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Page 46
A short distance from the lists were the galleries and pavilions for
the spectators; the most splendid was that fitted up for the lady who
presided as queen of the tournament and her attendants, all splendidly
attired. The most noble and most beautiful ladies of the court crowded
to these martial entertainments to inspire the combatants with ardour,
by giving them some token or favour, such as a scarf, veil, or
bracelet, with which the knight adorned his helmet or spear.
Their arms were lances of light wood, without iron at the top; swords
without edge or point; in some instances wooden swords were used.
The knights were formed into two parties, and entered the lists by
different barriers, riding round the lists several times to pay their
respects to their sovereign and the ladies. At length the heralds
sounded to arms; the quadrils, or troop, took their stations; when the
charge was sounded, the knights rushed against each other with the
utmost impetuosity. The clashing of swords, the sounding shields, the
war-cry of the knights, who shouted the name of their ladye-love in
the midst of the mimic strife, greatly excited the spectators, who, in
return, cheered and encouraged the combatants. When the knights were
brave and determined, the contest lasted some hours; the vanquished,
that is, those who were thrown from their horses, withdrew from the
lists as quietly as possible, leaving the field to their successful
opponents. The victory was decided by the number of knights unhorsed.
The prizes to the victors were adjudged and delivered by the queen
and the ladies. This authority of the fair sex contributed greatly to
polish the manners of the nobility and gentry of the middle ages, who
were anxious to court the favour of those who were the distributors of
public honours.
Sometimes this entertainment was followed by jousts. Two cavaliers,
out of gallantry, would break a lance in honour of the ladies. These
were followed by others until the lists were again cleared for the
tournament. The difference between tournaments and jousts was, that
the former were in the nature of battles, the latter of duels.
When the sports were over, the heralds and pursuivants declared the
names and titles of the knights, and proclaimed the heraldic ornaments
which the emperor, king, or prince that presided at the tournament
granted to those whom he pleased to reward or favour.
Notwithstanding all the precautions to prevent the mischief that might
happen at these martial exercises few were exhibited in which a great
number were not wounded, some killed in the mel�e, others crushed by
the falling of the scaffolds, or trod to death by the horses. Kings,
princes, and gallant knights from every part of Europe have perished
at different times while attending or taking part in those mimic
battles. Successive popes thundered out their anathemas against all
that encouraged this warlike and dangerous amusement. Those who
perished in these sanguinary entertainments were denied the honour of
Christian burial; and yet, so strong was the passion of the nobility
of Europe for these martial sports, from a desire to display their
grandeur, courage, and address before the ladies and the assembled
multitude, that no bulls, decretals, or anathemas of the church were
able to restrain them. The use of gunpowder, and the consequent
inutility of armour to defend the person in battle, gradually put
an end to these animating shows. The tragical death of Henry II. of
France, in 1559, who was accidentally killed in a tournament, caused
laws to be passed prohibiting their being held in that kingdom. They
were continued in England till the beginning of the seventeenth
century.
An attempt was made to revive these martial exhibitions in Scotland, a
few years ago, by Lord Eglintoun, the acknowledged leader in all manly
sports, elegant athletic exercises, and baronial liberality. This
noble peer proclaimed a tournament to be held at Eglintoun Castle on
the 28th and 29th of August, 1839. The lists were duly prepared, a
covered pavilion was erected for the accommodation of the ladies,
which would contain 3000 persons. In front of this pavilion was the
throne of the Queen of Beauty and her attendants. Around the lists,
at convenient distances, were arranged the tents or pavilions of the
knights, over which floated the gonfalon, or great banner, emblazoned
with the arms and motto of the knight to whom the tent was
appropriated, penons and penoncils fluttered at each angle of the
pavilion, and the shield was placed over the entrance. The knights
vied with each other in the decoration of their pavilions; all was in
accordance with ancient customs: and if the shade of Froissart had
witnessed the scene, it could not have complained of modern innovation
or misplaced ornament. The procession of the King of the tournament,
the Queen of Beauty, with the judges, heralds, pursuivants,
halberdiers, musicians, men-at-arms, as also the splendid retinues
of the noble challenger and the gallant knights, presented a scene
unparalleled for magnificence and heraldic emblazonment since the days
of Edward IV. Every form was observed in this modern tournament; and a
more interesting scene for the historian, the antiquary, and armorist,
could not be exhibited. Unfortunately, the continued rain cast a gloom
over this animated spectacle, which nevertheless excited the highest
admiration of all who beheld it: a spectator of the scene could well
imagine the enthusiasm similar ones would create in the minds of the
gay and brave of former times. It is deemed necessary to briefly
notice the last tournament held in Britain; as any one that requires
full information on every part of heraldic ornament, processional
arrangement, and technical definition, may find positive examples in
the details of this gorgeous exhibition.
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