XI. Two pursuivants, whom tabarts deck, With silver scutcheon round their neck, Stood on the steps of stone, By which you reach the donjon gate, And there, with herald pomp and state, They hailed Lord Marmion: They hailed him Lord of Fontenaye, Of Lutterward, and Scrivelbaye, Of Tamworth tower and town; And he, their courtesy to requite, Gave them a chain of twelve marks’ weight, All as he lighted down. “Now, largesse, largesse, Lord Marmion, Knight of the crest of gold! A blazoned shield, in battle won, Ne’er guarded heart so bold.” XII. They marshalled him to the castle-hall, Where the guests stood all aside, And loudly flourished the trumpet-call, And the heralds loudly cried— “Room, lordlings, room for Lord Marmion, With the crest and helm of gold! Full well we know the trophies won In the lists at Cottiswold: There, vainly Ralph de Wilton strove ’Gainst Marmion’s force to stand; To him he lost his lady-love, And to the king his land. Ourselves beheld the listed field, A sight both sad and fair; We saw Lord Marmion pierce his shield, And saw his saddle bare; We saw the victor win the crest He wears with worthy pride; And on the gibbet-tree, reversed, His foeman’s scutcheon tied. Place, nobles, for the Falcon-Knight! Room, room, ye gentles gay, For him who conquered in the right, Marmion of Fontenaye!” XIII. Then stepped, to meet that noble lord, Sir Hugh the Heron bold, Baron of Twisell and of Ford, And captain of the hold. He led Lord Marmion to the dais, Raised o’er the pavement high, And placed him in the upper place— They feasted full and high: The whiles a Northern harper rude Chanted a rhyme of deadly feud, “_How the fierce Thirwalls_, _and Ridleys all_, _Stout Willimondswick_, _And Hardriding Dick_, _And Hughie of Hawdon_, _and Will o’ the Wall_, _Have set on Sir Albany Featherstonhaugh_, _And taken his life at the Deadman’s-shaw_.” Scantly Lord Marmion’s ear could brook The harper’s barbarous lay; Yet much he praised the pains he took, And well those pains did pay: For lady’s suit and minstrel’s strain, By knight should ne’er be heard in vain. XIV.