Note 164 — NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

The History of Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who lived in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and James I., fully exemplifies the folly and danger of adopting false principles of honour. During the abode of this romantic nobleman at the Duke of Montmorenci’s, about twenty-four miles from Paris, it happened one evening that a daughter of the Duchess de Ventadour, of about ten or eleven years of age, went to walk in the meadows with his lordship and several other gentlemen and ladies. The young lady wore a knot of riband on her head, which a French chevalier snatched away, and fastened to his hatband. He was desired to return it, but refused. The lady then requested Lord Herbert to recover it for her. A race ensued; and the chevalier, finding himself likely to be overtaken, made a sudden turn, and was about to deliver his prize to the young lady, when Lord Herbert seized his arm, and cried out, “I give it you.” “Pardon me,” said the lady, “it is he who gives time.” “Madam,” replied Lord Herbert, “I will not contradict you, but if the chevalier do not acknowledge that I constrain him to give the riband, I will fight with him.” And the next day, he sent him a challenge, “being bound thereto,” says he, “by the oath taken when I was made Knight of the Bath.” See the Life of Lord Herbert of Cherbury; also Percival’s Moral and Literary Dissertations, p. 299. (Works, vol. ii. p. 206.)