The Seneschal of Hainault Performs a Deed of Arms in Valencia, 1403
In this same year, an enterprise of arms was undertaken by the gallant
seneschal of Hainault, in the presence of the king of Arragon.
The combatants were to be four against four, and their arms battle-axes, swords and daggers: the combat was to be for life or death,
subject, however, to the will of judge of the field. The companions of
the seneschal were, Sir James de Montenay, a knight of Normandy, Sir Tanneguy du Chastel, from the duchy of
Brittany, and a notable esquire called Jean Carmel. Their adversaries were from the kingdom of
Arragon, -and their chief was named Tollemache de Sainte Coulonne, of the king
of Arragon's household, and much beloved by him: the second, Sir Pierre de Monstarde: the third, Proton de Sainte Coulonne; and the
fourth, Bernard de Buef.
When the appointed day approached, the king had the lists magnificently
prepared near to his palace in the town of Valencia. The king came to the seat allotted
for him, attended by the duke de Caudie, and the counts de Sardonne and d'Avemie, and a numerous train of his
nobility. All round the lists scaffolds were erected, on which were seated the nobles of the country, the ladies and damsels, as well as the
principal citizens of both sexes. Forty men at arms, richly dressed, were ordered by the king to keep the lists clear; and between their
barriers was the constable of Arragon, with a large company of men at arms, brilliantly
equipped, according to the custom of the country. Within the field of combat were two small pavilions for the champions,
who were much adorned with the emblazonry of their arms, to repose in, and shelter themselves from the heat of the sun. On the arrival of
the king, he made known to the seneschal, by one of his knights, that he and his companions should advance first into the field, since it had
been so ordered, as the Arragonians were the appellants. The seneschal and his companions, on receiving this summons, instantly ,armed
themselves, and mounted their coursers, which were all alike ornamented with crimson silk trappings that
swept the ground, over which were besprinkled many escutcheons of their arms. Thus nobly equipped they
left their lodgings, and advanced toward the barriers of the lists. The before-named esquire marched first, followed by sir Tanneguy and
sir James de Montenay; and last of all, the seneschal, conducted by the seneschal du Chut; when, having entered the lists, they made their
reverences on horseback to king Martin of Arragon, who paid them great honour.
They then retired to their tents, and waited an hour and a half for
their opponents, who arrived like the others, in a body on horseback. Their horses' trappings
were of white silk, ornamented with escutcheons of their arms. When they had made their reverences to the king, they
retired also to their tents, which were pitched on the right, where they all remained for full five hours thus armed. The cause of this delay
was owing to the king and his council wishing to accommodate the matter, and prevent the combat. To effectuate this, many messages were sent
from the king to the seneschal, proposing that he should not proceed farther; but
he prudently made answer, that this enterprise had been undertaken at the request of Tollemache, that he and his companions had
come from a far country, and at great trouble and expense, to gratify his wish, which he and his companions were determined upon doing. At
length, after much discussion on each side, it was concluded that the combat should take place. The usual proclamations were then made in the
king's name; and the king at arms of Arragon, cried out loudly and clearly. that the champions must do their duty. Both parties instantly
issued forth of their tents holding their battle-axes in their hands, and marched proudly
towards each other.
The Arragonians had settled among themselves that two of them should
fall on the seneschal, in the hope of striking him down: both parties were on foot, and
they expected he would be at one of the ends of the lists above the others, but he was in the middle part. When they
approached, the seneschal stepped forward three or four paces before his companions, and attacked Tollemache, who had that day been made a knight
by the king’s hand, and gave him so severe a blow with his battle-axe, on the side of his helmet, as made him reel and turn half round. The
others made a gallant fight with their opponents; but sir James de Montenay, throwing down his battle-axe, seized sir James de Monstarde
with one of his hands under his legs, and, raising him up with his dagger in the other, was
prepared to stab him; but, as the affair on all sides seemed to be carried on in earnest, the king put an end to the
combat.
According to appearances, the Arragonians would have had the worst of
it had the combat been carried to extremities ; for the seneschal and those with him
were all four very powerful in bodily strength, well experienced in all warlike exercises, and equal to the accomplishment of
any enterprise in arms that might be demanded from them.
When the champions were retired to their tents, the king descended from
his seat into the lists, and requested of the seneschal and Tollemache, in a kind
manner, that the remaining deeds of arms might be referred to him and his council, and he would so act that they should all be
satisfied. The seneschal, then falling on one knee, humbly entreated the king that he would consent that the challenge should be completed
according to the request of Tollemache. The king replied, by again requiring that the completion of the combat should be referred to his
judgment; which being granted, he took the seneschal by the hand. and placed him
above himself, and Tollemache on the other side. He thus led them out of the lists, when each returned to his hotel and disarmed.
The king sent his principal knights to seek the seneschal and his companions, whom, for three days, he entertained at his palace, and paid
them as much honour as if they had been his own brothers. When he had reconciled them with their opponents, he made them fresh presents; and
they departed thence on their return to France, and the seneschal to Hainault.
From: Monstrelet, Enguerrand de, The Chronicles of Enguerrand de Monstrelet. trans.
Thomas Johnes, two vols., (London, 1877) , Book I, Chapter xiv.