The gigantic Front-de-Boeuf, armed in sable armour,
was the first who took the field. He bore on
a white shield a black bull’s head, half defaced
by the numerous encounters which he had undergone,
and bearing the arrogant motto, “Cave, Adsum”.
Over this champion the Disinherited Knight obtained
a slight but decisive advantage. Both Knights
broke their lances fairly, but Front-de-Boeuf, who
lost a stirrup in the encounter, was adjudged to have
the disadvantage.
In the stranger’s third encounter with Sir Philip
Malvoisin, he was equally successful; striking that
baron so forcibly on the casque, that the laces of
the helmet broke, and Malvoisin, only saved from falling
by being unhelmeted, was declared vanquished like
his companions.
In his fourth combat with De Grantmesnil, the Disinherited
Knight showed as much courtesy as he had hitherto
evinced courage and dexterity. De Grantmesnil’s
horse, which was young and violent, reared and plunged
in the course of the career so as to disturb the rider’s
aim, and the stranger, declining to take the advantage
which this accident afforded him, raised his lance,
and passing his antagonist without touching him, wheeled
his horse and rode back again to his own end of the
lists, offering his antagonist, by a herald, the chance
of a second encounter. This De Grantmesnil declined,
avowing himself vanquished as much by the courtesy
as by the address of his opponent.
Ralph de Vipont summed up the list of the stranger’s
triumphs, being hurled to the ground with such force,
that the blood gushed from his nose and his mouth,
and he was borne senseless from the lists.
The acclamations of thousands applauded the unanimous
award of the Prince and marshals, announcing that
day’s honours to the Disinherited Knight.
--------In the midst was seen
A lady of a more majestic mien,
By stature and by beauty mark’d their sovereign Queen.
* * * * *
And as in beauty she surpass’d the choir,
So nobler than the rest was her attire;
A crown of ruddy gold enclosed her brow,
Plain without pomp, and rich without a show;
A branch of Agnus Castus in her hand,
She bore aloft her symbol of command.
The Flower and the Leaf
William de Wyvil and Stephen de Martival, the marshals
of the field, were the first to offer their congratulations
to the victor, praying him, at the same time, to suffer
his helmet to be unlaced, or, at least, that he would
raise his visor ere they conducted him to receive
the prize of the day’s tourney from the hands
of Prince John. The Disinherited Knight, with
all knightly courtesy, declined their request, alleging,
that he could not at this time suffer his face to
be seen, for reasons which he had assigned to the
heralds when he entered the lists. The marshals
were perfectly satisfied by this reply; for amidst
the frequent and capricious vows by which knights
were accustomed to bind themselves in the days of
