After his Master dies unexpectedly, a Medieval squire, William (Ledger), decides to try jousting and hits the road with a couple of friends. On the way they run into an unknown writer named Chaucer who agrees to forge genealogy papers to provide William with a fresh history that will pass him off as a knight. With an acceptable pedigree now in hand, the young squire sets out to prove himself at the country’s jousting competition. And, of course, he finds time to be chivalrous on the way.