Pierre de Masse's challenge
1438

Here we have a very interesting challenge, a challenge à plaisance in the streets of Paris, two renowned squires, jousting with sharpened spears before the King of France and the assembled populace.

The first articles describe the conditions of combat, which are very open, saying that each combatant may choose their own armour, but that they shall joust shieldless, the renown of both combatants probably to be enhanced by the dangerous conditions. Sir Geoffrey de Charnay presented such a scheme of renown in his Livre Chevalerie in the 14th century-tourneys were good, jousts were better, and wars best of all. They fight in 'double harness,' which I take to be reinforced field harnesses with plates added especially for the joust, a predecessor of the garniture so popular during the 16th century.

In an accompanying illumination, badly treated by age and water, many of the elements of the challenge can be plainly seen-the twelve lances stacked against a house, the tilt erected down the middle of the street, the spectators of Paris and the King himself watching over the deeds.

The combat is clearly intended to be friendly, the winner presenting his helmet or other element of their accoutrement (habillement) to the other for presentation to his lady. In the last paragraph, however, it seems that John Astley actually ran a spear through the visor of Pierre de Masse, possibly killing him. The combat is not mentioned in Engeurrand de Monstrelet's chronicle, though John Astley has a notable life, advising the Lord Scales in his famous joust with the Bastard of Burgundy. Apparently he advised from experience.

The following is presented in both modern and middle English, so that you can compare the original text with my interpretation. I have tried to remain very close, moving only a few words for clarity's sake.

In the worship and in the name of God, our Blessed Lady Virgin Mary and my Lord Saint Denis, my avower and [cordyder]. I, Pierre de Masse, squire of the realm of France, born of four cotes of armes sans reproche has required in the town of Ponthieu, John Astley, Squire born within the realm of England, also of four lines of nobility and sans reproche, to meet in arms on horseback half at my request and half at his. Between us so appointed to do and accomplish the said arms on horseback before the tres high and tres excellent and tres puissant prince the King of France my sovereign lord, who in his good grace has appointed that he himself will be our judge the same day of these articles here signed.

• The first article is that we between us shall be armed upon horseback in "double harness" without any shield or other equipment of advantage, both of us armed as seems best to us for to break between us six spears each or twelve spears in whole down the length with such greatness that either of us may do at our pleasure.
  The second article is that I, Pierre de Masse, shall make the said twelve spears all of one length and that either of us shall have the choice of the same.
  The third articles that I, Pierre de Masse, shall make the field and the tilt in the middle that our horses will be kept good and safe, keeping them from harm.
  The fourth article is that we in God's grace has the better of the other shall have of the other his helm or habillement which he bears upon his head to bear to his lady.

The Results of the Above Challenge Recorded after the Challenge in Sir John's book, recorded in the same text.

These were the arms that Sir John Asteley, squire, did accomplish within the town of Paris in Saint Antoine Street, smiting the said Pierre de Masse through the head with a spear in the year of our lord 1438 before King Charles of France (V), this being done on the 29th day of August in the sixteenth year of the reign of King Henry VI.

In the worschip and in the name of god and oure blessid ladi virgyn marie and my lorde seynt Denys mon avouer and codyder. I Peiere de masse squier of the reem of ffrauns born de quarte cotes of my armes wt out ony reproche haith reqirid in ye toun of pounteis ihon asteley squer born wt ynne ye reme of yngeland de quarte cotes of his armys wtoute ony reproche for do doe armys an horsbak half at my requeste and half at his request and that we tweyne be a poyntid for to doe and acuple pei seid armys an horsbak before le treshaute et tresexcelent et trespyssaunt pince le roye de ffraunce my sovereyn lorde of the whech he of his goode grace haith apoyntid thlfe wol be oure iuge that same day of these artiklis here suinge.

• The firste artikle is that we tweyne schal be armyd a pon horsbak in harnes double wt oute ony shilde and reste of vauntage and ethir of us to be arimud as us semyth beste for to breke ethir of us tweyne vj spris that is xij speris in that hole and alle of on lencthe and of such gretenesse as eythir of us may bere at oure plesyre.
  The seconde artickyl is that I peire de masse schal lette make the seyde xij speris all on lengt and I pe ze have the choyissche of the seide xij speris.
  The thirdde artickill is that I the seide peirre de masse schall make the ffelde and the Telle in the mddis for to kepe oure horssis god saffe and kepe them frome harme.
  The fourthe artickill is that whiche of us tweyne that god of his heye grace woll that hathe the bettyr schall have of the todyr his helme o odyrr a bylmannt the which he berys apon his hede for to bere unto his ladye.

These be the armys that John Asteley squire didde a complye a compluse wt un the toun of parris in seynttatonne strette smoitte the seide peirre de masse thorwe the hedde wt a spere in the yere of oure lorde mcccccxxxviij before kyng charlys of ffraunce was don the xxix day of Auguste the rayne of kyng Harry the vj xji.