THE ORDER OF COMBATS

FOR LIFE IN SCOTLAND

As they are anciently recorded in ane old Manuscript of the Laws Arms and Offices of Scotland pertaining to James I. King of Scots.

With the Office and Priviledges the Constable and Marshall hes in them.

[¶ In what sort the day of Combat was appoynted.]

CAP. I.

FIRST, the cartell or bill of quarrell, als weill of the Challengers behalf as of the Defender's, was brought into the court, befor the Great Constable. And when the truth of the caus could not be proven by witness nor otherways, then was it permitted the same should receive tryall by fforce of arms; the one partie by assailing, and the other by defending. The Constable, as vicar generall to the King, assignd the day of battell, which was to be performed within ffourty days nixt following; wherto both the Challenger and Defender condescendit. Then wer the combatants commandit to bring in sufficient pledges for surety that they and every one of them should appear and perform the combat, betuixt the sun ryseing and gooing doun of the day appoynted, for the acquytall of their pledges; and that they, or any of them, should not doe or cause to be done any molestation, dammage, assault, or subtilty, against the person of his enemie, either by himself, his ffreinds, his followers, or any other person whatsoever.

¶ In what sort the King comanded the place of

Combat be made.

CAP. II.

THE Kings pleasur being signified to the Constable, he caused lists or railes to be made and sett up, in lenth sixty paces, and in breadth ffourty. The place wheron the lists wer appoynted were ever upon plain and dry ground, without riggs, hills, or other impediments. At either end of the lists was made a gate or entrie, with a strong barr to keep out the people. For guarding of either gate, the Constable appoynted ane serjeant at arms, comanding him not to let any man approach within four foot. The one gate opened towards the east, being strongly barrd with a raile of seven foot long, as noe horse could pass over or under the same.

In what sort the King did sitt to behold the Combat.

CAP. III.

ON the day of battell, the King used to sitt on ane high seat or scaffold, made for the purpose, at the ffoot wherof was ther ane other seat made for the Constable, who calld befor him the pleges, als weill of the Defendent as of the Challenger, to be shouen and presented to the King; there to remaine within lists, as prisoners, untill such tym as the Challenger and Defender wer come, and had performed all ther ceremonies.

¶ In what sort the Challenger used to present himself to combat.

CAP. IV.

THE Challenger used comonly to come to the east gate of the lists, and brought with him such armours as wer appoynted by the Constable, and

wherwith he determined to fight. Being at the gate, he stayd till such tym as the Constable arose from his seat, and went to him. He being come to the said gate of the lists, and beholding the Challenger ther, the Constable sayd, For what caus art thow come hither thus armed? And what is thy name? Unto whom the Challenger ansuered thus: My name is A. D., and am here come, armed and mounted, to perform my challenge against G. D., and acquitt my pledges; wherfor I humbly entreat your Honour this gate may be opened, and I suffered to perform my intent and purpose. Then the Constable did open the visor of his headpiece, to see his fface, and therby to know that man to be he who makes the challenge.

THESE ceremonies ended, the Constable comanded the gate of the lists to be opened, wherat the armed man, with his necessaries and councill, entred. From thence he was brought befor the King, wher he remained untill such tym as the Deffender was come hither.

IN lyk maner the Defender compearing, did make requeist unto the Constable, desyreing that he would be pleased to delyver and discharge his pledges. Wherupon the Constable, aryseing from his seat, did humbly entreat the Kings Majestie to release them, becaus the Defender is already come, and presented befor his Majestie, ther to perform his duty.

BUT in cace the Defender did not come at tym convenient, in the day appoynted, then did the King delyver his pleasur to the Constable, and he reported the same unto the Marishall, who ffurth with did give order unto the liuetenant that the Defender should presently be called to appear, by the Herauld Marischall, after this maner:

OIEZ! G.D., Defendant in this combat! Appear now! ffor in this day thow hast taken upon thee to acquitt thy pledges, in presence of the Lord Constable and Marishall; And also defend thy person against A. B., who challenged thee to mentaine this combat.

THIS proclamation was made thryce at the end of the lists. But if, at the second tym, the partie appeared not, then the Herauld did add these words:

The day passeth, and therfore come without delay!

AND if in cace the said Defendant appeared not befor noon, but stayed untill the third hour after, then did the Herauld, by comandment of the Constable, in the begining of the proclamation, say :

A. B., appear in haist, and save thyn honour! ffor the day is weill near spent wherin thow did promise to perform thy enterpryse !

I. It was also used, that the Constables clerk should in a book record the hour of the combatants appearing within lists, either on ffoot or horseback, in what sort they wer armed, of what collour their horses wer, and how they were furnished.

II. It was anciently used that the Constable moved the King in favor of the combatants, to know whither his Majesty were pleased to appoynt any of his nobility, or other officers of reputation, to assist them for councill in combat.

III. THE Constable did survey the lances and other weapons, wherwith the combat should be performed, making them equall, and of even

measur.

IV. THE Constable also appoynted tuo knights or esquyres unto the Challenger, to keep the place ffree from impediments. The lyk was also done for the Defender.

V. THE Constable did also move the King to know whither his Majestie in person would take the oaths of the ffighters, or give him authority to do it out of his presence.

VI. THE Constable also did send the Marishall unto the Challenger and his councill, to make ready his oath, declaring that, after that ceremonie, all protestations should be voyd.

AFTER these things, the Great Constable caused his clerk to bring furth the Book, wherupon the combatants were solemnly sworn.

The First Oath.

CAP. V.

THE Constable having causd the clerk read the Challengers bill, and calling him by his name, sayd, Doest thow conceive the effect of this bill? Here is also thy own "glove of defyance. THOW SHALT SWEAR by the Holy Evangelists, that all things therin containd be true, and that thow shall mentuine it so to be upon the person of thyne enemie; As God shall help you, and the Holy Evangelists.

THE oath thus taken, he was led back unto his former place; and the

In some copies it is read gauntelit.

Constable did cause the Marishall produce the Defender, who took the lyk oath.

THE oath was ever taken, the parties kneeling, unless it pleased the Constable to pardon that duty.

¶ The Second Oath.

CAP. VI.

THE second oath was also indifferently proponed to ather of them, That they had not brought into the lists other armour or wapons than was allowed; neither any engine, charm, herb, or inchantment; And that neither of them should put trust in any thing other then in God, and ther oun valours; As God and the Holy Evangelists should help them.

THAT done, they wer both again sent to their places of entrie.

ག The Third Oath.

CAP. VII.

THE combatants being again called, wer comanded by the Constable to take one the other by the hand, and lay their left hands upon the Book; which done, the Constable sayd, I charge thee, A. D., Challenger, upon thy faith, that thow doe thyn outermost endeavour and fforce to prove thyn affirmation, either by death or denyall of thyn adversarie, befor he departeth these lists, and befor the sun goeth doun this day; As God and the Holy Evangilists shall help thee.

THE very same maner of oath, in lyke maner used, was offered unto the Defender, and that done, the combatants returnd unto ther places with their ffreinds and councellors.

THESE ceremonies ended, the Herauld, by commandment of the Constable, did make proclamation at the ffour corners of the lists, thus:

OIEZ! OIEZ!

WEE charge and command, in the name of the King and his Constable,