celebrate the ordination of a knight, the visit of a sovereign, or the marriage of royal blood. The knights who offered to take part came to the appointed town, hung their armorial bearings from the windows of their rooms, and fixed their coats of arms to castles, monasteries, and other public places. Spectators examined these, and were free to lodge complaints of wrongs done by any intending participant. Tournament officials would hear each case, and disqualify those they found guilty. There was then a "blot on his escutcheon," or shield. To the excited gathering came horse dealers to equip the knight, haberdashers to clothe him and his horse in fit attire, moneylenders to ransom those who fell, fortunetellers, acrobats, mimes, troubadours and trouveres, wandering scholars, women of loose morals, and ladies of high degree in society. The whole occasion was a colorful festival of song and dance, trysts and brawls, and wild betting on the contests ("Medieval History: Epic Stuff" 111).
A tournament might last a week, or only a day. At a tourna
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