Relation (in French) of the Battel of Justs held in the city of Tours, between Jelcan (or Jehan?) Chalons, a Native of the Kingdom of England, ＆ Loys de Beul who took the part of King Charles of France. A.D. 1446, wherein Loys de Beul was Killed.
Le Challenge Philip de Bouton, Natif de Pais Burgoigne, premier Esquire a Monsser le Conte de Charollois: qui ait Charge ＆ Esleve Emprise de un Fleurer Penser a tacher a son Bras dextre, lequelle il portra ouverte jusque autant que il defendra au Royaulme d’Angleterre, en la Campagnie de son Seigneur Monsieur le Bastard le Burgoigne, comme a la Roche. Dat. 1. may. 1467.
The Relation made by Garter King of Arms to K. Edward IV. concerning the Arrival of 3 Knights of the K. of Hungaries Court, named Uladislaus of Bodna, Fredericus of Waredma, ＆ Lancelagus of Trefulwane, who desired to performe some Feats of Arms with the English Gentlemen. With their Instructions given to the said Garter touching his Declaration of their Desires, and the Articles of the Jousts and Tourney.[145]
Lacroix in Military and Religious Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, gives a picture of a king of arms proclaiming a tournament; copied from a miniature in King René’s tourney-book.
During the meeting of the Chapter of the Toison d’Or, at Ghent in 1445, duels were fought between the Chevalier Jehan de Boniface (Jean de Bonifazio), an Italian, and a Burgundian cavalier, Jacques de Lalain, the latter then a young man of twenty-four years, who later achieved great celebrity as a combatant in the lists. Duke Philip of Burgundy acted as umpire, and was supported on the tribune by the Duke of Orleans; and immediately before the fight began Lalain was dubbed a chevalier.
Lists had been prepared, and after the usual preliminaries were over a combat on foot between the parties took place, followed by many courses at the tilt.
The combatants entered the lists for the fight on foot, each bearing a heavy sword in the right hand and in the left a hache d’armes; a smaller sword was attached to the belt, and small rectangular shields were carried on the left arms. Lalain fought with part of his face exposed, half of his visor having been removed. The parties took up their positions some distance from each other, and the fight began by Boniface hurling his spear at Lalain, who parried it. The latter cast his sword at his opponent, but without effect; then each threw his shield at the other’s legs with a view of causing him to stumble, and the fight at close quarters with axes began. After some hard blows had been exchanged Boniface dropped his axe, and Lalain struck at his visor, in which his axe struck until the point broke. Boniface then seized the Burgundian’s weapon and drew his dagger, hoping to stab his opponent in the face, but Lalain with admirable sang-froid beat down that weapon, and striking the visor of his opponent, slightly penetrated one of the apertures with his axe, Boniface then drew his sword and struck savagely at Lalain; at which stage of the combat the duke’s bâton fell.
The jousting was accomplished later on, with varying fortune, though without special features. It was at the tilt, “et au milieu de la lice avoit une toille, pour conduire les chevauz, pour les courses de lances, qu’ils devoyent accomplir.”
The armour of de Lalain was provided with reinforcing pieces: “Messire Jacques de Lalain estoit armé de plusieures rondelles, l’une sur la main, l’autre sur le coude du bras de la bride, et l’autre tenant au gardebras, a maniére d’escu,” but they were detached before the jousting, Boniface being without them.[146] The different chroniclers of such combats differ more or less in many details.
The position and dignity of an esquire is defined in Ashmolean MS. 162a:[147] “The definition of an Esquire and the severall sortes of them according to the customs and usage of England. An esquire called in Latine armiger....”[148]