COMBAT ON FOOT BETWEEN
SIR RICHARD BEAUCHAMP
AND SIR PANDOLF MALATESTA
THE TAPESTRY AT VALENCIENNES
Plate XXXVI. The earl is jousting at the tilt. “The erle smote up the visar (of his adversary) thries, and brake his besauges and other harneys.”
Plate XXXVII pictures the earl jousting with his face exposed.
Plate XL “shewes howe a mighty duke chalenged erle Richard for his lady sake, and he justyng slewe the duke,” the lance going through his body. This joust is with sharp lances in the open. The duke wears a jousting shield, and the earl a “volant-piece.”
In 1415 three Portuguese cavaliers fought the same number of Frenchmen, at St. Ouen, near Paris, in presence of the King of France. The combat was a severe one, resulting at length in the discomfiture of the Portuguese, who succumbed to the Frenchmen. The manner of this surrender so disgusted the authorities and spectators that the defeated party was forcibly expelled the lists.[129]
In 1420 there were several curious subterranean combats, between French and English cavaliers, at Montereau, that town being then besieged by the troops of the Dauphin. The English had laid mines extensively under the walls; and it was in these excavations that the fights took place, by the light of the flambeaux and torches. The first who fought on the French side was Louis Juvenal des Ursins, a valiant esquire, son of the advocate-general, who was dubbed a chevalier on the occasion. The King of England and Duke of Burgundy were present, and wished to break a lance together, from which, however, they were dissuaded. The Sire de Barbazan jousted with the king, at first without knowing who he was, but as soon as he became aware that it was his Majesty, he respectfully retired from the contest. Everything passed with great courtesy between the members of the two nations, and the king gave great praise to the cavaliers engaged.[130]
In the seventh year of Henry V “triumphant iusts and turneis, in the whiche, Erle of Arundell, and the Bastard of Sent Polle by the iudgment of the Ladies, won the price and got the honor.”[131]