GERMAN ARMOUR FOR
JOUSTING AT THE TILT.
AT DRESDEN.
AN ARMOUR FOR
FREITURNIER.
AT DRESDEN.
In the fourth year of King Henry’s reign—
“the King had a solempne iust at Grenewiche in Iune: first came in ladies all in White and Red silke, set vpon Coursers trapped in the same suite, freated ouer with gold, after which folowed a Fountain curiously made of Russet sattin, with eight Gargilles spoutyng water, within the fountain sat a knight armed at all peces. After the Fountain folowed a lady all in black silke dropped with fine siluer, on a courser trapped in the same. After folowed a knight in a horse litter, the Coursers and litter apparareled in blacke velvet with siluer droppes. When the Fountain came to the tilt, the Ladies rode rounde aboute, and so did the Fountain and the knight within the litter. And after them wer brought twoo goodly Coursers appareled for the iusts: and when they came to the tiltes ende, the twoo knightes mounted on the two Coursers, abidyng all commers. The king was in the fountain and Sir Charles Brandon was in the litter. Then suddenly with great noyse of the Trompets, entered Sir Thomas Kneuit in a castle of cole blacke, and ouer the castell was written, ‘The dolorous Castle,’ and so he and the erle of Essex, the lorde Haward and other ran their courses, with the King and Sir Charles Brandon and euer the king brake moste speres.”[212]
There were royal jousts held in October, 1513, the king and Lord Lisle answering all comers. His Majesty was attended by twenty-four knights clad in robes of purple velvet and cloth of gold, and many lances were broken.[213]
In 1515 Henry, with the Marquis of Dorset, challenged all comers to a joust, and the king “brake three and twentie speres beside attaints and bare downe to ground a man of armes and his horse.”[214]
In the same year on twelfth-night the king held a Scharmützel, being the attack and defence of a mock fortress, at Eltham.[215]
Royal jousts were held again in June, 1519, at which 506 lances were splintered.[216]
Royal jousts in March, 1520.[217]