Richard Wydeville as a Jouster

Sir Richard Woodville was a skilled man at arms, possibly one of the leading jousters of his day. The Close Rolls contain this entry in 1440 which shows that  a lot of expense and trouble was to be taken to set up this event in Smithfield.

1440 Nov. 10. Westminster

To the treasurer and the barons of the exchequer. Order to view the king's command to the sheriffs of London, and to allow them in their account at the exchequer all sums of money which by oath of the sheriffs or their deputies they shall be assured are spent by virtue thereof ; as Peter de Vasques of Spain knight, coming of late to England with licence of the king, has challenged Richard Wydevyle the king's knight to certain points or feats

of arms, and the king has gladly granted licence for the same, and has ordered the sheriffs at his cost to erect lists and barriers of timber at ‘Westsmythfelde’ in the suburbs of London by 26 November instant, and to cover the ground within the lists with sand for the purpose, so that there be no let or obstacle there by stones or otherwise, and further by advice of John duke of Norffolk marshal of England to construct a place there for the king suitable to his royal estate.

[Foedera.]

This was an international tournament and the honour of the country was clearly at stake, so we may presume that Sir Richard was chosen as the champion, the best of his time. He was probably in his mid 30s and at the peak of his experience. Jousting was a brutal sport. The men were not fighting with play swords but with real weapons and usually the tournament would be fought until one man yielded. From the Chronicle of London we might gather that both men were a match for each other and before any serious damage could be done, as the men reached for their pole axes, the King intervened and called "Hoo!", bringing the match to a draw with no honour lost on either side.

In this same yere, the morwe after seynt Katerine day, was a chalange in armes provyd afore the kyng, withinne lystes mad in Smythfeld, betwen Sr. Richard Wodevill, knyght of Engelond, and a knyght of Spayn, whiche knyght for his lady love shulde fyghten in certeyn poynts of armes, that is to seye, with ax, swerd, and daggere; and or thei hadde do with the polax the kyng cried, hoo. (In this same year, the morning after St Catherine's Day [Nov 25th], was a challenge in arms before the king, at the Smithfield lists, between Sir Richard Woodville of England and and a knight of Spain, and would fight for their lady love with axe, sword and dagger. When they got to the point of using a pole axe, the king cried, "Hoo!")

In the previous year on Shrove Tuesday he jousted with Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk at the Tower of London. There is no other detail but it may add to the impression that Sir richard Woodville was one of the premier jousters of the day.