eedful for a tournament of this period, the close of the fifteenth
century. These tournaments were first started as training-schools for the
practice of arms, and were later tempered by the rules of chivalry. Jousts
were single combats, often a succession of them, for a prize or trial of
skill, while the tourney was troop against troop. These warlike games were
very popular in France especially, but very strict rules had to be made to
prevent the "joust of peace" becoming the deadly "joust a l'outrance" (to
the death).

The "lists," or tournament grounds, were in Bayard's time usually of a
square shape rather longer than broad, and were surrounded by palisades,
often adorned with tapestry and heraldic devices. The marshals of the lists
took note of all that happened and enforced the rules of chivalry. Varlets
were in attendance to help the esquires in looking after their masters, and
helping them up, with their heavy armour, if unhorsed.

It was common to hold a "passage of arms" for three days: two for the
contest on horseback, first with lances, second with swords and maces;
while on the third day, on foot, pole-axes were used. A specially heavy
kind of armour was worn, sometimes nearly 200 lbs. in weight, so that a
knight once unhorsed lay on the ground absolutely helpless, and could not
rise without help. This armour was made still stronger by "reinforcing
armour"--pieces screwed on over the left side, chiefly, which received most
blows--making a double defence for the head, chest, and left shoulder.
"Pauldrons" or shoulder-guards buckled on, that on the right arm being
smaller to leave freedom for using the lance. Then we have brassards or
arm-guards; the rere-brace for the upper arm, the vam-brace for the lower,
and the elbow-piece called a "coudiere."

When all was ready on the appointed day for the tournament at Aire, the
trumpet sounded, and then the order of the Tourney was declared aloud.
Bayard had to appear first in the lists, and against him rode forth a
neighbour of his in Dauphine, by name Tartarin, a powerful man-at-arms.
They rushed at each other so vehemently that Tartarin broke his lance half
a foot from the iron, and Bayard struck him above the arm-piece of his
armour and broke his lance into five or six pieces, upon which the trumpets
sounded forth triumphantly, for the joust was wonderfully good. After
having finished their first attack they returned to face each other for the
second. Such was th