CHI [ 4§ j CHI

Chironia tife on the difeafes incident to horfes and other qua- a coat of mail. The fliell is plated, and confifts ofma- Chittirn
il drupeds, \ the lexicographer even pretends, ny parts lying upon each other tranfverfely : the inha- . II
011 r
that it is from this work the Centaur derived his name. bitant is a fpecies of the Doris. See Conchology . ' *'
Fabricius gives a lift of the works attributed to Chi- Index.
• ron, and difcufles the claims which have been made for CHITTIM, in Ancient Geography, according to
others to the fame writings : and in vol. xiii. he gives Le Clerc, Calmet, and others, was the fame with Ma-
him a diftinguiftred place in his catalogue of ancient cedonia, peopled by Kittim the fon of Javan and grand-
phyficians. fon of Noah.
CHIRONIA. See Botany Index. CHITTRICK’s MEDICINE FOR THE STONE. This
CHIRONOMY, in antiquity, the art of reprefent- medicine was fome years ago kept as a fecret, and had
ing any paft tranfaflion by the geftures of the body, great reputation as a lithontriptic, which indeed it
more efpecially by the motions of the hands : this feems in many cafes to deferve. It was difeovered by
made a part of liberal education ; it had the approba- Dr Blackrie to be no other than foap-lye j and the
tion of Socrates, and was ranked by Plato among the following receipt for ufing it was procured by General
political virtues. Dunbar: “ Take one tea-fpoonful of the ftrongeft
CHIROTONY, among ecclefiaftical writers, de- foap-lye, mixed in two table-fpoonfuls of fweet milk,
notes the impofition of hands ufed in conferring prieft- an hour before breakfaft and at going to bed. Be-
ly orders. However, it is proper to remark, that fore you take the medicine, take a fup of pure milk,
chirotony originally was a method of elefting magif- and immediately after'jou havefwallowed the medicine
trates, by holding up the hands. take another. If you find this agrees with you for
CHIRURGEON, or Surgeon. See Surgeon. twro or three days, you may add half as much more to
CHIRURGERY. See Surgery. the dofe.” r
CHISLEY land, in Agriculture, a foil of a middle CHIVALRY, (from cheval, “a horfe);” an ab-Definition,
nature between fandy and clayey land, with a large ad- ftraft term, ufed to exprefs the peculiar privileges, ob-
mixture of pebbles. ligations, and turn of mind, with all the other diftin-
CHISON, Kjson, or Kisson, (Judges iv. and v.) guifliing charafteriftics of that order of men who flou-
a river of Galilee •, faid to rife in Mount Tabor, to run riflied in Europe in the dark ages, during the vigour
by the town of Naim, and to fall into the Mediterra- of the feudal fyftems of government, under the name of
nean between Mount Carmel and Ptolemais, (i Kings Knights or Knights Errant. a
xviii. 40.) To afeertain the period at which the order fprung Difficulty
CHISSEL, or Chisel, an inftrument much ufed in up, and the circumftances to which its origin was ow-of tracing
fculpture, mafonry, joinery, carpentry, &c. ing, is no eafy talk. In the hiftory of fociety, fuch ^
There are chiffels of different kinds 5 though their a multiplicity of collateral fadls appear interwoven0 c va
chief difference lies in their different fize and ftrength, together, and caufes and effects run into each other
as being all made of fteel well fharpened and tempered : by a gradation fo imperceptible, that it is exceedingly
but they have different names, according to the differ- difficult, even for the niceft eye, to difeern caufes
ent ufes to which they are applied. The chiffels ufed from their immediate effedls, or to diftinguifh to
in carpentry and joinery are, 1. The former 5 which which among a number of collateral circumftances the
js ufed firft of all before the parting chiffel, and juft origin of any particular event is to be referred. The
after the work is fcribed. 2. The paring-chiffel; age to which we muft look for the origin of chivalry
which has a fine fmooth edge, and is ufed to pare off was Angularly rude and illiterate. Even the principal
or fmooth the irregularities which the former makes. events of that period, emigrations, wars, and the efta-
This is not ftruck with a mallet as the former is, but blifhment of fyftems of laws and forms of government,
is preffed with the flioulder of the workman. 3. Skew- have been but imperfeftly, and in many inftances un-
former : this is ufed for cleanfing acute angles with the faithfully, recorded. But the tranfaflions which took
point or corner of its narrow edge. 4. The mortife- place in the ordinary courfe of civil and domeftic life,
chiffel } which is narrow, but very thick and ftrong, and which, though lefs linking, muft have always pre-
to endure hard blows, and it is cut to a very broad pared the way for the more remarkable events, have
bafil. Its ufe is to cut deep fquare holes in the wood been generally thought unworthy of tranfmiffion to
for mortifes. 5. The gouge, which is a chiflel with pofterity, and have very feldom found a hiftorian.
a round edge \ one fide wTereof ferves to prepare the Add to thefe difficulties which oppofe our refearches
way for an augre, and the other to cut fuch wood as on this fubjedl, that the nations of Europe were in
is to be rounded, hollowed, &c. 6. Socket chiffels, that age a mixed multitude, confifting of the aborigi-
which are chiefly ufed by carpenters, &c. have their nal inhabitants, who, though either fubdued by the
fhank made with a hollow focket at top ; to receive a Roman arms, or at leaft compelled to retire to the
ftrong wooden fprig, fitted into it with a flioulder. woods and mountains, ftill obftinately retained their pri-
Thefe chiffels are diftinguifhed, according to the mitive manners and cuftoms ; Roman colonies, and
breadth of the blade, into half-inch chiffels, three fuch of the original inhabitantsof the countries in which
quarters of an inch chiffels, &c. 7. Ripping chiffels j thefe were eftablifhed, as had yielded not only to the
which is a focket-chiffel of an inch broad, having a arms of the Romans, but alfo to the influence of their
blunt edge, with no bafil to it. Its ufe is to rip or tear laws, arts, and manners j and the barbarians, who pro-
two pieces of wood afunder, by forcing in the blunt ceeding from the northern regions of Afia and Europe,
edge between them. the wilds of Scythia and Germany, diffolved the fabric
CHITON, in Zoology, a genus of the order of ver- of the Roman empire, and made themfelves lords of
cnes teftacese. The name chiton is from yjruv, lorica, Europe. Amid this confufion of nations, inftitutions,
1
 c
CHI [49 ] H 1
Chivalry, and cuftdms, it becomes alrnofl. impoflible to trace any to thofe who are acquainted with them a greater lu- Chivaliy.
—v~~~' regular feries of caufes and effe&s. periority over thofe to wffiom their ufe is unknown, ^
Yet as the hiftory of that period is not entirely un- than what the horfeman poffeffes over him who fights
known to us, and the obfcure and imperfedf records on foot. But the ufe of fire-arms is of fuch impor-
in which it is preferved, while they commemorate the tance in war, and the expence attending it fo inconfi-
more remarkable events, throw a faint light on the derable, that wherever thefe have been introduced,
cuftoms, manners, and ordinary tranfadlions of the they have feldom been confined to one particular order
age j we can at lead colled fome circumftances, which in an army 5 and, therefore, they produce indeed a re-
if they did not of themfelves give rife to the inftitu- markable, though tranfient, diftindion among different
tion of chivalry, muft certainly have co-operated with nations ; but eftabbffi no permanent diftindions in the
others to that end. We may even be allowed, if we armies in any one nation. But to maintain a horfe,
proceed with due diffidence and caution, to deduce, to equip him with coftly furniture, to manage him
from a confideration of the effiedt, fome inferences con- with dexterity and vigour, are circumftances which
cerning the caufe ; from thofe particulars of its hiftory have invariably produced a Handing and confpicuous
which are known to us, ive may venture to carry ima- diftindion among the military order, wherever bodies
gination backwards, under a proper reftraint, to thofe of cavalry have been formed. The Roman equites,
which are hid under the darknefs of a rude and illite- who, though they became at length a body of ufurers
„ rate age. and farmers-general, w'ere originally the only body of
Di ft in 61 ion. Diftindion of ranks appears to be effentially necef- cavalry employed by the ftate, occupied a refpedable
*>f rnnks an fary to the exiftence of civil order. Even in the fim- rank between the fenators and the plebeians ; and the
effential pleft and rudeft focial eftabliihments, we find not elegance and humanity of their manners were fuitable
part of the merely the natural diftindions of weak and ftrong, to their rank. In ancient Greece, and in the cele-
mechaniftn
of fociety. young and old, parent and child, hufhand and wife ; brated monarchies of Alia, the lame diftindion pre-
thefe are always accompanied with others which owe vailed at a fimilar period. ^
their inftitution to the invention of man, and the con- Since the circumftances and principles on w hich Military
fent, either tacit or formal, of the fociety among this diftindion depends are not fuch as muft be con- diftii;<Tonsc
whom they prevail. In peace and in war, fuch dif- fined in their influence to one particular nation, or one^™c°^t-
tindions are equally neceffary ; they conftitute an ef- region of the globe, we may hope to trace their ef~Qcrmans.
fential and important part of the mechanifm of fociety. feds among the favage warriors of Scythia and Ger-
4 One of the earlieft artificial diftindions introduced many, as well as among the Greeks or Romans.
The early
pre-emi- among mankind, is that which feparates the bold and From the valuable treatife of Tacitus de moribus Ger-
nence of Ikiiful warrior from thofe whofe feeblenefs of body and mariorum, we learn that, among the German wurriors
the milita- mind renders them unable to excel in dexterity, ftra- a diftindion lomewffiat of this nature did adually fub-
ry charac-
ter. tagem, or valour. Among rude nations, who are but fift ; not fo much indeed a diftindion between the
imperfedly acquainted with the advantages of focial warrior who fought on horfeback and thofe who fought
order, this diftindion is more remarkably eminent on foot, as between thofe whom vigour of body and
than in any other ftate of fociety. The ferocity of the energy of mind enabled to brave all the dangers of
human charader in fuch a period produces almoft con- war, and fuch as, from the imbecility of youth, the in-
tinual hoftilities among neighbouiing tribes ; the ele- firmities of age, or the natural inferiority of their men-
ments of nature, and the brute inhabitants of the foreft, tal and bodily powers, were unequal to fcenes of bard-
are not yet reduced to be fubfervient to the will of flrip and deeds of valour. The youth w^as not permit-
man •, and thefe, with other concomitant circuinftances, ted to take arms and join his warlike countrymen in
render the warrior, who is equally diftinguiftred by cun- their military expeditions whenever he himfelf thought
ning and valour, more ufeful and refpedable than any proper ; there was a certain age before which he could
other charader. not be invefted wuth armour. When he had attained
Subordi- On the fame principles, as the boundaries of fociety that period, if not found deficient in ftrength, adivity,
nate dif- are enlarged, and its form becomes more complex, the or courage, he was formally honoured with the ftiield
tindlions claffes into which it is already diftinguifiied are again and the lance, called to the duties, and admitted to all
of rank in- fubdivided. The invention of arts, and the acquifi- the privileges of a warrior. $
troduced Another fad worthy of notice, refpeding the man-Ttefpedla-
into fo- tion of property, are the chief caufes of thefe new dif- lt r of 1
ciety. tindions which now arife among the orders of fociety ; ners of the barbarians of Germany before they efta-td > H*
wome a
and they extend their influence equally through the blilhed themfelves in the cultivated provinces of the ”i “
whole fyftem. Difference of armour, and different Roman empire, is, that their women, contrary to what Germans,
modes of military difcipline, produce diftindion of we find among many other rude nations, were treated
orders among thofe who pradife the arts of war 5 wffiile with a high degree of refped. They did not gene-
other circumftances, originating from the lame general rally vie with the men in deeds of valour, but they
caufes, occafion fimilar changes to take place amidft the animated them by their exhortations to diitinguillr
6 fcenes of peace. themfelves in the field ; and virgins efpecially were ccn-
The dif- None of the new diftindions which are introduced fidered withr a facred veneration, as endowed with pro-
tindtion in- among men, with refped to the difcipline and con- phetic pow ets, capable of forefeeing events hid in the
troduced dud of war, in confequence of the acquifition of pro- womb of futurity, and even of influencing the will of the
into the perty and the invention of arts, is more remarkable deities. Hence, though domeftic duties were their pe-
■military than that occafioned by the ufe of horfes in military culiar province, yet they w'ere not harflrly treated nor
order by
the ufe of expeditions, and the training of them to the evolu- confined to a ftate of flavery. There appears indeed
cavalry. tions of the military art. Fire-arms, it is true, give a ftriking analogy between the condition of the women
Vol. VI. Part I. G . among
 CHI [5° ] CHI
Chivalry, among the rude foldiers of Sparta and the rank which formed, is well defcribed by an eloquent biHorian in CliivalT’.
they occupied among the warlike cantons or Germany. the following manner : ^
u Between the age of Charlemagne and that of tne Gibbon,
Perhaps, indeed, the Geman were (till more honourable
crufades, a revolution had taken place among the Sp8"'0^'-
than the Spartan women ^ as they were taught to wield niards, the Normans, and the French, which was gra-
the magic weapons of fuperftition, which in Greece dually extended to the reft of Europe. . The lervice
were appropriated to the priefts.
It appears, therefore, that, in the forefts of Germany of the infantry was degraded to the plebeians j the ca-
valry formed the ftrength of the armies, and the ho-
at lead, if not the more northern regions of Afia nourable name of miles, or foldier, was confined to the
and Europe, the conquerors of the Roman empire, be- gentlemen who ferved on horfeback, and were invert-
fore they penetrated into its provinces, treated their ed with the charafter of knighthood. The dukes and
women with a degree of refpeft unknown to moft of
counts, who had ufurped the rights of fovereignty, di-
the nations of antiquity ; that the charaftei 01 the war- vided the provinces among their faithful barons : the
rior was likewife highly honourable, being underftood barons diftributed among their vaffals the fiefs or bene-
to unite all thofe qualities which were in the higheft fices of their jurifdiaion ; and theie military tenants,
eftimation ; and that it was only at a particular age,
and with certain forms, that the youth were admitted the peers of each other and of their lord, compofed
to bear arms. , the noble or equeftrian order, which difdained to con-
When thofe nations Tallied from their deierts and ceive the peafant or burgher as of the lame fpecies
Changes in forefts, overran the Roman empire, and eftabhlhed with themfelves. The dignity of their birth was pre-
the man- ferved by pure and equal alliances ; their fons alone
ners of the themfelves in its provinces, the changes which took who could produce four quarters or lines of anceftry,
barbarians place on their circumftances were remarkable > and by
after they natural influence, it could not but produce an equally without fpot or reproach, might legally pretend to the
fettled in aremarkable change on their habits, cuftoms, and man- honour of knighthood ; but a valiant plebeian was
the Roman fometimes enriched, and ennobled by the fword, and
empire, ners. The great outlines might ftill remain : but
which gave they could not now fail to be filled up in a different became the father of a new race. A Tingle knight
rife to chi- manner. Here, however, the records of hiftory are could impart, according to his judgment, the character
valry. peculiarly imperfeft. .We have no Csefar or Tacitus which he received ; and the warlike Ibvereigns of Eu-
rope derived more glory from this perfonal diftinftion
to fupply fa£b or direft our reafonings ; the Gothic than from the luftre of their diadem. This ceremony
nations had not yet learned to read and write ; and
was in its origin fimple and profane , the candidate,
the Romans were fo depreffed under the fenfe of their after fome previous trial, was inverted with his fword
own miferies, as to be negligent of the changes^ which
happened around them. Rut as foon as the light, of and fpurs *, and his cheek or Ihoulder were touched
hiitory begins again to dawn, we find that the leading with which
a flight blow, as an emblem of the lalt affront
it was lawful for him to endure. But .fuper-
featdVes of the barbarian character were not effaced, but
only modified in a particular manner, in confequence ftition mingled in every public and private aftion Oi
of their mixing among a more polifhed people, becom- life : In the holy wars, it fandified the p.rofefiion of
ing acquainted with the luxuries of life, and acquiiing arms rights
; and the order of chivalry was aflimilated in its
and privileges to the facred orders of priefthood.
extenfive power and property.
Thofe who fought on horfeback now began to be The bath and white garment of the novice were an
diftinguiihed with peculiar honours. The manners of indecent copy of the regeneration of baptifm : his
fword, which he offered on the altar, was bleffed by
the warrior too were become more cultivated, and his
fpirit more humane. Leilure and opulence,, with the the minifters of religion ; his folemn reception was
preceded by faffs and vigils j and he was created a
influence of a poliflied people, even though in a ftate
knight in the name of God, of St George, and of St
of flavery, taught thofe barbarians to afpire after more Michael the archangel. He fwore to accomplifti the
refined pleafures and more fplendid amufements than
thofe with which they had been before fatisfied. The duties of his profeflion •, and education, example, and
influence of Chriftianity, too, which, though grofsly the public opinion, were the inviolable guardians of his
corrupted, was ftill favourable to the focial happmefs oath. As the champion of God and the ladies, he de-
of mankind, concurred to polilh their manners and ex- voted himfelf to fpeak the truth ; to maintain the
alt their character. Hence, in the end of the tenth right ; to protea the diftreffed 5 to praaife courtefy, a
and in the beginning of the eleventh century, we fee virtue lefs familiar to the ancients ; to purfue the infi-
knight-errantry, with that romantic gallantry, piety, dels ; to defpife the allurements of eafe and fafety 5
and humanity, by which it was principally diftinguifti- and to vindicate in every perilous adventure the ho-
ed, make its appearance. At the court of every nour of his charaaer. 'The abufe. of the fame (pint
prince, count, or baron, joufts and tournaments be- provoked the illiterate knight to difdain the arts ol in-
came the favourite amufements. At thofe entertain- duftry and peace } to efteem himfelf the foie judge and
ments, {kill in arms, devotion to the fair, and generous avenger of his own injuries •, and proudly to neglea
courtefy, were all at once cultivated. About this the laws of civil fociety and military difcipline. Yet
period began the crufades-, and thefe, to which alone the benefits of this inftitution, to refine the temper, of
feme have referred the origin of chivalry, though they barbarians, and to infufe fome principles of faith, juf-
could not give rife to what was already in exiftence, tice, and humanity, were ftrongly felt, and have been
yet moulded the form and directed the fpirit of the often obferved. The afperity of national prejudice
inftitution in fuch a manner, as to raife it by a rapid was foftened ; and the community of religion and arms
progrefs from infancy, as it were, to full vigour and fpread a fimilar colour and generous emulation over
maturity. Its charafter, as it appeared when fully the face of Chriftendom. Abroad, in enterprise and
pilgrimage^
 CHI [ S’ ] CHI
Chivalry, pilsfrltnage j at home, in martial exercife, the vvarri- Some obviouscircumftancesof agreement between tne Clnvalry.^
v ors^of every country were perpetually affociated ; and heroic and Gothic manners may be worth putting down.
impartial tafte mull prefer a Gothic tournament to the 1. The military enthufiafm of the barons is but of
Olympic games of claflic antiquity. Inltead of the a piece with the fanaticifm of the heroes. Hence the
naked fpe&acles which corrupted the manners of the fame particularity of defcription in the accounts ot
Greeks, and banilhed from the ftadium the virgins battles, wounds, deaths, in the Greek poet as in the
and matrons, the pompous decoration of the lifts was Gothic romancers. Hence that minute curiofity in
crowned with the pretence of chafte and high-born the difplay of their dreffes, arms, accoutrements. The
beauty, from whofe hands the conqueror received the minds of all men being occupied with warlike images
prize of his dexterity and courage. The Ikill and and ideas, were much gratified by thofe details, which
ftrength that were exerted in wreftling and boxing, appear cold and unaffe&ing to modern readers.
bear a diftant and doubtful relation to the merit of a We hear much of knights-errant encountering gi-
foldier ; but the tournaments, as they were invented in ants and quelling favages in books ot chivalry. I hefc
France, and eagerly adopted both in the eaft and weft, giants were oppreffive feudal lords $ and every lord
prefented a lively image of the bufinefs of the field. was to be met with, like the giant, in his ftrong-hold
The Angle combats, the general ikirmifti, the defence or caftle. Their dependents of a lower form, who
of a pals or caftle, were rehearfed as in aftual fervice ; imitated the violence of their fuperiors, and had not
and the conteft, both in real and mimic war, was de- their caftles but lurking places, were the favages of
cided by the fuperior management of the horfe and romance. The greater lord was called a giant for his
lance. The lance was the proper and peculiar weapon power the lefs, a favage for his brutality.
of the knight: his horfe was of a large and heavy 2. Another terror of the Gothic ages was monfters,
breed but this charger, till he was roufed by the ap- dragons, and ferpents. Their ftories were received in
proaching danger, was ufually led by an attendant, thofe days for feveral reafons : 1. From the vulgar be-
and he quietly lode a pad or palfrey of a more eafy lief of enchantments : 2. From their being reported
pace. His helmet and fword, his greaves and buck- on the faith of eaftern tradition, by adventurers from
ler, it would be fuperfiuous to defcribe •, but I may re- the Holy Land : 3. In ftill later times from the ftrange
mark, that at the period of the crufades, the armour things told and believed on the difeovery of the new
was lefs ponderous than in later times $ and that, in- world.
ftead of a maffy cuirafs, his breaft was defended by a In all thefe refpe&s, Greek antiquity refembles the
bauberk or coat of mail. When their long lances Gothic. For what are Homer’s Lseftrigons and Cy-
were fixed in the reft, the warriors furioufty fpurred clops, but bands of lawlefs favages, with each of them
their horfes againft the foe •, and the light cavalry of a giant of enormous fize at their head ? And what are
the Turks and Arabs could feldom ftand againft the the Grecian Bacchus, Hercules, and Thefeus, but
direct and impetuous weight of their charge. Each knights-errant, the exaft counterparts of Sir Launce-
knight was attended to the field by his faithful fquire, lot and Amadis de Gaul ?
a youth of equal birth and fimilar hopes j he was fol- 3. The oppreflions which it was the glory of the
T
lowed by his archers and men at arms ; and four, or knights to avenge, w ere frequently carried on, as we
five, or fix foldiers, w'ere computed as the furniture of are told, by the charms and enchantments of %vomen.
a complete /ance. In the expeditions to the neigh- Thefe charms, we may fuppofe, are often metapho-
bouring kingdoms or the Holy Land, the duties of rical j as exprefling only the blandilhments of the lex.
the feudal tenure no longer fubfifted ; the voluntary Sometimes they are taken to be real, the ignorance
fervice of the knights and their followers was either of thofe ages acquiefcing in fuch conceits. And are
prompted by zeal or attachment, or purchafed with re- not thefe ftories matched by thofe of Calypfo and
wards and promifes •, and the numbers of each fqua- Circe, the enchantreffes of the Greek poet
dron were meafured by the power, the wealth, and 4. Robbery and piracy were honourable in both ;
T
the fame of each independent chieftan. They were fo far w ere they from refle&ing any discredit on the
diftinguilhed by his banner, his armorial coat, and his ancient or modern redrefers of wrongs.^ What ac-
cry of war : and the moft ancient families of Europe count can be given of this, but that, in the feudal
muft feek in thefe atchievements the origin and proof times, and in the early days of Greece, when govern-
of their nobility.” > ment was weak, and unable to redrefs the injuries of
The refpe&able author of the Letters on Chivalry petty fovereigns, it would be glorious for private ad-
and Romance, traces, with great ingenuity and erudi- venturers to undertake this work 5 and, if they could
tion, a ftrong refemblance between the manners of the accompliftr it in no other way, to pay them in kind by
I0 age of chivalry and thofe of the old heroic ages deli- downright plunder and rapine ?
The refem-neated by Homer. 5. Baftardy was in credit with both. They were
blance be- There is, fays he, a remarkable correfpondence be- extremely watchful over the chaftity of their own wo-
tween he- manners of the old heroic times, as painted men •, but fuch as they could feize upon in the ene-
Goth’c^ ky their great romancer Homer, and thofe which are my’s quarter, were lawful prize. Or if, at any time,
manners, reprefented to us in the modern books of knight-er- they tranfgrefled in this fort at home, the fault was
rantry. A faff of which no good account can be gi- covered by an ingenious fidlion. d he offspring was
ven, but by another not lefs certain ; that the political reputed divine. Their greateft heroes were the fruit
ftate of Greece, in the earlieft periods of its ftory, of goddefles approached by mortals} juft as we hear
was fimilar in many refpe&s to that of Europe, as of the doughtieft knights being born of fairies.
broken by the feudal fyftem into an infinite number of 6. With the greateft fiercenefs and favagenefs of
petty independent governments. chara&er, the utmoft generofity, hofpitality, and cour-
G 2 »efy,
 CHI . . C 52
Chivalry, tefy, were imputed to the heroic ages. Achilles was
rj
-' v""1 at once the molt relentlefs, vindifHve, implacable, and
the friendlieft of men. We have the very fame repre-
fentation in the Gothic romances. As in thofe lawlefs
times, dangers and diflreffes of all kinds abounded,
there would be the fame demand for compaffion, gen-
tlenefs, and generous attachments to the unfortunate,
thofe efpecially of their own clan, as of refentment,
rage, and animofity againft their enemies.
7. Again, the martial games celebrated in ancient
Greece, on great and folemn occafions, had the fame
origin and the fame purpofe as the tournaments of
the Gothic warriors.
8. Laflly, the pailions for adventures fo natural in
their fituation, would be as naturally attended with
the love of praife and glory. Hence the fame encou-
ragement, in the old Greek and Gothic times, to pa-
negyrills and poets. In the affairs of religion and gal-
lantry, indeed, the refemblance between the hero
and the knight is not fo linking. But the religious
charafler of the knight was an accident of the times,
and no proper effeft of his civil condition. And that
his devotion for the fair fex fhouid lo far furpafs that
of the hero, is a confirmation of the fylfem here ad-
vanced. For the confideration had of the females in
the feudal conftitution, will of itielf account for this
deference. It made them capable of fucceeding to
fiefs, as well as the men. And does not one inllantly
percieve what relpeft and dependence this privilege
would draw upon them ?
It was of great confequenee who fhouid obtain
the favour of a rich heirefs. And though, in the llriff
feudal times, fire was fuppofed to be in the powder and
at the difpofd of her fuperior lord, yet this rigid flate
of things did not lad long. Hence we find fome di-
llreffed damfel was the fpring and mover of every
knight’s adventure. She was to be refcued by his
arms, or won by the fame and admiration of his
prowefs. The plain meaning of all which was this :
That as, in thefe turbulent times, a protector was ne-
ceffary to the weaknefs of the fex, fo the courteous and
valorous knight was to approve himfelf fully qualified
for that purpofe.
It may be obferved, that the two poems of Homer
were intended to expofe the mifchiefs and inconve-
niences arifing from the political flate of Old Greece :
the Iliad, the diffenfions that naturally fpring up a-
mong independent chiefs; and the Ody/Jey, the info-
lence of their greater fubjeffs, more efpecially when
unreffrained by the prefence of their fovereign. And
can any thing more exaflly refemble tire condition of
the feudal times, when, on occafion of any great en-
terprife, as that of the crufades, the defigns of the
confederate Chriflian Hates were perpetually fruflrat-
ed, or interrupted at leaf!, by the diffenfions of their
leaders •, and their affairs at home, as perpetually di-
flreffed and difordered by the rebellious ufurpations of
their greater vaffals ? Jerufalem was to the European
what Troy had been to the Grecian princes. See the
article Knight.
Chivalry, in Law, is ufed for a tenure of lands
by knight’s fervice, whereby the knight was bound
to perform fervice in war unto the king,, or the mefne
lord of whom he held by that tenure. And chivalry
was either general or fpccial: gensrali when it was
'
1
] CHI
only in the feoffment that the tenant held per femiti- Clnvany.
v
um militare, without any fpecification of ferjeantry, ef-
cuage, &c. 5 fpecial, when it was declared particular-
ly by what kind of knight fervice the land was held.
For the better underflanding of this tenure it hath
been obferved, that there is no law but is holden me-
diately or immediately of the crown by fome fervice j
and therefore all freeholds that are to us and our heirs,
are called feuda, or feoda, “ fees; as proceeding from
the king for fome Imall yearly rent, and the perform-
ance of fuch fervices as were originally laid upon the
land at the donation thereof. For as the king gave
to the great nobles, his immediate tenants, large ppfi-
fe ffio ns for ever, to hold of him for this or that fervice
or rent 5 fo they in time parcelled out to fuch others
as they liked the fame lands for rents and fervices as
they thought good : and thefe fervices were by Little-
ton divided into two kinds, chivalry and focage; the
firft whereof was martial and military, the other rufti-
cal. Chivalry, therefore, was a tenure of fervice,
whereby the tenant was obliged to perform fome noble
or military office unto bis lord : and it was of two
kinds ; either regal, that is, held only of the king ; or
common, where held of a common perfon. I nat which
might be held only of the king was called fervitium,
or fergentia ; and was again divided into grand and pe-
tit ferjeantry. The grand ferjeantry was where one
held lands of the king by fervice, which he ought to
do in his own perfon : as, to bear the king’s banner or
fpear, to lead his holt, to find mm at arms to fight,
&c. Petit ferjeantry was when a man held lands of
the king, to yield him annually fome imali thing to-
wards his w’ars, as a fword, dagger, bow, &x. Chi-
valry that might be holden of a common perfon was
termed fcutagium, “ eicuage that is, iervice oi the
flrield ; which was either uncertain or certain.
Efcuage uncertain, was likewile two-fold : firft,
where the tenant wms bound to follow his lord, going
in perfon to the king’s wrars, either Irmielt, or lend-
ing a fufficient man in his place, there to be maintain-
ed at his expence, fo long as was agreed upon between
the lord and his firft tenant at the granting of the fee *
and the days of fuch fervice feem to have been rated
by the quantity of land fo holden ; as, if it extended to
a whole knight’s fee, then the tenant was to follow
his lord 40 days ; and if but to half a knight’s fee,
then 20 days j if a fourth part, then 10 days, &c.
The other kind of this efcuage was called cajlle-ward,
where the tenant w'as obliged, by himfeli or fome
other, to defend a callle as often as it Ihould come to
his turn. And thefe were r called efcuage uncertain ;
becaufe it w’as uncertain how often a man Ihould be
called to follow his lord to the wars, or to defend a
caftle, and what his charge would be therein.
Efcuage certain, was where the tenure was fet at a
certain fum of money to be paid in lieu of fuch Itr-
vice •, as that a man (hould pay yearly for every knight’s
fee 20s. for half a knight’s fee 10s. or fome like rate }
and this fervice, becaufe it is drawn to a ceitain rent,
groweth to be of a mixed nature, not merely focage,
and yet focage in effea, being now neither perfonal
fervice nor uncertain. The tenure called chivalry bad
other conditions annexed to it : but there is a great
alteration made in thefe things by the flat. 12. Car. II.
c 24.T whereby tenures by knight’s fervice of the king*
or
 C H I [ S3 1 C H I
Chivalry,1 or any other peifon in capite, &c. and the fruits and bat. But as it cannot imprifon, not being a court of Chivalry
-v-—■ confequences thereof, are taken away and. difcharged ; record ; and as, by the refolutions of the fuperior
and all tenures are to be conllrued and adjudged to be courts, it is now confined to io narrow and reltr.ained
free and common focage, &c. a jurifdidlion, it has fallen into contempt. I he mar-
Court of Chivalry, a court formerly held before fhalling of coat-armour, which was formerly the pride
the lord high conftable and earl marlhal of England and ftudy of all the beft families in the kingdom, is
jointly, and having both civil and criminal junfdic- now greatlv difregarded } and has fallen into the hanas
tion : but fince the attainder of Stafford duke of Buck- of certain officers and attendants upon this court, cal-
ingham under Henry VIII. and the confequent extm- led heralds, who confider it only as a matter of lucre,
guilhment of the office of lord high conftable, it hath and not of juftice ; whereby fuch falfity and confufion
ufually, with refpeft to civil matters, been heard be- have crept into their records (which ought to be the
fore the earl marfhal only. I his court, by ftat. 13. Handing evidence of families, defcents, and coat-av-
Rich. II. c. 2. hath cognizance of contra&s and other mour), that though formerly fome credit has been paid
^ matters touching deeds of arms and war, as well out to their teftimony, now even their common feal will
of the realm as in it. And from its fentences lies an not be received as evidence in any court of juflice in
immediate appeal to the king in perfon. 1 his court the kingdom. But their original vifitation books, com-
was in great reputation in the times of pure chivalry *, piled when progreffes were folemnly and regularly
and afterwards during the Englifh connexions with made into every part of the kingdom, to inquire into
the continent, by the territories which their princes the Hate of families, and to regifter fuch marriages
held in France : but it is now grown almoft entirely and defcents as were verified to them upon oath, are,
out of ufe, on account of the feeblenefs of its jurisdic- allowed to be good evidence of pedigrees.
tion, and want of power to enforce its judgements ; as 2. As a criminal court, when held before the lord
it can neither fine nor imprifon, not being a court of high conftable of England jointly with the earl mar-
record. ftial, it had jurifdiftion over pleas of life and member,
1. The civil jurifdidtion of this court of chivalry arifing in matters of arms and deeds of war, as well
is principally in two points ; the redrefting injuries of out of the realm as within it. But the criminal as
honour, and correfting encroachments in matters of well as civil part of its authority is fallen into entire
coat-armour, precedency, and other diftimflions of fa- difufe, there having been no permanent high conftable
milies. As a court of honour, it is to give fatis^ac- of England (but only pro hac vice, at coronations and
tion to all fuch as are aggrieved in that point ; a the like), fince the attainder and execution of Stafford
point of a nature fo nice and delicate, that its wrongs duke of Buckingham, in the 13th year oi Henry VIII. j
and injuries efcape the notice of the common law, the authority and charge, both in war and peace, be-
and yet are fit to be redrefled fomewhere. Such, for ing deemed too ample for a fubjeff ; fo ample, that
inftance, as calling a man coward, or giving him the when the chief juftice Fineux was afked by King Hen-
lie ; for which, as they are produftive of no imme- ry VIII. how far they extended ? he declined an-
diate damage to his perfon or property, no adfion will fwering, and faid,r the decifion of that queftion be-
lie in the courts at Weftminfter ; and yet they are longed to the law of arms, and not to the law of Eng^
fuch injuries as will prompt every man of fpirit to land.
demand fome honourable amends ; which, by the an- CHIVES, in Botany, are {lender thread-like fub-
cient law of the land, was given in the court of chi- ftances, generally placed within the bloffom, and fur-
valry. But modern relolutions have determined, that rounding the Pointals. They are formed of the
how much foever a jurifdi&ion may be expedient, yet w'oody iubftance of the plant.
no aftion for words will at prelent lie therein. And CHIUM m armor, in the natural hiftory of the an-
it hath always been moft clearly holden, that as this cients, the name of a black marble, called alfo the la-
court cannot meddle with any thing determinable by pis opjidianus. It is very hard, and of a fine black ;
common law, it therefore can give no pecuniary fatif- and, befide the many ufes which the ancients put it to,
fa£tion or damages ; inafmuch as the quantity and is well known among our goldfmiths by the name of
determination thereof is ever of common law cog- the touchjlone; moft of them being furniflred with
nizance. And therefore this court of chivalry can at nothing better for this purpofe than a piece of this :
moft order reparation in point of honour ; as to compel though the bafaltes, which might be had plentifully
the defendant tnendacium jibi ipji unponere, or to take enough, is gieatly preferable for thofe ufes j any black
the lie that he has given upon himfelf, or to make marble, however, that is tolerably hard, will do. There
fuch other fubmiftion as the laws of honour may re- is a very fine and elegantly fmooth marble, of a com-
quire. As to the other point of its civil jurifdiction, paft texture, and fine gloffy black, but Ihowing no
the redrefting of ufurpations and encroachments in mat- glittering particles when frelli broken, as moft of the
ters of heraldry and coat armour ; it is the bufinefs of black marbles do. It is extremely hard, and cuts with
this court, according to Sir Matthew Hale, to adjuft difficulty, but is capable of the higheft polilh of any
the right and armorial enfigns, bearings, crefts, fup- marble. The ancients had it from Ethiopia and the
porters, pennons, &c.; and alfo rights of places or ifland of Chios j w e have it from Italy*
precedence, where the king’s patent or a6t of parlia- Chium Vinum, Chian Wine, or wine of the growth
ment, which cannot be overruled by this court, have of the ifland of Chios, now Scio, is commended by
not already determmed it. The proceedings of this Hiofcorides as affording good nourifhment, fit to drink,
court are by petition in a fummary way ; and the trial lefs difpofed to intoxicate, endued with the virtue c£
not by a jury of 12 men, but by witneffes, or by comr reftraining defluxions, and a proper ingredient in oph-
thalmic