hantine Flemish horses. Even if the weapons had not been purposely
blunted, and if the champions had really desired to slay one another,
they would have found the task very difficult, as in effect they did in
the actual game of war. But the spectacle was a splendid one, and all
the apparatus was ready in the armourers' tent, marked by Saint George
and the Dragon. Tibble ensconced himself in the innermost corner with a
"tractate," borrowed from his friend Lucas, and sent the apprentices to
gaze their fill at the rapidly filling circles of seats. They saw King
Harry, resplendent in gilded armour--"from their own anvil, true English
steel," said Edmund, proudly--hand to her seat his sister the bride, one
of the most beautiful women then in existence, with a lovely and
delicate bloom on her fair face and exquisite Plantagenet features. No
more royally handsome creatures could the world have offered than that
brother and sister, and the English world appreciated them and made the
lists ring with applause at the fair lady who had disdained foreign
princes to wed her true love, an honest Englishman.

He--the cloth of frieze--in blue Milanese armour, made to look as
classical as possible, and with clasps and medals engraven from antique
gems--handed in Queen Katharine, whose dark but glowing Spanish
complexion made a striking contrast to the dazzling fairness of her
young sister-in-law. Near them sat a stout burly figure in episcopal
purple, and at his feet there was a form which nearly took away all
Stephen's pleasure for the time. For it was in motley, and he could
hear the bells jingle, while the hot blood rose in his cheeks in the
dread lest Burgess should detect the connection, or recognise in the
jester the grave personage who had come to negotiate with Mr Headley
for his indentures, or worse still, that the fool should see and claim
him.

However, Quipsome Hal seemed to be exchanging drolleries with the young
dowager of France, who, sooth to say, giggled in a very unqueenly manner
at jokes which made the grave Spanish-born queen draw up her stately
head, and converse with a lady on her other hand--an equally stately
lady, somewhat older, with the straight Plantagenet features, and by her
side a handsome boy, who, though only eight or nine years old, was
tonsured, and had a little scholar's gown. "That," said Edmund, "is my
Lady Countess of Salisbury, of whom Giles Headley prates so much."

A tournament, which w