neck a collar of great value. and Francis gave him a bracelet of superior worth, each king entreating the other to wear the gift for his sake. The two monarchs then became brothers in arms; and with twelve companions undertook to deliver all persons at jousts, tourney, and bar riers. The chivalric exercises continued for five days, in the presence of the two queens and the nobility of England and France. French and English knights were the only part of the chivalry of Europe who answered the challenge: for chivalry could not then, as in former days, smooth down personal heats and feuds; and therefore no subject of the wide extended empire of Charles V. appeared on the field of the cloth of gold. The only weapons used were spears; but they were impelled with such vigour, as to be so often broken, that the spectators' eyes were scarred with splinters. Each day the challengers varied their harness and devices, and each day the two kings ran together so valiantly that the beholders had great joy.* "Each following day Became the last day's master, till the next Made former wonders it's. * The two kings, Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them; him in eye, Still him in praise; and being present both, 'Twas said, they saw but one; and no dis Being now seen possible enough, got credit, There was a considerable portion of chivalry among the nobility of Henry VIII. In some respects, however, it partook more of the romance of the Troubadour than the genuine character of knighthood: for the tale that Lord Surrey travelled from court to court proclaiming the peerless beauty of his ladylove, and challenging all gainsayers to a joust à l'outrance is totally void of truth and it only appears that his LordHolingshed, p. 85, &c. + Shakspeare, Henry VIII., Act i., scene 1. Dr. Nott, in his life of Lord Surrey, pre ship fostered for the fair Geraldine a sentimental affection without distinct views. It was altogether a poet's dream; and the Italian muse, who was at that time worshipped in England, favoured such fond imaginings. Much of the literature of the times was chivalric. Every noble spirit loved the Knight's Tale of Chaucer. The French and Spanish stories of warriors and dames were transfused into English; as was the fine Chronicle of Froissart by Lord Berners at the command of the King; and the vigorous, rich, and picturesque style of our language in those days was admirably adapted for a history of the most brilliant age of knighthood. That the spirit of chivalry was not extinet in the reign of Henry VIII. is evident from this work of Lord Berners, for the ordinary diction of the day was used; and it was to the full as expressive of the gallantry and grace of the olden time as the original work itself. The education of our English gentry was nearly as chivalric then as at any previous period of our history. Boys were sent to school to learn to read at four years of age. At six they were taught languages and the first principles of manners from ten to twelve dancing and music were added to their accomplishments, and politeness was particu larly encouraged. At fourteen they were initiated into the sports of the field which prepared them for the ruder exercise of arms. At sixteen they were taught to joust, to fight at the barriers, to manage the war-horse, to assail castles, to support the weight of armour, and to contend in feats of arms with their com panions. And there their education terminated.* When they went to battle, they demeaned themselves worthy of their education. fixed to the works of His Lordship and Sir Thomas Wyatt, has by the evidence of facts completely overthrown this pleasing tale. *These curious particulars are to be gathered, as Dr. Nott remarks, from the following passage in Hardynge's Chronicle. "And as lords' sons been set, at four year age, In all the military expeditions of the English on the Continent, the soldiers of either army were continually challenging each other to break a lance for their ladies' sake. Sir John Wallop in his march with a British army to Landrecy, in the year 1543, went to the town of Terouenne, and, recollecting that the commandant was an old acquaintance, he addressed him in the true spirit of chivalry, that if there were any gentlemen under his charge willing to break a lance for their ladies' sake, six gentlemen should be sent from the English army to meet them. The challenge was accepted, the jousts were held, and, after this fine old chivalric mode of displaying his friendship, Sir John Wallop held on his course to Landrecy.* "For deer to hunt and slay, and see them bleed An hardiment giveth to his courage. "And every day his armour to essay, In feats of arms with some of his meynie; His might to prove, and what that he do may If that he were in such a jeopardy Of war befall, that by necessity He might algates with weapons him defend. Thus should he learn in his priority His weapons all, in armes to dispend." See to the same effect, the Paston letters, vol. iii., 34, 35, &c. 66 * This curious circumstance is mentioned in a journal of Sir John Wallop's expedition, which Dr. Nott dug out of the State-Paper Office. The whole passage is amusing. July 31. Wallop advances to Bettune. Passing by Terouenne, he attempts to draw out the garrison of that place, but fails. The French defeated in a skirmish. Wallop says, that he sent a letter to the commandment of Terouenne, an old acquaintance, that if he had any gentlemen under his charge, who would break a staff for their ladies' sake, he would appoint six gentle men to meet them. The challenge is accepted, and the conditions are fixed. Mr. Howard Peter Carew, Markham, Shelly of Calais, with his own two men, Cawverly and Hall, are the English appellants. They all acquit themselves gallantry at the jousts. Hall, at his first course, did break his staff galliardly, in the midst of the Frenchmen's cuirass. Markham stroke another on his head-piece, and had like to have overthrown him. Peter Carew stroke his very well and had one broken on him. Cawverly was The early part of the sixteenth century forms a very interesting æra of British chivalry; for it introduces to our notice James IV. of Scotland, a hero both of knighthood and romance. He was as expert and graceful in tournaments and jousts as any cavalier who was the theme of history or poetry. On occasion of his marriage with Margaret of England, his chivalric shows were splendid beyond example. He was wont to personate King Arthur, or to take the title and appearance of an imaginary creature, called the Savage Knight. His tiltyards reflected the glories of the last king of the Britons, and the knights of the Round Table, or represented a wild and romantic country, with Highlanders clad in savage dresses guarding the barriers. Like a knight of the by-gone time, he was a pilgrim as well as a soldier, and we will hope, for the purity of earlier days of chivalry, that his heroic predecessors did not often, like himself, turn aside from their pious peregrinations to wander amidst the bowers of castles, with ladies fair. The romantic gallantry of his disposition was so well known, that cooler politicians used it to the purposes of their ambition. The French king, Louis XII., was abandoned by most of his allies, and was anxious to renew the ancient alliance of France with Scotland; yet England and Scotland were at that time at peace, and the two countries appeared to be united in friendship by the marriage of James with Margaret, the King of England's sister. But Louis knew the character of the man whose aid he required, and he played upon it with admirable dexterity. In 1504, he sent, as his ambassador to the Scottish court, Bernard Stuart, Lord of Aubigny, one of the most distinguished cavaliers of France. This envoy admirably supported the object of his master: he soon won the affections of James, and his discourses on wars and tournaments dis reported to have made the fairest course; but by the evil running of the Frenchman's horse, which fled out of the course, he was struck under the arm, and run through the body into the back, and taken into the town, where he was well treated. I wish to God, said Wallop, the next kinsman I had, not being my brother, had excused him." posed the King to love the chivalric French. A few years afterwards Louis, still continuing to play on his chivalric feelings, made his wife, Anne of Britanny, choose James for her knight and champion, to protect her from all her enemies. The idea of winning by this scheme the Scottish King to the purposes of France originated with Andrew Forman, Bishop of Moray, the Scottish ambassador at Paris, who, to promote his own aggrandizement, would have sacrificed king and country. The agent of the scheme was La Motte, the French ambassador at Edinburgh, who was as skilful as his martial predecessor, the Lord of Aubigny, in flattering James to his ruin. He presented him letters from the French Queen, wherein, taking the style of a high-born damsel in distress, she termed him her knight, and, assuring him she had suffered much blame in defence of his honour, she beseeched him to advance but three steps into the English territory with his army, for the sake of his mistress. These letters were accompanied by a present of 14,000 crowns, and a ring from her own finger. The chivalry and vanity of James were roused by these appeals, and he became the willing tool of French ambition. The circumstances which succeeded his allying himself with France fall not within my province to detail. The battle of Flodden Field was their crown and conclusion; and although there was nothing chivalric in the battle itself, yet a few matters which preceded it come within my subject. Indeed, in the times regarding which I am writing, chivalry was no longer a national distinction, and therefore cannot be marked * Pinkerton's History of Scotland, vol ii., p. 85, &c. † Drummond, 140, &c. Buchanan, xiii., 25. For the fair Queen of France Sent him a torquois ring and glove, And strike three strokes with Scottish brand, And thus, for France's Queen he drest Marmion, canto v. in public affairs; its lights fell only upon a few individuals. * On the fifth of September, the Earl of Surrey, who commanded the English forces, despatched a herald from Alnwick to the Scottish camp, offering James battle on a particular day, (Friday, the 9th of September, 1513,) and James, like a gallant knight, accepted the challenge. He then removed his camp from Ford,† and took a strong position on the ridge of Flodden hill, one of the last and lowest eminences detached from the ridge of Cheviot." On the sixth, the English reached Woollerhaugh, a place within three miles of the Scottish camp, and observing the admirable position of the foe, the Earl of Surrey formed a scheme which, he hoped, would make them relinquish their advantage. Knowing the King's undaunted courage, and high sense of honour, he wrote a letter, subscribed by himself and all the great men in his army, reproaching him for having changed his ground, after he had accepted the offer of battle, and challenging him to descend, like a brave and honourable prince, into the spacious vale of Millfield, that lay between the two armies, and there decide the quarrel on fair and equal terms. This scheme failed; for James was not at that moment so ridiculously romantic as to forego an advantage which his skill had obtained; and he only replied that he should expect the English on the day appointed for battle. Surrey would have been mad to have attacked him in his present position; and he, therefore, He was afterwards Duke of Norfolk, and great grandfather to the Earl of Surrey, who was mentioned by me, ante. It has been generally thought that James, forgetting both his own wife and the Queen of France, lost much time at Ford, in making love to a Lady Heron, while his natural son, the Archbishop of St. Andrew's, was the paramour of Miss Heron the daughter. Dr. Lingard (History of England, vol. vi., p. 31, n.) seems inclined to doubt this tale, because James had only six days to take three castles and a fair lady's heart. What time was absolutely necessary for these sieges and assaults, the learned Doctor has not stated. However, to speak seriously, the story has no foundation in truth; and it only arose from the beauty of Lady Heron, and the reputed gallantry of the Scottish King. + Henry's History of Great Britain, book vi., ch. 1, part ii., s. 1. on the morning of the 8th of September, formed his army into marching order, CHAPTER XI. LAND. crossed the Til near Wooller, pro- THE LAST YEARS OF CHIVALRY IN ENGgressed towards Berwick, and rested at Barmore Wood. The Scottish nobles apprehended that it was the intention of the English to plunder the fertile country of the Merse; and they therefore importuned James to march to the defence of his own dominions; but the King declined, alleging that his honour was engaged to remain in his present station until the morrow, which was the appointed time for battle. On that mor * row Surrey directed his course to the Tweed; but, suddenly changing his line of march, he repassed the Till at the bridge of Twissel. Before the army had entirely passed, Robert Borthwick, the commander of James's artillery, entreated the permission of his sovereign to destroy the bridge, and thus break the enemy's force; but the King gave a stern denial, declaring that he wished to have all his enemies before him, and to fight them fairly. By this fatal folly James lost all the advantages of his position; for the English formed behind him, and Flodden was open and accessible to them. If personal bravery, independent of sageness, had been the character of a knight, James deserved all chivalric honours; for, disdaining the counsel to behold the battle afar off, he mingled boldly in the thickest of the press. The field was won by the English archers; but James did not live to repent the enthusiasm of his chivalry, which had cost his country so much blood, for he was killed within a lance's length of Lord Surrey. The romantic chivalry of James was deeply injurious to Scotland. She had, in his reign, attained a considerable eminence of national prosperity, but the defeat at Flodden hurled her from her station. The country was "left a prey to foreign influence and intrigue, which continued till it ceased to form a separate kingdom: her finances were exhausted, her leaders corrupted, her dignity degraded, her commerce and her agriculture neglected."* *Pitscottie, p. 116, &c. † Pinkerton, book xii. The Chivalric Feelings of the Nation supported by Spenser-And by Sir Philip Sidney.Allusions to Sidney's Life-Particularly his kindly Consideration.-Chivalric Politeness of the Age of Elizabeth.-The Earl of Oxford. Tilts in Greenwich Park.--Sir Henry Lee.-Chivalry reflected in the popular Amusements.--Change of Manners.--Reign of James the First.--Tournaments ceased on Prince Henry's Death.--Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury --Chivalric Fame of his Family--His Character.--His Inferiority to the Knights of yore.--Decline of Chivalric Education.-Important Change of Knighthood by the Parliament of Charles the First. -Application of Chivalric honours to men of civil Station---Knights made in the Field. -Carpet Knights.-Knights of the Bath.Full Account of the Ancient Ceremonies of creating Knights of the Bath. Our THE reigns of Edward VI. and Mary present nothing to our purpose; but the Elizabethan age is fraught with interest. Our continued intercourse with Italy promoted anew the love for romance and allegory, which religious controversy had for some years been gradually stifling. Though classical literature had revived in Italy, the muse of chivalry was most fondly worshipped, and the mind delighted to wander amidst the enchanted garden of Armida. well travelled ancestors brought home with them the love for romantic poetry and allegory; and Spenser's genius, influenced by the prevailing taste of his day, chose Ariosto for his model, and painted the wild adventures of heroes and ladies. Chivalry was the supposed perfection of man's moral nature; and the English poet, therefore, described the chief private virtues exemplified in the conduct of knights: it being his wish, as he expressed his mind to Sir Walter Raleigh, to fashion a gentleman or noble person in valorous and gentle discipline. His principal hero, he in whom the image of a brave knight was perfected in the twelve moral virtues, was King Arthur; and the poet freely used the circumstances and sentiments in the romances relating to that British hero, and also the other popular tales of chivalry. at Penshurst in Kent, in the year 1544; that he was accomplished in literature and chivalry by study and travel; that he was a courtier of Elizabeth, and yet could oppose her dearest fancies, if they were hostile to the interests of his country; that his opposition to her pro If poetry nourished the love of valorous knighthood, learning was equally its friend; and when Spencer addressed Sidney as the noble and virtuous gentleman, and most worthy of all titles of learning and chivalry, he spoke the feeling of his age, that the accomplishments of the mind were best displayed in mar-jected union with Anjou was spirited and tial demeanour. At the birth of Sidney, as Ben Jonson says, all the muses met. In reading the Arcadia, it is impossible to separate the author from the work, or to think that he has not poured forth all those imaginings of his fancy which his heart had marked for its own. He has portrayed knights and damsels valiant and gentle, placing all their fond aspirations of happiness in a rural life, and despising the pageantry of courts for the deep harmonies of nature. But Sidney's mind was chivalric as well as romantic; and he was so fond of reverting to the fabled ages of his country, that it was his intention to turn all the stories of the Arcadia into the admired legends of Arthur and his knights.* To modern taste the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney presents no charms: yet, by a singular contradiction, the author, who was the personification of his book, is regarded as the model of perfection. “The plume of war! with early laurels crown'd, The lover's myrtle, and the poet's bay."† The popularity, however, of the Arcadia, in the Elizabethan age, and the high reputation of the author, showed the sympathy of the world in those days for the romance of chivalry. well reasoned; that his love for his sister and his wife was the softening grace of that desire for chivalric valour which carried him with his uncle the Earl of Leicester to the plains of Flanders, in the year 1586; and when he received his mortal wound before the town of Zutphen, that he resigned a cup of water to the poor soldier whose lot he thought was more distressing than his own. His courage, his gallantry, and grace were his best known qualities, and those for which England and, indeed, Europe, lamented his death. His funeral in St. Paul's was a national one, the first instance in our history of honours of that description; and for many months afterwards not an individual in the court or city appeared in public, except in a garment of black :- in such high account were chivalric virtues held in the days of Elizabeth. One feature of his character but little noticed by modern writers was very remarkable in those days, and will be bet All ter valued now than it was then. The few circumstances in the brief *This was the honourable distinction of the Thomson's Seasons. Summer, 1. 1511. The Arcadia was popular so late as the days of Charles I., as may be learned from a passage in the work of a snarling satirist, who wanted to make women mere square-elbowed family drudges. "Let them learn plain works of all kind, so they take heed of too open seaming. Instead of songs and music, let them learn cookerie and laundrie; and instead of reading Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia, let them read the Grounds of Good Huswifery. I like not female poetess at any hand." Powell's Tom of all Trades, p. 47. a Sidney family in general, as we learn from Ben "Whose liberal board doth flow With all that hospitality doth know! Where comes no guest but is allow'd to eat, Without his fear, and of thy Lord's own meat. Where the same beer and bread, and selfsame wine, That is His Lordship's, shall be also mine." Gifford's Ben Jonson, vol. viii., p. 254. The practice of making a distinction at the table by means of a salt-cellar was very proper in early times, when the servants as well as the master of a family with his wife and children dined at one long table. It became odious, howlever, when a baron made this mark of servility |