In the noble and chivalric world in which Henry the eighth operated, the paramount place

for demonstrating physical strength and manly courage was the joust, and Henry excelled

it.

The Venetian ambassador Sebastian Distaniani noted on one occasion in the 15 teens, after

dinner a stately jost took place, which his majesty jasted with many others, strenuously

and valorously.

This most serene king is not only very expert in arms and of great valor and most excellent

in his personal endowments.

His secretary Nicolosa Gadino also noted that the king excelled all others, shivering many

lances and unhausing one of his opponents.

In 1517 at a great jasin honor of the French ambassadors, the king wanted to jast against

all 14 competitors, but were told this was forbidden by the council which moreover decreed

that each jastel was to run six quarters and no more so that the entertainment might

be ended on that day.

Nevertheless when Henry presented himself before the queen and the ladies, he made were told

a thousand jumps in the air.

And after tiring out his horse, mounted one of those written by his pages, a pattern

he repeated constantly over the course of the day until the end of the jast.

To learn more about what jasting was, why Henry liked it so much, how it was scored,

what it cost, and the culture of honor, manhood and physical shivalry that it embodied,

I'm joined by Dr. Emma Levitt.

Dr. Levitt's PhD from the University of Huddersfield focuses on masculine displays in the medieval

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