CHAP. Abolition of tournaments. The luc, that man of blood, was the last French soldier who received it in the field of battle. accolade was given to him by the Duke d'Anguien, after the engagement of Cérisolles, in 1544. The amusements of chivalry were soon abolished. The accidental death of Henry II. in a tournament, in the year 1559, did much to indispose the minds of the people from chivalric sports; and when in the following year Prince Henry de Bourbon Montpensier was killed, in consequence of his horse falling under him, while careering round the lists, tournaments ceased for ever; and with their abolition, as Voltaire says, the ancient spirit of chivalry expired in France; for that country, after the death of Henry II., was plunged in fanaticism, and desolated by the wars of religion. The Du Guesclin drew his sword, and putting it naked into the Part of Segar's account of this tournament is too interesting to be omitted. "At the fourth course, by marvellous IV. spirit did not survive the forms of chivalry; CHAP. for the intercourse with Italy introduced into France new opinions and feelings. Machiavelian of chivalry. Extinction misadventure, the King became hurt with a splinter of the adversary's lance, which pierced his eye so deep, as thereby his brain was much bruised. Thus was the nuptial feast disturbed, and joy converted to sorrow. Such is the state of worldly things: gladness is ever followed by sadness, and pleasure accompanied by pain. The rest of the troop who were ready to run were with that accident marvellously amazed, and not knowing what to do, every man let fall his lance, and cursed such triumphs. Some pressed to carry his person home, and others (as touched to the heart) shut their eyes from seeing a spectacle so miserable. The ladies likewise and gentlewomen of the court turned their faces from beholding, and closed their eyes with tears. To conclude, the whole number of courtiers were stricken with sorrow not explicable. The citizens, also, and, generally, all the subjects of that kingdom, were perplexed to see the tragical event of that disastrous triumph, which was intended to congratulate a new peace and an honourable alliance. The form and face of the city were thus converted from exceeding joy to unspeakable sorrow: some held up their hands to heaven, others made haste to the churches, and every one, with abundance of sighs and sobs, cried out, beseeching God to grant the King recovery; as if every man's well doing had thereon depended. Then the physicians and surgeons, not only of France but of the Low Countries, came thither to show their skill, using all ́art and endeavour that might be; but the splinters of the lance had pierced the King's eye so deeply, as the tenderness of the place could not suffer it to be taken out nor seen (the brain also being pierced), no means there were to cure the wound. IV. CHAP, politics banished the open, manly demeanour of chivalry; and the most disgusting profligacy equally distinguished the ladies. It is amusing to observe that, long after the extinction of chivalry in France, the apparent homage and devotion of chivalric love still continued, although it was no longer sustained by virtue. Love, sublimed into idolatry, breathes in every page of the heroic romances which succeeded the romances of chivalry, and reflect the feelings of the nation; and so late as the reign of Louis XIV. a ruffled and well-powdered French General, whose soul was not illumined by a single gleam of the character of a preux chevalier, would fancy himself the very pink of sentiment, and sigh at the feet of his mistress, "Pour meriter ton cœur, pour plaire a vos beaux yeux, J'ai fait la guerre aux rois, je l'aurois fait aux dieux." The King, therefore, tormented with extreme pain, fell into a burning fever, whereof at the end of eleven days he died. In all which time he did never weep, nor speak any word that might be imputed to pusillanimity; but most magnanimously took leave of life. Only this he said, that seeing he was destined to die in arms, he would have been much better contented to have lost his life in the field than in those domestic pastimes." Segar, of Honour, lib. iii. c.40. 229 CHAP. V. PROGRESS OF CHIVALRY IN SPAIN. General Nature of Spanish Chivalry......Religion and Heroism......Gallantry......Blending of Spanish and Oriental Manners......Its beneficial Tendencies......Peculiarities of Spanish Chivalry......Forms of Knighthood ......Various Ranks of Knights......Spanish Poetry...... Heroes of Chivalry......Pelayo......Bernardo del Carpio ......And incidentally of Charlemagne's Expedition into Spain...... The Life of the Cid......His early ferocious Heroism.......His singular Marriage.......Enters the Service of King Ferdinand......The Cid's Chivalric Gallantry......He is knighted......Death of King Ferdinand...... The Cid becomes the Knight of Sancho, King of Castile......Mixture of Evil and Good in the Cid's Character......Supports the King in his Injustice. The Cid's romantic Heroism......Sancho's further Injustice opposed by him......Death of Sancho......Instance of the Cid's virtuous Boldness......Character of Alfonso, Successor of Sancho.......Story of his chivalric Bearing......The Cid's second Marriage......Is banished from Alfonso's Court......Becomes the Ally of the Moors. ......But recalled......Is banished again......Singular Story of the Cid's unknightly Meanness......Fortunes of the Cid during his Exile...... The Cid's chivalric Nobleness and Generosity......Is recalled by Alfonso......The Cid captures Toledo......and Valentia......Story of Spanish Manners......The Cid's unjust Conduct to the Moors...... The unchivalric Character of the Cid's Wife V. General nature of Spanish chivalry. and Daughters......The Cid recalled by Alfonso.... The Marriages of his Daughters......Basely treated by their Husbands...............Cortez at Toledo to decide the Cause ......Picture of ancient Manners......Death of the Cid ......His Character......Fate of his good Horse...... Spanish Chivalry after his Death......Gallantry of a Knight...... The Merits of Missals decided by Battle. .....Passage of Arms at Orbigo......Knights travel and joust for Ladies' Love......Extinction of Spanish Chivalry. CHAP. SPANISH chivalry awakens the most splendid and romantic associations of the mind. Europe, with her active courage, - her jealousy of honour, - her superior religion; Asia, with her proud and lofty deportment, — her fervid and sublimated imagination, and the magnificent ceremonial of her pomp, — formed the knight of Spain; and, in consequence of this influence of Orientalism on his character, he represents the stateliness of chivalry as perfectly as the English cavalier its adventurousness, and the French its gaiety. Religion and heroism. There was an interesting blending of religious enthusiasm and romantic heroism in the Spaniard. His warm and creative imagination transformed the patron-saint of his country into a knight. He always saw St. James at his side, mounted on a stately white horse, and fighting the battles of Christianity and Spain; and, as if |