CHAPTER XXIII. HOW ENGLAND HELD THE LISTS AT BORDEAUX.

ched,richintapestryandvelvetandblazonedarms,oneithersideofthecentreofthearena. Theholdersofthelistsoccupiedtheendwhichwasnearesttothecitygate.There,infrontoftheirrespectivepavilions,flewthemartletsofAudley,therosesofLoring,thescarletbarsofWake,thelionofthePerciesandthesilverwingsoftheBeauchamps,eachsupportedbyasquirecladinhanginggreenstufftorepresentsomanyTritons,andbearingahugeconch-shellintheirlefthands.Behindthetentsthegreatwar-horses,armedatallpoints,champedandreared,whiletheirmasterssatatthedoorsoftheirpavilions,withtheirhelmetsupontheirknees,chattingastotheorderoftheday'sdoings.TheEnglisharchersandmen-at-armshadmusteredatthatendofthelists,butthevastmajorityofthespectatorswereinfavoroftheattackingparty,fortheEnglishhaddeclinedinpopularityeversincethebitterdisputeastothedisposaloftheroyalcaptiveafterthebattleofPoictiers.Hencetheapplausewasbynomeansgeneralwhentheherald-at-armsproclaimed,afteraflourishoftrumpets,thenamesandstylesoftheknightswhowereprepared,forthehonoroftheircountryandfortheloveoftheirladies,toholdthefieldagainstallwhomightdothemthefavortorunacoursewiththem.Ontheotherhand,adeafeningburstofcheeringgreetedtherivalherald,who,advancingfromtheotherendofthelists,rolledforththewell-knowntitlesofthefivefamouswarriorswhohadacceptedthedefiance. “Faith,John,”saidtheprince,“itsoundsasthoughyouwereright.Ha!mygraceD'Armagnac,itseemsthatourfriendsonthissidewillnotgrieveifourEnglishchampionslosetheday.” “Itmaybeso,sire,”theGasconnoblemananswered.“IhavelittledoubtthatinSmithfieldoratWindsoranEnglishcrowdwouldfavortheirowncountrymen.” “Bymyfaith!that'seasilyseen,”saidtheprince,laughing,“forafewscoreEnglisharchersatyonderendarebellowingasthoughtheywouldout-shoutthemightymultitude.Ifearthattheywillhavelittletoshoutoverthistourney,formygoldvasehassmallprospectofcrossingthewater.Whataretheconditions,John?” “Theyaretotiltsinglynotlessthanthreecourses,sire,andthevictorytorestwiththatpartywhichshallhavewonthegreaternumberofcourses,eachpaircontinuingtilloneorotherhavethevantage.Hewhocarrieshimselfbestofthevictorshaththeprize,andhewhoisjudgedbestoftheotherpartyhathajewelledclasp.ShallIorderthatthenakirssound,sire?” Theprincenodded,andthetrumpetsrangout,whilethechampionsrodeforthoneaftertheother,eachmeetinghisopponentinthecentreofthelists.SirWilliamBeauchampwentdownbeforethepracticedlanceoftheCaptaldeBuch.SirThomasPercywonthevantageovertheLordofMucident,andtheLordAudleystruckSirPerducasd'Albretfromthesaddle.TheburlyDeClisson,however,restoredthehopesoftheattackersbybeatingtothegroundSirThomasWakeofYorkshire.Sofar,therewaslittletochoosebetwixtchallengersandchallenged. “BySaintJamesofSantiago!”criedDonPedro,withatingeofcoloruponhispalecheeks,“winwhowill,thishasbeenamostnotablecontest.” “WhocomesnextforEngland,John?”askedtheprinceinavoicewhichquiveredwithexcitement. “SirNigelLoringofHampshire,sire.” “Ha!heisamanofgoodcourage,andskilledintheuseofallweapons.” “Heisindeed,sire.Buthiseyes,likemyown,aretheworseforwars.Yethecantiltorplayhispartathand-strokesasmerrilyasever.Itwashe,sire,whowonthegoldencrownwhichQueenPhilippa,yourroyalmother,gavetobejoustedforbyalltheknightsofEnglandaftertheharryingofCalais.IhaveheardthatatTwynhamCastlethereisabuffetwhichgroansbeneaththeweightofhisprizes.” “Ipraythatmyvasemayjointhem,”saidtheprince.“ButhereisthecavalierofGermany,andbymysoul!helookslikeamanofgreatvalorandhardiness.Letthemruntheirfullthree