292 hinti on chivalry. Aug. 21. 



live to all the motions of his master, to give him in 

 case of accident, new arnli tb icualiate the blows he had 

 received from his adversary, to relieve him and give 

 liim afrelh horse; while the equerry of him who had the 

 advantage seconded by all the means which his addrefs, 

 Valour, and zial suggesc^d, keeping always within 

 the bounds ui the defensive, afsisted him in making 

 such use of his advantage, as would gain a complete 

 victory. It was to the equerries also that the knights 

 in the heat of the engagement, entrusted the priso- 

 ners they had made. This sight was a lively lef- 

 son of addrefs and courage, which continually fhew- 

 ed the young warrior new means of defending him- 

 self, and of making himself superior to his enemy, 

 and gave him an opportunity of trying his valour, and 

 of knowing whether or not he was capable of induring 

 so great toil and labour. Thus the youth, weak and 

 unexperienced, was not exposed to bear the fatigues 

 of war, without having learned long before, whether 

 his strength and abilities were sufficient for it. Eut 

 the ecjuerry did not all at once step from a peaceful 

 service to the perils of war. The courts and castles 

 were schools where they always continued to bring up 

 the young men for the defence of the state. Military 

 games had long been strengthening and preparing them 

 for the tournaents, those images of war, kept up in 

 courts of the barons, which were by an useful po- 

 licy converted to the amusement of the knights, 

 when their arms were engaged on no serious occasi- 

 on. The presence of the ladies, who made it an a- 

 musement to afsist at these games, animated those 

 ivho willrid to distin^uiih themselves there. 



