This is the foot-tournament which originated in the sixteenth century, and is very different from the courses on horseback. Full particulars can be seen in the Akten des Dresdener Oberhof-marshallamtes, anno. 1614. An extract (in translation) from this work by Dr. Cornelius Gurlitt runs as follows, viz.:—
“The one who shivers the greatest number of lances in the most adroit manner shall have the lance prize; and he who in five courses strikes the bravest and strongest with the sword shall have the sword prize.”
This extract furnishes a sufficient outline of the game. Like the “tourney,” it was troop against troop. Each combatant had to exchange three charges with the lance across a sort of barrier; and five strokes with the sword, all directed towards the head, not only with one but with every opponent on the opposing side; and prizes were awarded as set forth in the extract. No prize was awarded unless the lance splintered, nor was any given in cases where a combatant had stepped or been driven backwards in any way. Striking below the belt was forbidden, for no leg armour was worn. The locking gauntlet was expressly forbidden.
Fig. 9.—Armour for the Freiturnier at Dresden.
It is very interesting to find that a suit used in a “fussturnier” by Kurfürst Johann Georg I. of Saxony is now in the Dresden collection. It is by Anton Peffenhauser of Augsburg. The harness used was the ordinary fighting kind. The lance was held in both hands.
KOLBENTURNIER, OR BASTON COURSE.
This is a variety that first appeared early in the fifteenth century. It was a dual combat on horseback, and was not in vogue for more than a century. The weapon used was a “baston,” a short wooden polygonally cut mace, thickening towards the end. The helmet for this course was heavy and round, with a strong grated front. The head did not touch the helmet at all, for the “baston,” being made of very heavy wood, was a dangerous weapon for striking. An example of the saddle used in this course may be seen at the Nuremberg Museum. It is so constructed that the rider cannot well fall off.
There were a number of other courses, but the differences were only trifling, consisting mainly in humorous devices and fashions in costume. During the closing twenty years of the sixteenth century, and the first twenty in the following, the Hungarian tourney was much in vogue. This course obtained its name solely from the dress worn—the spurs used were very long.
Running at the ring can hardly be classed under the tournament category. It was called “Ringelrennen” in Germany, and was much in favour at the Saxon court from 1570 to the end of the seventeenth century. The lance used was shorter and much lighter than that for tournaments. There is a specimen at Dresden which is tipped with a cone, to hold the ring when hit, and there is naturally no vamplate.