Here we have a very interesting 15th century account of a joust à plaisance, held for the pleasure both of the knights themselves and of the gathered ladies in the gallery. The text is less fluid than some of the other elements included in the source, Sir John Astley's Great Book of Chivalry copied from an earlier manuscript in the 15th century. The same book was copied for the famous Sir John Paston at the same time.
This text is of primary interest because it gives a sort of formula that might have been used for jousts or for single combats, either on foot on in a pas d'armes. The gentles gather, making some opening statements to the gallery. The heralds speak with the ladies, and the "officers" of the tournament see that all are treated equally. The six defenders come to the field unhelmed, accompanied by their servants on horseback. They come before the ladies, beseeching their attention and their approval. They then return to their redoubt, lace on their helmets, and joust until the evening, when the heralds cry, "lostel à lostel." Then, returning once again to the ladies, they take their leave to change and freshen up. Returning, the ladies award the prizes and then commence the dancing. The night continues with wine and spice.
Next, there is a list of what a jouster should bring. The pieces
of armour are noted, along with a few of the arming clothes. See
also another document found in Sir John's book, "How a Man
Shall be Armed." In addition to his arms and armour, he should
have a courser with specially reinforced tack and a saddle that
extended downward to protect the legs with "jambs" such
that no leg armour was required. He should have an armourer accompany
him, with his tools. He should have two squires on horseback and
six other attendants all in livery.
We, the Heralds of Arms, bearing shields with devices, shall serve in our knowledge of the name and arms of gentlemen. There should be six such gentlemen; who, for their great desire and for the worship that these gentlemen have taken upon themselves on this 3rd day of May next, shall come before the high and mighty redoubted ladies and gentleman to appear at just before noon, to joust with all comers on the said day until six that afternoon.
And the said ladies and gentle
women shall give unto the best jouster of all a costly diamond.
Unto the next best a ruby worth half as much. And to the third
a sapphire worth half of that. And on the said day there should
be officers of arms to measure that the spears
are of the same length, that is the coronal,
vamplate
and 'grapers'
inclusive and anything else pertaining. They shall joust with
the said comers, who may take the length of the said spears with
the advice of the officers of arms, who shall be indifferent to
all parties on the said day.
The six gentlemen must come to the field unhelmed, their helmets borne before them, their servant on horseback bearing a spear. It is the said six spears which the servants shall bear before them to the field. As the said gentlemen come before the ladies and gentle women, then shall a herald of arms goes before the worshipful ladies and gentlewomen and say:
"These six gentlemen have come into your presence, recommended by your good grace as humbly as they can, beseeching you to find the best jouster and give him the diamond, the ruby to the next best, and the sapphire to he who follows third."
The six gentlemen go to the
redoubt and lace on their helmets. When the heralds cry "lostel à lostel,"
the gentlemen shall once again go before the ladies and unlace
their helmets. They make their closing remarks and then return
home to their lodgings to change. They return to the presence
of the ladies. One of the ladies comes forward and gives the diamond
unto the best jouster saying in this way, "Sir, these ladies
and gentle women thank you for your deportment and your great
labor that you have done this day in their presence. These ladies
and gentle women have said that you have jousted best on this
day; therefore the said ladies give you this diamond and send
you the worship and joy of your lady." This shall also be
done with the ruby and the sapphire with the two next best jousters.
Then shall the herald of arms
stand up on high and say with a high voice, "John as jousted
well. Richard has jousted well better, and Thomas has justed best
of all. Then shall he to whom the diamond was given shall take
a lady by the hand and begin the dance. And when the ladies have
danced as long as they like, then should follow the spices and
wine and [srynke]. And then a void. (?)
We Herrowdys of Armis beryng
sheldis of deviis here we yeve in knowlache un to all Gentill
men of name and of armus. That ther ben vj Gentilmen of name &
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 &
Gentilmen there to a pere at ix of the belloe be fore noone. And
to Juste a yens all comers wtoute on the sayd day un
to vj of the belle at after noon.
And then be there a vise of
the sayde ladys & Gentille wymmen to yeve un to the best Juster
wtoute a Diamunde of xl li.
And un to the nexte the best
juste a rube of xx li. And un to the thyrde well juste a sauffer
of x li. And on the sayde day there beyng offecers of armis schuying
thayre mesure of thayre speris garnyst. That ys Cornall wamplate
& grapers all of asyse that they schall. Juste wt and that
they sayde Comers may take the lengthe of the seyde 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 vj Gentillmen most com in
to the felde un helmyd and theyre helm borne be fore tham &
thayre servant 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 Gentillmen
ben com be fore the ladyys & Gentilwime. Then schall be sent
an harawde of arm up un to that worschypfull ladys & Gentylwymmen
these vj Gentill men ben come in to yowre presens and recomaundit
ham all un to yowr goode grace in as lowli wyse as they can besechyng
yow for to gyffe un to iij best Justers wtowte 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
helm. And when the harrawdis cri a lostell a lostell, then schall
all the vj Gentill men wtin unhelm them before the seyde ladyys.
And make theyre abeisans and go hom un to their loggyng &
chaunge them.
Now be com to the Gentyll men
withoute in to the presens of the ladyys
Then comyth forth a lady. Be
the a vise of all the ladiis & Gentill wymmen & yevis
the Dyamund unto the beste Juster wtoute. Sayying in this wise
sere these ladiis & Gentill wymmen thank yow for yowr dysport
& yowr gret labur that ye have this day in thayre presens.
And the sayde ladiis and Gentyll wymmen sayyn that the ye have
beste Just this day. There fore the sayde ladys & Gentillwymmen
gyff yow 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 arm
stonde up all on hey & schall sey with a hey voyce John hath
well justyd. Rycharde hath Justyd better. & Thomas hath justyd
best of all.
Then schall he that 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 spicys & wyne & srynke. And then a voyde.
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