supported by the people, for they unanimously declared the folly of further resistance. Compelled, then, to surrender, she herself opened the negociations; and so skilfully did she act, so much dreaded was the despair to which she might be tempted, that she obtained from the legate a treaty, whereby it was agreed that all the soldiers who had bravely supported her might return home with their arms and equipments. On the 21st of June she opened the gate of the citadel: she disdained to ask any favour for herself; and the legate, untouched by any chivalric sympathy for female heroism, cast her and her children into prison.[272] [Sidenote: Chivalric titles of ladies.] The honorary titles of ladies in days of chivalry favoured this martial spirit in women. The wife of a knight was often called equitissa or militissa, or chevaliére. In France, too, ladies, as ruling over fiefs, having the right of war, judicature, and coining money, could confer the honour of knighthood. But in general the feudal law opposed the chivalry of women, for a woman alone could not hold a fief, it not being supposed that she could head her vassals or accompany her liege lord into the field. The instances, therefore, that are scattered over the middle ages of the brave gestes of women sprang from the spirit of chivalry and not from any other principle of society. They were always praised, and joyfully remembered; and when the direction of war was entirely usurped by men, the world reverted with a melancholy pleasure to the chivalry of womankind. "Where is the antique glory now become, That whilome wont in women to appeare? Where be the brave atchievements done by some? Where be the battles, where the shield and spear, And all the conquests which them high did rear, That matter made for famous poets verse, And boastful men so oft abasht to hear? Be they all dead, and laid in doleful hearse? Or do they all sleep, and shall again reverse?"[273] Though 'meek-eyed women' were 'without fear,' yet this martial disposition was never displayed at the sacrifice of the sex's milder qualities. The same lady who placed a lance in rest was in her castle gentle and courteous, dispensing hospitality, tending the sick, or reading romance in hall and bower. Her heart was as tender as her's who was rocked in pleasure's wanton lap. Spenser's picture of his martial maid, Britomart, in love, represents the whole class of chivalric heroines: "Thenceforth the feather in her lofty crest, Ruffed of love, gan lowly to availe; And her proud portance and her princely gest, With which she erst triumphed, now did quail, Sad, solemn, sour, and full of fancies frail, She woxe yet wist she neither how, nor why; She wist not, silly maid, what she did ail, Yet wist she was not well at ease perdy, Yet thought it was not love, but some melancholy."[274]