Wild Knight and the Black Lady

The tournament of the Wild Knight and the Black Lady was an event held twice in Edinburgh by James IV of Scotland, in June 1507 and May 1508.

Themes
The invitation outlining the articles of the tournament to be sent to France was illuminated with gold leaf in February 1507. The priest John Ramsay wrote out the words and Thomas Galbraith of the Chapel Royal may have been the illuminator. The document itself does not survive, but some of the text was preserved.

The articles were issued by the Marchmont Herald on behalf of the Chevalier Sauvage à la Dame Noire, the Wild Knight to the Black Lady, and gave details of the events to be held at Edinburgh, featuring (for the second event in 1508) Antoine d'Arces, seigneur de La Bastie as the White Knight. Bluemantle or Rothesay Herald, sent abroad in March 1507 to announce the birth of James, Duke of Rothesay, may have carried the invitation to the courts of France, Spain, and Portugal.

Painters were supplied with glue, chalk, pots called "piggis", silver leaf, varnish, verdigris, and linseed oil for painting the props and heraldic decorations. Thomas Galbraith and Piers the Painter gilded highlights and heraldry on banners, tents, and tabards for the heralds and minstrels. Alexander Chalmer made and painted heraldic "beast heads" which decorated the field below Edinburgh Castle named for the event as the Chateau des Pucelles. The earlier chivalric romance Perceforest describes a tournament at this "Castle of Maidens", the Chastel aux Pucelles.

The king's weapons were made by Alan Cochran, the cutler William Rae, and French armourers and smiths working for the Scottish court. John Mayne and others made spears or lances.

James IV took part in the character of the Wild Knight. The Black Lady was a courtier, possibly Ellen More or Elizabeth Berlay. A contemporary racist poem by William Dunbar, Of Ane Blak-Moir, describes a woman of African origin, lately arrived in Scotland on a ship, who presided at a tournament.

The Black Lady was carried in a triumphal chair from Edinburgh Castle to the tournament ground, escorted by Alexander Elphinstone (who subsequently married Elizabeth Berlay) and others. "Wild men" at the jousting course or barriers were dressed in goat skin costumes made by James Aikman and wore hart horns from Tullibardine. There was a cannon salute, supervised by Hans the Gunner.

On the first day of the events, challengers were to assemble at the "Tree of Esperance" at the tournament ground beneath Edinburgh castle, where the Black Lady kept the week's white shield, accompanied by the wild men. The tree of Esperance or Hope was decorated with artificial flowers, pears, wooden apples, and painted heraldic shields, moulded in leather by Simon Glasford, a buckler-maker.

Trumpeters and shawmers punctuated the events. Combats and jousts were scored by judges and the ladies, women of Margaret Tudor's household and the court. The competition and combats were said to "counterfeit the round table of King Arthur".

Events concluded with three days of banqueting at Holyroodhouse. There was a masque and a dance organised by Lady Musgrave, Mistress of the Queen's Wardrobe. The Black Lady came into the hall with Martin the Spaniard who was equipped with an archery bow and dressed in yellow. A cloud descended from the roof and swept them both away.

Occasions
The 1507 event may have been a celebration of the birth of a son to James IV and Margaret Tudor. The 1508 event seems to be linked to a visit of Bernard Stewart, 3rd Lord of Aubigny. The royal treasurer's accounts include updates to equipment and costume. In 1508 the Black Lady's costume was renewed with a green woollen skirt, and new black leather sleeves and gloves. Her two maidens wore Bruges satin.

Various payments in the treasurer's accounts, written in the Scots language, can be connected with the tournament and performances. In May 1508, the men who carried the Black Lady in her pageant car were paid two shillings each:"Item, the last day of Maij, to the xiiij (14) men that bure the blak lady fra the Castell to the barres and syne to the Abbay – xxviij (28) s."

One 1508 payment seems to be a reference to the leatherworkers who made harnesses for the theatrical disappearance of Martin and the Black Lady at the Holyrood banquet:"Item, for bukkilling and grathing of Martin and the Blak lady agane the bancat –xiiij (14) s."