73 ' 



The institution of chivalry was founded originally in princi- 

 ples of humanity and justice. When the different kingdoms of 

 Europe were broken and divided into several smaller states; 

 and when the weakness of the law had enabled the more 

 powerful baron, without any risk to himself, to do violence 

 to those whom age, profession, or sex, had rendered inca- 

 pable of resisting him ; — some kind of protection was re- 

 quired, more ready in its application, and more permanent 

 in its effects, than Avhat could be derived from the casual ex- 

 ertions of a neighbouring chieftain, however virtuous, or 

 however courageous. 



To redress some of the grievances that would naturally 

 arise from such a state of society, was the object of the in- 

 stitution ; an object worthy of admiration 1 nor can we avoid 

 attributing a considerable degree of ingenuity to a scheme 

 that was calculated to keep alive the martial spirit of the 

 times, (which was then of the highest importance,) by the 

 exercise of virtues, in all other cases so incompatible with it. 

 For it was not merely the martial spirit that was cherished by 

 this means; " Les preceptes," says Mons. de la Curne de 

 Ste. Palaye, * " renferm^s dans le serment de la Chevalerie, 

 sont le germe de toute la morale repandue dans les Ouvrages 

 de nos Poetes, et de nos Romanciers :" And by paying some 

 regard to those circumstances, we shall be tolerably well able 

 to estimate the reciprocal importance of chivalry and ro- 



VOL. XII. L 



* Memoires de TAcademic des Inscriptions, &o Tom. xx. 



