Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivaley,
Ste . Pcfeye , In his Memoirs of Chival ^ ** Towards the middle of the tenth century some poor nobles , united by the need of lawful defence , and alarmed by the excesses brought on by the multiply city of sovereign powers , took pity on the wretchedness and tears of the people They grasped each other ' s hands , calliHg up on jGrod and St . George ; and , devoting
themselves to the defence of the oppressed , they placed the weak , under the protection of their swords * Simple in their dress , severe in their morals , humble alter victory , firm and stoical in adversity , they qnicldy ga , iiied for themselves great renown . ^ Popular gra titu de , in its simple and credulous joy , fed upon the marvellous narratives of their high deeds of arms , exaggerated their valour , and ani ^ d in prayer of the people with the powers of Heavett ; so natural is it lor misfortune to deify those who bring it relief ! In those
times , as strength was a law , it was very necessary that courage should be a virtue ; these men , to whom was afterwards given the name of Knights , carried rtiio the very highest degree . Cowardice was punished by them as an unpardon « able crime ; surely it is such to refuse support to the oppressed ; They held a lie in horror , . and branded with diflgraca all perfidy and breach of faith ; nor have the
most celebrated legislators of antiquity produced anything comparable to their statutes . This league of warriors retained during naore than acentury all its original simplicity , because the circumstances amidst which it was brought forth changed but slowly ; but when a great political and religious movement announced the revolutions that were about to take place in the human nnnd , then Chivalry took a legal form , and a rank amongst the institutions of sooiety . ,,
Thus although Chivalry did not originate with the feudal system * wlien— « _ . Crowded round the baron ' s hall tVere mail-clad Knights and naked thrall , Bound by the tenure of their land To serve their chief with heart and hand ,. "
...-—still it may be fairly assumed it became more-extensive and more popular by the requirements of the age . And it may be observed that the form of Knighthood , being in its origin of a republican or at least of an oligarchal nature , would necessarily render it an institution pleasing to the people . Each Knight could confer the order
upon whomsoever preparatory novitiate had fitted to receive it . [ Francis I ., at his own request , was made a Knight by the celebrated Bayard , —an honour which Bayard valued so highly , that on sheathing his sword he vowed never more to use that blade except against Turks , Moors , and Saracens .
The education of a Knight generally commenced at the early age of seven ; youths were sent at that time into the family of some neighbouring lord or Knight of approved valour , to be instructed in the chivalrous arts . They were then called varlefs or pages—the terms being synonymous ; they attended as the servant of the lord or his lady , but were not required to perform any menial office . They were instructed in minstrelsy , music , horsemanship , and the
language of courtesy , by which dignity at that period was peculiarly distinguished . After this they were raised to the rank of esquires . Their duties now became more arduous ; they attended their lord to battle , relieved him when he was dismounted , supplied him with arms , and attended solely to th ^ safety of his person ; and although the esquire fought on foot , yet he was superiox to the common or
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chivaley,
Ste . Pcfeye , In his Memoirs of Chival ^ ** Towards the middle of the tenth century some poor nobles , united by the need of lawful defence , and alarmed by the excesses brought on by the multiply city of sovereign powers , took pity on the wretchedness and tears of the people They grasped each other ' s hands , calliHg up on jGrod and St . George ; and , devoting
themselves to the defence of the oppressed , they placed the weak , under the protection of their swords * Simple in their dress , severe in their morals , humble alter victory , firm and stoical in adversity , they qnicldy ga , iiied for themselves great renown . ^ Popular gra titu de , in its simple and credulous joy , fed upon the marvellous narratives of their high deeds of arms , exaggerated their valour , and ani ^ d in prayer of the people with the powers of Heavett ; so natural is it lor misfortune to deify those who bring it relief ! In those
times , as strength was a law , it was very necessary that courage should be a virtue ; these men , to whom was afterwards given the name of Knights , carried rtiio the very highest degree . Cowardice was punished by them as an unpardon « able crime ; surely it is such to refuse support to the oppressed ; They held a lie in horror , . and branded with diflgraca all perfidy and breach of faith ; nor have the
most celebrated legislators of antiquity produced anything comparable to their statutes . This league of warriors retained during naore than acentury all its original simplicity , because the circumstances amidst which it was brought forth changed but slowly ; but when a great political and religious movement announced the revolutions that were about to take place in the human nnnd , then Chivalry took a legal form , and a rank amongst the institutions of sooiety . ,,
Thus although Chivalry did not originate with the feudal system * wlien— « _ . Crowded round the baron ' s hall tVere mail-clad Knights and naked thrall , Bound by the tenure of their land To serve their chief with heart and hand ,. "
...-—still it may be fairly assumed it became more-extensive and more popular by the requirements of the age . And it may be observed that the form of Knighthood , being in its origin of a republican or at least of an oligarchal nature , would necessarily render it an institution pleasing to the people . Each Knight could confer the order
upon whomsoever preparatory novitiate had fitted to receive it . [ Francis I ., at his own request , was made a Knight by the celebrated Bayard , —an honour which Bayard valued so highly , that on sheathing his sword he vowed never more to use that blade except against Turks , Moors , and Saracens .
The education of a Knight generally commenced at the early age of seven ; youths were sent at that time into the family of some neighbouring lord or Knight of approved valour , to be instructed in the chivalrous arts . They were then called varlefs or pages—the terms being synonymous ; they attended as the servant of the lord or his lady , but were not required to perform any menial office . They were instructed in minstrelsy , music , horsemanship , and the
language of courtesy , by which dignity at that period was peculiarly distinguished . After this they were raised to the rank of esquires . Their duties now became more arduous ; they attended their lord to battle , relieved him when he was dismounted , supplied him with arms , and attended solely to th ^ safety of his person ; and although the esquire fought on foot , yet he was superiox to the common or