On Wednesday, there was what was called the palliatourney.  The Prince of Orange, at the head of six bands, amounting in all to twenty-nine men; the Margrave George of Brandenburg, with seven bands, comprising thirty-four men, and the Elector Augustus, with one band of four men, besides himself, all entered the lists.  Lots were drawn for the “gate of honor,” and gained by the Margrave, who accordingly defended it with his band.  Twenty courses were then run between these champions and the Prince of Orange, with his men.  The Brandenburgs broke seven lances, the Prince’s party only six, so that Orange was obliged to leave the lists discomfited.  The ever-victorious Augustus then took the field, and ran twenty courses against the defenders, breaking fourteen spears to the Brandenburg’s ten.  The Margrave, thus defeated, surrendered the “gate of honor” to the Elector, who maintained, it the rest of the day against all comers.  It is fair to suppose, although the fact is not recorded, that the Elector’s original band had received some reinforcement.  Otherwise, it would be difficult to account for these constant victories, except by ascribing more than mortal strength, as well as valor, to Augustus and his four champions.  His party broke one hundred and fifty-six lances, of which number the Elector himself broke thirty-eight and a half.  He received the first prize, but declined other guerdons adjudged to him.  The reward for the hardest hitting was conferred on Wolf Von Schonberg, “who thrust Kurt Von Arnim clean out of the saddle, so that he fell against the barriers.”

On Thursday was the riding at the ring.  The knights who partook of this sport wore various strange garbs over their armor.  Some were disguised as hussars, some as miners, come as lansquenettes; others as Tartans, pilgrims, fools, bird-catchers, hunters, monks; peasants, or Netherland cuirassiers.  Each party was attended by a party of musicians, attired in similar costume.  Moreover, Count Gunter Von Schwartzburg made, his appearance in the lists, accompanied “by five remarkable giants of wonderful proportions and appearance, very ludicrous to behold, who performed all kind of odd antics on horseback.”

The next day there was a foot tourney, followed in the evening by “mummeries,” or masquerades.  These masques were repeated on the following evening, and afforded great entertainment.  The costumes were magnificent, “with golden and pearl embroidery,” the dances were very merry and artistic, and the musicians, who formed a part of the company, exhibited remarkable talent.  These “mummeries” had been brought by William of Orange from the Netherlands, at the express request of the Elector, on the ground that such matters were much better understood in the provinces than in Germany.