The History of Chivalry

f a Knight-On Tournaments-Jousts-Combats at Outrance-Passages of A

r the most part unknown to the infancy of Chivalry, I think it right to notice here the principal peculiarities of the institution, rather th

he first institution of Chivalry every one became covetous of the distinction, and it naturally followed that the object of each boy's aspirations, the aim of every young man's ambition, was one day to be a knight. Those, however, who had already received

to all climes and all centuries, the great feudatories of the crown copied the household of the sovereign, and the petty barons imitated them. Each had his crowd of officers, and squires, and pages, and varlets

d or too poor to educate him to the art of war was willingly received in the dwelling of a neighbouring baron, who took care that his pupil shou

of Chivalry. They were then in general sent from home, those fathers even, who possessed the means of conducting their education themselves, preferring to intrust it to some other noble k

from all the soft kindnesses of home, was that of page or varlet, which, though it implied e

ove, which was so peculiar a trait in the Chivalry of old. In the mean while the rest of their days were passed in the service of their lord, accompanying him in his excursions, serving him at table, pouring out

, by continually mingling with the guests of the castle, receiving them on their arrival, offering them every sort of service, and listening respectfully to the conver

was made a religious ceremony; and the weapon which he was in future to wear was laid upon the altar, from whence it was taken by the prie

other hold than one hand laid upon his shoulder-such, and many others, were the daily exercises of the young noble, besides regular instruction in riding and managing his arms. Though it would seem at first that few constitutions could undergo for any length of time such violent exertions, we must remember the effects produced-we must call to mind that these very men in their after-life, are found bearing a weight, that few persons of the p

many services which we should consider menial, were performed by the squires of the highest race about the persons of their lords. Nor was this confined to what might be considered military services; for we learn that they not only held the stirrup for their lord to mount, and then followed, carrying his helm, his lance, his shield, or his gauntlets; but they continued to serve him at table, to clean his armour, to dress his horses, and to

nd to hand against their equals, the squires remained watching eagerly the conflict, and ready to drag their master from the mêlée, to cover him if he fell, to supply him with fresh

a restriction. Nevertheless there can be no earthly doubt that they were often much more actively engaged, even in the purest days of Chivalry. In all the wars between Richa

ll which, on the day that preceded a tournament, were permitted to squires, in the lists, gave him an opportunity of dis

ed by any great or gallant feat, or by uniform talent and courage,[22] he was admitted into the order before he had reached that age. This, nevertheless, was rare, except in the case of sovereign princes; and, on the contrary, it o

unjustly refused to bestow it; and that high sense of honour which was their great characteristic prev

ter tournaments, cours plénières, the muster or monstre, as it was called, of the army, or on days consecrat

red on any particular emergency, and even on the field of battle.[26] On these occasions the forms were o

ies which he had voluntarily taken upon himself. We all know how much remembrance depends upon external circumstance, and it is ever well to give our feelings some fixed resting-place in the waste of life, that in after-years memory may lead us back and refresh the resolutions and bright des

estments of his order, the knight in his coat-of-arms, and the bishop in his stole, conducted the aspirant to the principal church of the place. There, after the high mass had been ch

ust be of noble birth, liberal in gifts, high in courage, strong in danger, secret in council, patient in difficulties, powerful against enemies, prudent in his deeds. He must also swear to observe the following rules: To undertake nothing without having heard mass fasting; to spare neither his blood nor his life in defence of th

on the missal, and received his oath to follow the statutes laid

him. After this the other knights, and often the ladies present, advanced, and completely armed the youth, sometimes beginning with one piece of the armour, sometimes another. St. Palaye decl

it was called, which consisted generally of three blows of the naked sword upon the neck or shoulder. Sometimes it was performed by a blow given with the palm of t

kings of France bestowed the honour, "In the name of God, St. Mich

bear another," and sometimes was added the more Christian admonition to hum

ly enough terms felicem injuriam. I do not, however, intend to insinuate that the one custom was derived from the other, though, perhaps, the fact of a serf becoming free if his lord struck him with any i

had hitherto been held beside him, and then proceeding to the door of the church, or of the castle, where his knighthood had been bestowed, he sp

ls, banquets, and tournaments followed.[34] The banquets and the festivals, as common to all ages, though differing

e. The most complete description ever given of a tournament is to be found in the writings of one whose words are pictures; and if I dared but copy into this place the accoun

cceeding Charlemagne; and we find but little resemblance to the tournament. Four equal bands of Saxons, Gascons, Austrasians, and Armoricans (or Britons,[36] as they are there called) met together in an open place, and, while the populace stood round as spectators, pursued each other, in turn, brandishing their arms, and seeming fiercely to seek th

ords qui torneamenta invenit-who invented tournaments. From the appearance[38] of these exercises in Germany[39] about the same time, we may conclude that th

ater, when the Norman manners introduced after the conq

naments, as there are so many common fables on the subject which give far

countries; but the general principle was the same. It was a chivalrous game, originally instituted for

h the land to announce to all noblemen and ladies, that on a certain day he would hold a grand tournament, where all brave knights might try their prowess. At other times a to

g. A herald was also placed beneath the cloisters to answer all questions concerning the champions, and to receive all complaints against any individual knight. If, upon investigation, the kings of arms and judges of the field found

at rich garments and precious stones, beauty and youth, could do to outshine the inanimate part of the scene, was to be found among the spectators. Here too was seen the venerable age of Chivalry-all those old knights whose limbs were no longer competent to bear the weight of arms, surrounding

the field. Each knight, as a part of his duty, either felt or feigned himself in love; and it was upon these occasions that his lady might descend from the high state to which the mystic adoration of the day had raised

f the gage of his lady's affection, her admiration or her pity won her to supply another token,

re bareheaded. Thus they went their ways with their hair floating on their shoulders more glossy than fine gold; and with their robes without the sleeves, for they had given to the knights to decorate themselves, wimples and hoods, mantles and shifts, sleeves and bodies. When they found themselves undresse

s of that day: but still, no doubt can be entertained, that they not only decorated their knights before the tournament with some

arties. Each blow of the lance or sword, struck well and home, was greeted with loud acclamations; and valour met with both its incitemen

e all by various quaint and characteristic exclamations, such as "The love of ladies!" "Death to the h

der the sports both innocent and useful. But no regulations could be found sufficient to guard against the dangerous consequences of such furious amusements; and Ducange gives a long list of princes and nobles who lost their lives in these fatal exercises. The church often inte

t danger; so that even those festivals that passed by without the absolute death of any of the champions, left, nevertheless, many to drag out a maimed and miserable existence, or to die after

l,[46] sometimes a coronet[47] of flowers or of laurel; but in all cases the award implied a right to one kiss from the lips of the lady appointed to bestow the prize. It seems to have been as frequent a practice to assign this prize on the field, as in the chateau[48] or palace whither the court retired afte

eller, were present in the hall to soothe or to entertain; but still the foundation of tale and song was Chivalry;-the objects of all praise were noble deeds and heroic actions; and the ver

I shall not pause upon these any longer than merely to point out the particular differences between them. The joust, which was cer

ans, always so; and, to use the language of Ducange, "though mortal, it took place ordinarily between persons who most frequently did not know each other, or, at least, had no particular misunderstanding, but who sou

ular pass, or spot of ground, which they declared their intention to defend against all comers.[52] The space before their tents was generally listed in

ard III., is attributed to Roger Mortimer,[54] who, on receiving knighthood, feasted a hundred knights and a hundred ladies at a round table. The mornings were spent in chivalrous games, the prize of which was a golden lion, and t

which the lord or sovereign giving the festival entertained his guests at a table which, to prevent all ceremony in respect to precedence, was in the form of a

nt nature from humanity to secure such a jurisdiction from frequent perversion. The knight[57] also took precedence of all persons who had not received Chivalry, a distinction well calculated to do away with that humility which was one of knighthood's strictest laws.[58] Added to this was the right of wearing particular dresses and colours, gold and jewels, which were restrained to the knightly class, by very severe ordinances. Scarlet and green wer

t have on their own power, and had striven to render it an engine for their own purposes, took every care to secure all those rights and immunities to the order which could in some degree balance the hardships, fat

tecting the innocent; but monarchs sought to increase the number of knights as a means of defending their realms and extending their

h other knights, and for instruction in every sort of chivalrous knowledge. There the young knight studied carefully the demeanour of every celebrated champion he met, and strove to glean the excellencies of each. Thus he

e and to protect innocence. To guard against this the laws of Chivalry were most severe;[62] and as great power was intrusted to the knight, great was the shame and dishonour if he abused it. The oath taken in the first place was as strictly opposed to eve

ment; telling as well his reverses and discomfitures, as his honours and success. To do this he was bound by oath; and the detail thus given was registered by the herald, who by such relations learned to know and estimate the worth and prowess of each individua

and break a lance in honour of his lady. Often before a castle, or on the eve of a battle, a knight would vow to some holy saint never to quit the field, or abandon the siege, till death or victory ended his design. Frequently, too, we find that in the midst of some great festival, where all the Chivalry of the land was assembl

ivalry, and also one of the most interestin

it rapidly spread to other nations, and seems to have been a favourite practice with the crusaders. Esteem and long companionship were

all adventures in company, shared in the advantage of every happy enterprise, and partook of the pain or loss of every misfortune. If the one was attacked in body, in honour, or in estate, the other sprang forward to defend him. Their wealth and even their thoughts were in common; so that the news which the one received, or

communion and other ceremonies of the church. In many cases,[72] however, the only form consisted in the m

es by which Chivalry was governed, and the spirit by which it was animated. That spirit waxed fainter, it is true, as

pure, and chivalrous religion no longer the spring of the noblest morality, the spirit of the days of old lingered amid the ruins of the falling institution. An Edward, a Du Guesclin, a Bayard, a Sidney, would

a theoretical dream. The knights of old are looked upon as things apart, that have neither kin nor community with ourselves; their acts are hardly believed; and their very existence is doubted. Let him who would make historical remembrance more tan