1802. ] 
knights of the middle ages, entering the 
lifts according tothe molt approved ulages 
of chivalry ; and Charlemagne was made 
to undertake the hazardous enterprize of 
again piloting the fhip Argo to Colchis. 
EDUCATION iz the TIMES of CHIVALRY. 
Every youth of noble extraction, the 
fon of the pooreftas well as of the moft 
wealthy baron, was taken, at feven years 
of age, out of the women’s hands, and 
removed from his paternal feat to the 
caftle of another knight, where he was to 
be trained up to the profeffion of chivalry 
under the rigid commands of ftrangers, 
at a diftance from the effeminate habits 
produced by parental endearments. In 
quality of page, he waited on the knight, 
his lady, and guefts, at their entertain-— 
ments; attended them on a journey, or at 
the chace; accompanied them in their 
walks and vifits ; and, when occalion re- 
quired, was ready to go on their errands, 
and execute their conmmiflions. The in- 
tervals, when he was not employed imme- 
diately in any of thele fervices, were de- 
voted to bodily exercifes, to fit him be- 
times for that hardy and laborious pro- 
feffion for which he was intended. In the 
reviews of the knights and fquires, he 
faw the game of war. played on a {mall 
fcale. By-and-bye, he learned to fhoot 
with the bow, t@ manage the fling, to de- 
fend places and ways which were affailed 
by his companions. Above all, his in- 
ftru&tors were anxious to imprefs on his 
heart fuch a charafter as would reflect 
luftre on his future rank. Ardent de- 
votion to God, veneration for the lofty 
fpirit of chivalry, and refpeét for the fe- 
male fex, were carefully impreffed on his 
mind. Virtue and good manners, cour- 
teous behaviour, elegant carriagé, and 
propriety .of demeanour, were inculcated 
both by precept and example. Religion 
and gallantry were intended to form the 
principal features of his future character. 
After a courfe of feven year’s preparation, 
when he had now reached the fourteenth 
year of his age, he was accompanied by 
his parents to the altar, there to be ad- 
mitted to the ufe of arms. The priett 
took from the altar a belt, which was 
placed there for the purpofe, and, after 
having confecrated it with his blefling, 
girded it around the young warrior, and 
fent him, adorned with this badge of his 
new order, to undergo his probation as a 
fquire. Here was the fchool in which he 
was to be fitted for a higher elevation. 
From the example of the older fquires, he 
Monrury Mag, No. 83. 
From the Port Folio of a Man of Letters. 
ao ee 
learned to obey ; and every other neceffa- 
ry inftruétion he found in an intercourfe 
with the world. From this time, he was 
admitted to confidential circles, and re- 
ceived into companies; and by this 
means had every opportunity he could 
defire of cultivating his mind and tafte. 
He now acted in a more extended pro-~ 
vince. According to their mental and 
bodily powers, their activity and dexteri- 
ty, the elegance of their addrefs, and 
gracefulnefs of elocution, the fquires had 
the feveral departments allotted to them 
in their attendance on the knight and 
his lady. Their offices were the care of 
the ftable and equipage of their lord, dif- 
charging the ceremonies of a banquet, a 
ball, and the other {plendid enjoyments 
that give varicty to tranquility. When 
any knightly enterprife, fuch as a quarrel 
of honour, or a tournament, called his 
matter to arms, the {quire was ever ready 
at his back to yield him affiftance. The 
bodily recreations of the young {quires 
were frequently exchanged for {uch feats 
as riding at the ring on horfeback with 
lances, and fuch other exercifes as ferved 
for preparations to the art of war, while, 
at the fame time, they rendered them 
ftrong, active, and alert. During their 
term of fervice in the quality of {quires, 
the {pirit of chivalry fank deep into their 
fouls. A long probation of obedience and 
deference broke the fiercenefs of their 
hearts, and wore off the barbarous rude- 
nefs of the times. Their frequent conver- 
fations with ftranger knights, who had 
often traverfed half the world through a 
feries of dangerous adventurés, enriched 
their minds with a knowledge of men and 
of the world. Their intercourfe with 
the female fex, and the frequent offices of 
deep refpeét which they performed to- 
wards them, accuftomed them to gallantry 
and devotion, and rendered their hearts 
foft and tender, though fheathed in fteel 
and iron. Their prefence at the knightly 
combats of their lords again chevifhed a 
fpirit of dauntlefs courage and heroifm in 
danger. This difcipline, which rendered 
their minds at once heroic and gentle, 
finifhed the education of thefe pupils of 
towers and caftles ; and, after feven years 
more of {uch exercifes, they were now, at 
the age of one-and-twenty, deciared ca- 
pable of entering on the duties of knight- 
hood. Some of them, however, volun- 
-tarily remained, during their wholé lives, 
in the quality of {quires to fome renowned 
knight, who was graced with every Virlue 
of fpirat and heart, that could adorn 2 
ry 
fx 1 perfect 
