onducted the Falworth case before the High Court of Chivalry,
and who was to attend him during the administration of the oaths before
the King.

As Myles presented himself at the gate he was met by the Constable, the
Marshal, and their immediate attendants. The Constable, laying his hand
upon the bridle-rein, said, in a loud voice: "Stand, Sir Knight, and
tell me why thou art come thus armed to the gates of the lists. What is
thy name? Wherefore art thou come?"

Myles answered, "I am Myles Falworth, a Knight of the Bath by grace of
his Majesty King Henry IV and by his creation, and do come hither to
defend my challenge upon the body of William Bushy Brookhurst, Earl of
Alban, proclaiming him an unknightly knight and a false and perjured
liar, in that he hath accused Gilbert Reginald, Lord Falworth, of
treason against our beloved Lord, his Majesty the King, and may God
defend the right!"

As he ended speaking, the Constable advanced close to his side, and
formally raising the umbril of the helmet, looked him in the face.
Thereupon, having approved his identity, he ordered the gates to be
opened, and bade Myles enter the lists with his squire and his friends.

At the south side of the lists a raised scaffolding had been built for
the King and those who looked on. It was not unlike that which had
been erected at Devlen Castle when Myles had first jousted as belted
knight--here were the same raised seat for the King, the tapestries, the
hangings, the fluttering pennons, and the royal standard floating above;
only here were no fair-faced ladies looking down upon him, but instead,
stern-browed Lords and knights in armor and squires, and here were no
merry laughing and buzz of talk and flutter of fans and kerchiefs, but
all was very quiet and serious.

Myles riding upon his horse, with Gascoyne holding the bridle-rein,
and his attorney walking beside him with his hand upon the stirrups,
followed the Constable across the lists to an open space in front of the
seat where the King sat. Then, having reached his appointed station, he
stopped, and the Constable, advancing to the foot of the stair-way that
led to the dais above, announced in a loud voice that the challenger had
entered the lists.

"Then called the defendant straightway," said the King, "for noon
draweth nigh."

The day was very warm, and the sun, bright and unclouded, shone fiercely
down upon the open lists. Perhaps few men nowadays could bear the
scorching