A New Hope Tournament
Hear ye, hear ye, all valiant knights, brave squires, and warriors of humble station!
In the year of our Lord 2025, on the fourth and fifth days of October, glorious tournaments shall be held!
The mighty lord, Raymond, Count of Toulouse, proclaims a knightly tournament and summons all warriors of noble birth, as well as men of the commons, to gather on the appointed day in the city of Saint-Chaptes. There shall they fight on foot in the name of honor, glory, and valor! Let neither lineage, nor household, nor vassal’s oath restrain valiant warriors from accepting this summons. Let only noble arms determine the worthiest! And let all come with weapons in good order, in polished harness, and beneath their banners, so that even the infidels may tremble at the sight of the Christian host!
Every warrior shall find a contest suited to his will and his prowess.
The clash of swords and the cries of warriors shall resound throughout the land, and all shall know that valiant knights still endure. This tournament shall bring New Hope that the spirit of chivalry shall not depart from these lands. And so let the tournament be named “A New Hope”!
Let seasoned warriors unite in companies of seven and fight, armored and armed with noble weapons. Let the warlike ladies, likewise, form companies of five chevaleresses, and contend with one another as knights do.
And to all — commoners, knights, and squires — we extend an invitation to test themselves in the Italian manner of play, called Gioco del Ponte, the fight upon the bridge!
Be it also known that Messire Raymond, Count of Toulouse, together with Signor Medici, in the name of all knights of the South, cast their challenge to the knights of the North: to meet them in melee according to ancient custom, in companies of twenty-one knights and squires, as in the great battles of old!
The Sunday shall be dedicated to glorious warriors who wish to meet each other in single combat.
All battles shall be fought in the ancient fashion, within a list no higher than a warrior’s belt.
Let each company appoint one noble champion of irreproachable honor, that he may act as judge, oversee the battles, and declare the victor of the tournament.
Let the champion of champions be glorified and rewarded, and let every participant receive a token of remembrance. And let the worthiest knight be admitted into the ranks of the Order of Magna Carta.
And after the tournament, a glorious feast awaits, where all may revel in meat and delight in beer to their heart’s content!
