Caxton, writing in the reign of Edward IV, in his epilogue to The book of the Order of Chyvalry and Knyghthode, says:—
“I wold it pleasyd our soverayne Lord that twyes or thryes in a yere, or at least ones, he wold do crye Justes of pees, to thende that every knyght shold have hors and haryneys, and also the use and craft of a knyght, and also to torneye one ageynste one, or ij ageynst ij; and the best to have a prys, a dyamond, or jewel, such as shold please the prynce. Thys shold cause gentylmen to resorte to thauncyent customes of chyvalry, to grate fame and renōmee, and also to be alway redy to serve theyr prynce when he shalbe calle them or have nede.”
A superb representation on tapestry of a mêlée which took place late in the fifteenth century, worked at Malines, is now at Valenciennes; and it is remarkable for its technical accuracy. The jousting is over; and a combat with sharp swords in progress. Broken lances, a helmet, a broken helm, fragments of crests, grelots and other debris shed in the contest lie on the ground among the horse’s hoofs. The helmets are armets of the older form, of which there are existing examples spread over the collections of Europe. This type has hinged side-pieces and opens out from the middle for inserting and withdrawing the head of the wearer; and it is fastened together with a leathern strap. There is a small circular disk projecting from the back of the helmet, as well as a collar in front and over the neck behind, to which a necklet of chain-mail is fixed by a line of rivets. The comb of the helmet is holed for the attachment of a crest and the visor projects in a sort of beak. The disk is fixed to one side of the back of the head-piece by a thin iron connecting pin or bar. Its use or purpose is difficult to imagine and has given rise to much controversy, but none of the explanations advanced are at all convincing, for the bar or connecting pin is too slender to protect the neck from a sword stroke or even to shield from injury the strap at the back which holds the helmet together. This type fell into disuse at the commencement of the sixteenth century. The armour shown on the figures is fairly uniform. A long mail shirt with sleeves is worn, and it is much less covered with plate than might be expected at the end of the fifteenth century. The forms of the pauldrons, neck-guards, globose breastplate, “bear-paw,” or “cow-mouth” sollerets (as they were called), tuilles, tassets, and bases all mark the period, which other historic features on the tapestry confirm. Motons appear on only one of the figures, and they are pear-shaped; in the case of the other front figures there is no defence for the armpits beyond the chain-mail shirt. The lances are both grooved and plain, the vamplates, circular. An unusual feature is the presence of three long, narrow, label-shaped plates or bars, ridged down the middle, with small circular eyes at the tops, through which screws or rivets are passed, attaching them to the back rim of the armet. The back-plates are low, reaching but half-way up, and these three plates or bars form the only defence for the upper back outside the mail shirts. They appear to be adjustable to a certain extent. The middle plate is the longest of the three, extending down the spine of the wearer to over the top of the low back-plate; while the side-bars, equal in length, reach well over the pauldron wings. The horses are all barded in leather, with chamfrons and crinets apparently of iron; and none of the animals are trapped. The bridles are of chain-mail, framed in iron. The tapestry measures 4·70 m. to 5·60 m. in size, and part of it is shown on [Plate I (2)].
In the year 1487 Johannes, Duke of Saxony, ran in Gestech with Cuntz Metzschen at Jena, and both riders kept their seats. They wore armour such as described in [Plate IX (1)]: the motons were very ornate. On the duke’s helm were two small black flags, on which the letter “M” was embroidered, in honour of his wife, Sophie of Mecklenburg. His trapper and shield were black, with violet, yellow, and white stripes.
A “Solemne Triumphe” was held at Richmond, which lasted a whole month, at which Sir James Parker was killed, in 1494.[170]
The two most important armouries are those at Vienna and Madrid; but for the study of the tourney that at Dresden is the best. Indeed, much of the armour there has remained, practically in situ, since it was in use, and many of the harnesses can be attributed with certainty, both as regards wearers and makers. In the Tournierwaffensaal several of the mounted models have sat their horses since the year 1591. At Dresden may be seen examples of the saddles, horse muzzles, weapons, bards and trappers; and even the textile costumes worn over and under the armour, as well as the small accessories and tools, may be studied. Besides these armouries, those at Paris, Berlin, Turin, Nuremberg, the Tower of London, and the Wallace Collection, are large and comprehensive.
The German Turnierbücher and jousting in Germany will be dealt with in the next chapter.