“I am greatly honoured by the command, Sire,” replied Xit. “My toast, I am well assured, will be drunk with enthusiasm, both by your Majesty and your illustrious guests. I will give your royal consort, and our most gracious mistress, the Queen. May Heaven shed its choicest blessings upon her!”
“Well said, thou merry knave!” cried Philip. “No toast could be more agreeable to us. My lords, we will dedicate this cup to the Queen.”
The toast was rapturously drunk by the assemblage, but just as the goblets were emptied an unexpected incident occurred. In the excitement of the moment, and while waving the ladle, Xit lost his balance, and plunged head-foremost into the vinous flood beneath him. As he emerged the next moment, his half-drowned appearance caused shouts of laughter from the company, which were echoed by all the pages, esquires, and other attendants.
“Marry, thou hast had a bath such as few men have enjoyed,” observed Philip, laughing.
“I would rather it had been water, Sire,” spluttered Xit. “I shall never enjoy the flavour of hippocras again. I pray you let me be taken hence.”
“There is no hurry,” cried the Duke of Norfolk, laughing immoderately. “We cannot let thee go yet. Make the most of thy position, and quaff thy fill. The wine is spoiled for all but thee.”
“Were I to quaff more than I have already done, I should become a sorry spectacle, your grace, and might offend this noble company,” observed Xit. “I have no desire to die the death of the Duke of Clarence.”
“Take him hence,” said Philip, who thought the jest had lasted long enough; “but let him not out of the bowl till its contents be emptied.”
On this, the three giants, lifting the mighty bowl from the table, conveyed it to another part of the hall, where they set it down. The King’s commands were scrupulously obeyed. Notwithstanding Xit’s piteous entreaties to be set free, he was detained a prisoner till the whole of the hippocras had been drunk. To this end the giants lent their best assistance, but before it could be fully accomplished, the King and his noble guests had departed. So ended the banquet at Arthur’s Round Table.
Next day Philip and Mary, attended by their whole court, and by the Spanish grandees, quitted Winchester, and proceeded by easy stages to Windsor.