greatest admiration and wonder were expressed at the castle, which had
risen, as if by magic, in the night. It was built at one end of the lists,
which had been purposely placed in a hollow, so that a great number of
people besides those in the pavilions could obtain a view from the
surrounding slopes. The castle was substantially built of heavy timber
painted gray, and looked at a little distance as if constructed of stone. A
flag floated from the central tower, and the building looked so formidable
that the general opinion was freely expressed that the task of the
assailants, whoever they might be - for at present this was unknown - was
quite impossible. At ten o'clock the king and his court arrived. After
they had taken their places the two bands, headed by their leaders,
advanced from the lower end of the lists, and drew up in front of the royal
pavilion. The leaders took their places in front. Behind them stood ten
chosen followers, all of whom, as well as their chiefs, were encased in
full armour. Behind, on one side, were 100 apprentices, on the other 100
esquires, all attired as men-at-arms. The court party were led by Clarence
Aylmer, son of the Earl of Pembroke. His companions were all young men of
noble family, aspirants for the order of knighthood. They were, for the
most part, somewhat older than the apprentices, but as the latter consisted
chiefly of young men nearly out of their term the difference was not great.
Walter's armour was a suit which the armourer had constructed a year
previously for a young knight who had died before the armour could be
delivered. Walter had wondered more than once why Geoffrey did not
endeavour to sell it elsewhere, for, although not so decorated and inlaid
as many of the suits of Milan armour, it was constructed of the finest
steel, and the armourer had bestowed special care upon its manufacture, as
the young knight's father had long been one of his best customers. Early
that morning Geoffrey had brought it to his room and had told him to wear
it instead of that lent by the city.