Butsuperstitionmingledineverypublicandprivateactionoflife:intheholywars，itsanctifiedtheprofessionofarms；andtheorderofchivalrywasassimilatedinitsrightsandprivilegestothesacredordersofpriesthood。Thebathandwhitegarmentofthenovicewereanindecentcopyoftheregenerationofbaptism:hissword，whichheofferedonthealtar，wasblessedbytheministersofreligion:
hissolemnreceptionwasprecededbyfastsandvigils；andhewascreatedaknightinthenameofGod，ofSt。George，andofSt。
Michaelthearchangel。Hesworetoaccomplishthedutiesofhisprofession；andeducation，example，andthepublicopinion，weretheinviolableguardiansofhisoath。AsthechampionofGodandtheladies，Iblushtounitesuchdiscordantnames，hedevotedhimselftospeakthetruth；tomaintaintheright；toprotectthedistressed；topractisecourtesy，avirtuelessfamiliartotheancients；topursuetheinfidels；todespisetheallurementsofeaseandsafety；andtovindicateineveryperilousadventurethehonorofhischaracter。Theabuseofthesamespiritprovokedtheilliterateknighttodisdaintheartsofindustryandpeace；
toesteemhimselfthesolejudgeandavengerofhisowninjuries；
andproudlytoneglectthelawsofcivilsocietyandmilitarydiscipline。Yetthebenefitsofthisinstitution，torefinethetemperofBarbarians，andtoinfusesomeprinciplesoffaith，justice，andhumanity，werestronglyfelt，andhavebeenoftenobserved。Theasperityofnationalprejudicewassoftened；andthecommunityofreligionandarmsspreadasimilarcolorandgenerousemulationoverthefaceofChristendom。Abroadinenterpriseandpilgrimage，athomeinmartialexercise，thewarriorsofeverycountrywereperpetuallyassociated；andimpartialtastemustpreferaGothictournamenttotheOlympicgamesofclassicantiquity。^57InsteadofthenakedspectacleswhichcorruptedthemannersoftheGreeks，andbanishedfromthestadiumthevirginsandmatrons，thepompousdecorationofthelistswascrownedwiththepresenceofchasteandhigh—bornbeauty，fromwhosehandstheconquerorreceivedtheprizeofhisdexterityandcourage。Theskillandstrengththatwereexertedinwrestlingandboxingbearadistantanddoubtfulrelationtothemeritofasoldier；butthetournaments，astheywereinventedinFrance，andeagerlyadoptedbothintheEastandWest，presentedalivelyimageofthebusinessofthefield。Thesinglecombats，thegeneralskirmish，thedefenceofapass，orcastle，wererehearsedasinactualservice；andthecontest，bothinrealandmimicwar，wasdecidedbythesuperiormanagementofthehorseandlance。Thelancewastheproperandpeculiarweaponoftheknight:hishorsewasofalargeandheavybreed；butthischarger，tillhewasrousedbytheapproachingdanger，wasusuallyledbyanattendant，andhequietlyrodeapadorpalfreyofamoreeasypace。Hishelmetandsword，hisgreavesandbuckler，itwouldbesuperfluoustodescribe；butI