With Ring of Shield

by Knox Magee

  CHAPTER XXI

  THE TOURNAMENT

  After a night of refreshing, sweet oblivion we awakened bright andstrong, well fitted for a day of tilting. It was uncommon early to bestirring; but Richard had given out that the games should commenceabout the hour of ten; therefore it was necessary to rise early, inorder that we might have ample time in which to look over the groundand judge its character, previous to our arming for the fray.

  Cool and fresh was the morning; but the cloudless sky and bright-facedsun were indications of a greater warmth when the day should be furtheradvanced.

  Shortly after we had breakfasted the King, who had spent the night uponthe field instead of at his Palace, rode around the lists, attended byBuckingham, Stanley, Lovell, Ratcliffe and Catesby. Richard wore nothis armour; but all of the others were fully armed, but for the lack oftheir helms; instead of which they wore caps of velvet.

  "Ah! Walter, thou art at last to have an opportunity to slake thythirst for vengeance; for Catesby seemeth ready to take to the field atonce," said Harleston, as we stood at the opening of our tent andwatched them as they made their tour of inspection.

  I smiled my satisfaction.

  "Wilt thou ride with headless spear, or wilt thou use the point, andmake thy prize his blood, as well as arms?"

  "I desire not his steed nor arms," I answered. "No, Frederick, I wouldrather have the last red drop that now is in his heart than wear KingRichard's crown. Long have I kept me quiet, and but little have Ispoken of the insulting cur since first mine ears did hear of hisblack-coward's act. Well dost thou know the human heart, my friend,and mine the best of all. It must be plain to thee that when the coalsare left upon the hearth, withouten wood to cause a showy flame, theyburn with greater, though more quiet, heat. I made a promise to theLady Hazel that I would not challenge him to meet me in a duel.Therefore have I held my peace, and waited for such an opportunity asthis for working my revenge upon him. If I can kill the knave uponthis field I'll do so with as light a heart as any ever worn by man."

  "Right, right! my friend," cried Frederick. "I wondered how thou, forthis long time since, didst tie down that impatient spirit of thine,and wait with patience for thy vengeance. Thou art a true knight, SirWalter. Mild when not roused; but when thy spleen is stirred thou artas fiery as the devil," and he grasped my hand and slapped me on theshoulder, as was his familiar custom.

  The people from the city commenced now to arrive. Some were mounted,but the majority either rode in carts or came in the less pretentiousstyle--afoot.

  "By Heaven!" said Frederick, "and they stop not coming in such numberswe knights shall be compelled to withdraw us from the field and leaveit to the tradesmen."

  "Come," said I, "'tis time that we should arm. What ho! Michael!where the devil art thou?" Michael, contrary to his habit, did notappear when I called. I walked to the tent door and called again.Then, as I looked beyond the barriers that kept the spectators fromcrowding into the space reserved for the tents of the knights, I sawhim just leaving two old ladies, after having procured for themcomfortable seats, in a position from where their eyes commanded anexcellent view of the field; and being in that part opposite to wheresat the King. I stood in the doorway, awaiting Michael's return, andwondering who the old ladies were to whom he showed such attention.

  When Michael, as he hurried back, raised his eyes and beheld me gazingat him, I heard him mutter, in his short, quick way, which ever soamused me:--"Hill!"

  When he came up to me he said:--"Pardon sor; but sor, thim ladies, Oi'mjist after asittin' down, is friends o' a wourthy and gallant knoightwho hath ivir bin most koind to a poor orphan loike moysilf, sor; andthey axed me to foind me a sate fer thim, sor, and Oi hadn't the heartto refuse thim, sor; though had Oi known that yer honour wanted me sosoon Oi'd have bin a dale quicker than Oi was, sor."

  "I knew not that thou wert known so well among the knighthood ofEngland," I answered with a smile. "But come, Michael, thou needst notto crave pardon of Sir Walter Bradley when thou dost serve such a noblepurpose. The ladies, whether known to us or not, come before all trueknights or gentlemen; and 'tis when we pay respect to them that we doennoble ourselves."

  "Yis sor," said Michael, as he buckled on my breast plate. "Oi knewthat yer honour would pardon me fer lavin' ye, whin Oi tould what moineerrand was." This as he buckled on a shoulder-piece.

  "Uh! what a pity, sor, to have sich armour, with all that gould in it,dinted with the pint o' a spear," said he, when he had fastened on allbut my helm.

  The trumpets now sounded a warning blast, and the heralds rode forthand entered the lists at the southern extremity, all their gaytrappings tossing in the pleasant morning wind.

  Michael, after finishing his employment, by fastening on my sword andlacing my splendid head-piece, went to the pile of lances, from whichhe selected one both straight and heavy, but having no point.

  "Not that to-day, Michael; for the rules of this joust do permit ofpointed weapons."

  "Uh! sure thin, sor, that impudint Catesby 'll take his dinner with hismaster, the divil, this day; fer will do Oi know, sor, that he's thevarmint yer honour's after."

  I always forgave Michael for his familiarity; for without it he shouldnot have been Michael, and never did it harm me. At this remark aboutCatesby I merely smiled and said:--"Have a headless spear ready, lest Ido need one also."

  "Oi'll do that same, sor; but Oi'd loike to see yon Catesby's bloodupon the pint o' this, sor," and he motioned with his head in thedirection of mine enemy's tent and patted the point of the lance. Thefaithful fellow always looked on Catesby as an enemy common to himselfand me.

  Again the trumpets rang out full merrily, both long and loud. Then theheralds, which had halted in the centre of the field, separated, oneremaining in the centre and the other two riding with their backs toone another until one reached the North and the other the South end ofthe lists, where each took his especial post. Then the one which hadremained in the centre called out the rules of this passage of arms.

  After the customary prologue, that I ever considered tedious andunnecessary; for Heaven knows even the balance of these fellow'sspeeches is long enough, he at length reached the part that he had setout to say.

  "Know, all ye true knights and gentlemen of his Most Gracious Majestyof England, Ireland and of France, or of whatever other Sovereign Kingye may be faithful subjects, that any knight, of proper standing anduntarnished honour, shall here be permitted to enter for these tilts.All such aforesaid valiant knights and gentlemen, which have not erethis had their names placed upon the recorder's list, are hereby warnedto do so now, with all expediency, or be content to live without thehonour of taking part in these noble contests. Any untarnished knightnow has the privilege of challenging to combat, either courteous ormartial, any other such knight, whose name is on the record for thisjoust. When such a number of these tilts as his Most Gracious Majestydoth consider to be proper shall have been decided, from amongst thenames contained in the recorder's sheets shall be selected, by means ofdraft, two parties of twelve knights each, to which said parties shallbe added one other knight for each party, which knight shall have thehonourable post of leader, each of his particular party, by whom heshall be drawn.

  "In tilts of courtesy lances without heads must alone be used. In themore warlike contests both knightly weapons may be used at thediscretion of, and the manner most pleasing to, the combatants.

  "Any contest shall be considered at an end only at such time as hisMajesty, King Richard, shall see fit to signal for its stoppage by thehonourable marshals of the field, or when one or the other of theopposing champions shall have owned himself up defeated.

  "His Most Gracious Majesty will decide who is the victor in eachseparate contest; and to the victor shall go the arms and armour,together with the charger and its equipment.

  "In the more fiercer contest of the thirteen good knights on each side,they shall fight with pointed lance and with the sword until hisMaje
sty doth see good to cause the contest to be stopped. Then willhis Majesty decide which is the winner in the contest. And to thevictors shall go the spoils, the same as in the single contests.

  "God save King Richard!"

  "God save King Richard!" replied the other heralds.

  "God save King Richard!" cried the people, as though they meant thewords they said.

  "God save King Richard!" echoed the city's walls.

  Then the herald at the southern extremity of the lists sang forth thesame long-winded recitation in the self same monotone, that addednothing to the clearness of the rules, which might have been said intwo score of words.

  When the third had followed the example of his fellows they all threewithdrew from the lists, and the marshals of the field rode forth fromwhere they had been waiting, drawn up in line, armoured and armed asthough for a day of battle, and took their posts in groups at the fourcorners of the field, ready to do their duty.

  My horse, fully caparisoned and impatient, like his master, for thefield, my groom now led to where I stood, by Harleston's side, beforemy tent. Hastily mounting I rode down to the barrier gate that gaveentry to the lists.

  My friend overtook me as I reached the gate. He was mounted upon asplendid charger of a chestnut hue, as I could see from the onlyvisible part of the animal, namely, his legs. Frederick sat his saddlelike an armoured statue. Verily, my children, and without conceit Isay it, to a spectator we looked as though but few upon that fieldwould have the courage to touch either shield with any other than apointless lance.

  Much then was my surprise when the gate at the end further from wherewe waited, with impatient plumes and restless pennants, was, for somereason unknown to all of us knights which waited at the North, flungopen, whilst ours remained closed. At this opening in dashed a knightwhich, when he came sufficient close, I recognized, by his device, tobe none other than mine old foe, Catesby. Straight he rode up to whereI sat, grinding my teeth together, as silently I cursed my fortune forpreventing me from riding forth to meet him, that I might strike hisshield with my lance's point--for verily did I believe he came thussoon to foil my purpose by challenging me to fight with pointlessweapon. On he came and, to my great surprise and pleasure, struck hemy shield with the sharp point of his lance.

  Ah! my brave sons, ye all do know the pleasure 'tis when, with ring ofshield, ye are informed an enemy hath come to do ye battle.

  Now were the separating bars removed, and, as Catesby rode to the farend at a gentle trot, I entered with alacrity the field.

  As Catesby passed the centre of the lists he paused for a momentwhilst, with much grace, he saluted the King, and then the ladies. Hisexample I followed.

  After this came much cheering, and well meant advice, from those whichthought they better understood the game at which we were about to playthan we ourselves did. Most of these warnings came from old warriorsof other days, veterans of our great civil wars.

  The trumpets now rang out from their metal throats the signal for thefray. Forward we dashed, like two opposing thunderbolts. The hot windof the summer's morn whistled past mine ears, and sounded like untowhen one by accident doth irritate the canvas of his tent by scrapingagainst it with his scabbard's point, causing it to raise itshigh-pitched voice in protest against the affront. The space betwixtus closed up as quickly as when one with haste doth shut the covers ofa book. A crash! a benumbing twinge from finger's tips to shoulder;--ablow, as from a hammer, on the shield;--the steeds stand up and paw theair madly, as does a man when struggling in the waters;--my helm'splumes do bend before mine eyes;--and when the particles of sand areborne aside by the gentle broom of Nature I hold in my gauntlet's grasponly a cloth yard's length of shivered spear. As, with a pat upon mygood steed's neck, I brought him to his fore feet, Catesby, whose lancehad met a fate similar to mine own, with brandished sword now dashedafresh upon me. His lighter weight had enabled him to regain controlof his steed ere I had mastered mine. No time was there for thought.As he leaped forward I flung with my full force, straight at his ironhead, the remnant of my lance. His horse, affrighted at this strangeweapon, swung from its course to avoid it, and thus saved his masterfrom the blow. This gave me the respite I wanted, and of which I tookadvantage by drawing mine own good sword.

  Loud cheered the crowd of spectators when they saw how equal had beenthe tilt; and louder again did they shout when they saw us, withclamorous blows, hotly engaged in sword play. One voice, clear anddistinct above all others did I hear, and pleased was I when I heardits rich full ring, as its possessor used to their utmost strength hismighty lungs. It was Michael.

  I drove my spurs into my horse's flanks and bounded at mine antagonistwith the speed of lightning. He avoided my rush in time to savehimself; but my steed, with his shoulders, struck his in the hindquarters, and almost bore mine opponent to the earth. As I passed himin my career I struck at him a backhand blow; but he caught it, withgreat dexterity, upon his shield.

  Again did the applause burst forth with all its discordant notes.

  Wheeling quickly around I again rode at him, with my sword swung farbehind my shoulder, determined to beat him from his saddle. I stood upin my stirrups, and with the full force of my sword arm I drove a blowfairly at his plumaged head. He caught it right manfully upon hisshield; but the blow was so powerful that he might as well have held upa frail piece of wood. The keen edge of my sword broke through thebuckler's curving surface and forced the wounded steel protector, andits supporting arm, with stunning force against their master's head.He reeled slightly in his saddle; and, ere he could regain control ofhis scattered senses, again did my remorseless blade fall on his helmetcrest, with the sound like the driving of an iron spike between a stonewall's members, by means of a heavy hammer. His horse sprang forwardwith its master's senseless body crushed down upon the saddle. Thenthe steed swerved from its straight course, and Catesby lurched andfell headlong, like an armoured scare-crow, all joints and not a bone,into the dusty lists.

  The King signed to the heralds, and the trumpets warned the marshals tostop the fight; for in my passion I rode to where mine enemy lay, and,truly, I would have given him his quietus but for the marshal'sinterference. They bore him to his tent, and I saw no more of him thatday. He was not killed however, and this did greatly disappoint me.

  Sharply I spurred my steed till he sprang forward and upward like thecarrier of Valkyrie. Amid the acclamations of the spectators who, asthey ever do, waved their scarfs and bonnets like creaturesdispossessed of reason I dashed up before the King's seat and, pullingsuddenly upon the rein, caused my good steed to paw the air with hisfore feet whilst, with a low bow and a wave of my faithful sword, Irespectfully saluted the Usurper.

  He acknowledged my salute; but methought the smile that he did wearhad, lurking behind it somewhere, a sentiment that, to say the least,was not favourable to me.

  After saluting mine enthusiastic admirers (which would bestow the sameattentions upon another knight were he to ride out and slay me in thenext tilt) I galloped back to the northern barrier. Here my dearfriend Frederick did warmly shake me by the hand, whilst Michael wentalmost mad with delight. So loud, and sometimes profane, were hisremarks about Catesby's defeat that I unwillingly was compelled to keephim in some check.

  Two other knights now took the field and fought with pointless weapons.This was but a not interesting combat; as the challenger was, in thefirst course run, thrown from his saddle with a considerable force,after having shown his miserable command of his weapon by altogethermissing his opponent; his lance passing harmlessly past his adversary'sright shoulder. For this exhibition of the lack of all skill he wasprohibited from taking any further part in the tournament, and his namewas stricken from the list.

  Some three or four other pairs of lances were shivered, and thenHarleston gave an exhibition of the most skilled and perfectest way ofunhorsing a knight that ever I had, before that day, seen. He enteredthe lists and rode, with stately ease and g
raceful respect, past theladies and the King, until he reached the spot where Sir ThomasFalstone was sitting his horse in a listless fashion, as though he feltassured that no one there would dare to touch his shield. For SirThomas was considered one of the first, if not the very first, lance inEngland at that time; he having been chosen to represent the late KingEdward in the last tournament given by that indolent Sovereign. Myfriend, with a courtly inclination of his head, struck the shield ofSir Thomas a gentle blow with the blunt end of his spear, and then didhe rein back his steed that he might return to receive his pointlessweapon.

  "Tarry an instant, Sir Knight," called out Sir Thomas.

  "I await thy speech," replied Frederick.

  "Hast thou grown tired of sitting on yon saddle, that thou dost wish tobe removed from off its irritating back? Be assured, young sir, 'tweremore gentle, far, wert thou to have thy squire remove thee."

  "Thou dost mistake my purpose," replied my friend; "I come but toawaken thee from thy dreams of past conquests; which are but poorweapons with which to fight fresh battles, unless other arms be broughtto their assistance."

  At this rebuff to the over-confident knight the King laughed both longand loud, and of course the courtiers which surrounded him followed hisexample.

  "By the light of Heaven, thou shalt pay dearly for thine insolence whenI do hurl thee from thy saddle as a stone goeth from its sling!" calledout the enraged Sir Thomas, as my friend rode at a gentle walk in thedirection of the northern end.

  When he heard this Harleston turned hastily around, and rode back toSir Thomas and said:--

  "As thou still dreamest, methinks 'twere better to arouse thee with thepoint," and he did strike the surprised knight's shield with the armedend of his lance, and caused it to ring out right lustily.

  "Ah! that is better," laughed Sir Thomas. "Now I may have the pleasureof spitting thee like a rotten apple and then hurling thee from mylance's point."

  "Verily thou speakest from experience," returned Sir Frederick; "thouhast, no doubt, been in the habit of spitting rotten apples, andnothing more dangerous; else where didst thou get leisure to grow yonponderous paunch, next to thy speech, the most formidable part ofthee?" And amid a roar of applause and laughter he rode back to whereI waited. Here he handed to his squire the lance he carried, and inits place he chose another, very heavy and unwieldy, as I thought; butto balance these defects it did have a much greater strength than theone with which he had challenged.

  The two knights now took their places, and the trumpets again rang outthe signal for the contest.

  Both horses dashed forward as though they had been connected, in someinvisible way, with the voice of the trumpets.

  Sir Thomas aimed straight at Harleston's visor; evidently for thedouble purpose of exhibiting his skill and administering a severe blowto his opponent.

  Sir Frederick, to my great surprise, seemed aiming more at hisadversary's horse than at the rider. I could not believe that he didintend committing such a breach of the rules of chivalry; and yet itwas clear his point was not directed to the rider.

  A heavy blow;--a clatter;--and a cloud of dust, and my friend ridesbravely on, waving on high a lance without a point; and here, racingmadly towards the northern end, doth come Sir Thomas's steed, withoutits rider or its saddle.

  Harleston had, at the last moment, swung his head to the one side,avoiding the other's point; thus he had escaped unharmed.

  But how did Sir Thomas's horse come to be without a saddle as well asriderless?

  It happened thus, as my friend told me, when, amidst great cheering, herode back to where I sat waving my lance and cheering with the others.He had aimed, not at his adversary's horse, as had appeared, but atthat part of his saddle where the lance doth lie in rest. This mark hedid hit fairly, and the fury of the onset, aided by the heavy spear,caused his opponent's saddle girths to break; and thus Sir Thomas wasignominiously unhorsed, and his gay trappings heaped upon him.

  It was a dangerous game to play; for had Harleston so much asscratched, with his lance, his adversary's steed, he had then beendisgraced.

  Harleston was satisfied with the punishment he had administered inreturn for the other's boasting, and did not further molest the fallenknight. And indeed there had been but little honour in pressing hisvictory to a completer stage; for 'twas with great difficulty that SirThomas's grooms were able to lift up their bulky master and assist himfrom the field.

  I now rode forth again, and, stopping in the centre of the lists, Iopened my visor and, standing up in my stirrups, I called out at thefull power of my speech:--

  "Know, all true knights here assembled to take part in this noblejoust, that I, Walter Bradley, hereby challenge any true knight amongye, which doth desire so to do, to break a lance, with or without apoint, as the aforesaid knight doth desire."

  For the space of whilst one might tell an hundred no one appeared. Atthe end of this time, however, a knight, as though in haste, dashedinto the lists and, riding with the ease of an accomplished horseman,advanced rapidly to where I waited. He gently touched my shield withthe butt of his lance.

  On his shield was no device; but his rich inlaid armour, and thecourtly bearing of its wearer, seemed to mine eyes as though this werenot the first time they had beheld this unknown champion.

  As we passed each other in turning, the stranger, in a hurried voice,whose accent told me he was no Englishman, said:--

  "I have a message for thee, Sir Walter. May I see thee in thy tent?"There was no time for more.

  "Yes," I answered, in the same low tone.

  As I rode back to take up my position for the tilt my mind kepttormenting me in its desire to recall where and when I had before heardthat voice. The attempt was useless; so placing my lance in rest Imade ready for the trumpet's signal.

  Loud did they blow.

  A rushing rattle, followed by a clattering, tearing sound, and bothspears burst into a thousand slivers, as though some foul fiend hadbeen confined within the shaft of each, and at the instant of encounterthey spread apart their arms and threw their frail wooden prisons fromthem with the contempt that Sampson had for cords.

  Neither had an advantage. Both his horse and mine own were forced backon their haunches; but we both kept our seats full firm.

  And thus in succession did we break three pairs of lances' withouteither being able to unhorse, or gain any perceptible advantage overthe other. Therefore our contest was declared to be a fair and equalone, without a victor.

  After this the heralds again rode into the lists and announced that nomore single contests should be permitted; but that the contest of thesix and twenty knights should be the next feature of that day's list ofexhibitions of knightly feats of arms.

  However, preceding this there was now to be an exhibition of skilfularchery and sword play, by the yeomanry of England, and the men-at-arms.

  When this announcement was made the majority of the knights withdrewthem to their tents, as they had no interest in these contests.

  Soon after my friend and I had dismounted and entered our tent theknight with whom I had last contended, and which had so strangelyspoken with me in the lists, came to where Michael stood before thedoor and enquired of him if his master were within.

  Hearing his voice I went to the door and invited him to enter.

  "Ah! Monsieur, I hope that I intrude not," said he, as he sawHarleston with me.

  "Nay, be assured Sir Knight, whose name I have not the honour ofknowing, that any message that thou art pleased to give me shall becommon to my friend, Sir Frederick Harleston, and me."

  "Then everything is well. I may then speak out boldly and inform you,gentlemen, what is my true name: and I now do tell ye that it is to butfew here that it is known. My name then is Count Louis deSaint-Esteve, though in England, upon my present mission, I am known asSir Gil de Trailles."

  We expressed our pleasure at the acquaintance and asked him to beseated. I then ordered Michael to close the flap of the te
nt, and tohimself remain outside, to see that no one should overhear ourconversation; for I could see by the stranger's manner that what he hadto say was most secret.

  After a silence of a few moments he said, in an almost whisper:--

  "My business in England upon the present occasion is on the Earl ofRichmond's account. Her Majesty, the ex-Queen of the Royal Edward,hath informed me that both of you gentlemen are in her confidence. Itherefore speak thus freely of the Earl's plans. In a short time heshall land in England. The usurping King Richard shall be given tounderstand that the landing shall be made upon the eastern coast. Onthe contrary, the noble Earl shall land in Wales, where he hath manyfollowers. Buckingham, Lord Stanley, and his brother are the mostpowerful of the Earl's friends. However, Lord Stanley is not todeclare in favour of the noble Richmond until the day of battle; whenthe Usurper's forces shall melt away as doth the snow in Spring. Anusurping tyrant cannot prosper; and what should be black treachery, inanother case, in this is but God's retribution."

  "But how long shall it be ere the Earl of Richmond doth land?" askedHarleston.

  "So soon as the Duke of Buckingham rebels in Wales," replied theFrenchman. "Any day," he continued, "ye may expect to hear that thislatter hath happened. Watch then and be prepared; for deliverance isnear at hand.

  "But now I come to that part of my mission that most affects thee, SirWalter. The ex-Queen, this morning as I was leaving the Sanctuary,commissioned me to acquaint thee with a plot to ruin thee mostthoroughly.

  "Thine enemy, that one which doth play the dog for Richard, hathinformed his master of the part that he doth suspect that thou didstplay at Stony Stratford. Before he came to such a position ofinfluence with the Usurper he feared to so inform on thee. But nowthat he doth practically rule England he hath planned for thydestruction. His object in so doing is no doubt better known to theethan it is to me. 'Twas Lord Stanley who informed the ex-Queen, and hehad it from Richard himself, who now doth trust Stanley as though hehad ever loved him."

  "I thank thee much for thy kindness in thus warning me of the dangerthat doth threaten," I replied; "but I scarce see what better I can dothan remain still at court, until Earl Henry doth arrive in England.The time, you say, is short; therefore Catesby shall not have long inwhich to work his vengeance.

  "The Usurper cannot molest me unless he doth have more reason for sodoing than Catesby's mere suspicion."

  "Did the young and rightful King have fair trial, and was he convictedof rank treachery to the state?" asked Harleston. Then my friendanswered his own question with a definite "No." This was ever his mostforcible way of driving home his opinions.

  'Twas useless for me to try to deceive myself in regard to the dangerthreatening me. I ever have considered a man to be but little removedfrom a fool when he doth despise his enemies. I therefore admittedthat my friend was right, and asked for his advice.

  "Methinks it were best for thee to betake thee from the court, with allexpediency, and journey in the direction of the coast of Wales, inorder that thou mayest be ready there to join the Earl of Richmond whenhe lands," said Frederick, after a brief consideration. "I may remainat court until the last moment, and then follow thine example."

  "Thou knowest," said I, "that what thou dost propose is not within thebounds of possibility. How may I leave the Palace, and risk the dangerof the Lady Hazel falling into that scoundrel's hands. He desires tobe rid of me but that he may have her in his power. Were I to fly hispurpose should then be accomplished as well as if my head had fallen onthe block. No," I said, with full determination, "here must I remainand risk my fate; there is no other way."

  "Why not take the lady with thee, Monsieur?"

  "The danger should be too great," I replied.

  "Then, gentlemen, I can be of no further assistance," said the Count,as he arose to depart.

  "Tarry a moment, Sir Knight," said Harleston; "a glass of wine beforethou goest."

  "With all my heart," replied the other. And now for the first timesince he had entered the tent he opened his visor.

  "By Heaven and all its Saints!" cried Harleston; "I felt assured that Ihad seen yon suit of armour ere this day. Yes," he continued, "thelast time I had the honour of meeting thee was on the field of battle;when we took Berwick from the Scots."

  "And art thou the knight which did so kindly cut my helm's lace, afterhurling me from my steed?"

  "The same," laughed my friend; "and thou dost owe Sir Walter and meeach a good sword in payment for those that thou didst break that day."

  "When I did come to my senses," said the Frenchman, "I thanked Heaventhat I had fallen before a gentleman."

  Here we each grasped the Frenchman's hands, and we all laughed and werethree good friends.

  And thus we sat over our wine and talked, until the trumpets of theheralds warned us that it was time to draw for the contest of the sixand twenty knights. Mounting our horses we rode to the southernextremity of the lists, where the draughting was to take place.