In the eighth year of his reign the king proclaimed solemn jousts in honour of his sister, the Queen of Scotland,[218] to extend over two days. The tenans on the first day were the king himself, the Duke of Suffolk, the Earl of Essex and Nicholas Carew, Esquire. The venans numbered twelve. On the second day the king ran against Sir William Kingston, a tall and strong knight, and unhorsed him. The apparel of the tenans and their horses “was blacke velvet, covered all over with braunches of honey suckels of fine flat gold of damaske, of lose worke, every lefe of the braunch moving, the embroudery was very conning and sumptuous.”[219] [220]
There was another passage of arms in the year following, at which 506 lances were splintered.[221]
The following documents occur among the Harleian MSS.:—“Justs at Greenwich, the 20th daie of Maye, the 8th yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Ld. K. Henry VIII.” The score of each jouster is given.
“Coppye de Chapitres (ou Articles) des certaine Faits d’Armes, tant a Pied, comme a Cheval, qui par deux Gentilmomes d’Almaigne touchant une certaine Emprise.”[222]
The jousts and tourneys of the Field of the Cloth of Gold were held on a truly magnificent scale, and, indeed, everything was done to make them a triumphant spectacular success. The cavaliers of the two nations, like the ladies present, vied with each other in the richness of their dresses and appointments, and the two monarchs greatly distinguished themselves in the tiltyard. The lists themselves are stated to have been 150 paces long, and were placed in a plain surrounded by a ditch. Stands were erected for the officials and spectators, and pavilions were pitched for the use of the cavaliers taking part. The jousting was with blunted lances, each challenger to run eight courses. The two kings entered the enclosure on June 11th, 1520, armed at all points, at the time appointed. The horse of his Majesty of France was trapped with purple satin broached with gold and embroidered with raven’s plumes hatched with gold, and on his helm he wore a lady’s sleeve. The trapper of the King of England was of cloth of gold tissue, fringed with damask and knitted together with golden points. In attendance on King Henry were Sir Henry Guilford, Master of the Horse; Sir John Pechie, Governor of Calais; Sir Edmund Guilford, General of the Forces; and Monsieur Morel, attached to his suite by King Francis. They all wore the royal livery.
The jousting began, the onset was sounded, and King Henry ran against Monsieur Grandevile, and the helm of the Frenchman was fractured. The Duc de Vendôme ran five courses against the Duke of Suffolk, each breaking his lance on the other’s body. After many more jousts had been accomplished the signal to cease for the day was given, the heralds crying “Desarmée” and the trumpets sounded à l’hostel (to lodgings).
On Tuesday, the 12th, ten gentlemen of the French king’s Swiss Guard tilted against eleven of the band of Monsieur de Tremouille.
On Wednesday, the 13th, the King of France, with his aides, and King Henry, with his following, rode at the tilt, after which there was much jousting between the knights of France and England; and towards evening King Francis left for Ard and the English monarch departed for his castle of Guisnes.
On the Thursday the French king tilted with the Earl of Devonshire and others, and King Henry ran against Monsieur Montmorencie and Rafe Brooke. On the Friday there was fighting at barriers, and on the Saturday a banquet was given by the French king and his suite at the Castle of Guisnes. A Frenchman was killed when fighting on foot.