THE BOOK OF

THE ORDER OF CHIVALRY,

OR

KNIGHTHOOD.

THIS book was translated from the French, and printed by Caxton. It is a thin quarto, and without a date, though it is supposed to have been printed about the year 1484.

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It is divided into eight chapters. The 1st shews how a knight, who was a hermit, bestowed, this rule, or order of chivalry, upon a squire. The 2d treats of the original of chivalry, or knighthood. 3. Of the office of chi-. valry. 4. Of the examination that ought to be made of the esquire, when he enters into the order. 5. In what manner the squire ought to receive chivalry. 6. Of the signefyaunce of the arms belonging to a knight. 7. Of the customs that appertain to a knight. 8. Of the' honours that ought to be done to a knight.

The following is a short abstract of the first chapter, declaring how a good hermit devised to the esquire, the rule and order of chivalry:

A certain knight, who had grown old in deeds of war, and feats of chivalry, had retired from the world, that he might consecrate the remainder of his days to acts of devotion, in a deep and venerable forest. Some king, "noble, wise, and full of good customs," having proclaimed a court general, for the purpose of being made himself a new knight, and after wards of making others, a certain esquire, ambitious of the honour of knighthood, immediately set out on his journey that he may receive it on this illustrious occasion. As he proceeded on his solitary way, he was overcome by the fatigues of his journey; and falling asleep, his horse deviated from the right tract, and accidentally carried him into the forest inhabited by the hermit-knight.

The hermit, who was offering up his orisons by the side of a fountain, the accustomed scene of his devotions, on perceiving the approach of a horseman, rose, and awaited him under the shadow of a tree; at the same time reading in a little book placed upon his lap.

The palfrey stopping at the fountain to drink, the esquire suddenly awoke, and having alighted, the old knight approached him, and they both sat down together on the grass. After spending some time in silent expressions of mutual surprise at their unexpected rencontre, the hermit inquired the reason of his visit. Being satisfied as to this point, and moreover, "when the knight heard speak of the knighthood and chivalry, and remembered him of the order of the same, and of that which appertaineth to a knight, he cast out a great sigh, and entered in a great thought, remembering of the honour in which chivalry had been long maintained."

The esquire inquired the cause of his reverie, and being informed, intreated the knight that he would instruct him in the rule and order of knighthood. The knight expressed his surprise that a candidate for the honour of chivalry should have neglected to study its precepts. I marvel (says he) how thou darest demand chivalry or knighthood, unto the time that thou know the order: for no knight may not love the order, ne that which appertaineth to this order, but if he can know the defaults that he doth against the order of chi

valry; ne no knight ought to make any knights, but if he himself know the order: for a disor dinate knight is he that maketh a knight and cannot shew the order to him, ne the custom of chivalry."

The esquire now renewing his request to be instructed in the order, "Friend, (said the knight,) the rule and order of chivalry, is written in this little book that I hold here in mine hands, in which I read, and am busy sometime, to the end that it make me remember or think on the grace and bounty that God hath given and done to me in this world; because that I honoured and maintained with all my power the order of chivalry for all in like wise as chivalry giveth to a knight all that to him appertaineth, in like wise a knight ought to give all his forces for to honour chivalry.",

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Having said this, he presented the little book to the esquire, who receiving it with the warmest demonstrations of respect and gratitude, departed on his destined journey.

Of the beginning of Chivalry.-Chap. 22.

When charity, loyalty, truth, justice, and verity. fail in the world, then beginneth cruelty, injury,