The lists were prepared. The
meeting, by the king's command, was appointed to be holden at
Winchester, where the royal court was expected to witness this splendid
achievement. Oskatell, returning home, strongly importuned his sister to
accompany him to the show, it being then deemed a pleasant recreation
for many a fair and delicate maiden to view their champions hack and hew
each other without mercy. Isabella, unceasingly urged to this excursion,
at length set out for the city of Winchester, followed by a numerous
train of attendants, where, in due time, they arrived, mingling in the
bustle and dissipation incident to these festivities.
Young Stanley was the second son of Sir William Stanley, Lord of Stanley
and Stourton. As a younger branch of the house, he commenced his career,
it is said, under the command of his relative Lord Audley; but this
appears something doubtful. The battle of Poictiers, in which Captain
Stanley is said to have been, was fought in 1357; and here he must have
battled in petticoats, seeing that his father was but married 26 Edward
III., and, consequently, making due allowance for accidents and
irregularities, young Stanley, as the second son, could not then have
proceeded beyond his third year! a precocity unprecedented, we believe,
even in the annals of that fighting era.
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