Chapter V (1)

A notable _pas d’armes_ was held at L’Arbre de Charlemagne, near Dijon, in the year 1443,[139] presided over by Duke Philippe le Bon, which was proclaimed in most of the European countries of Christendom. The account of this meeting has a great historical value, owing not only to its reference to the tilt, additional pieces, and special forms of armour, but also to the amount of detail it presents. It is given here in a much abridged form.

Thirteen noble Burgundians of distinction, headed by Pierre de Bauffremont, Chevalier, Seigneur de Charny, held the _pas_ for six weeks against all comers. De la Marche remarks that during the time necessary for erecting the lists and making the general arrangements for the meeting the young cavaliers practised various forms of jousting before the duke “_et là furent faictes une jouste à selles plattes, et en harnois de ioûte_.” He graphically pictures the general arrangements for this _pas d’armes_, the profuse hospitality extended to all comers, the construction and decoration of the lists, the dresses and equipments of the officials, pages, combatants, etc. He describes the lists for jousting as follows, making clear mention of the tilt:—“_et au milieu d’icelle lice fut la toille mise, pour la conduitte des chevaux, et pour servir à la course des hommes d’armes, comme il est de coustume en tel cas._” “_Celle lice fut de bonne hauteur et grandeur: et, aux deux bouts de ladicte lice, furent faictes deux marches: qui se montoyent à degrés, faits de ce bonne grandeur, que l’on pouvoit aider à l’hommes d’armes, tout à cheval, pour l’armer aiser, ou desarmer, selon le cas: et hors de ladicte lice, du costé de Digeon, aux jours qu’il besoing faisoit, avoit une grande tente, haute et spacieuse, tendue, pour aider et soulager le venant de dehors, si mestier en avoit._” There was another enclosure for combats on foot.

During the duration of the _pas_ two shields were hung suspended in the lists: one, painted black, besprinkled with gilded tear-drops; the other, violet, _semé_, with tear-drops in black. Each venant who, through a pursuivant, placed a gage, such as a sword or spur, below the first-named shield, signified his election to engage on horseback one of the tenans or defenders of the _pas_, and to run twelve courses, “_à la toille_,” that is along the tilt, with sharp or rebated lances at his pleasure; and should either of the jousters be unhorsed he was to present his adversary with a diamond of whatever value he pleased. The venant who placed his gage below the violet shield, with tear-drops in black, elected a combat on foot, consisting of fifteen strokes with the axe or estoc;[140] but should he place gages below both shields, his challenge applied to a joust at the tilt and a foot encounter as well. The duke took his seat on the 11th July, 1443, holding a white wand or bâton in his hand as judge, which when cast down put an end to a fight at any stage, the officials at once separating the combatants. We describe briefly a few of the encounters. The first contest lay between the leader of the tenans, the Seigneur de Charny, and a Spanish cavalier of mark, Pietre-Vasque de Suavedra. The chevalier venant having placed gages below both shields, the combat was to be on foot, to be followed by another on horseback; and on the opening day the champions entered the enclosure for foot contests at 9 o’clock in the morning. The choice of weapons, as between axes and _épées d’armes_,[141] lay with the chevalier venant, who chose axes. Eight men-at-arms in complete armour, bearing white wands, ranged themselves in the enclosure, to keep the ring and to separate the combatants when necessary. The duke gave the signal and the combat began. Suavedra had taken off his visor, while Charny fought with his visor down. The stipulated fifteen strokes having been exchanged, without bodily injury to either party, the combatants were separated and left the lists.

On the 13th day of the same month the jousting between the same cavaliers took place. The Spaniard first entered the lists with his following, his horse trapped in blue and white silk, and presented himself before the judge. De Charny followed in like manner, the trapper of his charger being of cloth of gold; he was attended both by his esquires and by five pages on horseback, sumptuously attired in blue and violet satin. The onset having been sounded, the champions charged, each splintering his lance on the body of his antagonist in the centre of the lists; in their second career both lances glanced off, and so on until the number of courses had been run. Challengers continued to come forward, and each combat is recorded by the chronicler in its turn.

On the 8th of August a joust took place between an Italian, Jacques de Visque, Comte de St. Martin, and the Chevalier Guillame de Vaudrey, “_qui couroit de droit et du long de la toile_.” In the first course St. Martin was struck on the visor of his helmet by the lance of his opponent, the fastening being broken; in the fourth he was wounded severely in the lance-arm, the lance-head remaining in the wound, and the expressions of regret at the occurrence were so general as to show that serious injuries in such encounters had become comparatively rare. This mounted contest was followed by a combat on foot between Anthoine de Vaudrey and Jehan de Compays, Seigneur de Torain. The venant chose _estocs_, and a smart fight ensued, without personal injury to either chevalier, though their armour was much battered and torn.

The chronicler continues his narrations of the various combats which followed during the remaining days provided for in the _Chapitres d’Armes_, throughout the course of which the defenders of the _pas_ held it against all comers with conspicuous honour and distinction. The tenans of the _pas d’armes_ made an offering to the Virgin of the two shields of L’Arbre de Charlemagne, which were hung suspended in the Church of Nôtre Dame at Dijon.

While de la Marche devotes his narration more to the fighting and spectacular aspects of the meeting, Monstrelet deals with the challenges and _chapitres d’armes_.

THE CHALLENGES

“In honour of our Lord, and his most glorious mother,
of my Lady Sainte Anne, and of my lord St George, I,
Pierre de Bauffremont, lord of Chargny, of Monliet and
of Montfort, knight, councellor and chamberlain, to the
most high, most puissant and excellent prince the Duke
of Burgundy, make known to all princes, barons, knights
and esquires, without reproach, with the exception of
those of the kingdom of France and of the countries in
alliance, or subjects to my said sovereign lord, that
for the augmentation and extension of the most noble
profession and exercise of arms, my will and intention
is, in conjunction with twelve knights, esquires
and gentlemen, of four quarterings, whose names
follow:—Thibault, lord of Rougemont and Mussy; Messire
William Breremont, lord of Sees and of Sauvegon;
William de Brenne, lord of Mombis and of Gilly; John,
lord of Valengen; John, lord of Rap and of Tirecourt;
William de Champdivers, lord of Chivigny; John de
Chiron, lord of Rancheinères; Antony de Vaudray, lord
of Aille; William de Vaudray, lord of Collaon; James
de Challant, lord of Ainvilie; Messire Amé, lord of
Espirey; and John de Chavigny,—to guard and defend a
_pas d’armes_, situated on the great road leading from
Dijon towards Auxonne, at the end of the causeway from
the said town of Dijon, at a great tree called the
Hermit’s Tree in the form and manner following.

“In the first place, two shields, (one black
besprinkled with tears of gold,—the other violet,
having tears of sable), shall be suspended on the tree
of the Hermit, and all those who shall, by a king at
arms or pursuivant, touch the first shield, shall be
bounden to perform twelve courses on horseback with
me, or with one of my aforesaid knights or esquires,
with blunted lances.—Item, if either of the champions,
during their twelve courses, be unhorsed by a direct
blow with the lance on his armour, such person, thus
unhorsed, shall present to his adversary a diamond of
whatever value he please.—Item, the champions may arm
themselves according to their pleasure, _double or
single_,[142] but without any wicked intentions, having
their rest similar to the usual custom in war.—Item,
each person shall make provision of lances—but the
rondelle, which lies on the hands, shall be only
four fingers broad, and no more.[143] Item, the lances
shall be all of similar length, from the point to
the rest.—Item, for the accomplishment of these
feats of arms on horseback, I will supply all who may
come without lances, precisely like to my own and to
those of my companions.—Item, these deeds of arms on
horseback shall be performed _à la toille_, which shall
be six feet high.”

_Chapitres d’Armes._
“Those princes, barons, knights and esquires, of the
rank before mentioned, who shall rather take their
pleasure in performing feats of arms on foot, shall
touch the violet shield, and shall perform fifteen
strokes with battle-axes or swords, as may be most
agreeable to them.

“Item, if, during these courses, any champion shall
touch the ground with his hand or knees, he shall
be bounden to present his adversary with a ruby of
whatever value he please.—Item, each champion _shall
be armed with the accustomed armour for combating in
lists_.[144]—Item, should any person be unprovided with
battle-axe or sword, I will furnish him with the same,
similar to my own or to those of my companions. These
axes and swords are not to have anything extraordinary
in their make, but such as are usual in these kinds of
combats.

“Item, he that shall have engaged himself to fight
with me, or either of us, and shall throw the other
to the ground, the person so thrown shall be obliged
to surrender himself a prisoner whithersoever the
conqueror shall order him.—Item, the person thus
made prisoner shall pay for his immediate ransom, to
whomsoever the conqueror shall direct, any sum above
five hundred crowns.

“Item, foreigners need not seek for particulars
from me, or from my companions, for they will find
persons ready to deliver such at the usual hours and
places.—Item, no stranger will be permitted to enter
the lists with me or with any one of my companions, for
more than one course at arms, namely, once on horseback
and once on foot—and no one can require more of any of
us during the present undertaking.

“Item, the aforesaid feats of arms, on horseback and
on foot, shall be performed on the following days:
those on horseback on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays;
those on foot, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“Item, this pas d’armes shall commence on the first
day of July in the year 1443, and shall last forty
days, exclusive of feast-days and Sundays, and the
feasts commanded to be kept by the court of Rome.

“Item, no prince, baron, knight or esquire, shall
pass within a quarter of a league of the spot assigned
for these combats without entering the lists and taking
part, or otherwise leaving as pledges his sword or
spurs, according to his pleasure.

“Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of
arms, as well on horseback as on foot, according to
the articles above specified, I have most humbly
supplicated and entreated my aforesaid sovereign lord,
that he would grant me his licence and permission to
perform them, which he has most benignantly assented
to. He has likewise most graciously appointed, as judge
of the lists, that puissant prince and my most redoubted
lord, the count of Nevers and of Rethel—and in his absence,
the lord marshal, count of Fribourg and of Neufchâtel.

“Item, in order that this my intention of performing
these deeds of arms in the manner before specified may
be more fully declared, I have fixed my seal to these
presents, and signed them with my own hand, this 8th
day of March, in the year 1442.

“Item, all noble foreigners shall have sure and loyal
pass-ports from my aforesaid sovereign lord, or in his
absence from his marshal.”

On such occasions a proclamation was made against outsiders giving signals to any combatant.

The following documents occur among the Harleian MSS.:—

Le Declaracon du Pas a l’Arbre D’Or.

i.e. How the Lady L’Isle sent her Knight with a Rich
Tree of Gold, for him to Sett near Brughes, and there
to Challenge the Nobles of the Duke of Burgundies Court
both to the Justs, ＆ to the Tourney: the Articles
whereof do follow. Dated July ... A.D. 68, i.e. 1468.

Petition ＆ Articles of the Justs-Royall to be held
at Westminster, by 4 Gentlemen Challenging all comers
(upon the Creation of Henry second Sonne to King Henry VII).

To Run 6 Courses with Speares.
To Tourney 18 Strokes with Swords.

Petition of 4 Gentlemen to K. Henry VII to be
received into His Royal Army purposed for Fraunce; but
first that he would Authorise their Challenge of all
Comers to the Tilt, in any Realme or Place where the
King shall be, for one year ＆ a day longer.

Challenge of 6 Noble Persons to hold a Justs-Royall
＆ Tourney at Westminster, for the Pleasure of the
King, The Queene, and the Princess the Kings Eldest
Daughter, where the 6 Challengers and Six Answerers
shall together Run against each other with Spears on
Horseback; and after the Course Passed, to fight with
Swords till the King Commaund them to Cease.

Relation (in French) of the Battel of Justs held in the city of Tours, between Jelcan (or Jehan?) Chalons, a Native of the Kingdom of England, ＆ Loys de Beul who took the part of King Charles of France. A.D. 1446, wherein Loys de Beul was Killed.

Le Challenge Philip de Bouton, Natif de Pais Burgoigne, premier Esquire a Monsser le Conte de Charollois: qui ait Charge ＆ Esleve Emprise de un Fleurer Penser a tacher a son Bras dextre, lequelle il portra ouverte jusque autant que il defendra au Royaulme d’Angleterre, en la Campagnie de son Seigneur Monsieur le Bastard le Burgoigne, comme a la Roche. Dat. 1. may. 1467.

The Relation made by Garter King of Arms to K. Edward IV. concerning the Arrival of 3 Knights of the K. of Hungaries Court, named Uladislaus of Bodna, Fredericus of Waredma, ＆ Lancelagus of Trefulwane, who desired to performe some Feats of Arms with the English Gentlemen. With their Instructions given to the said Garter touching his Declaration of their Desires, and the Articles of the Jousts and Tourney.[145]

Lacroix in _Military and Religious Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance_, gives a picture of a king of arms proclaiming a tournament; copied from a miniature in King René’s tourney-book.

During the meeting of the Chapter of the Toison d’Or, at Ghent in 1445, duels were fought between the Chevalier Jehan de Boniface (Jean de Bonifazio), an Italian, and a Burgundian cavalier, Jacques de Lalain, the latter then a young man of twenty-four years, who later achieved great celebrity as a combatant in the lists. Duke Philip of Burgundy acted as umpire, and was supported on the tribune by the Duke of Orleans; and immediately before the fight began Lalain was dubbed a chevalier.

Lists had been prepared, and after the usual preliminaries were over a combat on foot between the parties took place, followed by many courses at the tilt.

The combatants entered the lists for the fight on foot, each bearing a heavy sword in the right hand and in the left a _hache d’armes_; a smaller sword was attached to the belt, and small rectangular shields were carried on the left arms. Lalain fought with part of his face exposed, half of his visor having been removed. The parties took up their positions some distance from each other, and the fight began by Boniface hurling his spear at Lalain, who parried it. The latter cast his sword at his opponent, but without effect; then each threw his shield at the other’s legs with a view of causing him to stumble, and the fight at close quarters with axes began. After some hard blows had been exchanged Boniface dropped his axe, and Lalain struck at his visor, in which his axe struck until the point broke. Boniface then seized the Burgundian’s weapon and drew his dagger, hoping to stab his opponent in the face, but Lalain with admirable _sang-froid_ beat down that weapon, and striking the visor of his opponent, slightly penetrated one of the apertures with his axe, Boniface then drew his sword and struck savagely at Lalain; at which stage of the combat the duke’s bâton fell.

The jousting was accomplished later on, with varying fortune, though without special features. It was at the tilt, “_et au milieu de la lice avoit une toille, pour conduire les chevauz, pour les courses de lances, qu’ils devoyent accomplir_.”

The armour of de Lalain was provided with reinforcing pieces: “_Messire Jacques de Lalain estoit armé de plusieures rondelles, l’une sur la main, l’autre sur le coude du bras de la bride, et l’autre tenant au gardebras, a maniére d’escu_,” but they were detached before the jousting, Boniface being without them.[146] The different chroniclers of such combats differ more or less in many details.

The position and dignity of an esquire is defined in Ashmolean MS. 162a:[147] “The definition of an Esquire and the severall sortes of them according to the customs and usage of England. _An esquire called in Latine armiger...._”[148]

Another of these MSS., 158ab, defines the duties and emoluments of a king-at-arms.—The office of a Kinge at Armes. “Fyrst as nyghe as he canne he shall take knowledge and kepe recorde of creastes cognissances and auntient used wordes,” etc.[149]

The principal additional or reinforcing pieces, _pièces d’avantage_, are:—the grand-guard or main-guard, which is in two plates, the volante-piece and the body portion, and these, though sometimes separate, are usually riveted together. The former is adapted to the contour of the helmet, to which it is firmly attached; while the latter, fixed to the breastplate, conforms to the curves of the neck, fits round the left side of the chest and left shoulder, and is flanged over the right shoulder to protect the weak place at the armpit on that side. The whole thus forms a double defence for that portion of the body against which an attack was mainly directed. The term “volante-piece,” as applied to the face piece of the grand-guard, is, however, of doubtful authority. It is sometimes referred to in English chronicles, though without stating what it really is. Meyrick employs it in the sense above referred to, but Lord Dillon[150] inclines to the opinion that the term properly belongs to the two extra plates over the forehead attachable to some helmets, and I am sure he is right. These plates are present on jousting salades, and are called _Stirnplätten_ or _Stirndoppolstuck_ (forehead-plates) by the Germans. However this may be it is convenient to apply the term generally in use unless quite assured of its incorrectness. The elbow-guard or pas-guard is a reinforcement for the left elbow-joint, fastened by a pin. The manifer, or mainfere, _main de fer_, _steife henze_, or miton-gauntlet is the stiff, heavy jousting gauntlet for the bridle hand and forearm; the name “manifer” is given by Meyrick to the crinet, absurdly connecting the word with the mane of the horse. The poldermiton or _épaule de mouton_, is a piece for the defence of the right forearm and bend, which is further protected by the vamplate of the lance. In the course with sharp lances, called _Scharfrennen_ by the Germans, a dilge or jousting-cuisse is employed, strapped to the saddle; and there was an armlet for the right lower arm, used in that and some other courses. The jousting-shields differ in form in the various courses: they will be described in their order.

Catalogue No. 383 of the Wallace Collection, London, comprises a small set of additional pieces, which from the subject and character of enrichment (chevrons with minute pomegranates and scrolls, etched and gilt) would appear to have belonged to a suit of armour in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick Castle, which was acquired in Italy by Duke Algernon, about the year 1840; and it has been freely and excellently restored.

When arming, the additional pieces were screwed on one after the other, the jousting-shield being adjusted last. This process completed, the jouster was almost immune from injury and was left almost an automaton, with little power of initiative beyond aiming his lance, and that with difficulty.

Jacques de Lalain sent a challenge to a feat of arms in the year 1448 to James, brother to Earl Douglas; the fight to take place in Edinburgh in the same year. He stated the conditions of combat proposed, for a foot encounter, _à outrance_, with spear, battle-axe, sword and dagger, which conditions were accepted by Douglas, with the reservation, at the instance of the King of Scotland, that no lance-casting should be allowed. The Burgundian party consisted of Jacques and his uncle Simon de Lalain, and a Messire de Mériadacq; while a Scottish trio, the brothers Douglas and a Lord de Haguet, arranged to fight them: the King to act as umpire. After some initial misunderstanding the knights fought paired against one another as follows:—Haguet against Simon de Lalain, Jacques against James Douglas, and Mériadacq against the other Douglas. The chronicler describes the course of the encounter, going into much detail, from which one would imagine that there was deadly peril to life and limb, but no serious hurt was sustained by any of the combatants; that fact being that the armour of proof enclosed each of the fighters in an almost impregnable fortress. La Marche was not present at this fight, but got his information from hearsay. Two out of the Burgundian trio were Chevaliers (Knights), the third combatant an Escuyer (Esquire), and it is interesting to note the difference in costume between the two grades. Matthieu de Couci gives it in the following terms[151]:—Chevaliers “furent revêtus de longues robes de velours noir, fourrées de martes zibelines fort riches”; quant au troisième qui étoit seulement Escuyer, “il en avoit une seulement de satin noir fourrée comme les autres.” King René says the stuff of an esquire’s costume at his court should be “drap de damas,” and it would appear generally that an esquire could wear either satin or damask, but the chevalier must be clad in velvet. Further regulations were made in 1486, when cloth of gold and cloth of silver came in.

The armour of the fifteenth century up to almost its close is usually termed “Gothic,” an incongruous appellation, though one convenient to employ owing to its having been so generally adopted and understood. Beyond a few fragments there is no armour of the first half of the century left to us; and for our knowledge of the knightly body-harness of that period we are mainly indebted to an ample series of monumental effigies and brasses. Though one cannot draw any decided line, it may be said that the process of transition from chain-mail to plate armour had been practically completed at the commencement of the fifteenth century; and the progress made in the directions of elegance, comprehensiveness and strength had been steady and continuous until towards the middle of the century, when we have glorious complete suits of armour spread out before us.

The brass of Sir John Wylcotes, in Great Tew Church, Oxfordshire, dating about 1410, affords an example of the standard of mail, which was a collar worn under a gorget of plate. The figure is without jupon, so that the breastplate and taces are exposed to view, and they are of plate; small motons, oval in form, cover the weak places at the armpits.

The brass in South Kelsey Church, Lincolnshire, dated about a decade later, shows the armour to be much more ornate, having crescent-shaped motons, fan-formed wings to the coudes; taces of six lames and short tuilles; the figure wears a pointed bascinet. The armour on the effigy in Hoveringham Church, Nottinghamshire, believed to have been ascribed by Stothart to Sir Robert Grushill, is certainly not of the reign of Richard II, 1377-1399, but should rather be dated in that of Henry VI. There are fluted motons over the armpits, of a curved tooth-like form; coudes with elaborate heart-shaped wings; taces of eight narrow lames, with short rectangular tuilles, attached to the bottom rims by straps and buckles. The helmet is still the bascinet. This effigy exhibits an instance of the presence of the collar SS. There is an example of this collar in the Tower of London.[152] It was found in one of the turrets of the White Tower in 1913.[153] It is beyond the province of this work to discuss the probable meaning of these ciphers, which is obscure.

The Gothic armour of the connoisseur is reached in the beautiful effigy of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, in St. Mary’s Church, Warwick. It is cast in laton, a golden looking blend something between bronze and brass. The earl died in 1439, but the contract for his monument was not given out until fifteen years after, so that the type of armour is later than that of any actual harness worn by the earl. The effigy exhibits body-armour at its very best, as well in dignity of form as in beauty of outline; and if it was not directly copied from a suit made by Tomaso Missaglai of Milan, the design for it certainly came from Italy. The breastplate exhibits a deep curved groove on either side; it is shorter than was usual somewhat later, with a large number of taces; and there are low neck-guards. Mr. Stothart also gives a back view of the figure, showing the armour as completely delineated behind as in front. The effigy is depicted on Plate II, giving both a front view and one in profile.

The great armour-smiths of the fifteenth century were fine artists in steel, and many of their creations preserved are models for all time in elegance of form and excellence of workmanship. One can trace their individuality and idiosyncrasies to an extent making it often possible to attribute their work even when unstamped with their monograms and devices. The Missaglias Negrolis and Piccininos of Milan, the Kolmans of Augsburg, the Seusenhofers of Innsbruck, the Grünewalts and Von Worms of Nuremberg, and many others, carried on their craft from generation to generation.

During the fifteenth century and somewhat later, new modes in armour, as well as in dress, had their birth in Italy; but they took some time to travel to other countries less advanced in fashion and refinement. Much artistic skill of the highest order was lavished on the enrichment of armour. Suits were delicately chased, engraved and decorated with repoussé work; and artists of the highest celerity were engaged in such work. The trapper of mixed mail and plate appears frequently in this century.

A very important paper, printed in _Archæologia_, LVII, by Viscount Dillon, P.S.A., read in 1899, deals with a MS. Collection of Ordinances of Chivalry of the fifteenth century belonging to Lord Hastings, which contains among other matters:—

The “Abilment for the Justes of the Pees.”
“To crie a Justus of Pees.”
“The comyng into the felde.”
“To arme a man.”

The same manuscript is also commented on by the late Mr. Albert Way in the _Archæological Journal_ of 1847.

Two of the illuminations depict jousting at the tilt, and another a combat on foot with axes before King Henry VI. The fight on foot, which took place in 1442, is between John Astley and Philip Boyle of Arragon. The lists, enclosed by an open railing, have at one end a stand for the king, who acted as judge, and four steps lead up to the tribune. On either side of the steps two men-at-arms are posted, holding long-shafted axes, and within the lists a herald is standing watching the fight. The combatants are wearing globose bascinets, which were the usual helmets for foot-fighting. They were roomy enough for plenty of padding against heavy blows from the axe. Boyle is armed with an axe having a blade on one side and a _bec de faucon_, or flook, on the other; while Astley’s weapon has a _mail_, or mallet, with three prongs, in place of the flook.

The terms of Sir Philip Boyle’s acceptance of the challenge are given in Lord Dillon’s paper.

The first illumination of a joust at the tilt pictures the moment when the tilters have shivered their lances, tipped with coronals of three prongs, on each other’s bodies. The tilt is composed of six planks, and appears to be between five and six feet in height. Sir John Astley’s crest is seen to be a crowned harpy, with torse and mantling; his armour, the sort termed “tonlet”; the legs and feet are unarmed, being sufficiently protected by the saddle-steels. The horse is trapped and has a chamfron. But little of the person of his adversary can be seen; what there is show his crest, three maidens in a corb, and he also is wearing bases. Both riders have tilting helms and shields, and bear poldermitons on their lance-arms. The vamplates are somewhat conical in form.

The other joust pictured is that between Astley and Pierre de Masse, which took place in a street in Paris in the year 1438. It is also at the tilt. The date is an early one for that form of joust, if the drawing be contemporary, which is unlikely. The tilt is composed of four planks, and is rather lower than the other example. The jousters wear no crests on their helms, and they are running with sharp lances. There are no poldermitons worn in this case. This important illumination has suffered much from damp, the central figures more especially.

The articles of combat are given in Lord Dillon’s paper.

The “Abilment for the Justus of the Pees,” as reproduced from the manuscript belonging to Lord Hastings, is as follows:—

“A helme well stuffyd wt a Crest of hys de viis.
A peyre of platus and xxx Gyders.
A hanscement for the Bode wt slevis.
A botton wt a tresse in the platis.
A schelde coverid wt his deviis.
A Rerebrace wt a rolle of ledyr well stuffid.
A Maynfere with a ring.
A rerebrasce a moton.
A vambrase and a gaynpayne ＆ ij bricketts.
And ij dosyn tresses. and vj vamplates.
And xij Grapers. and xij Cornallis ＆ xl Speris.
And a Armerer wt a hamor and pynsons.
And naylys wt a byckorne.
A Goode Cowrscer and row schode wt a softe bytte.
And a gret halter for the rayne of the brydyll.
A Sadyll well stuffud.
and a peyre of jambus.
and iij dowbill Gyrthis wt dowbill bokollus.
and a dowbill sengull wt dowbill bokullus.
and a rayne of ledir hungre teyyd from the
horse hede un to the gyrthys be twen the forther
bowse of the horsce for revassyng. A Rennyng paytrell.
A croper of leder hongre.
A Trappar for the Courser.
And ij servantis on horseback well be sayne.
And vj servantis on fote all in a sute.”

This equipment is for a mounted contest, and differs of course materially from that worn in fighting on foot.

The writer of the paper (Lord Dillon) explains such of the terms employed as are not fairly obvious. Viscount Dillon’s researches are mainly embodied in a series of valuable contributions to the pages of _Archæologia_ and the _Archæological Journal_. Many old records, which had not been seen by such excellent authorities as Meyrick and Hewitt, have been examined and compared since their day, and they throw much light on points and terms which were obscure until recently, and which had been misunderstood by the earlier writers to whom we owe so much.

The “peyre of platus” is the cuirass, consisting of the breast and back plates: the “Gyders,” attachments of some kind. The “hanscement” is a close-fitting garment, worn beneath the armour. A “botton wt a tresse in the platis,” probably also refers to fastenings or attachments of some kind. The “Rerebrace wt a rolle of ledyr well stuffid” is probably a padding protection for the left upper-arm. The “Maynfere with a ring” is the manifer or mainfaire (main de fer), described in this work under the heading of reinforcing pieces. The “rerebrase a moton” is the rerebrace of the right arm, with its small movable plate, the moton or besaguè over the armpit. The “vambrase and gaynpayn and ij brickettss,” are the further defences for the right arm and hand. The “ij dosyn tresses” are arming points, laces for attaching various parts of the armour together. The “vamplates,” “Grapers,” and “Cornallis” are the furniture of the lances, in their order, the conical or circular steel hand-guards, metal rings with points which stick into the wooden blocks in the lance-rests; the coronals, heads of the lance with blunt points, calculated to catch on to the armour but not to pierce it. The “bycorne” was the anvil. Illustrations of Grapers, later termed _burres_, are rare. They are present on the illumination of the joust at the tilt between John Astley and Pierre de Masse, being shown on a lance standing ready for use when required. They are for distributing the force of the shock on impact over the whole body and especially to lessen the pressure on the wrist; and are placed towards the lower end of the lance, the space between the graper and the vamplate constituting the grip.

The rest of the “Abilment” applies to horse furniture.

“_To crie a Justus of Pees._”

We Herrowdys of Armis beryng scheldis of deviis
here we yeve in knowlache un to all Gentill men of
name and of armus. That ther ben vj Gentilmen of name
＆ of armus. That for the gret desire and worschippe
that the sayde.vj.Gentilmen hath taken up pon them
to be the.iij.day of May nex comyng be fore the hy
＆ myghtty redowttyd ladys ＆ Gentyll wymmen. in thys
hey ＆ most honorabull Court. And in thayre ᵽsens
the sayde.vj.Gentilmen there to a pere.at.IX.of the
belle.be fore noone.and to Juste a yens all comers wt
oute.on the sayd day.un to.vj.of the belle at after noon.

And then be the a vise of the sayde ladys ＆ Gentill
wymmen to yeve un to the best Juster wt oute A Diamunde
of.xl.li.

And un to the nexte the best Just a rube of.xx.li.
And un to the thyrde well Just a sauffer of.x.li. And
on the sayde day there beyng offecers of armis schuyng
thayre mesure of thayre speris garnyst. That ys Cornall
wamplate ＆ grapers all of asyse that they schall.Juste
wt. and that the sayde Comers may take the lengthe of
the sayde speris wt the a vise of the sayde offecers of
armys that schall be in defferant un to all parteys on
the sayde day.”

_The comyng in to the felde._

The. vj. Gentilmen most com in to the felde un
helmyd. and theyre helmes borne be fore tham. ＆ thayre
servants on horsbake beryng eyther of tham a spere
garniste. yt is the sayde.vj. speris. the wheche the
sayde servantis schall ride be fore them in to the
felde. ＆ as the sayde. vj.Gentilmen ben come be fore
the ladyys ＆ Gentilwīmē. Then schall be sent an harawde
of armes up un to the ladys ＆ Gentillwimmen sayyng in
this wise. Hey ＆ myghtti redowtyd ＆ ryght worschypfull
ladys ＆ Gentylwymmen these.vj.Gentill men ben come in
to yowre presens. and recōmaundit ham all un to yowr
goode grace in as lowli wyse as they can.besechyng
you for to gyffe.un to iij.best Justers wt owte.a
Diamownd.＆ a Rube.＆ a Sauffer.un to them that ye thenk
best can deserve hit.

Thenne this message is doon.then the.vj.Gentill men
goyth un to the tellws and do on theyr helmes. And
when the harrawdis cri a lostell a lostell.then schall
all the.vj.Gentill men wt in un helme them.be fore the
sayde ladyys.and make theyre abeisans and go hom un to
ther loggynges ＆ chaunge them.

_Now be com the Gentyll men with oute
in to the presens of the ladyys._

Then comyth forth a lady.be the a vise of all the
ladiis ＆ Gentill wymmen.＆ yevis the Dyamond unto the
beste Juster wt oute.sayyng in this. wise sere these
ladiis ＆ Gentill wymmen thank yow.for yowr dysport
and yowr gret labur that ye have this day in thayre
presens.and the sayde ladiis and Gentill wymmen sayyn
the ye have beste Just this day.there fore the sayde
ladys ＆ Gentyllwymmen gyff you this Diamunde ＆ sende
yow mych worschyp ＆ ioye of yowr lady. Thus schall be
doon wt the Rube ＆ the Sauffer.un to the other ij nex
the best Justers this don.

Then schall ye harraude of arms stonde up all on hey
＆ schall say with a hey voyce.John hath well Justyd.
Rycharde hath Justyd better.＆ Thomas hath Justyd best
of all.

Then schall he to whom the Diamonde ys gyf un to
he schall take a lady by the honde ＆ be gynnyth the
daunce. and when the ladiis hath dauncyd as longe as
hem lykyth then spisys ＆ wyne ＆ drynke And then a voyde.

Another illumination depicts a man in the course of being armed for a combat on foot, his “hanscement” is on his body; the sabatons, greaves and cuisses, adjusted over his lower limbs; the attendant is fitting on the breech of mail; and all the remaining pieces of his equipment are lying on a table ready to be put on in their turn. These consist of the huge, globose bascinet, the cuirass of breast and back pieces, the tonletis, vambrace and rerebrace, a moton for the armpit, and a gauntlet. The “griffus” mentioned are the greaves; the “tonletis,” the skirt of bases; and the “pensill” is a small banner.

The accompanying text is as follows:—

“_How a man schall be armyd at his ese when he schal
fighte on foote._”

He schal have noo schirte up on him but a dowbelet
of ffustean lynyd with satene cutte full of hoolis.the
dowbelet muste be strongeli boūdē there the poyntis
muste be sette aboute the greet of the arme.and the b
ste (sic) before and behynde and the gussetis of mayle
muste be sowid un to the dowbelet in the bought of
the arme.and undir the arme the armynge poyntis muste
be made of fyne twyne suche as men make stryngis for
crossebowes and they muste be trussid small and poyntid
as poyntis. Also they muste be wexid with cordeweneris
coode.and than they woll neythir recche nor breke Also
a payre hosyñ of stamyn sengill and a peyre of shorte
bulwerkis of thynne blanket to put aboute his kneys
for chawfynge of his lighernes Also a payre of shone
of thikke cordewene and they muste be frette with smal
whipcorde thre knottis up on a corde and thre coordis
muste be faste sowid un to the hele of the shoo and
fyne cordis in the mydill of the soole of the same shoo
and that ther be betwene the frettis of the heele and
the frettis of the myddill of the shoo the space of
thre fyngris.

_To arme a man._

ffirst ye muste sette on Sabatones and tye hem up on
to the shoo with smale poyntis that wol breke And then
griffus ＆ then quisses ＆ thē the breche of mayle And
thē tonletis. And thē brest And the vambras And the
rerebras And then glovys And then hange his daggere
upon his right side And then his shorte swerde upon
the lyfte side in a round rynge all nakid to pulle it
oute lightli And then putte his cote upon his bak And
then his basinet pỹnid up on two greet staplis before
the breste with a dowbill bokill behynde up on the bak
for to make the basinet sitte juste. And then his long
swerde in his hande. And then his pensill in his hande
peyntid of seynt George or of oure lady to blesse him
with as he gooth towarde the felde and in the felde.

A list of various accessaries and necessaries for a fight on foot is given; such as a tent, the refreshments, “Also a longe swerde shorte swerde and dagger Also a pensell to here in his hande of his avowrye,” also the tools for repairing damaged armour.

The _Pas de la Pélerine_, held by the Seigneur de Haubourdin Bastard de St. Pol, and the feat of arms performed between Jacques de Lalain and an Englishman named Thomas, both took place near St. Omer, before the Duke of Burgundy and the Comte de Charolais, in the year 1446. Jehan, Seigneur de Haubourdin, and six others, calling themselves _pélerins_ (pilgrims), were to hold the _pas_ for six weeks against all comers. The meeting had been proclaimed in the neighbouring countries; but, owing to national animosities and other causes prevailing at the time, only a single cavalier, and he a German fifty years old, attended from abroad to contest the _pas_. Great preparations had been made: lists prepared and a tribune, built of stone, erected for the judge. Two shields were hung in the lists, one representing Sir Lancelot of the Lake, the other Tristan de Leonnois. The German cavalier touched the shield of Sir Lancelot, and was given leave to do his devoir in accordance with the _chapitres d’armes_ drawn up for the occasion. The duke took his seat on the tribune on the day of combat at 9 a.m., and soon afterwards the fight with axes began between the German and the Sire de Haubourdin, who appeared as Sir Lancelot. The German, a tall man-at-arms, though well up in years, was still vigorous, but not very expert at the use of the axe. The number of strokes stipulated in the articles having been exchanged, without injury to either party, the duke cast his bâton. No other foreign venant presented himself, to the great disappointment of all concerned. A knight, Bernard de Bearne, Bastard de Foix, had been on his way to contest the _pas_, but had been struck down with fever and could not be present in time.

In the combat on foot between Jacques de Lalain and the Englishman named Thomas, Lalain fought in light armour, wearing a salade (_sallade de guerre toute ronde_), leaving his face exposed; while the Englishman wore heavy armour, his helmet being a visored bascinet. Lalain was armed with a long-shafted axe, with spikes at the top and bottom, having on one side a _bec de faucon_, or flook, and on the other a mallet (_mail rond_) with three prongs. The Englishman’s weapon had an axe-blade on one side, a hammer-head (_long mail_) on the other, and spikes top and bottom; it had also a roundel guard. After several strokes had been exchanged Lalain was wounded on the wrist, in spite of which the fight continued unabated. Thomas then struck some heavy blows at his adversary, who stepped suddenly back, so that the Englishman lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. This ended the fight.

Bernard de Bearne, Bastard de Foix, on recovering from his attack of fever, presented himself at Bruges, ready to fulfil his engagement at the _Pas de la Pélerine_; but as the time arranged for the course of that meeting had expired, the _chapitres d’armes_ prepared for it had ceased to operate. Nevertheless, a combat took place at Bruges with de Haubourdin, and new articles provided that lances were to be cast, and then a fight with axes, until one or the other had lost his weapon. On the day appointed for the duel the Bastard de Foix entered the lists, in full armour, the back of his jupon embroidered with the family arms, with the addition of the bâton of illegitimacy. Having paid his respects to the duke, who acted as umpire, he retired to his pavilion. De Haubourdin came and went in like manner, his jupon bearing the cognizance of Sir Lancelot. The champions then re-entered the lists for battle, both armed with _becs de faucon_, when it was observed that the weapon of de Bearne was garnished with a long, slender spike, calculated for easy penetration between the bars of the visor. De Haubourdin on seeing this had his visor removed, saying that he would save his adversary the trouble of piercing it. The combatants each carried a lance in the right hand, an axe and shield in the left. The fight commenced by the parties hurling their lances at each other; that of de Haubourdin missed his opponent, but de Bearne’s weapon struck the shield of his adversary, and glancing off wounded him in the arm. Hurling their shields at each other, the champions then closed, and after some heavy strokes had been delivered the duke’s bâton fell.[154]

De La Marche thus describes a feat of arms which took place on foot and on horseback between the Seigneur Philippe de Ternant, a Chevalier de la Toison d’Or, against Galiot de Baltasin, an esquire and chamberlain to the Duke of Milan, in April, 1446.

Lists of strong planks, with a double enceinte, had been erected in a large square in the town of Arras, near the Hostelerie de la Clef. They were spacious in extent, and within them handsome pavilions had been pitched for the use of the combatants, and there were gaily decorated stands for the use of the officials and spectators. On the day appointed Duke Philip of Burgundy took his seat on the tribune on the stand overlooking the lists, and with him were his son, the Comte de Charolais, and his nephew, Adolph de Cléves. On the first day of the fighting the Seigneur de Ternant entered the lists on horseback, armed at all points, accompanied by the Seigneur de Beaujeu and the Comte de Sainct Pol, who acted as his esquires. Dismounting, he paid his respects to his master the duke, after which he retired to his pavilion. His adversary entered the lists soon after in like manner, supported by the Comte d’Étampes, who presented him to the duke. Eight men-at-arms, holding bâtons in their hands, were posted in the lists in order to be ready to separate the combatants when necessary and to carry out the orders of the duke.

The usual preliminaries having been gone through, each knight made the sign of the cross and the first encounter commenced, which was a combat on foot with lances. Baltasin attacked his adversary with such force as to break the point of his lance; while de Ternant holed the bascinet of his opponent. The rule as to following up would seem to have been infringed by Baltasin, for the king of arms now measured the ground with cords and marked the limits of advance and retirement, seven paces each way. New lances were issued, and in the next round both weapons were broken; after which the seven thrusts provided for in the articles were duly and gallantly accomplished. The next fight was with estocs and, after some heavy thrusting, the limits of advance and retreat were again marked, this time five paces each way. On the resumption of the fight, which is described as terrible, Baltasin’s helmet was again holed, pieces of armour was shed on both sides and gauntlets broken. Baltasin then struck de Ternant on the lower end of the right pauldron, forcing off the coude, and the combatants assailed each other with such violence that the points of their estocs were broken off and others had to be supplied. At length the eleven thrusts were duly and gallantly performed and the combatants retired to their pavilions.

Then came the fight with hammer-headed axes, the heads having three prongs, _la mail à maniére de trois coings à fendre bois, point de poincte de dessous_; and the fifteen strokes provided for were duly accomplished. The champions were then led before the duke, who complimented them on their prowess.

After an interval of a few days the combat on horseback took place. On the chamfron of the Italian’s horse was a long spike, which was disallowed by the umpire, and the piece was replaced by another. De Ternant laid his lance in rest, and his sword was at his belt; while the Italian held his lance with the right hand, his sword and the bridle with his left. In the first course De Baltasin evaded impact with the lance, but spurred his charger at de Ternant’s horse, apparently with the object of unseating its rider. The Burgundian, however, kept the saddle, and after some further fighting the combat ended without hurt to either party. The action by the Italian was a contravention of one of the laws of the tourney, but it was passed over by the umpire without remark.[155]

The first joust of the Comte de Charolais, afterwards Charles the Bold, then in his eighteenth year, was run in the park at Brussels in 1452. His father, Duke Philip, selected the redoubted champion Jacques de Lalain as the first adversary; and a grand tournament was proclaimed to take place in Brussels soon after. In the trial course the Comte and Lalain charged each other, the former breaking his lance on the shield of his opponent, but Lalain passed without touching him with his lance. The duke was much displeased at this, and ordered that in the course next following there should be absolute equality between the parties; and on the signal being given they charged, each knight breaking his lance fairly and well on the other’s body. This time it was the duchess who was angry with Lalain, for his dangerous assault on her son. On the day of the tournament at Brussels in the same year the Comte de Charolais played his part manfully and well, and in the evening he was awarded the first prize by the ladies. In the _conte des finances_ of 1452 there is an item for 360 livres for his outfit.[156] The tournament had been proclaimed throughout the countries of chivalry, and was held in honour of the eighteenth birthday of the Comte de Charolais, in the Rathhausplatz of the city. Five challengers held the field against all comers. Charles ran in eighteen courses, his adversaries being, Adolph de Cléves, Seigneur de Ravastain; Wolfart de Borssele; the Earl of Buchan; Messire de Vere; Jean de la Tremoille; Charles de Ternant; Jacques de Lalain; and the Seigneur de Bugnicourt.

The jousting was followed by the quintain, and by a combat on foot. The meeting concluded with the _mêlée_, after which the prizes were presented. It was this _pas d’armes_ that was selected for reproduction at Brussels in 1905.

Jousting was now frequently combined with masques, mummeries and pageants. The Duke of Cléves was on a visit to his uncle Philip, Duke of Burgundy, in 1453; and a series of fêtes was held at Lille in his honour. During the inaugural banquet a beautiful girl entered the hall bearing a chaplet of flowers, with which she gracefully crowned the duke; and it seems that this was the sign that the entertainment immediately following would be given by him. This duly began on the morrow, an hour after noon, when a knight of the distinguished order of the swan issued from the palace, fully armed. It was the Duke of Cléves who was to hold a joust in the market-place at Lille that day; he, the tenant, against all comers, being ready to break a lance with all venans who presented themselves for combat. He was preceded by the figure of a gigantic swan, of the size of a horse; the bird, on each side of which marched a savage in his war-paint, led the knight along by a chain of gold. The knight was encircled by little angels, and was followed by the duke, who was magnificently dressed. The procession thus formed marched to the lists, where the knight of the swan tilted with the Comte de Charolais, the Comte de St. Pol, Sir Anthony, Bastard of Burgundy, and many others. After the jousting was done the duke escorted the ladies to the palace, where a banquet was served. The hall was gorgeously decorated. Facing the upper table a fountain played, and there was a live lion in the hall. After the company had taken their seats a holy friar advanced and addressed the duke, urging him to lead his armies against the infidel; and his grace swore that if the King of France would engage to leave his dominions in peace he was ready to march with his entire forces in defence of Christendom.[157]

A tournament was held on the coronation of King Edward IV, at which the ring and ruby were won by Lord Stanley.