TheprodigiousluxuryofthatimmensecityofRomeencouragedsensuouspleasures。ThetranquillityoftheplainsofGreecegaverisetothedescriptionofthesentimentsoflove。[134]Theideaofknights—errant，protectorsofthevirtueandbeautyofthefairsex，ledtothatofgallantry。
Thisspiritwascontinuedbythecustomoftournaments，which，unitingtherightsofvalourandlove，addedstillaconsiderableimportancetogallantry。
23。OftheCodeofLawsonjudicialCombats。Someperhapswillhaveacuriositytoseethisabominablecustomofjudiciarycombatreducedtoprinciplesandtofindthegroundworkofsuchanextraordinarycodeoflaws。Men，thoughreasonableinthemain，reducetheirveryprejudicestorule。Nothingwasmorecontrarytogoodsense，thanthosecombats，andyetwhenoncethispointwaslaiddown，akindofprudentialmanagementwasusedincarryingitintoexecution。
Inordertobethoroughlyacquaintedwiththejurisprudenceofthosetimes，itisnecessarytoreadwithattentiontheregulationsofSt。
Louis，whomadesuchgreatchangesinthejudiciaryorder。Défontaineswascontemporarywiththatprince；Beaumanoirwroteafterhim，[135]andtherestlivedsincehistime。Wemust，therefore，lookfortheancientpracticeintheamendmentsthathavebeenmadeofit。