1^93* hints on chivalry. 239' 



lowers of one baron adud ot be seized upon, and 

 carried away by thoie of anodier : and the interest 

 each had to protect his own, would introduce the 

 point of honour in attempting by all means not only to 

 retaliate on the enemy, but to rescue the captive 

 sufferers out of tht. hands of their opprefsors, it' 

 would be meritorious in the highest degree, to fly to 

 their afsistance, when they knew where they were to 

 be found, or to seek them out with diligence, when 

 they did not. This last service they called going 

 in quest of adventures ; which no doubt, was confined 

 at first to those of their own party ; but in proctfs of 

 time, we find the knights errant, wandering the 

 world over in search of occasions on which to exer- 

 cise their generous and disinterested valour. 



3^. The courtesy, affability, and gallantry, for 

 which these adventurers are so famous, are but the 

 catural consequences of their situation. For the cas- 

 tles of the barons were the courts of these little sove- 

 reigns, as well as their fortrefsefs ; and the resort of 

 thtir vafsals thither, in honour of their chiefs, and 

 for their own security, would make that civility and 

 poUtenefs, which is seen in courts, and insensibly 

 prevails there, a predominant part in the characters 

 of these afsemblies. Further, the ladies joined in these 

 circles of the great, which would operate so far on 

 the sturdiest knights as to give birth to the atten- 

 tions of gallantry. But this gallantry would take a 

 refined turn, not only from the necefsity there was 

 of maintaning the strict form of decorum, under the 

 eye of the prince; but also the inflamed sense they 

 must h?.ve of the frequent outrage committed by 



