1 The surly knight remained in attendance.
2 Win it fairly," said the Prior, "and wear it as ye will; I will trust your giving true response, on your word as a knight and as a churchman.
3 I say that, on that day, each knight ran three courses, and cast to the ground three antagonists.
4 Ralph de Vipont, a knight of St John of Jerusalem, who had some ancient possessions at a place called Heather, near Ashby-de-la-Zouche, occupied the fifth pavilion.
5 Secondly, any knight proposing to combat, might, if he pleased, select a special antagonist from among the challengers, by touching his shield.
6 The fifth knight alone maintained the honour of his party, and parted fairly with the Knight of St John, both splintering their lances without advantage on either side.
7 I know no right of chivalry," he said, "more precious or inalienable than that of each free knight to choose his lady-love by his own judgment.
8 First let us speak of thy master; the knight's matters must go before the squire's, according to the due order of chivalry.
9 The errant knight, his master, must needs pass us toll-free.
10 A knight, it was announced, might use a mace or battle-axe at pleasure, but the dagger was a prohibited weapon.
11 A knight unhorsed might renew the fight on foot with any other on the opposite side in the same predicament; but mounted horsemen were in that case forbidden to assail him.
12 A knight thus overcome was not permitted to take farther share in the combat.
13 Having announced these precautions, the heralds concluded with an exhortation to each good knight to do his duty, and to merit favour from the Queen of Beauty and of Love.
14 To the surprise of all present, however, the knight thus preferred was nowhere to be found.
15 The knight muttered faintly a few words, which were lost in the hollow of his helmet, but their purport seemed to be a desire that his casque might not be removed.