Speeches for the Melee

First, the combatants are summoned together, and the rules are explained to them. They are divided into two teams, under captains A and B. They process to the two gates of the lists. A leads off first so as to arrive slightly before B.

Herald for A:

My honored and redoubted lords, the very high and powerful (rank of A) and my redoubted lord …….................................................my master, who is present as 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 ...................................................... and the noble baronage equally ready to fight under him; asking that it please you to prepare for him a place, so that the ladies who are present can see the entertainment.

Herald B:

My Master, ....................................................., and the Baronage under him, are equally ready and eager to take their parts in the tourney.

Chief Herald:

Very high and very redoubted lords, my lords the judges have heard and understood what your heralds have 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 the barons present under you, for which reason and because the tourney was proclaimed several days before, so that it could come to pass on good time and joyously, they assign there the place within the lists on that side to you my lord............................. ........................, and that on the other to you my lord ........................................ And you may enter in God's name when you like.

When they have entered:

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 knowingly with the point of any weapon but the spear of peace, or below the knee, and that no one will attack or draw on anyone except when it is permitted, and also that if by chance someone's helm falls off, no one will touch him until he puts 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.

Everyone:

Yes, Yes.

Chief Herald:

Moreover, I advise you that when the trumpets have sounded the retreat...

(trumpeters demonstrate retreat)

...if you stay longer in the lists you may not win the prize. Now make yourselves ready.

(when they are ready)

Laissiez-les aller, Laissiez-les aller, Laissiez-les aller, now do your devoir right readily!

(when they have fought long enough)

Let the banner bearers ride out, leave the lists, and await the words of the heralds. Ride out! Ride out!

For Another Melee on the Same Day

When they are ready:

Chief Herald:
My lords the judges pray and require that none of you gentlemen tourneyers strike at another with the point of any weapon save the spear of peace, nor below the knee, as you have promised, nor strike nor draw except when 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 you should out of anger or malice.
Moreover, you know that when the trumpets have sounded the retreat and the barriers are open, if you stay any longer in the lists you will not win the prize.

Laissiez-les aller, Laissiez-les aller, Laissiez-les aller, let them do their devoir right readily.

When the last melee is done:

Let the banner bearers ride out, leave the lists, and return to your lodgings: for you lords, princes, barons, knights and squires have so done your duty that henceforth you may go out and leave the lists in good time: for already the prizes is awarded, which will be given by the ladies to him who deserves it.
(If only one melee is fought that day, you may use the final paragraph above to end that instead.)

Prize Presentation

If a prize is to be given to the best of each side:

Then cometh forth a lady, by the advice of all the ladies and Gentlewomen, and gives the prize unto the champion who has shown the greatest prowess. Saying in this wise: "Sir these ladies and Gentlewomen thank you for your disport and your great labor that ye have this day in their presence. And the said ladies and Gentlewomen sayen that ye have fought best of the appellants this day. Therefore the said ladies and Gentlewomen given you this …………and send you much worship and joy of your lady."

And then she will say to the one who deserves it: “Sir, these ladies and Gentlewomen say that you have this day fought best of the defendants, and Therefore the said ladies and Gentlewomen given you this ……………and likewise send you much worship and joy of your lady.