Ivanhoe

The central pavilion, as the place of honour, had been assigned to Brian

be Bois-Guilbert, whose renown in all games of chivalry, no less than

his connexions with the knights who had undertaken this Passage of

Arms, had occasioned him to be eagerly received into the company of the

challengers, and even adopted as their chief and leader, though he had

so recently joined them. On one side of his tent were pitched those of

Reginald Front-de-Boeuf and Richard de Malvoisin, and on the other was

the pavilion of Hugh de Grantmesnil, a noble baron in the vicinity,

whose ancestor had been Lord High Steward of England in the time of the

Conqueror, and his son William Rufus. Ralph de Vipont, a knight of St

John of Jerusalem, who had some ancient possessions at a place called

Heather, near Ashby-de-la-Zouche, occupied the fifth pavilion. From the

entrance into the lists, a gently sloping passage, ten yards in breadth,

led up to the platform on which the tents were pitched. It was strongly

secured by a palisade on each side, as was the esplanade in front of the

pavilions, and the whole was guarded by men-at-arms.

The northern access to the lists terminated in a similar entrance of

thirty feet in breadth, at the extremity of which was a large enclosed

space for such knights as might be disposed to enter the lists with the

challengers, behind which were placed tents containing refreshments of

every kind for their accommodation, with armourers, tarriers, and other

attendants, in readiness to give their services wherever they might be

necessary.

The exterior of the lists was in part occupied by temporary galleries,

spread with tapestry and carpets, and accommodated with cushions for the

convenience of those ladies and nobles who were expected to attend the

tournament. A narrow space, betwixt these galleries and the lists, gave

accommodation for yeomanry and spectators of a better degree than

the mere vulgar, and might be compared to the pit of a theatre. The

promiscuous multitude arranged themselves upon large banks of turf

prepared for the purpose, which, aided by the natural elevation of the

ground, enabled them to overlook the galleries, and obtain a fair view

into the lists. Besides the accommodation which these stations afforded,

many hundreds had perched themselves on the branches of the trees which

surrounded the meadow; and even the steeple of a country church, at some

distance, was crowded with spectators.

It only remains to notice respecting the general arrangement, that

one gallery in the very centre of the eastern side of the lists, and

consequently exactly opposite to the spot where the shock of the combat

was to take place, was raised higher than the others, more richly

decorated, and graced by a sort of throne and canopy, on which the

royal arms were emblazoned. Squires, pages, and yeomen in rich liveries,

waited around this place of honour, which was designed for Prince John

and his attendants. Opposite to this royal gallery was another, elevated

to the same height, on the western side of the lists; and more gaily, if

less sumptuously decorated, than that destined for the Prince himself.

A train of pages and of young maidens, the most beautiful who could be

selected, gaily dressed in fancy habits of green and pink, surrounded

a throne decorated in the same colours. Among pennons and flags bearing

wounded hearts, burning hearts, bleeding hearts, bows and quivers,

and all the commonplace emblems of the triumphs of Cupid, a blazoned

inscription informed the spectators, that this seat of honour was

designed for "La Royne de las Beaulte et des Amours". But who was to

represent the Queen of Beauty and of Love on the present occasion no one

was prepared to guess.