The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

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both mobiles and people king Of pa
geants, banquets and tournaments only,
with no thought but for his own pleasure
and glory. I should be glad to dismiss
him now. if it were not for tao strange
spectacles which, during his reign, took
place on London bridge One Of tFem
win prove Of especial interest to boys, the
other win be better liked by girls.
1t was Saint Georges day, 1890, that
King Richard appointed for the first Of
these speetacles. A Scottish knight, nain-
ed the Earl of Craufort, had quarrel, or
some dispute, with an English knight,
who had been ambassador 10 Scotland,
named Lord de Wells After the custom
OF those days a challenge passed between
them, and they were to settle their diff
ference by a passage at arms
Such things were of considerable mo-
ment to the parties concerned. ever if no
more than friendly struggle to see
which was the better man. tournaments
were the great amusement % the day,
and they were often held at Westmin-
ster. Whether it WIS because one of the
present eombatants was from another
country and the nearest TO neutral ground
was required or whether it WAS whim
of the king to give the greatest possible
number Of people chance OF witnessing
the fray. no less dangerous a place was
chosen for the combat than London
bridge Here, accordingly. the lists we're
prepared Tournaments on the water
with boats were frequent, as well as
tournaments on land with horses, bat
this was to be on neither on land nor
water
OF course they had no doubt that the
English knight would knock over the
scotchman, fer the knights OF that coun-
try We're not believed to be very forrnid-
able.
There was great array on the bridge,
the king and most of his mobiles being
present there and the populaee covered
the shores. Lord Craufort rode into the
lists with twelve knights, who had been
given a safe-conduct to attend upon him
When everything WAS ready the signal
was given, they pat spurs to their horses
and, with their Ianees in rest. met in a
fearful collision midway upon the bridge.
The lances were splintered, neither man
disaounted, but the scotchman sat as i'm
movable a. 4 pillar Of iron. The Eng
lishman, though he stood it well, looked
lor 4 moment little awry, like tall
stove that had host one of its feet
After they had recovered their breath.
and the Engiishman had been set up
right again, the two withdrew for ansth-
ct charge. Again came the dash, and the
clash, and thespIiniers and the dust. and
the horses On their haunehes,-but there
sat the two knights. the Scotchman as
firm as the parapet. but the Engiishman
somewhat arched over the bow of his
saddle.
Then they drew off again It was sure
ly the best joust of the year. For the
third time, they met But shis tis1fe Ford
de West was hoissed out of his saddle,
and landed on the hard pavement, ike
mass Of old iron He could not even
hear the cruel clang he made. His
breath and his senses had been knocked
out Of him. He did not move a limb.
Neither for i time did the scotchnian,
who, having refined in his horse, looked
grimly down upon the ruin he had
made.
Such defeat would never do. The en-
ragei and ungeaeroGs spectators raised
the shout, He's tied tohis horser He's
tied to his horse y Whereupon the
knight lightly vaulted from his steed. and
his aecusers at once,-and
what did he theu7 Vault back again,
amid the loud pIaudits they could not
forbear to give2 On the contrary. he
turned his back upon his horse, and go
ing quickly to the fallen knight, lifted
him tenderiy, and took OF his helmet to
give him air, while the king and all the
rest thought he was going to ply the
digger, az was now his privilege. The
in his brave heart proved to be
as true as was the stroke Of his iron arm.
His heart had warmed to his gallant ad-
and to the amazement of every
one, he watched by the sick-bed Of his
foe for three months thereafter, until
Lord de Wells was mended of ali his ills.
& N,eb1L1s far Eshrll.rrt