Royal Jousts at the End of the 14th Century

Steven Muhlberger's latest book on royal jousts is the first in a new series from the Freelance Academy Press.

Let me note that I'm a friend of the author, I provided two of the translations included in the book, and I expect to write at least two books for the series. Full disclosure satisfied, I will continue.

The series is quite similar in physical format to the Osprey Military series of paperbacks: Royal Jousts is an 96 page 7" by !0" paperback.

The biggest difference between Freelance Academy and Osprey is this: Freelance's authors are much more diligent in consulting primary sources, and on presenting them in translation.

As a point of comparison, I offer the Osprey Knights at Tournament. it includes not a bibliography, but a list of "Further Reading". 22 works are cited, but all but two are secondary sources.

In contrast, Muhlberger provides translations of five different contemporary accounts of the jousts at St. Inglevert, and contemporary accounts and announcements for three other royal jousts. Almost 9/10 of the text consists of contemporary, or nearly contemporary, accounts. There are ten pages of color pictures in addition to the text.

Some of the material has been previously presented on his Deeds of Arms site, but much is new.

His translations of Froissart present passages that have previously only been available in Thomas Johnes' stilted and inaccurate 1810 translation. He does abridge some of Froissart's repetitive blow-by-blow reporting of the jousts at St. Inglevert. Walter Meller's translation of Eustache Deschamps' 1389 joust announcement is only findable on Google Books if you already know it and where to look for it. Muhlberger's translation of an anonymous pastoral poem celebrating St. Inglevert is also new.

This poem is interesting evidence of the broad popular impact of these jousts. In a field near Ardres the narrator encounters frolicsome shepherds and shepherdesses, who describe the recent jousts in great detail. Pastoral poetry was a conventionalized and idealized genre: its shepherds and shepherdesses the singing cowboys of the Middle Ages. Still, the author implies that the jousts were so newsworthy that it was not implausible that shepherds in the fields 11 miles away were talking about them afterwards. Jousting was an aristocratic sport, but it entertained large crowds of commoners.

The splendor of the jousts and the literary craft of their widely distributed announcements would insure that their fame would spread far beyond their immediate audience.

The poetry of the French announcements displays the frisky and joyful side of 14th c. chivalric culture, as does the English announcement's reference to the "New Troy" of Britain's legendary past and prize for "the lady or damsel who dances best or leads the most joyful life those three days."

Muhlberger presents a convenient summary of the outcomes in Froissart's account of St. Inglevert. He also discusses the political context and goals of the jousts, the influence of St. Inglevert on later pas d'armes, and the conflicts between the different accounts with particular emphasis on Froissart's unreliability as a narrator. I have long believed that what he wrote was closer to docudrama than history.

My Writing

The Journal of Medieval Military History Volume VIII 2010 Outrance and Plaisance
Daily Life in Chaucer’s England 2nd edition 2008 (with Jeffrey L. Forgeng)
1381, the Peel Affinity: an English knight's household in the fourteenth century, 2007 (supplemental text)
Deeds of Arms; Medieval Accounts of Challenges, Jousts, & Tournaments: Compleat Anachronist #94 1997
Daily Life in Chaucer’s England, Greenwood Publishing, 1995 (with Jeffrey L. Forgeng)
The Chaucerian Handbook, 1993 (with Jeffrey L. Forgeng)
Tournaments Illuminated Magazine:
A New Way to Get Maimed Fall 1994 (#112)
Running a Tournament by King René's Rules Fall 1993 (#108)
Medieval Tournament Prizes Fall 1992 (#104)
Running a Medieval Tournament Spring 1991 (#98)

Mozart Is Dead. Papageno Isn't.

I heard him last night.

Think about that, my fellow memory-binding bipeds. An imaginary creation, over 200 years old, still lives.

We are richer than emperors. If given a chance to trade places with Hadrian or Trajan, I'd refuse without hesitation, because I'd need to give up The Magic Flute. And other things.

It's a great life if you don't weaken. Or destroy the world.

So let's not do that.

Often Ignored Advice for Space Explorers

"Before departing on an interstellar mission, have each crew member… possess greater common sense than the average bowl of porridge."

The Magic Flute (2006)

Now I have another film adaption of The Magic Flute to love, and I've loved Bergman's 1975 version since its first release in the US. (How can you not love a movie originally titled as Trollflöjten?)

Branagh's version is set in an alternate universe Great War. The overture shows us a meticulously recreation of a trench system, but the blue uniforms worn by the soldiers were worn by no European army in our timeline.

An attack is launched, and biplanes fly overhead. The blazing blue stars on their fuselage were worn by no air force in our reality. It is, we will deduce later if we are paying attention, the insignia of the Empire of the Night.

At this point, we are barely 2/3 of our way through the overture.

Shortly afterwards, plucky officer and gentleman Tamino is rescued from certain death by three ladies who serve the Queen of the Night, kitted out as magical sexy steampunk nurses, descending from the sky, magically.

The Magic Flute is about magic. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.

Branagh took liberties with the original libretto, written not by Mozart but by Emanuel Schikaneder, who history records as an impresario, dramatist, actor, singer and composer and librettist for The Magic Flute. In that order.

That's OK. The original libretto was not particularly awesome.

Branagh dials up the magic. Good choice. "Queen of the Night" is not a mundane job description. Likewise her ladies.

Also, the three child-spirits seem unconstrained by mortal laws. If they need to advise, they'll be there, regardless.

Apparently, the uniform of Papegeno's unit of the Nightian Chemical Warfare Branch, Bird Division, required wearing a stuffed bird on top of your helmet.

Branagh's version does a better job than Bergman's of showing rather than telling of Sarastro's charity and forgiveness, and presenting the sexual advances of Monastos to Pamina as a real threat that shocks even his servants.

The Masonic symbolism of the original libretto becomes masonic in Branagh's production. Sarastro's fortress, scarred by war when we first see it, is rebuilt as gleaming architectural expression of reason, wisdom and measure.

Branagh's Queen of the Night is a bit more human and tragic than Bergman's, majestic and imperious, but still a crazed and deeply damaged psychomom.

In the end, Sarastro, Tamino and Pamina win, but:

...only because of the magic flute and bells, gifts of the Queen of the Night's realm of moonlight and meteors and magic, and:

...enlightenment also has false servants like Monastos, and:

...at the end, the Queen of the Night and her three ladies fall into the outer darkness, although they sang so sweetly, but:

...we never see them hit the ground, and, in Branagh's telling:

...they can fly.

Abilement for the Just of Pees

A helme well stuffyd wt a Crest of hys de viis.
A peyre of platus and xxx Gyders.
A hanscement for the Bode wt slevis.
A botton wt a tresse in the platis.
A schelde coverid wt his deviis.
A Rerebrace wt a rolle of ledyr well stuffid.
A Maynfere with a ring.
A rerebrasce a moton.
A vambrase and a gaynpayne & ij brickette.
And ij dosyn tresse and vj vamplate.
And xij Grapers, and xij Cornallis & xl Speris.
And a Armerer wt a hamor and pynsons.
And naylys wt a byckorne.
A Goode Cowrscer and row schode wt a softe bytte.
and a gret halter for the rayne of the brydyll.
A Sadyll well stuffyd
and a peyre of jambus.
And iij dowbyll Gyrthis wt dowbill bokollus.
And a dowbill sengull wt dowbill bokullus.
And a rayne of ledir hungre teyyd from the
horse hede un to the gyrthys be twen the forther.
Bowse of the horsce for revassyng.
A Rennyng paytrell
A Croper of leder hongre.
A Trappar for the Courser.
And ij servantis on horsebake well be sayne
And vj servantis on fote all in a sute.

From the Hastings MS, mid 15th c.

The Pas d'Armes of Charlemagne's Tree, 1443

Some Knights and Gentlemen of the Duke of Burgundy's Court Hold a Tournament Near to Dijon

During the duke of Burgundy's residence in that duchy several gentlemen of his household, with his permission, and for his amusement, had proclaimed throughout Burgundy, and in other countries, that if there were any men of name desirous of gaining honour and renown by deeds of arms, there were gentlemen, whose names shall be presently declared, who offered to receive and furnish them with arms suitable for the enterprise. The challenges shall likewise be mentioned that were dispersed through divers countries for this purpose, by Sir Pierre de Bauffremont lord of Chargny, who was the chief of the enterprise.

The Challenges for the Tournament and the Names of the Champions

In honour of our Lord, and of his most glorious mother, of my lady Sainte Anne, and of my lord St. George, I, Pierre de Bauffremont lord of Chargny, of Monliet and of Montfort, knight, counsellor and chamberlain, to the most high, most puissant and excellent prince the duke of Burgundy, make known to all princes, barons, knights and esquires, without reproach, with the exception of those of the kingdom of France and of the countries in alliance, or subjects to my said sovereign lord, that for the augmentation and extension of the most noble profession and exercise of arms, my will and intention is, in conjunction with twelve knights, esquires and gentlemen, of four quarterings, whose names follow,-Thibault lord of Rougemont and Mussy, Sir William de Bresremont lord of Sees and of Sonnegnon, William de Brene lord of Mombis and of Gilly, John lord of Valengon, John lord of Rap and of Tirecourt, William de Champdivers lord of Chevigny, John de Chiron lord Rancheineres, Antony de Vaudray, lord of Aille, William de Vaudray lord of Collaon, James de Challant lord of Ainville, Sir Amey lord of Espirey, and John de Chavigny-to guard and defend a pass d'armes, situated on the great road leading from Dijon toward Exonne, at the end of the causeway from the said town of Dijon, at a great tree called the Hermits Tree, in the form and manner following.

"In the first place, two shields (one black besprinkled with tears of gold,--the other violet, having tears of sable), shall be suspended on the tree of the Hermit, and all those, who shall, by a king at arms or pursuivant, touch the first shield, shall be bounden to perform twelve courses on horseback with me, or with one of my aforesaid knights or esquires, with blunted lances.-- Item, if either of the champions, during their twelve courses, be unhorsed by a direct blow with the lance on his armour, such person, thus unhorsed, shall present to his adversary a diamond of whatever value he please.-- Item, the champions may arm themselves according to their pleasure, double or single, but without any wicked intentions, having their rest similar to the usual custom in war.-- Item, each person shall make provision of lances,-- but the rondelle, which lies on the hands, shall be only four fingers broad, and no more.-Item, the lances shall be all of similar length, from the point to the rest.-- Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms on horseback, I will supply all who may come without lances, precisely like to my own and to those of my companions.--- Item, these deeds of arms on horseback shall be performed a la toille which shall be six feet high."

Here Follow the Articles for the Deeds of Arms on Foot

"Those princes, barons, knights, and esquires, of the rank before-mentioned, who shall rather take their pleasure in performing feats of arms on foot, shall touch the violet shield, and shall perform fifteen courses with battles-axes or swords, as may be most agreeable to them."

"Item, if, during these courses, any champion shall touch the ground with his hand or knees, he shall be bounden to present his adversary with a ruby of whatever value he please.- Item, each champion shall be armed with the accustomed armour for combating in lists- Item, should any person be unprovided with battle-axe or sword, I will furnish him with the same, similar to my own or to those of my companions. These axes and swords are not to have anything extraordinary in their make, but such as are usual in these kind of combats."

"Item, he that shall have engaged himself to fight with me, or either of us, and shall throw the other to the ground, the person so thrown shall be obliged to surrender himself a prisoner whithersoever the conqueror shall order him.-- Item, the person thus made prisoner shall pay for his immediate ransom, to whomsoever the conqueror shall direct, any sum above five hundred crowns."

"Item, foreigners need not seek for particulars from me, or from my companions; for they will find persons ready to deliver such at the usual hours and places.-- Item, no stranger will be permitted to enter the lists with me or with any one of my companions, for more than one course at arms, namely, once on horseback and once on foot,-- and no one can require more of any of us during the present undertaking."

"Item, the aforesaid feats of arms, on Horseback and on foot, shall be performed on the following days: those on horseback on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays,-those on foot, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.-- Item, this pass d'armes shall commence on the first day of July, in the year 1443, and shall last forty days, exclusive of feast days and Sundays, and the feasts commanded to be kept by the court of Rome."

"Item, no prince, baron, knight, or esquire, shall pass within a quarter of a league of the spot assigned for these combats without entering the lists and taking part, or otherwise leaving as pledges his sword or spurs, according, to his pleasure."

"Item, for the accomplishment of these feats of arms, as well on horseback as on foot, to the articles above specified, I have most humbly supplicated and entreated my aforesaid sovereign lord, that he would grant me his licence and permission to perform them, he has most benignantly assented to. He has likewise most graciously appointed, as judge of the lists, that puissant prince and my most redoubled lord the count of Nevers and of Rethel, --and, in his absence, the lord marshal count of Fribourg and of Neufchatel."

"In order that this my intention of performing these deeds of arms in the manner before specified may be men fully declared, I have affixed my seal to these presents, and signed with my own hand, this 8th day of March, in the year 1442."

"Item, I beseech all princes, barons, knights, and esquires, not to construe this my intention as proceeding from any presumption on my part; for my sole motive is to exalt the noble profession of arms, and to extend the exercise of it,- and also to make acquaintance by arms with such renowned and valiant princes and nobles as may be pleased to honour me with their company. -- Item, all noble foreigners shall have sure and loyal passports from my aforesaid sovereign lord, or, in his absence, from his marshal,"

From: Monstrelet, Enguerrand de, The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet. trans.
Thomas Johnes, two vols., (London, 1877), Book II, Chapter cclxix-cclxxi

***
Monstrelet's Chronicle

Monstrelet's Chronicle began where Froissart's ended, in 1400, and he carried it up through the year 1444. He died in 1453, and continuations by other hands brought the Chronicle up to 1516. While less lively and anecdotal than Froissart, he does not seem to have shared Froissart's apparent willingness to freely invent plausible details as needed. His work is probably a better record of what is known of the events he records, even if it is less engaging as literature or as a record of contemporary customs, manners, and daily life. He leave us with a number of valuable accounts of chivalric deeds of arms.

Thomas Johnes' 1877 translation is neither lively nor particularly accurate, but, as for Froissart, at this writing it remains the only complete English translation. Spelling of the Johnes translation has been standardized on modern American English.

De Vaudrey and de Compais Fight on Foot with Swords 1443

A deed done at the pas de l'arbre de Charlemagne

...the duke returned to the side of the lists ordained for combats on foot, with a white baton in his hand to serve as judge. He was very honorably accompanied by those of his blood, his nobility and his council. It wasn't long before Jehan de Compais very humbly presented himself before the duke, to perform and accomplish his arms, according to the conditions of the violet shield that he had touched, and according to the written chapters of the noble pas. De Compais presented himself unarmored, and dressed in a long robe embroidered with gold, and, after being received by the duke, de Compais retreated to his pavilion, to arm himself and make himself ready to perform his arms. It wasn't long before Antoine de Vaudrey, lord de l'Aigle rode out of the castle of Perigny. He was armed for combat on foot, a bassinet on his head with the visor raised, and over his harness arrayed in his coat of arms, with his horse covered with the same arms. Lord de Charny and his companions accompanied him, and other noble men, their friends and peers, and so he entered the lists, dismounted, and likewise very humbly presented himself before the judge his sovereign lord, and the lord de Charny spoke to present him. The duke received him in a very fine fashion, and de Vaudrey retreated to his pavilion.

It wasn't long before de Vaudrey had the two pairs of weapons, with which the arms were to be fought, delivered to the marshal of Burgundy. They were two axes and two swords, and each pair similar. The marshal presented them to the judge, and then presented them to Jehan de Compais, to choose which of the two weapons he wanted to use to perform his enterprise of battle, and to retain the weapon of his choice. De Compais chose the battle with swords and retained one, and returned the other with the two axes to the marshal. They had the weapons carried back, and the sword of arms given to those who served Antoine, and they made the customary cries and warnings. At that everyone left the lists except the eight men at arms as guards and sentinels and to separate the champions, and those who had license or orders from the duke or from his marshal.

That done, the champions left their pavilions. It seems, as I recall, that Antoine de Vaudrey left his pavilion first, or that I saw him first. He had the visor of his bassinet raised, and made a grand cross with his bannerol; and the lord de Charny gave him his sword, which he gripped in two hands, the left hand reversed and protected by the rondel, and so de Vaudrey advanced. On the other side Jehan de Compais left his pavilion, armed as is appropriate for such occaisions, his coat of arms on his back and a bassinet on his head with visor closed. Making the sign of the cross with his bannerol and taking his sword, he saw de Vaudrey advancing with his visor raised, and quickly stopped to raise his own. But de Vaudrey on his side, when he saw de Compais outside his pavilion with visor closed, knocked down his own, and then, seeing his companion raise his, he stopped to raise his own. But it happened that both of them, each one being alone, were unable to raise or open their visors, and they remained with their bassinets closed.

So they took up their swords again, and I remember that de Compais carried his sword with the left hand before, not reversed, and it was that hand that was shielded and protected by the rondel. And to regain his place in the list to encounter his companion, he ran straight forward. The two squires came together fiercely, and de Compais made the first stroke, but hit de Vaudrey's rondel. With his counterstroke, de Vaudrey gave point with his estoc to the bassinet of his companion. Why make a long prologue or long tale of these arms? The squires were strong, hardy, and courageous, and sought each other so harshly that they quickly achieved the fifteen strokes contained in their chapters, and more, without either gaining advantage, or giving ground, or losing their weapons. And they made solid hits on the body so often that the coats of arms of each of them were torn and ripped in many places. And finally de Vaudrey pierced the visor of his companion, and when de Compais felt it pierced, he threw his estoc with all his strength at the visor of his companion, and with that stroke they were both similarly taken in the visor. Each champion held the other by the pierced visor, and they lifted their swords so that both of them had their face naked and uncovered, and at that the judge threw down his baton, and had the guards restrain and separate them.

The came before the judge, each of them offering to finish if he wanted them to, but the duke of Burgundy told them that they had accomplished their arms resolutely and well, and that they had done enough, commanding them to touch together, and remain friends and brothers. They did this quickly, each returning to their own end of the lists....They left these arms with honor on both sides, and in truth they did their arms fighting so well and so fiercely, with so many strokes given to the body on each side that I haven't seen the like since. Nor have I seen, from that day to this, any combat with estoc on foot fought without retreat: and those who undertake it will find it hard to complete.

Oliver de la Marche, Memoires Paris 1884 I. 328.

Translation copyright 2002 Will McLean

Jacques de Lalaing and Jacques d'Avanchies Fight with Swords, 1450

The Wednesday following they appeared together, around eight in the morning, and for the second time Sir Jacques de Lalaing, knight of the enterprise on the one side, and on the other side, Jacques d'Avanchies, presented themselves; and sir Jacques presented himself before the judge dressed in a long robe of cloth of gold and crimson, furred with marten, in nearly the color and pattern of the violet shield touched by the said Jacques; and the squire presented himself in a long robe and retreated into his pavilion; and soon sent for the marshal of the lists, to have the swords to do the arms, and signifying to the knight of the enterprise that the squire had required eleven strokes done with a sword, advancing and stepping back three paces, according to the content of the chapters. The said swords given and presented to the squire, he chose according to his pleasure.

The cries and ceremonies done, they left their pavilions, and to speak first of Jacques d'Avanchies, he left his pavilion, entirely armed, his coat of arms on his back and gripping his sword, which they call an estoc of arms; and holding his left hand reversed and protected by the roundel of the estoc; and he was armed on his head with a armet in the fashion of Italy armed with a great bevor. And on the other side the knight of the enterprise left his pavilion which was in the manner of a little tent; strewn with blue tears. He was completely armed; and over his armor he had a palletot with sleeves of vermilion silk covered with tears as before; and so continued his finery, following the way that he had been carrying out his task, according to the conditions of the shields of his enterprise; and on his head he was armed with a bassinet with a great visor, which he had closed, and this was the first and only time which sir Jacques fought with his face covered. But the arms with the estoc, struck without being beaten aside, require secure armor, which everyone who knows the noble profession of arms can easily understand. And when sir Jacques had gripped his sword, he seemed like one of the most handsome and fierce men of arms that I have ever seen, and, beyond comparison, I have never seen a more a more handsome one.

They advanced the one against the other and, when Jacques d'Avanchies approached within six paces of his companion, he stopped in his tracks and fixed himself in the sand, the left foot forward and the point of his sword turned toward his companion; and showed well that he wished to wisely bear and sustain his deeds and the power of the knight; and sir Jacques marched boldly, and with that stroke hit the squire between the left shoulder and the edge of the bevor of the armet with a very great stroke; and the squire hit sir Jacques on the left flank. And the guards put themselves as ordered between them, and made them step back three paces, as had been said by the chapters, and for the second time sir Jacques advanced on his companion; but the squire again fixed himself in his tracks as before and put the point of the estoc before the blow, and the knight, advancing for the second time, hit very hard right beside the first hit but the squire sustained it coolly and wisely , without stepping back. The knight, who was very sure in his deeds, did not pursue the attack further, but made the same steps back as ordered and returned for the third time; and to make a long story short, so the knight continued to prosecute his attack and make the steps back as prescribed until the eleven strokes of the sword were struck by the knight, and sustained by the squire, as he had from the beginning, without the squire making any retreat from his first position, and so the judge had them parted, and so they retreated each one to his pavilion. to disarm....

Oliver de la Marche, Memoires Paris 1884 II. 188 Translation copyright Will McLean, 2002

How the squire of Savoy did his arms on foot to meet the knight guarding the pas, with the sword.

The twelfth day of the following month the squire of Savoy did his arms with a sword, to meet the knight of the pas. They both came at the hour of eleven within the lists where they made their presentations before the judge, as before, and so entered each one into his pavilion to arm. After the swords were inspected and the cries and ordinances done, the knight of the pas issued out of his pavilion ,his bassinet on his head, so well armed that it was a fine thing to see. And over his harness he was dressed with a robe of sanguine silk all strewn with blue tears. And the squire of Savoy was armed with an armet on his head and over his harness was dressed in his coat of arms. And they left their pavilions advancing the one on the other so that they came together to fight before the judge. The Savoyard squire asked for seven pushes with the sword to be done with three steps to step back and retreat. And the guards were so ordered, in case they wished to step back their three paces, to put them in the position where they should be; but the Savoyard didn't see well in his armet, and he bore himself without moving once from the place where he had first put himself. And there he waited for the knight of the pas who with each stroke made his steps back, always doing these steps quickly and handsomely, and then going to strike against the Savoyard who, as is said, did not move once. Then the judge, seeing the seven strokes accomplished, threw down his baton, and told them that their arms were accomplished well and honorably. They touched together and returned to their pavilions to disarm themselves.

Chastelain, Georges Chronique de Jacques de Lalain in Choix de Chroniques at Memoires sur l'Histoire de France, ed. J.A. C. Buchon Paris 1836 p. 685

Translation copyright Will McLean, 2002