The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 1 (of 2)Mills, Charles
Philosophy
The History of Chivalry; Or, Knighthood and Its Times, Volume 1 (of 2)
Mills, Charles
Chivalry
[343] Besides Holingshed, Stow, and other chroniclers, I have consulted
for this very interesting joust a curious collection of contemporary
documents, among the Lansdowne manuscripts (No. 285.) in the British
Museum. The Chevalier de la Marche accompanied the Bastard of Burgundy to
England, and his Memoirs furnish a few particulars not noticed by English
writers. His account of the joust itself differs from that of our
chroniclers, (whom I have followed,) for he makes all the advantage lie
with his own knight. It is neither possible nor important to discover the
truth. The spirit of the age which gave birth to the challenge and the
general interest excited by the joust are the points that deserve to be
marked. There is also much confusion regarding the dates of most of the
circumstances, and I hold my readers in too much respect to enter into any
arguments touching such trifling matters. Such few dates as are undoubted
I have mentioned. Let me add Hawkins's conjecture (Origin of the English
Drama, vol. iii. p. 91.), that the word _Burgullian_ or Burgonian meaning
a bully, a braggadochio, was derived from this joust. This is by no means
unlikely, observes Mr. Gifford, (note on Every Man in his Humour, act iv.
sc. 2.) for our ancestors, who were not over delicate, nor, generally
speaking, much overburdened with respect for the feelings of foreigners,
had a number of vituperative appellations derived from their real or
supposed ill qualities, of many of which the precise import cannot now be
ascertained.
[344] Prendergast mistook Orris for a French knight. Orris afterwards
refused the honor intended him, expressing, however, very high compliments
to the chivalry of France, and merely stating his Arragonese descent, on
the ground, that no honest man ought to deny his country.
[345] "Si prie au dieu d'amour qu'ainsi comme vous desirez l'amour de ma
dame la vostre, il ne vous l'ait de vostre dicte venue." Monstrelet, vol.
i. p. 3. ed. 1573.
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