ied her apprehension, by making him a more particular and obliging
return, than to any of the Cavaliers who had saluted her before.

The Exercise that was to be perform'd was in general a running at the
Ring; and afterwards two Cavaliers undertook to defend the Beauty of
Donna Catharina, against all who would not allow her preheminence of
their Mistresses. This thing was only designed for show and form, none
presuming that any body would put so great an affront upon the Bride and
Duke's Kinswoman, as to dispute her pretentions to the first place in the
Court of Venus. But here our Cavaliers were under a mistake; for seeing
a large Shield carry'd before two Knights, with a Lady painted upon it;
not knowing who, but reading the Inscription which was (in large Gold
Letters) Above the Insolence of Competition. They thought themselves
obliged, especially in the presence of their Mistresses, to vindicate
their Beauty; and were just spurring on to engage the Champions, when a
Gentleman stopping them, told them their mistake, that it was the Picture
of Donna Catharina, and a particular Honour done to her by his Highness's
Commands, and not to be disputed. Upon this they would have returned to
their Post, much concerned for their mistake; but notice being taken by
Don Ferdinand of some Show of Opposition that was made, he would have
begged leave of the Duke, to have maintained his Lady's Honour against
the Insolence of those Cavaliers; but the Duke would by no means permit
it. They were arguing about it when one of them came up, before whom the
Shield was born, and demanded his Highness's Permission, to inform those
Gentlemen better of their mistake, by giving them the Foyl. By the
Intercession of Don Ferdinand, leave was given them; whereupon a Civil
Challenge was sent to the two Strangers, informing them of their Error,
and withal telling them they must either maintain it by force of Arms, or
make a publick acknowledgment by riding bare headed before the Picture
once round the Lists. The Stranger-Cavaliers remonstrated to the Duke
how sensible they were of their Error, and though they would not justifie
it, yet they could not decline the Combate, being pressed to it beyond an
honourable refusal. To the Bride they sent a Complement, wherein, having
first begg'd her pardon for not knowing her Picture, they gave her to
understand, that now they were not about to dispute her undoubted right
to the Crown of Beauty, but the ho