fayt of Armes and of Chyvalrye, c. 9., Mémoires du bon -Messire Jean le Maingre, dit Boucicaut, Maréchal de France, c. 5, 9. in -the sixth volume of the large collection of French Memoirs. - -[52] L'Histoire de Guerin de Montglaive. - -[53] L'Histoire et plaisante Cronicque du petit Jehan de Saintré, vol. 1. -c. 3-6. I have the authority of Sir Walter Scott and other able writers on -chivalry, to cite this romance as good evidence for the laws and manners -of knighthood. It was written in 1459; the first edition was printed in -Gothic characters in 1523, and it was reprinted in three volumes, 12mo. in -1724. - -[54] Caxton, Fayt of Armes and Chevalrye, c. 9. - -[55] _Damoisel_ et Eescuyer sont arrivés à Novandel demandant chivalarie, -lequel layant reçu n'est plus appellé de tels tiltres, ains seulement des -tiltre de chevalier.--Amadis de Gaul, liv. 3. c. 3. - -[56] Fauchet de l'Origine des Chevaliers, liv. 1. ch. 1. Monstrelet, vol. -1. c. 138. L'histoire de Bertrand du Guesclin, c. 1. - -[57] Paulus Warnefridus, lib. 1. c. 23. - -[58] Eximinus Petri Salonava Justitia Arragonum. Lib. de privilegiis -baronum et riccorum hominum. - -[59] Froissart, vol. 2. c. 31. - -[60] Froissart, vol. 2. c. 92. The Earl of Oxenford had reason to repent -of his arrogance. Sir John Chandos, observes Froissart, marked well all -the matter between his squire and the earl, and remained quiet till the -prince was gone from them, and then coming to the earl, he said, "Sir -Thomas, are you displeased that I drank before you? I am constable of this -country; I may well drink before you, since my lord the prince, and other -lords here, are content therewith. It is of truth that you were at the -battle of Poictiers; but all who were there do not know so well as I what -you did. I shall declare it. When my lord the prince had made his voyage -in Languedock and Carcassone to Narbonne, and was returned hither to his -town of Bourdeaux, you chose to go to England. What the king said to you -on your arrival I know right well, though I was not present. He demanded -of you whether you had finished your voyage, and what you had done with -his son the prince. You answered, that you had left him in good health at -Bourdeaux. Then the king said, 'How durst you be so bold as to return -without him? I commanded you and all others when ye departed, that you -should not return without him, and you thus presume to come again to -England. I straitly command you, that within four days you avoid my realm -and return again to him, and if I find you within this my realm on the -fifth day, you shall lose your life, and all your heritage for ever.' And -you feared the king's words, as it was reason, and left the realm, and so -your fortune was good, for truly you were with my lord the prince four -days before the battle of Poictiers. On the day of the battle you had -forty spears under your charge, and I had fourscore. Now you may see -whether I ought to drink before you or not, since I am constable of -Acquitain." The Earl of Oxenford was ashamed, and would gladly have been -thence at the time; but he was obliged to remain and hear this reproof -from that right noble knight, Sir John Chandos. - -[61] Fairy Queen, book 1. canto 10. st. 7. - -[62] Froissart, 1. c. 269. M. Paris, 873. - -[63] - - "Les prisons firent arreter, - Et en lieu seur tourner, - A leurs escuyers les liverent - Et à garder les commandement." - -[64] Ulrich von Lichtenstein, p. 70. Ulrich was a German knight, who lived -in the fourteenth century, and wrote his own memoirs. They often give us -curious glimpses into ancient chivalry. - -[65] Chaucer, in drawing his squire, had certainly in mind a passage from -his favourite poem, "The Romaunt of the Rose:"-- - - "Si avoient bien a Bachalier, - Que il sache de vieler, - De fleuter et de danser." - -I do not notice this circumstance on account of the literary coincidence, -but to shew that the squire of France and the squire of England were in -Chaucer's view the same character. - -[66] Du Cange, Dissert. 7. au Joinville, and Menage, Dict. Et. in verb. - -[67] Fairy Queen, book 2. canto 3. st. 46. - - "So to his steed he got, and 'gan to ride, - As one unfit therefore, that all might see - He had not trained been in chivalry; - Which well that valiant courser did discern; - For he despised to tread in dew degree, - But chaf'd and foam'd with courage fierce and stern, - And to be eas'd of that base burthen still did erne." - -In the old poem called the Siege of Karvalerock, a knight is praised for -not appearing on horseback like a man asleep. - - "Ki kant seroit sur le cheval, - Ne sembloit home ki someille." - -[68] Chaucer, Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Selden, Titles of Honour, -part 2. c. 3, 6. - -[69] Froissart, vol. 1. c. 321. 'The lord Langurant did that day marvels -in arms, so that his own men and also strangers had marvels of his deeds. -He advanced himself so much forward that he put his life in great -jeopardy, for they within the town (against whose walls he was standing on -a ladder,) by clean force raised his helm from his head, and so had been -dead without remedy, if a squire of his had not been there, who followed -him so near that he covered him with his target, and the lord and he -together descended down the ladder by little and little, and in their -descending they, received on their target many a great stroke. They were -greatly praised by all that saw them.'--Berner's Froissart. - -[70] Froissart, liv. 2. c. 24. - -[71] Rigordus in Du Chesne, vol. 5. p. 59. Mr. Maturin, in that powerful -and magnificent romance, the Albigenses, has made a very fine use of the -instance related above of the squirehood of Philip Augustus. - -[72] This strange practice prevailed, says Mr. Ellis, (Specimens of early -English Poetry, vol. i. p. 325.) at a time when the day-dress of both -sexes was much warmer than at present, it being generally bordered, and -often lined with furs; insomuch that numberless warrens were established -in the neighbourhood of London for the purpose of supplying its -inhabitants with rabbit skins. "Perhaps," continues Mr. Ellis, in his -usual style of pleasantry, "it was this warmth of clothing that enabled -our ancestors, in defiance of a northern climate, to serenade their -mistresses with as much perseverance as if they had lived under the torrid -zone." - -[73] This circumstance was satirised, as the reader must remember, by -Cervantes, who did not always spare chivalry itself in his good humoured -satire of the romances of chivalry. - -[74] Du Cange, articles Barbani radere, and Capilli. The complete shaving -of the head was not often submitted to by knights. It was generally -thought sufficient if a lock of hair was cut off. - -[75] In the Fabliau of the order of knighthood the exhortation is somewhat -different, and necessarily so, for the candidate was a Saracen. It was not -to be expected that he would vow to destroy his erring brethren. The -exhortation deserves to be extracted, for it contains some particulars not -noticed in the one which I have inserted in the text. Whether specially -mentioned or not, attendance at church and serving the ladies were always -regarded as essentials of a knight's duty. - - "Still to the truth direct thy strong desire, - And flee the very air where dwells a liar: - Fail not the mass, there still with reverend feet - Each morn be found, nor scant thy offering meet: - Each week's sixth day with fast subdue thy mind, - For 'twas the day of PASSION for mankind: - Else let some pious work, some deed of grace, - With substituted worth fulfil the place: - Haste thee, in fine, where dames complain of wrong, - Maintain their right, and in their cause be strong. - For not a wight there lives, if right I deem, - Who holds fair hope of well-deserv'd esteem, - But to the dames by strong devotion bound, - Their cause sustains, nor faints for toil or wound." - WAY'S _Fabliaux_, vol. i. p. 94. - -The expressive conciseness of the exhortation to the duties of knighthood -in the romance of Ysaie le Triste is admirable. "Chevalier soies cruel a -tes ennemys, debonnaire a tes amys, humble a non puissans, et aidez -toujours le droit a soustenir, et confons celluy qui tort a vefves dames, -poures pucelles et orphelins, et poures gens aymes toujours a ton pouvir, -et avec ce aime toujours Saincte Eglise." - -[76] The more distinguished the rank of the aspirant, the more -distinguished were those who put themselves forward to arm him. The -romances often state that the shield was given to a knight by a king of -Spain, the sword by a king of England, the helmet from a French sovereign, -&c. - -[77] The word dub is of pure Saxon origin. The French word adouber is -similar to the Latin adoptare, not adaptare, for knights were not made by -adapting the habiliments of chivalry to them, but by receiving them, or -being adopted into the order. Many writers have imagined that the accolade -was the last blow which the soldier might receive with impunity: but this -interpretation is not correct, for the squire was as jealous of his honour -as the knight. The origin of the accolade it is impossible to trace, but -it was clearly considered symbolical of the religious and moral duties of -knighthood, and was the only ceremony used when knights were made in -places (the field of battle, for instance,) where time and circumstances -did not allow of many ceremonies. - -[78] Caxton, Fayt of Armes and Chivalry, c. 49. Favyn Theatre of Honour, -liv. i. c. 6. Daniel, Hist. de la Milice Francaise, liv. i. c. 4. - -[79] Froissart, vol. i. c. 364. The romance writers made strange work of -this disposition of candidates for chivalry to receive the wished for -honours from the hands of redoubted heroes. In one of them a man wanted to -be knighted by the famous Sir Lancelot of the Lake. He however happened to -be dead, but that circumstance was of no consequence, for a sword was -placed in the right hand of the skeleton, and made to drop upon the neck -of the kneeling squire, who immediately rose a knight. - -[80] Pinkerton's History of Scotland, vol. i. p. 71. - -[81] Favyn, liv. iii. c. 12. Monstrelet, vol. vi. p. 82. Honoré, -Dissertations Historiques et Critiques sur la Chevaliere. 4to. Paris. -1718. p. 55. - -[82] Selden likens the degradation of a knight to the degradation of a -clergyman by the canon law, previously to his being delivered over to the -secular magistrate for punishment. The order of the clergy and the order -of knighthood were supposed to be saved from disgrace by this expulsion of -an unworthy member. Selden, Titles of Honour, p. 787. - -[83] Segar, Of Honour, lib. ii. c. 5. - -[84] Stow's Chronicle. - -[85] The iron of Poictou was particularly famous for making admirable -lance-heads; nor was it disliked as a shield. Thus an old French poet -says,-- - - "Et fu armé sor le cheval de pris, - D'Aubere, et d'iaume, d'escu Poitevin." - Du Cange, art. Ferrum Pictavense. - -The iron of Bourdeaux is frequently mentioned by Froissart as of excellent -use in armour. liv. 2. c. 117. 4. 6. And the old chronicle of Bertrand du -Guesclin says,-- - - "Un escuier y vint qui au comte lanca - D'une espée de Bourdeaux, qui moult chier li cousta." - -[86] Menage, Diction. Etym. in verb. - -[87] It is not worth while to say much about mere words. I shall only add -that the banner was sometimes called the Gonfanon. - - "Li Barons aurent gonfanons - Li chevaliers aurent penons." - -[88] This battle-axe is very amusingly described in the metrical romance -of Richard Coeur de Lion:-- - - "King Richard I understond, - Or he went out of Englond, - Let him make an axe for the nones, - To break therewith the Sarasyns bones. - The head was wrought right wele, - Therein was twenty pounds of steel, - And when he came into Cyprus land, - The ax he took in his hand. - All that he hit he all to-frapped, - The Griffons away fast rapped - Natheless many he cleaved, - And their unthanks there by lived, - And the prison when he came to, - With his ax he smot right thro, - Dores, barres, and iron-chains, - And delivered his men out of pains." - Line 2197, &c. - -[89] Monstrelet. Johnes' edit. vol. 5. p. 294. - -[90] Thus Pandaro the giant in Palmerin of England carried a huge -mallet:--but I need not multiply instances. - -[91] En loyal amour tout mon coeur, was a favourite motto on the shank of -a spur. - -[92] Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. 1. p. 193. - -[93] Chronicle of the Cid. p. 46. - -[94] Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. 1. p. 201. - -[95] Hoveden. - -[96] Pellicer's note on Don Quixote, edit. Madrid, 1798. Dillon's Travels -in Spain, p. 143. - -[97] Robert of Brune. - -[98] Wormius, Lit. Run. p. 110. Hickes Thes. vol. 1. p. 193. - -[99] The notion of applying the word jocosé to a sword is thus pleasantly -dilated on by St. Palaye. "Ils ont continuellement repandu sur toutes les -images de la guerre un air d'enjouement, qui leur est propre: ils n'ont -jamais parlé que comme d'une fête, d'un jeu, et d'un passe-temps. _Jouer -leur jeu_, ont-ils dit, les arbalétriers qui faisoient pleuvoir une grêle -de traits. _Jouer gros jeu_, pour donner battaile. _Jouer des mains_, et -une infinité d'autres façons de parler semblables se recontrent souvent -dans la lecture de recits militaires nos écrivains." - -[100] Ellis' Metrical Romances. 2. 362. - -[101] The shield therefore was fitted by its shape to bear a wounded -knight from the field, and to that use it was frequently applied. Another -purpose is alluded to in the spirited opening to the Lay of the Gentle -Bachelor. - - "What gentle Bachelor is he - Sword-begot in fighting field, - Rock'd and cradled in a shield, - Whose infant food a helm did yield." - -[102] Malmsbury, p. 170. - -[103] Dr. Meyrick, in his huge work on armour, divides the sorts of this -early mail into the rustred, the scaled, the trellissed, the purpointed, -and the tegulated. The grave precision of this enumeration will amuse the -curious enquirer into the infinite divisibility of matter. - -[104] In a masterly dissertation upon Ancient Armour, in the sixtieth -number of the Quarterly Review, it is said, that "though chain-mail was -impervious to a sword-cut, yet it afforded no defence against the bruising -stroke of the ponderous battle-axe and martel; it did not always resist -the shaft of the long or cross bow, and still less could it repel the -thrust of the lance or the long-pointed sword."--There is a slight mistake -here. All good coats of mail were formed of duplicated rings, and their -impenetrability to a lance thrust was an essential quality. "Induitur -lorica incomparabili, quæ maculis duplicibus intexta, nullius lanceæ -ictibus transforabilis haberetur." Mon. l. 1. ann. 1127. - -[105] Froissart describes Sir John Chandos as dressed in a long robe, -which fell to the ground, blazoned with his arms on white sarcenet, argent -a field gules, one on his breast, and another on his back. - -[106] Du Cange, Dissert. the first on Joinville. The extravagance of -people in the middle ages on the subject of furs is the theme of perpetual -complaint with contemporary authors. By two statutes of the English -parliament, holden at London in 1334 and 1363, all persons who could not -expend one hundred pounds a-year were forbidden to wear furs. - -[107] Du Cange, ubi supra. - -[108] Montfaucon, Pl. 2. xiv. 7. and Gough i. 137. - -[109] Fairy Queen, Book i. canto vii. st. 31, 32. - -[110] Shakspeare, Henry V. Act iii. sc. 7. - -[111] Fairy Queen, Book i. c. 7. st. 29. - -[112] Lay of the Knight and the Sword. - -[113] Froissart, livre i. c. 342. - -[114] Ellis's Specimens of Metrical Romances, i. 328. 366. - -[115] Monstrelet, Johnes's edition, vol. v. p. 121. 126., et prestement un -nommé Olivier Layet à l'ayde de Pierre Frotier lui bouta une espée par -dessoules son haulbergeon tout dedans le ventre, &c.--En apres le -dessusdit duc mis à mort, comme dit est fut tantost par les gens du -Daulphin desuestu de sa robbe, de son haulbergeon, &c. Monstrelet, vol. i. -c. 212, 213. - -[116] Books of military costume may illustrate the truth, how important -every man's occupation is in his own eyes. The old French writer, Fauchet, -has devoted some pages to a description of the regular process of -dressing, and his example has been followed by some of our English -antiquarians. - -[117] In Dr. Meyrick's three ponderous quartos on Armour there is one -interesting point: he shews that the celebrated title of the Black Prince, -which the Prince of Wales gained for his achievements at the battle of -Cressy, did not arise, as is generally supposed, from his wearing black -armour on that day, nor does it appear that he ever wore black armour at -all. Plain steel armour was his usual wear, and the surcoat was emblazoned -with the arms of England labelled. When he attended tournaments in France -or England he appeared in a surcoat with a shield, and his horse in a -caparison all black with the white feathers on them; so that the colour of -the covering of the armour, and not of the armour itself, gave him his -title. Dr. Meyrick thinks the common story an erroneous one, that the -ostrich feathers in the crest of our princes of Wales arose from young -Edward's taking that ornament from the helmet of the King of Bohemia, who -was slain by him at the battle of Cressy. He contends that the feathers -formed a _device_ on the banner of the monarch, and were not worn on the -helmet, because plumes of feathers were not used as crests till the -fifteenth century. That Dr. Meyrick has not been able to find any instance -of their being thus worn goes but very little way to prove the negative. -On the other hand, we know that the swan's neck, the feathers of favourite -birds, such as the peacock and pheasant, were devices on shields, and also -at the same time continually surmounted the helmet, and the ostrich -feathers, which ever since the crusades the western world had been -familiar with, might in all probability have been used in this twofold -manner. How the King of Bohemia wore his we do not know with historic -certainty, but it is very difficult to believe that he, or our chivalric -ancestors, with their love of splendid ornament, would have been contented -with placing the ostrich feathers as a mere device on a shield, and not -have also fixed it where they set every thing peculiarly graceful, on the -summit of the helm. - -[118] A very singular instance of the inconvenience of heavy armour -occurred in the year 1427, during a war between the Milanese and the -Venetians. Carmagnola, the Venetian General, had skilfully posted his army -behind a morass, the surface of which, from the dryness of the season, was -capable of bearing the weight of infantry. He irritated the enemy (the -Milanese) to attack him, by capturing the village of Macalo before their -eyes, but their heavy cavalry had no sooner charged along the causeway -intersecting the marshy ground, which he purposely left unguarded, than -his infantry assailed them with missiles on both flanks. In attempting to -repulse them the Milanese cuirassiers sank into the morass: their column -was crowded on the narrow passage, and thrown into confusion, and the -infantry of Carmagnola then venturing among them on the causeway, and -stabbing their horses, made prisoners of the dismounted cuirassiers to the -number of eight thousand, as they lay helpless under the enormous weight -of their own impervious armour. Perceval's History of Italy, vol. ii. p. -77. - -[119] Quarterly Review, No. lx. p. 351. - -[120] In marking the progress of chivalry through Italy I shall again have -occasion to notice the excellence of the Milanese armour. - -[121] Note 8. on Marmion, canto 5. - -[122] Grose, ii. 246. - -[123] Caxton, Fayt of Armes and of Chyvalrye, c. 62, &c. If the reader be -curious for information on the subject of the allegories which were formed -from the armour and dress of the Knights of the Garter and the Bath, he -will find it in Anstis's Register of the Garter, p. 119, 120, and his -History of the Knighthood of the Bath, p. 77-80. - -[124] - - Asturco dextrarius est, Astur caput ejus - Nam prius Astur equum dextrandi repperit usum. - Ebrardus Betuniensis in Græcismo, c. 7. - -[125] An Arabian horse. - -[126] Weak. - -[127] Lockhart's Spanish Ballads, p. 66. - -[128] William of Newbridge, c. 11. lib. ii. Brunetus in Thesauro, MS. part -1. c. 155, says "Il y a chevaus de plusieurs manieres, à ce que li un sont -déstreir quant pour li combat, li auter sont palefroy pour chevaucher à -l'aise de son cors pour li autres son roueis pour sommes porter," &c. and -the continuator of Nangis says, "Et apres venoient les grans chevaux et -palefrois du roy tres rechement ensellez, et les valets les menaient en -dextre sur autres roussins." - -[129] History of the Crusades, vol. i. p. 357. note. - -[130] Lest the reader's mind should wander in conjecture regarding the -purpose of barding a horse, I will transcribe, for his instruction and -illumination, a few lines from Dr. Meyrick's Chronological Inquiry into -Ancient Armour, vol. ii. p. 126. "The principal reason for arming the -horse in plate as well as his rider was to preserve his life, on which -depended the life or liberty of the man-at-arms himself; for when he was -unhorsed, the weight of his own armour prevented him from speedily -recovering himself or getting out of the way, when under the animal. -Besides this, by thus preserving the horse, the expence of another was -saved." Wonderful! - -[131] Statutes of the Templars, c. 37. - -[132] Vincent de Beauvais, Hist. lib. 30. c. 85. - -[133] From the Loka Lenna, or Strife of Loc, cited in the notes on Sir -Tristrem, p. 350.; St. Palaye, "Memoires sur l'ancienne Chevaliere," -partie 3.; Du Cange, Twenty-first Dissertation on Joinville; Glossary, -Arma Mutare, Companionship in weal and woe sanctioned by religious -solemnities, still exists among the Albanians and other people of the -eastern shore of the Adriatic. The custom is wrought into a very -interesting story in the tale of Anastasius, vol. i. c. 7. - -[134] Juv. des Ursins anno 1411. Vraye fraternité et compagnie d'armes, is -the frequent expression in old writers for this chivalric union. - -[135] Kennet's Parochial Antiquities, p. 57. cited in Henry's History of -England, vol. iii. p. 360. 4to. - -[136] The romance of Amys and Amylion. It is abridged by Mr. Ellis in the -third volume of his Specimens of early English Metrical Romances, and -inserted at length by Mr. Weber in the second volume of his collection. -The reader may be amused to learn that the mother of the children was so -complaisant to her husband as to approve of his having cut their little -throats. - - "O lef lief! she said tho, - God may send us children mo! - Of them have thou no care. - And if it were at my heart's root, - For to bring thy brother boot, - My life I would not spare. - There shall no man our children sene, - For to morrow they shall buried ben, - As they fairly dead were. - Thus that lady, fair and bright, - Comforted her lord with her might, - As ye may understand - Sin[A] they went both right - To Sir Amylion, that gentle knight, - That ever was fre to fonde[B] - When Sir Amylion awaked tho, - All his foulehead away was go - Through grace of God's Son. - Then was he as fair a man - As ever he was ere than - Since he was been in londe." - -The conclusion of the story shows the belief of the writer that heaven -approved of such sacrifices to friendship. - - "Then were they all blithe, - Their joy could no man kithe, - They thanked God that day. - As ye may at me liste and lythe.[C] - Into the chamber they went swythe.[D] - Ther as the children lay. - Without wern[E], without wound, - All whole the children there they found, - And lay together in play. - For joy they went there, they stood - And thanked God with mild mode - Their care was all away." - - [A] After. - - [B] That ever could be met with. - - [C] Now you must listen to me. - - [D] Quickly. - - [E] Scar. - -[137] It may be as well to notice that the barriers of a town, or its -outer fortification, are described by Froissart as being grated -pallisades, the grates being about half a foot wide. - -[138] The remainder of this knight's story should be told, although it -does not relate to the matter of the text. "In the suburbs he had a sore -encounter, for, as he passed on the pavement, he found before him a -bocher, a big man, who had well seen this knight pass by, and he held in -his hands a sharp heavy axe, with a long point; and as the knight -returned, and took no heed, this bocher came on his side and gave him such -a stroke between the neck and shoulders, that he fell upon his horse, and -yet he recovered; and then the bocher struck him again, so that the axe -entered into his body, so that, for pain, the knight fell to the earth, -and his horse ran away, and came to the squire who abode for his master at -the streets; and so the squire took the horse, and had great marvel what -was become of his master, for he had seen him ride to the barriers, and -strike thereat with his glaive, and return again. Then he rode a little -forth thitherward, and anon he saw his master laying upon the earth -between four men, who were striking him as they would strike an anvil. And -then the squire was so affrighted he durst not go farther, for he saw he -could not help his master. Therefore he returned as fast as he might; so -there the said knight was slain. And the knights that were at the gate -caused him to be buried in holy ground." Lord Berners's Froissart, c. 281. - -[139] Froissart, vol. i. c. 278. - -[140] Froissart, c. 281.; Gray's Descent of Odin.; Herbert's Icelandic -Translations, p. 39; Scott's Minstrelsy, vol. 1. p. 45. - -[141] Froissart c. 384. - -[142] Froissart, c. 28. "Et si avoit entre eux plusieurs jeunes -bacheliers, qui avoient chacun un oeil couvert de drap, à fin qu'ils n'en -puissent veoir; et disoit on que ceux là avoient voué, entre dames de leur -pais, que jamais ne verroient que d'un oeil jusques à ce qu'ils auroient -fait aucunes prouesses de leur corps en royaume de France." The -disposition of knights to make vows was an excellent subject for -Cervantes' raillery. "Tell her," continued I, (Don Quixote) "when she -least expects it, she will come to hear how I made an oath, as the Marquis -of Mantua did, when he found his nephew Baldwin ready to expire on the -mountains, never to eat upon a table-cloth, and several other particulars, -which he swore to observe, till he had revenged his death. So in the like -solemn manner will I swear, never to desist from traversing the habitable -globe, and ranging through all the seven parts of the world, more -indefatigably than ever was done by Prince Pedro of Portugal, till I have -freed her from her enchantment." Don Quixote, part 2. c. 23. - -[143] Every true knight said like him in the Morte d'Arthur, "Though the -knight be never so false, I will never slay him sleeping; for I will never -destroy the high order of knighthood." And again, "Well, I can deem that I -shall give him a fall. For it is no mastery, for my horse and I be both -fresh, and so are not his horse and he, and weet ye well that he will take -it for great unkindness, for every one good is loth to take another at -disadvantage." - -[144] The true son of chivalry was like Banquo, of whom Macbeth says, - - "'Tis much he dares; - And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, - He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour - To act in safety." - -Sir Philip Sidney excellently well describes the nature of chivalric -courage. "Their courage was guided with skill, and their skill was armed -with courage; neither did their hardiness darken their wit, nor their wit -cool their hardiness: both valiant as men despising death, and both -confident as unwonted to be overcome. Their feet steady, their hands -diligent, their eyes watchful, and their hearts resolute." Arcadia, p. 28. -Edit. 1590. - -[145] Morte d'Arthur. 1. 7. - -[146] Argentré, Histoire de la Bretagne, p. 391. - -[147] Limoges had revolted on account of a tax which had been imposed on -the English dominions in France, to pay the expences of the war, which had -had for its object the restoration of Peter the Cruel. - -[148] Froissart, liv. 1. c. 283. "Then the Prince, the Duke of Lancaster, -the Earl of Cambridge, the Earl of Pembroke, Sir Guiscard Dangle, and all -the others, with their companies, entered into the city, and all other -footmen ready apparelled, to do evil, and to pillage and rob the city, and -to slay men, women, and children; for so it was commanded them to do. It -was great pity to see the men, women and children that kneeled down on -their knees to the Prince for mercy, but he was so inflamed with ire, that -he took no heed to them, so that none was heard; but all put to death as -they were met withal, and such as were nothing culpable. There was no pity -taken of the poor people who wrought never no manner of treason; yet they -bought it dearer than the great personages, such as had done the evil and -trespass. There was not so hard a heart within the city of Limoges, and if -he had any remembrance of God, but that wept piteously for the great -mischief that they saw before their eyes: for more than three thousand -men, women and children were slain that day. God have mercy on their -souls, for I trow they were martyrs." Lord Berners' Translation. - -[149] Romance of Guy of Warwick. - -[150] Romance of Sir Otuel. And in the Morte d'Arthur it is said, "and -thus by assent of them both, they granted either other to rest, and so -they set them down upon two mole hills there beside the fighting place, -and either of them unlaced his helmet, and took the cold wind, for either -of their pages was fast by them to come when they called to lace their -harness, and to set them on again at their commandment." Morte d'Arthur. -lib. 8. c. 17. - -[151] Romance of Sir Ferumbras. - -[152] Froissart, liv. 2. c. 24. This story of Froissart reminds one of -Mortimer, - - "When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank, - In single opposition, hand to hand, - He did confound the best part of an hour - In changing hardiment with great Glendower: - Three times they breath'd, and three times did they drink, - Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood; - Who then, affrighted with their bloody looks, - Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds, - And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank, - Blood-stain'd with these valiant combatants." - Henry IV. Part 1. Act 1. Sc. iii. - -[153] Froissart liv. 1. c. 107. - -[154] Froissart, liv. 2. c. 145. - -[155] Froissart, liv. 2. c. 146. - -[156] Froissart, liv. 1. c. 149. 233. - -[157] Froissart, liv. 1. c. 235. 371. liv. 2. c. 152. - -[158] Thus Don Quixote pleasantly says in his enumeration of chivalric -qualities, "whoever possesses the science of knight errantry ought to be -learned in the laws, and understand distributive and commutative justice, -in order to right all mankind." - -[159] Fairy Queen, book iii. canto 1. st. 3.; and Tasso, with equal -attention to truth, thus describes the duty of a knight. - - Premer gli alteri, e sollevar gli imbelli, - Defender gli innocenti, e punir gli empi, - Fian l'arti lor. - La Ger. lib. 10. 76. - -[160] Piers Ploughman, first vision. - -[161] M. Paris. 45. - -[162] Matthew of Westminster, p. 353. - -[163] Froissart, 1. c. 361. 2. 124. 202. 203. - -[164] Froissart, 1. 46. - -[165] Fairy Queen, book ii. canto c. st. 41. - -[166] Even so judicious a writer as Mr. Dunlop says, (Hist. of Fiction, -vol. ii. p. 144.) that vigor of discipline was broken by want of unity of -command. St. Palaye, in whom want of acquaintance with the subject is less -excusable, says, "Si le pouvoir absolu, si l'unité du commandement est le -seul moyen d'entretenir la vigueur de la discipline, jamais elle ne dut -être moins solidement établie, et plus souvent ébranlée que du temps de -nos chevaliers. Quelle confusion, en effet, ne devoient point apporter -tant d'especes de chefs, dont les principes, les motifs et les interêts -n'etoient pas toujours d'accord, et qui ne tiroient point d'une même -source le droit de se faire obeir?" Memoires sur l'Ancienne Chevalerie, -partie 5. - -[167] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 26. - -[168] - - "Then said the gud Erl of Derby, - Lo! here a fair sight sykkyrly. - A fairer sight how may man see, - Than knight or squire which ever he be, - In-til his helm him thus got schryive? - When I shall pass out of this life, - I would God of his grace would send - To me a like manner to end." - Wyntown's Cronykil of Scotland, book viii. c. 35. - -[169] Caxton, Fayt of Armes and Chevalrie, fol. 40. - -[170] Ibid. c. 48. - -[171] Malmsbury, p. 186. - -[172] Lai of Aucassin and Nicolette. - -[173] Froissart, livre 1. c. 87. The romances of chivalry are full of -tales expressive of this feature of the knightly character. As amusing a -story as any is to be found in the Morte d'Arthur. "There came into the -court a lady that hight the lady of the lake. And she came on horseback, -richly bysene, and saluted King Arthur, and asked him a gift that he -promised her when she gave him the sword. 'That is sooth,' said Arthur, 'a -gift I promised you. Ask what ye will, and ye shall have it, an it be in -my power to give it.'--'Well,' saith the lady, 'I ask the head of the -knight that hath wore the sword, or the damsel's head that brought it. I -take no force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a -good knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father's -death.'--'Truly,' said King Arthur, 'I may not grant either of their heads -with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfill your -desire.'--'I will ask none other thing,' said the lady. When Balyn was -ready to depart, he saw the lady of the lake, that by her means had slain -Balyn's mother, and he had sought her three years; and when it was told -him that she asked his head of King Arthur, he went to her streyte, and -said, 'Evil be you found, you would have my head, and therefore shall lose -yours,' and with his sword lightly he smote off her head before King -Arthur. 'Alas! for shame,' said Arthur, 'why have you done so? you have -shamed me and all my court; for this was a lady that I was beholden to, -and hither she came under my safe-conduct. I shall never forgive you that -trespass.'--'Sir,' said Balyn, 'me forthinketh of your displeasure; for -this same lady was the untruest lady living, and by enchantment and -sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good knights, and she was -causer that my mother was burnt through her falsehood and -treachery.'--'What cause soever ye had,' said Arthur, 'you should have -forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the contrary, you shall -repent it, for such another despite had I never in my court, therefore -withdraw you out of my court in all haste that you may.'" Morte d'Arthur, -lib. ii. c. 3. - -[174] Malmsbury, p. 184. Quem cuilibet, quamvis infestissimo inimico -negare, laudabilium militum mos non est. - -[175] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 162. - -[176] Froissart, ii. 26. - -[177] This was part of the exhortation of a king of Portugal, on knighting -his son, according to a Portuguese historian, cited in Lord Lyttleton's -History of Henry II., vol. ii. p. 233. 4to. - -[178] Morte d'Arthur; first book of Sir Tristram, c. 34. - -[179] Caxton, c. 66. - -[180] The necessity of courtesy of manner was so important in the minds of -the old poets that they ascribed it not only to every favourite hero, but -even to animals, whether real or imaginary. Our moral poet Gower thus -gravely sets forth the politeness of a dragon. - - "With all the cheer that he may, - Toward the bed there as she lay, - Till he came to her the beddes side, - And she lay still and nothing cried; - For he did all his things fair, - And was courteous and debonair." - Confessio Amantis, lib. 6. fol. 138. - -[181] Extrait de l'Histoire de Du Gueslin, par P. H. Du Chastelet, p. 39, -&c. - -[182] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 47. It is difficult to fancy the extravagant -degree of estimation in which hawks were held during the chivalric ages. -As Mr. Rose says in one of his notes to the Romance of Partenopex of -Blois, they were considered as symbols of high estate, and as such were -constantly carried about by the nobility of both sexes. Barclay, in his -translation from Brandt, complains of the indecent usage of bringing them -into places appropriated to public worship; a practice which, in the case -of some individuals, appears to have been recognized as a right. The -treasurer of the church of Auxerre enjoyed the distinction of assisting at -divine service on solemn days, with a falcon on his fist; and the Lord of -Sassai held the privilege of perching his upon the altar. Nothing was -thought more dishonorable to a man of rank, than to give up his hawks, and -if he were taken prisoner, he would not resign them even as the price of -liberty. - -[183] Romance of Ipomydon. - -[184] Froissart, vol. i. c. 177; and Sir Walter Scott's note to the -Romance of Sir Tristrem, p. 274. - -[185] This statement of the objects of the minstrelsy art, is taken from a -manuscript cited by Tyrwhitt, Chaucer ii. 483. It is the railing of a sour -fanatic, who wished to destroy all the harmless pleasures of life. But we -may profit by his communication, while we despise his gloom. - -I shall add another description of the various subjects of minstrelsy from -the Lay le Fraine. - - "Some beth of war and some of woe, - And some of joy and mirth also; - And some of treachery and of guile, - Of old adventures that fell while; - And some of jests and ribaudy; - And many there beth of fairy; - Of all things that men see, - Most of love, forsooth, there be." - -[186] Sir Orpheo. - -[187] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 26. 52. 163. In Dr. Henderson's History of -Wines, p. 283, it is stated that our ancestors mixed honey and spices with -their wine, in order to correct its harshness and acidity, and to give it -an agreeable flavour. True, but it should also have been remarked that the -spices were not always mixed with the wine, but that they were served up -on a plate by themselves. This custom is proved from an amusing passage in -Froissart, which involves also another point of manners. Describing a -dinner at the castle of Tholouse, at which the king of France was present, -our chronicler says, "This was a great dinner and well stuffed of all -things; and after dinner and grace said, they took other pastimes in a -great chamber, and hearing of instruments, wherein the Earl of Foix -greatly delighted. Then wine and spices were brought, the Earl of Harcourt -served the king of his spice plate, and Sir Gerrard de la Pyen served the -Duke of Bourbon, and Sir Monnaut of Nouailles served the Earl of Foix." -Vol. ii. c. 264. Another passage is equally expressive: "The king alighted -at his palace, which was ready apparelled for him. There the king drank -and took spices, and his uncles also; and other prelates, lords, and -knights." Thus too, at a celebration of the order of the Golden Fleece, at -Ghent, in 1445, Olivier de la Marche, describing the dinner, says, -"Longuement dura le disner et le service. Là jouerent et sonnerent -menestries et trompettes; et herauts eurent grans dons, et crierent -largesse; et tables levées furent les espices aportées, et furent les -princes et les chevaliers servis d'espices et de vins, &c." Memoires, -d'Olivier de la Marche, in the vol. ix. c. 15. of the great collection of -French Memoirs: and in the Morte d'Arthur it is said they went unto Sir -Persauntes pavilion, and drank the wine and ate the spices. - -[188] He was a great personage, if wealth could confer dignity. The -hospital and priory of St. Bartholomew in Smithfield, London, were founded -by Royer or Raherus, the king's minstrel, in the third year of the reign -of Henry I. A. D. 1102. Percy, Essay on the Ancient Minstrels, p. 32. The -SERJEANT of the minstrels was another title for the head of the royal -minstrelsy. A circumstance that occurred in the reign of Edward IV. shews -the confidential character of this officer, and his facility of access to -the king at all hours and on all occasions. "And as he (king Edward IV.) -was in the north country in the month of September, as he lay in his bed, -one, named Alexander Carlisle, that was _serjeant of the minstrels_, came -to him in great haste, and bade him arise, for he had enemies coming." -This fact is mentioned by Warton, on the authority of an historical -fragment. ad calc. Sportti Chron. ed. Hearne, Oxon, 1729. - -[189] Wordsworth's Excursion, book ii. - -[190] Wood, Hist. Antiq. Un. Oxon. 1. 67. sub anno 1224; and Percy, Notes -on his Essay on the Ancient Minstrels, p. 64. - -[191] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 31. Writers on chivalry have too often -affirmed, that the minstrels besides singing, reciting, and playing on -musical instruments, added the entertainments of vaulting over ropes, -playing with the pendent sword, and practising various other feats of -juggling and buffoonery. That this was sometimes the case during all the -ages of the minstrelsy art, is probable enough, for the inferior minstrels -were in a dreadful state of indigence. But the disgraceful union of poetry -and juggling was not common in the best ages of chivalry. Chaucer -expressly separates the minstrel from the juggler. - - "There mightest thou karols seen, - And folk dance, and merry ben, - And made many a fair tourning - Upon the green grass springing. - There mightest thou see these flouters. - Minstrallis and eke jugelours." - Romaunt of the Rose, l. 759, &c. - -Other passages to the same effect are collected in Anstis Order of the -Garter, vol. i. p. 304; and Warton, History of English poetry, vol. ii. p. -55. As chivalry declined, minstrelsy was discountenanced, and its -professors, fallen in public esteem, were obliged to cultivate other arts -besides those of poetry and music. - -[192] Dunlop, History of Fiction, vol. i. p. 142. - -[193] Wace, a canon of Bayeux, and one of the most prolific rhimers that -ever practised the art of poetry, continually reminded the great of the -benefits which accrued to themselves from patronising poets. - - "Bien entend conuis e sai - Que tuit morrunt, e clerc, e lai; - E que mult ad curte decrée, - En pres la mort lur renumee; - Si per clerc ne est mis en livre, - Ne poet par el dureement vivre. - - * * * * - - Suvent aveient des barruns, - E des nobles dames beaus duns, - Pur mettre lur nuns en estroire, - Que tuz tens mais fust de eus memoire." - -MS. Bib. Reg. iv. c. 11. cited by Mr. Turner, History of England, vol. i. -p. 442. 4to. - -[194] This description (Spenser's) of chivalric manners, has sadly puzzled -his commentators. They are quite agreed, however, on one point, namely, -that to kiss the hand of a fair lady (which the word basciomani signified) -was not a custom indigenous to England, but that it was imported hither -from Italy or Spain. A preux chevalier of the olden time would have been -indignant at this insult to the originality of his gallantry. - -[195] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 26. - -[196] The Life of Ipomydon, Fytte, 1. - -[197] Thus in the Romance of Perceforest (cited by Ellis, Notes to Way's -Fabliaux, vol. i. p. 220) it is said, "There were eight hundred knights -all seated at table, and yet there was not one who had not a dame or -damsel at his plate!" - -In the tale of the Mule without a Bridle, it is said, - - "Fill'd with these views the attendant dwarf she sends: - Before the knight the dwarf respectful bends; - Kind greetings bears as to his lady's guest, - And prays his presence to adorn her feast. - The knight delays not; on a bed design'd - With gay magnificence the fair reclin'd - High o'er her head, on silver columns rais'd, - With broidering gems her proud pavilion blaz'd. - Herself, a paragon in every part, - Seem'd sovereign beauty deck'd with comeliest art. - With a sweet smile of condescending pride - She seats the courteous Gawaine by her side, - Scans with assiduous glance each rising wish, - Feeds from her food the partner of her dish!" - -[198] M. le Grand, in his valuable Histoire de la Vie Privée des Français, -has given us some very curious information regarding the mode of dressing -this distinguished bird. "It was generally," he says, "served up roasted. -Instead of plucking the bird (observes the Complete Housekeeper of former -times) skin it carefully so as not to damage the feathers; then cut off -the feet, stuff the body with spices and sweet herbs; roll a cloth round -the head, and then spit your bird. Sprinkle the cloth, all the time it is -roasting, to preserve its crest. When it is roasted enough, tie the feet -on again; remove the cloth; set up the crest; replace the skin; spread out -the tail, and so serve it up. Some people, instead of serving up the bird -in the feathers, carry their magnificence so far as to cover their peacock -with leaf gold: others have a very pleasant way of regaling their guests. -Just before they serve up, they cram the beak of their peacock with wool, -rubbed with camphor: then, when the dish is placed upon the table, they -set fire to the wool, and the bird instantly vomits out flames like a -little volcano." - -[199] Du Chesne, House of Montmorencí, liv. i. p. 29, &c. M. de Couci, (c. -7.) 664, &c. Olivier de la Marche, p. 412. Hist. de Boucicaut, ed. de -Godefroi. - -[200] Like Sir Guiscard Dangle, Earl of Huntingdon, who, according to -Froissart, possessed all the noble virtues that a knight ought to have, -for "he was merry, true, amourous, sage, sweet, liberal, preux, hardy, -adventurous, and chivalrous," vol. i. c. 384. - -[201] See the verses of Des Escas, a Troubadour at the court of the King -of Arragon. - -[202] Knight of the Tower, chap. "How goodly women ought to maintain -themselves courteously." - -[203] Sir Tristram, Fytte second, st. 13. and Scott's note. - -[204] Squire of Low Degree. - -[205] Sir Degore. - -[206] Romance of Guy of Warwick. - -[207] Knight of the Tower, chap. "How young maidens ought not lightly to -turn their heads here and there." - -[208] Knight of the Tower, chap. intitled, "Of them that will not wear -their good clothes on high feasts and holy-days," and, "How the daughter -of a knight lost her marriage." Memoires de Louis de la Tremouille, cap. -xii. p. 169, &c. in the 14th vol. of the great collection of French -Memoires. - -[209] Fairy Queen, book ii. canto 11. st. 49. - -[210] The manners of his times might, perhaps, have been the origin of -this picture, for even so late as the reign of Elizabeth, it is mentioned -among the accomplishments of the ladies of her court, that the eldest of -them are skilful surgeons. Harrison's Description of England, prefixed to -Holinshed. - -[211] Fairy Queen, book iii. canto 5. st. 31. 33. - -[212] Before the year 1680, when coaches were first used in England, as -Percy observes, ladies rode chiefly on horseback, either single on their -palfreys, or double behind some person on a pillion. Not but in case of -sickness, or bad weather, they had horse-litters, and even vehicles called -chairs, and carrs or charres. Note on the Northumberland Household Book. - -[213] It is evident that the good King of Hungary was a boon companion, -and we will fancy that it was from a very common and natural feeling, that -he supposed his daughter's inclinations similar to his own. Of the -formidable list of wines which he gives, some names declare their growths -very clearly; of the rest, I believe, that Rumney wine means the wine from -La Romanée, a vineyard of Burgundy. Dr. Henderson, however, suggests that -it was an Andalusian growth. Malmesyne was a Greek wine, from Malvagia in -the Morea, the original seat of the Malmsey grape. Vernage was perhaps a -Tuscan wine. Osey was Alsatian wine. Respice, (vin rapé) was the produce -of unbruised grapes, and Bastard was a sweet Spanish wine. - -[214] Baked meats were the usual food of our ancestors. Thus Chaucer says -of his Frankelein (the modern country squire), - - "Withoutin bake-mete never was his house." - -[215] Station. - -[216] Two species of hawks. - -[217] Sewed or quilted. - -[218] Rennes in Brittany was highly famous for its manufacture of linen. - -[219] Inlaid with jewels. - -[220] A modern princess, as Mr. Ellis says (Specimens of the early English -Poets, vol. i. p. 344), might possibly object to breathe the smoke of -pepper, cloves, and frankincense during her sleep; but the fondness of our -ancestors for those, and indeed for perfumes of all kinds was excessive. -Mr. Ellis adds, that in the foregoing description of diversions, the good -King of Hungary has forgotten one, which seems to have been as great a -favorite with the English and French as ever it was with the Turkish -ladies; this is the bath. It was considered, and with great reason, as the -best of all cosmetics; and Mr. Strutt has extracted from an old MS. of -prognostications, written in the time of Richard II., a medical caution to -the women, against "going to the bath _for beauty_" during the months of -March and November. Women also often bathed together for purposes of -conversation. The reader knows that the public baths were not always used -for such healthful and innocent purposes. - -[221] - - "Vos, modo venando, modo rus geniale colendo - Ponitis in varia tempora longa mora. - Aut fora vos retinent, aut unctæ dona palæstræ; - Flectitis aut fræno colla sequaris equi. - Nunc volucrem laqueo, nunc piscem ducitis hamo. - Diluitur posito serior hora mero. - His mihi submotæ, vel si minus acriter utar, - Quod faciam, superest, præter amare, nihil. - Quod superest, facio; teque, o mi sola voluptas, - Plus quoque, quam reddi quod mihi possit, amo." - Ovid. Ep. Hero Leandro. - -[222] Don Quixote affirmed, that no history ever made mention of any -knight errant that was not a lover; for were any knight free from the -impulses of that generous passion, he would not be allowed to be a lawful -knight, but a misborn intruder, and one who was not admitted within the -pale of knighthood at the door, but leaped the fence, and stole in like a -thief and a robber. Vivaldo, who was talking with the Don, asserted in -opposition to this opinion and statement, that Don Galaor, the brother of -Amadis de Gaul, never had any mistress in particular to recommend himself -to, and yet for all that he was not the less esteemed. Don Quixote, after -borrowing one of Sancho's proverbs, that one swallow never makes a summer, -replied that he knew Don Galaor was privately very much in love; and as -for his paying his addresses wherever he met with beauty, this was an -effect of his natural inclination, which he could not easily restrain. It -was an undeniable truth, concluded the Don, that Galaor had a favourite -lady whom he had crowned empress of his will; and to her he frequently -recommended himself in private, for he did not a little value himself upon -his discretion and secrecy in love. This defence of Galaor is very -amusing, and Vivaldo submitted to it. But he ought to have adduced the -opinions of that mad knight and merry talker of the Round Table, Sir -Dynadan, who marvelled what could ail Sir Tristram and many others of his -companions, that they were always sighing after women. "Why," said la -belle Isaud, "are you a knight and no lover? you cannot be called a good -knight, except you make a quarrel for a lady." "God defend me!" replied -Dynadan, "for the joy of love is so short, and the sorrow thereof and what -cometh thereof endureth so long." - - Morte d'Arthur, lib. i. c. 56. - -[223] Fairy Queen, book iv. canto 9. st. 21. - -[224] Gower's Confessio Amantis, book iv. p. 103, &c. - -[225] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 117 and 118. - -[226] Essais Histor. sur Paris, by St. Foix, vol. iii. p. 263, cited by -Strutt. Sports and Pastimes, &c. "As it happened, Sir Palomydis looked up -towards her (la belle Isaud) where she lay in the window, and he espied -how she laughed, and therewith he took such a rejoicing that he smote down -what with his spear and with his sword all that ever he met, for through -the sight of her he was so enamoured of her love, that he seemed at that -time, that had Sir Tristrem and Sir Launcelot been both against him, they -would have won no worship of him." Morte d'Arthur, book x. c. 70. - -[227] Lovelier. - -[228] Lived. - -[229] Romance of Ywaine and Gawin. - -[230] Froissart, c. 249. "Le duc de Lancastre avoit de son heritage en -Champaigne: c'estassavoir un chastel entre Troye et Chalons, qui -s'appelait Beaufort, et duquel un escuyer Anglais (qui se nommoit le -poursuivant d'amour) estait capitaine." - -[231] Froissart, liv. i. c. 7. - -[232] Barbour's Bruce, book vi. Hume's (of Godscroft) History of the House -of Douglas, p. 29, &c. - -The description of the good Lord James of Douglas, in Barbour's Bruce, is -not uninteresting. - - "In visage was he some deal gray, - And had black hair, as I heard say, - But then he was of limbs well made, - With bones great and shoulders braid. - His body well made and lenzie, - As they that saw him said to me. - When he was blyth he was lovely - And meek and sweet in company. - But who in battle might him see - Another countenance had he. - And in his speech he lispt some deal, - But that set him right wonder well." - The Bruce, p. 13. - -[233] Spenser's Fairy Queen, book i. canto 4. st. 1. - -[234] - - "E se la us fa gelos - E us en dona razo, - E us ditz c'ancre no fo - De so que dels huelhs vis, - Diguatz Don. En suy fiz - Que vos disetz vertat, - Mas yeu vay simiat." - -The name of the gentleman who thus consented to distrust the evidence of -his senses was Amanieu des Escas, a favourite troubadour in Spain during -the thirteenth century. One of the "statutes" in the Court of Love is, -according to Chaucer's report of it, pretty much in the same strain: - - "But think that she, so bounteous and fair, - Could not be false, imagine this algate, - And think that tongues wicked would her appair, - Slandering her name, and worshipful estate, - And lovers true to settin at debate, - And though thou seest a fault, right at thine eye, - Excuse it blith, and gloss it prettily." - Chaucer, Urry's edit. fol. 563. - -[235] Mr. Skottowe, in his Essays on Shakspeare (essays which have done -more for the right understanding of the great dramatist than all the works -of his commentators from Theobald to Malone), observes that, in the play -of Troilus and Cressida, a courtly knight of chivalry is often seen under -the name of a Trojan hero. The following challenge of Hector is conceived -and executed in the true chivalric spirit. - - "Kings, princes, lords, - If there be one, among the fair'st of Greece, - That holds his honour higher than his ease; - That seeks his praise more than he fears his peril; - That knows his valour, and knows not his fear; - That loves his mistress more than in confession, - (With truant vows to her own lips he loves,) - And dare avow her beauty and her worth, - In other arms than hers,--to him this challenge. - Hector, in view of Trojans and of Greeks, - Shall make it good, or do his best to do it. - He hath a lady, wiser, fairer, truer, - Than ever Greek did compass in his arms; - And will to-morrow with his trumpet call, - Midway between yon tents and walls of Troy, - To rouse a Grecian that is true in love: - If any come, Hector shall honour him; - If none, he'll say in Troy, when he retires, - The Grecian dames are sun-burn'd, and not worth - The splinter of a lance." - Troilus and Cressida, act i. sc. 3. - -[236] Cronique de Saintré, vol. iii. c. 65. - -[237] This society of the Penitents of Love is mentioned by the Chevalier -of the Tower, whose book I have so often quoted in illustration of the -chivalric character. - -[238] The Lai of Sir Gruélan. - -[239] Way's Fabliaux, vol. ii. p. 170. The _moral_ of the Lay of Aristotle -brings to mind Voltaire's two celebrated lines under a statue of Cupid:-- - - "Qui que tu sois, tu vois ton maitre, - Il l'est, le fut, ou le doit être." - -[240] Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 8, &c. - -[241] Ibid. p. 41. - -[242] Lai of the Canonesses and the Gray Nuns. - -[243] L'Histoire et plaisante Cronicque du petit Jehan de Saintré, vol. i. -c. 7. - -[244] Lai of the Countess of Vergy. - -[245] Romance of Guy of Warwick. - -[246] Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 104. - -[247] Romance of Sir Bevis. In Ariosto, the heroine Bradamante wishes -Rugiero to be baptized; and he replies, with great gallantry, that he -would put his head not only into water, but into fire, for the sake of her -love. - - Non che nell' acqua, disse, ma nel foco - Per tuo amor porre il capo mi fia poco. - Orlando Furioso, canto xxii. st. 36. - -[248] Don Quixote himself was not a greater idolater of the ladies, than -was the valiant Marshal Boucicaut, who, however, carried his fear of -impertinent intrusion to a more romantic pitch than perhaps the ladies -liked, for he would not even permit the knights of his banner to look a -second time at a window where a handsome woman was seated. Mémoires, -partie 3. c. 7. - -[249] Boucicaut, Mémoires, partie i. c. 38, 39. The commencement of the -letters of those knights of the lady in the green field is worthy of -insertion on account of its chivalric tone. "A toutes haultes et nobles -dames and damoiselles, et à tous seigneurs, chevaliers, et escuyers, apres -tous recommendations, font á sçavoir les treize chevaliers compagnons, -portans en leur devise l'escu verd à la dame blanche. Premièrement pour ce -que tout chevalier est tenu de droict de vouloir garder et deffendre -l'honneur, l'estat, les biens, la renommée, et la louange de toutes dames -et damoiselles de noble lignée, et que iceulx entre les autres sont tres -desirans de le vouloir faire, les prient et requierent que il leur plaise -que si aulcune ou aulcunes est ou sont par oultraige, ou force, contre -raison diminuées ou amoindries des choses dessus dictes, que celle ou -celles à qui le tort ou force en sera faicte veuille ou veuillent venir ou -envoyer requerir l'un des dicts chevaliers, tous ou partie d'iceulx, selon -ce que le cas le requerra, et le requis de par la dicte dame ou -damoiselle, soit un, tous ou partie, sont et veulent estre tenus de mettre -leurs corps pour leur droict garder et deffendre encontre tout autre -seigneur, chevalier, ou escuyer, en tout ce que chevalier se peut et doibt -employer au mestier d'armes, de tout leur pouvoir, de personne à personne, -jusques au nombre dessus dicts et au dessoutes, tant pour tant. Et en -breifs jours après la requeste à l'un, tous ou partie d'iceulx, faicte de -par les dictes dames ou damoiselles, ils veulent presentement eulx mettre -en tout debovir d'accomplir les choses dessus dictes, et si brief que -faire se pourra. Et s'il advenoit, que Dieu ne veuille que celuy au ceulx -qui par les dictes dames ou damoiselles seroient requis, eussent essoine -raisonnable; a fin que leur service et besongne ne se puisse en rien -retarder qu'il ne prist conclusion, le requis ou les requis seront tenus -de bailler prestement de leurs compaignons, par qui le dict faict seroit -et pouvoit estre mené à chef et accomply." - -[250] The Knight's Tale, l. 2108, &c. The following is Dryden's version of -the above lines. The spirit of the last two lines of Chaucer is entirely -lost. - - "Beside the champions, all of high degree, - Who knighthood lov'd and deeds of chivalry, - Throng'd to the lists, and envy'd to behold - The names of others, not their own, enroll'd. - Nor seems it strange, for every noble knight - Who loves the fair, and is endu'd with might, - In such a quarrel would be proud to fight." - -[251] Monstrelet, vol. vi. p. 167. Boucicaut, Memoirs, c. 382. - -[252] Froissart, liv. i. c. 389. - -[253] Froissart, liv. ii. c. 6.; liv. i. c. 124, 125. "Puis passerent -oultre destruisans le pais d'entour et vindrent ainsi jusques au chastel -de Poys: ou il y avoit bonne ville, et deux beaux chasteaux: mais nul des -seigneurs n'y estait, fors deux belles damoiselles, filles au Seigneur de -Poys: qui tost eussent esté violees, si n'eussent esté deux chevaliers -d'Angleterre; messire Jehan Chandos, et le sire de Basset: qui les -deffendirent: et pour les garder les menerent au roy: qui pour honneur -leur fit bonne chere, et leur demanda ou elles voudroyent estre, si disent -à Corbie. Là les fit le roi conduire sans pareil." - -[254] I have taken this story from Gibbon, (Antiquities of the House of -Brunswick, Miscellaneous Works, vol. iii. p. 530,) who says it is told (if -he is not mistaken) by the Spectator, and may certainly be supported by -ancient evidence. - -[255] Fairy Queen, book iii. canto 1. st. 49. - -[256] Ibid. book iii. canto 7. st. 60. - -[257] Another writer says, - - "Ah! well was he that he forebore to blame; - Misfortune be his lot and worldly shame, - Nor, dying, let him taste of heavenly bliss - Whoe'er of dame or damsel speaks amiss; - And sure no gentle clerk did ever vex - With foul discourtesy the gentle sex, - But churl or villain, of degenerate mind, - Brutal and base, the scandal of his kind." - S. Rose's Partenopex of Blois, canto ii. - -And in a similar strain of courtesy is the beginning of the Fabliau of -Constant du Hamel, as translated by M. Le Grand. "Je ne pardonne pas qu'on -se moque des dames. On doit toute sa vie les honorer et les servir et ne -leur parler jamais que pour leur dire choses courtoises. Qui agit -autrement est un vilain." - -[258] As the romance of the Rose says, - - "Les chevaliers mieux en valoient, - Les dames meilleures etoient - Et plus chastement en vivoient." - -[259] Caxton's Chevalier of the Tower, cap. "How every good woman ought to -keep her renommèe." - -[260] Ord. Vit. p. 687, &c. - -[261] Harleian MS. No. 166. 2087. p. 23. cited in Retrospective Review. -No. 19. p. 95. - -[262] Froissart, liv. i. c. 138. Lord Hailes is not pleased that the queen -should have shared in the honour of the battle, and wishes to doubt her -presence, because Froissart is the _only_ writer who states it. Upon which -Mr. Turner (History of England, vol. 2. p. 204, 8vo.) very judiciously -observes, that, if we disbelieve all the facts of this reign, for which we -have _only_ Froissart's authority, our scepticism must take a large sweep. - -[263] Wyntown's Cronykil of Scotland, book viii. c. 32. Lord Hailes, vol. -2. p. 218, 221. Border Antiquities, vol. ii. p. 170. - -[264] Avesbury, p. 97. Froissart, liv. i. c. 69. - -[265] La Comtesse de Montfort avoit courage d'homme et coeur de lion. Elle -estoit en la cité de Rénes, quand elle entendit que son seigneur fut -prins; et, combien qu'elle eust grand dueil au coeur, elle reconfortoit -tous ses amis vaillamment, et tous ses soudoyers: et leur monstroit un -petit fils (qu'elle avoit appelé Jehan, comme son pere) et leur disoit, -Haa, seigneurs, ne vous ébahissez mie de monseigneur, que nous avons -perdu. Ce n'estoit qu'un homme. Veez cy mon petit enfant, qui sera (si -Dieu plaist) son restorier, et vous sera des biens assez et j'ai de savoir -à planté; si vous en donneraz assez, et vous pourchaceray tel capitaine, -parquoy vous serez tous reconfortes. Froissart, liv. i. c. 73. - -[266] Mrs. Charles Stothard, in her interesting Tour through Normandy and -Brittany, observes (p. 231.) that the massive walls which once surrounded -the town of Hennebon, remain in many places entire, and must have been -impregnable in their strength and construction. - -[267] Froissart, c. 82. Lors descendit la Comtesse du Chastel, à joyeuse -chere, et vint baiser messiu Gautier de Manny et ses compaignons, les uns -apres les autre, deux fois ou trois, comme vaillante Dame. - -[268] Spenser, Vision of the World's Vanity, st. 9. - -[269] Like Gonzalo in the Tempest. "Now would I give a thousand furlongs -of sea for an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, any thing. -The wills above be done; but I would fain die a dry death." Act i. sc. 1. - -[270] The principal facts in the heroic life of the Countess of Mountfort -are recorded by Froissart, c. 68, 72, 80, 91, &c. Lobineau, Histoire de -Bretagne, vol. i. p. 320, &c. Argentré, Histoire de Bretagne, liv. vii. c. -9, 10. - -[271] Hist. Gen. de la France, l. 452. - -[272] See the chronicle of M. Villani in the 14th vol. of Muratori, Rerum -Scrip. Ital.; and Sismondi, Histoire des Rep. Ital. tom. vi. c. 45. Italy -has not many romantic associations, and there are now no remains of Cesena -to awaken the admiration of the traveller to the heroism of Marzia. -Forsyth, Remarks on Italy, vol. ii. p. 266. - -[273] Fairy Queen, book iii. canto 4, st. 1. - -[274] Ibid, book iii. canto ii. st. 27. - -[275] - - "The lady's heart was on him cast, - And she beheld him wonder fast; - Ever on him she cast her eye, - Ipomydon full well it seye[F]; - Anon it gave him in his thought, - To loke again let would be not. - Nor no more coward thought he to be - Of his looking than was she. - The lady perceived it full well, - Of all his looking every dell, - And therewith began to shame, - For she might lightly fall in blame, - If men perceived it any thing, - Betwixt them two such looking, - Then would they say all bydene[G], - That some love were them between; - Then should she fall in slander, - And lose much of her honour. - She thought to warn him privily, - By her cousin that set him by. - 'Jason,' she said, 'thou art to blame, - And therewith the ought to shame, - To behold my maid in vain; - Every man to other will sayne, - That betwixt you is some sin, - Of thy looking, I rede[H], thou blynne[I].' - Ipomydon him bethought anon, - Then that she blamed Jason, - Without deserving every dell: - But the encheson[J] he perceived well. - Down he looked and thought great shame, - That Jason bore for him the blame. - Still he sat, and said no more, - He thought to dwell no longer there." - Romance of Sir Ipomydon. - - [F] Saw. - - [G] Together. - - [H] Council. - - [I] Cease. - - [J] Occasion. - -[276] Full of frowardness, each mis-saying or reviling, as Ellis renders -the passage. - -[277] Lai le Fraine. - -[278] Du Cange gravely quotes Saint Isidore for this truth; and it is -credible even upon less solemn authority. - -[279] Thus Holingshed, speaking of a royal joust and martial tournament, -held at Smithfield in 1389, says, "And so many a noble course and other -martial feats were achieved in those four days, to the great contentation -and pleasure of many a young bachelor desirous to win fame." P. 474. edit. -1587. - -[280] The objects and tendencies of tournaments are extremely well -expressed by Jeffry of Monmouth:--"Many knights famous for feats of -chivalry were present, with apparel and arms of the same colour and -fashion. They formed a species of diversion, in imitation of a fight on -horseback; and the ladies being placed on the walls of the castles, darted -amorous glances on the combatants. None of these ladies esteemed any -knight worthy of her love but such as had given proof of his gallantry in -three several encounters. Thus the valour of the men encouraged chastity -in the women, and the attention of the women proved an incentive to the -soldier's bravery." Lib. ix. c. 12. - -[281] Holingshed, vol. ii. p. 252. reprint. - -[282] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 175. - -[283] Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. p. 311. 323. - -[284] The German nation, as it may be easily supposed, were more strict -than other people regarding the nature of the birth-right which authorised -a man to tourney. If any person be curious enough to enquire into the -fantastic subtleties of German heraldry about this matter, I refer him to -the Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. p. 293. 300. - -[285] M. Westm. p. 300. - -[286] Segar of Honor, lib. ii. c. 26. Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. -p. 302. There was a singular law in Germany, prohibiting from the -tournament those who had been the cause of imposing taxes or duties, or -had used their endeavours to get them imposed. Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, -vol. i. p. 304. - -[287] Croneca del Conde D. Pero Nino, p. 203., cited in the notes to the -preface to the reprint of the Morte d'Arthur, p. 61. - -[288] Monstrelet, vol. vi. p. 333. - -[289] Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. p. 323. - -[290] Chaucer, Knight's Tale, l. 2493, &c. So Froissart says, "On the next -day you might have seen in divers places of the city of London squires and -varlettes going about with harness, and doing other business of their -masters." Vol. ii. p. 273. - -[291] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 173. - -[292] Smithfield was famous many years earlier, both as the place of -sports and the horse-market of London. Fitzstephen, who wrote in the time -of Henry II., says, "Without one of the gates is a certain field[K], plain -(or smooth) both in name and situation. Every Friday, except some greater -festival come in the way, there is a brave sight of gallant horses to be -sold: many come out of the city to buy or look on, to wit, earls, barons, -knights, citizens, all resorting thither." - - [K] Smethfield, as it were Smoothfield. - - -[293] Du Cange, Dissertation 6. on Joinville. - -[294] Memoires d'Olivier de la Marche, liv. i. c. 14. - -[295] This feeling is exceedingly well expressed in a challenge given by -some foreign knights in England to the English chivalry. "Ever in courts -of great kings are wont to come knights of divers nations, and more to -this court of England, where are maintained knighthood and feats of arms -valiantly for the service of ladies in higher degrees and estates than in -any realm of the world: it beseemeth well to Don Francisco de Mendoza, and -Carflast De la Vega, that here, better than in any place, they may shew -their great desire that they have to serve their ladies." Antiquarian -Repertory, vol. i. p. 148. - -[296] elegant. - -[297] embroidery. - -[298] head-pieces. - -[299] ornamented dresses. - -[300] rubbing. - -[301] straps. - -[302] brazen drums. - -[303] Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, line 2498, &c. Chaucer must have had in -his imagination one of the splendid tournaments of the days of Edward III. -when he wrote these spirited lines; for there is much more circumstance in -his description than could have belonged to a simple joust between the two -knights, Palamon and Arcite. - -[304] Du Cange (Diss. 6. on Joinville) on the authority of an ancient MS. -regarding tournaments; and Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. p. 325. - -[305] Harleian MSS. No. 69. - -[306] Hist. de Charles VI. vol. ii. p. 120. fol. 1663. As every thing -regarding the ladies of chivalric as well as of other times is -interesting, no apology will be required for my hazarding a conjecture, -that the colour of the ribbon mentioned in the text was blue, the emblem -of constancy. - - "Lo, yonder folk, quoth she, that kneel in blue! - They wear the colour ay and ever shall, - In sign they were and ever will be true, - Withouten change." - Chaucer's Court of Love, l. 248, &c. - -The author of the Romance of Perceforest has made a strange exaggeration -of the custom of ladies sending favours to knights during the heat of a -tournament. He says, that at the end of one of those martial games, "Les -dames étoient si dénues de leur atours, que la plus grande partie étoit en -pur chef (mie tête) car elles s'en alloient les cheveux sur leurs epaules -gisans, plus jaunes que fin or, en plus leurs cottes sans manches, car -tous avoient donné aux chevaliers pour eux parer et guimples et chaperons, -manteaux et camises, manches et habits: mais quand elles se virent à tel -point, elles en furent ainsi comme toutes honteuses; mais sitost qu'elles -veirent que chacune étoit en tel point, elles se prirent toutes a rire de -leur adventure, car elles avoient donné leurs joyaux et leurs habits de si -grand coeur aux chevaliers, qu'elles ne s'appercevoient de leur dénuement -et devestemens." - -[307] The reader may wonder at this form of expression; but it proceeded -from the very noble principle of teaching young knights to emulate the -glories of their ancestors, and from the peculiar refinement and delicacy -of chivalry which argued that there was no knight so perfect, but who -might commit a fault, and so great a one as to efface the merit of all his -former good deeds. Heralds, therefore, observes Monstrelet, do not at -jousts and battles cry out, "Honour to the brave!" but they exclaim, -"Honour to the sons of the brave!" No knight can be deemed perfect, until -death has removed the possibility of his committing an offence against his -knighthood. "Il n'est nul si bon chevalier au monde qu'il ne puisse bien -faire une faute, voire si grande que tous les biens qu'il aura faits -devant seront adnihillez; et pour ce on ne crie aux joustes ne aux -batailles, aux preux, mais on crie bien aux fils des preux après la mort -de leur pere car nul chevalier ne peut estre jugé preux se ce n'est après -le trépassement." Monstrelet, vol. i. p. 29. - -[308] "To break across," the phrase for bad chivalry, did not die with the -lance. It was used by the writers of the Elizabethan age to express any -failure of wit or argument. To the same purpose, Celia, in "As You Like -it," says of Orlando, tauntingly, "O that's a brave man. He writes brave -verses, speaks brave words, swears brave oaths, and breaks them bravely, -quite traverse, athwart the heart of his lover, as a puny tilter, that -spurs his horse but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble goose." - -[309] The old English ordinances, fortunately, have been preserved, and -are exceedingly curious. - -The ordinances, statutes, and rules, made and enacted by John Earl of -Worcester, constable of England, by the kinge's commandement, at Windsor, -the 14th day of May, in the seventh year of his noble reign (Edward IV.), -to be observed and kept in all manner of justes of peace royal, within -this realm of England, before his highness or lieutenant, by his -commandment or licence, had from this time forth, reserving always to the -queen's highness and to the ladies there present, the attribution and gift -of the price, after the manner and form accustomed, the merits and -demerits attribute according to the articles following:-- - -First, whoso breaketh most spears, as they ought to be broken, shall have -the price. - -Item, whoso hitteth three times in the helm shall have the price. - -Item, whoso meteth two times coronel to coronel, shall have the price. - -Item, whoso beareth a man down with stroke of spear shall have the price. - - -How the Price should be lost. - -First, whoso striketh a horse shall have no price. - -Item, whoso striketh a man, his back turned, or disarmed of his spear, -shall have no price. - -Item, whoso hitteth the toil or tilt thrice shall have no price. - -Item, whoso unhelms himself twice shall have no price without his horse -fail him. - - -How Spears broken shall be allowed. - -First, whoso breaketh a spear between the saddle and the charnel of the -helm shall be allowed for one. - -Item, whoso breaketh a spear from the charnel upwards shall be allowed for -two. - -Item, whoso breaketh a spear so as he strike him down or put him out of -his saddle, or disarm him in such wise as he may not run the next course, -shall be allowed for three spears broken. - - -How Spears broken shall be disallowed. - -First, whoso breaketh on the saddle shall be disallowed for a spear -breaking. - -Item, whoso hits the toil or tilt over shall be disallowed for two. - -Item, whoso hitteth the toil twice, for the second time shall be abased -three. - -Item, whoso breaketh a spear within a foot of the coronall, shall be -judged as no spear broken, but a good attempt. - - -For the Price. - -First, whoso beareth a man down out of the saddle, or putteth him to the -earth, horse and man, shall have the price before him that striketh -coronall to coronall two times. - -Item, he that striketh coronall to coronall two times shall have the price -before him that striketh the sight three times. - -Item, he that striketh the sight three times shall have the price before -him that breaketh the most spears. - -Item, if there be any man that fortunately in this wise shall be deemed he -bode longest in the field helmed, and ran the fairest course, and gave the -greatest strokes, helping himself best with his spear. - - Antiquarian Repertory, l. 145, &c. - -[310] Olivier de la Marche, a hero of Burgundy in the fifteenth century, -thus describes a warder:--"Et tenoit le Duc de Bourgogne un petit blanc -baton en sa main pour jetter et faire séparer les champions, leurs armes -achivees, comme il est de coustume en tel cas." Memoires, p. 71. - -[311] Walsingham, p. 8. In early times, in England, those tournament -festivals were held about a round table, and therefore the tournaments -themselves were often called round tables. Walter Hemingford, vol. i. p. -7. ed. Hearne. - -[312] This was the address of the heralds after a tournament in the days -of Edward IV.:-- - -"Oyez, oyez, oyez, we let to understand to all princes and princesses, -lords, ladies, and gentlewomen of this noble court, and to all others to -whom it appertaineth, that the nobles that this day have exercised the -feats of arms at the tilt, tourney, and barriers, have every one behaved -themselves most valiantly, in shewing their prowess and valour worthy of -great praise. - -"And to begin, as touching the brave entry of the Lord ----, made by him -very gallantly, the King's Majesty more brave than he, and above all, the -Earl ----, unto whom the price of a very rich ring is given by the Queen's -Majesty, by the advice of other princesses, ladies, and gentlewomen of -this noble court. - -"And as touching the valiantness of the piques, the Duke of M. hath very -valiantly behaved himself, the Earl of P. better than he, and above all -others, the Earl of D., unto whom the price of a ring of gold with a ruby -is given, by the most high and mighty Princess the Queen of England, by -the advice aforesaid. - -"And as touching the valiantness of the sword, ---- knight hath very well -behaved himself, the Earl of N. better than he, and Sir J. P., knight, -above all the rest, unto whom is given the price of a ring of gold with a -diamond, by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by the advice of other -princesses, ladies, and gentlewomen. - -"And as touching the valiantness of the sword at the foil, Sir. W. R., -knight, hath very valiantly behaved himself, the Marquis of C. better than -he, and above all others, the King's Majesty, unto whom was given the -price of a ring of gold with a diamond, by the Queen's Majesty, by the -advice of other princesses, ladies, and gentlewomen. - -"Finally, touching the valiancy of the pique, the point abated, Thomas P. -hath well and valiantly behaved himself, Charles C. better than he, and -above all others, Z. S., unto whom was given by the Queen's Majesty a ring -of gold, by the advice of other princesses, ladies, and gentlewomen." - -[313] Knights are always mentioned as good or unskilful tilters, according -to the judgment of the ladies. Froissart, vol. ii. c. 234. Monstrelet, -vol. i. c. 10.; and see the last note. - -[314] The account of every tournament in our grave old chronicles warrants -the sentence in the Romance of Perceforest, "Pris ne doit ne peult estre -donne sans les _dames_; car pour elles sont toutes les prouesses fautes." - -[315] This form of thanks prevailed also at the joust, as we learn from an -account of one in the days of Edward IV. See Lansdowne MSS., British -Museum, No. 285. art. 7. - -[316] Ritterzeit und Ritterwesen, vol. i. p. 346. - -[317] A tournament of this three-fold description took place at St. Denys, -in the year 1389. - -[318] The love of our ancestors for tournaments is evident in a curious -passage of an ancient satirical poem, which Strutt has thus rendered: - - "If wealth, Sir Knight, perchance be thine, - In tournaments you're bound to shine; - Refuse--and all the world will swear, - You die not worth a rotten pear." - -[319] Mr. Sharon Turner (History of England, vol. i. p. 144. 4to. edit.) -says, that nothing could break the custom (of holding tournaments) but the -increased civilisation of the age. This is a mistake, for tournaments -increased in number as the world became more civilised. There were more -tournaments in the fourteenth century than in the thirteenth, and even so -late as the reign of Henry VIII. the whole of England seems to have been -parcelled out into tilting grounds. - -[320] "De his vero qui in torneamentis cadunt, nulla quæstio est, quin -vadant ad inferos, si non fuerint adjuti beneficio contritionis." Du Cange -on Joinville, Dissert. 6. - -[321] Still more absurd is the story of Matthew Paris, that Roger de -Toeny, a valiant knight, appeared after death to his brother Raoul, and -thus addressed him: "Jam et pænas vidi malorum, et gaudio beatorum; nec -non supplicia magna, quibus miser deputatus sum, oculis meis conspexi. Væ, -væ mihi, quare unquam torneamenta exercui, et ea tanto studio dilexi?" - -[322] Thus Lambert d'Ardres writes: "Cum omnino tunc temporis propter -Dominici sepulchri peregrinationem in toto orbe, interdicta fuissent -torneamenta." Du Cange, Diss. 6. on Joinville. - -[323] Du Cange calls any combat between two knights preliminary to a -general battle, a joust to the utterance. He might as well have called the -battle itself a joust. - -[324] The agreement was made in legal form, as we learn from Wyntown. Sir -David de Lindsay had a safe-conduct for his purpose, and came to London -with a retinue of twenty-eight persons,-- - - "Where he and all his company - Was well arrayed, and daintily, - And all purveyed at device. - There was his purpose to win prize: - With the Lord of the Wellis he - Thought til have done there a _journée_ (day's battle), - For both they were by _certane taillé_ - Obliged to do there that deed, _sauf faillie_ (without fail)." - -Macpherson says, that challenges of this sort were called taillés -indentures, because they were bonds of which duplicates were made having -indentures taillés answering to each other. - -[325] Holingshed, History of Scotland, p. 252. ed. 1587. Wyntown's -Cronykil of Scotland, book ix. c. 11. The Sir David de Lindsay, mentioned -above is the knight of whom Sir Walter Scott tells an amusing story in his -notes to Marmion, canto i. note 8. - -[326] "Or verra l'on s'il y a nul d'entre vous Anglois, qui soit -amoureux." Froissart, vol. ii. c. 55. Lyons's edit. - -[327] Froissart, i. 345. - -[328] Berners' Froissart, vol. i. c. 374. - -[329] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 78. - -[330] Some writers, confounding the joust with the duel, have said that -bearded darts, poisoned needles, razors, and similar weapons, were lawful -in the jousts. The instance to support this assertion is the challenge of -the Duke of Orleans to Henry IV. of England, recorded by Monstrelet, vol. -i. c. 9., where the Duke declined to use them. But Orleans challenged -Lancaster to a duel, and not to a chivalric joust. - -[331] Segar, of Honor, lib. iii. c. 13. - -[332] I do not know when exactly this truly chivalric circumstance -occurred. The story is told in a manuscript, in the Lansdowne Collection, -British Museum, No. 285. It is described as the challenge of an ancestor -of the Earl of Warwick, and the MS. bears date in the days of Edward IV. - -[333] Vous savez, et bien l'avez oui dire et recorder plusieurs fois, que -les ebatemens des dames et damoiselles encouragent voulontiers les coeurs -des jeunes gentils-hommes, et les elevent, en requerant et desirant tous -honneur. Froissart, vol. iv. c. 6. ed. Lyons, 1560. - -[334] "Ye may know well that Charles the French King was sore desirous to -be at those jousts: he was young and light of spirit, and glad to see new -things. It was shewed me that from the beginning to the ending he was -there present, disguised as unknown, so that none knew him but the Lord of -Garansyers, who came also with him as unknown, and every day returned to -Marquise." Froissart, vol. i. c. 168. - -[335] As the weather was bright, according to Froissart, I wonder he did -not, in his fondness for detail, mention the number of barrels of water -that were every evening poured on the dusty plain. On one occasion he -says, "The knights complained of the dust, so that some of them said they -lost their deeds by reason thereof. The King made provision for it: he -ordained more than two hundred barrels of water that watered the place, -whereby the ground was well amended, and yet the next day they had dust -enough, and too much." vol. ii. p. 157. - -[336] Du Cange (Dissertation 7. on Joinville) is incorrect in saying that -a joust seldom terminated without some knights being slain, or very -grievously wounded. The jousts at St. Ingilberte were on the most -extensive scale, and nothing worse than a flesh-wound or a bruise from -falling was felt, even by the most unskilful or unlucky knight. Froissart -perpetually describes jousts of three courses with lances, three strokes -with axes, three encounters both with swords and daggers; and generally -concludes with saying, "And when all was done, there was none of them -hurt." "You should have jousted more courteously," was the reproach of the -spectators to a knight, when his lance had pierced the shoulder of the -other jouster. Froissart, vol. ii. c. 161. Du Cange preserved no clear -idea in his mind of the difference between the joust _à la plaisance_ and -the joust _à l'outrance_, and most subsequent writers have only blindly -followed him. I shall notice in this place another popular error on the -subject of jousts. Mr. Strutt, (Sports and Pastimes of the People of -England, book iii. c. 1.) and an hundred writers after him, assert that -the authority of the ladies was more extensive in the joust than in the -tournament. Mr. Strutt says, that "in the days of chivalry jousts were -made in honor of the ladies, who presided as judges paramount over the -sports." Now there are many jousts mentioned in Froissart and other -chivalric historians that were held only in the presence of knights. But I -can find no instance of a tournament being held without ladies. The joust -was a martial exercise; but the tournament was connected with all the -circumstances of domestic life. - -[337] "Et si aimoit, par amour, jeune dame: dont en tous estats son -affaire en valoit grandement mieux." Froissart, vol. iii. c. 12. edit. -Lyons, 1560. - -[338] Froissart, vol. ii. c. 160. 162. 168. Memoires du Mareschal de -Boucicaut, partie i. c. 17. The writer of those memoirs, a contemporary of -Boucicaut's, in his zeal for his hero, gives all the honor to the French -knights. Juvenal des Ursins (p. 83, &c.) is more modest, and he makes -certain judges of the court compliment many of the knights for their -valiancy. - -[339] Most of these circumstances are unnoticed by our historians. I can -pardon their unacquaintance with the Lansdowne manuscripts, for those are -but recently acquired national treasures: but every scholar is supposed to -know the Biographia Britannica,--and in the article Caxton, some of the -chivalric features of the joust in question are mentioned. - -[340] A very amusing little volume might be made on the romance of -flowers, on the tales which poetry and fancy have invented to associate -the affections and the mind with plants, thus adding the pleasures of the -feelings and the imagination to those of the eye. The reader remembers the -Love in Idleness, in Shakspeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. The Floure of -Souvenance, the Forget-me-not, is an equally pleasing instance. The -application of this name to the Myosotis Scorpioidis of botanists is of -considerable antiquity: the story in the text proves that the plant with -its romantic associations was known in England as early as the days of our -Edward IV. The following tale of the origin of the fanciful name has been -communicated to me by my friend Anthony Todd Thomson, whose Lectures on -the Elements of Botany, at once scientific and popular, profound and -elegant, take a high place in the class of our most valuable works. - -"Two lovers were loitering on the margin of a lake, on a fine summer's -evening, when the maiden espied some of the flowers of Myosotis growing on -the water, close to the bank of an island, at some distance from the -shore. She expressed a desire to possess them, when her knight, in the -true spirit of chivalry, plunged into the water, and, swimming to the -spot, cropped the wished-for plant, but his strength was unable to fulfil -the object of his achievement, and feeling that he could not regain the -shore, although very near it, he threw the flowers upon the bank, and -casting a last affectionate look upon his lady-love, he cried, -'Forget-me-not,' and was buried in the waters." - -"There are three varieties of the plant," Mr. Thomson adds; "the one to -which the tradition of the name is attached is perennial, and grows in -marshes and on the margins of lakes." - -[341] The Lord Scales was a right good knight of worship, in spite of the -reflections on his courage which Edward IV. once threw out against him. -"The kyng hathe sayd of hym that even wyr he hathe most to do, then the -Lord Scalys wyll soonest axe leve to depart, and the kyng weenyth that it -is mist because of kowardyese." Paston Letters, vol. iv. p. 116. - -[342] Rymer, Foedera, tom. ii. p. 573. - -[343] Besides Holingshed, Stow, and other chroniclers, I have consulted -for this very interesting joust a curious collection of contemporary -documents, among the Lansdowne manuscripts (No. 285.) in the British -Museum. The Chevalier de la Marche accompanied the Bastard of Burgundy to -England, and his Memoirs furnish a few particulars not noticed by English -writers. His account of the joust itself differs from that of our -chroniclers, (whom I have followed,) for he makes all the advantage lie -with his own knight. It is neither possible nor important to discover the -truth. The spirit of the age which gave birth to the challenge and the -general interest excited by the joust are the points that deserve to be -marked. There is also much confusion regarding the dates of most of the -circumstances, and I hold my readers in too much respect to enter into any -arguments touching such trifling matters. Such few dates as are undoubted -I have mentioned. Let me add Hawkins's conjecture (Origin of the English -Drama, vol. iii. p. 91.), that the word _Burgullian_ or Burgonian meaning -a bully, a braggadochio, was derived from this joust. This is by no means -unlikely, observes Mr. Gifford, (note on Every Man in his Humour, act iv. -sc. 2.) for our ancestors, who were not over delicate, nor, generally -speaking, much overburdened with respect for the feelings of foreigners, -had a number of vituperative appellations derived from their real or -supposed ill qualities, of many of which the precise import cannot now be -ascertained. - -[344] Prendergast mistook Orris for a French knight. Orris afterwards -refused the honor intended him, expressing, however, very high compliments -to the chivalry of France, and merely stating his Arragonese descent, on -the ground, that no honest man ought to deny his country. - -[345] "Si prie au dieu d'amour qu'ainsi comme vous desirez l'amour de ma -dame la vostre, il ne vous l'ait de vostre dicte venue." Monstrelet, vol. -i. p. 3. ed. 1573. - -[346] Lest it should be thought that I am drawing from a romance, I -subjoin part of the original letter from the grave old chronicler -Monstrelet. "Je ne scay se le dieu d'amours qui vous enhorta et meit en -couraige de vosdictes, lettres quand les envoyes, ait en aucune chose esté -si despleu: parquoy il ait changé ses conditions anciennes, qui souloient -estre telles que pour esbaudir armes et à cognoistre chevalerie. Il tenoit -les nobles de sa court en si royalle gouvernance, que pour accroissement -de leur honneur, apres ce qu'ils avoient fait leur dicte emprise, jusques -à tant que fin en fut faicte: ne aussi ne faisoient leurs compagnons -frayer, travailler, ne despendre leurs biens en vain. Non pourtant que n'y -voudroye pas qu'il trouvast celle deffaute en moy, si qu'il eut cause de -moy bannir de sa court. Je vueil encores demourer par deça jusques au -huictiesme jour de ce present mois de May preste a l'ayde de Dieu, de St. -George, et de St. Anthoine à vous deliverir, ainsi que ma dame et la -vostre le puissent scavoir que pour reverence d'icelles j'ai voulenté de -vous aiser de vostre griefue: qui par long temps vous a desaisié comme -vosdictes lettres contiennent: pourquoy aussi vous avez cause de desirer -vostre allegeance. Apres le quel temps se venir ne voulez, je pense au -plaisir de Dieu de m'enretourner en Angleterre par devers nos dames: -ausquelles j'ai espai en Dieu que sera tesgmoigné par chevaliers et -escuyers que je n'ai en riens mesprins envers le dit dieu d'amours: le -quel vueille avoir lesdits madame et la vostre pour recommandées, sans -avoir desplaisir envers elles pour quelque course qui soit advenue." - -[347] Monstrelet, vol. i. c. 1. - -[348] The phrase, the passage of arms, is used in the romance of Ivanhoe -as a general expression for chivalric games. But this is incorrect; for -the defence of a particular spot was the essential and distinguishing -quality of the exercise in question. Now there was no such circumstance in -the affair near Ashby-de-la-Zouche. Five knights challengers undertook to -answer all comers, but it was not expected that those comers should -attempt to pass any particular place. The encounters which were the -consequences of the challenges were simple jousts, and constituted the -first day's sport, on the second day there was a general tourney or mélée -of knights, and as in chivalric times the tournament was always regarded -as the chief military exercise, the amusements at Ashby-de-la-Zouch were a -tournament, and by that name, indeed, the author of Ivanhoe has sometimes -called them. - -[349] The challenge of the Lord of Chargny is contained in Monstrelet, -vol. viii. c. 60, 61. The description of the passage of arms is given by -Olivier de la Marche in his Mémoires, c. 9. There are many other passages -of arms recorded in the histories of the middle ages, but there is only -one of them of interest, and it will find a place in my description of the -progress of chivalry in Spain. - -[350] Nicetas, Hist. Byzant. 1. iii. c. 3. Johannes Cantacuzenus, 1. i. c. -42. - -[351] Wordsworth. - -[352] I may observe, however, that the ancient Templars were so dreadfully -afraid of their virtue, that they forbad themselves the pleasure of -looking in a fair woman's face; at least the statutes attempted to put -down this instinct of nature. No brother of the Temple was permitted to -kiss maid, wife, or widow, his sister, mother, or any relation whatever. -The statute gravely adds, that it behoves the knights of Jesus Christ to -avoid the kisses of women, in order that they may always walk with a pure -conscience before the Lord. I shall transcribe the statute in the original -Latin, and I hope that it will not be perused with that levity which an -allusion to it during Rebecca's trial at Temple-stowe excited in the -younger members of the valiant and venerable order of the Temple. The -title is sufficiently ascetic,--Ut omnium mulierum oscula fugiantur. It -proceeds thus:--"Periculosum esse credimus omni religioni, vultum mulierum -nimis attendere, et ideo nec viduam, nec virginem, nec matrem, nec -sororem, nec amitam, nec ullam aliam foeminam aliquis frater osculari -præsumat. Fugiat ergo foeminea oscula Christi Militia, per quæ solent -homines sæpe periclitari, ut pura conscientia, et secura vita, in -conspectu Domini perenniter valeat conversare." Cap. 72. - -[353] Statutes, c. 51. 55. - -[354] "I was a Scotsman ere I was a Templar," is the assertion of Vipont -in the dramatic sketch of Halidon Hill,--a sentiment confessedly borrowed -from the story of the Venetian General, who, observing that his soldiers -testified some unwillingness to fight against those of the Pope whom they -regarded as father of the church, addressed them in terms of similar -encouragement:--"Fight on--we were Venetians before we were Christians." - -[355] The Templars find no favour in the eyes of the author of Ivanhoe, -and Tales of the Crusaders. He has imbibed all the vulgar prejudices -against the order; and when he wants a villain to form the shadow of his -scene, he as regularly and unscrupulously resorts to the fraternity of the -Temple, as other novelists refer to the church, or to Italy, for a similar -purpose. - -[356] The Pope (Clement V.) committed the glaring absurdity of making a -provisional decree to be executed in perpetuity. The bull which he issued -at the council of Vienne, without asking the judgment of the assembled -bishops and others, declares, that although he cannot of right, -consistently with the Inquisition and proceedings, pronounce a definitive -sentence, yet by way of apostolical provision and regulation, he -perpetually prohibited people from entering into the order and calling -themselves Templars. The penalty of the greater excommunication was held -out as a punishment for offending. - -[357] I add a complete list of the grand masters of the Temple, from the -time of Jacques de Molai to these days. (Manuel des Chevaliers de l'Order -du Temple. Paris. 1817.) - - A.D. - Johannes Marcus Larmenius, Hierosolymetanus 1314 - Thomas Theobaldus, Alexandrinus 1324 - Arnaldus de Braque 1340 - Johannes Claromontanus 1349 - Bertrandus Du Guesclin 1357 - Johannes Arminiacus 1381 - Bernardus Arminiacus 1392 - Johannes Arminiacus 1419 - Johannes Croyus 1451 - Bernardus Imbaultius, Vic. Mag. Afric. (Regens.) 1472 - Robertus Lenoncurtius 1478 - Galeatius de Salazar 1497 - Philippus Chabotius 1516 - Gaspardus de Salceaco, Tavannensis 1544 - Henricus de Montmorenciaco 1574 - Carolus Valesius 1615 - Jacobus Ruxellius de Granceio 1651 - Jacobus Henricus de Duroforti, Dux de Duras 1681 - Philippus, Dux de Aurelianensis 1705 - Ludovicus-Augustus Borbonius, Dux de Maine 1724 - Ludovicus-Henricus Borbonius, Condæus 1737 - Ludovicus-Franciscus Borbonius, Conty 1741 - Ludovicus-Henricus Timoleo de Cossé Brissac 1776 - Claudius Mathæus Radix de Chevillon, Vic. Mag. Europ. (Regens.) 1792 - Bernardus-Raymundus Fabré Palaprat 1804 - -[358] "I would fain know," quoth Sancho, "why the Spaniards call upon that -same St. James, the destroyer of the Moors: just when they are going to -give battle, they cry, St. Jago and close Spain. Pray is Spain open, that -it wants to be closed up? What do you make of that ceremony?"--"Thou art a -very simple fellow, Sancho," answered Don Quixote. "Thou must know, that -heaven gave to Spain this mighty champion of the Red Cross, for its patron -and protector, especially in the desperate engagements which the Spaniards -had with the Moors; and therefore they invoke him, in all their martial -encounters, as their protector; and many times he has been personally seen -cutting and slaying, overthrowing, trampling, and destroying the Moorish -squadrons; of which I could give thee many examples deduced from authentic -Spanish histories." Don Quixote, part ii. c. 58. - -[359] The words are these:--Y asi mesmo hago voto, detener, voto defender, -y guardar en publico, y en secreto, que la Vergen Maria Madre de Dios, y -senora nuestra, fue concebida sin mancha de peccato original. - -[360] Favyne. Theat. d'Honneur, l. 6. c. 5. Carode Torres, Hist. de las -Ordines Militares, l. 1. Mariana, l. 7. c. 10. - -[361] Mennenius, Delic. Equest. p. 99, &c. Marquez Tesoro Milit. de -Cavale., p. 286. Favyn, Theat. de l'Honneur, lib. 6. - -[362] Mennen. Delic. Equest. p. 102, &c. Miræus, and Fr. Caro de Torres, -in locis. - -[363] Without rule. - -[364] Chaucer's Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. - -[365] Reman, Hist. Gen. de la Ordere de la Mercie, passim. Mennen. Del. -Eq. p. 107. - -[366] Marquez, Tesoro Milit. 35, &c. - -[367] Caligula. D. 6. in Bib. Cott. (cited in Anstis, Register of the Most -Noble Order of the Garter, vol. i. p. 66.) "Que le Roy ne povoit avec son -honneur bailler aide et assistence a icelluy son bon frere et cousin a -l'encontre du Roy de Naples, qui estoit son confrere et allye, veu et -considere qu'il avoit prins et receu l'ordre de la Jarretiere. Et si le -roi autrement faisoit ce seroit contrevenir au serment, qu'il a fait par -les statuz du dit ordre," &c. - -[368] This assertion may be supported by some lines in a poem which -Chaucer addressed to the Lords and Knights of the Garter. He says to them, - - "Do forth, do forth, continue your succour, - Hold up Christ's banner, let it not fall." - -And again: - - "Ye Lordis eke, shining in noble fame, - To which appropred is the maintenance - Of Christ 'is cause; in honour of his name, - Shove on, and put his foes to utterance." - -[369] Ashmole on the Garter, c. iv. s. 5. - -[370] This rule did not escape Cervantes. "If I do not complain of the -pain," says Don Quixote, after the disastrous chance of the windmills, "it -is because a knight-errant must never complain of his wounds, though his -bowels were dropping out through them."--"Then I have no more to say," -quoth Sancho; "and yet, heaven knows my heart, I should be glad to hear -your worship hone a little now and then when something ails you; for my -part, I shall not fail to bemoan myself when I suffer the smallest pain, -unless, indeed, it can be proved, that the rule of not complaining extends -to the squires as well as knights." Don Quixote, part i. book 1. c. 8. - -[371] Favyn, lib. vi. Mariana, lib. xvi. c. 2. - -[372] Favyn, lib. iii. c. 12. - -[373] Giraldus says, that the leg-bone of Arthur was three fingers longer -than that of the tallest man present at the opening. Selden, in his -Illustrations of Drayton, gives a very interesting account of the -discovery of Great Arthur's tomb. "Henry II., in his expedition towards -Ireland, was entertained by the way, in Wales, with bardish songs, wherein -he heard it affirmed, that in Glastonbury (made almost an isle by the -river's embracements) Arthur was buried betwixt two pillars; he gave -commandment to Henry of Blois, then abbot, to make search for the corpse; -which was found in a wooden coffin some sixteen foote deepe; but, after -they had digged nine foot, they found a stone, on whose lower side was -fixt a leaden cross with his name inscribed, and the letter-side of it -turned to the stone. He was then honored with a sumptuous monument; and, -afterwards, the skulls of him and his wife Guinever were taken out (to -remain as separate reliques and spectacles) by Edward Longshanks and -Eleanor. The bards sang, that, after the battle of Camlan, in Cornwall, -where traitorous Mordred was slain, and Arthur wounded, Morgan le Fay -conveyed the body hither to cure it; which done, Arthur is to return (yet -expected) to the rule of his country." - -[374] At the high feast, evermore, there should be fulfilled the hole -number of an hundred and fifty, for then was the Round Table fully -accomplished. Morte d'Arthur, lib. vii. c. 1. - -[375] The general objects of the knights of the Round Table are -exceedingly well stated in the following fine passage of genuine, -expressive old English:--"Then King Arthur stablished all his knights, and -to them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and charged them -never to do outrageouste, nor murder, and always to flee treason. Also by -no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asketh mercy, upon -pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordships to King Arthur, for -evermore; and always to do ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen, succour, upon -pain of death. Also, that no man take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for -no law, nor for no world's goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of -the table round, both old and young. And every year were they sworn at the -high feast of Pentecost." Morte d'Arthur, lib. iv. c. last. - -[376] Morte d'Arthur, lib. ult. cap. ult. - -[377] Ashmole, p. 105. - -[378] Pp. 5. 9. 11. ante. - -[379] The exact degree of this influence it is impossible to ascertain -now. The author of the romance of Ivanhoe appears to deny it altogether; -and while he represents the Normans as perfectly chivalric, he describes, -for the sake of contrast, the Anglo-Saxons as totally unadorned with the -graces of knighthood. This is a sacrifice of historic truth to dramatic -effect, and materially detracts from the merit of Ivanhoe as a faithful -picture of ancient manners. - -[380] Glaber Rod. c. 5. - -[381] Snorre. Malmsbury, p. 174. - -[382] Ingulf, p. 512. Order. Vit. p. 460. 463, &c. Malmsbury, passim. -Dudo, p. 82. - -[383] Magna Charta, cl. xiv. - -[384] Lord Lyttleton gives no higher date to this compulsory knighthood -than the reign of Henry III. But it surely must have existed earlier, as -it seems the natural consequence of the change of constitution, effected -by William I., by his uniting chivalry to feudalism. - -[385] Wace tells us that William Rufus never could hear a knight of -prowess spoken of without endeavouring to engage his services. - - "Li reis ros fu de grant noblesce - Proz, et de mult grant largesce. - N'oist de chevalier parler, - Qui de proesse oist loer, - Qui en son breif escrit ne fust, - Et qui par an del soen n'eust." - -[386] H. Huntingdon, p. 381. Order. Vit. 854, &c. - -[387] Stephan. Descrip. Lond. p. 7. - -[388] Malmsbury, p. 121. - -[389] Vinesauf, p. 338. - -[390] Hoveden, p. 673. This principle of chivalric pride did not escape -the good-humoured ridicule of Cervantes. "As for myself," answered the -bruised Don Quixote, after his battle with the Yanguesian carriers, "I -must own I cannot set a term to the days of our recovery; but it is I who -am the fatal cause of all this mischief; for I ought not to have drawn my -sword upon a company of fellows, upon whom the honor of knighthood was -never conferred; and I do not doubt, but that the Lord of Hosts suffered -this punishment to befall me for thus transgressing the laws of chivalry. -Therefore, friend Sancho, observe what I am going to tell thee, for it is -a thing that highly concerns the welfare of us both: it is, that, for the -future, whenever thou perceivest us to be any ways abused by such inferior -fellows, thou art not to expect I should offer to draw my sword against -them, for I will not do it in the least; no, do thou then draw, and -chastise them as thou thinkest fit; but if any knights come to take their -parts, then will I be sure to step between thee and danger, and assault -them with the utmost vigour and intrepidity." Don Quixote, part i. book 3. -c. 1. - -[391] Hoveden, p. 687. - -[392] William of Newbridge, lib. v. c. 4. - -[393] M. of Westminster, p. 300. - -[394] Walsingham, p. 13. - -[395] Matthew of Westminster, p. 402. Hemingford, p. 592. - -[396] Walsingham, p. 8. Leland's Collectanea, p. 177. - -[397] He sent the head up to London, adorned in derision with a silver -crown, that it might be exhibited to the populace in Cheapside, and fixed -upon the Tower. Knyghton, p. 2465. Mr. Sharon Turner (History of England, -vol. ii. p. 44.) judiciously contrasts the conduct of Edward with the -reprimand of William the Conqueror, to the knight who had wounded the dead -body of Harold. - -[398] Matthew of Westminster, p. 460. - -[399] The chamberlain of Scotland was directed by Edward I., A. D. 1306, -to fit up one of the turrets of the castle of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and -therein to build a strong cage of lattice-work, constructed with stout -posts and bars, and well strengthened with iron. The Countess was -prohibited from speaking with any person, Scotch or English, except the -keeper of the castle and a woman or two of the town of Berwick, appointed -by him to deliver her food. The sister of Robert Bruce was prisoner at the -same time, and treated in the same manner. Lord Hailes's observation on -this passage is amusing. "To those who have no notion of any cage but one -for a parrot or a squirrel, hung out at a window, I despair of rendering -this mandate intelligible." - -[400] Matthew of Westminster, p. 457, &c. Trevet, p. 343. - -[401] This was the good Lord James of Douglas, of whom see p. 205 ante. - -[402] many. - -[403] displayed. - -[404] many. - -[405] battalions. - -[406] alarmed. - -[407] gleamed. - -[408] flame of fire. - -[409] flowing. - -[410] waving. - -[411] Sir Walter Scott has made King Edward the author of this unknightly -conduct - - "'Knows't thou,' he said, 'De Argentine, - Yon knight who marshals thus their line?'-- - 'The tokens on his helmet tell - The Bruce my liege: I know him well.'-- - 'And shall the audacious traitor brave - The presence where our banners wave?'-- - 'So please my liege,' said Argentine, - 'Were he but hors'd on steed like mine, - To give him fair and knightly chance, - I would adventure forth my lance.'-- - 'In battle-day,' the King replied, - 'Nice tourney rules are set aside. - --Still must the rebel dare our wrath? - Set on--sweep him from our path.' - And at King Edward's signal, soon - Dash'd from the ranks Sir Henry Boune." - The Lord of the Isles, canto vi. st. 14. - -[412] companions. - -[413] haste. - -[414] without shrinking. - -[415] haste. - -[416] spurred. - -[417] line. - -[418] moan. - -[419] heavy clash. - -[420] broken. - -[421] flat. - -[422] - - "For the king had said him rudely, - That a rose off his chaplet - Has fallen; for quhar[L] he was set - To kep the way these men were past." - Barbour, vol. ii p. 545-548. - - [L] where. - -[423] Mon. Malms., p. 149, &c. Moor, p. 594. Fordun, vol. xii. p. 20. -Scala Chronica, p. 547. Dalrymple, vol. ii. p. 45, &c. - -[424] Trokelowe in Hearne, p. 52. Moor in Camden, Angl. Norm. p. 595. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of Chivalry, Volume I (of -2), by Charles Mills - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF CHIVALRY, VOL 1 *** - -***** This file should be named 40021-8.txt or 40021-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/0/2/40021/ - -Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at -http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images -generously made available by The Internet Archive.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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