Captain Coxe, that celebrated humorist of Coventry, whose library of

ballads, almanacs, and penny histories, fairly wrapped up in parchment,

and tied round for security with a piece of whipcord, remains still

the envy of antiquaries, being himself the ingenious person under

whose direction the pageant had been set forth, rode valiantly on his

hobby-horse before the bands of English, high-trussed, saith Laneham,

and brandishing his long sword, as became an experienced man of war, who

had fought under the Queen's father, bluff King Henry, at the siege of

Boulogne. This chieftain was, as right and reason craved, the first to

enter the lists, and passing the Gallery at the head of his myrmidons,

kissed the hilt of his sword to the Queen, and executed at the same

time a gambade, the like whereof had never been practised by two-legged

hobby-horse. Then passing on with all his followers of cavaliers and

infantry, he drew them up with martial skill at the opposite extremity

of the bridge, or tilt-yard, until his antagonist should be fairly

prepared for the onset.

This was no long interval; for the Danish cavalry and infantry, no way

inferior to the English in number, valour, and equipment, instantly

arrived, with the northern bagpipe blowing before them in token of their

country, and headed by a cunning master of defence, only inferior to the

renowned Captain Coxe, if to him, in the discipline of war. The Danes,

as invaders, took their station under the Gallery-tower, and opposite

to that of Mortimer; and when their arrangements were completely made, a

signal was given for the encounter.

Their first charge upon each other was rather moderate, for either party

had some dread of being forced into the lake. But as reinforcements came

up on either side, the encounter grew from a skirmish into a blazing

battle. They rushed upon one another, as Master Laneham testifies, like

rams inflamed by jealousy, with such furious encounter that both parties

were often overthrown, and the clubs and targets made a most horrible

clatter. In many instances that happened which had been dreaded by the

more experienced warriors who began the day of strife. The rails which

defended the ledges of the bridge had been, perhaps on purpose, left but

slightly fastened, and gave way under the pressure of those who thronged

to the combat, so that the hot courage of many of the combatants

received a sufficient cooling. These incidents might have occasioned

more serious damage than became such an affray, for many of the

champions who met with this mischance could not swim, and those who

could were encumbered with their suits of leathern and of paper armour;

but the case had been provided for, and there were several boats in

readiness to pick up the unfortunate warriors and convey them to the dry

land, where, dripping and dejected, they comforted themselves with the

hot ale and strong waters which were liberally allowed to them, without

showing any desire to re-enter so desperate a conflict.




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