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"Bois-Guilbert," answered De Bracy, "is a good lance; but there are
others around these lists, Sir Prior, who will not fear to encounter
him."

"Silence, sirs," said Waldemar, "and let the Prince assume his seat.
The knights and spectators are alike impatient, the time advances, and
highly fit it is that the sports should commence."

Prince John, though not yet a monarch, had in Waldemar Fitzurse all the
inconveniences of a favourite minister, who, in serving his sovereign,
must always do so in his own way. The Prince acquiesced, however,
although his disposition was precisely of that kind which is apt to be
obstinate upon trifles, and, assuming his throne, and being surrounded
by his followers, gave signal to the heralds to proclaim the laws of the
tournament, which were briefly as follows:

First, the five challengers were to undertake all comers.

Secondly, any knight proposing to combat, might, if he pleased, select
a special antagonist from among the challengers, by touching his shield.
If he did so with the reverse of his lance, the trial of skill was made
with what were called the arms of courtesy, that is, with lances at
whose extremity a piece of round flat board was fixed, so that no danger
was encountered, save from the shock of the horses and riders. But if
the shield was touched with the sharp end of the lance, the combat was
understood to be at "outrance", that is, the knights were to fight with
sharp weapons, as in actual battle.

Thirdly, when the knights present had accomplished their vow, by each of
them breaking five lances, the Prince was to declare the victor in the
first day's tourney, who should receive as prize a warhorse of exquisite
beauty and matchless strength; and in addition to this reward of valour,
it was now declared, he should have the peculiar honour of naming the
Queen of Love and Beauty, by whom the prize should be given on the
ensuing day.

Fourthly, it was announced, that, on the second day, there should be a
general tournament, in which all the knights present, who were desirous
to win praise, might take part; and being divided into two bands of
equal numbers, might fight it out manfully, until the signal was given
by Prince John to cease the combat. The elected Queen of Love and Beauty
was then to crown the knight whom the Prince should adjudge to have
borne himself best in this second day, with a coronet composed of thin
gold plate, cut into the shape of a laurel crown. On this second day
the knightly games ceased. But on that which was to follow, feats of
archery, of bull-baiting, and other popular amusements, were to be
practised, for the more immediate amusement of the populace. In this
manner did Prince John endeavour to lay the foundation of a popularity,
which he was perpetually throwing down by some inconsiderate act of
wanton aggression upon the feelings and prejudices of the people.

The lists now presented a most splendid spectacle. The sloping galleries
were crowded with all that was noble, great, wealthy, and beautiful
in the northern and midland parts of England; and the contrast of the
various dresses of these dignified spectators, rendered the view as
gay as it was rich, while the interior and lower space, filled with the
substantial burgesses and yeomen of merry England, formed, in their more
plain attire, a dark fringe, or border, around this circle of brilliant
embroidery, relieving, and, at the same time, setting off its splendour.

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of
"Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces were
showered on them from the galleries, it being a high point of chivalry
to exhibit liberality towards those whom the age accounted at once the
secretaries and the historians of honour. The bounty of the spectators
was acknowledged by the customary shouts of "Love of Ladies--Death of
Champions--Honour to the Generous--Glory to the Brave!" To which the
more humble spectators added their acclamations, and a numerous band of
trumpeters the flourish of their martial instruments. When these sounds
had ceased, the heralds withdrew from the lists in gay and glittering
procession, and none remained within them save the marshals of the
field, who, armed cap-a-pie, sat on horseback, motionless as statues,
at the opposite ends of the lists. Meantime, the enclosed space at the
northern extremity of the lists, large as it was, was now completely
crowded with knights desirous to prove their skill against the
challengers, and, when viewed from the galleries, presented the
appearance of a sea of waving plumage, intermixed with glistening
helmets, and tall lances, to the extremities of which were, in many
cases, attached small pennons of about a span's breadth, which,
fluttering in the air as the breeze caught them, joined with the
restless motion of the feathers to add liveliness to the scene.

At length the barriers were opened, and five knights, chosen by lot,
advanced slowly into the area; a single champion riding in front, and
the other four following in pairs. All were splendidly armed, and my
Saxon authority (in the Wardour Manuscript) records at great length
their devices, their colours, and the embroidery of their horse
trappings. It is unnecessary to be particular on these subjects. To
borrow lines from a contemporary poet, who has written but too little:

"The knights are dust,
And their good swords are rust,
Their souls are with the saints, we trust." [17]

Their escutcheons have long mouldered from the walls of their castles.
Their castles themselves are but green mounds and shattered ruins--the
place that once knew them, knows them no more--nay, many a race since
theirs has died out and been forgotten in the very land which they
occupied, with all the authority of feudal proprietors and feudal

"Bois-Guilbert," answered De Bracy, "is a good lance; but there are

others around these lists, Sir Prior, who will not fear to encounter

him."

"Silence, sirs," said Waldemar, "and let the Prince assume his seat.

The knights and spectators are alike impatient, the time advances, and

highly fit it is that the sports should commence."

Prince John, though not yet a monarch, had in Waldemar Fitzurse all the

inconveniences of a favourite minister, who, in serving his sovereign,

must always do so in his own way. The Prince acquiesced, however,

although his disposition was precisely of that kind which is apt to be

obstinate upon trifles, and, assuming his throne, and being surrounded

by his followers, gave signal to the heralds to proclaim the laws of the

tournament, which were briefly as follows:

First, the five challengers were to undertake all comers.

Secondly, any knight proposing to combat, might, if he pleased, select

a special antagonist from among the challengers, by touching his shield.

If he did so with the reverse of his lance, the trial of skill was made

with what were called the arms of courtesy, that is, with lances at

whose extremity a piece of round flat board was fixed, so that no danger

was encountered, save from the shock of the horses and riders. But if

the shield was touched with the sharp end of the lance, the combat was

understood to be at "outrance", that is, the knights were to fight with

sharp weapons, as in actual battle.

Thirdly, when the knights present had accomplished their vow, by each of

them breaking five lances, the Prince was to declare the victor in the

first day's tourney, who should receive as prize a warhorse of exquisite

beauty and matchless strength; and in addition to this reward of valour,

it was now declared, he should have the peculiar honour of naming the

Queen of Love and Beauty, by whom the prize should be given on the

ensuing day.

Fourthly, it was announced, that, on the second day, there should be a

general tournament, in which all the knights present, who were desirous

to win praise, might take part; and being divided into two bands of

equal numbers, might fight it out manfully, until the signal was given

by Prince John to cease the combat. The elected Queen of Love and Beauty

was then to crown the knight whom the Prince should adjudge to have

borne himself best in this second day, with a coronet composed of thin

gold plate, cut into the shape of a laurel crown. On this second day

the knightly games ceased. But on that which was to follow, feats of

archery, of bull-baiting, and other popular amusements, were to be

practised, for the more immediate amusement of the populace. In this

manner did Prince John endeavour to lay the foundation of a popularity,

which he was perpetually throwing down by some inconsiderate act of

wanton aggression upon the feelings and prejudices of the people.

The lists now presented a most splendid spectacle. The sloping galleries

were crowded with all that was noble, great, wealthy, and beautiful

in the northern and midland parts of England; and the contrast of the

various dresses of these dignified spectators, rendered the view as

gay as it was rich, while the interior and lower space, filled with the

substantial burgesses and yeomen of merry England, formed, in their more

plain attire, a dark fringe, or border, around this circle of brilliant

embroidery, relieving, and, at the same time, setting off its splendour.

The heralds finished their proclamation with their usual cry of

"Largesse, largesse, gallant knights!" and gold and silver pieces were

showered on them from the galleries, it being a high point of chivalry

to exhibit liberality towards those whom the age accounted at once the

secretaries and the historians of honour. The bounty of the spectators

was acknowledged by the customary shouts of "Love of Ladies--Death of

Champions--Honour to the Generous--Glory to the Brave!" To which the

more humble spectators added their acclamations, and a numerous band of

trumpeters the flourish of their martial instruments. When these sounds

had ceased, the heralds withdrew from the lists in gay and glittering

procession, and none remained within them save the marshals of the

field, who, armed cap-a-pie, sat on horseback, motionless as statues,

at the opposite ends of the lists. Meantime, the enclosed space at the

northern extremity of the lists, large as it was, was now completely

crowded with knights desirous to prove their skill against the

challengers, and, when viewed from the galleries, presented the

appearance of a sea of waving plumage, intermixed with glistening

helmets, and tall lances, to the extremities of which were, in many

cases, attached small pennons of about a span's breadth, which,

fluttering in the air as the breeze caught them, joined with the

restless motion of the feathers to add liveliness to the scene.

At length the barriers were opened, and five knights, chosen by lot,

advanced slowly into the area; a single champion riding in front, and

the other four following in pairs. All were splendidly armed, and my

Saxon authority (in the Wardour Manuscript) records at great length

their devices, their colours, and the embroidery of their horse

trappings. It is unnecessary to be particular on these subjects. To

borrow lines from a contemporary poet, who has written but too little:

"The knights are dust,

And their good swords are rust,

Their souls are with the saints, we trust." [17]

Their escutcheons have long mouldered from the walls of their castles.

Their castles themselves are but green mounds and shattered ruins--the

place that once knew them, knows them no more--nay, many a race since

theirs has died out and been forgotten in the very land which they

occupied, with all the authority of feudal proprietors and feudal