The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 An Historical Romance

the Conde de Gondom

kin

ladies of the court, a wager was laid between the Conde de Gondomar and t

nfident in his own skill, vauntingly declared that he had never met his match in the tilt-yard; whereupon the Spanish Ambassador, willing to lower his pride, immediately rejoined, that he could, upon

s he could not accept them as proposed; but he was willing to hazard on the result of the encounter all the gems, with which at the moment his habiliments were cover

istent with the acknowledged magnificence of his Lordship's notions; yet he begged to make one further alteration, which was, that in t

fix the day for the trial, and this was referred to the King, who appointed the following T

nd he laughingly remarked to Buckingham-"Ye are demented, Steenie, to risk a' those precious stanes with which ye

r ti gemmata

med collars and glittering ouches will hang a week

will make us acquainted with the name and title of my puissant adversary, on whose address he so much relies. Our relative chances of success will t

e King. "No time like the present. We a

whom I design to select as the Marquis's opponent, and whom I am sure will feel grateful

Gerrard, or Sir Henry Rich; for-without saying aught in disparagement of their prowess-neithe

l eyes were turned towards the young knight, who, though as much

ght hae made a waur choice-that we are free to confes

ord Mordaunt,-"I see through it all: this is a concerted scheme to bring this aspiring galliard forward; but he shall receive a lesson for his presumption he shall not easily forget,

the monarch, who appeared to take a stronger interest in the match than Buckingham altogether liked, and confirmed him in his determination of ridding himself for ever of the obstacle in his path presented by Mounchensey. The number of jousters being agreed upon, it was next decided that the party with whom Buckingham was to range should

seventh, Sir Giles Mompesson was suggested by the Marquis, and James, willing to oblige his favourite, adopted the proposition. On the side of Prince Charles were ranked the Marquis of Hamilton, the Earls of Montgomery, Rutland, and Dorset, Lord Walden, an

ing-stone to some more exalted post. Supported by the influence of De Gondomar, and upheld by his own personal merits, which by this time, in spite of all hostility towards him, had begun to be appreciated; with the King himself most favourably inclined towards him, and Prince Charles amicably disposed; with many of the courtiers proffering him service, who were anxious to thro

w an ebb as that of James I., he should have remained uncorrupted; and that not all the allurements of the numerous beauties by whom he was surrounded, and who exerted their blandishments to ensnare him, could tempt him for a moment's disloyalty to the object of his affections. It was creditable, that at the frequent orgies he was compelled to attend, where sobr

entiments he expressed, Prince Charles took frequent opportunities of conversing with him, and might have conceived a regard for him but for the jealous interference of Buckingham, who, unable to brook a rival either with the King or Prince, secretly endeavoured to set both against him. Such, however, was Sir Jocelyn's consistency of character, such his solidity of