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was found exactly complete. The marshals then withdrew from the lists,

and William de Wyvil, with a voice of thunder, pronounced the signal

words--" Laissez aller! " The trumpets sounded as he spoke--the spears of

the champions were at once lowered and placed in the rests--the spurs

were dashed into the flanks of the horses, and the two foremost ranks

of either party rushed upon each other in full gallop, and met in the

middle of the lists with a shock, the sound of which was heard at a

mile's distance. The rear rank of each party advanced at a slower pace

to sustain the defeated, and follow up the success of the victors of

their party.

The consequences of the encounter were not instantly seen, for the dust

raised by the trampling of so many steeds darkened the air, and it was

a minute ere the anxious spectator could see the fate of the encounter.

When the fight became visible, half the knights on each side were

dismounted, some by the dexterity of their adversary's lance, --some by

the superior weight and strength of opponents, which had borne down

both horse and man, --some lay stretched on earth as if never more to

rise, --some had already gained their feet, and were closing hand to hand

with those of their antagonists who were in the same predicament, --and

several on both sides, who had received wounds by which they were

disabled, were stopping their blood by their scarfs, and endeavouring to

extricate themselves from the tumult. The mounted knights, whose lances

had been almost all broken by the fury of the encounter, were now

closely engaged with their swords, shouting their war-cries, and

exchanging buffets, as if honour and life depended on the issue of the

combat.

The tumult was presently increased by the advance of the second rank

on either side, which, acting as a reserve, now rushed on to aid their

companions. The followers of Brian de Bois-Guilbert shouted--" Ha!

Beau-seant! Beau-seant! [20]

" --For the Temple--For the Temple! " The opposite party shouted in

answer--" Desdichado! Desdichado! " --which watch-word they took from the

motto upon their leader's shield.

The champions thus encountering each other with the utmost fury, and

with alternate success, the tide of battle seemed to flow now toward the

southern, now toward the northern extremity of the lists, as the one

or the other party prevailed. Meantime the clang of the blows, and

the shouts of the combatants, mixed fearfully with the sound of the

trumpets, and drowned the groans of those who fell, and lay rolling

defenceless beneath the feet of the horses. The splendid armour of the

combatants was now defaced with dust and blood, and gave way at every

stroke of the sword and battle-axe. The gay plumage, shorn from the

crests, drifted upon the breeze like snow-flakes. All that was beautiful

and graceful in the martial array had disappeared, and what was now

visible was only calculated to awake terror or compassion.

Yet such is the force of habit, that not only the vulgar spectators,

who are naturally attracted by sights of horror, but even the ladies of

distinction who crowded the galleries, saw the conflict with a thrilling

interest certainly, but without a wish to withdraw their eyes from a

sight so terrible. Here and there, indeed, a fair cheek might turn pale,

or a faint scream might be heard, as a lover, a brother, or a husband,

was struck from his horse. But, in general, the ladies around encouraged

the combatants, not only by clapping their hands and waving their veils

and kerchiefs, but even by exclaiming, " Brave lance! Good sword! " when

any successful thrust or blow took place under their observation.

Such being the interest taken by the fair sex in this bloody game,

that of the men is the more easily understood. It showed itself in

loud acclamations upon every change of fortune, while all eyes were so

riveted on the lists, that the spectators seemed as if they themselves

had dealt and received the blows which were there so freely bestowed.

And between every pause was heard the voice of the heralds, exclaiming,

" Fight on, brave knights! Man dies, but glory lives! --Fight on--death

is better than defeat! --Fight on, brave knights! --for bright eyes behold

your deeds! "

Amid the varied fortunes of the combat, the eyes of all endeavoured to

discover the leaders of each band, who, mingling in the thick of the

fight, encouraged their companions both by voice and example. Both

displayed great feats of gallantry, nor did either Bois-Guilbert or the

Disinherited Knight find in the ranks opposed to them a champion who

could be termed their unquestioned match. They repeatedly endeavoured to

single out each other, spurred by mutual animosity, and aware that the

fall of either leader might be considered as decisive of victory. Such,

however, was the crowd and confusion, that, during the earlier part

of the conflict, their efforts to meet were unavailing, and they were

repeatedly separated by the eagerness of their followers, each of whom

was anxious to win honour, by measuring his strength against the leader

of the opposite party.

But when the field became thin by the numbers on either side who had

yielded themselves vanquished, had been compelled to the extremity

of the lists, or been otherwise rendered incapable of continuing the

strife, the Templar and the Disinherited Knight at length encountered

hand to hand, with all the fury that mortal animosity, joined to rivalry

of honour, could inspire. Such was the address of each in parrying

and striking, that the spectators broke forth into a unanimous and

involuntary shout, expressive of their delight and admiration.

But at this moment the party of the Disinherited Knight had the worst;

the gigantic arm of Front-de-Boeuf on the one flank, and the ponderous

strength of Athelstane on the other, bearing down and dispersing

those immediately exposed to them. Finding themselves freed from their

immediate antagonists, it seems to have occurred to both these knights

at the same instant, that they would render the most decisive advantage

to their party, by aiding the Templar in his contest with his rival.

Turning their horses, therefore, at the same moment, the Norman spurred

against the Disinherited Knight on the one side, and the Saxon on the

other. It was utterly impossible that the object of this unequal and

unexpected assault could have sustained it, had he not been warned by a

general cry from the spectators, who could not but take interest in one

exposed to such disadvantage.

" Beware! beware! Sir Disinherited! " was shouted so universally, that

the knight became aware of his danger; and, striking a full blow at the

Templar, he reined back his steed in the same moment, so as to escape

the charge of Athelstane and Front-de-Boeuf. These knights, therefore,

their aim being thus eluded, rushed from opposite sides betwixt the

object of their attack and the Templar, almost running their horses

against each other ere they could stop their career. Recovering their

horses however, and wheeling them round, the whole three pursued their

united purpose of bearing to the earth the Disinherited Knight.

Nothing could have saved him, except the remarkable strength and

activity of the noble horse which he had won on the preceding day.

This stood him in the more stead, as the horse of Bois-Guilbert was

wounded, and those of Front-de-Boeuf and Athelstane were both tired with

the weight of their gigantic masters, clad in complete armour, and with

the preceding exertions of the day. The masterly horsemanship of the

Disinherited Knight, and the activity of the noble animal which he

mounted, enabled him for a few minutes to keep at sword's point his

three antagonists, turning and wheeling with the agility of a hawk upon

the wing, keeping his enemies as far separate as he could, and rushing

now against the one, now against the other, dealing sweeping blows with

his sword, without waiting to receive those which were aimed at him in

return.

But although the lists rang with the applauses of his dexterity, it

was evident that he must at last be overpowered; and the nobles around

Prince John implored him with one voice to throw down his warder, and to

save so brave a knight from the disgrace of being overcome by odds.

" Not I, by the light of Heaven! " answered Prince John; " this

same springald, who conceals his name, and despises our proffered

hospitality, hath already gained one prize, and may now afford to

let others have their turn. " As he spoke thus, an unexpected incident

changed the fortune of the day.

There was among the ranks of the Disinherited Knight a champion in

black armour, mounted on a black horse, large of size, tall, and to all

appearance powerful and strong, like the rider by whom he was mounted,

This knight, who bore on his shield no device of any kind, had hitherto

evinced very little interest in the event of the fight, beating off with

seeming ease those combatants who attacked him, but neither pursuing

his advantages, nor himself assailing any one. In short, he had hitherto

acted the part rather of a spectator than of a party in the tournament,

a circumstance which procured him among the spectators the name of " Le

Noir Faineant", or the Black Sluggard.

At once this knight seemed to throw aside his apathy, when he discovered

the leader of his party so hard bestead; for, setting spurs to

his horse, which was quite fresh, he came to his assistance like a

thunderbolt, exclaiming, in a voice like a trumpet-call, " Desdichado,

to the rescue! " It was high time; for, while the Disinherited Knight was

pressing upon the Templar, Front-de-Boeuf had got nigh to him with his

uplifted sword; but ere the blow could descend, the Sable Knight dealt

a stroke on his head, which, glancing from the polished helmet, lighted

with violence scarcely abated on the " chamfron" of the steed, and

Front-de-Boeuf rolled on the ground, both horse and man equally stunned

by the fury of the blow. " Le Noir Faineant" then turned his horse upon

Athelstane of Coningsburgh; and his own sword having been broken in his

encounter with Front-de-Boeuf, he wrenched from the hand of the bulky

Saxon the battle-axe which he wielded, and, like one familiar with

the use of the weapon, bestowed him such a blow upon the crest, that

Athelstane also lay senseless on the field. Having achieved this double

feat, for which he was the more highly applauded that it was totally

unexpected from him, the knight seemed to resume the sluggishness of

his character, returning calmly to the northern extremity of the lists,

leaving his leader to cope as he best could with Brian de Bois-Guilbert.

This was no longer matter of so much difficulty as formerly. The

Templars horse had bled much, and gave way under the shock of the

Disinherited Knight's charge. Brian de Bois-Guilbert rolled on the

field, encumbered with the stirrup, from which he was unable to draw his

foot. His antagonist sprung from horseback, waved his fatal sword over

the head of his adversary, and commanded him to yield himself; when

Prince John, more moved by the Templars dangerous situation than he had

been by that of his rival, saved him the mortification of confessing

himself vanquished, by casting down his warder, and putting an end to

the conflict.

It was, indeed, only the relics and embers of the fight which continued

to burn; for of the few knights who still continued in the lists, the

greater part had, by tacit consent, forborne the conflict for some time,

leaving it to be determined by the strife of the leaders.

The squires, who had found it a matter of danger and difficulty to

attend their masters during the engagement, now thronged into the lists

to pay their dutiful attendance to the wounded, who were removed with

the utmost care and attention to the neighbouring pavilions, or to the

quarters prepared for them in the adjoining village.

Thus ended the memorable field of Ashby-de-la-Zouche, one of the most

gallantly contested tournaments of that age; for although only four

knights, including one who was smothered by the heat of his armour, had

died upon the field, yet upwards of thirty were desperately wounded,

four or five of whom never recovered. Several more were disabled for

life; and those who escaped best carried the marks of the conflict to

the grave with them. Hence it is always mentioned in the old records, as

the Gentle and Joyous Passage of Arms of Ashby.

It being now the duty of Prince John to name the knight who had done

best, he determined that the honour of the day remained with the knight

whom the popular voice had termed " Le Noir Faineant. " It was pointed out

to the Prince, in impeachment of this decree, that the victory had been

in fact won by the Disinherited Knight, who, in the course of the

day, had overcome six champions with his own hand, and who had finally

unhorsed and struck down the leader of the opposite party. But Prince

John adhered to his own opinion, on the ground that the Disinherited

Knight and his party had lost the day, but for the powerful assistance

of the Knight of the Black Armour, to whom, therefore, he persisted in

awarding the prize.

To the surprise of all present, however, the knight thus preferred was

nowhere to be found. He had left the lists immediately when the conflict

ceased, and had been observed by some spectators to move down one of

the forest glades with the same slow pace and listless and indifferent

manner which had procured him the epithet of the Black Sluggard. After

he had been summoned twice by sound of trumpet, and proclamation of

the heralds, it became necessary to name another to receive the honours

which had been assigned to him. Prince John had now no further excuse

for resisting the claim of the Disinherited Knight, whom, therefore, he

named the champion of the day.

Through a field slippery with blood, and encumbered with broken armour

and the bodies of slain and wounded horses, the marshals of the lists

again conducted the victor to the foot of Prince John's throne.

" Disinherited Knight, " said Prince John, " since by that title only

you will consent to be known to us, we a second time award to you the

honours of this tournament, and announce to you your right to claim and

receive from the hands of the Queen of Love and Beauty, the Chaplet of

Honour which your valour has justly deserved. " The Knight bowed low and

gracefully, but returned no answer.

While the trumpets sounded, while the heralds strained their voices in

proclaiming honour to the brave and glory to the victor--while ladies

waved their silken kerchiefs and embroidered veils, and while all ranks

joined in a clamorous shout of exultation, the marshals conducted the

Disinherited Knight across the lists to the foot of that throne of

honour which was occupied by the Lady Rowena.

On the lower step of this throne the champion was made to kneel down.

Indeed his whole action since the fight had ended, seemed rather to have

been upon the impulse of those around him than from his own free will;

and it was observed that he tottered as they guided him the second time

across the lists. Rowena, descending from her station with a graceful

and dignified step, was about to place the chaplet which she held in her

hand upon the helmet of the champion, when the marshals exclaimed with

one voice, " It must not be thus--his head must be bare. " The knight

muttered faintly a few words, which were lost in the hollow of his

helmet, but their purport seemed to be a desire that his casque might

not be removed.

Whether from love of form, or from curiosity, the marshals paid no

attention to his expressions of reluctance, but unhelmed him by cutting

the laces of his casque, and undoing the fastening of his gorget. When

the helmet was removed, the well-formed, yet sun-burnt features of a

young man of twenty-five were seen, amidst a profusion of short fair

hair. His countenance was as pale as death, and marked in one or two

places with streaks of blood.

Rowena had no sooner beheld him than she uttered a faint shriek; but at

once summoning up the energy of her disposition, and compelling herself,

as it were, to proceed, while her frame yet trembled with the violence

of sudden emotion, she placed upon the drooping head of the victor

the splendid chaplet which was the destined reward of the day, and

pronounced, in a clear and distinct tone, these words: " I bestow on thee

this chaplet, Sir Knight, as the meed of valour assigned to this day's

victor: " Here she paused a moment, and then firmly added, " And upon

brows more worthy could a wreath of chivalry never be placed! "

The knight stooped his head, and kissed the hand of the lovely Sovereign

by whom his valour had been rewarded; and then, sinking yet farther

forward, lay prostrate at her feet.

There was a general consternation. Cedric, who had been struck mute by

the sudden appearance of his banished son, now rushed forward, as if to

separate him from Rowena. But this had been already accomplished by the

marshals of the field, who, guessing the cause of Ivanhoe's swoon, had

hastened to undo his armour, and found that the head of a lance had

penetrated his breastplate, and inflicted a wound in his side.

CHAPTER XIII

" Heroes, approach! " Atrides thus aloud,

" Stand forth distinguish'd from the circling crowd,

Ye who by skill or manly force may claim,

Your rivals to surpass and merit fame.

This cow, worth twenty oxen, is decreed,

For him who farthest sends the winged reed. "

--Iliad

The name of Ivanhoe was no sooner pronounced than it flew from mouth

to mouth, with all the celerity with which eagerness could convey and

curiosity receive it. It was not long ere it reached the circle of the

Prince, whose brow darkened as he heard the news. Looking around him,

however, with an air of scorn, " My Lords, " said he, " and especially you,

Sir Prior, what think ye of the doctrine the learned tell us, concerning

innate attractions and antipathies? Methinks that I felt the presence

of my brother's minion, even when I least guessed whom yonder suit of

armour enclosed. "

" Front-de-Boeuf must prepare to restore his fief of Ivanhoe, " said De

Bracy, who, having discharged his part honourably in the tournament, had

laid his shield and helmet aside, and again mingled with the Prince's

retinue.

" Ay, " answered Waldemar Fitzurse, " this gallant is likely to reclaim

the castle and manor which Richard assigned to him, and which your

Highness's generosity has since given to Front-de-Boeuf. "

" Front-de-Boeuf, " replied John, " is a man more willing to swallow three

manors such as Ivanhoe, than to disgorge one of them. For the rest,

sirs, I hope none here will deny my right to confer the fiefs of the

crown upon the faithful followers who are around me, and ready to

perform the usual military service, in the room of those who have

wandered to foreign Countries, and can neither render homage nor service

when called upon. "

The audience were too much interested in the question not to pronounce

the Prince's assumed right altogether indubitable. " A generous

Prince! --a most noble Lord, who thus takes upon himself the task of

rewarding his faithful followers! "

Such were the words which burst from the train, expectants all of

them of similar grants at the expense of King Richard's followers and

favourites, if indeed they had not as yet received such. Prior Aymer

also assented to the general proposition, observing, however, " That the

blessed Jerusalem could not indeed be termed a foreign country. She

was 'communis mater'--the mother of all Christians. But he saw not, "

he declared, " how the Knight of Ivanhoe could plead any advantage from

this, since he" (the Prior) " was assured that the crusaders, under

Richard, had never proceeded much farther than Askalon, which, as all

the world knew, was a town of the Philistines, and entitled to none of

the privileges of the Holy City. "

Waldemar, whose curiosity had led him towards the place where Ivanhoe

had fallen to the ground, now returned. " The gallant, " said he,

" is likely to give your Highness little disturbance, and to leave

Front-de-Boeuf in the quiet possession of his gains--he is severely

wounded. "

" Whatever becomes of him, " said Prince John, " he is victor of the day;

and were he tenfold our enemy, or the devoted friend of our brother,

which is perhaps the same, his wounds must be looked to--our own

physician shall attend him. "

A stern smile curled the Prince's lip as he spoke. Waldemar Fitzurse

hastened to reply, that Ivanhoe was already removed from the lists, and

in the custody of his friends.

" I was somewhat afflicted, " he said, " to see the grief of the Queen of

Love and Beauty, whose sovereignty of a day this event has changed into

mourning. I am not a man to be moved by a woman's lament for her lover,

but this same Lady Rowena suppressed her sorrow with such dignity of

manner, that it could only be discovered by her folded hands, and her

tearless eye, which trembled as it remained fixed on the lifeless form

before her. "

" Who is this Lady Rowena, " said Prince John, " of whom we have heard so

much? "

" A Saxon heiress of large possessions, " replied the Prior Aymer; " a rose

of loveliness, and a jewel of wealth; the fairest among a thousand, a

bundle of myrrh, and a cluster of camphire. "

" We shall cheer her sorrows, " said Prince John, " and amend her blood, by

wedding her to a Norman. She seems a minor, and must therefore be at our

royal disposal in marriage. --How sayst thou, De Bracy? What thinkst thou

of gaining fair lands and livings, by wedding a Saxon, after the fashion

of the followers of the Conqueror? "

" If the lands are to my liking, my lord, " answered De Bracy, " it will be

hard to displease me with a bride; and deeply will I hold myself bound

to your highness for a good deed, which will fulfil all promises made in

favour of your servant and vassal. "

" We will not forget it, " said Prince John; " and that we may instantly go

to work, command our seneschal presently to order the attendance of the

Lady Rowena and her company--that is, the rude churl her guardian, and

the Saxon ox whom the Black Knight struck down in the tournament, upon

this evening's banquet. --De Bigot, " he added to his seneschal, " thou

wilt word this our second summons so courteously, as to gratify the

pride of these Saxons, and make it impossible for them again to refuse;

although, by the bones of Becket, courtesy to them is casting pearls

before swine. "

Prince John had proceeded thus far, and was about to give the signal for

retiring from the lists, when a small billet was put into his hand.

" From whence? " said Prince John, looking at the person by whom it was

delivered.

" From foreign parts, my lord, but from whence I know not" replied his

attendant. " A Frenchman brought it hither, who said, he had ridden night

and day to put it into the hands of your highness. "

The Prince looked narrowly at the superscription, and then at the

seal, placed so as to secure the flex-silk with which the billet was

surrounded, and which bore the impression of three fleurs-de-lis.

John then opened the billet with apparent agitation, which visibly and

greatly increased when he had perused the contents, which were expressed

in these words:

" Take heed to yourself for the Devil is unchained! "

The Prince turned as pale as death, looked first on the earth, and

then up to heaven, like a man who has received news that sentence of

execution has been passed upon him. Recovering from the first effects of

his surprise, he took Waldemar Fitzurse and De Bracy aside, and put

the billet into their hands successively. " It means, " he added, in a

faltering voice, " that my brother Richard has obtained his freedom. "

" This may be a false alarm, or a forged letter, " said De Bracy.

" It is France's own hand and seal, " replied Prince John.

" It is time, then, " said Fitzurse, " to draw our party to a head, either

at York, or some other centrical place. A few days later, and it will be

indeed too late. Your highness must break short this present mummery. "

" The yeomen and commons, " said De Bracy, " must not be dismissed

discontented, for lack of their share in the sports. "

" The day, " said Waldemar, " is not yet very far spent--let the archers

shoot a few rounds at the target, and the prize be adjudged. This will

be an abundant fulfilment of the Prince's promises, so far as this herd

of Saxon serfs is concerned. "

" I thank thee, Waldemar, " said the Prince; " thou remindest me, too, that

I have a debt to pay to that insolent peasant who yesterday insulted our

person. Our banquet also shall go forward to-night as we proposed. Were

this my last hour of power, it should be an hour sacred to revenge and

to pleasure--let new cares come with to-morrow's new day. "

The sound of the trumpets soon recalled those spectators who had already

begun to leave the field; and proclamation was made that Prince John,

suddenly called by high and peremptory public duties, held himself

obliged to discontinue the entertainments of to-morrow's festival:

Nevertheless, that, unwilling so many good yeoman should depart without

a trial of skill, he was pleased to appoint them, before leaving the

ground, presently to execute the competition of archery intended for

the morrow. To the best archer a prize was to be awarded, being a

bugle-horn, mounted with silver, and a silken baldric richly ornamented

with a medallion of St Hubert, the patron of silvan sport.

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