a martial sport or exercise which the ancient cavaliers used to perform, to show their bravery and address. It is derived from the French word tourner, i.e. "to turn round," because, to be expert in these exercises, much agility both of horse and man was requisite. The first tournaments were only courses on horseback, in which the cavaliers tilted at each other with canes in the manner of lances; and were distinguished from jousts, which were courses or careers, accompanied with attacks and combats with blunted lances and swords. The prince who published the tournament used to send a king-at-arms, with a safe-conduct and a sword, to all the princes, knights, &c., signifying that he intended a tournament and clashing of swords in the presence of ladies and damsels, which was the usual formula of invitation. They first engaged man against man, and then troop against troop. After the combat, the judges allotted the prize to the best cavalier and the best striker of swords; and he was accordingly conducted with pomp to the lady of the tournament, where, after thanking her very reverently, he saluted her, and likewise her two attendants.

These tournaments formed the principal diversion of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Munster says it was Henry the Fowler, Duke of Savoy, and afterward emperor, who died in 936, who first introduced them; but it appears from the Chronicle of Tours that the true inventor of this famous exhibition, at least in France, was one Geoffrey, Lord of Preuilly, about the year 1066. Instances of tournaments occur among the English in the reign of King Stephen, about the year 1140; but they were not much in use till Richard's time, towards the year 1149. After this period these diversions were performed with extraordinary magnificence in the Tiltyard near St James's, Smithfield, and other places in Britain.

Tournaments were in time found to be productive of bad effects, and the occasions of several fatal misfortunes; as in the instance of Henry II. of France, and of the tilt exhibited at Chalons, which, from the numbers killed on both sides, was called the little war of Chalons. These and other inconveniences resulting from such dangerous pastimes, induced the princes of Europe gradually to discourage and suppress them. The last tournament on record is that held by the Earl of Eglinton at his castle in Ayrshire, on the 29th of August 1839.