Monday, January 25, 2010

The Seneschal of Hainault and His Companions Do Arms at Smithfield, 1410

In the x yere of King Henry the senescal of Henaud came to seke aventures yn England, and the Earl of Somerset answerid hym.

The next day an Henaud an Syr Richard of Arundek (sic) knight

The 3 day an Henaud and Syr John of Cornewall.

The 4. an Henaud, and Syr John Cheyney.

The 5. Day an Henaude, and John Stewarde Esquire.

The 6. Day an Henaud, and John Standisch Esquier.

Leland, Collectanea

And in the tenth year of King Harry's reign the IVth, come the seneschal of Hainault, with other men, into England, for to seek adventures, and to get him worship in deeds of arms, both on horseback and on foot, of all manner points of deeds of arms and war. And the seneschal challenged the earl of Somerset; and the earl delivered him manfully in all his challenges, and put his adversary to the worse in all points, and won him there great worship and degree of the field. And the next day come in to the field another man of arms of the seneschal's party; and against him come Sir Richard of Arundell, knight; and the Hainaulter had the better of him on foot in one point, for he brought him on his knee. And the third day come in another man of arms in to the field; and against him Sir John Cornwall, knight; and manly and knightly quit him in all manner of points against his adversary, and had the better in the field. And the fourth day come in another man of Hainault, in the field; and against him come Sir John Cheyney's son, and manly quit him against his adversary, for he cast both horse and man into the field; and the king for his manhood that time, dubbed him knight. And the fifth day there come another man of arms of Hainault's party into the field; and to him come John Stewarde, squire, and there manfully quit him in all manner of points, and had him the better. And the sixth day come another Hainaulter; and to him come William Porter, squire; and manfully he quit him in the field, and had the better, and became dubbed him knight the same time. And the seventh day come another Hainaulter into the field; and to him come John Standish, squire, and manly quit him on his adversary, and had the better in the field; and there the king dubbed him knight the same day. And in the same day came another Hainaulter; and to him came a squire of Gascony; and proudly and manly he quit him on his adversary, and there had the better, and anon the king dubbed him knight.

And the eighth day come into the field two men of arms of Hainault; and to them come two soldiers of Calais that were brethren, call the Boroughes; and well and manly quit them on their adversaries, and had the better in the field; and thus ended this challenged with much worship. And the king at the reuencens of the strangers, made a great feast, and gave great gifts; and they took their leave and went home into their country.

The Brut, or, The Chronicles of England ed. Friederich W. D. Brie, London, 1906

And this same year the seneschal of Hainault with other worthy men came into England to get worship in deeds of arms. And he challenged the earl of Somerset and he delivered him manfully in all his challenges and put them to the worse and had the field in all points. The second day came into the field a man of the seneschal's party, and against him came Sir Richard of Arundell, knight. And the Hainaulter had the better of him in one point, for he brought him on his knee. The third day came in another Hainaulter, and against him came Sir John Cornwall, knight, and had the better of his adversary in all points. The fourth day came in another Hainaulter, and to him came Sir John Cheney's son, and cast the Hainaulter down into the field, horse and man, wherefore the king made him knight. The fifth day came in another Hainaulter and to him came Sir John Stuarte, esquire, and had the better. The sixth day came in another Hainaulter, and to him came William Porter, esquire, and had the better in the field, and the king made him knight. The seventh day came in another Hainaulter, and to him came John Standish, esquire, and had the better in the field wherefor the king made him knight. And that same day come in another Hainaulter, and to him came a squire of Gascony and had the better, and the king made him a knight.The eighth day came in two men of arms of Hainault, and to them came two soldiers of Calais that were brethren, that were called the Burghes, and quit them well and manly in the field, and had the better. And thus ended the challenges in Smithfield with much worship.

An English chronicle 1377 - 1461 : a new edition ; edited from Aberystwyth, National Library of Wales MS 21068 and Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Lyell 34 ed. C. William Marx, Woodbridge 2003

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