1793* ^/«/j oA chivalry, apt 



themselves after the repast, and afterwards disposed 

 every thing properly for the ball that was to fol- 

 low, at which they danced with the ladies of high 

 ^ rank ; they then served the spices, confections, wine 

 and other things, which always concluded these inter- 

 tainments. 



From this service, which was only the prelude to 

 another which required more strength, agility, and 

 ikill, they went to that of the stable ; this consis- 

 ted of the care of the horses, which could not but be 

 a noble employment in the hands of a warlike no- 

 bility, who always fought on horseback. Able e- 

 querries broke the horses for war, and had under 

 them younger ones whom they caused to exercise 

 them. Other equerries kept the arras of their mas- 

 ters always Jit for use and hurnijhed. Whenever 

 the master mounted, equerries hastened to afsist 

 him, holding his stirrup ; others brought the diffe- 

 rent pieces of his armour, offensive and defensive ; 

 and all had their part of the body to arm. It was 

 an art which demanded great attention, as the life of 

 their master depended upon his armour being pro- 

 perly put on. It required a great deal of addrefs 

 and agility to match and fit the joints of a cuirafse, 

 and the other pieces of armour properly ; and to 

 place and brace the helmet on the head, and to fas- 

 ten the visier expertly and exactly. When the 

 knight had mounted the great horse, and had enter- 

 ed on an engagement, every equerry remained be- 

 hind his master, in some fhape an idle spectator of 

 the combat ; but while he was idle in one respect, he 

 was not so in another; and his looking on, if useful 

 for the preservation of the master, was equally in- 

 structive to the servant. Every equerry was atten^ 



