Page:Tournament at Eglinton Castle.pdf/18

18 3d, It was expressly enjoined by the Earl of Eglinton, and to be distinctly undcrstoodunderstood [sic] by each knight, that upon cngagingengaging [sic] to run a course, he was to strike his opponent on no other part than the shield, and that an atteint made elsewhere, (or the lance broken across) would be adjudged foul, and advantages in former courses would be forfeited. 4th, Lances of equal lcngthlength [sic], substanccsubstance [sic], and quality, as far as could be seen., [sic] were to be delivered to cacheach [sic] knight, and none others were to be allowed. For the credit of the Tournament, particular attention was requested to be paid to this injunction. It was farther stipulated that in default of the lances being splintered in a course, the judge was to decide for the atteint made nearest to the centre of the shield. With reference to actions worthy of honour, the first was to break the most lances, the second to break the lance in more places than oncone [sic], the third not to put the lance in rest until near the opponent, the fourth to meet point to point of the lances, the fifth to strike on the emblazonment of the shield, and the sixth to perform all the determined courses. Again, with reference to actions of dishonour there were seven rules; the first was to break the lance across the opponent; the second to strike or hurt the horse, the third to strike the saddle, the fourth to drop the lance or sword, the fifth to lose the management of the horschorse [sic] at the encounter, the sixth to be unhorsed—this was considered to be the greatest dishonour of all—and lastly, all lances broken by striking below the girdle were to be disallowed. One of the actions most worthy was to break the lance in many pieces, and another at the tourney or barrier to give two blows in passing, and ten at the cncounterencounter [sic].

The first knight who appcaredappeared [sic] to tilt was the Hon. Mr Jerningham, "The Knight of the Swan." "The Knight of the Red Rose," R. J. Lechmere, Esq., appcarcdappeared [sic] as his opponent. They passed each other twice, and missed; and in the third course the Knight of the Swan lost his lance.

The Earl of Eglinton, Lord of the Tournament, appeared as challenger in the next tilt. The Marquis of Waterford, Knight of the Dragon, came forward as his opponent. He was "the observed of all observers." The splendour of his brazen armour, the beauty of his charger, and his superior skill in the management of the animal, as well as in the bearing of his lance, attracted general observation, and elicited the reiterated cheers of the multitude. In the first tilt the Earl of Eglinton shivered his lance on the shield of his opponent Here he was saluted by the grcetingsgreetings [sic] of his squires, and the checrscheers [sic] of the spectators. In the second tilt both knights missed; but in the third course the noble Earl again broke his lance on the armour of his opponent. Here there was another burst of applause from the multitude; and amidst the checringcheering [sic] and music, the Noble Earl rode up to the Grand Stand, and bowed to the Queen of Beauty.