It was, indeed, only the relics and embers of the fight which continued

to burn; for of the few knights who still continued in the lists, the

greater part had, by tacit consent, forborne the conflict for some time,

leaving it to be determined by the strife of the leaders.

The squires, who had found it a matter of danger and difficulty to

attend their masters during the engagement, now thronged into the lists

to pay their dutiful attendance to the wounded, who were removed with

the utmost care and attention to the neighbouring pavilions, or to the

quarters prepared for them in the adjoining village.

Thus ended the memorable field of Ashby-de-la-Zouche, one of the most

gallantly contested tournaments of that age; for although only four

knights, including one who was smothered by the heat of his armour, had

died upon the field, yet upwards of thirty were desperately wounded,

four or five of whom never recovered. Several more were disabled for

life; and those who escaped best carried the marks of the conflict to

the grave with them. Hence it is always mentioned in the old records, as

the Gentle and Joyous Passage of Arms of Ashby.

It being now the duty of Prince John to name the knight who had done

best, he determined that the honour of the day remained with the knight

whom the popular voice had termed "Le Noir Faineant." It was pointed out

to the Prince, in impeachment of this decree, that the victory had been

in fact won by the Disinherited Knight, who, in the course of the

day, had overcome six champions with his own hand, and who had finally

unhorsed and struck down the leader of the opposite party. But Prince

John adhered to his own opinion, on the ground that the Disinherited

Knight and his party had lost the day, but for the powerful assistance

of the Knight of the Black Armour, to whom, therefore, he persisted in

awarding the prize.

To the surprise of all present, however, the knight thus preferred was

nowhere to be found. He had left the lists immediately when the conflict

ceased, and had been observed by some spectators to move down one of

the forest glades with the same slow pace and listless and indifferent

manner which had procured him the epithet of the Black Sluggard. After

he had been summoned twice by sound of trumpet, and proclamation of

the heralds, it became necessary to name another to receive the honours

which had been assigned to him. Prince John had now no further excuse

for resisting the claim of the Disinherited Knight, whom, therefore, he

named the champion of the day.




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