other; in one place they fled, in another pursued, without being able to overtake; while, in a third, the pursuing bands overtook and defeated the fugitives.

course.

From these exercises, the justs and tournaments arose by slow degrees. At first, the tournament consisted only in the knights running by turns at the quintain, and wheeling about successively in a circle to repeat their In process of time, to render the pastime more respectable, they ran at each other; and, ultimately, they formed themselves into large parties, which, meeting together, combated with maces, or clubs, and beat each other soundly, without favour or respect to rank or dignity.

In the middle ages, when the tournaments were in their splendour, the Troy game was continued, though in a state of improvement,

TOURNAMENTS.

93

and distinguished by a different denomination. It was then called, in Latin, Behordicum, and in French Bohourt, or Behourt, and was a kind of lance game, in which the young nobility exercised themselves, to acquire address in handling their arms, and to prove their strength. It was also called the Cane Game, because hollow canes were used instead of lances.

In the tournament, the champions depended equally upon their military skill and horsemanship and upon their bodily strength. It was at all times highly disgraceful to be unhorsed, by whatever exertion of the adversary it might be effected; and he who, at the conclusion of the sports, had not met with this disaster, besides the honour he attained, sometimes received a pecuniary reward.

The Just, or Lance game, as already ob

served, differed materially from the tournament, though frequently included in it, and usually took place when the grand tournamental conflict was finished. It was, nevertheless, perfectly consistent with the rules of chivalry, for justs to be held separately. In the time of Henry III. the just assumed a different appellation, and was also called the Round Table Game, from a fraternity of knights, who frequently justed with each other, and were accustomed to eat together in one apartment, where, in order to set aside all distinction of rank or quality, they were seated at a circular table, where every place was equally honourable. The institution of the round table is generally attributed to Prince Arthur, a celebrated British hero, whose achievements are so disguised with legendary wonders, that his very existence has been doubted. In the

THE ROUND TABLE.

95

reign of Edward I. Roger de Mortimer, a nobleman of great opulence, established a round table at Kenilworth, for the encouragement of military pastimes; and there he entertained a hundred knights, with as many ladies, at his own expense. The fame of this institution occasioned a great influx of foreigners, who repaired to Kenilworth, either to initiate themselves, or give some public proof of their prowess: About seventy years afterwards, Edward III. erected a splendid table of the same kind at Windsor, upon a very extensive scale. This receptacle for military men gave continual occasion for the exercise of arms; and the example was followed by the King of France. This rivalry, by diverting the attention of the foreign nobility, some of whom repaired to Edward's institution, and others to that of the French monarch, had the

effect of destroying the establishment in both kingdoms; and in England, the round table was superseded by the Order of the Garter, the ceremonial parts of which are still retained, though the spirit of the institution has evaporated with the change of manners.

The cessation of the round table occasioned little or no alteration respecting the justs, which had been practised by the knights belonging to it, and continued to be fashionable, till at length they superseded the tourna

ments.

In the justs, the combatants most commonly used spears deprived of their iron heads; and the excellency of the performance consisted in striking the opponent upon the front of his helmet, so as to beat him backwards from his horse, or break the spear. Originally, they drove against each other, and endeavoured to