Page:Tournament at Eglinton Castle.pdf/20

20 of dress that had been worn the preceding day completely soaked through. Understanding that many of the people from the surrounding villages were assembling, the Earl himself rodcrode [sic] out to the spot, and afterwards to Kilwinning and other places, to inform the people how matters stood. His Lordship statcdstated [sic] that it was impossible to go on that day. At every place which he visited, the Earl was received with thcthe [sic] loudest cheers for his attentive condescension, and every one was more loud in his praise than another. The splendid ceremonial was spoiled by the weather, but his Lordship's desire to amuse the public, was a subject of unqualified eulogium.

If the strangers could not see the tilting, they resolved to see the tilting ground, and during the forenoon, the ground and lists were covered by some thousands who feasted their eyes, and expressed the hope that a change of wceatherweather [sic] might yctyet [sic] allow the tourney to be enacted in proper style. Though all regrettcdregretted [sic] the event as we have said, no one could affix blame: and the result slowed that causes, to which all intentions and actions sink into abject insignificance, had alone, for a time, clouded the expectations of the mass; for the wish to gratify was prominent in every action of the Lord of the Tournament. About mid-day the clouds dispersed, and the Sun showed his welcome countenance; thousands who had till then kept their chambers, were invited out, and, at 2 o'еlockclock [sic], the grounds of Eglinton were as much crowded as before. All this was cheering, and, no doubt, his Lordship felt that a certain degree of responsibility attached to him in bringing from their homes, near at hand and far away, legions of merchants, tradesmen, shopkeepers, and indeed class of thcthe [sic] community, and that it was his duty to gratify them by hook or crook. The willing mind can compass much, and at once his lordship resolved that two day's tourney should take place, come what may, and Friday, at one o'clock, was fixed for the completion of the tournament. Active and energetic measures were immediately taken to counteract and nullify the effort of the previous announcement, and the news that Friday would give a tournament flew with the rapidity of the "Fiery Cross of other days." The announcement was everywhere received with gladness; and it is our impression, that within half an hour after the resolution was formed, the news was in the possession of twenty thousand peoplcpeople [sic], and numberless persons who had placed themselves under sailing orders, countermanded their intentions, and resolved to be there to seosee [sic]. The band of the 78th was brought to the lawn before the castle, and played many spirit-stirring airs, while all assumed the appearance of gladness.

Within the castle, the excitement was not less. The armour had been early removed to the banquet-hall, where the rust which the previous day had attachodattached [sic] to it, was removed