Sir Robert Carey (Memoirs, 33) tilted as a 'forsaken knight' on 17 Nov. 1593 (not 1592, as stated by Brotanek, 60), but he was not a challenger, and was alone. The tone resembles that of Sir Henry Lee, and if he took part, the date must be earlier than 1590.
(ii) 'Sir Henry Lee's challenge before the Shampanie.'
A 'strange knight that warres against hope and fortune' will
maintain the cause of Despair in a green suit.
Hamper explained 'Shampanie' as 'the lists or field of contention, from the French campagne'; but Segar, Honor, Military and Ciuill, 197, records, from an intercepted letter of 'Monsieur de Champany . . . being ambassador in England for causes of the Low Countreys', on occasion on which Sir Henry Lee, 'the most accomplished cavaliero I had euer seene', broke lances with other gentlemen in his honour at Greenwich. M. de Champagny was an agent of the native Flemish Catholics, and visited England in 1575 and 1585 (Froude, x. 360; xii. 39). As his letter named 'Sir' C. Hatton, who was knighted in 1578, the visit of 1585 must be in question. The Court was at Greenwich from March to July of that year.
(iii) 'The Supplication of the Owld Knight.'
A speech to the 'serveres of this English Holiday, or rather Englandes
Happie Daye', in which a knight disabled by age, 'yet once
(thowe unwoorthie) your fellowe in armes, and first celebrator, in
this kinde, of this sacred memorie of that blessed reigne', begs them
to 'accepte to your fellowshippe this oneley sonne of mine'.
This is evidently a speech by Lee, on some 17 Nov. later than 1590. Lee's own sons died in childhood; probably the 'son' introduced was a relative, but possibly only a 'son' in chivalry.
(iv) 'The Message of the Damsell of the Queene of Fayries.'
An 'inchanted knight' sends the Queen an image of Cupid. She is
reminded how 'at the celebrating the joyfull remembraunce of the
most happie daye of your Highnes entrance into Gouerment of this
most noble Islande, howe manie knightes determined, not far hence,
with boulde hartes and broken launces, to paye there vowes and shewe
theire prowes'. The 'inchanted knight' could not 'chardge staffe,
nor strike blowe', but entered the jousts, and bore the blows of others.
If this has reference to the first celebration of 17 Nov., it may be of near date to the Woodstock Entertainment of 1575 in which the fairy queen appeared. The knight, 'full hardie and full haples', is enchanted, but is not said to be old.
(v) 'The Olde Knightes Tale.'
'Not far from hence, nor verie long agoe,' clearly in 1575, 'the
fayrie Queene the fayrest Queene saluted', and the pleasures included
'justes and feates of armed knightes', and 'enchaunted pictures'
in a bower. The knight was bidden by the fairy queen to guard the
pictures and keep his eyes on the crowned pillar. He became 'a
stranger ladies thrall', neglected this duty, and was cast into a deadly
sleep. Now he is freed, apparently through the intervention of
Elizabeth, to whom the verses are addressed.
