. The Bookshelf for boys and girls Historic Tales and Golden Deeds part 4. y a neigh-bor, he very often decided to attend to punishinghis enemy himself. He began matters by throw-ing down his glove before his enemy, if he had any spirit, neverallowed it to lie there, of course, forto do that was supposed to prove thatthe challenger was in the right andthat the other feared to put his fateto the touch. If a lady was in dis-tress, she asked some man friend tofight for her, which he was usuallyglad to do. As soon as the glove waspicked up, the two men arranged abattle, which was regulat
. The Bookshelf for boys and girls Historic Tales and Golden Deeds part 4. y a neigh-bor, he very often decided to attend to punishinghis enemy himself. He began matters by throw-ing down his glove before his enemy, if he had any spirit, neverallowed it to lie there, of course, forto do that was supposed to prove thatthe challenger was in the right andthat the other feared to put his fateto the touch. If a lady was in dis-tress, she asked some man friend tofight for her, which he was usuallyglad to do. As soon as the glove waspicked up, the two men arranged abattle, which was regulated by fixedrules. This fight was recognized as alegal trial. It had to be settled prettypromptly one way or the other, as they neverstopped fighting until one of the champions waskilled or badly hurt, or admitted that he was inthe wrong. The champion who came off vic-torious was said to be the innocent person, for thetrue knight went to battle with the firm belief thatGod would strengthen his arm and direct hisspear or sword. A knight in the days of chivalry, if he dis-. THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET. CURIOUS STORIES FROM HISTORY 407 graced himself and his knighthood, had his glovestaken away from him, just as he had the spursknocked from his heels, as a punishment. So many gloves were made in England, andso many people were employed in making them,that in the fourteenth century the glove-makersformed one of the city companies,or guilds, and drew up a set ofrules for governing their men,which were thought importantenough to be laid before the kingand approved by him. One of the rules was that if anyglove-maker was found doing badwork, that is, cutting or sewingbadly or using bad material, heshould be brought before the mayorand aldermen. If, when this hap-pened, he was sorry and promisedto do better in the future, he mightbe let off with a reprimand. But ifunrepentant, he would be banishedfrom the city and was not allowedto return. Queen Elizabeth was very vainof her pretty hands,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectliterat, bookyear1912
