306 TOURNAMENT. 



were called up to the castle to feast on beef and beer 

 in commemoration of a happy anniversary or a Chris- 

 tian feast. Sometimes their lord brought home a 

 caravan of merchants whom he had captured on the 

 road ; and while the strange guests were quaking for 

 the safety of their bales, the people were being 

 amused with the songs of the minstrels, and the 

 tricks of the jugglers, and the antics of the dancing- 

 bear. And sometimes a tournament was held : the 

 lords and ladies of the neighbourhood rode over to 

 the castle ; turf banks were set for the serfs and a 

 gallery was erected for the ladies, above whom sat en- 

 throned the one who was chosen as the Queen of 

 Beauty and of Love. Then the heralds shouted, 

 " Love of ladies, splintering of lances ! stand forth 

 gallant knights ; fair eyes look upon your deeds !" 

 And the knights took up their position in two 

 lines fronting one another, and sat motionless upon 

 their horses like pillars of iron, with nothing to be 

 seen but their naming eyes. The trumpets flourished : 

 " laissez aller," cried a voice; and the knights, with 

 their long spears in rest, dashed furiously against 

 each other, and then plied battle-axe and sword, 

 to the great delight and contentment of the popu- 

 lace. 



In times of war the castle was also the refuge of 

 the poor, and the villagers fled behind its walls when 

 the enemy drew near. They did not then reflect that 

 it was the castle which had provoked the war ; they 

 viewed it only as a hospitable fortress which had 

 saved their lives. It was therefore, in many cases, 

 regarded by the people not only with awe and vene- 

 ration, but also with a sentiment of filial love. It 

 was associated with their pleasures and their security. 



