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The following text is from a book found at the 42nd St. Library, on
Rene' d'Anjou, or good King Rene' as he was called, and it gives his
advice on the running of Tournaments. This was translated from the
French by Lady Kate the Highly Tolerant who is the Lady of Viscount
Sir Edward Zifran of Gendy. It is too bad the brilliantly colored
pictures could not be included herein as well. But then again you
probably saw them in other works. This is an incomplete project, but I
hope to get the rest of the document and the translation photocopied
soon.
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To Very High and Powerful Prince, my very dear and well-loved and
only brother Charles d'Anjou, your brother, am informing you, that in
pursuit of pleasure, and knowing for some time that you take pleasure
in seeing new pictures and writings, would make a proposal, the most
expansive I know of in form and manner, which is a tourney to be
contracted for at court elsewhere on some procession from France, when
any prince wishing to do so, does. The form I took is nearest to one
kept in Germany near the Rhine when a tourney is held and according to
the manner which they hold in Flanders and in Brabant: and the same in
the old fashion as is the custom in France, which I've found through
writings. Of these three fashion, I took what seemed best to me, and
compiled a fourth fashion as you will see, if it pleases you, by what
follows hereafter.
He who wants to hold a tourney, it is necessary that it be some
prince, or at least a high baron or banneret, which will be explained
hereafter.
But to better understand the manner, I will use here as example
the Duke of Brittany, Appelant, on the one hand, and the Duke of
Bourbon, Defendant, on the other. And for all the emblasons necessary
for this present tourney. I please myself to be concerned only with
imagined ones.
Therefore so follows the words of the Lord Duke of Brittany,
Appelant, to the opposing King at Arms opening and presenting to him a
tourney sword:
"King at Arms, hold this sword and go towards my cousin the duke
of bourbon and say to him on my behalf that for his valiance, wisdom
and great chivalry, which is a part of him, I send to him this sword -
signaling that I wish to strike a tourney and gathering of arms
against him, in the presence of ladies and maidens, and all others, on
a named day and set time, and at a place both fitting and convenient.
For which tourney I offer to him for judgement-sayers [marshals?]
eight knights and squires from which the will choose four, and said
judges will assign the time and place and will make ready the area.
When the said King at Arms will go towards the said Duke of
Bourbon, Defendant, and , in the greatest company and honourable
place, outside of a holy place, that he is able to find, will present
to him the sword, which he will hold by the point, thus saying to him:
"Very High and Very Powerful Prince and Formidable Lord, Very High
and Very Powerful Prince and My Very Formidable Lord the Duke of
Brittany, your cousin, sends me before you, for the greatest chivalry
and reknown of prowess that he knows to be your very noble character,
and, with all love and benevolence, and without any malice, requests
of you and proposes to you a tourney and gathering of arms before
ladies and maidens. For which event and a sign of this, he sends you
this ready sword to do this".
And if the said Duke of Bourbon accepts the tourney, he takes the
sword from the hand of the King at Arms saying: "I do not accept this
for any malice, but believing to please my said cousin, and for the
ladies pleasure".
And after he has taken the sword, the King at Arms will say these
words:
"Very High and Very Powerful Prince and Very Formidable Lord, Very
High and Very Powerful Prince and My Very formidable Lord the Duke of
Brittany, your cousin, there send you the arms of eight knights and
squires in a scroll of parchment, to which end, of the eight you shall
list four of those who will be most agreeable to you for said judges".
That said, he will show him the said scroll of parchment; the Duke
will take it and review the arms at his pleasure;he then will respond
to the said King at Arms:
"As for the said judges of whom you here show me the arms, the
lords of such place please me very well as knights, if it pleases
them; and the lord of such place please me as well as squires. And for
that you will carry to them letters of credential on my behalf; and
will also beseech my cousin the duke of Brittany, if he would write to
them that he is happy to accept, and at the earliest possible
opportunity for them, if they will let me know the day of said
tourney, and also the place".
That said, the Duke of bourbon will present to the King at Arms
two measures of gold cloth, or of velvet, or at least of patterned
crimson satin, with which he will draw the two lords leaders of the
tourney, done in paint on a large skin of parchment, on horseback as
they will be at said tourney, armed and crested, and he will attach
the said parchment to the said piece of gold cloth, or velvet or
satin. And in this state the King at Arms will take it, putting it in
a cloak fastened on the right shoulder, and with the good leave of the
Duke will go towards the said judges to know if they would like to
accept the office to be said judges.
And when he will be before them, having letters from the two
Dukes, Appelant and Defendant, with the said piece of clothe on his
shoulder, as well as having spoken of it, and on this attached
parchment will be painted the said lords on horseback, will present to
them his letters, as seen by one, the Appelant, and by the other, the
Defendant, which will be narratives of that stated above, and will
also contain credentials, informing that they wish those to be said
judges of said tourney undertaken by them.
And if the said judges accept the offer, the King at Arms must
thank them, as judges; if it pleases them, to order the day of said
tourney, and the place also, so that he is able to announce to the
places that it is agreed, it is seen: firstly, at the court of the
Lord appelant; secondly, at the court of the Lord Defendant; and
thirdly, at the court of the King and especially where it will be
decided by the said judges.
And as soon as the said judges have accepted the charge, the King
at Arms will paint the four shields of those said judges at the four
corners of the said parchment: it will be those of the two knights at
the top and those of the two squires at the bottom.
When the King at Arms will announce the festival of the tourney,
he must be accompanied by three or four heralds and poursuivants; and
the poursuivant with the highest voice must announce with three great
reposes: "OR OYEZ, OR OYEZ, OR OYEZ". One must make known to all
princes, lords, barons, knights and squires of the company from the
Ile-de-France, of the company from Champagne, of the company from
Flanders, and of the company from Ponthieu, of the company from
Vermandois and from Artois, of the company from Normandy, of the
company from Aquitaine and from Anjou, of the company from Brittany
and Berry, and also from Corbie, and all other of whatever company who
are of this kingdom and of all other Christian kingdoms, if they are
not banished or enemies of our sire King, to whom God gives good life,
that such a day of such a month, in such place of such area, will be a
great gathering of arms and very noble tourney held of measured clubs
and cutting swords, in proper armour, in crests, coats of arms and
coverings of armed horses of the arms of the noble fighters as well as
every ancient tradition as is the custom. Of which tourney are very
high leaders and very powerful princes and My Very Formidable Lords
the duke of Brittany as Appelant and the Duke of bourbon as Defendant.
And for this fact, one informs anew to all princes, lords, barons,
knights and squires who have the wish and desire to fight to acquire
honour, that they bring some small shields that I will give here
presently, so that one knows that they are the fighters. And for that,
in request of those who would wish to have it, these shields are
quartered with the arms of the four knights and squires, those who
intend to fight, are held to be in the inns the fourthe day before the
day of said tourney, in order to place their arms in the windows,
under pain of no longer being received at said tourney. And I, begging
pardon, make known to you this on behalf of my lords the said judges".
Hereafter follows the fashion and manner for which must be the
armour for the head, body and arms, crests and mantling, coats of
arms, saddles, armour and coverings of the horses, clubs and swords
for fighting.
The helm-padding must be a piece of boiled leather, which must be
well padded of one finger's thickness or more on the inside, and will
be covered with mantling of the arms of the one who will carry it. And
on the said helm, at the highest point, will be placed the said crest
and around this will be a twist of colours of said fighter, as large
as the arms or more or less to his pleasure.
Also, the helm is in the fashion of a bassinet or of a capeline
(iron with neck-piece), except that the visor is otherwise, as it is
drawn below.
Likewise, the body armour is as a leather breast-plate that one
calls a tonnelet (keg). And especially necessary is that the said body
armour be so wide and so ample that one can wear beneath a doublet or
padded corset of three fingers thickness on the shoulders, and along
the arms to the neck, and also on the back, for the blows of the clubs
and swords fall more voluntarily in these places than in others.
Of the forearm and guard arm there are two ways, of which one is
of bleached armour and the other of boiled leather.
The form and fashion of the guantlets is such that one can see
below in the drawing.
Also, the cutting sword must be in the form and manner hereafter
drawn, and similarly the club.
The coat of arms must be made neither more nor less than that of
the herald, reserving that it must be without folds by the body so
that one knows better whose are the arms.
Moreover, a fashion of harness is very necessary that one attaches
in front of the saddle-bow and which descends the length of the
measure of the saddle embracing the breast of the horse, such armour
is good to protect the horse, and also the leg of the fighter from all
strains. This armour is made of long straw between strong canvas
whip-corded doublets, and inside there is a bog full of straw, in the
manner of a crecent, which rests on the breast of the horse, and lifts
up the said armour, so that it doesn't rub against the legs of the
horse.
Also, one covers the said armour with a covering of the arms of
the lord who carries it.
The lists must be a quarter longer than wide, and of the height of
a man, or of an arm's length and a half, of strong squared wood, to
two across, the one high and the other low just to the knee. And must
be doubled, that is to have other lists outside a quarter step from
the main lists, to protect the servants and those non-armoured
sppointed by the judges to keep the fighters from the crowd of people.
And as ffro the size, it is necessary to make them as large or small
according to the number of fighters, and by the advice of the judges.
And for what seems to me that hereafter the armour and dress for
fighting are sufficiently declared, by right I return to apportion out
and declare the manners, statutes and ceremonies that are left to
keep, in order to do well and honourably to accomplish the said
tourney. And to begin, it is necessary to know the order and manner of
how the fighters must enter the city where they must hold the said
tourney.
First, the princes, lords or barons who wish to fly their banners
at the tourney must take care to be accompanied, principally at the
entrance that they make into the city, by the greatest number of
fighting knights and squires that they are able to assemble.
The war-horse of the prince, lord or head baron of other knights
or squires who accompany him must be the first to enter the city,
covered with the colours of the lord, and four shields of the arms
with four members of the company, and his head enplumed with ostrich
feathers, and at the neck, the collor of crests, a good small page on
his back, with or without saddle, as is pleasing. And after the said
war-horses must come the trumpeters and minstrels, trumpeting and
sounding, or playing other instruments such that will please then; and
then after, their heralds or poursuivants, having revested their coats
of arms; and after them, the said fighting knights and squires with
their following of all other people.
Also, as soon as a lord or baron has arrived at his inn, he must
place his arms in the window in the manner which follows: that is to
have, to be put by the heralds and poursuivants before his lodging, a
long plank attached against the will, on which are painted his arms,
it is to have crest and shield, and those of all in his company who
wish to fight, knights and squires as well. And at the high window of
his said lodging, he will put his banner unfurled, hanging over the
street.
And the said judges must make their entrance into the city the day
that the lords and other fighters make it, and must take pains to
enter first, if they can, in the form and manner which follows:
And the siad judges must have before them, four sounding trumpets,
carrying each of them the banner of one of the said judges; and after
the four said trumpeters, four poursuivants each one carrying a coat
of arms of one of the said judges, similarly as the trumpets. And
after the said four poursuivants, must come alone the King at Arms,
having on his coat of arms the piece of gold cloth, velvet or satin.
And after the said King at Arms must come side by side the two knight
judges on beautiful palfrey, each covered to the ground with his arms;
and must be vested in long robes, the richest they are able to find;
and the two squires equally after them.
And each of the judges must have a footman, holding in his hand
the bridle of the war-horse. And they must also have each one a white
rod in hand, as tall as they, that they will carry upright in the air,
on foot, on horseback, everywhere they will be during the festival, so
that one knows better that they are the judges. And after them must
come all of the others who are able.
The judges must hold their state together during the said
festival, and, if it is possible for them, to lodge in a religious
place where there is a cloister, for there is no other place so
convenient to display the crests of the fighters.
And the said judges must put before their lodgings a canvas of
three arms in height, and twice the width, where are painted the
banners of those four held together by the King at Arms; and above
will be put in writing the two names of the two leaders of the
tourney, and below the name, family names, lords, titles and offices
of the said four judges.
In the evening of the day of the coming of the lords, fighting
knights and squires, and of the said judges also, all ladies and
maidens who will be coming to see the festival will gather themselves
in a great hall after, supper; and will come there the said judges
having their white rods, with their trumpets sounding, and the
poursuivants before themand the King at Arms. In the hall they will
find their place prepared and will begin. All other knights and
squires will arrive in the same manner at this time in the said hall.
And then, by order of the said judges, dances will begin, and after
having danced some half hour, the said judges will present their
poursuivants and the King at Arms on the balcony where the minstrels
play in order to announce the display of the crested helms and of the
banners which will fly the next day, which will be better explained
below. And after, the dances will begin again, for as long as it will
please the judges; then they will ask that wine and spices be brought,
and thus will end the festival for the first day.
The next day, one will bring the banners, pennants and mantles of
the two leaders to the aforementioned cloister, to present them to the
judges; and following all other banners and crested helms, in the
order and manner which follows:
And first, the banners of all princes must be brought by one of
their knight chamberlains and the pennants of said leaders by their
first valets or prominent squires. And the banners of the other
bannerets by their gentlemen , so that it will please them. The helms
of these must be carried by their stablemen. And the helms of the
other bannerets, knights and squires, by gentlemen or noble valets.
Also, when all the helms will be thus placed and arranged in order
to display them, will come all ladies and maidens, and all lords,
knights and squires, visiting them from one end to the other, in the
presence of the four judges who will lead three or four turns of
ladies, to best see and inspect the crests: and there will be a herald
or poursuivant who will announce to the ladies, according to the place
where they are, the names of those to who belong the crests, so
that.....