“TRIUMPH” HELD AT EARL’S COURT, LONDON, ON JULY 11th, 1912
The object of the promoters of this revival was to reproduce an Elizabethan tournament of about the year 1580, such an one as is described in this chapter. This idea was very creditably carried out, though falling short of the Brussels reproduction of 1905 in the matters of technique and minuteness and correctness of detail. It must be remembered, however, that in 1580 the tournament, then itself a revival in England, had reached an advanced stage of decadence, and that the materials available for reconstruction are scanty and uncertain, as contrasted with the ample records of the century preceding. The Earl’s Court reproduction is stated to have been devised by Mrs. George Cornwallis-West and Mr. Seymour Lucas, r.a., with the technical assistance of Mr. (now Sir) Guy Laking. The stage management of the play was in the competent hands of Mr. (now Sir) Frank R. Benson. It is interesting to see so many historic names and titles, corresponding with those of Tudor times, borne by the jousters at Earl’s Court. The rôle of Marshal of the Lists was sustained by Lord Lonsdale, and the judges were Lords Shrewsbury and Talbot, Essex, and Dudley, with Major-General Brocklehurst. The Queen of Beauty was the Viscountess Curzon.
The procession to the arena was headed by trumpeters and four pursuivants, marching on foot; then rode the marshal, armed at all points, with the herald (Sir F. R. Benson). The four judges, clad in black robes, followed, their esquire (Sir Guy Laking) bearing the umpire’s bâton. After their entry into the lists the trumpets again sounded and the Queen of Beauty, with her train of maidens, all mounted on palfreys, gaily decorated with roses, each led by a henchman, rode into the arena. The Queen was attended by an esquire, and her palfrey was caparisoned in silk. She was clad in a ruff, a robe sparkling with diamonds, and a long mantle.
PLATE XII
THE COMTE DE CHAROLAIS, As
REPRESENTED AT BRUSSELS IN 1905
JEAN DE CLÈVES, AS REPRESENTED
AT BRUSSELS IN 1905
The knights were arranged in trios, each cavalier preceded by an esquire, bearing his lance, and followed by other esquires. The first champion was the Duke of Marlborough; his motto was Fiel pero desdichado, his colours a dark blue, and his proof armour was etched with gold. The second was Lord Craven; his motto was Virtus in actione consistet, his colours green, and he wore the famous armour made for Philip II of Spain. Lord Compton completed the first trio, and his motto was Je ne cherche qu’un. The second trio followed, and all did homage to the Queen of Beauty, now seated on her throne. The herald then proclaimed that the six knights would joust at the tilt, for a rich and noble prize. The Lord Chrichton and the Duke of Marlborough were the first to joust, and five courses were run by each pair. On completion the verdict of the Queen of Beauty was that the Duke had well jousted, but that Lord Ashby St. Ledgers, whose motto was Ferro non gladio, had jousted best, and he received the prize, viz. a gold cup of the value of £600, from her hands. The tilt was then removed and a mêlée followed, in which twelve knights were engaged. There was, of course, a banquet in the evening followed by a dance.
There was also a revival at Rome.
There now only remains the judicial duel to be described, an institution which had much affinity with the tournament, and which, indeed, formed an integral part of it, both in sentiment and fact. This important branch of the subject is dealt with at some length in the next chapter.