200 THE WIFE OF BENEDICT ARNOLD. Blended Rose to all others in " wit, beauty, and every accomplishment " ; and added to that, should this asser- tion be disputed, their knights were ready to maintain it by force of arms. The Herald of the Burning Mountain did dispute the bold assertion ; the knights of that device rode in ; a gauntlet was thrown down and taken up ; and presently the jousting began. " The knights then received their lances from their esquires," says Major Andre', " fixed their shields on their left arms, and making a general salute. to each other, by a very graceful movement of their lances, turned round to take their career, and, encountering in full gallop, shivered their spears. In the second and third encounter they discharged their pistols. In the fourth they fought with their swords." The two chiefs then engaged in single combat, and fought until the Heralds interfered and declared that the ladies were satisfied. A procession was again formed ; the knights dismounted and joined the ladies ; and all passed through the garden and into the house, where in a beautiful hall the knights kneeling received each a favor from his lady. What was the favor that Peggy Shippen bestowed is not recorded ; but the fortunate warrior who received it was a Lieutenant Sloper, who had borne his part in the tourney with the device of a Heart and Sword upon his shield ; his motto was Honor and the Fair. Shortly after this grand festival, Philadelphia was abandoned by the British. When we next hear of Mar- garet Shippen she is a married woman, the wife of an American general. Her husband was no other than Benedict Arnold, the commander of the American troops that occupied the city after the departure of the enemy. This post Arnold held for nine months, and during that period conducted himself in a manner so arbitrary that the council of Pennsylvania charged him with mis-
