“It must be so, of right, your Majesty,” replied the foremost of them.  “A better course at the ring could not be run than Sir Jocelyn hath performed, nor could greater ’vantage be gained in the jousts than he hath obtained over the Marquis of Buckingham.  All has been done by him in accordance with the rules of honour, and without fraud or supercherie.

“Enough, gentlemen,” said James.  “Count, ye hae won your wager; and as to you, Sir Jocelyn, ye hae proved yourself a very mirror of chivalry—­exemplar antiquoe fortitudinis et magnanimitatis—­on the pattern of Bayard, the knight without fear and without reproach, and the like of whom we scarce expected to see in these latter days.  You are right weel entitled to the prize ye hae gained, and which his Excellency so honourably assigns to you.”

“With your Majesty’s permission, I will add the diamond clasp which I staked against the Marquess’s casket of gems,” said De Gondomar, “and will beseech Sir Jocelyn to wear it as a testimony on my part of his merit as a cavalier.  It is scarcely too much to say for him, after his recent brilliant achievements, that he takes rank amongst the foremost of the distinguished knights encircling your Majesty’s throne.”

“He takes rank as the first and best,” cried James, emphatically; “since he hath overcome Buckingham, who till this day hath held the chief place among our chivalry.”

“Your Majesty overwhelms me by your commendations,” replied Sir Jocelyn; “and I can only say, in reply, that my best energies shall be devoted to your service, whenever and howsoever called upon.  As to your Excellency’s gift,” he added to De Gondomar, who had unfastened the glittering clasp and presented it to him, “I shall ever guard it, as a devotee in your own sunny land of Spain would the most precious relic.”

The coffer containing the gems was then, upon a sign from the King, delivered to Sir Jocelyn, who, as he received it from the attendant, took a string of pearls from it and gave them to the marshal, requesting they might be offered as largesse to the heralds; and the officer promised that the request should be complied with.  Having bestowed a similar boon upon each of the marshals, Mounchensey requested that the coffer might be placed in charge of his esquire—­and his directions were complied with.

“Is all concluded?” demanded the King.

“The contest for the prize is necessarily decided,” replied the marshal; “but there yet remains the combat with the sword on horseback, if it pleases Sir Jocelyn to engage in it.”

“What saith our young knight?” demanded the King.  “Is he willing to risk the laurels he hath so fairly won on another, and it may be more dangerous encounter?  What he hath already done may fairly entitle him to decline further hazard, if he be so minded.”

“I should ill deserve your Majesty’s high commendations if I hesitated for a moment,” replied Mounchensey; “but so far from feeling disinclination to the combat, I should regret if this opportunity for further distinction were denied me.  With your Majesty’s gracious permission, I will pray the marshals of the field to let it be proclaimed by the heralds and pursuivants-at-arms that I challenge any true knight to do battle with me with the sword, and on horseback.”