of the old romances have been more
particularly employed in celebrating the valour of the knights of this
kingdom than that of any other; because, in fact, they have always loved
such exercises in an especial manner. 'The city of London,' writes
Francisco de Moraes in the 'Palmerin de Inglaterra,' 'contained in those
days all, or the greater part, of the chivalry of the world.' In
Perceforest a damozel says to his companion 'Sire chevalier, I will
gladly parley with you because you come from Great Britain; it is a
country which I love well, for there habitually (coustumierement) is the
finest chivalry in the world; c'est le pays au monde, si comme je croy,
le plus remply des bas et joyeulx passetemps pour toutes gentilles
pucelles et jeunes bacheliers qui pretendent a honneur de
chevalerie.'[35]

The entire cycle of legends which has the Holy Grail for its centre is
concerned with Britain and Britain alone. Caerleon and Winchester,
Tintagel and Glastonbury, these are the chief stages in this great
romance of perfect knighthood; and whether related by a scribe of
Hainault in the thirteenth century or sung by a Welsh bard before the
Norman Conquest or praised at the court at Paris by the favourite
troubadour of Philip Augustus, it is all one as regards the setting and
the chief characters. 'Whether for goodly men or for chivalrous deeds,
for courtesy or for honour,' wrote the Norman chronicler Wace in the
middle of the twelfth century, 'in Arthur's day England bore the flower
from all the lands near by, yea from every other land whereof we know.
The poorest peasant in his smock was a more courteous and valiant
gentleman than was a belted knight beyond the sea.'

There is a pleasing story which relates how Robert Bruce, marching with
his army in the mountains of Ireland, heard a woman crying during one of
the halts. He inquired immediately what was the matter, and was told that
it was a camp-follower, a poor laundress, who was taken in child-bed; and
as it was impossible to take her with them, she bemoaned her fate in
being left behind to die. The king replied that he is no man who will not
pity a woman then. He ordered that a tent should be pitched for her
immediately, and that she should be attended at once by the other women;
and there he tarried his host until she had been delivered and could be
carried along with them. 'This,' says the Chronicler, 'was a full great
courtesy.' Chivalry? In the very highest sense of th