“From ech end of the riuer came a bote running with six ores, in the stern of which on the top stood a man armed in a red wastcote, with a staffe in his reste, hauing a but end of corke; now ech meeting other with their staues, both fell into the water, where spare botes were redi to succour them, for ouer went their horsses.”[238]
Ashmole MS. No. 1109, fol. 154b, gives a list of names of persons taking part in a tournament held at Windsor on November 17th, 1593.
“[In Officio Armorum Lib.] M. 4: Justes. fo: 42
Course at Feild at Windsor the 17ᵗʰ of Nov: 1593. Aᵒ regni Reginæ 36.
| The Earle of Cumberland | The Earle of Southampton. | ||
| The Earle of Essex | Robert Knowles. | ||
| The Lord Fitzwalter | Cary Reynolds. | ||
| The Lord Compton | Henry Nowell. | ||
| Sʳ Charles Blount | Sʳ Tho. Gerrard. | ||
| Sʳ Vnknowen | Robert Dudley. | ||
| The E. of Essex [sic] | Sʳ William Knowles. | ||
| Judges |  | The Earle of Worcester | |
| The Lord Sandes | |||
| Lord North | |||
| The Lord Norrys” | |||
In 1606, in the reign of James I, there was a fight at barriers in celebration of the ill-fated marriage of the Earl of Essex. Sixteen combatants fought on each side, first singly and then in threes. One party was led by the Duke of Lennox, the other by the Earl of Sussex.[239]
Another fight at barriers took place on Twelfth-night, 1610, when Henry Prince of Wales, with six aides, met sixty-five defendants at Whitehall. The weapons were pikes and single swords, and the prince, then in his sixteenth year, is stated to have greatly distinguished himself.[240]
Harleian MS., III, 215, 4888, 20, is a general challenge at tilt, tourney, and barriers, “signed Lenox, Southampton, Pembroke, Montgumbray,” dated 1612. It was in defence of these propositions—“1. That in Service of Ladyes, Knights have no free-will. 2. That it is Beautie maintains the World in valour. 3. That noe fare Ladie was ever false. 4. That none can be perfectlye wife but Lover.” The challenge was addressed, “To all honourable men, Men at Armes, and Knight Adventurers of hereditarie note, ＆ examplarie noblesse, that for most memorable actions doe wield either Sword or Launce in quest of glorie.”
Ashmole MS. No. 837, fol. 129-32, gives a long account of “The manner of first cominge into the Tiltyard” of Charles Prince of Wales in the year 1619. It is interesting from many points of view, and we reproduce it here nearly in extenso. Like all accounts of the tournament of the period but little information is given of the martial sports themselves, though a great deal is written concerning the dresses, etc. This MS. affords abundant evidence that the last stage of the tournament had been reached.
“The manner of the first cominge into the Tiltyard of the Most high and mighty Prince Charles Prince of Wales sonne and heir apparent of our Souereign Lo: Kinge James on Friday the xxiiijᵗʰ of March 1619 wͨͪ was in the most princely and Royall manner that had been sene many yeares before.