The royal standard of England, thus described, was borne before him:—­It was from eight to nine yards in length, the ground blue and red, containing, in the first division, the lion of England imperially crowned.  In chief, a coronet of crosses pater and fleurs-de-lis, between two clouds irradiated.  In base, a cloud between two coronets.  In the next division the charges were, in chief a coronet, in base an irradiated cloud.  In the third, the dexter chief and sinister base was likewise an irradiated cloud; the sinister and dexter chief a coronet, as before.  Motto, “Dieu et mon droyt.”  The whole of this procession was one vast masquerade of pomp, little betokening the frailty and folly which it enveloped.  Though to all outward show fair and glistening, yet was there a heavy gloom brooding over the nation.  Prince Edward, the flower of chivalry, usually called the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour, lay then grievously sick, and the whole hope and welfare of the land seemed to hang on his recovery.  The known ambition of John of Gaunt was a main source of alarm and anxiety.  “Edward had, however,” says the historian, “declared his grandson heir and successor to the crown, and thereby cut off all the hopes of the Duke of Lancaster, if he ever had the temerity to entertain any.”

Not forgetting his former homage to the sex, the king’s eye lingered on the form of Isabella, but she drew back, daunted by the ardour of his gaze.  Oskatell saw the impression she had made, in nowise displeased, hoping some ray of royal favour would be reflected to him from the beam that already dawned on his companion.

We now pass on to the field, where everything was in readiness for the combat.  The knights had heard mass and made confession, these being the requisite preparatives to the noble deeds they had that day vowed to perform.  The heralds had made the usual proclamation against the use of magic, unlawful charms, and other like devices of the devil, when a loud flourish of trumpets announced the approach of Stanley, who first entered the lists mounted on a grey charger furnished with the chevron, or war-saddle, then of great use in withstanding the terrific shock of the assailant, being high up in front, and furnished at the back like an arm-chair.  He was equipped in a full suit of Italian armour, displaying a steel cuirass of exquisite workmanship, deemed at that time a novel but elegant style of defence, and destined soon to supersede the purpoint or gamboised work called mail.  If well tempered, it was found to resist the stroke of the lance without being either pierced or bent, nor was it liable to be pushed through into the body, as was sometimes the case with the “mailles” when the wambas or hoketon was wanting underneath.  His shield was thus marshalled:  argent; on a bend azure, three stags’ heads cabossed.  In the sinister chief, a crescent denoted his filiation; underneath was the motto “Augmenter.”  The shield itself or pavise was large, made of wood covered with skin, and surrounded with a broad rim of iron.