violence.
    Under the various burdens imposed by this unhappy state of affairs, the
people of England suffered deeply for the present, and had yet more dreadful
cause to fear for the future. To augment their misery, a contagious disorder of
a dangerous nature spread through the land; and, rendered more virulent by the
uncleanness, the indifferent food, and the wretched lodging of the lower
classes, swept off many whose fate the survivors were tempted to envy, as
exempting them from the evils which were to come.
    Yet amid these accumulated distresses, the poor as well as the rich, the
vulgar as well as the noble, in the event of a tournament, which was the grand
spectacle of that age, felt as much interested as the half-starved citizen of
Madrid, who has not a real left to buy provisions for his family, feels in the
issue of a bull-fight. Neither duty nor infirmity could keep youth or age from
such exhibitions. The Passage of Arms, as it was called, which was to take place
at Ashby, in the county of Leicester, as champions of the first renown were to
take the field in the presence of Prince John himself, who was expected to grace
the lists, had attracted universal attention, and an immense confluence of
persons of all ranks hastened upon the appointed morning to the place of combat.
    The scene was singularly romantic. On the verge of a wood, which approached
to within a mile of the town of Ashby, was an extensive meadow, of the finest
and most beautiful green turf, surrounded on one side by the forest, and fringed
on the other by straggling oak-trees, some of which had grown to an immense
size. The ground, as if fashioned on purpose for the martial display which was
intended, sloped gradually down on all sides to a level bottom, which was
enclosed for the lists with strong palisades, forming a space of a quarter of a
mile in length, and about half as broad. The form of the enclosure was an oblong
square, save that the corners were considerably rounded off, in order to afford
more convenience to the spectators. The openings for the entry of the combatants
were at the northern and southern extremities of the lists, accessible by strong
wooden gates, each wide enough to admit two horsemen riding abreast. At each of
these portals were stationed two heralds, attended by six trumpets, as many
pursuivants, and a strong body of men-at-arms for maintaining order, and
ascertaining the quality of the knights who proposed to engage in this martial
game.
    On a platform