Meanwhile, spectators of every description thronged forward to occupy

their respective stations, and not without many quarrels concerning

those which they were entitled to hold. Some of these were settled by

the men-at-arms with brief ceremony; the shafts of their battle-axes,

and pummels of their swords, being readily employed as arguments to

convince the more refractory. Others, which involved the rival claims

of more elevated persons, were determined by the heralds, or by the two

marshals of the field, William de Wyvil, and Stephen de Martival, who,

armed at all points, rode up and down the lists to enforce and preserve

good order among the spectators.

Gradually the galleries became filled with knights and nobles, in their

robes of peace, whose long and rich-tinted mantles were contrasted with

the gayer and more splendid habits of the ladies, who, in a greater

proportion than even the men themselves, thronged to witness a sport,

which one would have thought too bloody and dangerous to afford their

sex much pleasure. The lower and interior space was soon filled by

substantial yeomen and burghers, and such of the lesser gentry, as, from

modesty, poverty, or dubious title, durst not assume any higher place.

It was of course amongst these that the most frequent disputes for

precedence occurred.

"Dog of an unbeliever," said an old man, whose threadbare tunic bore

witness to his poverty, as his sword, and dagger, and golden chain

intimated his pretensions to rank,--"whelp of a she-wolf! darest

thou press upon a Christian, and a Norman gentleman of the blood of

Montdidier?"

This rough expostulation was addressed to no other than our acquaintance

Isaac, who, richly and even magnificently dressed in a gaberdine

ornamented with lace and lined with fur, was endeavouring to make place

in the foremost row beneath the gallery for his daughter, the beautiful

Rebecca, who had joined him at Ashby, and who was now hanging on her

father's arm, not a little terrified by the popular displeasure which

seemed generally excited by her parent's presumption. But Isaac, though

we have seen him sufficiently timid on other occasions, knew well that

at present he had nothing to fear. It was not in places of general

resort, or where their equals were assembled, that any avaricious or

malevolent noble durst offer him injury. At such meetings the Jews

were under the protection of the general law; and if that proved a

weak assurance, it usually happened that there were among the persons

assembled some barons, who, for their own interested motives, were ready

to act as their protectors. On the present occasion, Isaac felt more

than usually confident, being aware that Prince John was even then in

the very act of negotiating a large loan from the Jews of York, to

be secured upon certain jewels and lands. Isaac's own share in this

transaction was considerable, and he well knew that the Prince's eager

desire to bring it to a conclusion would ensure him his protection in

the dilemma in which he stood.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024