142 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period II. 



somewhat similar to the rites used in granting arms to 

 the youth among the early Germans, as described by 

 Tacitus, it has led some writers enoneously to date back 

 the institution to those remote times. Otl?ers have con- 

 sidered that it was in existence as far back as the reign 

 of Charlemagne, because rare instances have been re- 

 corded in his time and earlier where sons of monarchs 

 assumed arms with certain ceremonies of investiture. 

 There is no doubt, however, that the custom of granting 

 ar-ms to the young men on arriving at maturity with cer- 

 tain solemnities, was in use among most of the tribes of 

 Europe from time immemorial. 



But the ceremonial of investiture of knighthood was 

 but a small part of the institution of chivalry, and but an 

 empty form connected with it. The guiding principles 

 of the order were, the spirit of high honour contained in 

 its rules, the courtesy shown to all, the charity to the 

 oppressed, and the abstract love of justice. These were 

 the striking peculiarities which produced such wonderful 

 and beneficial results in humanising mankind, and which 

 formed the real institution of chivalry, and in that 

 view, knighthood dates from the middle of the tenth 

 century. 



The best authority on this subject is perhaps M. La 

 Curne de Ste. Palaye, and in the introduction to a late 

 edition of his " Memoires sur I'.Ajicienne Chevalerie " by 

 Ch. Nodier, there is given a very interesting account oi 

 the institution of knighthood. It is as follows : — "Towards 

 the middle of the tenth century, some poor nobles, united 

 by the necessity of a legitimate defence, alarmed by the 

 excesses caused by the multiplicity of sovereign powers, 

 took pity on the miseries and tears of the people. They 

 grasped each other's hands, invoking God and St. George 

 to witness that they devoted themselves to the defence 

 of the oppressed, and took the weak under the protection 

 of their sword. Simple in their dress, austere in their 

 morals, humble after victory, firm and stoical in adver- 

 sity, they soon acquired an immense renown. Popular 

 gratitude, in its simple and credulous joy, fed upon mar- 

 vellous recitals of their deeds of arms, exalted their 



