'Then the Duke set forward and charged his spear, and the King likewise inadvisedly set off towards the Duke. The people, perceiving the King’s face bare, cried “Hold! Hold!”, but the Duke neither saw nor heard, and whether the King remembered that his visor was up or not few could tell. Alas, what sorrow was it to the people when they saw the splinters of the Duke’s spear strike on the King’s headpiece. For most certainly, the Duke struck the King on the brow, right under the defence of the headpiece, on the very skull cap or basinet piece where unto the barbette is hinged for power and defence, to which skull cap or basinet no armourer takes heed of, for it is evermore covered with the visor, barbet and volant piece, and so that piece is so defended that it forceth of no charge. But when the spear landed on that place, it was great jeopardy of death, in so much that the face was bare, for the Duke’s spear broke all to splinters and pushed the King’s visor or barbet so far back by the counter blow that all the King’s headpiece was full of splinters. The armourers for this matter were much blamed and so was the Lord Marquis for delivering the spear when his face was open, but the King said that no-one was to blame but himself, for he intended to have saved himself and his sight.
The Duke immediately disarmed himself and came to the King, showing him the closeness of his sight, and swore that he would never run against the King again. But if the King had been even a little hurt, the King’s servants would have put the Duke in jeopardy. Then the King called his armourers and put all his pieces together and then took a spear and ran six courses very well, by which all men might perceive that he had no hurt, which was a great joy and comfort to all his subjects there present.'
Henry did reportedly suffer from migraines for the rest of his life, which may have been linked to this day. But he certainly continued jousting - taking part in many more tournaments up until January 1536, when he was more seriously injured and discontinued his involvement in the sport he loved.
This must have been an anxiety-inducing event, and a painful day for Henry VIII, no matter how nonchalant he might have been following the blow. I, for one, am still cringeing.
- Hall, Edward. "Hall's Chronicle", p. 674.
- Kramer, Kyra. "Ouch! A Splinter Takes Out King Henri II of France's Eye in a Jousting Accident" (KyraCKramer.com).
- Ridgway, Claire. "10 March 1524 - Henry VIII Laughs Off a Jousting Accident" (The Anne Boleyn Files).