CHAPTER V.

INSTITUTION OF CHIVALRY AND DUELS.

Origin of Chivalric Laws and Customs.--The Assumption of Arms considered a Religious Rite.--Gallantry.--Union of Love and Religion.--Institution of Knighthood.--Tilts and Tournaments.--Increase of Duelling.--Degrading results of Chivalry.--Desperate pranks of the Crusaders.--Massacre of the Albigenses.--Knighthood becomes instrumental to Clerical or Military Ambition.--The Dog of Our Lady.--Francis the First’s Principle of Honour.--Giving the Lie.--First Chivalric Meeting.--Rules and Regulations for the Management of Tournaments.--Tournaments forbidden by the Clergy.--Edward the First challenged by the Count de Chalons.--His joust with the French Knights.--The petty Battle of Chalons.--Fatal Encounter of Henry the Second of France with Count Montgomery.--Ferocity and absurdity of these “Points of Honour.”--Deadly Combat between two Spanish Captains at Ferrara.--“Beau Combat” between M. de Bayard and Don Alonzo de Soto Mayor.--Punctiliousness in taking Offence.--Object of Tilts and Tournaments.--Injunction of the Dame des Belles Cousines to Little Jean de Saintré.--“Love par Amours.”--Influence of the Clergy.--Origin of the “Truce of God.”--The Crusades under Godefroi de Bouillon.--Advantages held out to the Crusaders.--Revolution in Property produced by the Crusades.--Discovery of the Pandects of Justinian.--Introduction of Civil Law 66