meet in arms any and every champion who might wish to dispute this lady's pre-eminence on behalf of any other lady, on Thursday, the 29th of July. Four prizes were offered: one to him who should best break a lance; one to the best swordsman; a third to the best knight in the general combat; another to him who should be most bravely equipped. A notification was given of the strokes that would be considered foul. A master of the tournament was appointed. Judges were nominated. And it was made known to what distinguished men and their retainers would be confided the keeping of the lists.
Don John was received at Piacenza by his entertainers with much splendour and ceremony. There was a perpetual fête during his stay; and on the 29th July, according to appointment, the tournament took place. It were too long to tell here of all the allegorical and martial figures which graced the meeting; but we may assist our readers to form an idea of the whole sight if we cite the appearance of the challenger, who, by the way, chose to call himself "the Destined Knight." He was
" preceded by four drummers and four trumpeters in red and white liveries, sounding their warlike notes before a car or an architecturally decorated platform, on which stood three figures representing the three Fates, attired in various symbolical colours. In addition to the seven planets which formed the diadem of the Fate Clotho, seven beautiful boys were arranged round the car as the representatives of Saturn and his companion stars. The black and white horses which drew the car were driven by a man dressed as Time. The machine was followed by a couple of pages in red and white, carrying the lance and the gauntlets of their master. Then came two gentlemen, his seconds, or godfathers as they were called, in crimson and cloth-of-gold. Last of all came the Knight of Destiny himself, resplendent in crimson and gold, with a mighty plume of white and crimson, and bearing on his arm a shield, on which were depicted the seven stars forming Charles's Wain, with the motto Ipso ducente. Reining in his steeds before the royal box, Time recited some verses, in which he informed the public that, by the command of Destiny, he had brought thither a knight who, for the sake of his lady, was about to display prowess such as the world had never yet beheld. The cavalcade then passed round the lists, and the defender placed himself in his appointed station."
His pageant was followed by many more such, whereof one group was expressly intended to symbolise the victory of Lepanto. "The Judicious Knight made his entry in the bowels of a moving mountain, up which Sisyphus was seen rolling his intractable stone." An enchanted tower, which burst asunder and vanished in a blaze of fireworks, came to delight the spectators; and the car of Jove himself was there, with a hundred other triumphs of art.
Don John sate beside the Portuguese Infanta while the pageant was unfolding; but, on the entrance of three dashing knights who were going to contend, his Highness was seized with an overpowering desire to enter the lists with them, which he presently did. "All came in black armour inlaid with gold. The crest of, the most serene Don John was of black plumes garnished with gold, with certain yellow and white banderoles, and a single long drooping white feather. ... His Highness wore breeches, cut in sailor's fashion, of black velvet richly worked in gold and silver." It seems to have been a very harmless jousting. Don John got the prize for the lance. There was a
