Page:Tournament at Eglinton Castle.pdf/21

21 and all was placed in readiness for another bout. In this room we had an opportunity of inspeetinginspecting [sic] the gear in which the various knights had appeared on the preeedingpreeeding [sic] day. From the weight of the detached pieeespieces [sic], the entire suit must have been so heavy that our wonder grows how the knights were able not only to support them, but to preserve their agility, and that cool, though aetiveactive [sic] exertion which the praeticepractice [sic] of the lists requires.

The Great Pavilion having been damaged by the rain on Wednesday, on the after part of Thursday it was dried a little with numerous stoves, and many of the ladies and gentlemen perambulated up and down in it. There were various tilting matches on foot, the combatants being dressed in mail. There was also some exceedingly fine fencing with the stick and broadsword. A regular set-to with the the sticks, betwixt Prince Bonaparte and a very young gentleman, Mr Charteris, afforded muehmuch [sic] amusement; but the Prince only eamecame [sic] off seeondsecond [sic] best, as he afterwards did with thothe [sic] broadsword, in four or five splendid slapping bouts with Mr Charles Lamb. Here the eombatantscombatants [sic] were completely encased in mail, with vizors down. Had it not been so, and had the match been one of life and death, the poor Prince would have had no chance with his opponent at this weapon, which seems to be indigenous in the hands of a Briton. The combatants were, of course, rewarded with the hearty applause of all present.

It may be interesting to state that the armour used at the Tournament on Wednesday was collected from all parts of Europe, some of it belonging to tbethe [sic] period of Richard II., downward to that of Queen Elizabeth Many of the helmets and breastplates were no joke to earrycarry [sic]. The armour worn by the Earl of Eglinton was of the most beautiful description, and was laid out in the vestibule on thothe [sic] evening of the ball for the inspection of thothe [sic] company.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30.

As had been previously announced by his Lordship, the tilting was again resumed. The weather being fine, the assemblage of company was very great, notwithstanding the numerous departures, and the proeessionprocession [sic], as it afterwards came to the ground, was most splendid. Former disappointments were forgotten, and every heart was light and joyful. Lady Seymour, the Queen of Love and Beauty, took her place in the proeessionprocession [sic] and was most enthusiastically cheered along the entire route. Her Ladyship was brilliantly dressed, and the trappings of her palfrey ereatedcreated [sic] scareelyscarcely [sic] less interest. Among the lady visitors were recognised Lady Montgomerie, Lady JanoJane [sic] Montgomerie, Lady Charleville, Miss MaedonaldMacdonald [sic], and other ladies, to the number of nine, who were on