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of his Majesty King Henry IV and by his creation； and do come hither to
defend my challenge upon the body of William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of
Alban； proclaiming him an unknightly knight and a false and perjured liar；
in that he hath accused Gilbert Reginald； Lord Falworth； of treason against
our beloved Lord； his Majesty the King； and may God defend the right！〃
As he ended speaking； the Constable advanced close to his side； and
formally raising the umbril of the helmet； looked him in the face。
Thereupon； having approved his identity； he ordered the gates to be
opened； and bade Myles enter the lists with his squire and his friends。
At the south side of the lists a raised scaffolding had been built for the
King and those who looked on。 It was not unlike that which had been
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erected at Devlen Castle when Myles had first jousted as belted knight
here were the same raised seat for the King； the tapestries； the hangings；
the fluttering pennons； and the royal standard floating above； only here
were no fair…faced ladies looking down upon him； but instead； stern…
browed Lords and knights in armor and squires； and here were no merry
laughing and buzz of talk and flutter of fans and kerchiefs； but all was
very quiet and serious。
Myles riding upon his horse； with Gascoyne holding the bridle…rein；
and his attorney walking beside him with his hand upon the stirrups；
followed the Constable across the lists to an open space in front of the seat
where the King sat。 Then； having reached his appointed station； he stopped；
and the Constable； advancing to the foot of the stair…way that led to the
dais above； announced in a loud voice that the challenger had entered the
lists。
〃Then called the defendant straightway；〃 said the King； 〃for noon
draweth nigh。〃
The day was very warm； and the sun； bright and unclouded； shone
fiercely down upon the open lists。 Perhaps few men nowadays could bear
the scorching heat of iron plates such as Myles wore； from which the body
was only protected by a leathern jacket and hose。 But men's bodies in
those days were tougher and more seasoned to hardships of weather than
they are in these our times。 Myles thought no more of the burning iron
plates that incased him than a modern soldier thinks of his dress uniform
in warm weather。 Nevertheless； he raised the umbril of his helmet to cool
his face as he waited the coming of his opponent。 He turned his eyes
upward to the row of seats on the scaffolding above； and even in the
restless； bewildering multitude of strange faces turned towards him
recognized those that he knew： the Prince of Wales； his companions of the
Scotland Yard household； the Duke of Clarence； the Bishop of Winchester；
and some of the noblemen of the Earl of Mackworth's party； who had been
buzzing about the Prince for the past month or so。 But his glance swept
over all these； rather perceiving than seeing them； and then rested upon a
square box…like compartment not unlike a prisoner's dock in the courtroom
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of our day； for in the box sat his father； with the Earl of Mackworth upon
one side and Sir James Lee upon the other。 The blind man's face was very
pale； but still wore its usual expression of calm serenitythe calm serenity
of a blind face。 The Earl was also very pale； and he kept his eyes fixed
steadfastly upon Myles with a keen and searching look； as though to
pierce to the very bottom of the young man's heart； and discover if indeed
not one little fragment of dryrot of fear or uncertainty tainted the solid
courage of his knighthood。
Then he heard the criers calling the defendant at the four corners of the
list： 〃Oyez！ Oyez！ Oyez！ William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； come
to this combat； in which you be enterprised this day to discharge your
sureties before the King； the Constable； and the Marshal； and to encounter
in your defence Myles Falworth； knight； the accepted champion upon
behalf of Gilbert Reginald Falworth； the challenger！ Oyez！ Oyez！ Oyez！
Let the defendant come！〃
So they continued calling； until； by the sudden turning of all faces；
Myles knew that his enemy was at hand。
Then presently he saw the Earl and his attendants enter the outer gate
at the west end of the barrier； he saw the Constable and Marshal meet him；
he saw the formal words of greeting pass； he saw the Constable raise the
umbril of the helmet。 Then the gate opened； and the Earl of Alban entered；
clad cap…a…pie in a full suit of magnificent Milan armor without juppon or
adornment of any kind。 As he approached across the lists； Myles closed
the umbril of his helmet； and then sat quite still and motionless； for the
time was come。
So he sat； erect and motionless as a statue of iron； half hearing the
reading of the long intricately… worded bills； absorbed in many thoughts of
past and present things。 At last the reading ended； and then he calmly and
composedly obeyed； under the direction of his attorney； the several forms
and ceremonies that followed； answered the various official questions；
took the various oaths。 Then Gascoyne； leading the horse by the bridle…
rein； conducted him back to his station at the east end of the lists。
As the faithful friend and squire made one last and searching
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examination of arms and armor； the Marshal and the clerk came to the
young champion and administered the final oath by which he swore that
he carried no concealed weapons。
The weapons allowed by the High Court were then measured and
attested。 They consisted of the long sword； the short sword； the dagger； the
mace； and a weapon known as the hand…gisarm； or glave… lota heavy
swordlike blade eight palms long； a palm in breadth； and riveted to a stout
handle of wood three feet long。
The usual lance had not been included in the list of arms； the hand…
gisarm being substitute