Othon de Grandson vs. Gérard d'Estavayer, 1397

Ordinance of the Gage Of Battle

De la Marche's account of the duel.


And they say that as he (Othon) mounted his horse at his lodgings to come to the day of battle, a lame of his cuirass hindered him, and he quickly had his armorer remove it. Among the others present was a follower of his opponent Sir Gerard Estavayé, who advised his master of the removed lame. Sir Gerard took pains to seek the exposed place and find it with his sword and put it into his stomach.

At the beginning of the battle Sir Othon pierced the thigh of his enemy with a lance stroke. If he had been able to keep it there Sir Gerard would have had the worst of it, but he let the point withdraw.

And in the end, Sir Othon was overthrown and put to a sorry death and a pitiful end.

His enemy lifted the visor of his bascinet and stabbed him in both eyes saying:

“Surrender and recant!” (te desditz)

And the good knight, in spite of his distress, would neither surrender nor recant. As long as he could speak he said:

“I surrender myself to God, and to my lady, St. Anne”

And so he died.

Translation copyright Will McLean, 2011.