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. 277-283.
CHAPTER XVI.
OF THE COMING OF MARGARET OF ANJOU, AND OF THE JOUSTS IN THE TIME OF THE TRUCE.
After the truce was made between the kings of France and England and their kingdoms, the French and the English began to have very great intercourse and communication with one another, especially between the merchants and people of divers trades; and also the farmers set themselves to work hard, hoping that by means of this truce a general truce would follow between the uncle and nephew. And, indeed, the truce came at the right time for the English, and for the good cities and fortresses which they held in the duchy of Normandy, for they were in great danger, and were much straitened from want of many kinds of food and other merchandise, especially corn and wine. And in order to furnish themselves, they went in great numbers by land and by water, as well from Rouen as from other towns and fortresses, and even from the open country, to Paris and elsewhere where they bought great abundance of wine, wheat, barley, and other things which were necessary to them; which goods were then to be 278 had cheap enough in the kingdom of France, and brought them back into their own territory wherever it seemed good to them. And likewise the French went into the duchy of Normandy at their pleasure, to seek and buy whatever they wished and could find there. This commerce went on long and peaceably enough between them, as well on one side as the other.
And at this time, that is to say in the year 1445, by the consent and authority of Charles, king of France, was made the marriage between the King Henry of England, his nephew, and the daughter of the King of Sicily, who was named Margaret, and who was niece to the Queen of France. To make and negotiate these treaties there were employed on the part of the King of England my Lord William de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, Master Adam Moleyns, keeper of the Privy Seal, with other knights and lawyers and persons of good estate. These, when they had finished the treaty for which they had come, retired from Tours, where it had been conducted, and went to Rouen, and thence to England, to appear before their king, to whom they related, in the presence of his council, the state and success of their embassy.
They were very glad of that which they had done, for by means of this alliance they expected to have in France good and powerful friends, especially to help them to attain to a final peace with the King of France, such as might be for their advantage. The ambassadors had agreed with the King of Sicily upon 279 a day when they should return to him, and when he should deliver his daughter over to them at the town of Rouen; and this day they kept as they had promised. And to receive her, King Henry sent to Rouen many lords and ladies richly and splendidly dressed — the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk, Sir John Talbot, the Marquis of Salisbury, Lord Clifton, and many lords and knights and squires of great estate. As to the ladies, there were the Countess of Suffolk, Lady Talbot, Lady Salisbury, and others in great numbers. There were also covered carriages and many hackneys, in so rich trappings that few had seen the like come from the realm of England, especially as they entered Rouen, when there may have been as many as fifteen hundred horses, or thereabouts. And in this company there were four hundred archers for the household of the Queen, all dressed alike in gray, and after them came the esquires and the officers; and besides these were two hundred archers of the body-guard of the King of England, wearing his colours and livery, all richly dressed and wearing on their sleeves a crown of gold. After the knights of the Queen’s household came six pages mounted on six hackneys, richly dressed in robes and hoods of black loaded with jewels of silver-gilt. These were all sons of knights. And the first page led in his right hand a hackney, which the King of England sent to the Queen his wife, with a saddle and trappings all of fine gold; and the trappings of the other horses were all of silver-gilt. After these came the chariot sent by the King, which was the most richly 280 ornamented that had come out of England for a long time, for it was covered with a very rich cloth of gold and bore the arms of France and England. This chariot was drawn by six white horses of great price, and was painted within and without with divers colours. In it were the Countess of Suffolk and the Ladies Talbot and Salisbury; and the Countess was in great state, as the Queen would be on her wedding-day. The other ladies followed the chariot according to their rank, mounted on hackneys.
Near the chariot on one side was the Duke of York, and on the other side Sir John Talbot, bearing themselves as if the Queen had been in it. The Earl of Suffolk rode on horseback before the chariot, representing the person of the King of England; and after him came thirty-six horses and hackneys with scarlet housings, bearing his coat-of-arms. After the chariot there were also five horses richly adorned, of which two were covered with scarlet velvet and gold, sewn on the inside with gold roses, and the others with crimson damask. And after all these came still another rich chariot, in which were the younger Lady Talbot and other ladies, who were all appointed to go to receive the new Queen of England.
So they entered in this fine and honourable order into the city of Rouen, where much honour was paid them and many diversions given them, both by day and night. Then, certain days after, when the Queen had been received by the aforesaid lords and ladies, they set off together, and went to England, where they were received with great 281 honour, and where there were new rejoicings and fresh pastimes.
During this time, while the truce between the French and English lasted, and the lords and gentlemen had not much occupation in war, the King of France and the other great lords began to give great jousts and other diversions of great expense, in order to keep their men in practice of arms, and also to pass the time more joyously. Amongst others, the Kings of France and of Sicily, at the prayer and by the counsel of the knights and squires around them, allowed many of different kinds to take place in the town of Saumur. In these amusements it seems as if they would follow the rules which formerly the knights of the Table Round are said to have kept, made by the high and mighty prince, the King Arthur. For it was announced by the heralds in several places that there were a certain number of knights and gentlemen who were disposed to hold a passage of arms against all comers, the place being named; in which place were lions, tigers, unicorns, and other like beasts. There were also many other challenges and declarations, very honourable and very haughty. In truth, many feats of arms were performed, and notable assemblies and joyous diversions took place; but by bad luck, on one of these days there was killed by the blow of a lance a gentle knight, a follower of the King of Sicily, named Auvregnas Champion, at which accident all the company was much troubled. Besides, in several of the encounters many were sorely wounded. For this reason the kings and lords began 282 to grow wearied, and abandoned the rest of the undertakings.
But besides these there were held great jousts before the King of France and his princes at Tours, which jousts were arranged, composed, and ordered by a notable and renowned esquire of the King’s household, named Louis de Beuil, to meet with an English esquire named Chalon. They were to joust with one another a certain number of courses according to the conditions. Now when the day fixed came, they appeared on the field very well dressed and equipped; and especially Louis de Beuil, who came in great triumph and pomp, accompanied by several great lords, and bringing with him several horses richly dight, and bearing his arms. When they had made their reverence to the King, and all was ready, they ran against one another with great pride and force, several times, and broke their lances; and both of them so well performed their duty that the King was quite content that they should have retired and done no more at that time.
Nevertheless, Louis de Beuil would not consent, and required very earnestly of the King and of his opponent that the feat of arms between them should be finished; which was at length granted him. Thereupon they ran one more course, in which the Englishman struck Louis with his lance through and through below his arm, at the joint of his armour where he had no crescent or gusset; with which blow he was so grievously wounded that he very shortly after died.
283This mishap gave great displeasure and sorrow to the King and to all the nobles who were there, as well as to the ladies and damsels, and not without reason; for, according to the report of those who knew him well, he was one of the most renowned esquires of his party for many and divers good qualities. But since fortune would have it so, the King and his lords paid great honour to Chalon, and assured him against danger to his person. Then, after he had received sundry gifts, he left that place with a safe-conduct, and returned to the country whence he had come, in great sorrow this adventure which had so unfortunately turned to such great mischance.
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