Rene of Anjou, King Rene's Tournament Book: Traictie de la forme et devis d'ung tournoy.
Translated by Elizabeth Bennett. 2nd ed. rev., 1997.
<http://www.princeton.edu/~ezb/rene/renebook.txt>.

To the very noble and powerful prince, my very dear, beloved and
only brother Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine, Mortain and Guise: 
I, Rene of Anjou your brother, want you to know that because I
have long known you to take pleasure in hearing new stories and
tales, I have decided to make for you a little treatise, the
longest that I know of, on the form and way in which I think a
tourney ought to be undertaken at court or elsewhere in the
marches of France, as certain princes like to have it done.  I
have taken this form mostly from that used for organizing
tourneys in Germany and on the Rhine, but also from the customs
that they follow in Flanders and Brabant, and in the same way
from the ancient customs that we used to follow in France, which
I have found written down in manuscripts.  From these three
customs I have taken what seems good to me, and have made and
compiled from them a fourth way of holding a tourney, as you will
see, if it pleases you, by what follows hereafter.

     Hereafter follows the form and manner in which a tourney ought to be
     undertaken.  And in order to organize and carry out this tourney
     well and honorably and in the right way, you must keep to the order
     hereafter described.

                                 AND FIRST

Whoever wishes to hold a tourney, whether he is a prince, or a
less high baron, or a knight banneret, he ought to do it as is
explained hereafter.

                              That is to say:

That the aforesaid prince ought first to send secretly to the
prince to whom he wishes to present the sword, to find out
whether or not he intends to accept, and in order to arrange the
appropriate public ceremonies if he wishes to accept.  The
prince, having before him all his barons, or at least a great
number of knights and squires, ought to call the king of arms of
his country, because it appertains to him before all other kings
of arms; and if he is not present, in his absence, some notable
herald.  And the prince ought to give him a rebated sword such as
is used in a tourney, and say the words that follow.

But in order to better explain the custom, here take the Duke of
Brittany for the appellant on the one hand, and the Duke of
Bourbon for the defendant on the other.  And I have used blazons
made up for my own amusement for the blazons necessary for this
tourney.  

Thus follow the words that the Duke of Brittany, appellant,
should say to the king of arms while giving him a tourney sword
like the one drawn below:

"King of arms, take this sword and go to my cousin the Duke of
Bourbon and tell him for me that on account of his great personal
courage, valor, and chivalry, I have sent him this sword to
signify that I wish to hold a tourney and bouhort of arms against
him, in the presence of ladies and damsels, and many others, on
the day and time named, and in a place suitable and convenient
for this.  And for this tourney I suggest four judges, chosen
from eight knights and squires, that is to say so and so for
knights, and so and so for squires; these judges will arrange the
time and place and prepare the lists.

     Hereafter is shown the way and manner in which the Duke of Brittany,
     appellant, gives the sword to the king of arms to go and present it
     to the Duke of Bourbon, defendant.

And you ought to know that the appellant lord always ought to
choose half the judges: that is, two from the country of the
defendant lord, and the other two from his own country or
elsewhere, at his pleasure: and he ought right willingly to
choose the judges from the most notable, honorable and ancient
barons, knights and squires that he can find, who have seen the
most and travelled and who are reputed wiser and more
knowledgeable about feats of arms than other men.

Then the king of arms should go to the Duke of Bourbon,
defendant, and before a great company and in the most honorable
place, except for holy ground, that he can find, he should
present the sword to the Duke, holding it by the point, and say
to him:

"Very noble and powerful prince and redoubted lord, the very
noble and powerful prince and my redoubted lord the Duke of
Brittany, your cousin, has sent me to you on account of the great
chivalry and prowess that he knows is in your very noble person.  
In all love and friendship, and not out of any ill will, he
wishes to hold a tourney and bouhort of arms before ladies and
damsels; and to signify this he sends you this sword, which is
appropriate for this."

     Hereafter is portrayed the way and manner in which the king of arms
     presents the sword to the Duke of Bourbon, defendant.

And after the king of arms has presented the sword to the Duke of
Bourbon and if the Duke has undertaken such an affair or
obligation that he cannot carry out or undertake the tourney,
then he may excuse himself in the manner following:

"I thank my cousin for the offer that he has made to me, and on
account of the great good that he believes is in me, I wish well
that it pleased God that it could be so; but there is much I must
think of.  And on the other hand there are in this kingdom many
other lords who merit this honor more than I, and know well how
to arrange a tourney; which is why I pray you to excuse me to my
cousin.  For I have affairs to bring to an end that closely touch
my honor, which necessarily I must finish before any other tasks. 
So, may it please him to find my excuse agreeable, for I would do
anything else that pleased him."

Item, if he agrees to participate in the tourney, he should take
the sword from the hand of the king of arms and say:

"I accept not out of ill will, but to please my cousin, and to
amuse the ladies."

And after he has taken the sword, the king of arms should say to
him these words:

"Very noble and very powerful prince and very redoubted lord, the
very noble and very powerful prince and my very redoubted lord
the Duke of Brittany, your cousin, sends you here the blazons of
eight knights and squires on a roll of parchment, so that you may
choose from these eight the four of them whom you would like to
be the judges."

Then the king of arms should give the Duke the roll of parchment,
and the Duke should study the blazons as long as he likes, and
then should answer the king of arms:

"As for the judges whose blazons you have shown me, the lords of
such and such places, please me well for the knights, and the
lords of such and such places for the squires.  And as to this
you will carry them letters of credence from me.  Also I want you
to ask my cousin the Duke of Brittany to have them write on their
part that they are willing to accept, and also to tell me the day
and place of the tourney as soon as possible."

     Hereafter is shown the way and manner in which the king of arms
     gives the eight blazons of the knights and esquires to the Duke of
     Bourbon.

Note that immediately after the Duke of Bourbon has chosen the
four judges, the king of arms must send two heralds in all
diligence, one to the appellant lord to get the letters to the
judges, and if he thinks that the judges live far apart, another
to ask them if they will gather together in some town, which they
may choose, so that he may honorably present the letters of the
lords appellant and defendant.

This said, the Duke of Bourbon ought to give the king of arms two
ells of cloth of gold, or velvet, or at least figured crimson
satin, on which he should place a large piece of painted
parchment with the two principal lords of the tourney, on
horseback as if at the tourney, armed and with crests.  He should
attach the parchment to the piece of cloth of gold, velvet or
satin.  And the king of arms should put it on as if it was a
cloak knotted on the right shoulder, and with the permission of
the Duke he should go to the judges to ask if they will accept
the office of judge.  And when he comes before them with the
letters from the two Dukes appellant and defendant, with the
piece of cloth on his shoulders, and attached to it the parchment
on which are painted the lords on horseback, armed and with
crests, as is shown hereafter, he should present the letters from
the appellant and the defendant to them.  And these letters
describe the things above, and also contain credentials for the
judges of the tourney undertaken by the Dukes.

     Hereafter is shown the way and manner in which the king of arms
     shows the lords appellant and defendant to the four judges, and
     presents them with the letters of the lords, having the cloth of
     gold on his shoulder and the painted parchment showing the two
     captains.

Then he should say to them the words that follow hereafter:

"Noble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires, the
very noble and powerful princes the Dukes of Brittany and
Bourbon, my very redoubted lords, greet you, and have charged me
to deliver these letters of credence from both of them, as you
will know as soon as you have read these letters, which you may
do whenever it pleases you."

After they have read or had read their letters, and when they
have asked for and heard the letters of credence, the king of
arms should say to them:

"Noble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires, I have
come before you to advise, request and notify you on behalf of
the very noble and very powerful princes and my very redoubted
lords the Dukes of Brittany and Bourbon that if you wish to
please them you will take charge of organizing, and be judges, of
a very noble tourney and bouhort of arms that has recently been
undertaken by them.  These lords have agreed together to choose
you over all others on account of the great fame of your valor,
the renown of your intelligence and the praise of the virtues
that have long endured in your noble persons.  So, do not refuse,
for much good may come of it:

And first, all may know which men are come of ancient nobility,
by the way they bear arms and crests.

Second, those who have failed to behave honorably will be
chastised so that the next time they will be wary of doing that
which is not fitting for honor.

Third, each one who takes up the sword will get good exercise of
arms.

And fourth, by chance it may happen that some young knight or
squire, by doing well, will get mercy, grace, or an increase of
love from his very gentle lady and mistress.  

So, my noble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires, I
ask you once again on behalf of my very redoubted lords that for
all these reasons you will agree to take charge, in such a manner
that by your intelligence, organization and conduct, the tourney
will take place in such a way that fame and widespread rumor will
go out to sustain nobility and increase honor, so that, if it
pleases God, every gentleman will wish from thenceforward to
practice the exercise of arms more often."

Then the judges, if they wish to accept the offer, should answer
in the form and manner that follows:

"We humbly thank our very redoubted lords for the honor they do
to us, for the love they bear to us, and for the faith they have
in us.  And although there are in this kingdom many other knights
and squires who know better than us how to organize and put in
order such a noble deed as this tourney, nonetheless to obey our
very redoubted lords, we offer with a good heart to obey and
serve them, and accept the charge that has been put forth before
us.  And we will do it as well and as loyally as possible in this
world, using all our intelligence and strength so loyally that if
by chance we err, from which God protect us, it will be more from
innocence than from vice.  And we will submit always to the
correction, good will and pleasure of our redoubted lords."

Then the king of arms should thank the judges, and ask them, as
judges, to choose the day and place of the tourney, so that he
can have it cried appropriately.  And all the judges ought to
come together in council, to choose the day and the place, so
that the king of arms can begin to cry the tourney in the places
appropriate; that is to say:

First, at the court of the lord appellant; second, at the court
of the lord defendant; and third, at the court of the king and
anywhere else that the judges advise.  And if the king of arms
cannot or will not go in person to the courts of other lords, to
cry the tourney, he may send a pursuivant to each court to do it. 
But the king of arms must go personally to the court of the two
lords, captains of the tourney, and also to the king.

     HEREAFTER FOLLOWS THE FORM AND MANNER IN WHICH YOU SHOULD
     CRY THE TOURNEY

And first of all, the king of arms should be accompanied by three
or four heralds and pursuivants when he cries the festival of the
tourney in the form and manner that is described hereafter.

     Hereafter is shown the way and manner in which the king of arms, with the
     cloth of gold on his shoulder and the two captains and the arms of the
     judges painted at the four corners of the parchment, cries the tourney, and
     how the pursuivants give a little shield with the arms of the judges to all
     who wish to take part. 

Immediately after the judges have accepted the charge, the king
of arms should have the arms of the judges painted at the four
corners of the parchment; that is to say those of the two knights
above, and those of the two squires below.

And first, one of the pursuivants of the company of the king of
arms, who has a very loud voice, ought to cry, taking three great
breaths and three great pauses:

                        "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE

Let all princes, lords, barons, knights and squires of the
marches of the Isle de France, Champagne, Flanders, Ponthieu
first of seignories, Vermandois and Artois, Normandy, Aquitaine
and Anjou, Brittany and Berry, and also Corbie, and all others of
whatever marches that are in this kingdom and all other Christian
kingdoms, who are not banished or enemies of the king our lord,
may God save him, know that on such a day and such a month, in
such a place in such a town, there will be a very great festival
of arms and a very noble tourney with maces of one measure and
rebated swords, in appropriate armor, with crests, coats of arms
and horses covered with the arms of the noble tourneyers, as is
the ancient custom;

Of which tourney the captains are the very noble and powerful
princes and my very redoubted lords the Duke of Brittany
appellant and the Duke of Bourbon defendant;

And to make this better known, all princes, lords, barons,
knights and squires of the above marches, and others from
whatsoever nations they are, not banished or enemies of the king,
our lord, who wish to tourney to acquire honor, may carry these
little shields that will be given out presently, so that everyone
may know who are the tourneyers.  And anyone can have them who
wants: the little shields are quartered with the arms of the four
knights and squires who are judges of the tourney.

And at the tourney there will be noble and rich prizes given by
ladies and damsels.

Moreover, I announce to all of you princes, lords, barons,
knights and squires who intend to participate in the tourney that
you must come to the inns the fourth day before the day of the
tourney, and display your arms at the windows, on pain of not
being allowed to participate; and this I tell you on behalf of my
lords the judges, so please excuse me."

     Hereafter follows the fashion and style in which ought to be made
     the harness for the head, body and arms, shields and mantlings that
     one calls, in Flanders and in Brabant and in those noble countries
     where tourneys are commonly held, mantlings or achievements, coats
     of arms, saddles, trappers and horsecloths for horses, maces and
     swords for tourneying.

And to show you better, here below is drawn one piece after
another as it should be.

That is to say, first the crest ought to be mounted on a piece of
cuir boulli, which ought to be well padded to a finger's
thickness, or more on the inside; and the piece of leather ought
to cover all the top of the helm, and be covered with a mantling,
decorated with the arms of whoever carries it.  And on the
mantling above the top of the helm should be the crest, and
around it should be a twisted roll of whatever colors the
tourneyer wishes, about the thickness of an arm or more or less
at his pleasure.

Item, the helm is in the fashion of a bascinet or a capeline,
except that the visor is different, as is painted below.  And to
better explain the style of the crest, the cuir boulli and the
helm, they are shown below in three ways.

     Hereafter follows the fashion and style of the bascinet, the cuir
     boulli and the crest.

Item, the body harness is like a cuirass or like the foot harness
that one calls a tonnelet.  And also you may well tourney in a
brigandine if you wish; but in whatever kind of body harness you
wish to tourney, it is necessary that the harness be big and
ample enough in all places that you may wear a pourpoint or
corset underneath.  It is necessary that the pourpoint be padded
to three fingers' thickness on the shoulders and the length of
the arms up to the neck, and on the back also, because the blows
of maces and swords fall more frequently on these places than
elsewhere.  And to see the principal and best fashion for
tourneying, drawn here below is a perforated cuirass in the best
and most appropriate fashion and style possible for the tourney.

     Hereafter is shown the fashion and style of the cuirass and the
     style of the arm armor appropriate for tourneying.

That is to say, rerebraces, vambraces, and gauntlets; which
vambraces and rerebraces are made to fit easily together, and
there are two kinds, of which one is white harness and the other
is cuir boulli, which two kinds of white harness and cuir boulli
harness are painted below.

     Hereafter follows the style and form of the rerebrace and the
     vambrace of white harness or cuir boulli.

The form and fashion of the gauntlets is as you can see below in
the figure.

     Hereafter is shown the fashion and style of the gauntlets.

Item, the rebated sword should be in the form and manner
hereafter painted, and similarly the mace.

     Hereafter is shown the fashion and style of the sword and the mace.

Of the size and fashion of the swords and maces, there is nothing
much to say except about the length and width of the blade.  It
should be four fingers wide, so that it cannot pass through the
eyeslot of the helm, and the two edges ought to be as wide as a
finger's thickness.  And so that it will not be too heavy, it
should be hollowed out in the middle and rebated in front and all
in one piece from the crosspiece to the end, and the crosspiece
should be so short that it can just block any blow that by chance
descends or comes sliding down the length of the sword to the
fingers.  And it ought to be as long as the arm with the hand of
the man who carries it, and the mace similarly.  The mace ought
to have a little rondel well riveted in front of the hand to
protect it.  And you may, if you wish, attach a light chain,
braid or cord to your sword or mace around the arm, or to your
belt, so that if it escapes your hand you can recover it before
it falls to the ground.

As to the fashion of the pommel of the sword, this is at your
pleasure.  And the weight of the maces and the weight of the
swords ought to be checked by the judges on the vigil of the day
of the tourney.  And those maces that are not of unreasonable
weight or length should be stamped with a hot iron by the judges.

The leg harness is in the same style that you wear for war,
without any difference, except that the smallest guards are the
best, and sollerets are very useful against the points of spurs.

The shortest spurs are more convenient than the long ones,
because they won't get pulled or twisted off in the press.

The surcoat ought to be made like that of a herald, except that
there should not be a pleat over the body, in order to better
display the wearer's coat of arms.

In Brabant, Flanders and Hainault, and in those countries near
the Germanies, they are accustomed to arms themselves differently
for a tourney.  They take a demi-pourpoint of two layers, not
more, padded in the back and over the abdomen; and then over this
a bracer, four fingers thick and stuffed with cotton.  Over this
they put on vambraces and rerebraces of cuir boulli, reinforced
with five or six small rods the thickness of a finger, glued on,
that run the length of the arm just to the joints.  And for the
shoulders and the elbow, the rerebraces and vambraces are made
like those shown above, except that they are bigger and heavier;
and they are well padded in front.  And a double layer of cloth
holds the rerebrace and the vambrace together like a mail sleeve. 
Over all this they wear a light brigandine with a perforated
breast like that shown below.  And as for the head armor, they
have a great bascinet with a camail without a visor, and they
attach the camail under the brigandine all around, to the breast
and on the shoulders with strong laces.  And over all this they
put a great helm made all in one piece of cuir bouilli and
perforated below, the size of a wooden trencher, and the eyeslot
is barred with iron in a grid three fingers square, which is
attached in front by a chain to the breast of the brigandine, so
that you may hang it from the saddle to refresh youself, and put
it on again when you wish.  And while you do not have your helm
on your head, no one dares to strike until you have put it back
on.  On this helm they put an armorial mantling, the torse or
twisted roll of the device, and the crest with the tourneyer's
arms, attached with laces as has already been explained.  And
over the brigandine they put the surcoat.  And when all this is
on a man, he seems more wide than tall, so I won't say anything
more about it.  And as to their saddles, they are of the height
that is usual for jousting in ancient France, and the peytrel and
the chanfron of leather also; and when they are wearing all this
equipment on horseback, they cannot aid or turn their horses,
because they are so clumsy.  And to return to the true and more
gentle fashion, the manner of arming yourself that was described
above is the most beautiful and safest.  And war saddles also are
good for tourneying, when they are well closed behind, and not
too high at the saddle-bow in front.

And as to their maces, swords and leg harness, they are like
those that were described above.

Moreover, it is necessary to have a kind of hourt that is
attached in front of the bow of the saddle, both above and below,
in several places, as well and as securely as you can; and it
falls the length of an ell in front of the saddle, and wraps
around the breast of the horse.  The hourt is good to protect the
horse or destrier from being hit in the fray, and it also
protects the legs of the tourneyers from blows.

This hourt is made of long straw between strong cloth reinforced
with whipcords, and inside the hourt is a sack full of straw, in
the shape of a crescent, attached to the hourt, that rests
against the breast of the horse, and raises the hourt, so that it
doesn't bang against the legs of the horse.  And besides the
reinforcement, there may be rods sewn inside that hold it
straight and in place.  And the fashion of the hourt is shown
below, both the inside and the outside, so that you can see the
one and the other, and how you put the sack inside the hourt. 
The fashion of the sack is thus:

     Hereafter is shown the fashion and style of the sack that goes
     inside the hourt.

     Here is shown the inside of the hourt.

The inside of the hourt is as has been shown above.

     Here is shown the outside of the hourt.

Item, cover the hourt with the coat of arms of the lord who will
use it in the fight as is shown hereafter.

     Hereafter is shown the covering of the hourt.

     Hereafter follows the two Dukes of Brittany and Bourbon on horseback
     armed and with crests as if they were at the tourney.

The barriers ought to be one-fourth longer than wide, and of the
height of a man, or of the length of an arm and a half, of strong
wood and with two crossbars, the one high and the other at knee-
level.  They should be double; that is to say a second barrier
four feet outside the first barrier, to refresh the foot
servants, and protect them from the press; and within this space
should be the armed and unarmed men ordered by the judges to
protect the tourneyers from the crowd.  And as to the size of the
lists, they should be bigger or smaller according to the number
of tourneyers and the opinion of the judges.

     Hereafter is shown the fashion of the lists and the scaffolds.

And because it seems to me that the harness and equipment for
tourneying have been sufficiently explained, I return to
explaining the customs, rules and ceremonies that are necessary
to well and honorably hold a tourney.

And to begin with, you have already heard the cry of the king of
arms, who announced to all those who wish to participate in the
tourney that no matter who they are they must come to their inns
the Thursday four days before the tourney, before the hour of
terce, on pain of not being allowed to take part, and display
their coats of arms in the windows.  Hence it is necessary to
next describe the order and manner in which the tourneyers ought
to enter the city where the tourney is held.

And first, the princes, lords and barons who wish to display
their banners at the tourney ought to take pains to be
accompanied, especially when entering the city, by as many
tourneying knights and squires as possible; and in this way ought
to make their entry as follows hereafter.

That is to say that the destrier of the prince, lord or baron who
is captain of the knights and squires who accompany him ought to
enter the city first, covered with the device of the captain, and
with four escutcheons of the captain's arms on the four limbs of
the horse, and the horse's head decorated with ostrich feathers,
and on the horse's neck a collar of bells, and in the saddle a
very small page, as best pleases him.  And after the prince's
destrier ought to enter similarly the destriers of the other
knights and squires of his company, two by two, or each one by
himself if you like, with the knights' and squires' arms on their
four limbs, as above.  And after the destriers ought to come the
trumpeters and minstrels, playing, or whatever other instruments
you wish; and after them, heralds or pursuivants dressed in their
coats of arms; and after them, the knights and squires with all
their other followers.

     Here begins the description of the entry of one of the captains to
     the place of the tourney, which should suffice for both.

Item, immediately after a lord or baron arrives at the inn, he
should display his coat of arms in the window.  He should have
the heralds and pursuivants put up a long board attached to the
wall in front of his lodgings, on which is painted his blazon,
that is to say his crest and shield, and those of his company who
will take part in the tourney, knights and squires alike.  And he
should have his banner displayed at a high window of the inn,
hanging over the road; and for doing this the heralds and
pursuivants ought to be paid four sous for putting up each coat
of arms, and each banner, and they must supply the nails and
ropes to nail and raise and lower the banners, pennons and coats
of arms whenever it is necessary.  And note that the captains of
the tourney should do the same as the other lords and barons in
front of their inns: there is no difference, except that at the
windows of their inns they should display their pennons with
their banners: and the barons who put up their banners at the
windows are required on their honor to display the coats of arms
of at least five other tourneyers with their banners, as a
company.

     Hereafter follows a description of how the captains display their
     blazons at the windows.

     Hereafter follows the form and manner in which the judges should
     make their entry into the city, on the day on which the lords and
     other tourneyers arrive; nevertheless the judges ought to take pains
     to enter first, if they can.

                                And first.

In front of the judges should come four sounding trumpeters, each
carrying the banner of one of the judges, and after the four
trumpeters, four pursuivants each wearing the coat of arms of one
of the judges, dressed like the trumpeters.  And after the four
pursuivants should come the king of arms who cried the tourney,
alone, wearing over his coat of arms the piece of cloth of gold,
velvet, or figured crimson satin, and over that, the parchment
with coats of arms as described before.

And after the king of arms should come the two knights who are
judges, side by side, each on a fair palfrey covered with the
judge's coat of arms right down to the ground.  The judges should
be dressed in long robes, the best they can afford.  And the two
squires should come after them, similarly.  And each judge should
be accompanied by a foot servant with his hand on the bridle of
the destrier.  Also each of the judges ought to have a white rod
as tall as he is in his hand, which he carries upright, on foot
and on horseback, wherever he is, during the festival, so that
everyone may better know who are the judges.  And after them
should come as large an entourage as possible.

        HEREAFTER FOLLOWS A DESCRIPTION OF THE ENTRY OF THE JUDGES

And note that as soon as they have arrived, the lord appellant
and the lord defendant ought to send their chamberlains and their
accountants to the judges, to do and pay for whatever the judges
find necessary, as is more clearly explained hereafter.

The judges ought to keep their entourage together during the
festival and if at all possible lodge themselves in a religious
house where there is a cloister, because there is nothing so
convenient for setting up the crests of the tourneyers as a
cloister.  (The day after the judges and the tourneyers arrive at
the inns, each tourneyer must bring his crest and banners to be
set up by the judges, and divided by the judges into those of one
side and those of the other, and visited by and shown to the
ladies.)  And the judges should have in front of their inn a
cloth three arms'-lengths high and two wide, on which are drawn
the banners of the four judges held by the king of arms who cried
the festival, and above at the top of the cloth should be written
the two names of the captains of the tourney, that is, the
appellant and the defendant, and at the foot, below the four
banners, should be written the names, surnames, lordships, titles
and offices of the four judges.

     Here is shown the herald who holds the four banners of the four
     judges.

On the evening after the lords, knights and squires arrive, and
the judges as well, all the ladies and damsels who have come to
see the festival should assemble in a great room after supper. 
Then the judges should come there with their white rods and their
trumpeters sounding, and the pursuivants in front of them, and
the king of arms, in such an order and triumph as they entered
the city, except that they are on foot.  In that room they will
find their place prepared and they should stand there. 
Similarly, all other knights and squires should come at that hour
to the hall.  Then, by the order of the judges, dancing should
begin.  After everyone has danced a half hour or so, the judges
should have their pursuivants and the king of arms mount up onto
the gallery where the minstrels play, to make a cry in the form
and manner that follows:

That is to say, that the pursuivant who has the loudest voice
should cry, taking three great breaths, and three great pauses:

                       "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE."

And then the king of arms should say:

"Very high and powerful princes, dukes, counts, barons, lords,
knights and squires at arms: I notify you on behalf of my lords
the judges that each of you must bring your helm, with the crest
which you intend to wear at the tourney, and your banner, at the
hour of noon, to the inn of the judges, so that the judges, at
one o'clock, may set them up for the ladies to come and see and
give their opinions to the judges.

And tomorrow, there is nothing else for you to do except that
there is a dance after supper, as today."

After this has been announced, the dancing should begin again,
and last as long as the judges like.  Then they should bring out
wine and spices, and so everyone leaves the festival at the end
of the first day.

The next day, at the hour aforesaid, they should bring the
banners, pennons, and crests of the captains to the cloister, to
present them to the judges: and afterwards all the other banners,
and helms with crests, as described before, in the order that
follows:

First, the banners of all princes should be brought by one of
their knight chamberlains, and the pennons of the captains should
be brought by their senior valets or carvers.

And the banners of the other knights banneret, by gentlemen, as
they wish.

The princes' helms should be brought by their squires.

And the helms of the other knights banneret, knights and squires,
by gentlemen or honest valets.

     Here below is shown how they bring the banners and crests of the
     appellant to the cloister, to arrange them and to divide them into
     two sides.

When the helms have been set up and displayed, then ladies and
damsels may come, with lords, knights and esquires, to see all of
them.  The judges should lead them three or four times around the
cloister to see the crests.  And there should be a herald or
pursuivant, who will tell the ladies the name of the person whose
crest is before them.  And if one of them has spoken ill of the
ladies, they may touch his crest, and the matter will be
considered the next day.  All the same no one will be beaten at
the tourney except by the decision of the judges, and after the
case has been debated and proven and found to merit punishment:
and in that case the malefactor will be well beaten, so that he
feels it in his shoulders, and so that he will not in the future
speak ill of the ladies, as he did before.

And besides the complaints of the ladies, there are certain other
more serious offenses and worse than speaking ill of women, for
which the punishment that follows is due to those who have
committed them.

The first case and the most serious is when a gentleman is found
to be a liar and to have broken a promise, especially in a matter
of honor.

The second is when a gentleman is a usurer, and manifestly lends
at interest.

The third case is when a gentleman marries a wife who is a
commoner, and not noble.

Of these three cases, the first two cannot be remitted, because
one must have rigorous justice at a tourney, and they are so
dishonest and outrageous that if anyone is found to have
committed them, after he has been notified, his helm is cast to
the ground.

Note: If there comes someone to the tourney who is not a
gentleman in all his lines of descent, but who is a virtuous
person, he should not be beaten the first time, except by princes
and great lords, who, without hurting him, should beat him with
their swords and maces, and this should always be considered to
be an honor.  And this will be a sign that because of his great
goodness and virtue, he deserves to be at the tourney, and from
then on no one may reprove him for his lineage in any place of
honor where he is found, at the tourney or elsewhere.  There too
he may bear a new crest, or change his arms if he wishes, and
keep them thereafter for himself and his heirs.

The punishment for the two principal serious offenses described
above is as follows:

That is to say, that the other lords, knights and squires at the
tourney ought to arrest and beat the offender until he agrees to
give up his horse, which is the same as saying, "I yield me." 
And when he has yielded, the other tourneyers should have their
people on foot and on horseback cut the girth of his saddle and
carry the miscreant to the list barrier on the saddle and set him
on it as if on horseback, and keep him there in that state, so
that he cannot get down or sneak away until the end of the
tourney; and his horse should be given to the trumpeters or
minstrels.

The punishment for the third offense is that the offender ought
to be well beaten, until he gives up his horse like the other
above.  But his girth is not cut nor is he put on horseback on
the barriers, as for the first two offenses.  Instead the reins
of his horse are taken from his hands and over the neck of his
horse, and his mace and sword are cast to the ground, and he is
led by the bridle to a herald or pursuivant who will take him to
a corner of the lists, and keep him there until the end of the
tourney.  And if he tries to escape or flee from the hands of the
heralds, he may be beaten again and his girth cut and be put on
horseback on the barriers, as above.

In the fourth case, of a gentleman who has spoken ill of the
honor of ladies or damsels, without reason.  And for punishment
he should be beaten by the other knights and squires at the
tourney, until he cries in a loud voice to the ladies for mercy,
so that everyone can hear him, and promises to never again speak
ill or villainously of them.

And to return to our subject, when the judges have divided the
helms and banners into two sides, each of the servants who
carried the helms and banners to the inn, with the permission of
the judges will carry them to his lord and master, in the same
order and triumph as he carried them in, or otherwise if his
master wishes.  And nothing else happens this day, except that
after supper, just as the evening before, there will be dancing,
to which all the knights and squires should come.  And after the
first or second dance, the king of arms and the pursuivants
should make a cry, by the order of the judges, as was described
before, as follows:

"High and powerful princes, counts, barons, knights and squires,
who today presented to my lords the judges and to the ladies
also, your crests and banners, which have been divided into two
equal sides, under the banners and pennons of the very high and
very noble prince and my very redoubted lord the Duke of Brittany
appellant and my redoubted lord the Duke of Bourbon defendant: my
lords the judges wish you to know that tomorrow at one hour after
noon the lord appellant, with his pennon alone, will come to show
himself in the lists, accompanied by all the other knights and
squires who are of his party, on their destriers, covered with
their coats of arms, and themselves without armor but dressed as
well and prettily as possible, so that my lords the judges may
take their oath.  And after the lord appellant has shown himself,
and the oath is taken, and he has left the lists, the lord
defendant will do the same at the second hour, and similarly take
his oath, and let no one fail to appear."

     Hereafter follows the way in which the lord appellant comes the next
     day to swear his oath and show himself in the lists.

And know that at the hour after dinner when he ought to come, the
heralds and pursuivants, dressed in their coats of arms, should
go crying through the city before the inns of the tourneyers: "To
honor, lords knights and squires! to honor! to honor!"  And then
each tourneyer, armed with his weapons and gently dressed,
without armor, a lance or baton in his hand, should mount his
horse.  And he should have a banneret with him, who should carry
his banner rolled and not displayed, and his valets on foot or on
horseback, also unarmed, who will accompany him to the inn of
their captain, where he will come to accompany his pennon to the
barriers, and thence into the lists.  And similarly the defendant
with his barons and the others of his side, after the appellant
has left.

     DESCRIPTION OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE LORD APPELLANT AND
     THE LORD DEFENDANT COME TO THE BARRIERS TO MAKE THEIR
     OATHS

The oath that the judges take from the princes, lords, barons,
knights and squires at the tourney is as follows: 

The judges' herald will say to the tourneyers:

"High and powerful princes, lords, barons, knights and squires,
each and every one of you, please raise your right hand on high,
towards the saints, and all together, as you will in the future,
promise and swear by the faith and promise of your body, and on
your honor, that you will strike none of your company at this
tourney knowingly with the point of your sword, or below the
belt, and that no one will attack or draw on anyone unless it is
permitted, and also that if by chance someone's helm falls off,
no one will touch him until he has put it back on, and you agree
that if you knowingly do otherwise you will lose your arms and
horses, and be banished from the tourney; also to observe the
orders of the judges in everything and everywhere as they order
delinquents to be punished without argument; and also you swear
and promise this by the faith and promise of your body and on
your honor."  To which they will answer.  "Yes, yes."  This done,
the defendant should enter the lists to show himself, as
described below.

On this day nothing else happens, except that there is dancing
after supper like the day before, and after everyone has danced a
little, the king of arms should mount up to the gallery of the
minstrels, and have one of the pursuivants cry:

                       "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE." 

And then he should say:

"High and noble princes, counts, lords, barons, knights and
squires who will be taking part in this tourney: I am to tell you
on behalf of the judges that each of you must be in the lists
tomorrow at noon, armed and ready for the tourney, because at one
hour after noon the judges will cut the ropes to begin the
tourney, where there will be rich and noble gifts given by the
ladies.

Moreover, I warn you that no one can bring within the lists
mounted servants beyond the specified number: that is to say four
valets for a prince, three for a count, two for a knight, and one
for a squire, and as many foot servants as you like; because that
is the rule the judges have made."

This done, the judges should come to the ladies, and choose from
them two of the most beautiful and noble, whom they should lead
with torches, heralds and pursuivants.  And one of the judges
should carry a long veil, embroidered, jewelled and ornamented
very beautifully with gold.  And the judges should lead the
ladies around the room on their arms, until they find a knight or
squire who is among the tourneyers, whom the judges have chosen
beforehand to honor above all others, before whom the ladies and
judges stop together.  And the king of arms should say to the
knight or squire what follows:

"Very noble and redoubted knight (or very noble and gentle
squire), as it has always been the custom of ladies and damsels
to have compassion, those who have come to see the tourney that
will be held tomorrow, fearing that some gentleman who has done
ill out of simplicity may be chastised too heavily by the demands
of justice, and not wishing to see anyone beaten very hard,
regardless of who he is, unless they can help him, the ladies
have asked the judges to assign to them a famous, wise, and
notable knight or squire who, more than all others, deserves the
honor of carrying on their behalf this veil on the end of a lance
tomorrow at the tourney.  And if someone is too severely beaten,
the knight or squire will touch his crest with the veil, and all
those beating him must stop and not dare touch him: because from
that hour forward, the ladies have taken him under their
protection and safeguard.  You have been chosen above all others
at this tourney to be their knight (or squire) of honor, and
undertake this charge, and they ask and require you to do as they
wish, and so do the judges."

Then the ladies should give him the veil, asking him to do this;
and after, the knight (or squire) kisses them, and then answers
them as follows:

"I humbly thank my ladies and damsels for the honor it has
pleased them to do to me: and although they could easily have
found others who could do this better, and who merit this honor
more than I, nevertheless I obey the ladies freely and will do my
loyal duty, asking always that they forgive my mistakes."

Then the herald and pursuivants should tie the veil to the end of
a lance, which they should raise on high, and afterwards one of
the pursuivants should carry it upright in front of the knight or
squire of honor from that hour onwards.  And he should spend the
whole evening beside the greatest lady who is at the festival.

And while they are with the ladies, the king of arms should have
a pursuivant make a cry, as follows:

                       "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE."

Then the king of arms should say:

"Let all prince, lords, barons, knights and esquires know that N.
has been chosen by the ladies to be knight (or squire) of honor,
because of his honor, courage, and gentleness.  You are commanded
by the judges, and the ladies also, that when you see this knight
(or squire) tomorrow lower this veil over some one of you who is
being beaten for his misdeeds, no one should dare to beat or
touch him; from from that hour the ladies have taken him under
their protection and mercy, and this veil is called The mercy of
ladies."

And this done, the ladies should begin dancing again, and dance
as long as the judges wish, and then they should bring wine and
spices, just as on the previous days.

     Hereafter follows the way in which the knight (or squire) of honor
     ought to enter the lists with the veil, the place where he should
     stand, and what he should do.

On the day of the tourney, after the ladies have climbed up into
their scaffold, the knight (or squire) of honor ought to enter
the lists with the judges, fully armed, with a helm with a crest
on his head, and his horse covered with his arms, ready to fight,
the mace and the sword hanging from the saddle, carrying the
lance to which the veil is tied.   And in this way he should come
first between the king of arms and the judges, or between the two
senior judges, who ought to arrive a half hour before the
tourneyers, just as they made their entry into the city, with
sounding trumpets.  And they ought to enter the lists, and go
around the lists once or twice, to see if the ropes are good and
to arrange for the people to cut them; and then they should leave
the said knight (or squire) of honor between the two ropes, with
four or six valets on horseback, and as many on foot, or
otherwise if he wishes; and the four judges should take the helm
off his head with their own hands, and give it to the king of
arms, who should carry it before them to the ladies' scaffold,
and there the judges should give it to the ladies.  Then the king
of arms should say:

"My very redoubted and honored ladies and damsels, behold your
humble servant and knight (or squire) of honor, who has entered
the lists ready to do what you have commanded, and behold his
helm and crest which you should keep in your scaffold, if it
pleases you."

Then a gentleman or honest valet, chosen for this, should take
the crest to the ladies' scaffold and put it up on a lance about
the height of a man, or a little more, and carry it in his hands
in front of the ladies, so that everyone can see it during the
tourney. 

And this done, the judges should take their leave and go up into
their scaffold, and the knight (or squire) of honor should stay
between the ropes, with his servants, until the tourneyers
arrive.

An hour before the lord appellant enters the lists, he should
send his trumpeters on horseback through the city, to collect his
party, who will know by the trumpets that they should collect in
the street before his inn, or another place nearby, as ordered by
their lord; and where his pennon is set up for them to assemble,
so that they may enter the lists all together.

And the lord defendant should do the same thing before he is
supposed to enter the lists.

On the morning of the day of the tourney each of the knights and
squires, knights banneret and others alike, ought to do what he
needs to do before lunch time; and also they should rest if it
seems good to them; for after ten o'clock they will have no spare
time to do anything, except to arm themselves and get ready for
the tourney.  After eleven o'clock they should be ready and armed
on their destriers, leaving their inns to assemble at the inn of
their captains, with whom they are tourneying that day, at the
hour that the heralds and pursuivants have announced.  For at
eleven o'clock, the heralds and pursuivants should go crying
before the inns of the tourneyers, with loud voices, "Take up,
take up your helms, take up your helms, lords knights and
squires, take up, take up, take up your helms and come out with
banners to gather at the banner of your captain."  Then each of
the tourneyers should be ready in the street, and should go on
horseback to the inn of the captain, or else to some wider
street, as he has been advised by the captain, to escort the
captain's banner, and assemble all the tourneyers.

Note that in Flanders, Brabant, and the Low Countries, where they
often hold tourneys, it is the custom that the kings of arms,
heralds and pursuivants carry the banners.  Each tourneyer gives
to the heralds and pursuivants who carry his banner a coat with
his arms and a big strong horse, and a habergeon if the herald or
pursuivant wants one, with a salet, vambraces, rerebraces,
gauntlets, and leg harness.  But in the high Germanies and on the
Rhine, they don't do this; for the banners of the tourneyers are
carried by young and handsome companions, dressed for war, and on
horseback; who are all armed like crayfish or in white harness,
with sallets or kettle hats trimmed with feathers, and leg
harness; and they have over their clothes fair hukes with
goldwork or the devices of their masters.  And they are mounted
on horses almost as strong as the tourneyers'; the horses are
covered richly and gently.  And these companions are always at
the tails of their masters' horses, and never let their banners
fall, or lose their masters in the crowd.  I think this custom is
better than that of Flanders, or Brabant, because many of the
heralds and pursuivants in France are poorly dressed, and when
they are armed and holding banners, they are so hindered that
they let the banners fall, nor can they follow their masters;
which is very inconvenient and dishonorable for their masters.

Item, when the tourneyers have arrived and assembled together,
the lord appellant, with whom they should ride together to the
lists, should come to the place where they are assembled, in the
form and manner described hereafter.

That is to say, that they should have kings of arms, heralds, or
pursuivants with them, and many trumpeters and minstrels
sounding; and the lord appellant's pennon should be carried
before him by someone, as described above.  After this pennon
should come the lord appellant, and at the tail of his horse
whoever carries his banner.  And after him two knights banneret
in front with their banners, and twenty tourneyers, and then
banners and tourneyers alternately, and in such order they
proceed to the barriers.  And when they are before the barriers,
their servants should make a great cry; and then all the knights
and squires should lift their right arms over their heads,
holding their swords and maces, as if threatening to strike; then
they should go a pace just to the gate through which they should
enter the lists, and there wait quietly.  And then the herald of
the lord appellant should say to the judges:

"My honored and redoubted lords, the very high and very powerful
prince and my very redoubted lord the Duke of Brittany my master,
who is present as the appellant, presents himself to you with all
the noble baronage that you see, whom you have placed under his
banner, very eager and ready to begin the tourney assigned today
with my very redoubted lord the Duke of Bourbon and the noble
baronage equally ready to fight under him; asking that it please
you you to prepare for him a place to do this, so that the ladies
who are present can see the entertainment."

This done, the herald in the judges' scaffold should answer for
the judges, saying as follows:

"Very high and very powerful prince and my very redoubted lord,
my lords the judges here present have heard and understood what
your herald has said for you; to which they answer that your
presence is very pleasing, and they well perceive the great and
high will for honor and desire for valor that is in you and in
the barons present under you, for which reason and because this
tourney was proclaimed several days before, so that it could come
to pass in good time and joyously, they assign the place there
within the lists on the right side, and you may enter in God's
name when you like."

This said, the one who bears the pennon of the appellant lord
should enter first, and then the lord appellant, and then
immediately he who carries his banner, and then the knights
banneret with their banners, and the tourneyers in the order in
which they came, and they should go a pace with trumpets sounding
and minstrels singing, as soon as someone opens the passage into
the lists, by which they should enter: and when it is open, they
should enter within, and their servants should make a great cry,
and the tourneyers should lift their arms high over their heads,
making threatening motions with their swords or maces, as
described before.  And when they are in the lists, they should
take their place on their side, and arrange themselves for
battle, in the best array and order that they can manage behind
the rope on their side, without leaving their side, so that those
farthest to the front cannot go any farther.  And those who hold
banners should place themselves at the tails of the horses of
their masters, and the other servants on horseback should
surround them, and those on foot should be whereever seems best,
but not in the front where their masters are, and in this way
they should wait for the defendant to come to the lists in the
way which follows.

The lord defendant should collect his men before his inn in the
same way as the lord appellant, or elsewhere as he commands by
heralds and pursuivants, as before, and then come to the barriers
with his barons and the other tourneyers and be presented to the
judges.  From there he should enter the lists, and say the words
and do the proper things, like the lord appellant, without
changing anything, except that in all the speeches he makes to
the judges, where the other called himself the appellant, he
calls himself the defendant.  And to keep it short, when he is in
the lists, he should ready himself for battle, and set up his
banners as the lord appellant did, and the tourneyers under him
against the rope nearest to them.  Between the two ropes there
should be a space established by the judges, as described before. 
And at the four ends of the stretched ropes, there should be four
big strong men in pourpoints, each of whom holds a big
carpenter's axe or hatchet to cut the ropes.  But before they are
cut, the king of arms should have the trumpets sound, and cry in
a loud voice three times, "Be ready for the ropes to be cut, be
ready for the ropes to be cut, be ready for the ropes to be cut,
you who are committed to this; then rush into battle and do your
best."  Then when the two sides are arranged as if for battle and
ready for the tourney the king of arms should make another cry:

                       "HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE."

"My lords the judges pray and require that none of you gentlemen
tourneyers beat another with the point or back of the sword, nor
below the belt, as you have promised, nor strike nor draw unless
it is permitted; and also that none of you attack anyone whose
helm falls off until he has put it on again, and also that none
of you beat anyone more than anyone else, unless it is someone
who, for his sins, has been singled out for this.

"Moreover, I advise you that when the trumpets have sounded the
retreat and the barriers are open, if you stay longer in the
lists, you will not win the prize."

After the trumpets have sounded and the cry has been made, the
judges should give the tourneyers a little space, the length of
seven psalms, or thereabouts, to put themselves in order.  And
when this is done, the king of arms should cry, by the order of
the judges, taking three great breaths and three great pauses,
"Cut the cords, and begin the battle when you wish."  And after
the third cry has been made, those who are to cut the cords
should cut them.  And at once those who carry the banners and the
foot servants and those on horseback should shout the cries of
each of their tourneying masters.  Then the two sides should
gather together and fight until by the order of the judges the
trumpets sound the retreat.

Item, know that while the tourneyers are fighting, the
pursuivants should be between the two lists, and the trumpeters
too, who should not play, but should shout the cries of whichever
of the tourneyers they like.

Item, the two pennons of the two captains, that is, the appellant
and the defendant, should not leave the ends of the lists, each
on his side where they entered for the tourney.  

And note here that the tourneyers may keep within the lists with
them their valets on horseback and foot, up to the specified
number, each according to his rank; which valets on horseback
should be armed with jazerants or brigandines, sallets,
gauntlets, leg harness, and they should have the shaft of a
lance, about two and a half or three feet long, in their fists,
to defend themselves against the blows that might fall on them in
the press.  And it is their job to take their master out of the
press when he asks and they can do it, always crying the cry of
their master.

And the foot servants ought to be in pourpoints or short jackets,
with sallets on their heads and gauntlets on their hands, and in
the right hand the shaft of a lance two arms'-lengths long.  And
their job is to lift man and horse with their staffs when they
see them fall to the ground, if they can, and if they can't lift
him, they should stand around him and protect and defend him with
their lances with which they make lists and barriers until the
end of the tourney, so that the other tourneyers cannot overrun
him. And if they do this and he is saved by them, he must give
them wine at the command of the judges.

     DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE APPELLANT LORD AND THE DEFENDANT
     LORD SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE TOURNEY

When it seems to the judges that the tourney has lasted long
enough, they should have their trumpets and horns sound to end
the tourney, which done, they should have their herald or
pursuivant say the following words:

"Let the banner bearers ride out, leave the lists, and return to
your inns; for you lords, princes, barons, knights and squires
who have tourneyed in this place before the ladies, have so done
your duty that henceforth you may go out and leave the lists in
good time; for already the prize is awarded, which will be given
by the ladies to him who deserves it."

This cry made, the trumpeters of either side should sound the
retreat; and then the men who cut the ropes, the guards of the
lists and the foot servants should open the lists on both sides. 
And those who carry the pennons and banners of the two captains
should go out a fair pace, without waiting for their masters, if
they don't want to come yet.  And the other banners should follow
one after another, from the side of the lord appellant and the
side of the lord defendant, going out on the side where they
entered, as beautifully as possible and attended by all their
men; and they should return to their inns, as described above. 
And at the same time the trumpeters should keep sounding the
retreat until there are no more tourneyers in the lists.  And
they may go in troops fighting among themselves to their inns, or
without attacking each other, as they wish; and in this way the
tourney is finished and over.

       DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE TOURNEYERS ATTACK EACH OTHER IN
TROOPS

The knight of honor should leave the barriers with the banners
and march first, and the pennons and banners should come after
him.  And when they pass before the ladies' scaffold the man who
held his helm and crest in the scaffold should come down and get
on a horse, and carry the helm in front of the knight of honor
till they reach the inns, in the same way as they entered.

In the evening after supper all the ladies, damsels and
tourneyers should assemble in the hall where they dance as they
did the evening before.  And the knight of honor should come
there with the veil carried in front of him on the end of a
lance, and in the company of the judges come before the ladies,
thank them for the honor they have done to him, and ask them to
pardon his faults and excuse his simplicity.

This said, the veil is taken off the lance and given to the
knight of honor who returns it to the ladies and kisses them, and
then returns with the judges, those who are knights on the right
and those who are squires on the left.

When it is time to give the prize the judges and the knight of
honor, accompanied by the king of arms, heralds and pursuivants,
should go to chose one of the ladies and two damsels in her
company, and lead them out of the hall to some other place, with
a great many torches, and then should return to the hall with the
prize in the way that follows:

First, the trumpeters of the judges should go before, playing,
then all the heralds and pursuivants like a fleet of ships; and
after them the king of arms alone, and after him the knight of
honor carrying the shaft of a lance in his hand, about five feet
long or thereabouts.  After the knight of honor should come the
lady who carries the prize covered with the veil that was carried
before the knight of honor, and on her right and left should come
the judges, knights and squires, who should support her under the
arms; and to the right and the left of the knights should be the
two damsels on the arms of the two judges who are squires.  The
two damsels should hold the two ends of the veil, and in this way
they should go three times around the hall, and then stop before
the one to whom they wish to give the prize.

     DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE LADY, THE KNIGHT OR SQUIRE OF
     HONOR AND THE JUDGES GIVE THE PRIZE

Then the king of arms should say to the knight to whom the prize
will be given the words that follow, and he should do him the
honor due to his estate, whether he is a prince, lord, baron,
knight, or squire, saying:

"Behold here this noble lady, my lady of such a place N.,
accompanied by the knight or squire of honor and by my lords the
judges, who have come to give you the tourney prize, because you
have been judged the knight or squire who has fought best today
in the melee of the tourney, and my lady prays that you will take
it with good will."

Then the lady should uncover the prize, and give it to him.  Then
he should take it and kiss her, and the two damsels if he likes. 
And then the king of arms, heralds and pursuivants should shout
his battle cry around the whole room.

And this done, he should lead the lady to the dance, and the
judges, the knight of honor, the king of arms and the pursuivants
should lead the two damsels back to their places, without
sounding the trumpets any more.

When they have finished their dance, the king of arms, or a
herald, should cry the jousts for the next day, for all those who
want to joust individually rather than in teams, at which jousts
there will be three prizes given.

The first will be a wand of gold for him who strikes the best
blow with a lance that day.

The second will be a ruby worth a thousand ecus or less, for him
who breaks the most lances.

And the third will be a diamond worth a thousand ecus or less,
for him who stays the longest in the lists without losing his
helm.

     Item, hereafter follows a list of the things the judges must
     do when they accept the office of being judges at the
     tourney;

     Hereafter also what the king of arms must do;

     Item similarly what the heralds and pursuivants must do;

     Item hereafter, the things the lords appellant and defendant
     must do, each for his part, concerning the charges, costs
     and expenses, and the ceremonies.

And similarly the other lords and bannerets, each in his place,
and the valets on horseback also.

And first, the judges ought to fix the day and the place, in some
good town, in a central location, so that many knights and
squires can come from all parts.

And the place chosen by the judges ought to be agreeable to both
the parties: that is to say, the appellant and the defendant, and
by their confirmation and decision rather than anyone elses';
because the appellant and defendant must pay the expenses for the
tourney equally.

Item, the judges must go to the town where the tourney will be,
to see if it is a suitable place.

Item, they must arrange for the lists to be made according to
their plan. 

Item, see that in the town there is a great hall where the ladies
and damsels can assemble to dance, with a dressing room where
they may go to refresh and rest themselves, or change their
clothes if they wish.

Item, in the hall should be tables and trestles, benches, chairs,
stools, dressers, hanging wooden chandeliers, which are called
crosses, with wooden bowls to hold the torches to light the hall;
the gallery where the minstrels may play and from which they may
make cries in the hall, and tapestries to decorate it, linens and
also vessels of pewter and silver on a high sideboard.

Item, to arrange the inns for the tourneyers in the town.

Item, to have the scaffolds by the lists set up, for the ladies
and for themselves.

Item, to have written down the cries and ceremonies that they
have to make, as has been fully described above.

Item, to provide for the supper the eve of the tourney, and for
the dinner and supper the day of the tourney, for the ladies in
the hall;

And for the wine and spices on the other days, and the torches
and lighting in the hall and elsewhere.

They also ought to know about all the questions and debates that
may come up at the tourney.

And they ought to pay the heralds and pursuivants with them for
their expenses, and especially ought always to have with them the
king of arms who cried the festival, and the four pursuivants
with four trumpeters, and similarly ought to pay for their
expenses during the festival; for the pursuivants may serve in
many ways during the festival.

The two captains ought to pay all the expenses of the judges, and
in general all the expenses, fees and charges equally: and the
captains should do honor to the judges, and give to each judge an
ankle-length gown of silk cloth, of the same color, so that
during the festival they may be known and honored by others: that
is to say to the two knights of velvet cloth, and to the two
squires, damask.

Item, immediately after the judges have arrived at the place of
the tourney, the lords appellant and defendant must each send to
the judges a steward and an accountant, and each a quartermaster
and a clerk, that is to say, the stewards and accountants to pay
for and do what the judges order, and the quartermasters and
clerks to arrange the lodgings for the lords, knights, squires,
tourneyers, ladies and damsels and others who come to the
festival, as was described at length in the chapter about the
inns of the judges.

Note that the king of arms should be in the scaffold with the
judges.

And also note that the judges should not allow anyone to appear
at the tourney mounted on a horse of excessive and outrageous
size and stronger than the others, unless he is a prince.

     HEREAFTER FOLLOW THE RIGHTS OF THE HERALDS,
     PURSUIVANTS, TRUMPETERS AND MINSTRELS, AND THE THINGS
     THAT APPERTAIN TO THE HERALDS AND PURSUIVANTS, AND WHAT
     APPERTAINS TO THE TRUMPETERS AND MINSTRELS.

All the knights and squires who have never tourneyed before must
pay for their helms and their welcome to arms, to the king of
arms, heralds or pursuivants, at their pleasure or by the order
of the judges: and nevertheless if they have paid before for a
joust it doesn't follow that they do not have to pay again for
the sword, for the lance cannot pay for the sword.  But whoever
has paid for a helm for the sword, that is to say for a tourney,
will be free of the lance, that is to say of the joust.

Item, the horsecloths of the horses decorated with coats of arms
are the right of the king of arms, heralds and pursuivants, and
the banners and crests go to the church of the cloister where
they set up the banners and crests, or to other churches as the
judges order.

Item, those who won the prize ought to give something to the
trumpeters and minstrels, and also the two captains of the
tourney.

Elizabeth Bennett
ezb@princeton.edu
Last revision: September 4, 1998
Copyright Elizabeth Bennett, 1997.