The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-09-02
The Medieval Tournament.

THE tournament in its inception. was
more gathering for the practice of ath-
letc games than anything else. In time,
however il became the occasion for the
display of all the pOmp and circumstance
of ,he time, and was made the chief attraC-
ton at such popular festivities as a royal
marriage, the entrance of Il sovereign int"
a town, or any other occasion OF public
rejoicing. There is a tradition that the
tournament, properly so called, was first
instituted in the tenth century in Brittany
by Geotfrcy, the lord of Preuilla
When a tournament was resolved upon
the Judges were selected and the time and
place, together with the rules regulating
it, were proclaimed publicly by the her
aid, a cor eta crt, or with the voice and the
trumpet, as it was called. The king-at-
arms, wearing gold cloth upon which
the arms of the judges were painted, pro-
claimed the tournament, while the heralds
distributed cards upon which the arms
were painted to anyone who would take
them.
a great excitement all through the sur
rounding country The knights and
mobiles came with their retinues to attend
it, while the dealers and peddlers, and all
the classes who sought such public gath
erings for the furtherance of their private
gains, swarmed to the spot in crowds,
Great labor, pains and expense were in
volved in the preparation of the lists III
which the tournament was to take place,
and the temporary accommodations for
the actors, the spectators and the judges
The lists came finally to be constructed
in an oblong form, and were decorated
with brilliantly painted and gilded de-
signs and heraldic emblems, and hung
with rich tape tries. Banners bearing
heraldic devices were brought by the va
rious knights who gathered to take part
in the celebration, and before the day OF
the tournament the houses in which they
lodged were decorated with them, while
in some castle, cloister or monastery OF
the vicinity their coats -ot-arms were hung,
and the knights, the ladies and the visitors
gathered to inspect them. If among them
any lady recognized the banner OF a knight
against whom she had any cause for COM
plaint. she called the attention OF the
| Judges to it; and if on investigation ne
| was found unworthy he was not allowed
| to take part in the tournament.
Before the opening of the serious busi-
| ness for which the gathering had come
together the esquires practiced in the lists
and the ladies gathered to witness their
feats. Frequently in these trials an es-
| ouire who distinguished himself was
knighted on the spot, and allowed to cee-
brate the occasion by taking part in the
ensuing tournament.
| Upon the stands built for the spectators
were gathered the beauty and fashion OF
the time. Kings, queens, princes, ana the
highest nobility of the land gathered 10
witness the spectacle, and by their pres
ence inspirit the contestants to display
their prowess. At certain parts OF the
rsts the stands were erected for the camp
m ,rshals and the seconds of the knights.
Within the lists, or close to them, were the
kings at arms and the heralds, who were
to watch the sports and render a faithful
account of them. Crowds of servants
were at hand to render assistance if needed.
Bands of music added to the festivity OF
the scene. As their clarion notes sounded,
the knights in full armor, magnlhcenuy
eouipped. with their steeds decorated and
armed, entered the lists, followed by their
esquires. Sometimes the knights were led
into the lists by the ladies they had sworn
to serve, fastened with gold or silver
chains, from which they were released be-
fore the combat began. AS rule the
knight bore, also fastened upon some part
of his person, in conspicuous place, some
knot Of ribbon or other favor which his
lady had bestowed upon hm.-Edseard
Hosola,sd, IN Harper's Aagasine'