_Complaints of the unchivalric State of Richard's Court ... Influence
of Chivalry on the national Character ... Scottish Chivalry ...
Chivalric Kindness of Robert Bruce ... Mutual Chivalry between the
Scotch and English Courts ... French Knights' Opinions of Scottish
Chivalry ... Courtesies between English and Scottish Knights ...
Chivalric Battle of Otterbourn ... Hotspur and the Douglas ... A
cavaleresque Story ... Reign of Henry IV. ... Chivalric Parley between
him and the Duke of Orleans ... Henry's unchivalric Conduct at
Shrewsbury ... Henry V. ... Knights of the Bath ... Henry's Love of
chivalric Books ... His chivalric Bearing ... Commencement of the
Decline of Chivalry ... The Civil Wars injured Chivalry ... Caxton's
Lamentation ... He exaggerates the Evil ... Many gallant English
Knights ... Character of Henry VIII. with Reference to Chivalry ...
Tournaments in his Reign ... Field of the Cloth of Gold ...
Introduction of Italian Literature favoured Romance ... Popularity of
Chivalric Literature ... English Knights continued to break Lances for
Ladies' Love ... State of Scottish Chivalry at this Period ... James
IV. ... Chivalric Circumstances at Flodden Field._
In the reign of Richard II. the splendor of England's chivalry was
clouded. That monarch had neither spirit nor ambition to recover the
possessions which had been wrested from the crown during the illness of
his father, the Black Prince, and the imbecility of his grandfather,
Edward III.; for though the war with France nominally continued, yet he
gave few occasions for his knights to break their lances with the French.
Not that England enjoyed a state of perfect peace, but the wars in France
and Portugal had no brilliant results, for the English knights were no
longer guided by the sageness of Chandos, or the gallantry of Prince
Edward.
[Sidenote: Complaints of the unchivalric state of Richard's court.]
England was menaced with invasion by Charles VI. of France; but the
project died away, and nothing gave greater offence to the people than the
want of spirit in the court, in not revenging itself for the insult. A
comparison was immediately instituted between the present and the
preceding reign. Where were those great enterprises, it was asked, which
distinguished the days of King Edward III.? where could be found the
valiant men who had fought with the Prince, his son? In those days England
was feared, and was reputed as possessing the flower of Christian
chivalry; but now no man speaks of her, now there are no wars but such as
are made on poor men's purses, and thereto every one is inclined.[57]
[Sidenote: Influence of chivalry on the national character.]
The expensive wars of England with France were productive of mighty
consequences to the English constitution. An application for redress of
grievances always met the demand of supplies, and public liberty
benefitted by the costly ambition of the crown. The wars did not spring
from chivalry, and we cannot, therefore, ascribe to that bright source any
general political advantages which resulted from them: but chivalry gave
the tone to the manner in which they were waged; hers were all the
humanities of the contest; hers was, at least, half the distinction (for
we must remember the bow was as formidable as the lance) of establishing
the glory of the country; of giving her that proud character for martial
prowess, which has outlived her brief and feeble tenure of the territorial
consequences of victory.
Richard II. did not emulate the martial fame of his father. His neglect of
the warriors of the former reign was not among the slightest causes of
that disaffection which ultimately ruined him. One of the public
grievances, as stated to the throne by the House of Commons, was that the
chivalry of the country had been discountenanced and disgraced, and that
the growth of vice had consequently increased.[58]
Richard was a voluptuous prince; the splendour of chivalry hung over his
court; his tilts and tournaments were unusually magnificent; but the
martial and, therefore, the chief spring of knighthood was wanting. A
warlike sovereign could have found rich materials among his people for
ambitious enterprises. The increasing wealth of the nation, arising from
its improving commerce, displayed itself in luxuries; and the aspiring
commonalty imitated the chivalric courtesies of the great. It marks the
state of manners, that the splendid tapestries of the citizens represented
the martial achievements of Edward III.[59]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Scottish chivalry.]
The names of the Douglas and the Percy were so highly distinguished in the
fourteenth century, that the reign of Richard II. is a fit place for some
notices of northern chivalry. The battle of Bannockburn proved that, in
gallantry and generosity, the essentials of knighthood, the Scots were as
noble as the cavaliers of the south; and there was a fine wildness of
imagination among the people which was suitable to the romantic genius of
chivalry.[60] But those of Scotland's heroes whose lives are known to us
were patriots rather than cavaliers, the circumstances of the times in
which they lived inflaming them with different passions than those which
knighthood could inspire.
[Sidenote: Chivalric kindness of Robert Bruce.]
Sometimes, however, the stern virtues of patriotism were graced and
softened by chivalric courtesy. Perhaps the most pleasing instance of this
occurred in the conduct of Robert Bruce, in the year 1317, when he was
assisting his brother, Edward Bruce, to subjugate Ireland; and I will not
injure the story by telling it in any other way than in the simple and
beautiful strain of the poet:
"The king has heard a woman cry,
He asked, what that was in hy?[61]
It is the layndar[62], Sir, said ane,
That her child-ill[63] right now has ta'en,
And must leave now behind us here,
Therefore she makes an evil cheer.[64]
The king said, "Certes, it were pity
That she in that point left should be,
For certes, I trow there is no man
That he no will rue[65] a woman than."
His hosts all then arrested he,
And gert a tent soon stintit[66] be;
And gert her gang in hastily,
And other women to be her by.
While she was delivered he bade,
And syne forth on his ways rade.
And how she forth should carried be,
Or he forth fure[67] ordained he.
This was a full great courtesy,
That swilk a king and so mighty,
Gert his men dwell on this manner,
But for a poor lavender."[68]
The Bruce, book xi. l. 270.
At the court of the Scottish kings, knighthood was always regarded as a
distinction worthy of the highest ambition. Its objects were the same as
in other countries,--the defence of the church, protection of the
helpless, and generosity to woman. The form of the chivalric oath has been
preserved, and it presents us with a curious picture of ancient manners:
1. I shall fortify and defend the Christian religion to the uttermost
of my power.
2. I shall be loyal and true to my sovereign lord the king; to all
orders of chivalry, and to the noble office of arms.
3. I shall fortify and defend justice at my power; and that without
favour or enmity.
4. I shall never flee from my sovereign lord the king; nor from his
lieutenants, in time of affray or battle.