43 



the Anglo-Saxon reign of Stephen, and in the succeeding reigns be- 

 came fashionable at the EngUsh court. At this period also, side-saddles 

 were first introduced into this country by the queen, a daughter of the 

 King of Bohemia, according to the Warwick antiquities. Previously it 

 seems the English, as well as the women of Greece and other countries, 

 were accustomed to ride astride in the male style, a custom, indeed, 

 never entirely abandoned upon the continent, and if compatible with 

 decorum, assuredly most consistent with safety in female equitation. 



In succeeding reigns, these splendid exhibitions became the standing 

 and regular diversions of the English court, and had a proportionate 

 influence on the manners of the citizens of London, giving them an 

 equestrian and warlike turn. Various parts of the metropolis were 

 appropriated to the celebration of these games, and thence derived names 

 which are retained to the present period, when most of their inhabitants 

 are totally ignorant why such were imposed. For example, the Tilt 

 Yard, near St. James's Park: Knight-rider and Giltspur streets; the one 

 so denominated from the knights passing through that street, in their 

 way to Smithfield or Cheapside, where the tournaments were held, and 

 the other, from the splendid gilt spurs there sold. These exhibitions 

 were also given in Barbican and Bridewell. 



All Europe, during several centuries, was infected almost to a de- 

 gree of insanity, with the desire of witnessing the exhibition of the 

 tournament; and the Gothic nations even celebrated u[X)n the ice, games 

 which were inspired by their perpetual and darling passion for horse- 

 manship and war. The excess, however, of this folly proved at length 

 its cure ; as from the frequent effectual use of Aveapons, many lives 

 were tilted away, and amongst those of inferior note, that of King 

 Henry II. of France, who perished in that celebrated tournament held 

 at Chalons, distinguished in history as the little war of Chalons, from the 

 considerable number of knights killed on both sides. The frequent 

 risk and waste of life, in these contentions, carried bej^ond the bounds of 

 common sense; the change that was gradually taking place in the system 

 and weapons of war ; and lastly, the inimitably humourous and forceful 

 satire of Cervantes, combined to the final disuse of tournaments, and the 



G 2 extinction 



