“All these thinges donne thei were embatailed eche ageynste the othir and the corde drawen ageynste eche partie, and whan the tyme was, the cordes were cutte and the Trumpettis blew up for euery man to do his deuoir. And for to assertayne you more of the Tournay there was on eche side a stake, and at eache stake two Kynges of Armes, with penne, and Inke, and paper, to write the names of all of them that were yolden, for they shold no more Tournay.”
This refers to the mêlée, not the joust.
King René d’Anjou, in Traicte de la forme et Devis d’ung Tournoi, gives an illustration of a mêlée in which the attendants are seen cutting the cords with axes, but there are no kings of arms present noting the score.
Another reference occurs in the account given in the Landsdowne MS. 285 of the combat between the Bastard of Burgundy and Lord Scales in 1466, a contest which has been already described on these pages. It is entitled The Ordinaunce of kepyng of the Feelde, and runs—
“... At ev’y corner a Kyng of Armes crownyd and an Harauld or Pursevaunte within the seide feelde, for reporte makyng of actes doon within the same: Garter and othir Kynges of Armes and Hauraldes to be sett in the scaffolde before the Kyng on the right hande of the staire of the Kynges place judiciall’ to make report generall’ and to marke all that should be doon in the seide feelde.”
And we may infer that a score of the points, for and against, was kept on the occasion.[234] Hall, in his narrative of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, states definitely that the scores of the combatants were marked down by the proper officials, English and French.
The Duc d’Alençon and three French gentlemen, with the earls of Sussex and Leicester, challenged all comers, in 1551, to fight at barriers, and they had forty-five opponents.[235]
Jousts were run at Westminster, in conjunction with a great pageant, on January 22nd, 1581, in the presence of Queen Elizabeth. The fêtes extended over several days, and many lances were broken at the tilting. The crowd was so great at the pageant that many citizens were maimed and some killed. Those taking part in the tilting were Henry Gray, Sir Thomas Perot, Anthony Cooke, Thomas Radcliffe, Robert and Francis Knolles, Rafe Bowes, Thomas Kelwaie, George Goring, William Tresham, Robert Alexander, Edward Dennie, Hercules Meantus, Edward Moore, Richard Skipwith, Richard Ward, Edward Digbie, Henry Nowell and Henry Brunkerd. During the running Sir Henry Lee entered the tiltyard as The Unknown and, after breaking six lances, retired again. The challengers each ran six courses against all comers. A Scharmützel, being the attack and defence of a mock fortress on which cannon were mounted, took place later, and this was followed by the tourney and barriers. Taking part in these were the Earl of Arundel, Lord Windsor, Sir Philip Sidney and Fulke Greville, Esquire.[236]
A tournament was held on the 15th May following, as mentioned in Ashmole MS. No. 845, fol. 166, a copy of which follows:—
“The Tournay holden at Westminster on monday the 15. of May. 1581. when as the prince dolphine of Auuergne and other the frenche commissioners were here.