Their master's coat-of-arms, and knightly charge. Broad were the banners, and of snowy hue, A purer web the silk-worm never drew. The chief about their necks the scutcheons wore, With orient pearls and jewels powdered o'er: Broad were their collars too, and every one Was set about with many a costly stone.[196] Next these, of kings-at-arms a goodly train In proud array came prancing o'er the plain: Their cloaks were cloth of silver mixed with gold, And garlands green around their temples rolled: Rich crowns were on their royal scutcheons placed, With sapphires, diamonds, and with rubies graced: And as the trumpets their appearance made, So these in habits were alike arrayed; But with a pace more sober, and more slow, And twenty, rank in rank, they rode a-row. The pursuivants came next, in number more; And like the heralds each his scutcheon bore: Clad in white velvet all their troop they led, With each an oaken chaplet on his head. Nine royal knights in equal rank succeed, Each warrior mounted on a fiery steed, In golden armour glorious to behold; The rivets[197] of their arms were nailed with gold. Their surcoats of white ermine-fur were made; With cloth of gold between, that cast a glittering shade. The trappings of their steeds were of the same; The golden fringe even set the ground on flame, And drew a precious trail: a crown divine Of laurel did about their temples twine. Three henchmen[198] were for every knight assigned, All in rich livery clad, and of a kind; White velvet, but unshorn, for cloaks they wore, And each within his hand a truncheon bore: The foremost held a helm of rare device; A prince's ransom would not pay the price. The second bore the buckler of his knight, } The third of cornel-wood a spear upright, } Headed with piercing steel, and polished bright. } Like to their lords their equipage was seen, And all their foreheads crowned with garlands green. And after these came armed with spear and shield An host so great, as covered all the field: And all their foreheads, like the knights' before, With laurels ever-green were shaded o'er, Or oak, or other leaves of lasting kind, Tenacious of the stem, and firm against the wind. Some in their hands, beside the lance and shield, The boughs of woodbine or of hawthorn held, Or branches for their mystic emblems took, Of palm, of laurel, or of cerrial oak. Thus marching to the trumpet's lofty sound, } Drawn in two lines adverse they wheeled around, } And in the middle meadow took their ground. } Among themselves the tourney they divide, In equal squadrons ranged on either side; Then turned their horses' heads, and man to man, And steed to steed opposed, the justs began. They lightly set their lances in the rest, And, at the sign, against each other pressed; They met. I sitting at my ease beheld