One story was documented by Henry Knighton, a twelfth-century author, about Henry of Grosmont. Knighton’s account tells us that Grosmont discovered that Duke Otto of Brunswick intended to kidnap him and deliver him to King John of France. Grosmont challenged Brunswick to a duel, which would be observed by King John. On the day of the duel, Brunswick was too cowardly to compete, and as a result, King John held a banquet honoring Grosmont’s valor and courage. However, contemporary historian Kenneth Fowler’s account of the same story holds that there was no kidnap plot by Brunswick, and King John saw this and prevented them from dueling. The banquet was held for both of the would-be competitors (Benson 26).
Benson, Larry D. and John Leyerle, eds. Chivalric Literature: Essays on Relationsbetween Literature and Life in the Later Middle Ages. The Board of the Medieval Institute: Kalamazoo, MI, 1980.
Benson, Larry D. and John Leyerle, eds. Chivalric Literature: Essays on Relations between Literature and Life in the Later Middle Ages. The Board of the Medieval Institute: Kalamazoo, MI, 1980.