had pushed their path into a foremost place, much to the discontent of
the gentry, and with their flat caps, long hair, thick bludgeons, loud
exclamations, and turbulent demeanour, greatly scandalized the formal
heralds. That, too, was a sign of the times. Nor less did it show
the growth of commerce, that, on seats very little below the regal
balconies, and far more conspicuous than the places of earls and barons,
sat in state the mayor (that mayor a grocer!) [Sir John Yonge.--Fabyan]
and aldermen of the city.

A murmur, rising gradually into a general shout, evinced the admiration
into which the spectators were surprised, when Anthony Woodville Lord
Scales--his head bare--appeared at the entrance of the lists,--so bold
and so fair was his countenance, so radiant his armour, and so richly
caparisoned his gray steed, in the gorgeous housings that almost swept
the ground; and around him grouped such an attendance of knights and
peers as seldom graced the train of any subject, with the Duke of
Clarence at his right hand, bearing his bassinet.

But Anthony's pages, supporting his banner, shared at least the popular
admiration with their gallant lord: they were, according to the old
custom, which probably fell into disuse under the Tudors, disguised in
imitation of the heraldic beasts that typified his armourial cognizance;
[Hence the origin of Supporters] and horrible and laidly looked they in
the guise of griffins, with artful scales of thin steel painted green,
red forked tongues, and griping the banner in one huge claw, while, much
to the marvel of the bystanders, they contrived to walk very statelily
on the other. "Oh, the brave monsters!" exclaimed the butcher. "Cogs
bones, this beats all the rest!"

But when the trumpets of the heralds had ceased, when the words "Laissez
aller!" were pronounced, when the lances were set and the charge began,
this momentary admiration was converted into a cry of derision, by the
sudden restiveness of the Burgundian's horse. This animal, of the pure
race of Flanders, of a bulk approaching to clumsiness, of a rich bay,
where, indeed, amidst the barding and the housings, its colour could be
discerned, had borne the valiant Bastard through many a sanguine field,
and in the last had received a wound which had greatly impaired its
sight. And now, whether scared by the shouting, or terrified by its
obscure vision, and the recollection of its wound when last bestrode by
its lord, it halted m