ng for the ladies confined to single combatants. Crowds of
gallants entered the lists against each other. Even kings called out
their subjects, to shew their love for their mistresses, by cutting the
throats of their neighbors, who had not in the least offended.

In the fourteenth century, when the Countess of Blois and the widow of
Mountford were at war against each other, a conference was agreed to, on
pretence of settling a peace, but in reality to appoint a combat.
Instead of negotiating, they soon challenged each other; and Beaumanoir,
who was at the head of the Britons, publicly declared that they fought
for no other motive, than to see, by the victory, who had the fairest
mistress.

In the fifteenth century, we find an anecdote of this kind still more
extraordinary. John, duke de Bourbonnois, published a declaration, that
he would go over to England, with sixteen knights, and there fight it
out, in order to avoid idleness, and merit the good graces of his
mistress.

James IV. of Scotland, having, in all tournaments, professed himself
knight to queen Anne of France, she summoned him to prove himself her
true and valorous champion, by taking the field in her defence, against
his brother-in-law, Henry VIII. of England. He obeyed the romantic
mandate; and the two nations bled to feed the vanity of a woman.

Warriors, when ready to engage, invoked the aid of their mistresses, as
poets do that of the Muses. If they fought valiantly, it reflected honor
on the Dulcineas they adored; but if they turned their backs on their
enemies, the poor ladies were dishonored forever.

Love, was at that time, the most prevailing motive to fighting. The
famous Gaston de Foix, who commanded the French troops at the battle of
Ravenna, took advantage of this foible of his army. He rode from rank to
rank, calling his officers by name, and even some of his private men,
recommending to them their country, their honor, and, above all, to shew
what they could do for their mistresses.

The women of those ages, the reader may imagine, were certainly more
completely happy than in any other period of the world. This, however,
was not in reality the case.

Custom, which governs all things with the most absolute sway, had,
through a long succession of years, given her sanction to such combats
as were undertaken, either to defend the innocence, or display the
beauty of women. Custom, therefore, either obliged a man to fight for a
woman who de