Why were there so many Lances in medieval times?

setup: Why were there so many Lances in medieval times?

[Heraldic Registrar] qua tabard, ink-stained fingers, scroll, quill Next.

[Knight #1] qua plate armor, helmet under arm Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] ((WRITING)) Lance. Father’s name.

[Knight #1] Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] And his father?

[Knight #1] Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] Next.

[Knight #2] qua chainmail, slightly rusted Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] ((WITHOUT LOOKING UP)) Father.

[Knight #2] Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] ((SIGHING)) Next.

[Shakes] qua scribe’s apprentice, beaming This is the best of all possible heraldic offices.

[Knight #3] qua plate, falcon on shoulder Sir Lancelot.

[Heraldic Registrar] ((PAUSING)) Of?

[Knight #3] The Lake.

[Heraldic Registrar] Different Lance.

[Knight #3] A Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] Why are you all named Lance.

[Knight #1] The guild requires it.

[Heraldic Registrar] Which guild.

[Knight #1] The Lance Guild.

[Manyfeek] qua stack of identical surplus lances leaning against the registry wall ((MUFFLED)) We outfit them. We name them. We bury them. Industry standard.

[Heraldic Registrar] Sir Lance the First, Sir Lance the Second, Sir Lance the Third, Sir Lance the Fourth — we have fourteen Lances in the same county.

[Knight #1] The post office has a system.

[Heraldic Registrar] What system.

[Knight #1] They sort it out themselves.

[Heraldic Registrar] And the peasants?

[Knight #1] The peasants don’t get mail.

[Manyfeek] Pragmatic.

[Heraldic Registrar] Next.

[Knight #4] Lance.

[Heraldic Registrar] Of course you are.

punchline: Because they were called lance-a-lot.