Certainly the virtues of a knight were not necessarily patriotic. They were rather calculated to weaken than to strengthen his tendencies to king and country. Although as an individual he was bound to his native land, yet the character of his knighthood was perpetually pressing him to a course of conduct distinct from all national objects. He was the judge of right and wrong[158]; he referred to no external standard of equity; he was an independent agent. These qualities of chivalry gave birth to knight errantry, that singular feature in the character of the middle ages. "Long so they travell'd through wasteful ways, Where dangers dwelt and perils most did wonne, To hunt for glory and renowned praise: Full many countries they did overrun, From the uprising to the setting sun, And many hard adventures did atchieve; Of all the which they honour ever wonne, Seeking the weak oppressed to relieve, And to recover right for such as wrong did grieve."[159] It was considered the first praise of knighthood to efface foul outrage, and the advantages arising to society from this disposition are confessed even by satirists. ------------"Knyghtes shoulde Ryden and rappe adoune in remes aboute, And to take trespassours and tye them faste. * * * * * Truly to take, and truly to fight, Is the profession and the pure order that apendeth to knights."[160] The happy consequences to woman of this chivalric principle, and its tendencies to ameliorate manners, will best be seen in our delineation of the character of dames and damsels in the middle ages. With respect to the general interests of society it may be observed, that knight errantry was a very considerable means of correcting the state of violence and misrule in feudal times. The monks of St. Albans held a body of knights in pay, who defended the abbey and preserved the roads free from robbers, whether of the baronial or the vulgar class.[161] Until the discipline of laws had tamed the world into order, force was the only measure of power; and it was by the sword alone that injuries committed by the sword could be avenged. The protection of the wronged being a great principle of chivalry, no oppressed person was at a loss for a mode of redress. Some gentle knight was ever to be found who would lay his lance in its rest to chastise the evil doer. While Edward the First was travelling in France, he heard that a lord of Burgundy was continually committing outrages on the persons and property of his neighbours. In the true spirit of chivalry Edward attacked the castle of this uncourteous baron. His prowess asserted the cause of justice; and he bestowed the domains which he had won upon a nobler and more deserving lord.[162] * * * * * [Sidenote: Knights fought the battles of other countries.] [Sidenote: Englishmen's disgust at Spanish wines.]