Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/72

46 46 ITALIAN WARS. II. 1502. Sept. 20. PART pointed day, the champions appeared in the field, armed at all points, with horses richly caparisoned, and barbed or covered with steel panoply like their masters. The roofs and battlements of Trani were covered with spectators, while the lists were throng- ed with the French and Spanish chivalry, each staking in some degree the national honor on the issue of the contest. Among the Castilians were Diego de Paredes and Diego de Vera, while the good knight Bayard was most conspicuous on the other side. TourTiament ^g thc trumDcts souudcd the appointed signal, near Tram. I i i o ' the hostile parties rushed to the encounter. Three Spaniards were borne from their saddles by the rudeness of the shock, and four of their antagonists' horses slain. The fight, which began at ten in the morning was not to be protracted beyond sunset. Long before that hour, all the French save two, one of them the chevalier Bayard, had been dis- mounted, and their horses, at which the Spaniards had aimed more than at the riders, disabled or slain. The Spaniards, seven of whom were still on horse- back, pressed hard on their adversaries, leaving lit- tle doubt of the fortune of the day. The latter, however, intrenching themselves behind the car- cases of their dead horses, made good their defence against the Spaniards, who in vain tried to spur their terrified steeds over the barrier. In this way the fight was protracted till sunset ; and, as both parties continued to keep possession of the field, the palm of victory was adjudged to neither, while