witness the approach of the two contending parties of English and
Danes； and after a signal had been given； the gate which opened
in the circuit of the Chase was thrown wide to admit them。 On
they came； foot and horse； for some of the more ambitious
burghers and yeomen had put themselves into fantastic dresses；
imitating knights； in order to resemble the chivalry of the two
different nations。 However； to prevent fatal accidents； they
were not permitted to appear on real horses； but had only license
to accoutre themselves with those hobby…horses； as they are
called； which anciently formed the chief delight of a morrice…
dance； and which still are exhibited on the stage； in the grand
battle fought at the conclusion of Mr。 Bayes's tragedy。 The
infantry followed in similar disguises。 The whole exhibition was
to be considered as a sort of anti…masque； or burlesque of the
more stately pageants in which the nobility and gentry bore part
in the show； and； to the best of their knowledge； imitated with
accuracy the personages whom they represented。 The Hocktide play
was of a different character； the actors being persons of
inferior degree； and their habits the better fitted for the
occasion； the more incongruous and ridiculous that they were in
themselves。 Accordingly their array； which the progress of our
tale allows us no time to describe； was ludicrous enough； and
their weapons； though sufficiently formidable to deal sound
blows； were long alder…poles instead of lances； and sound cudgels
for swords； and for fence； both cavalry and infantry were well
equipped with stout headpieces and targets； both made of thick
leather。
Captain Coxe； that celebrated humorist of Coventry； whose library
of ballads； almanacs； and penny histories； fairly wrapped up in
parchment； and tied round for security with a piece of whipcord；
remains still the envy of antiquaries； being himself the
ingenious person under whose direction the pageant had been set
forth； rode valiantly on his hobby…horse before the bands of
English； high…trussed； saith Laneham； and brandishing his long
sword； as became an experienced man of war； who had fought under
the Queen's father； bluff King Henry； at the siege of Boulogne。
This chieftain was； as right and reason craved； the first to
enter the lists； and passing the Gallery at the head of his
myrmidons； kissed the hilt of his sword to the Queen； and
executed at the same time a gambade； the like whereof had never
been practised by two…legged hobby…horse。 Then passing on with
all his followers of cavaliers and infantry； he drew them up with
martial skill at the opposite extremity of the bridge； or tilt…
yard； until his antagonist should be fairly prepared for the
onset。
This was no long interval； for the Danish cavalry and infantry；
no way inferior to the English in number； valour； and equipment；
instantly arrived； with the northern bagpipe blowing before them
in token of their country； and headed by a cunning master of
defence； only inferior to the renowned Captain Coxe； if to him；
in the discipline of war。 The Danes； as invaders； took their
station under the Gallery…tower； and opposite to that of
Mortimer； and when their arrangements were completely made； a
signal was given for the encounter。
Their first charge upon each other was rather moderate； for
either party had some dread of being forced into the lake。 But
as reinforcements came up on either side； the encounter grew from
a skirmish into a blazing battle。 They rushed upon one another；
as Master Laneham testifies； like rams inflamed by jealousy； with
such furious encounter that both parties were often overthrown；
and the clubs and targets made a most horrible clatter。 In many
instances that happened which had been dreaded by the more
experienced warriors who began the day of strife。 The rails
which defended the ledges of the bridge had been； perhaps on
purpose； left but slightly fastened； and gave way under the
pressure of those who thronged to the combat； so that the hot
courage of many of the combatants received a sufficient cooling。
These incidents might have occasioned more serious damage than
became such an affray； for many of the champions who met with
this mischance could not swim； and those who could were
encumbered with their suits of leathern and of paper armour； but
the case had been provided for； and there were several boats in
readiness to pick up the unfortunate warriors and convey them to
the dry land； where； dripping and dejected； they comforted
themselves with the hot ale and strong waters which were
liberally allowed to them； without showing any desire to re…enter
so desperate a conflict。
Captain Coxe alone； that paragon of Black…Letter antiquaries；
after twice experiencing； horse and man； the perilous leap from
the bridge into the lake； equal to any extremity to which the
favourite heroes of chivalry； whose exploits he studied in an
abridged form； whether Amadis； Belianis； Bevis； or his own Guy of
Warwick； had ever been subjected toCaptain Coxe； we repeat； did
alone； after two such mischances； rush again into the heat of
conflict； his bases and the footcloth of his hobby…horse dropping
water； and twice reanimated by voice and example the drooping
spirits of the English； so that at last their victory over the
Danish invaders became； as was just and reasonable； complete and
decisive。 Worthy he was to be rendered immortal by the pen of
Ben Jonson； who； fifty years afterwards； deemed that a masque；
exhibited at Kenilworth； could be ushered in by none with so much
propriety as by the ghost of Captain Coxe； mounted upon his
redoubted hobby…horse。
These rough； rural gambols may not altogether agree with the
reader's preconceived idea of an entertainment presented before
Elizabeth； in whose reign letters revived with such brilliancy；
and whose court； governed by a female whose sense of propriety
was equal to her strength of mind； was no less distinguished for
delicacy and refinement than her councils for wisdom and
fortitude。 But whether from the political wish to seem
interested in popular sports； or whether from a spark of old
Henry's rough； masculine spirit； which Elizabeth sometimes
displayed； it is certain the Queen laughed heartily at the
imitation； or rather burlesque； of chivalry which was presented
in the Coventry play。 She called near her person the Earl of
Sussex and Lord Hunsdon； partly perhaps to make amends to the
former for the long and private audiences with which she had
indulged the Earl of Leicester； by engaging him in conversation
upon a pastime which better suited his taste than those pageants
that were furnished forth from the stores of antiquity。 The
disposition which the Queen showed to laugh and jest with her
military leaders gave the Earl of Leicester the opportunity he
had been watching for withdrawing from the royal presence； which
to the court around； so well had he chosen his time； had the
graceful appearance of leaving his rival free access to the
Queen's person； instead of availing himself of his right as her
landlord to stand perpetually betwixt others and the light of her
countenance。
Leicester's thoughts； however； had a far different object from
mere courtesy； for no sooner did he see the Queen fairly engaged
in conversation with Sussex and Hunsdon； behind whose back stood
Sir Nicholas Blount； grinning from ear to ear at each word which
was spoken； than； making a sign to Tressilian； who； according to
appointment； watched his motions at a little distance； he
extricated himself from the press； and walking towards the Chase；
made his way through the crowds of ordinary spectators； who； with
open mouth； stood gazing on the battle of the English and the
Danes。 When he had accomplished this； which was a work of some
difficulty； he shot another glance behind him to see that
Tressilian had been equally successful； and as soon as he saw him
also free from the crowd； he led the way to a small thicket；
behind which stood a lackey； with two horses ready saddled。 He
flung himself on the one； and made signs to Tressilian to mount
the other； who obeyed without speaking a single word。
Leicester then spurred his horse； and galloped without stopping
until he reached a sequestered spot； environed by lofty oaks；
about a mile's distance from the Castle； and in an opposite
direction from the scene to which curiosity was drawing every
spectator。 He there dismounted； bound his horse to a tree； and
only pronouncing the words； 〃Here there is no risk of
interruption；〃 laid his cloak across his saddle； and drew his
sword。
Tressilian imitated his example punctually； yet could not forbear
saying； as he drew his weapon； 〃My lord； as I have been known to
many as one who does not fear death when placed in balance with
honour； methinks I may； without derogation； ask wherefore； in the
name of all that is honourable； your lordship has dared to offer
me such a mark of disgrace as places us on these terms with
respect to each other？〃
〃If you like not such marks of my scorn；〃 replied the Earl；
〃betake yourself instantly to your weapon； lest I repeat the
usage you complain of。〃
〃It shall not need； my lord；〃 said Tressilian。 〃God judge
betwixt us！ and your blood； if you fall； be on your own head。〃
He had scarce completed the sentence when they instantly closed
in combat。
But Leicester； who was a perfect master of defence among all
other exterior accomplishments of the time； had seen on the
preceding night enough of Tressilian's strength and skill to make
him fight with more caution than heretofore； and prefer a secure
revenge to a hasty one。 For some minutes they fought with equal
skill and fortune； till； in a desperate lunge which Leicester
successfully put aside； Tressilian exposed himself at
disadvantage； and in a subsequent attempt to close； the Earl
forced his sword from his hand； and stretched him on the ground。
With a grim smile he held the point of his rapier within two
inches of the throat of his fallen adversary； and placing his
foot at the same time upon his breast； bid him confess his
villainous wrongs towards him； and prepare for death。
〃I have no villainy nor