Chapter 1

Throngs of knights and barons bold,
In weeds of peace high triumphs hold,
With store of ladies, whose bright eyes
Rain influence and judge the prize.
MILTON. PART I.
KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS. CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION. ON the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after
Christ, the countries of Northern Europe were left almost destitute of
a national government. Numerous chiefs, more or less powerful, held
local sway, as far as each could enforce his dominion, and
occasionally those chiefs would unite for a common object; but, in
ordinary times, they were much more likely to be found in hostility to
one another. In such a state of things, the rights of the humbler
classes of society were at the mercy of every assailant; and it is
plain that, without some check upon the lawless power of the chiefs,
society must have relapsed into barbarism. Such checks were found,
first, in the rivalry of the chiefs themselves, whose mutual
jealousy made them restraints upon one another; secondly, in the
influence of the Church, which, by every motive, pure or selfish,
was pledged to interpose for the protection of the weak; and lastly,
in the generosity and sense of right which, however crushed under
the weight of passion and selfishness, dwell naturally in the heart of
man. From this last source sprang Chivalry, which framed an ideal of
the heroic character, combining invincible strength and valor,
justice, modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, compassion
to weakness, and devotedness to the Church; an ideal which, if never
met with in real life, was acknowledged by all as the highest model
for emulation.
The word Chivalry is derived from the French cheval, a horse. The
word knight, which originally meant boy or servant, was particularly
applied to a young man after he was admitted to the privilege of
bearing arms. This privilege was conferred on youths of family and
fortune only, for the mass of the people were not furnished with arms.
The knight then was a mounted warrior, a man of rank, or in the
service and maintenance of some man of rank, generally possessing some
independent means of support, but often relying mainly on the
gratitude of those whom he served for the supply of his wants, and
often, no doubt, resorting to the means which power confers on its
possessor.
In time of war the knight was, with his followers, in the camp of
his sovereign, or commanding in the field, or holding some castle
for him. In time of peace he was of ten in attendance at his
sovereign's court, gracing with his presence the banquets and
tournaments with which princes cheered their leisure. Or he was
traversing the country in quest of adventure, professedly bent on
redressing wrongs and