of &ogamontiV (rab*. 95 



youth, who had no other patrimony than his sword. 

 Ela was born among the beautiful shades of Amesbury, 

 whither her mother had retired before her birth. It was 

 called the ladies' bower, and was appended to the castle 

 of Salisbury, as that of Woodstock to Oxford castle, 

 and there her young days passed among trees and 

 flowers, till, as years passed on, she became the delight 

 and ornament of her father's court. Earl William stood 

 high in favour with King Richard. He carried the 

 dove-surmounted verge, or rod, before that monarch at 

 his coronation ; and to him was confided the responsible 

 office of keeping the king's charter, for licensing 

 tournaments throughout the country.* His titular 

 castle frowned over the stern ramparts of Sarisbyrig, 

 where no stream was heard to murmur, nor the 

 song of birds came remotely on the ear, except the 

 joyous warble of the soaring lark, or the simple un- 

 varied note of the whinchat, seeking its insect food 

 among the thyme hills. But instead of woods and 

 streams, the castle was surrounded with extensive downs, 

 covered with short herbage, and in the space where 

 two valleys obliquely intersected each other, was one 

 of the five fields, or steads, for the holding of feats of 

 arms. The field was full in view of the majestic fortress 

 of old Sarum, and although it seemed as a dip, or rather 

 hollow in the elevated downs, it afforded ample space 

 for the combatants and spectators, and those who stood 

 * Roger de Hoveden. 



