Knights, with a long retinue of their squires, In gaudy liveries march and quaint attires; One laced the helm, another held the lance, A third the shining buckler did advance. The courser paw’d the ground with restless feet, And snorting foam’d and champ’d the golden bit. The smiths and armourers on palfreys ride, Files in their hands, and hammers at their side; And nails for loosen’d spears, and thongs for shields provide. The yeomen guard the streets in seemly bands; And clowns come crowding on, with cudgels in their hands.

PALAMON AND ARCITE

The condition of the English nation was at this