The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-04
A Joust on London Bridge.

! OF paSeanlS, DdnQuetS, ana IOurIla-
ments only with no thought but for
his own pleasure and glory. /
should be glad to dismiss him now,
if it were not for two strange spec
tacles which, during his reign, took
place on London Bridge; one of
them will prove Of especial interest
to boys, the other will be better
liked by girls.
Il was Saint Georges Day, 1890,
that King Richard appointed for the
first Of these spectacles. A Scottish
knight, named the Earl Of Craufort,
had n quarrel or some dispute, with
an English knight, who had been
ambassador to Scotland, named
Lord de Wells After the custom of
those days challenge passed be-
tween them, and they were to settle
their difference by a passage alarms.
Such things were of considerable
moment to the parties concerned,
even if no more than a friendly
struggle to see which was the better
man. Tournaments were the great
amusement Of the day, and they
were often held at Westminster.
Whether it was because one of the
present combatants was from another
country, and the nearest to neutral
ground was required; or whether it
was Il whim of the king to give the
greatest possible number of people a
chance Of witnessing the fray, no
less dangerous place was chosen
for the combat than London Bridge.
Here, accordingly, the lists were
prepared. Tournaments on the
water with boats were frequent, as
well as tournaments on land with
horses. but this was to be on neither
land nor water
OF course they had no doubt that
the English knight would knock
over the Scotchman, for the knights
Of that country were not belived to
be formidable.
There was a great array on the
bridge, the king and most of his
mobiles being present there; and the
populace 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 put spurs to
their horses and, with their lances
in rest, met in fearful collision mid
way upon the bridge. The lances
We're splintered, neither man dis
mounted, but the Scotchman sat as
immovable as Il pillar of iron. The
Englishman, though he stood it well,
looked for moment little awry.
like a tall stove that had lost one of
its feet
After they had recovered their
breath, and the Englishman had
been set upright again, the two
withdrew for another charge. Again
came the dash, and the clash and
the dust, and the horses on their
haunches,-but there sat the two
knights, the Scotchman as firm as
the parapet, but the Englishman
somewhat arched over his saddle
bow
Thea they drew off again. twas
surely the best joust of the year For
the third time, they met. But this
time Lord de Wells was hoisted out
Of his saddle, aud landed on the
hard pavement, like mass of old
iron. He could not even hear the
cruel clang he made. His breath
and his senses had been Knocked
ont ofbin Uo ala NOT n,oua
~, - Nv -,
ll'i'o. Nei'iler 'or ah instant dld
the Scotchman, who, having reined
in his horse. looked grimlv down
unon tbo ruin he had made
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