“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,[142] 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.[143] 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 à la toille, which shall be six feet high.”
Chapitres d’Armes.
“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 strokes with battle-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.[144]—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 kinds 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 pas 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, according 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, which he has most benignantly assented to. He has likewise most graciously appointed, as judge of the lists, that puissant prince and my most redoubted lord, the count of Nevers and of Rethel—and in his absence, the lord marshal, count of Fribourg and of Neufchâtel.