The Tiptoft Rules, 1466

THE ORDINANCES, STATUTES & RULES MADE BY JOHN, LORD TIPTOFT, EARL OF WORCESTER, CONSTABLE OF ENGLAND, BY THE KING'S COMMANDMENT, AT WINDSOR, 29 DAY OF MAY, ANNO SEXTO EDWARDI QUARTI; AND COMMANDED TO BE OBSERVED OR KEPT IN ALL MANNER OF JOUSTS OF PEACE ROYAL, WITHIN THIS REALM OF ENGLAND. RESERVING ALWAYS TO THE QUEEN, AND TO THE LADIES PRESENT, THE ATTRIBUTION AND GIFT OF THE PRIZE, AFTER THE MANNER AND FORM ACCUSTOMED: TO BE ATTRIBUTED FOR THEIR DEMERITS ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLES ENSUING.

How many ways the prize is won.
1. First, Who so breaketh most spears as they ought to be broken, shall have the prize.
2. Item, Who so hitteth three times, in the sight of the helm, shall have the prize.
3. Item, Who so meeteth two times, coronel to coronel, shall have the prize.
4. Item, Who so beareth a man down with stroke of a spear, shall have the prize.

How many ways the prize shall be lost.
1. First, Who so striketh a horse shall have no prize.
2. Item, Who so striketh a man, his back turned, or disgarnished of his spear, shall have no prize.
3. Item, Who so hitteth the toyle (or tilt) three times shall have no prize.
4.Item, Who so unhelmeth himself two times shall have no prize, unless his horse do fail him.

How broken spears shall be allowed.
1. First, Who so breaketh a spear, between the saddle and the charnell of the helm, shall be allowed for one.
2. Item, Who so breaketh a spear, from the coronel upwards, shall be allowed for two.
3. Item, Who so breaketh a spear, so as he strike his adversary down, or put him out of his saddle,or disarmeth him in such wise as he may not run the next course after, or breaketh his spear coronel to coronel, shall be allowed three spears.

How spears shall be disallowed.
1. First, Who so breaketh on the saddle shall be disallowed for one spear-breaking.
2. Item, Who so hitteth the toyle once, shall be disallowed for two.
3- Item, Who so hitteth the toyle twice, shall, for the second time, be abated three.
4.Item, Who so breaketh a spear, within a foot to the coronel, shall be adjudged as no spear broken, but a fair attaint.

For the prize to be given, and who shall be preferred.
1. First, Who so beareth a man down out of the saddle, or putteth him to the earth, horse and man, shall have the prize before him that striketh coronel to coronel two times.
2. Item, He that striketh coronel to coronel two times, shall have the prize before him that striketh the sight three times.
3. Item, He that striketh the sight three times, shall have the prize before him that breaketh most spears.
Item, if there be any man that fortuneth in this wise, which shall be deemed to have abided longest in the field helmed, and to have run the fairest course, and to have given the greatest strokes, and to have holpen himself best with his spear, he shall have the prize.

(subscribed)
JOHN WORCESTER

At Tourney
Two blows at the passage and ten at the joining, more or less as they make it. All gripes, shocks, and foul play forbidden.

How prizes at Tourney, and Barriers, are to be lost.
He that giveth a stroke with a pike from the girdle downward or under the barrier, shall win no prize.
He that shall have a close gauntlet, or any thing to fasten his sword to his hand, shall have no prize.
He whose sword falleth out of his hand, shall win no prize.
He that stayeth his hand in fight on the barriers, shall win no prize.
He whosoever shall fight, and doth not show his sword to the Judges before, shall win no prize.
Yet it is to be understood, that all challengers may win all these Prizes against the defendants.
The maintainers may take aide or assistance of the noble men, of such as they shall like best.

Harl. MS 69, fo.19, in Cripps -Day, Appendix IV, p. xxvii. Note that this text appears in a 16th c. MS., so some of the details, particularly the rules for the barrier, may be later interpolations.