River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-29
THE JUSTICE OF THE KING.

Some six hundred years ago, that
gallant gentleman and wise Prince,
Edward l.. set out for the conquest oil
the Holy Land, accompanied by mis-
Queen. Among the many knights who
followed the valiant King was one
named Sir Francis D'Essai, an admirer
of the beautiful Eva Clare, a young
lady attendant upon the Queen. The
fair maid did not reciprocate his atten-
tons, but bestowed her smiles upon
Sir Henry CourteDay, young knight
distinguished for his valor and judg-
ment. D'F.ssai, jealous and mad with
rage, determined to possess the young
lady at all hazards. As Queen Eleanor
and Eva, with an escort commanded
by D'Essai, we're proceeding on a pill
grimage to the Jordan, a band OF his
satellites, dressed as Arabs, suddenly
attacked them, and carried off the
maid TO the castle of the Old Man of
the Mountain, where D'Essai shortly
repaired Soon Sir Henry Courtenay
heard of the outrage, and comprehend
ed the plot He rescued his lady-love.
took the false knight prisoner, and
bad him conveyed to Area for the pun.
lshment he so richly deserved at the
hands of his brother knights. The
particulars of the awful ceremony of
degradation are thus recorded
The great Church of Area was thrown
open, and knights in brilliant armor,
and Templars and Hospitallers in the
habiliments of their orders, bishops
and priests in their sacred robes, and
vassals in their holiday array, crowd
ed up the long aisles and filed the
spacious church, as though eager to
wintess some splendid ceremonial. -
Bnt, instead of gorgeous decorations,
wainscot windows, draped with black,
difiused funeral gloom, and the sol
emn TeyerberatIon of the tolling bell
seemed to sound requiem over the
grave of Hope.
Sir Francis DEssai had been tried
in council of his peers and found
guilty of treason to religion and knight
ly devoir and this day, the anniver.
sary of his admission to the rank of
knighthood, his companions in arms,
the vassals whom he despised, and all
those actuated by curiosity or enmity,
were assembled to witness his degrad-
alton. Eva shuddered at the fate of
her former lover, and De Courtney,
with instructive delicacy, had obtained
permission to absent himself from the
scene on visit to the Holy Sepulchre.
AS king alarms and first in rank, it
was the duty of King Edward to preside
over this fearful ceremony, which by
the true and loyal, was regarded as
more terrible than death itself.
At the first stroke of the great bell,
the pursuiyants, having robed Sir
Francis D'Essai for the last time in
his knightly habillments, conducted
him from the Cursed Tower TO.
wards the church. As they entered
the door, the doleful peal sank in 81
lence, and, after one awful moment,
his fellow knights, with broken voices,
began TO chant the burial service.
An elevated stage, hung with black
had been erected in the centre of the
nave, and upon this the pursuivants,
whose business II was TO divest him of
every outward insignia of courage aud
truth, placed the culprit in full view
of all the vast concourse.
When the chanting ceased King Ed
ward spoke in voice that thrilled 10
every heart " Sir Francis D'Essai
thou who didst receive the sword of
knighthood from the hand Of the good
81 Louis. dost stand before us this
day attaint OF treason TO thy God, thy
truth, and the lady Of thy love. Where.
lore thy peers have willed that the
order OF kmghthood, by which thou
has received all the honor and worship
upon thy body, be brought TO naugbt.
and thy state be undone, and thou be
driven forth outeast and dishonored.
according TO thy base deserts" In.
slantly the brezen tongue from the bel.
Try ratified the fiat, and announced the
hour of doom.
I AZ the word, the squire with trem.
bling hand removed the helmet tho
defence Of disloyal eyes, revealing the
( pale aud haggard countenance Of the
recreant knight, and the choir resnm.
ed the mournful dirge. Then each
| PURSUANT advanced in his order 10
theperformanee Of his unwelcome duty.
0ne by one the knighty trappings of
~ Essm we're torn from his body, and
az cuirass. greaves, brassarts, and
gauntlets rang upon the payements, the
heralds exclaimed
Behold the harness uf mis-.
creant |"
Trembling and bent beneath the
weight ofshame the craven stood, while
they smote the golden spurs from his
heels, and broke his dishonored sword
above his head, and the terrible re
QUEEN walled over the persisted EN-.
. hloms OF his fornnar innoccncn