Title || Synopsis || Folio 13r || Folio 14r || Folio 15r || Folio 16r || Folio 17r || Folio 18r || Folio 19r || Folio 20r || Illustrations || Glossary || Sources

Le Livre des tournois — BnF Français 2693

Part V: Armour for the Horse

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 Armour for the Horse 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 13 recto

The text on folio 13 (recto) reads:

[A]nd to explain it to you more clearly, each piece will be illustrated below, one after another, just as they ought to be..

[N]amely, first of all: The crest must be mounted on a piece of boiled leather [cuir bouilli], which must be well padded with felt to a finger's thickness or more on the inside, and the said piece of leather must cover the entire crown of the helm. And the said piece shall be covered by the mantling [lambrequin] emblazoned with the arms of the one who will wear it. And upon the said mantling, at the very top of the crown, the said crest shall be set, and around it there shall be a torse of whatever colors the said tourneyer wishes, about the thickness of an arm, or more or less at his pleasure.

[I]tem: The helm is in the style of a bascinet or a war hat [capeline], except that the visor is fashioned differently, just as is painted below. And to make the construction of the crest, the boiled leather [cuir bouilli], and the helm better understood, they will be illustrated below in three views.

[E]t pour mieulx le vous dclairer icy dessoubz sera figure lune piece apres lautre ainsy comme elles douent estre

[C]Est assauoir tout premierement Le timbre doit estre sur vne piece de cuir boully laquelle doit estre bien faultree dun doy despez ou plus par le dedens et doit contenir laditte piece de cuir tout le sommet du heaulme . et sera couuerte laditte piece du lambequin armoye des armes de cellui qui le portera Et sur ledit lambequin au plus hault du sommet sera assiz ledit timbre et autour dicellui aura vng tortis des couleurs que vouldra ledit tournoyeur du gros du bras ou plus ou moins a son plaisir

[I]tem Le heaulme est en facon dun bachinet ou dune capeline . reserue que la visiere est autrement ainsy comme cy dessoubz est paint . Et pour mieulx faire entendre la maniere du timbre du cuir boully et du heaulme . Ilz seront cy dessoubz pourtraiz en trois facons

Folio 13 verso

Folio 13 (verso) reads:

Hereafter follows the form and manner of the bascinet, of the boiled leather (cuir bouilli), and of the crest.

Icy apres sensuit la facon et maniere du bachinet du cuir boully et du timbre

Folio 14 recto

Folio 14 (recto) contains a full-page illustration of the bascinet, of the boiled leather (cuir bouilli), and of the crest (see first image in Illustrations below).

Folio 14 verso

Folio 14 (verso) reads:

[I]tem: The body armor is like a cuirass, or like a foot-combat armor called a tonlet [tonnelet]. And one may also tourney in brigandines, if one wishes. But in whatever style of body armor one wishes to tourney, it is necessary above all things that the said armor be so wide and so ample that one can wear and put on underneath it a padded doublet [pourpoint] or a corset; and the doublet must be padded with felt three fingers thick on the shoulders, along the arms up to the neck, and on the back as well, because the blows of maces and swords fall more readily on the aforementioned areas than in other places. And to see the principal and best style for tourneying, there will be illustrated below a perforated cuirass, in the best and most suitable form and manner that it can be for the said tourney.

Hereafter are portrayed the manner and style of the cuirass and the form of the arm defenses suitable for tourneying.

[I]Tem le harnois de corps est comme vne cuirasse ou comme vng harnois a piet quon appelle tonelet Et aussy peut on bien tournoyer en brigandines qui veult Mais en quelque facon de harnois de corps qon vueille tournoyer est de necessite sur toute riens que ledit harnois soit si large et si ample que on puisse vestir et mettre dessoubz vng pourpoint ou corset et fault que le pourpoint soit faultre de trois dois despez sur les espaulles et au long des bras iusques au col et sur le dos aussy pour ce que les coups des masses et des espees descendent plus voulentiers es endrois dessusdiz que en autres lieux Et pour veoir la principalle et meilleure facon pour tournoyer sera figure cy dessoubz vne cuirasse pertuisee en la meilleure et plus propre facon et maniere quelle peut estre pour ledit tournoy

Icy apres est pourtraitte la maniere et la facon de la cuirasse et la forme des armeures de bras propres pour tournoyer .

Folio 15 recto

Folio 15 (recto) is blank as it opposes the subsequent full-page illustration.

Folio 15 verso

Folio 15 (verso) contains a full-page illustration of the manner and style of the cuirass and the form of the arm defenses suitable for tourneying (see second image in Illustrations below).

Folio 16 recto

Folio 16 (recto) is blank as it opposes the preceding and subsequent full-page illustrations.

Folio 16 verso

Folio 16 (verso) reads:

[N]amely: rerebraces [garde-bras], vambraces [avant-bras], and gauntlets, which rerebraces and vambraces are usually made joined together, and there are two styles of them.

[O]f these, some are of white armor (polished plate steel) and the others of boiled leather [cuir bouilli]. Both of these styles—of white armor as well as of boiled leather—are painted below.

Hereafter follows the form and manner of the rerebraces and vambraces, both of white armor and of boiled leather.

[C]Est assauoir gardebras auantbras et gantelez lesquelz auantbras et gardebras fait on voulentiers tenans ensemble et y en a de deux facons

[D]Ont les vngs sont de harnois blanc et les autres de cuir boully

Icy apres sensuit la forme et maniere des gardebras et auantbras tant de harnoiz blanc cõme de cuir boully ._

Folio 17 recto

Folio 17 (recto) contains a full-page illustration of the rerebraces and vambraces, both of white armor and of boiled leather (see third image in Illustrations below).

Folio 17 verso

Folio 17 (verso) reads:

[T]he form and style of the gauntlets is such as one can see illustrated below.

Hereafter are portrayed the style and manner of the gauntlets.

[L]a forme et facon des gantelez est telle qon peut veoir cy dessoubz en figure .

Icy apres est pourtraicte la facon et la maniere des gantelez.

Folio 18 recto

Folio 18 (recto) contains a full-page illustration of the style and manner of the gauntlets (see fourth image in Illustrations below).

Folio 18 verso

Folio 18 (verso) is blank as it opposes the preceding full-page illustration.

Folio 19 recto

Folio 19 (recto) is blank as it opposes the preceding full-page illustration.

Folio 19 verso

Folio 19 (verso) reads:

[I]tem: The rebated sword must be in the form and manner painted hereafter. And likewise the mace.

Hereafter are portrayed the style and manner of the sword and of the mace.

[I]Tem lespee rabatue doit estre en la forme et maniere cy apres painte . Et semblablement la masse .

Icy apres est pourtraicte la facon et la maniere de lespee et de la masse

Folio 20 recto

Folio 20 (recto) contains a full-page illustration of the form and manner of the sword and of the mace (see fifth image in Illustrations below).

Folio 20 verso

Folio 20 (verso) reads:

[R]egarding the measurement and design of the swords and maces, there is not much to say except concerning the width and length of the blade: for it must be four fingers wide so that it cannot pass through the sight of the helm, and must have both edges blunted to a finger's thickness. And so that it is not too heavy, it must be deeply hollowed out down the middle, blunted at the tip, and of nearly uniform width—tapering scarcely at all—from the crossguard to the point. And the crossguard must be short enough that it can only ward off a blow that might by chance come down or slide along the sword onto the fingers, and the entire sword must be as long as the arm and hand of the one who carries it; and the mace likewise. And the said mace must have a small, very smooth rondel in front of the hand to protect it; and whoever wishes may attach his sword or mace with a slender chain, braid, or cord around his arm or to his belt, so that if they should slip from the hand, they can be recovered without falling to the ground.

[W]ith regard to the design of the sword pommels, that is left to personal preference. And the size of the maces and the weight of the swords must be inspected by the Judges on the eve of the tournament day; which maces must be branded with a hot iron by the said Judges so that they are not of excessive weight or length either.

[D]E la mesure et facon des espees et des masses nya pas trop a dire fors que de la largeur et longueur de lalumelle Car elle doit estre large de quatre dois adfin quelle ne puisse passer par la veue du heaulme / et doit auoir les deux trenchans larges dun doy despes Et adfin quelle ne soit pas trop pesante elle doit estre fort widee par le milieu / et mosse deuant et toute dune venue se bien pou non depuis la croisie Jusques au boult Et doit estre la croisee si courte quelle puisse seulement garantir vng coup qui par cas dauenture descendroit ou viendroit glissant le long de lespee Jusques sur les dois et toute doit estre aussi longue que le bras auec la main de cellui qui la porte · et la masse par semblable Et doit auoir ladicte masse vne petite rondelle bien douce deuant la main pour Icelle garantir · et peult on qui veult atachier son espee ou sa masse a vne deliee chaenne tresse ou cordon au tour du bras ou a sa sainture adfin que se elles eschappoient de la main on les peust recouurer sans cheoir a terre

[A]V regart de la facon des pomeaulx des espees Cela est a plaisir Et la grosseur des masses et la pesanteur des espees doiuent estre reuisitees par les Juges la vigille du iour du tournoy · lesquelles masses doiuent estre signees dun fer chault par lesdiz Juges adfin quelles ne soient point doultraigeuse pesanteur ne longueur aussy

Folio 21 recto

Folio 21 (recto) reads:

[T]he leg harness is of the same kind and design as is worn in war, without any difference, except that the smallest guards are the best, and sabatons are very good there against the points of spurs.

[T]he shortest spurs are more suitable than long ones, so that they cannot be torn off or twisted out of place on the feet in the press.

[T]he coat of arms must be made neither more nor less than that of a herald, except that it must have no pleats across the body, so that one may better recognize whose arms they are.

[I]n Brabant, Flanders, and Hainaut, and in those lands toward the Germanies, they are accustomed to arming their persons differently for the tournament: for they take a half-doublet of two thicknesses of linen, extending only from the waist downward and laced over the belly. And then over this they put padded arming sleeves [bracières] four fingers thick and stuffed with cotton, over which they arm the vambraces and rerebraces of boiled leather [cuir bouilli], upon which […]

[L]E harnois de Jambes est ainsy et de semblable facon comme on le porte en la guerre sans autre difference · fors que les plus petites gardes sont les meilleurs et les solers y sont tresbon contre la pointe des esperons

[L]Es plus cours esperons sont plus conuenables que les longs adfin que on ne les puisse arrachier ou destordre hors les piedz en la presse [L]A cotte darmes doit estre faitte ne plus ne moins comme celle dun herault reserue quelle doit estre sans ploiz par le corps adfin que on congnoisse mieulx dequoy sont les armes [E]N brabant flandres et haynault et en ces pays la vers les alemaignes ont accoustume deulx armer de la personne autrement au tournoy · Car ilz prennent vng demy pourpoint de deux toilles sans plus du faulz du corps en bas et lace sur le ventre · Et puis sur cela mettent vnes bracieres grosses de quatre dois despes et remplies de cotton Sur quoy ilz arment les auantbras et les gardebras de cuir boully · sur lequel

Folio 21 verso

The text from folio 20 (recto) continues on folio 20 (verso):

...boiled leather there are five or six slender strips the thickness of a finger glued onto it, which run all along the arm as far as the joints. And as for the shoulder and the elbow, the rerebraces and vambraces are made of boiled leather as described above, except that they are of rougher and thicker workmanship, and are well padded with felt inside. And from one to the other is sewn a double layer of linen that holds them together like a sleeve of mail; then they have a very light brigandine whose breastplate is pierced as described above.

And as for their head armor, they have a large bascinet with an aventail without a visor, which they attach by the aventail over the brigandine all around the chest and onto the shoulders with strong laces. And over all that they put a great helm made in a single piece, which helm is usually of boiled leather and pierced on top to the width of a wooden trencher, and its sight is barred with iron every three fingers; it is attached only in front to a chain fastened to the chest of the brigandine, so that one can cast it back onto the saddlebow to cool off and put it back on whenever one wishes. And while one has the said helm off one's head, no one dares strike until one has put it back on one's head. Upon this helm are placed the mantling [lambrequin] of the arms, the torse of the device, and the crest of the tourneyer's arms, attached with laces as described above. And over the brigandine they put the coat of arms. And when all of that is on the man, he looks wider than he is tall—wherefore I refrain from speaking further of it [...]

cuir boully ya de menuz bastons cincq ou six de la grosseur dun doy et collez dessus qui vont tout au long du bras Jusques aux Jointes Et quant pour lespaule et pour le coubte Sont fais les gardebras et auantbras de cuir boully comme cy deuant est deuise fors quilz sont de plus orde et grosse facon · et sont dedens bien faultrez Et de lun en lautre est vne toille double cousue qui les tient ensemble comme manche de mailles puis ont vne bien legiere brigandine dont la poitrine est pertuisee comme cy dessus est deuise [E]t quant a leurs armeures de teste ont vng grant bachinet a camail sans visiere lequel ilz atachent par le camail dessus la brigandine tout autour ala poitrine et sur les espaules a fortes aguillettes Et pardessus tout cela mettent vng grant heaulme fait dune venue · lequel heaulme est voulentiers de cuir boully et pertuise dessus ala largeur dun trenchoir de bois et la veue en est barree de fer de trois dois en trois dois lequel est seulement atachie deuant a vne chayesne qui tient ala poitrine de la brigandine en facon que on le peut ietter sur larson de la selle pour soy rafreschir et le reprendre quant on veult Et pendant que ona ledit heaulme hors de la teste nul ne ose frapper Jusques ace que on lait remis en la teste Sur lequel heaulme on met le lambrequin des armes la torte ou tortis de la deuise et le timbre des armes du tournoyeur atachie a aguillettes comme deuant est deuise · Et sur la brigandine mettent la cotte darmes Et quant tout cela est sur lome il semble estre plus gros que long · pourquoy me passe de plusauant en parler

Folio 22 Recto

The text from folio 21 (verso) continues on folio 22 (recto):

...boiled leather there are five or six slender strips the thickness of a finger glued onto it, which run all along the arm as far as the joints. And as for the shoulder and the elbow, the rerebraces and vambraces are made of boiled leather as described above, except that they are of rougher and thicker workmanship, and are well padded with felt inside. And from one to the other is sewn a double layer of linen that holds them together like a sleeve of mail; then they have a very light brigandine whose breastplate is pierced as described above.

And as for their head armor, they have a large bascinet with an aventail without a visor, which they attach by the aventail over the brigandine all around the chest and onto the shoulders with strong laces. And over all that they put a great helm made in a single piece, which helm is usually of boiled leather and pierced on top to the width of a wooden trencher, and its sight is barred with iron every three fingers; it is attached only in front to a chain fastened to the chest of the brigandine, so that one can cast it back onto the saddlebow to cool off and put it back on whenever one wishes. And while one has the said helm off one's head, no one dares strike until one has put it back on one's head. Upon this helm are placed the mantling [lambrequin] of the arms, the torse of the device, and the crest of the tourneyer's arms, attached with laces as described above. And over the brigandine they put the coat of arms. And when all of that is on the man, he looks wider than he is tall—wherefore I refrain from speaking further of it.

And with regard to their saddles[...]

cuir boully ya de menuz bastons cincq ou six de la grosseur dun doy et collez dessus qui vont tout au long du bras Jusques aux Jointes Et quant pour lespaule et pour le coubte Sont fais les gardebras et auantbras de cuir boully comme cy deuant est deuise fors quilz sont de plus orde et grosse facon · et sont dedens bien faultrez Et de lun en lautre est vne toille double cousue qui les tient ensemble comme manche de mailles puis ont vne bien legiere brigandine dont la poitrine est pertuisee comme cy dessus est deuise [E]t quant a leurs armeures de teste ont vng grant bachinet a camail sans visiere lequel ilz atachent par le camail dessus la brigandine tout autour ala poitrine et sur les espaules a fortes aguillettes Et pardessus tout cela mettent vng grant heaulme fait dune venue · lequel heaulme est voulentiers de cuir boully et pertuise dessus ala largeur dun trenchoir de bois et la veue en est barree de fer de trois dois en trois dois lequel est seulement atachie deuant a vne chayesne qui tient ala poitrine de la brigandine en facon que on le peut ietter sur larson de la selle pour soy rafreschir et le reprendre quant on veult Et pendant que ona ledit heaulme hors de la teste nul ne ose frapper Jusques ace que on lait remis en la teste Sur lequel heaulme on met le lambrequin des armes la torte ou tortis de la deuise et le timbre des armes du tournoyeur atachie a aguillettes comme deuant est deuise · Et sur la brigandine mettent la cotte darmes Et quant tout cela est sur lome il semble estre plus gros que long · pourquoy me passe de plusauant en parler

Illustrations

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