r Anthony
Woodville deliberately pokes out my right eye were a feat to show that
very few brains would follow. And so, my Lord Scales, I give thee my
right hand, and wish thee joy of thy triumph, and the golden collar."
[The prize was a collar of gold, enamelled with the flower of the
souvenance.]

"No triumph," replied the Woodville, modestly, "for thou art only, as
brave knights should be, subdued by the charms of the ladies, which no
breast, however valiant, can with impunity dispute."

So saying, the Lord Scales led the count to a seat of honour near
the Lord Rivers; and the actor was contented, perforce, to become a
spectator of the ensuing contests. These were carried on till late at
noon between the Burgundians and the English, the last maintaining the
superiority of their principal champion; and among those in the
melee, to which squires were admitted, not the least distinguished and
conspicuous was our youthful friend, Master Marmaduke Nevile.

CHAPTER VIII. HOW THE BASTARD OF BURGUNDY PROSPERED MORE IN HIS POLICY
THAN WITH THE POLE-AXE.-AND HOW KING EDWARD HOLDS HIS SUMMER CHASE IN
THE FAIR GROVES OF SHENE.

It was some days after the celebrated encounter between the Bastard and
Lord Scales, and the court had removed to the Palace of Shene. The Count
de la Roche's favour with the Duchess of Bedford and the young princess
had not rested upon his reputation for skill with the pole-axe, and it
had now increased to a height that might well recompense the diplomatist
for his discomfiture in the lists.

In the mean while, the arts of Warwick's enemies had been attended with
signal success. The final preparations for the alliance now virtually
concluded with Louis's brother still detained the earl at Rouen, and
fresh accounts of the French king's intimacy with the ambassador were
carefully forwarded to Rivers, and transmitted to Edward. Now, we have
Edward's own authority for stating that his first grudge against Warwick
originated in this displeasing intimacy, but the English king was too
clear-sighted to interpret such courtesies into the gloss given them by
Rivers. He did not for a moment conceive that Lord Warwick was led
into any absolute connection with Louis which could link him to the
Lancastrians, for this was against common-sense; but Edward, with all
his good humour, was implacable and vindictive, and he could not endure
the thought that Warwick should gain the friendship of the man he
deemed h