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RECREATIONS 623
became heavier until at the end of the period the combatants
were completely encased in metal. 1
It was, however, the penetration ofthe ideas of chivalry, and
particularly Arthurian romance that exerted the most remark/
able influence on this form of sport. As early as 123 2 a 'Round
Table* is officially prohibited; in 1252 Matthew Paris draws
the distinction between this and the ordinary tournament:
in this year [he writes] the knights in order to prove their skill and prowess
in knightly exercise decided to try their strength not in a bastiludium, which is
commonly called a tournament, but in that knightly game called a Round
Table. 2
The difference is that instead of the team game or melee, two
combatants 'jousted' or charged each other with levelled lance
over a course; in the fifteenth century a barrier or 'tilt* was pro."
vided, on each side ofwhich the riders charged, to prevent the
horses from colliding (PL 138). It was no longer necessary to
tourney over wide open spaces; it was done in clearly defined
enclosures, even in streets and city squares. The Round Table
was now attended by all the pageantry and display of chivalry;
it was proclaimed by heralds, who acted as masters of the
ceremonies; the lists* or enclosures were surrounded by gaily
coloured tents and stands crowded with spectators. It was
now a great social occasion which often lasted several days, and
was followed by feasting and dancing. In 1279 *an innumerx
able concourse of knights and ladies' attended a convivium and
a Round Table at Kenilworth which Roger Mortimer orga^
nized *at enormous expense'. Henceforth ladies figure promix
nently at tournaments. They might give away the prizes or
even be the prizes themselves. This at least is a common theme
ofthe romances; knights tourneyed for the love of a lady, and
her favours were the reward of success. Thus in the semi'
historical thirteenths-century Legend ofFulk Fitz Warm a pro'
clamation invited *all valiant knights who wished to tourney
1
Above, Chap. X.
2
Cbron. Maj. (Rolls Series), v, p. 3 18. Despite the use ofthe words bastilu&um or
fabwrd to indicate the team-game, it seems clear that blunted swords rather than
lances were the weapons usually employed. See Plate 137, and Denholnv Young,
The Tournament in the Thirteenth Century* p. 260.
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