its faults, it certainly had its good side, and helped to lift man from the savagery into which he naturally tends to degenerate, up towards the high and noble Christian ideal.

And if Chivalry did much for men, it did, if possible, more for women.

In savage life woman is a toy or a drudge. Even among the more civilized ancient nations she had but a mean place in the affairs of life and of the world. But Chivalry lifted her up into an ideal, and regarded her with a romantic devotion and respect, and woman so esteemed, esteemed herself, and all her beautiful and glorious attributes came into active and beneficent prominence. Not losing her natural modesty, she nevertheless exercised mighty influence by gentle and unobtrusive agencies, and more than repaid men for their gallantry by making them gentle and chaste and courteous.

Woman was no more a mere cipher in human life, but was felt to be an essential element in society, with her own peculiar duties and functions which she alone could fulfil, and without whom civilization and true progress could not be hoped for.

Let any one compare Achilles with the Chevalier Bayard, and it will be seen what strides had been made in true human elevation. Both are brave, with high animal courage, but while the former is vindictive and cruel, and displays all the faults of an overgrown child, the latter is generous and enduring, and is full of all the noble and supernatural qualities that Christ came into the world to

display, and to teach men to imitate. In the one human infirmities are seen unelevated, uncorrected; in the other we see that some higher principle has been at work, and that while human nature has lost none of its good qualities, it has gained many new ones, and been taught to curb the evil, and to raise and convert the unworthy and the base.

The following were anciently held to be the necessary duties of every true Knight :

"It behoves every Knight to fear God, and with all his power to maintain the Christian faith.

"To be charitable, and comfort those who are afflicted.

"To serve faithfully, and to defend his prince and country courageously.

"To forgive the follies and offences of other men, and sincerely embrace the love of friends.

"To esteem truth, and without respect to maintain it.

"To avoid sloth and superfluous ease.

"To spend his time in honest and virtuous actions.

"To reverence magistrates, and converse with persons of honour. "To eschew riot, and detest intemperance.

"To frequent the wars, and use military exercises.

"To eschew dishonest pleasures, and endeavour to do good to cthers.

"To accommodate himself to the humour of honest company, and be no wrangler.

"To shun the conversation of perverse persons, and behave himself modestly.

"To be sober and discreet, no boaster of his own acts, no speaker of himself.

"To desire no excessive riches, and patiently endure worldly calamities.

"To undertake just enterprises, and defend the rights of others. "To support the oppressed, and help widows and orphans. "To prefer honour before worldly wealth, and be both in words and deeds just and faithful."

PART I.

THE KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM,

OR KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS.

"Record we too, with just and faithful pen,
That many hooded cenobites there are,
Who in their private cells have yet a care
Of public quiet."

WORDSWORTH.

THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS.

CHAPTER I.

The eleventh century-Pilgrimage to Jerusalem-Difficulties of pilgrims from Europe-The two Italian merchants-The first Hospital of St. John at Jerusalem-Jerusalem taken by the Turcomans-New miseries of pilgrims-Peter the Hermit-The First Crusade.

"Then blame not those who by the mightiest lever
Known to the moral world, Imagination,
Upheave, so seems it, from her natural station
All Christendom. They sweep along (was never
So huge a host!) to tear from the unbeliever
The precious Tomb, their haven of salvation."

WORDSWORTH.

IN, the middle of the eleventh century Jerusalem was in the hands of the Sultan of Egypt.

Great multitudes of pilgrims came every year to visit the Holy Sepulchre, and the other Sacred Places both from the East and West, being required to pay for the privilege to the Mahometan masters of the Holy Land.

The Eastern Christians, or Greeks, many of whom were subjects of the Sultan, were permitted to build