From Belt and Spur, Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles, by E. L. S. (Emma L. Seeley), New York: Scribner and Welford, 1883; pp. 260-276.
CHAPTER XV.
JACQUES DE LALAIN, KNIGHT OF THE FLEECE OF GOLD.
Now the good knight Jacques de Lalain, who was continually thinking how to attain to the height of prowess and great renown, labouring with all his might to raise and glorify the house of which he came, and knowing that idleness is the mother of all vice and the destroyer of virtue, thought within himself to send one to the kingdom of Scotland, to carry a letter to James Douglas. In this were contained, as I understand, the articles which Sir Jacques de Lalain was accustomed to send unto all places where he thought to do some deed of arms. Nevertheless, whatever enterprise he would undertake, it was always with the knowledge and permission of his sovereign lord, the Duke of Burgundy, to whom he went and told what it was his intention to do. Now when Duke Philip had heard and well understood the wishes of the young knight, and had seen the letter which he had caused to be written, in order that 261 it might be sent into Scotland, he was very glad, and said, ‘God’s grace be with you. I see that you desire earnestly the glory and honours of noblesse and worthy renown. Be certain that I will aid you in all your affairs, and go on boldly with what you have undertaken.’ Jacques de Lalain thanked the Duke humbly, and showed him the letters which it was his mind to send into Scotland.
There were present his two uncles — to wit, the Lord of Créquy, and Simon de Lalain, lord of Montigny, and many other knights and squires, who praised the letter, saying it was well written. So it was delivered to Charolois herald, who, having received a charge as to what he was to do from Jacques de Lalain, by the leave of the Duke departed and came to Dunkirk, where he took ship, and, with a good wind, in a few days he came to Scotland. There, setting foot on land, he inquired and asked where he should find James Douglas, and he was told by some who knew that he was in a little town where there is a castle named Edin. There he found Earl Douglas, and James, his brother. So he saluted the Earl, and gave the letters to James, which were from his lord, Jacques de Lalain.
When James Douglas saw the Charolois herald present the letters to him, he was greatly astonished, desiring to know what was contained in them. He broke the seal and opened them, and read them at length and the articles contained in them. Having read them, James showed them to Earl Douglas and the other barons and knights who were present. 262 These having read them, they replied and said to Charolois that he was very welcome, and prayed him to have patience, and that he should soon have an answer.
Then James went before the King, who gave him leave and license to do this deed of arms in the manner which was contained in the articles. Thereupon he caused a letter of reply to be drawn up and written, which, being done and sealed with his sign manual, was delivered to Charolois herald, who, when he had taken his leave, with great diligence departed and took ship in a merchant vessel which came to Sluys, where the Duke then was, and with him Jacques de Lalain and his two uncles, the Lord de Créquy and the Lord de Montigny.
When Charolois entered the Duke’s court there were many knights and squires desirous to hear his news. The herald went up at once to the Duke’s chamber, where at this hour he found the Duke, who had just dined. He saluted him humbly, and then presented his letters to Sir Jacques, who opened them. After they had been read and commented upon, those present began to converse, and it was concluded, by the will and with the leave of the Duke of Burgundy, that Sir Jacques de Lalain should pass over into Scotland to do his deed of arms, which thing he desired above all other.
Whereupon he prepared and arranged everything very honourably, so that no fault could be found with anything. And when he was fully prepared he came to Sluys in Flanders, and took leave of the Duke. 263 Then he went on board his ship, which was well ordered and furnished with wines and all kinds of victuals, as was fitting. You may be sure he was honourably accompanied by a large number of knights and squires, among whom were his uncle, the Lord of Montigny, and a noble squire, a native of the marches of Bretagne, named Hervé de Mériadecq, squire of the stables to the Duke of Burgundy. These went, not wishing to fight; nevertheless, they did not leave behind them their armour nor weapons, by reason of adventures which they might meet with on the way. They were all richly apparelled, and provided with silver plate and other precious things.
All being ready, about the month of December Jacques de Lalain and those of his company left Sluys, and sailed till they came to the kingdom of Scotland, and to the town of Edinburgh, where at that time were the friends of James Douglas.
Now when Jacques de Lalain and his company were come to Scotland, the Scots of James Douglas’s party came to meet him, and there was much talking and many words, for they wished to know why and for what cause De Lalain had sent the challenge to James Douglas; and they were sharp in their questions, and from their manner seemed not very well pleased. But they received for answer that it was not out of hatred, envy, nor any ill-will whatever, but only to do him the greatest honour that Sir Jacques de Lalain had in his power to show; for that the greatness of his birth, together with the 264 high renown for valour that was in him, made Jacques de Lalain desire his acquaintance more than that of any other knight or lord of the realms of Scotland. Then the Scots of James’s party were content.
Now when Sir Jacques de Lalain and James Douglas had spoken together at length of this matter, they agreed to choose each of them two companions, men of birth and of renown. Sir Jacques chose his uncle Simon de Lalain, lord of Montigny, and Hervé de Mériadecq, and James Douglas took to accompany him two noble puissant lords, the Lord de Halkett and another whose name was also James Douglas, both known as valiant knights.
The thing being thus concluded, the King of Scotland agreed to be their judge, and fixed the day and place. So the lists were set up at Stirling, and thither the six repaired, to be ready on the appointed day. They were very honourably received by the King, and after the due revels the King appointed the strangers two well-renowned knights, to be with them and aid them with counsel, as is the custom.
When the day came, the King mounted his throne. Jacques de Lalain, Simon his uncle, and Hervé de Mériadecq, entered the lists, all three unarmed, Sir Jacques and his uncle wearing long robes of black 265 velvet furred with marten, and Mériadecq clad in a short robe of black satin furred also with marten. Their harness was borne after them in two chests, covered with the arms of Jacques de Lalain richly embroidered: they were accompanied by the noble friends who had come with them; and so the three came together to their pavilion and entered in. Then they went to make their reverence to the King, and afterwards returned to their pavilion, where they found their harness ready spread out. There they armed themselves at their ease, and had plenty of time, for their adversaries were more than three hours before they came. Then James Douglas, the Lord de Halkett, and James Douglas, arrived, accompanied by the Earl of Douglas, and many other lords and knights and their followers, to the number of between four and five thousand men, it is said.
Then the three champions, armed and clad in their coats-of-arms, dismounted and came into their pavilion, and all three together went to make their reverence to the King of Scotland, requesting of him that he would give them the order of knighthood, which thing he liberally granted them. So he descended from his place and made all three knights. Then they entered their pavilion and the King returned to his place. Sir Jacques de Lalain and his companions beheld from their pavilion the three knights returning from the King, each of them clad in his coat-of-arms. They knew them by their arms, 266 and they agreed together that Sir Jacques should fight with Sir James Douglas, Mériadecq with the Lord de Halkett, who was thought to be the strongest, and Simon de Lalain should have to do with the other James Douglas. The challenge was to fight with lance, axe, sword, and dagger, à outrance, or at the pleasure of the King; but at the request of the Scots the cast of the lance was forbidden, for they trusted much in their lances. Therefore they agreed together, the uncle, nephew, and Mériadecq, that when they came together against their enemies they would throw away their lances and fight with their axes. According to the rules of the combat, each one might aid his companion, nevertheless Sir Jacques de Lalain said to Mériadecq, ‘I believe you will be the first to be rid of your man, yet I pray you, whatever you may see happen to me, that you will neither aid nor succour me in any manner whatever, but that you will leave me to such fortune, good or bad, as it shall please God to send me.’ So said they all, and agreed together to do.
So were the three champions arrayed and ready to issue forth from their pavilion, only waiting for the proclamations and ordinances which it is customary to make on a closed field. Very soon these were published duly at the four corners of the lists, the prohibitions being made on the part of the King of Scotland thrice, with sound of trumpets; after which the Lalains and Mériadecq, fully armed and clad in their coats-of-arms, came forth, Jacques de Lalain between his uncle Simon and Mériadecq.
267Thereupon the Scots came forth on their side, armed in like manner, Sir James Douglas between his companions. And thus, full haughtily and with proud step, they advanced towards each other, which was a fine thing and pleasant to behold. And as they drew near, seeing that the Lord de Halkett was against Simon de Lalain, Mériadecq would have crossed before Jacques de Lalain in order that he might fit with him, but Simon cried aloud, ‘Let each man remain as he is!’ So they drew on in this order to fight. And the Lalains and Mériadecq threw their lances behind them, as they had agreed to do, and took their axes and began to fight and rain great blows on the Scots, who defended themselves with their lances.
Sir James Douglas fought with his lance, but soon lost hold of it, and seized his axe and fought a little with that, but not long, for Sir Jacques made him lose that also, as he made him lose his lance. Sir James, being very angry and troubled to see himself thus disarmed of his lance and axe, suddenly seized his dagger and thought to strike at Sir Jacques in the face (for he fought without a visor with his face uncovered), but Jacques seeing him approach him thus, struck at him with his left hand and made him retire. Nevertheless, Sir James did all he could to strike him on the face. Then Sir Jacques threw away his axe and with his left hand caught Sir James and held him so fast that he could not approach him, and with his right hand he drew his sword, which was a straight blade, and took it near the point, thinking to 268 use it as a dagger, for he had lost his own and knew not how: some said that those who ought to have given it him had not done so. And as he thought thus to use his sword as a dagger and to wound Sir James in the hand in which he held his banner, the blade slipped out of his hand and he was left without arms. And when he saw himself thus disarmed, he quickly and suddenly seized Sir James by both hands, and by strength of arm forced him backwards till he was in front of the King of Scotland, and then twice lifted him off the ground, hoping to overthrow him and put him much out of breath; for Sir James fought with the visor closed, and Lalain had no visor, therefore he could breathe freely: but with Sir James it was not so, as was well seen when the King, having thrown down the bâton, his visor was raised.
We have told how Sir Simon de Lalain met the Lord de Halkett, and how the Lord de Halkett began to fight with his lance, in which he trusted much; but he had it not long, for Sir Simon, who was a skilful knight, strong, and bold, and very expert in arms, soon made him lose it: then they took their axes and struck one another with mighty blows, for they were both tall men, strong in body and limb, and, to look at, knights for worthy deeds; and they showed it that day. The Lord de Halkett was of great strength, and showed it in the heavy blows he heaped upon Sir Simon de Lalain; but Sir Simon knew how to receive them on his axe, and give in return great and horrible blows when he saw his time: for they were 269 both well-tempered knights, well instructed in the manner of attack.
So they fought a great space, and very valiantly. But after a while the Lord de Halkett, combating with too great haste and ardour, began to grow weary and lose his breath. Then Sir Simon, who was cooler and more wary, seeing that his time was come, began to rouse himself and to strike with edge and point; and he pressed so hard upon the Lord de Halkett that he made him give way and recoil the whole length of the lists. And if the battle had lasted longer, the Lord de Halkett, as every one could see, would have had the worst of it; but the King stopped it.
Now we must speak of the valiant Breton esquire, Hervé de Mériadecq, who that day met and fought with Sir James Douglas, close cousin to the Earl Douglas, and he was a very gentle knight, strong and skilful. The Scotch knight lowered his lance and thought to strike Mériadecq in the face, but he missed and his lance pierced the sleeve of the coat-of-arms on the left shoulder, and leaning his weight on the blow, the lance slipped on the arm and Mériadecq came within reach of him, and with a blow of his axe struck him on the cheek of the bassinet, and bore him to the ground with his face downward, stunned. When Mériadecq saw his adversary on the ground, as it was allowed to help his companions, he looked round, intending to go to their aid if need was; but Sir James Douglas, who was quick and expert, was already on his knees to rise again. So he returned 270 to him, and taking his axe in both hands with the staff of it struck him down again, and he lay stretched on the ground, so that he was in his power if he had wished to destroy him, and he might have done it, for his arms were à outrance; but though he saw him on the ground twice he would not touch him, which was nobly done and should be counted to his honour. Then again Mériadecq went to the aid of his companions, who had no need of him; and Sir James Douglas rose quickly to his feet, axe in hand, and Mériadecq returned and they fought together again, and were fighting still when the King threw down his bâton.
But you should know that the gentle squire Mériadecq was one of the strongest and best combatants that could be found, and all the time that they fought together after Sir James rose up again, was greatly to his honour, and he gave him many great blows and drove him backwards at his pleasure.
So the King threw down his bâton, and the guards who were appointed for that purpose took the six champions, and led them to the King of Scotland, and he said that they had all done well and valiantly, and that he held that the arms were accomplished, and it was his will they should be friends together. So each one returned to his lodging. And some days after the King feasted them, and gave them great gifs, for which they returned him thanks. Then Sir Jacques de Lalain and his uncle Sir Simon, and Mériadecq, and those who had come with them, took leave of the King, and departed.
271And they took ship and came to London in England, but Hervé de Mériadecq took his way through the kingdom of Scotland, and traversed the whole land of England until he came to London, where Sir Jacque de Lalain and his uncle, the Lord of Montigny, had arrived. Now Sir Jacques de Lalain had sent Charolois herald to the King Henry of England, to ask for a safe-conduct for him and his company, and to pray for leave to perform his enterprise at the court of the King of England and in his kingdom. Then Sir Jacques, Sir Simon his uncle, and Hervé de Mériadecq, were in England and in London a long space, but few came to them, neither would the King of England give leave to any of his kingdom to meet Sir Jacques and his companions. So when they saw how poorly they were received, they left London, and put to sea at the port of Gravesend, and the wind being favourable, they came in short time to the port of Sluys, in Flanders, where they tarried a space to refresh themselves. Then they set forth and came to the town of Brussels, where was the Duke Philip of Burgundy, who received them gladly, and made them good cheer, as was their due. And they recounted to him their adventures, and all the princes, counts, barons, knights, and squires, did them honour, and also the Duchess, and all the ladies and damsels of her company.
272Then, after the feasts were over, came news to the court of the Duke that there was departed from the kingdom of England a native of that land, by name Thomas, who was coming to the encounter of Sir Jacques de Lalain. The Duke, and the barons of his court, and Sir Jacques de Lalain himself, were much rejoiced when they heard that this English squire had signified his will to accomplish his arms before the Duke according to the manner written in the chapter of arms of Sir James; that is to say, that each one should be armed with such armour as he is wont to wear in the lists, and should fight with axe and sword until one of them should be borne to the ground.
So the English squire came to the town of Bruges, and dismounted at the lodging that they had prepared for him. And Sir Jacques de Lalain, glad at heart, and desiring to do such things that he should be remembered in after times for his high and virtuous deeds, and that all noble knights should take him for an example, prayed leave of the Duke to accomplish his arms against the English squire. And the Duke granted his request, and promised himself to be the judge, and assigned them a day, and caused the lists to be prepared.
When the day assigned arrived the two champions prepared to accomplish their arms, and Sir Jacques de Lalain was the first to enter the lists. Then the Duke, nobly accompanied, mounted the seat which had been prepared for him, and near by were the Duchess of Cleves, the Countess of Etampes, and 273 many other great ladies, and in all the galleries and at the windows of the houses round were many strangers. Then soon after, Sir Jacques de Lalain, knowing the Duke to be come, entered the lists, accompanied by knights and squires of the Duke’s court, and others with them, and his two uncles, the Lord of Créquy and the Lord of Montigny, called Sir Simon de Lalain. And Sir Jacques passed before the Duke’s seat, and made his reverence to him and to the ladies who were there, and passed to his pavilion to arm himself. Soon after entered the English squire, who likewise passed to do his reverence, and then entered his pavilion, he and his men, accompanied by two knights whom the Duke had appointed to counsel him, as had been the custom of long time. When they were armed and ready, and ordinances of the lists were made, and the guards appointed to keep the field, the champions were visited, and they called in question the axe of the English champion, because it was not such as men were wont to bear in the lists; for this axe was made with a blade and a hammer, and a long and broad dagger in front. Sir Jacques de Lalain, by some men of consequence, remonstrated with the Englishman, but he would not for anything give it up, or take one like that of Sir Jacques de Lalain. Then it was told to the Duke, their judge, and he called a council upon it, and it seemed to all of them that the English ought to fight with an axe like that of Lalain, but the Englishman prayed urgently that his axe might be left him. When Sir Jacques de Lalain saw 274 that the Englishman prayed so earnestly that he might fight with the axe that he had brought from his land of England, as he said, Sir Jacques, who was courteous and débonnair above all men, granted his request; but evil came of it, as you shall hear.
So when they were agreed and the proclamations had been made, Sir Jacques de Lalain came forth of his pavilion, which was rich and fine, and adorned with thirty-two banners of the arms of the lords from whom he was descended by his father and by his mother, which was a fine thing to see, and he was fully armed and clad in his coat-of-arms, with his sallet on his head without gorget or bever, his axe in his hand as his only weapon. Then the Englishman likewise came out of his pavilion, armed in full armour, wearing a great bassinet, with bever and visor closed, clad in his coat-of-arms, his axe in his hand, and girt with a sword; and, eyeing one another, they began to approach, and beginning to fight, came in front of the Duke’s gallery.
Sir Jacques de Lalain, being armed at his ease, and free to get his breath, began to shower great blows on the head of the Englishman, and struck him so often that he made him retire at his pleasure. And to say the truth, the Englishman was doing nothing but consider how best to receive the blows, when Dame Fortune turned against Sir Jacques, for, in giving a blow, he himself struck the point of his adversary’s axe, and it touched him between the arm-defences and the gauntlet, and the veins and sinews 275 were cut through, for the axe of the Englishman was marvellously large and sharp.
When Sir Lalain saw himself thus wounded, being strong of will and of high courage, he thought to go on fighting with his axe, but his hand failed him. Then he put the end of his axe under his left arm and fought with the right hand, but could do little thus. Then he haughtily flung his axe on the ground, and quickly seizing the Englishman by the bassinet with his one hand and his left arm, he dragged him to the ground with such force that he fell face downwards with his visor in the sand, so that with a very little knife Sir Jacques could have killed him if he would, but he would not. Then the judge threw down his bâton and the guards came in haste to the Englishman, who was still lying on the ground, and they raised him up and led him to the Duke, where was Sir Jacques, and he said to them, ‘Your arms are accomplished, embrace one another, and be brothers and friends.’ And they did so, and each one returned to his hostel.
The same day the Duke of Burgundy made a great feast for the English squire, but Sir Jacques de Lalain could not be there for the wound in his arm, which gave him great pain and trouble.
Now by the chapter of arms it was ordained that if Sir Jacques brought to the ground any knight or esquire, the said knight or esquire should be bound to send his gauntlet by an officer of arms wherever he was ordered, but the Englishman replied that he was not bound, for that he was not fallen with all his 276 body to the ground. He said it was very true that his head, and his hands, and legs, were on the ground, but that his body was not, for he supported himself by his hands.
Then Sir Jacques prayed the Duke, who was their judge, that he would decide the question; and it was put before the council, where were assembled the greater part of the notable strangers who had seen the arms, — Germans, Spaniards, Scots, Italians, and others. And it was judged that the English squire had fallen with all his body and the Duke made known to the Englishman the sentence of the council, and he answered that he was ready to do his devoir. But when Sir Jacques saw that the Englishman was judged to have fallen, out of his nobleness and courtesy he acquitted the Englishman of his devoir of sending his gauntlet. And he sent to him a very fine and rich diamond, and afterwards he sent him many other gifts, as a fine horse and suit of armour, for which he thanked him much. And the English squire sojourned in the town of Bruges the space of eight days, and was feasted by the court of the Duke and Duchess of Burgundy; and then, having thanked them very humbly, he took his leave and returned to the kingdom of England.
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