Courtliness or courtesy stand for courtly etiquette. The cradle of courtesy was France, and later England, where the patterns of beauty, education, diplomacy and the arts were formulated. The origins of courtesy are considered to be the chivalry of a knight toward his Lady: adoration, versifying, greetings, gestures and obedience. Not overlooked were rules for conduct during feasts, stylized movement (e.g. mounting a horse or sitting down at table), as well as protecting the ladies and the weaker, or the manner of divulging one’s own feelings and emotions. Important elements in this were language, the playing of musical instruments and dance. Many considered courtesy to be effete, but despite this, for quite a long time it dominated high society’s approach to manners and the arts.