Title || Synopsis || Folio 7r || Folio 8r || Folio 9r || Illustrations || Glossary || Sources

Le Livre des tournois — BnF Français 2693

Part III: Selecting the Judges

Transcription, English translation, and illustrations from René d’Anjou’s medieval tournament treatise.

Synopsis: Explore a transcription and English translation of BnF Français 2693, an illustrated medieval tournament manuscript, with folio images, a glossary, and source notes. A modern translation of the section on Undertaking a Tournament is provided in bold with a transcription of the original French in italics below. Text that was written in red ink is similarly rendered in a red font both in English and French.

Folio 6 verso

The text on folio 6 (verso) reads:

[A]s for the Judges-Speakers whose coats of arms you show me here, the lords of such-and-such place and of such-and-such place please me very well for knights, if it please them; and the lords of such-and-such place and of such-and-such place also for esquires. And for this, you shall carry to them letters of credence on my behalf. And also you shall pray my cousin the Duke of Brittany that he would please write to them on his part that they be content to accept this, and that as soon as possible for them, they make known to me the day of the said tournament and the place also.

[N]ote that immediately when the said Duke of Bourbon shall have chosen the four Judges-Speakers, the King of Arms must send with all diligence two pursuivants: one to the lord challenger to obtain his letters to the Judges-Tellors, if he thinks they may be far from one another, entreating them by his letters that they wish to draw together into some good town such as they shall decide, to the end that he may honorably present to them the letters of the said lords challenger and defender.

[T]his having been said, the Duke of Bourbon shall cause to be delivered to the King of Arms two ells of cloth of gold, or of velvety velvet, or of figured satin—crimson at least—upon which he shall cause to be placed [depicted] the two lord leaders of the said tournament painted on horseback upon a large sheet of parchment, just as they shall be armed and crested in the said tournament. And he shall attach the said parchment upon the said piece of cloth of gold, velvet, or satin; and in such condition the King of Arms shall receive it […]

Quant aux Juges diseurs dont vous me monstrez Icy les blasons les seigneurs de tel lieu et de tel me plaisent tresbien pour cheualiers sil leur plaist · Et les seigneurs de tel lieu et de tel aussy pour escuiers Et pour ce vous leur porterez lettres de creance de ma part // Et aussy prierez a mon cousin le duc de bretaigne quil leur vueille escripre de la sienne part quilz soient contens de ce accepter Et que le plus tost quil leur sera possible me facent sauoir le iour dudit tournoy et le lieu aussy

Nota que Incontinent que ledit duc de bourbon aura esleu les quatre Juges diseurs · que le roy darmes doit envoyer a toute diligence deux poursuivans Lun devers le seigneur appellant pour avoir ses lettres · aux juges diseurs sil pense quilz doyent estre loing lun de lautre En leur suppliant par ses lettres quilz se veul- lent tirer ensemble en aucune bonne ville telle quilz adviseront adfin que lhonnourablement il leur presente les lettres desdis seigneurs appellant et deffendant ·

Cela dit fera baillier le duc de bourbon au roy dar- mes deux aulnes de drap dor / ou de velours velute ou satin figure cramoisi ; du moins · sur lequel il fera / mettre les deux seigneurs chiefz dudit tournoy faitz en peinture sur vne grant peau de parchemin a cheval aĩsy comme ilz seront oudit tournoy armez et timbrez Et atachera ledit parchemin sur laditte piece de drap dor de veloux ou satin Et en tel estat la prendra le roy darmes

Folio 7 recto

The text from folio 6 (verso) continues onto folio 7 (recto):

putting it on in the manner of a mantle tied over the right shoulder; and with the good leave of the duke, he shall go unto the Judges-Speakers to know if they will accept the offer to be Judges-Speakers.

And when he comes before them, having letters from both dukes—challenger and defender—with the said piece of cloth over his shoulders as has been said, and above it the parchment attached whereon the said lords shall be painted on horseback, armed and crested as is portrayed hereafter, he shall present them his letters: that is to say, one on behalf of the challenger, and the other on behalf of the defender, which shall be narrative of the things said above, and shall also contain credentials—that is to say, requesting that they be pleased to be Judges-Speakers of the said tournament undertaken by them.

Hereafter is portrayed the manner and way how the King of Arms shows to the four Judges-Speakers the lords challenger and defender, and presents to them the letters of the said lords, having the cloth of gold over his shoulder and the parchment painted with the said two leaders.

la mettant en guise dung manteau noue sur la dextre es- paule / et auec le bon congie du duc sen yra devers les iuges diseurs pour savoir silz wouldront accepter loffre destre iuges diseurs Et quant il sera pardevers ceulx aians lettres des deux ducs appellant et deffendant auecques laditte piece de drap sur les espaules ainsy que dit est et dessus icellui par- chemin atache ou seront paintz lesdiz seigneurs a cheval · armez et timbrez ainsy que cy apres est pourtrait · leur p̅- sentera ses lettres · c'est assavoir vne depar lappellant · et lautre depar le deffendant lesquelles seront narratiues des choses dessusdittes · et aussy contiendront creance C'est assavoir quilz veillent estre iuges diseurs dudit tournoy par eulx empris Puis leur dira les parolles qui cy apres sensuivent

Icy apres est pourtraictie la façon et maniere cõment le roy darmes monstre aux quatre juges diseurs les seigneurs- appellant et deffendant et leur presente les lettres desdiz seigneurs ayant le drap dor sur lespaule et le parchemin paint desdis deux chiefz

Folio 7 verso

Folio 7 (verso) contains a full-page illustration of the King of Arms showing the four Judges and presenting to them the letters of the lords challenger and defender (see first image in Illustrations below).

Folio 8 recto

Folio 8 (recto) is blank as it opposes the previous full-page illustration.

Folio 8 verso

Folio 8 (verso) reads:

[N]oble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires: Most high and mighty princes, the Dukes of Brittany and of Bourbon, my most redoubted lords, greet you. And they have charged me to deliver these letters on their behalf, which are in part letters of credence, the contents of which you shall learn after you have read the said letters, and at such hour as shall please you.

[A]fter they have read or had their letters read, and thereupon ask and request to hear the credence, the said King of Arms shall deliver it to them as follows:

[N]oble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires: I come before you to advise, request, and notify you, on behalf of the most high and most mighty princes and my most redoubted lords, the Dukes of Brittany and of Bourbon, that—out of the pleasure you desire to do them—you would undertake the charge of ordering and serving as judges and arbiters of a most noble tournament and béhourd [joust] of arms which has recently been proclaimed by them in this realm. These lords, by common consent above all others, have chosen and elected you for this role on account of the great fame of your integrity, renown for wisdom, and praise for virtue, which have long endured in your noble persons. Therefore, do not refuse this request, for much good may ensue from it.

NObles et doubtez cheualiers honnourz et gentilz escuiers · Treshaulx et puissans princes les duz de bretaigne et de bourbon / mes tresredoubtez seigneurs vous saluent · Et me ont chargie de baillier ces lettres de par eulx qui en partie sont de creance / laquelle vo[us] saurez puis apres que aurez leu lesduites lettres et a telle heure quil vous plaira

APres quilz auront leu ou fait lire leurs lettre et adont quilz demanderont et requerront de oyr la creance ledit roy darmes la leur dira telle que senss[ui]t

NObles et doubtez cheualiers honnourz et gentilz escuiers Je viengs vers vous pour vous aduiser requerir et notiffier / de par treshaulx et trespuissans pri[n]ces et mes tresredoubtez seigneurs les ducz de bretaigne et de bourbon / que sur le plaisir que leur desirez faire vous vueilliez prendre la charge de ordonner et estre Juges diseurs dun tresnoble tournoy et bouhourdeiz darmes qui nouuellement en ce royaume par eulx a este empris Lesquelz seigneurs dun co[m]mun assentement sur tous autres vous ont sur ce choisiz et esleuz pour la grant fame de preudo[m]mie renommee de sens et los de vertue qui de long temps continuent en voz nobles p[er]sonnes Si ne vueilliez de ce estre reffusans Car moult de bien sen pourra ensuir

Folio 9 recto

Folio 9 (recto) reads:

[A]nd first of all, one will thereby be better able to recognize those who are come and descended from ancient nobility, through the bearing of their coats of arms and the displaying of crests.

[S]econdly, those who have offended against honor will be chastised there in such a way that another time they will refrain from doing anything unbecoming to honor.

[T]hirdly, everyone will learn there to strike with the sword, training themselves in the exercise of arms.

[A]nd fourthly, it may perhaps come to pass that some young knight or squire, by acquitting himself well therein, will win favor, grace, or an increase of love from his most noble lady and secret mistress. Therefore, I request of you in court once more, on behalf of my said most redoubted lords—my noble and redoubted knights, honored and gentle squires—that you will deign to be the principal instrument of so many, such great, and such high blessings, in such a manner that through your wisdom, ordering, and guidance the matter may take effect, and in such fashion that renown and fame may spread everywhere for upholding nobility and increasing honor, so that, God willing, every gentleman may henceforth be eager to pursue the exercise of arms more often.

ET tout premierement en pourra on mieulx congnoistre lesquelz sont dancienne noblesse venuz et extiruz par le port de leurs armes et leuement de timbres

Secondement ceulx qui auront contre honneur failly seront la chastiez tellement que vne autre fois se garderont de faire chose qui soit mal seant a honneur

Tiercement chacun y aprendra de lespee a frapper en soy habilitant alexercite darmes

_ET quartement par aduenture pourra il aduenir que tel Jeune cheualier ou escuier par bien y faire y acquerra mercy grace ou augmentation damour de sa tresgente dame et celee maistresse Si vous requiers en cours derchief de par mesdiz tresredoubtez seigneurs mes nobles et doubtez cheualiers honnourez et gentilz escuiers que de tant de telz et si haulz biens vo[us] vueilliez estre principale occasion en telle maniere que par vostre sens ordre et conduicte la chose sorte a effect et par facon que renommee et bruit par tout puisse aller de maintenir noblesse et dacroistre honneur adfin que au plaisir dieu chacun gentil homme doresenauant puisse estre desireux de continuer plus souuent lexercite darmes

Folio 9 verso

STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Folio 10 recto

STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Folio 10 verso

Folio 9 (verso) gives a description of the illustration that follows on the next page:

Hereafter is portrayed the fashion and manner in which the King of Arms—having the cloth of gold upon his shoulder, and the two heads painted upon the parchment, and in the four corners the four escutcheons of the said Judges painted—proclaims the tournament; and how the pursuivants distribute the escutcheons of the Judges' arms to all those who wish to take them.

Icy apres est pourtrautie la facon et maniere comment le roy darmes ayant le drap dor sur lespaule et les deux chiefz pains sur le parchemin et aux quatre coings les quatre escussons desdiz Juges pains Et crie le tournoy Et comment les poursuiuans baillent les escussons des armes des Juges a tous ceulx qui en veullent prendre._

Folio 11 recto

Folio 11 (recto) contains a full-page illustration of how the pursuivants give a little shield with the arms of the judges to all who wish to take part (see second image in Illustrations below).

Illustrations

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