ABSTRACT
CHIVALRY is a word of many meanings. For the purposes of this book it may be taken to mean a body of sentiment and practice, of law and custom, which prevailed among the dominant classes in great part of Europe between the J Ith and the 16th centuries; and which, more compldely developed in some countries than others, was so far universal that a large portion of its usages is common to all the nations of western Europe. This institution may be defined as based upon the military and territorial system of the Teutonic nations, which brought into existence a distinction between men of noble blood and the rest of the world. The form which these sentiments and customs took was modified by the institu·
tions of the Roman Empire. and still more by those of the Catholic Church, which, in imposing its creed upon the German invaders, accepted anel consecrated their military spirit to the service of religion: and to these influences was added in a later age a new element imported from outside, the worship of woman.
