“In the reign of Henry VII certaine gentlemen who stiled themselves servants of Ladie Maie, in honour of that month, gave a challenge to be performed at Greenwiche; the articles run thus:—
“Imprimis, The fourteenth daie of Maie, shall be redye in the field certaine gentlemen, perteyning to the Ladye Maie, armed for the tilt, in harneis therunto accustomed; and there to kepe the fielde (in such place as it shall please the kynge to appoint) from 2 of the clocke, til 5 at the afternoone, to run with every commer 8 courses; and thus the answerers all answered and served, that than if there be any that desireth for their Ladyes sake other 4 courses, it shall be granted, so the hower be not past, if it be then at the queenes pleasure.
“The second day, to shoot Standart Arrowe and fighte, with all commers; he that shootes the standart furthest to have a prise, and so in like case of the arrows of the flight.
“The third day with swordes rebated (without points or edges) to strike with any commer 8 strokes in way of pleasure; and four strokes more for any of the commers mistress sake, under the above restrictions, (and the queen’s pleasure).
“The fourth day to wrestle all manner of ways.
“The fifth day, armed to fighte on foote, with speares in their hands rebated, and then swordes by their sides for the battle; and then with speare and sworde to defend their barriers; that is to say, with spears 8 strokes, whereof two with foyne (thrusts) and 6 strokes; and that done, to drawe their swordes and strike 8 strokes every man, to his best advantage, with gripe or otherwise; and four strokes for a lady, under the above restrictions.
“The sixth day to cast the barre on foote, and with the arme both heavie and light.
“At these tournois the challenger doth engage to come in harneis for the tilt, without targe or brockett, woalant piece over the head,[167] rondall over the garde, rest of advantage, fraude, deceit, or other malengine.
“And some time after four gentlemen challenged all commers at Greenwich: To the feate called barriers, with the casting speare, and the targatt and the bastarde sworde.[168] And one cast with the speare hedded with the morn (coronal), and 17 strokes with the sworde, point and edge rebated; without close or griping one another with handes, upon paine of such punishment, as the judges for the tyme being should thinke requisite.”
“The tilts, we find, were performed with long tilting spears, on horseback; and when their lances were broken, they often took to their swords as well as axes”: see the method of challenge in the description of the plates in the life of Earl Warwick, and the manner of performing, Plates 35, 36, ＆ 37, etc.[169]