France, and Scotland, with many other nobles, and great estates of divers lands.  In the yeere 1362, the 36th of Edward III., on the first five daies of May, in Smithfield, were justs holden, the king and queene being present, with the most part of the chivalry of England and of France and of other nations; to which came Spaniards, Cyprians, and Armenians, knightly requesting ayde of the king of England against the Pagans, that invaded their confines.  The 48th of Edward III., Dame Alice Perrers, or Pierce, (the king’s concubine,) as lady of the Sunne, rode from the Tower of London through Cheape, accompanied of many lords and ladies, every lady leading a lord by his horse bridle, till they came into West Smithfield, and then began a great just, which endured seven daies after.—­In the 14th of Richard II., royal justs and turnements were proclaimed to be done in Smithfield, to begin on Sunday next, after the feast of Saint Michael; many strangers came forth of other countries, namely, Valarian, Earle of St. Paul, that had married King Richard’s sister, the Lady Maud Courtney; and William, the young Earle of Ostervant, son to Albert of Baviere, Earle of Holland and Henault.  At the day appointed, there issued forth at the Tower, about the third houre of the day, 60 coursers, apparelled for the justs, upon every one an esquire of honour riding a soft pace; then came forth 60 ladies of honour, mounted upon palfraies, riding on the one side, richly apparelled, and every lady led a knight with a chain of gold; those knights, being on the king’s party, had their armour and apparell garnished with white harts, and crownes of gold about the harts’ neckes; and so they came riding through the streets of London to Smithfield, with a great number of trumpets, &c.  The kinge and the queene, who were lodged in the bishop’s palace of London, were come from thence, with many great estates, and placed in chambers, to see the justs.  The ladies that led the knights were taken down from their palfraies, and went up to chambers prepared for them.  Then alighted the esquires of honour from their coursers, and the knights in good order mounted upon them; and after their helmets were set on their heads, and being ready in all points, proclamation made by the heralds, the justs began, and many commendable courses were runne, to the great pleasure of the beholders.  The justs continued many days with great feastings, as ye may reade in Froisard,” &c. &c.

Smithfield, says Pennant, “was also the spot on which accusations were decided by duel, derived from the Kamp-fight ordeal of the Saxons.  I will only (says Mr. P.) mention an instance.  It was when the unfortunate armourer entered into the lists, on account of a false accusation of treason, brought against him by his apprentice, in the reign of Henry VI.  The friends of the defendant had so plied him with liquor, that he fell an easy conquest to his accuser.  Shakspeare has worked this piece of history into a scene, in the second part of Henry