could not at this time suffer his face to be seen,

for reasons which he had assigned to the heralds when he entered the lists. The marshals were perfectly satisfied with this reply, for amidst the capricious vows by which knights were accustomed to bind themselves in those days of chivalry, there was none more common than those by which they engaged to remain incognito for a certain space, or until some particular adventure was atchieved. The marshals, therefore, pressed no farther into the mystery of the Disinherited Knight, but announcing to Prince John the conqueror's desire to remain unknown, they requested permission to bring him before his grace, in order that he might receive the reward of his valour.

John's curiosity was excited by the mystery observed by the stranger; and, being already displeased with the issue of the tournament, in which the challengers whom he favoured had been successively defeated by one knight, he answered haughtily to the marshals, "By the light of Our Lady's brow, this same knight hath been disinherited, as well of his courtesy as of his