Jacques de Lalain, 1448
"Jacques de Lalain, whose exploits are here recorded, was the eldest son of a Burgundian noble of the court of Charles the Bold..."
From: 1448 C.E. To: 1448 C.E.
Location: Stirling, Scotland
Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.
From Early Travellers in Scotland by Peter Hume Brown, 1891.
Jacques de Lalain (1448).
As a quaint picture of the manners of the time, the following account of the visit of a Burgundian knight to Scotland could not well be omitted from the present collection. Our extract is translated from a curious book entitled: "Histoire du bon chevalier Messire Jacques de Lalain frere et compagnon de l'ordre de la Toison d'Or: Ecrite par Messire George Chastellain Chevalier, Historiographe des Dues de Bourgougne Philippe le Bon et Charles le Hardi." As its author seems to have had his information from Lalain himself, or some one who accompanied him to Scotland, his account may be regarded as virtually given at first hand.
Jacques de Lalain, whose exploits are here recorded, was the eldest son of a Burgundian noble of the court of Charles the Bold. If we may believe his partial biographer, Jacques had approved himself the doughtiest knight of his time in Christendom. He had visited in succession the courts of France, Spain, and Portugal, and matched himself against all comers; but had never once met his equal at any knightly weapon. It had come to his ears, however, that James Douglas, brother of William, Earl of Douglas, was a champion with whom it was incumbent that he should break a lance. With the permission of his liege lord, the Duke of Burgundy, therefore, he dispatched a herald to Douglas with a challenge couched in all those terms of high-flown courtesy, which the usages of chivalry exacted.
Douglas, with the consent of his sovereign (James II.), wrote accepting the challenge in a letter as graciously circumlocutory as that of the redoubtable Burgundian himself. Embarking in a vessel specially equipped by himself and his companions, Lalain sailed for Scotland in as gorgeous array as the court of Burgundy could supply. Of his achievements there we leave his biographer to tell the tale. As a rendering in modern phrase would effectually have marred any interest the narrative may possess, the original is here reproduced with all its circumlocutions and endless iterations.
The end of Jacques de Lalain was not such as a hero of chivalry might have desired. He was killed at the age of thirty-two by a musket ball, thus falling at the same age and in the same manner as the last and noblest of the knights, Sir Philip Sidney. Lalain's biographer thus sums up his character: "As regards his virtues there is no human tongue, how eloquent soever, that were equal to the full roll of them. He was a knight, pleasant, meek, amiable, and courteous, a bounteous giver and full of pity. Through all his. life he was the help of widows and orphans. He had been endowed by God with five gifts. And, in the first place, he was the flower of knighthood; he was beautiful as Paris the Trojan, he was pious as Æneas, he was wise as Ulysses the Greek; when he found himself in battle he had the wrath of Hector the Trojan; but so soon as he felt or knew that he carried it over his enemies, never was man more debonnair or humble."
The combat of the Scots and Burgundian champions at Stirling is thus dryly related in the Auchinleck Chronicle (p. 40): "The yer of God MCCCCXLVIII, the xxv day of Februar, the master of Douglas, callit James, and twasom with him, that is to say, James of Douglas, brother to the larde of Lochlevyne, and the lard of Haukat, focht in the barres at Strivling aganis twa knychtis and ane squyar of Burgundy. And ther war thair names, Schir Jekkis de Lalane, Schir Symond de Lalane, and the larde of Mongavile, that was the squyar. And this was befoir King James the Secund."
Histore Du Bon Chevalier Messire Jacques de Lalain.
When Messire Jacques and his company had arrived in Scotland the Scots who were with the same Maistre James de Duglas came before Messire Jacques; and when they had come, they expressed a desire to know why he of Lalain had sent his challenge to Maistre James de Duglas, and in such wise as to show that they were not well content. Nevertheless, he replied that it was neither for hatred nor envy nor any evil wish whatsoever, but to do the greatest honour in his power to one who came of such high descent, and was besides of such great renown and courage, that he desired his acquaintance more than that of any lord in the said kingdom of Scotland. So the friends of Maistre James de Duglas were satisfied.
When Messire Jacques de Lalain and the said James de Duglas had spoken at length with each other, they agreed that they should each choose two companions, men of rank and known in arms; and so they did. And for his part, Messire Jacques took his uncle, Messire Simon de Lalain, lord of Montigny, and Hervé de Meriadet; and Maistre James de Duglas took as companions-in-arms two noble and powerful lords, one of whom was named the lord of Haguet, and the other was also named James de Duglas all of whom were renowned as valiant knights, powerful in body and limbs.
The affair being thus concluded, the king of Scotland agreed to be their judge, and appointed time and place, and had the lists made ready at Stirling. After these arrangements had been made and the day fixed, both parties prepared for the combat, and undertook to be in the lists on the day appointed; and all six that they might with all honour achieve their deeds of arms, were entertained by the king. So after the festivities were over, the king ordered the said Messire Jacques, Messire Simon his uncle, and Hervé de Meriadet, two notable knights, to take counsel with themselves and act according to their wont.
When the appointed day came, the king mounted his throne: Messire Jacques de Lalain, and Messire Simon his uncle, and Herve de Meriadet entered the lists unarmed, Messire Jacques and Messire Simon both being clothed in long robes of black velvet, furred with martens, and Meriadet in a short robe of black velvet, furred with martens, their arms being carried before them in two coffers, covered with the bearings of Messire Jacques de Lalain, and very richly broidered, and they were accompanied by noblemen who had come with them, and also by those whom the king had appointed to advise with them. And thus all three dismounted before their pavilion, which they entered. Then they went and did reverence to the King of Scotland.
Afterwards they returned to their pavilion where they found their harness ready and fully adorned. So they armed themselves at their ease, and had abundant leisure, for they had come more than three hours before the others.
The hour appointed having come, the said Maistre James de Duglas, the lord of Haguet, and James de Duglas arrived, and came to the entrance of the lists, attended by a great company, the Earl of Duglas and other great lords, knights, and other people, who, it was said, amounted to fully four or five-thousand men. Then the three champions, all armed, and clad in their coats of mail, dismounted at their pavilion, and afterwards all three went to do reverence to the King of Scotland, and all three prayed that he would confer on them the order of knighthood, which he freely granted to them. So he descended from his throne, and made all three knights. Messire Jacques, his uncle Messire Simon, and Meriadet saw from their pavilion the three knights above named return from the presence of the King of Scotland, each clad in his coat of mail.
So they recognised them by their arms, and they agreed among themselves that Messire Jacques should fight Messire James de Duglas, and Meriadet the lord of Haguet, who was renowned as the most powerful of body, and Messire Simon should give his care to the other James de Duglas; and their arms were of this kind they were to fight with lances, axe, sword, and dagger a outrance, or till the king signified his will; but at the request of the above-named Scots, the throwing of the lance was forbidden, for they trusted greatly in their lances.
So the uncle, the nephew, and Meriadet agreed among themselves that they would neither fight with their lances nor throw them at their opponents, but that when they met them they would cast their lances behind them, and fight with their axes. Now, according to the rules of the combat, each one might carry assistance to his comrade. Wherefore Messire Jacques de Lalain said to Meriadet: "I believe that you will be the first to dispose of your man; nevertheless I pray you with all the zeal I can that you will neither aid me nor succour me in any way whatsoever, but permit me to meet such fortune, be it good or ill, as God may please to send me." Thus having spoken to each other, they resolved that so they would act.
When the six champions were apparelled and ready to issue from their tent, awaiting the proclamations, orders, and prohibitions that are wont to be made in the lists, straightway with sound of trumpet were thrice proclaimed at the four corners of the lists the conditions appointed by the King of Scotland. And at the close of this proclamation issued forth from their pavilion the said De Lalain and Meriadet armed and adorned with all their blazons, clad in their coats of mail, Messire Jacques de Lalain being between his uncle Simon and Meriadet.
Then the Scots issued from their pavilion armed and emblazoned, each clad in his coat of mail; and Messire James de Duglas was between his companions. And so, very proudly and with rapid steps they marched against each other, which was a very fair and pleasant sight to behold. And when they came near each other, because the lord of Haguet was on the side of Messire Simon de Lalain, the said Meriadet wished to cross before Messire Jacques in order that he might have the lord of Haguet for his foe, when Messire Simon said in a loud voice: "Let each remain where he is;" and in this order they went forward to the combat.
Then the said Des Lalains and Meriadet threw their lances behind them as they had agreed. Then they seized their axes, and with much vigour began to fight and strike at the Scots who defended themselves with their lances. Messire James de Duglas fought with his lance; but it did not remain long in his hand: so he took his axe and fought for a little time with it, but not for long, for Messire Jacques soon made him lose it as he had lost his lance. And this Messire James being very wroth, and disturbed at seeing himself thus disarmed of his lance and his axe, at once with great fury seized his dagger and so tried to strike Messire Jacques in the face as he fought without his vizor and with his face uncovered.
But Messire Jacques seeing him approach, with great force struck him a blow with his left hand and made him stagger backwards. Notwithstanding this, Messire James sought with all his power to strike him in the face. Then Messire Jacques threw away his axe, and with his left hand seized Messire James by the head-piece, and held him so fast that he could not approach him, and with the right hand he drew his sword (which was a short blade), holding it near the point to use it as a dagger, for he had lost his own and did not know how (some say that he who armed him did not arm him with this).
And thus he sought to make a dagger of the said sword, as has been said, and sought to strike the said James with the hand with which he held the beaver; and in trying to strike him, the said blade fell from his hand and he was without a weapon. And when he saw himself disweaponed, very swiftly and furiously he seized the said James with both hands by the hollow of his head-piece, and by the strength of his arm made him move backwards to the throne of the king, twice lifting him off his feet with the intention of throwing him on the ground, and so putting him out of breath; and in so doing he did rightly, for Messire James fought in his basinet with closed vizor, while the said De Lalain was without his vizor and breathed freely, it being quite the contrary with Messire James, and this soon appeared, when his vizor was removed after the king had thrown down his truncheon. Now let us leave this combat of these two champions and return to the others.
We have told how Messire Simon de Lalain bore himself in his rencounter with the lord of Haguet, and how (as was said before) this lord of Haguet began to fight with his lance in which he put great trust. But it did not remain long with him, for Messire Simon, who was an adroit, strong, and hardy knight, and very expert in arms, quickly and furiously made him lose his lance. Then both betook themselves to their axes, with which they struck great blows at each other, for they were both very tall and well furnished in body and limbs; and to look at them they seemed knights of high order, and well they showed it that day. The lord of Haguet was of great strength, and showed it by the great blows that he rained on Messire de Lalain, which Messire de Lalain knew well how to receive with his axe, and how to strike great and terrible blows when he saw his chance for his blow, and was lucky in delivering it. For beyond all men he had command of his temper, and knew well how to chafe his man.
Very long, and over a great space of the lists, and very valiantly they fought. But from the great haste and ardour of the lord of Haguet to strike and overcome Messire Simon, the combat did not last so long as it might, for he began to weary, and to lose strength and breath. Messire Simon, who was ready of device and cool tempered, seeing that time and fortune were telling for him, recommenced with great liveliness and vigour to strike with thrust and cut, and to wield with great force the axe which he held; and so overwhelmed the lord of Haguet with the blows of his axe that he drove him back along the length of the lists. And if the battle of these two had lasted longer, the lord of Haguet, as all could see and know, would have had the worst of it, and so it would have happened, if they had not been parted by the king.
Now it is meet that we should speak of the valiant and noble knight Breton Hervé de Meriadet, who this day met and fought Messire James de Duglas, first cousin of the count of Duglas, who was a very noble knight of good frame and skilful in arms. They disposed themselves for the combat and attacked each other. The Scottish knight lowered his lance, and tried to strike the said Meriadet in the face with its point; but he failed, and struck on the sleeve of his coat of mail on the left arm; and as he sought to steady himself after the blow, his lance slipt under Meriadet's left arm, and Meriadet swiftly entered within his guard, and with a blow of his axe struck him on the side of his basinet, and bore him down quite stunned, laying bare his face. Then the said Meriadet, seeing his adversary on the ground (since by the conditions of the fight each could carry assistance to his comrades) looked towards them with the intention of bearing them help, if there was need.
He perceived that Messire James de Duglas, who was quick and agile, was already on his knees and almost on his feet. Then he returned upon him, took his axe in both his hands, and with the shaft of the same at once levelled him with the ground and stunned him with the blow, and made him fall extended all his length; and it is the truth that if he had hastened to slay him, he could easily have done so, and without blame since the fight was à outrance. But neither of the two times when he saw him on the ground did he wish to touch him, which was nobly done, and ought to be set down to his honour.
Forthwith the said Meriadet turned his regard to his comrades, and was making towards them to lend them aid, which they did not need, when as swiftly as before the Messire James de Duglas raised himself on his feet, axe in hand, and the said Meriadet returned upon him, and they then fought a long time, and like the others above named were laid hold of (still fighting) by the guards, when the king threw down his truncheon. But you should know that the noble Squire Meriadet was of as excellent and powerful frame as one could find. And all the remainder of the combat, after Messire James de Duglas had regained his feet, was to the great honour of the said Meriadet, who gave him very great blows, beating him back, and having him at his will.
After all the feats of arms above narrated had been accomplished, and when Messire James de Duglas and Messire Jacques de Lalain were in the position we have described, and when in the same manner Messire Simon de Lalain and the lord of Haguet fought valiantly and well with their axes, the King of Scotland, who was on the throne, without further delay threw down his truncheon. The guards, who had been appointed for this purpose, laid hands on the six champions as they had been ordered to do; and all were brought before the King of Scotland, who said that they had all fought valiantly and well, that he held the combat at an end, and that he wished that they should be good friends. The trial of arms over, each returned to his lodging. And some days after the king feasted them very grandly, and gave them honourable gifts for which they thanked him. After all the festivities, Messire Jacques de Lalain, and his uncle Messire Simon, and the said Meriadet, and those who had come with them to Scotland, took leave of the king and departed.
Brown, Peter Hume. Early Travellers in Scotland. David Douglas, 1891.
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