INTRODUCTION.

in

44 The severity and justice of the rigour of war ought to betempered, in his person, by a sweetness, a modesty, a polite-ness, which the term courtesy perfectly expresses, and ofwhich no other laws contain injunctions so formal as those ofChivalry. Nor is there any law which insists, with equal force,on the necessity of inviolably keeping one’s word, or whichinspires so much horror for lying and falsehood.” * I * * * * 6

Every man who held a Knight’s fee immediately of theCrown (which in the time of King Edward the Second amountedto J?20 per annum), was compelled, on becoming of age, totake the Order of Knighthood, or pay a fine for exemption;and it was not until the reign of King Charles the Second, thatthis usage, which had frequently been made the source of profitto the monarch, and of grievous oppression to the subject, wasabolished. “ The name of Knight Bachelor,” says Lord ChiefJustice Coke, 44 is resolved in our books without any contra-diction, to be a name of dignity, 7 and of the inferior degree ofnobility, and therefore is parcel of his name, and in writs andindictments he ought to be named 4 Knight,’ by the CommonLaw; but so it is not of the state of an Esquire or Gentleman.Britton 8 styleth a Knight 4 honourable,’ and in the record of

of William Earl of Holland, by John King of Bohemia, in 1247, as given by Mennenius(P- 9) :

M agnanimus in adversitate,

I ngenuus in consanguinitate,

L argifluus in honestate,

E gregius in curialitate,

S trenuus in virili probitate.

6 Memoires sur l’Ancienne Chevalerie, par La Curne de Sainte Palaye. Ed. 1826.

de Nodier, vol. I. p. 67.

7 Year Books, 14 Hen. VI. 15, Brooke’s Abridgment, tit. Additions, 44.

8 Britton’s words are, “ Ascuns trespas sount nequedent pluis punissables, si cometrespas fait en temps de peas a Chivallers, ou a autres gentz honorables, par rybaus, et parautres viles personnes.” Cap. 25, f. 49 b .