Sir John Astley answers a Challenge, 1442

Challenge of John Astley, Squire,

to Philip Boyle, Knight of Aragon

On the occasion of his knighting, 1442

#57, Vol I

Translated from the Middle English by Brian Price

Editor's Notes

Sir John Astley seemed to have quite a chivalric career in England, interested in both literary and martial pursuits. He fought another emprise in Paris, 1438, where he appears to have slain his opponent with a lance to the helm (an unintentional, but not infrequent occurrence). Here he is once again challenged, this time by an Aragonese knight. The combat is fought under king Henry VI's auspices at Smithfield, on foot in accord with the articles governing the combat. The king apparently thought so much of the fight and the deed of arms in general that he knighted squire John that same day-whether this was a planned affair or not remains to be discovered.

The scene provides a fascinating template, demonstrating the powerful drama possible with a combat even between two gentlemen, each of whom won great renown in their endeavor, both at home and abroad. Accompanying the text in the Hastings manuscript is a badly weathered illumination, showing Sir John's fights against Philip Boyle on foot with poleaxes.

Modern English Version

Brian R. Price

Be it so that I, Philip Boyle, Knight of the Realm of Aragon, was charged to fight with a knight or with a squire to serve my sovereign lord the tres excellent and tres puissant Prince the King of Aragon and Castile {}, that I might not be delivered from my said emprise for the accomplishment of them in the realm of France, therefore I have come to the realm of England and into the court of Prince of the High Majesty the very high, lustrous, and victorious Prince the King of England and of France, the chief of honor, valor and prowess, seeking supplication and grace. I have the leave to bear arms and a devise in his noble court that I might be delivered of my charge, for which I declare the following articles:

The first article is that we shall fight on horseback, each of us armed as it best pleases them, with weapons as we are accustomed to carrying in battle, that is with spears, swords, daggers and with such advantages as either of us like without any false intention.

The second article is that he to whom God gives victory shall have of the other his sword or his helm or other accoutrement as he bears upon his head.

The third article is that if the battle is such that it cannot be completed that day, we shall complete it on the following morning on foot, in harness and with weapons as we choose, without pity for the other.

The fourth article is that each of us may help each other with wrestling, using legs, feet, arms or hands.

The fifth article takes into account that my horse and harness may be in Flanders on the other side of the sea. If this be so on that day then I shall endeavor to have all present nine days after the battle, but if I cannot assemble them in a reasonable time then we shall have our battle on foot each of us armed at our pleasure using axe, sword, and dagger as is said above.

The following paragraph follows records the results of the combats

These said deeds of arms were accomplished by John Astley, squire, on the 30^th day of January within Smithfield before the king Henry VI in the 20^th year of his reign. When John had done his emprise then the king his Highness made him Knight on the same day, giving him 100 Marks per year for the duration of his life in the year of grace 1442.

Middle English Version

Hastings Manscript

Be hit so that I philyp boyle knyth of the rem de aragon was enchargid for to fyght wt a knyth or wt a squyer & for a special to serv my sovereyn lorde le tresexcelent et trespuissant pince le roye de aragon et de cisule scelon et more for the whiche I might not be delvered of my seide enpris for de fauyte de acumis of them in the rem of ffraunce wherfore I am come in to the rem of yngelande & into the corte of pcens of the hei maseste de treshauyte treslustre victorious pince le roye angleter et de ffraunce le cheef de onour vayleour et prouues & be a supplicacion & be aspecial grace I have grete leve to bere a devise in his nobill corte be the moian of the which I mai be delivered of my seide charge the wheche I declare these artiklis here suinge.

The firste artikle is that we schal fighte an horsbak eithir of us armid as hit plese hym wt wepenis acustomid to bere in batayle that is to wete sperys swerdis daggeris such and wt suche a vauntage as eithir of us like wtouyte ony fals engyne.

The secunde artikle is that he that god gevis the victori schal have of the tothir his swerde or his helme or othir armer that whech he beris apon his hede.

The thridde artickle is that yif so be the seide bataile in that same day come not to the ende as hit is above seide for that wheche we apon the morne schal a complie a fote wt the harneis et wepenys yt is lefte un to us wtouyte pittynge of ony othir to.

The fourthe artickle is that iche of us may helpe othir wt wrastelynge wt leggis & feet wt armys & handis.

The fifth artickle is for by cause my hors & my harneis is in flaundris apon the tothir side of that see for the wiche the dai that be me schal be asignyd & wt this point I have my hors & my harneys viiij dayis aftir that we holde the seide batayle & yif so be my seide hors & harneis that I may not recover hit wt ynne tyme resonable than we schal have a doe the seide batayle a fote eithir of us armyd at oure volunte et a faculte for to have axe spere swerde & daggere as hit is a bove seide.

These seide armys weryn compleide be john asteley squier the xxx day of ianiver wt in smithfelde for the kinge herri the vi of his regne xx and whanne the seide iohn hadde done his armys thanne hit likyd that kynge of his hines for to make him knyth the same day an yaf him. C marc for terme of his lyfe in the yere of grace a mcccxlij.