The Tournament—Its Periods and Phases

by R. Coltman Clephan

We Herrowdys of Armis beryng scheldis of deviis here we yeve in knowlache un to all Gentill men of name and of armus. That ther ben vj Gentilmen of name ＆ of armus. That for the gret desire and worschippe that the sayde.vj.Gentilmen hath taken up pon them to be the.iij.day of May nex comyng be fore the hy ＆ myghtty redowttyd ladys ＆ Gentyll wymmen. in thys hey ＆ most honorabull Court. And in thayre ᵽsens the sayde.vj.Gentilmen there to a pere.at.IX.of the belle.be fore noone.and to Juste a yens all comers wt oute.on the sayd day.un to.vj.of the belle at after noon.

And then be the a vise of the sayde ladys ＆ Gentill wymmen to yeve un to the best Juster wt oute A Diamunde of.xl.li.

And un to the nexte the best Just a rube of.xx.li. And un to the thyrde well Just a sauffer of.x.li. And on the sayde day there beyng offecers of armis schuyng thayre mesure of thayre speris garnyst. That ys Cornall wamplate ＆ grapers all of asyse that they schall.Juste wt. and that the sayde Comers may take the lengthe of the sayde speris wt the a vise of the sayde offecers of armys that schall be in defferant un to all parteys on the sayde day.”

The comyng in to the felde.

The. vj. Gentilmen most com in to the felde un helmyd. and theyre helmes borne be fore tham. ＆ thayre servants on horsbake beryng eyther of tham a spere garniste. yt is the sayde.vj. speris. the wheche the sayde servantis schall ride be fore them in to the felde. ＆ as the sayde. vj.Gentilmen ben come be fore the ladyys ＆ Gentilwīmē. Then schall be sent an harawde of armes up un to the ladys ＆ Gentillwimmen sayyng in this wise. Hey ＆ myghtti redowtyd ＆ ryght worschypfull ladys ＆ Gentylwymmen these.vj.Gentill men ben come in to yowre presens. and recōmaundit ham all un to yowr goode grace in as lowli wyse as they can.besechyng you for to gyffe.un to iij.best Justers wt owte.a Diamownd.＆ a Rube.＆ a Sauffer.un to them that ye thenk best can deserve hit.

Thenne this message is doon.then the.vj.Gentill men goyth un to the tellws and do on theyr helmes. And when the harrawdis cri a lostell a lostell.then schall all the.vj.Gentill men wt in un helme them.be fore the sayde ladyys.and make theyre abeisans and go hom un to ther loggynges ＆ chaunge them.

Now be com the Gentyll men with oute in to the presens of the ladyys.

Then comyth forth a lady.be the a vise of all the ladiis ＆ Gentill wymmen.＆ yevis the Dyamond unto the beste Juster wt oute.sayyng in this. wise sere these ladiis ＆ Gentill wymmen thank yow.for yowr dysport and yowr gret labur that ye have this day in thayre presens.and the sayde ladiis and Gentill wymmen sayyn the ye have beste Just this day.there fore the sayde ladys ＆ Gentyllwymmen gyff you this Diamunde ＆ sende yow mych worschyp ＆ ioye of yowr lady. Thus schall be doon wt the Rube ＆ the Sauffer.un to the other ij nex the best Justers this don.

Then schall ye harraude of arms stonde up all on hey ＆ schall say with a hey voyce.John hath well Justyd. Rycharde hath Justyd better.＆ Thomas hath Justyd best of all.

Then schall he to whom the Diamonde ys gyf un to he schall take a lady by the honde ＆ be gynnyth the daunce. and when the ladiis hath dauncyd as longe as hem lykyth then spisys ＆ wyne ＆ drynke And then a voyde.