The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-19 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICE.

The HISTORY of CHIVALRY, or KNIGHTHOOD and
its TIMES. By C. MILLS ; 2 vols. Bvo.
There are few works which will be read with
more pleasure and more profit, than that which
forms the subject of this notice. To Mr. MILLS
we are indebted for several other books, which
'save met with the well merited approbation of
the public, but none of them deserved it more
than his History of Chivalry. The age, of which
he has given us so able a delineation, is one that
is intimately connected with some of our earliest
and most pleasing recollections. In our infancy
we are introduced to several Knight Errants,
whose various adventures and repeated combats
with giants and enchanters, fill our youthful
mind with the most pleasing emotions. Nor is
the pleasure we derive from such reading in the
least degree diminished, when the amusing works
of Ariosto, and the delightful poem of 'lasso, be-
come the favourites of our leisure hours. But the age
of chivalry affords matter for instruction, not less
than for amusement. In it, all is extraordinary.
It presents us with a picture of times and of
manners, combining to create a state of society,
which we cannot consider without pleasure and
astonishment, but which Mr. Mills has delinea-
ted with a degree of accuracy and of colouring,
which must render his work highly acceptable
to the antiquary, as well as to the generality of
readers. For the benefit of our readers we will
glean a few paragraphs, from a -book, the whole
of which is deserving of attention.
Jousts.—" The keen and well practiced eye
of the herald noticed the circumstances of the
contest. To break a spear between the saddle
and the helmet was accounted one point or de-
gree of honour. The higher on the body the
lance was attainted, or broken, the greater was
the consideration ; and the difficulty of break-
ing it on the helmet was regarded as so consi-
derable, that the Knight who performed this
feat was thought to be worthy of ten points.
- Either to strike one of the opposite party out
of his sadde, or to disable him so that he could not
join the next course, was an achievement that
merited three points. A curious question once
arose at a tournament held at Naples. A Knight
struck his antagonist with such violence as to
disarm him of his shield, cuirass, and helmet, and
in turn he was unhorsed. The judges had some
difficulty in determining who merited least re-
proach ; and it was at length decided, quite in
consonance with chivalric principles, that he who
fell from his horse was most dishonoured, for
good horsemanship was the first quality of a
Knight. Hence it was thought less dishonoura-
ble for a tourneying cavalier to fall with his
horse, there to fall alone. He who carried his
lance comely and firmly, was more worthy of
praise, although he broke not, than he who mis-
eoverned his horse and broke. He who ran high,
and sat steadily, accompanying his horse evenly
and gently, was worthy of all commendation.
To take away the rest of his adversaries' lance,
merited more honour than to carry away any
other part of his harness. To break his lance
against the bow or pommel of the saddle was act-
-counted greater shame than to bear a lance with-
out breaking. It was equally dishonourable to
break a lance traverse, or across the breast of an
opponent, without striking him with the point;
for, as it could only occur from the horse swerv-
ing on one side, it showed unskilful riding.
The courtesies of chivalry were maintained by
the laws that he who struck a horse, or a man,
when his back was turned, or when he was uu-
armed, deserved no honour. Any combatant
might unhelm himself, and until his helmet was
replaced, none could assail him."
When a Knight had been guilty of disloyal
conduct, he was degraded with the following ims
posing ceremonies :
" The knight who was to be degraded was, in
the first instance, armed by his brother knights
from head to foot, as if he had been going to the
battle-field ; they then conducted him to a high
stage, raised in a church, where the King and
his Court, the Clergy and the people were as-
sembled ; thirty priests sung such psalms as are
used at burials, and at the end of every psalm
they took from him a piece of armour. First,
they removed his helmet, the defence of his dis-
loyal eyes ; then his cuirass on the right side, as
the protector of a corrupt heart ; then his cuirass
on the left side, as from a member consent-
ing, and thus with the rest ; and when any piece
of armour was cast upon the Around, the King
of Arms and Heralds cried, Behold the har-
ness of a disloyal and miscreant Knight! A bason
of gold or silver full of warm water, was then
brought upon the stage, and a herald holding it
up, &mantled the Knights name. The pursui-
vents answered that which in truth was his de-
signation. Then the chief King of Arms said,
" That is not true, for he is a miscreant and
false traitor, and hath transgressed the Olen_
nances of Knighthood." The Chaplains an-
swered, " Let us give him his right name." The
-trumpets sounded a few notes supposed to express
the demtind, " what shall be done with him ?"
The King, or his chief officer, who was present,
replied, " Let him with dishonour and shame be
banished from my Kingdom as a vile and infa-
mous man, that bath offended against the order
of Knighthood." The heralds immediately cast
the warm water upon the face of the disgraced
Knight, as though he were newly baptized, say-
ing, 6; Henceforth thou shalt be called by this
right name—Traitor." Then the King, with
„twelve other Knights, put upon them mourning
garments, declaring sorrow, and thrust the de-
graded Knight from the stage : by the buffetings
of the people he was driven to the altar, where
he was put into a coffin, and the burial service of
ithe church was solemnly read over him."

CORM TRADE.—It is now openly avowed by
many of the underlings of Government, that the
inquiries making by Mr. JACOB abroad, are to
be worked up into a clear case, for the purpose
of spewing the necessity of throwing ?pen our
:ports for the unreserved admission of Foreign
Corn ; and that being bent upon the project, this
.4esideratutn of open ports is to take place in May
neart.—(Earner's Journal.)

ADDRESS TO THE DUKE OF YORE.