About the same time arrived Cedric the Saxon, with the
Lady Rowena, unattended, however, by Athelstane. The
Saxon lord had arrayed his tall and strong person in armor, in
order to take his place among the combatants; and, consider-
ably to the surprise of Cedric, had chosen to enlist himself on
the part of the Knight Templar. His best, if not his only
reason he had the prudence to keep to himself. Though his
apathy of disposition prevented his taking any means to recom-
mend himself to the Lady Rowena, he was, nevertheless, by
no means insensible to her charms, and considered his union
with her as a matter already fixed beyond doubt, by the assent
of Cedric and her other friends. It had therefore been with
sullen displeasure that he beheld the victor of the preceding
day select Rowena as the object of that honor which it became
his privilege to confer. In order to punish him for a preference
which seemed to interfere with his own suit, Athelstane deter-
mined, if an opportunity should occur, to make him feel the
weight of his battle-ax.

As soon as Prince John observed that the destined Queen
of the day had arrived upon the field, he rode forward to meet
her, and, alighting from his horse, marshaled her to the seat
of honor opposite his own. The heralds then proclaimed silence
until the laws of the tourney should be rehearsed. The com-
bat was to cease as soon as Prince John should throw down
his truncheon; another precaution usually taken to prevent
the unnecessary effusion of blood by the too long endurance
of a sport so desperate.

This proclamation having been made, the heralds withdrew
to their stations. The knights, entering at either end of the
lists in long procession, arranged themselves in double file,
opposite to each other, the leader of each party being in the
center of the foremost rank. The marshals then withdrew
from the lists, and William de Wyvil, with a voice of thunder,
pronounced the signal words--Laissez aller! ¹ The trumpets

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