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THE BOOK OF

THE FEATS OF ARMS,

AND OF

CHIVALRY.

THIS book was written by Christina, who was born at Pisa, in Italy; hence she is com monly called Christina of Pisa; but removing with her father to Bologne, in France, she wrote in the language of that country. She florished about the year 1400.

Her book was translated into English, and printed by Caxton, fol, in 1489. It was collected from Frontinus, Vegetius, and the Arbre of Battles; to which she added " many other things requisite to war," &c.

At the end, Caxton says that this book "was delivered to him by that prince (Henry VII.) in his palace of Westminster, the 23d of Ja

nuary, in the fourth year of his reign, who de sired and willed him to translate it into English, and put it into print, that every gentleman born to arms, and all manner of men of war, &c. should have knowledge how to behave themselves in feats of war, &c.

"This book is divided into four parts.-1. The first part deviseth the manner that kings and princes ought to hold, in the feats of their wars and battles, after the order of books, dicts1 of the most preu and noble conquerors of the world; and how and what manner feats ought, and the manners that they ought to keep and hold in their offices of arms.-2. Item, The second part speaketh after Frontin, of cautles and subtleties of arms; which he calleth stratagems of the order and manner to fight and defend castles and cities, after Vegece and other auctors; and to make war and give battle in rivers and in the sea.-3. Item, The third part speaketh of the droits and rights of arms, after the laws and droits written.-4. Item, The fourth part speaketh of the droits of arms in the feats of safe conducts, of the tryewes of mark, and after of champ of battle, that is, of fighting within lists."

* sayings.

2 prudent."

3 field.

Of these four parts, the first is divided into 29 chapters; the second into 38, or rather 39, cap. 25, being numbered twice; the third into the fourth into 17.

28;

To those who object to this lady, that the handling of her distaff and spinning-wheel, are occupations more suitable to a woman than concerning herself with the feats of arms, and. the battles of heros-she replies, by citing inher Prologue, the example of Minerva, whom she addresses in the following high-flown strain of panegyric:

O Minerva, goddess of arms and of chivalry! which by virtue of high entendment', above all other women, foundest and institutest, among the other noble arts and sciences which of thee took their be ginning, the usage to forge of iron and steel armours and harness, ppice and covenable to cover and targe the body of man against the strokes of darts, noyous' shot and spears in battle; feats of arms, helms, shields, targes and other harness defensible; fro the

1

destiny."

3 shield

.? There must be a misprint here. ≤
$ noxious.

first coming, institutest and gavest manner and order to arrange battles, and to assail and fight in manner-adored lady and high goddess! be not displeased, that I, simple and little woman, like as nothing unto the greatness of thy renown in cunning', dare presently comprise to speak of so magnific an office, as is the office of arms; of which first in the said renowned country of Greece, thou gavest the usage. And in so much it may please thee to be to me favourable, that I may be somewhat consonant in the nation where thou was born, which as then was named the Great Greece, the country beyond the Alpes, or mountains Puylle and Callabre*, in Italy, where you were born. And I am, as you were, a woman Italian.

The chapters towards the end, which treat of the trial of right by single combat within the lists, as allowed and ordained by the Imperial and Lombard laws, are justly considered as the most curious part of the book.

?ntelligence.

* undertake. • Calabria.

3 Apulia

Book 4.- Chap. 8,

For what causes the law Imperial did ordain the Champ of Battle,

But because that the diffenses abovesaid, of the right written, have not be always observed, nor kept, nor yet be not obeyed in all royalmes, as touching for to fight in champ of battle, as it is said; I shall tell the causes for the which they that did set it up have judged it to be doo, that is to wit, the emperor Frederic, that so much contraried holy church, that he chased the pope out of his place, that time when he came to his refuge and succour toward the king of France. And also another scripture that men call the Lombardish law, deviseth thereof in divers cases; the which hereafter shall be declared by me unto thee,

First, The said emperor's law saith, If a man be accused of treason, that he have machined, purchased, procured, or conspired against his prince, or against his city, or else to the prejudice of the common weal, whatsoever the case be, of which the truth cannot be by no proofs known; and that this man so accused offereth to defend and purge himself by champ of battle, against all men that wol say against

■ prohibitions.

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