CHIVALRY (O. Fr. chevalerie, from

See also:

• LATE

Late

See also:

• LAT

Lat. caballerius)  , the knightly class of feudal times, possessing its own code of rules, moral and social (see KNIGHTHOOD AND CHIVALRY) . The primary sense in the middle ages is " knights " or " fully armed and mounted fighting men." Thence the term came to mean that gallantry in battle and high sense of honour in general expected of knights . Thus " to do chivalry " was a medieval phrase for " to act the knight." Lastly, the word came to be used in its present very general sense of " courtesy." In English law chivalry meant the tenure of land by knights' service . It was a service due to the crown, usually forty days' military attendance annually . The Court of Chivalry was a court instituted by Edward III., of which the lord high constable and earl marshal of England were joint judges . When both sat the court had summary criminal jurisdiction as regards all offences committed by knights, and generally as to military matters . When the earl marshal alone presided, it was a court of honour deciding as to precedence, coats of arms, &c . This court sat for the last time in 1737 . The heraldic side of its duties are now vested in the earl marshal as head of the Heralds' College .