ABSTRACT

THE words Chivalry and Knighthood are strictly speaking identical, since Chevalier and Knightl are synonyms; but in common usage 'chivalry' denotes the whole group of ideas and customs which prevailed among the noble and gentle caste: 'knighthood' the estate itself: an estate within whic~ all who were admitted to it were equal, whatever differences of descent or rank might exist among them.