Our Cavaliers had by good Fortune provided themselves of two curious Suits of light Armour, finely enammelled and gilt.  Hippolito had sent to Poggio Imperiale for a couple of fine led Horses which he had left there with the rest of his Train at his entrance into Florence.  Mounted on these and every way well Equipt, they took their way, attended only by two Lacqueys, toward the Church di Santa Croce, before which they were to perform their Exercises of Chivalry.  Hippolito wore upon his Helm a large Plume of Crimson Feathers, in the midst of which was artificially placed Leonora’s Handkerchief.  His Armour was gilt, and enammell’d with Green and Crimson.  Aurelian was not so happy as to wear any token to recommend him to the notice of his Mistress, so had only a Plume of Sky-colour and White Feathers, suitable to his Armour, which was Silver enammelled with Azure.  I shall not describe the Habits of any other Cavaliers, or of the Ladies; let it suffice to tell the Reader they were all very Fine and very Glorious, and let him dress them in what is most agreeable to his own Fancy.

Our Gallants entred the Lists, and having made their Obeysance to his Highness, turned round to salute and view the Company.  The Scaffold was circular, so that there was no end of the Delightful Prospect.  It seem’d a Glory of Beauty which shone around the admiring Beholders.  Our Lovers soon perceived the Stars which were to Rule their Destiny, which sparkled a lustre beyond all the inferiour Constellations, and seem’d like two Suns to distribute Light to all the Planets in that Heavenly Sphere.  Leonora knew her Slave by his Badge and blushed till the Lilies and Roses in her cheeks had resemblance to the Plume of Crimson and White Handkerchief in Hippolito’s Crest.  He made her a low bow, and reined his Horse back with an extraordinary Grace, into a respectful retreat.  Aurelian saw his Angel, his beautiful Incognita, and had no other way to make himself known to her, but by saluting and bowing to her after the Spanish mode; she guess’d him by it to be her new Servant Hippolito, and signified her apprehension, by making him a more particular and obliging return, than to any of the Cavaliers who had saluted her before.

The Exercise that was to be perform’d was in general a running at the Ring; and afterwards two Cavaliers undertook to defend the Beauty of Donna Catharina, against all who would not allow her preheminence of their Mistresses.  This thing was only designed for show and form, none presuming that any body would put so great an affront upon the Bride and Duke’s Kinswoman, as to dispute her pretentions to the first place in the Court of Venus.  But here our Cavaliers were under a mistake; for seeing a large Shield carry’d before two Knights, with a Lady painted upon it; not knowing who, but reading the Inscription which was (in large Gold Letters) Above the Insolence of Competition.  They thought themselves obliged, especially in the