rse, and Catesby lurched and
fell 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 to
stop 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's
interference. They bore him to his tent, and I saw no more of him that
day. He was not killed however, and this did greatly disappoint me.

Sharply I spurred my steed till he sprang forward and upward like the
carrier of Valkyrie. Amid the acclamations of the spectators who, as
they ever do, waved their scarfs and bonnets like creatures
dispossessed of reason I dashed up before the King's seat and, pulling
suddenly upon the rein, caused my good steed to paw the air with his
fore feet whilst, with a low bow and a wave of my faithful sword, I
respectfully saluted the Usurper.

He acknowledged my salute; but methought the smile that he did wear
had, 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 same
attentions upon another knight were he to ride out and slay me in the
next tilt) I galloped back to the northern barrier. Here my dear
friend Frederick did warmly shake me by the hand, whilst Michael went
almost mad with delight. So loud, and sometimes profane, were his
remarks about Catesby's defeat that I unwillingly was compelled to keep
him 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 the
first course run, thrown from his saddle with a considerable force,
after having shown his miserable command of his weapon by altogether
missing his opponent; his lance passing harmlessly past his adversary's
right shoulder. For this exhibition of the lack of all skill he was
prohibited from taking any further part in the tournament, and his name
was stricken from the list.

Some three or four other pairs of lances were shivered, and then
Harleston gave an exhibition of the most skilled and perfectest way of
unhorsing a knight that ever I had, before that day, seen. He entered
the lists and rode, with stately ease and graceful respect, past the
ladies and the King, until he reached the spot where Sir Thomas
Falstone was sitting his horse in a listless fashion, as though he felt
assured