In simple affairs of arms or of gallantry, the challenge was given by touching the shield, as in the case of tour naments. There was generally a shield of peace and another of war hung up ; and the combat was " to out ranee," or otherwise, as one or other of these was touch ed. Sometimes the shield, adorned with an tnorise, a ribbon or chain, was hung up ; if the emprise was snatched away, the combat was for outrancc ; if only touched, for simple feats of arms. During sieges, sin gle combat was often held on the drawbridge or barriers of the town, between knights of the opposing parties. " The former, as the more desperate place of battle, was frequently chosen by knights, to break a lance for ho nour and their ladies love," (Scott's Minstrelsy, iii. 36.); and as this mode was very dangerous, the mode of attack and defence was early and regularly taught all knights. In simple affairs of arms or gallantry, the vanquished was generally disarmed, and led forth out of the lists ignominiously. In affairs of gallantry, the vanquished was obliged to confess the superior charms of his anta gonist's mistress. In combats, as well as in tournaments, if either party was etrried by his horse without the lists, he was reckoned to have lost the guerdon of his valour.
Beside the solemn oath of chivalry, which a knight took when be was admitted into the order, and which he renewed very frequently, he was accustomed to make vows of enterprise. The occasions on which these were taken were numerous. As a young knight was said not to have won his spurs till he proved his valour and his gallantry, he was obliged to wear on his arm some mark of his inexperience and thraldom, which he solemnly vowed not to remove till he had achieved some feat of chivalry. At solemn feats and tournaments also, in or der to recommend themselves to the ladies, the knights used to take vows of enterprise; and, as a mark of their engagement, chains of gold were fastened to their arms by their favourite mistresses, who at the same time grant ed them a reluctant kiss.
The most solemn vow that a knight could take, was by the peacock and the ladies. The latter needs no ex planation ; the former took its origin from the circum stance of the peacock forming the most splendid and magnificent part in grand entertainments, given by prin ces, on occasions of chivalry. After being roasted, it was again dressed in its plumage,—a sponge, dipt in lighted spirits of wine, was placed in its bill ; and it was thus brought into the hall on a gold or silver dish, by the most distinguished and noble ladies. In this state it was presented to each knight, who vowed by it, and the ladies who were present. The bird was then placed on the table, cut up with great solemnity and parade, and distributed among the guests.
These vows were frequently of the most extravagant nature To he first in advancing, and last in retreat ing ; to strike upon the gate of a certain fortress of the enemy ; to fight blindfold, or with one arm tied up; to carry off a banner, or to defend one ;" were among the more usual and rational subjects of their vows. Frois
sart relates, that when Edward 111. began his war against France, many of the knights of England bound up one of their eyes with a silk ribbond, and swore before the peacock and the ladies, that they would not make tic of the other eye till they had accomplished certain deeds of arms : and Bertrand du Guesclin swore, at the siege of 1\Iontcontour, that he would neither cat meat, nor undress himself, till he had taken it. The besieged, on the other hand, often swore, that they would devour one another, rather than yield up the place. John of Bour bon, in 141 4, in order to acquire the favour of his mis tress, vowed, that lie and sixteen other knights and esquires would wear, every Sunday, for the space of two years, a chain on their left leg, of gold for the knights, and of silver for the esquires, till they had met with and engaged an equal number of their respective ranks.
As soon as a knight had made his vow, and fastened on his enorise, he prepared himself for the accomplishment by prayer and fasting. Ile entered the church, where he confessed himself, and in which, as has been already no ticed, he offered up his arms, if he proved successful. When the e nOrise, the mark of his engagement, was once fixed, either on his armour or his person, lie could not free himself from it, till lie had fulfilled the condi tions of his vow ; or till he had met another knight, on whom, after having defeated him in single combat, he fastened it.
The knight filled up his leisure hours with different kinds of amusements. Hawking, or the mystery of the rivers, so called, because wild fowl were principally ta ken ; and hunting, or the mystery of the woods, were his favourite sports. Of course, his clogs and his falcons were the objects of his particular care and attention. When lie rode out, his esquires carried his hawks, while the falcon, his special favourite, was perched on his own finger. No higher praise could be given to a knight, than that he was equally celebrated for, and equally able to converse on, subjects relating to hawking, hunting, arms, and love.
In his castle he amused himself with hearing read the exploits and adventures of the most renowned knights ; or the songs of the minstrels ; or the sports or tricks of the jongleurs ; or with games at chess, dice, and back gammon. The former he was carefully taught from his infancy; its resemblance to war, that grand object of his life, made it his favourite game. He generally played at it with the ladies ; but it was not permitted to play for money ; or, at least, the sum he might lose in one day was strictly limited. Dice were regarded as not so honourable a game. An amusement is also mentioned in ancient writers on chivalry, the nature of which is not clearly described : it seems to have consisted in setting up a wooden castle, so loosely made, that the parts of it would easily fall to pieces, and in throwing at it with wands. A game at bowls, played in alleys, seems like wise to have filled up the leisure hours of the knights.