1793* hints on chivalry » ^ 23^7 



But t^ie b0nd of poKtical union was extremely 

 feeble. The sources of anarchy were innumerable. 

 The powerful vafsals of the crown, soon extorted 

 a confirmation for life of those grants of lands, 

 which were at first purely gratuitous. Not satis- 

 fied with this, they prevailed to have them con- 

 verted into hereditary pofsefsions. One step more 

 completed their usuipations, and rendered them un.. 

 alienable. Havir.-g thus secured the pofsefsion 

 of their lands and dignities, they obtained the power 

 of supreme jurisdiction within their own territories, 

 together with the right of carrying on war against 

 their private enemies, in their own names, and 

 by their own authority. The king, stripped of al- 

 most every prerogative, could neither protect the ia- 

 nocent, nor punilh the guilty *. 



Tht feudal system then was a state of almost per* 

 petual war, rapine, and anarchy ; during which the 

 weak and unarmed were exposed to insults and in- 

 juries. The administration of justice was too feeble to 

 redrefs their wrongs. The most eSectual protecti- 

 on against violence and opprefsion, was often found 

 to be that which the valou.r and generosity of pri- 

 vate persons afforded. To check the insolence of 

 overgrown opprefsion, to rescue the helplefs from 

 captivity, to protect or to avenge women, orphans, 

 and ecclesiastics, who could not bear arms in their 

 own defence ; to redrefs wrongs, and remove grie- 

 vances, were deemed "Sets of the highest prowefs 

 and virtue. Such was the origin of chivalry, 



^ Robe r' soil's Charles v. vol. i. p. 15. and seq. 



