Sir, you that desire to receive the Order of Knighthood, swear, before
God, and by this Holy Book, that you shall not fight against the King,
who now bestoweth the Order of Knighthood upon you; you shall also
swear with all your force and power to maintain and defend all ladies,
gentlewomen, widows, orphans, and distressed women; and you shall shun
no adventure of your person in any way or war wherein you shall happen
to be.
Fourteen hundred years ago the old Knights of Britain used to be sworn
to do their duty in these words.
Their oath was much the same as the promise which the "young Knights"
of the present time make when they become Boy Scouts, for they promise
to serve God and the King, and to help others, especially women and
children, and not to think of their own trouble or risk so long as
they do a good turn to others needing help.
The Knights, being mounted men, were called the "Chivalry," the old
word for "Cavalry"--from the Latin "_cavallus_" and the French
"_cheval_," meaning a horse.
Then any noble act done by the Knights was said to be "Chivahous" or
Knight-like.
So the word "chivalry" now means doing things which the Knights of old
did.
It is chivalry to do one's duty to God and the King, to help women and
children, and all people in distress; and to be plucky and brave in
carrying out one's duty.
That is why Boy Scouts are frequently being described in the papers as
"chivalrous." I hope they will go on and continue to deserve the
title.
One great step in "Courteousness" is to be grateful when anybody does
you a "good turn," and to tell them you are grateful by saying "Thank
you." It is a little thing to do, but it is a great thing to the
person who has done the kindness to feel that it was not thrown away.
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