It was now night, and the square in an instant shone with an infinite number of flambeaux, which created a very fine illumination. The diversion of the _sporting spears_ was soon to begin. Twelve squadrons were seen advancing with their trumpets, fifes and kettle-drums, followed by their livery servants, and twelve valets laden with bundles of reeds made into sporting spears. The led horses of the knights had velvet caparisons, of the colour of the squadron to which they belonged, embroidered with gold and silver, and the arms of each chief; not only gold and silver glistened in their equipages, but even jewels were not spared. They entered the square in the following order:-- The equerries of every chief of a squadron marched first, conducting the equipages; twelve horses, carrying at their foremost saddle-bows the arms of each knight, and at their hinder their devices, came next, followed by others, whose caparisons were hung with silver bells, which made a loud jingling. The footmen in livery followed the horses: they marched completely round the square, and went out by a different gate from that at which they entered, to avoid confusion. The quadrillos, each conducted by their chief, then entered in two files, with so much grace and skill that they charmed all the spectators; which is not surprising, since the most accomplished cavaliers for these sports are undoubtedly those of Seville, Cordara, and Xeres de la Frontera, where even children of eight or ten years of age are seen to manage horses, and manœuvre them in most excellent style. When the quadrillos had exhibited themselves four times round the square, they retreated by the same gate as their equipages, but soon returned again with their shields on their arms and their sporting spears in their hands. They began their combats twelve against twelve, that is to say, one quadrillo against another. Having thus fought for about a quarter of an hour, two other squadrons came upon different sides, who under pretence of parting them, began a new combat.