"This singular institution, says Dr. Robertson, in which valour, gallantry, and religion, were so strangely blended, was wonderfully adapted to the taste and ge nius of martial nobles ; and its effects were soon visible in their manners. War was carried on with less ferocity, when humanity came to be deemed the orna. ment of knighthood no less than courage. More gentle and polished manners were introduced, when courtesy was recom mended as the most amiable of knightly virtues. Violence and oppression de creased, when it was reckoned meritori ous to check and to punish them. A scru pulous adherence to truth, with the most religious attention to fulfil every engage ment, became the distinguishing charac teristic of a gentleman, because chivalry was regarded as the school of honour,, and inculcated the most delicate sensibility with respect to that point. The admira tion of these qualities, together with the high distinctions and prerogatives confer red on knighthood in every part of Eu rope, inspired persons of noble birth, on some occasions, with a species of military fanaticism, and led them to extravagant enterprises. But they imprinted deeply on their minds the principles of generosi ty and honour. These were strengthen ed by every thing that can affect the senses or touch the heart. The wild ex
ploits of those romantic knights, who sal lied forth in quest of adventures, are well known, and have been treated with pro per ridicule. The political and perma nent efforts of the spirit of chivalry have been less observed. Perhaps, the humani ty which accompanies all the operations of war, the refinements of gallantry, and the point of honour, the three chief cir umstances which distinguish modern from ancient manners, maybe ascribed in a great measure to this whimsical in stitution, seemingly of little benefit to mankind. The sentiments which chival ry inspired had a wonderful influence on manners and conduct, during the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fif teenth centuries. They were so deeply rooted, that they continued to operate after the vigour and reputation of the institution itself began to decline." In a word, chivalry, which is now an object of ridicule, was, at the period to which we have above refered, a matter of the greatest moment, and had no little influ ence on the manners of mankind, and the fate of nations.
A respectable writer has traced, with ingenuity and much learning, a strong resemblance between the manners of the age of chivalry and those of the heroic ages delineated by Homer. See Letters on Chivalry, &c.