Missive from an Apprentice and Squire to his Laurel and Knight, regarding the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire, AS 48 (Nov 16, 2013)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

To the most eminent and excellent, and to be named with the highest veneration Nigel and Adrielle, august king and queen, with all exertions and every affection of faithful service, I wish perennial prosperity and blessedness in Lady Ealdormere of the Secret Heart.

As while attending a re-enactment of the courts of the northmen I did sign and endorse a contract with her most gracious majesty, so did I wish to honour this commitment as her apprentice. To such an end I resolved to take par in the Queen’s Prize Tourney, the first of its kind in our Kingdom of Ealdormere.

As your most serene selves are aware, each entrant in the tourney was to be sponsored by either a member of the Order of the Crucible or the Order of the Laurel. As I had decided to enter texts I had devised for charters and patents that were handed out by yourselves to your most worthy subjects, I asked Her Excellency Mahault of Swynford, Baroness of Havencroft and Patroness of the Scriptorium where I ply my quill to be my sponsor. To this she readily agreed.

To this end I wrote a paper detailing how I researched the persona of award recipients, and found period sources that matched said personas, and then crafted a unique text wording for them based on those sources. I included many examples of the award texts I had written up to that point in time.

When the day came THL Þorfinna gráfeldr and I set out for the northern reaches of Arden, in the Canton of Ardchreag. In this land named after one of the canton’s founders, artisans from across the kingdom were to come and show their work. And come they did! One-hundred and eighty-two people attended the faire that day. As for the Queen’s Prize Tourney, fifty-eight people entered, including four children. There were twenty-four sponsors (with each able to sponsor up to five entrants) and sixty judges. The hall near over flowed.

Before the Tourney opened, Your Majesties held a court where you honoured several worthies with your favour. This included my poor self, upon whom you bestowed an Award of the Orion for the writing of award scroll texts. Likewise, Orlaith inghen Cinada meic Briain was given an Orion, while Zoe of House Marchmount was given an Award of the Wolf’s Cub.

The Order of the Laurel was then called, and a boon was begged for Jhone of Woodcote, who was then placed on Vigil. As Jhone was escorted out of court by the order and her ecstatic husband Wilfrid of Sweflingham, Your Majesty did call back one of said Laurels, being namely Mistress Ælwynn, your champion. Your Majesty demanded of her if she did not have a duty in court, which she sheepishly said she did. All attending thought you meant her duty holding your sword, but nay, her duty was to call another boon, this time for Wilfrid himself. And so both husband and wife had their own boon called, and both were placed on vigil for the Order of the Laurel.

With the conclusion of court, the Queen’s Prize Tourney began. I was one of the first to be judged, and I found Baron Brand, Magistra Nicolaa and Lord Evan Quicktongue awaiting me. We talked long and enthusiastically about my entry and they concurred that my work was not that of a beginner, but was of at least intermediate skill (if not higher). They encouraged me to expand my paper and submit it to the Society’s journal “The Complete Anachronist”. I am most pleased to report that I have now done so, and it has been accepted by the journal and is currently being reviewed for publication.

I then rushed outside where I was to be the marshal-in-charge for a spear tourney to honour His Majesty, who was victorious in His crown tournament wielding such a weapon. As the focus of the day was on the gentle arts, only four hardy individuals donned harness for the tourney. These were: Sir Steinnr, THL Gann, Lord Rurik and Jack the Pirate. Before the tourney could begin, both Rurik and Jack had to authorize in the great weapons form, at which they were successful.

Before His Majesty, I told the noble combatants that I had set the time limit of an hour for the tournament, on the assumption there would be more taking part, and if they wished we could shorten it to half an hour. However, I asked them if they wanted to prove their mettle to his Majesty and place themselves upon the anvil of virtue and still fight for the full hour. To this they did agree.

There then began the tourney. They fought in what is known in common tongue as a bear-pit, where the winner of a bout faces the next fighter in line. Each bout was fought over a barrier and was to three counted blows, with blows to the lower body not allowed.

Each of the four fought well and hard and showed each other much honour and courtesy. At the end of the hour, Gann, Rurik and Jack found themselves in a tie, each with seven victories. Consulting with Sir Steinnr, I declared that a final winner would be decided by fighting a round robin, where each fighter would face the other two. If any one of them won both their bouts, they would win the tournament. These bouts were also fought at the barrier, but were fought using standard Society fighting conventions. (Though shots to the lower body were still disallowed.)

Jack the Pirate first fought Gann, and emerged triumphant. I then sent in Rurik and both Sir Steinnr and I were quick to point out to Jack that if he were to defeat Rurik, he would carry the day. Jack faced this extra pressure with aplomb and indeed did proceed to defeat Rurik, winning the tourney. As a prize, he was awarded an arming bench crafted by Þorfinna, which he was pleased to find fit inside the steamer trunk he used to carry his army.

Other fighters then came on the field and began fighting pick-ups, while I retired to other duties. Or so I thought. I was to sit at the gate with Einar Inn Austrifera Josepson, but he waved me off and told me to enjoy the event. And so I was able to peruse some of the other Queen’s Prize entries, talk with good friends, and meet a traveling bardic Laurel from Æthelmearc.

Many meetings were held that day, but happily I can say I was not required to attend a one of them. After the meetings were concluded, you, good king, held a class on spear use on the field.

Before feast, another court was held. And this was the way of it:

Each entrant in the Queen’s Prize Tourney was given a prize by one of the sponsors (though not their own). I received a jar of candied almonds from Her Excellency Lucia. Lady Marguerite was then declared the Judges’ Choice winner of the Tourney for her pigments while Bethan MacFinnon won the Queen’s Choice for his 15^th century stool. The baronies then presented prizes, each barony awarding a prize for a specific category of the arts and sciences. And herein I must cry pardon and fall on my knees in shame, for I did not record those winners and cannot grant them the word-fame they deserve.

And now I write of you, gracious queen. When you spoke to those assembled and thanked them for participating in this new idea, you were loudly lauded by all. Indeed, all those so assembled rose to their feet, and the applause was uproarious. Never have I seen such an accolade given. Most beauteous queen, you are a treasure of the north, and your people love you well.

The Royal Herbalist Guild then presented their taxes, before your majesties honoured more of your worth subjects with the following awards.

Liam of House Marchmount was given an Award of the Wolf’s Cub.
Leisle Woolmonger was given an Award of Arms.
Rhiannon of Eoforwic was given an Award of the Maiden’s Heart
Kaisa of Petrea Thule was given an Award of Arms
Einar Inn Austrifera Josepson was given an Award of Arms.
Aurik Burnsson was given an Award of the Orion.

Orla O’Shannahan was given an Award of the Orion.
Lyda Langrackrsdottir was inducted into the Order of the Crucible.

Court was concluded by calling Ailis de la Marche out of the kitchen where she had been working, to act as Royal Bard. When her song was done, your majesties surprised her by giving her an Award of the Orion.

The hall was then set up for feast, and I retired to the front hall to meet with other good gentles who had agreed to act as servers.

THL Hans Thorvaldson then presented a feast of five removes, each one representing a barony, and each one accompanied by a poem read by Lord Pelayo. This was greeted with great enthusiasm by the one-hundred people who dined upon it. During feast you honoured the event steward, Eeva the Restless, with an Award of the Maiden’s Heart.

I hope this record of the day does please your majesties. Truly Lady Ealdormere alone knows with what purity of mind and from how much devotion of heart I shall have been and am faithful to you and desire always to be. 

Based on a letter from an anonymous nobleman to Ermengard of Tours, 840-842 CE.

Kingdom A&S (November 20, 2004)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

We almost didn’t go.

We had contemplated taking the weekend off from SCA pursuits, perhaps do some Christmas shopping, and perhaps do a bit more role-playing. We then realized however that if we did not go, then Mahault would win.

Our friend Lady Mahault van der Eych was entering her first A&S Pent Competition, in which participants must enter five items from different A&S categories. Mahault had been working long and hard on her entries and we knew we had to go to support her. This is after all the A&S equivalent of Crown Tourney.

So Saturday morning we hopped in the car with just garb and some cups, which was a nice change from the huge amount of gear we usually drag out to events. The drive to the event site was shorter than expected, though the rainy day made it seem longer.

When we arrived around 11:30 we found a vast array of Arts and Sciences displays set up. There was an armoured combat tourney, but I do not know who won, as I was caught up in the A&S end of things for once. Three fencers in attendance also fought a Royal Round.

I wandered through the displays, taking pictures. Other than Mahault’s entries, those that stood out to me were: THL Tynne Duair ap Beul’s illumination (including his video documentary), Baroness Gaerwen of Trafford’s dying display, Syr Edward the Red’s shoes, and Baron Corwyn and Baroness Domhnail Galbraith’s horns. There were many other wonderful entries, ranging from food to clothing, but simply too many for me to remember them all.

While I wandered the hall I got the opportunity to talk with many friends, some of whom I do not get to see often enough. I also got to see Lord Tosh authorize in sword and shield, which was an inspirational moment for all those watching. So much so, that Their Majesties Malik and Genevieve, inspired by his will and determination in over-coming an uncooperative leg in order to fight, gifted him with an axe.

Finally the time for the Pent judging arrived. Most pieces had already been judged individually, but the time had come for the pent entries to be judged as a whole. I helped schlep Mahault’s entries to the conservatory, carrying a dressmaker’s dummy wearing Lord Berend’s clothes, my one hand in a compromising position. I took a quick glance about the room at the other Pent displays, and then retreated from the ensuing A&S frenzy. I knew the competition would be fierce. There were ten entrants (one of whom—Lady Wencenedl inigena Jagomus of Rokesburg—had entered two displays) and there had been amazing evidence of the skill and talent of our artisans.

Going back out to the common area I once again talked with friends.

During the day both my Lady Thorfinna and Cenedl had finalized details with Baroness Adrielle Kerrec to become her first students. When Cenedl emerged from judging they quickly gathered and I snapped some pictures to mark the occasion.

Court then began, and they jumped quickly to the heart of the matter, announcing the winner of Pent. It was Mahault! Her entries had been a complete 14th C. Men's outfit, a 14th C. Silver Brooch (Museum of London), a Mid-Winter's Feast (all the dishes), a page from the Prayer Book of Mary Stuart and a bottle of the mead that she had made for her handfasting at Pennsic in 2002. Last year’s winner, THL Asa Gormsdottir, presented her with her regalia as the new Arts and Sciences Champion of Ealdormere, which included the silver Bowl of Brenaidh.

As court proceeded, many other worthy gentles were recognized for their contributions to the kingdom. As usual I cannot recall them all, but I do remember:

Sarafina of Ely received her Award of Arms.

Alexander Gladstone, one of Ealdormere’s two prominent photographers, received his Award of Arms.

THL Arnora Dunestan was inducted into the Order of the Wain.

Viscountess Moria the Black was inducted into the Order of the Crucible.

Also, Garraed Galbraith, Olagh, officially stepped down as Kingdom Minister of arts and Sciences, while Their Majesties invested Lord Magnus Kjrr with said office.

We could not stay for feast, so when court was over and we had finally finished our good-byes, we made our slow way home through dense fog, both Thorfinna and I already thinking about what we could possibly enter at next year’s A&S.

Ascendancy of the Guilds (A Guild’s Day Festival – Kingdom A&S, November 15, 2003)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

As I sat at my workbench, shifting piles of tafl pieces into the proper counts, I first heard news of the Guild’s Day Festival. A herald paused in the square outside the door of the Games Guild’s warehouse and I stepped out into the sunlight to hear her better. She spoke at length of a gathering of the guilds of Ealdormere, all under one roof, all to come and display their wares and showcase their skills. As well, artisans from throughout the land would come and have their efforts studied and gain knowledge from those most noble members of the Order of the Laurel. As well, a series of tournaments were declared, in which each guild could field three champions. These champions would compete in the lists in a token tournament, in which the team with the greatest number of tokens at its end would be named the Ascendant Guild of the day.

Back into the dim light of the warehouse I retreated, walking past clouds of bone dust and wood chips as guild members laboured to produce gaming materials for the guild. In my study I sat down at my desk and wrote a missive to the Honourable Lady Arnora Dunestan who was organizing this grand event. I told her that the Games Guild of Ealdormere would be most pleased to partake of the festival, and that we would surely field a full team of champions.

After sending off my missive with a page I left the warehouse in charge of my lady and went in search of the Honourable Lord Richard Larmer. For as well as the token tournament, there would be a tournament of beauty that day, and there are few in this kingdom whose armour is as beauteous as his.

His Honourable Lordship was receptive to the idea of representing the Guild when I stressed that one of the guild’s activities was the playing of chess (a he felt game all noble personages should be skilled at).

Since the Games Guild is comprised of those who enjoy playing and crafting games from throughout the kingdom, I then hitched up my wagon and traveled outside the boundaries of my barony to find my other two champions. The second I found on a wharf in the shire of Bastille du Lac. He seemed distracted with news of a certain pirate’s activity in the vicinity, but Sir Evander MacLachlin agreed to wear the guild’s favour at the festival. The third I found in an inn, having just finished a hardy day in the lists. Iron Aaron, his Excellency Count Sir Aaron Worganson, agreed to be the guild’s third champion.

Now having secured the guild’s champions, I began to plan their tokens and gifts of gratitude. In this endeavour I had much help from my lady Thorfinna gra’feldr and His Excellency of Septentria, Corwyn Galbraith. Between us we gathered three sets of tokens: large wooden chess men for Larmer, playing cards painted on leather for Evander and backgammon pieces carved from vegetable ivory for Aaron. To thank them for representing the guild, we found a set of wooden chess men for Larmer, a marble nine-man-morris board for Evander and a set of vegetable ivory, horn and antler dice for Aaron.

When the day of the festival finally arrived, Thorfinna, Lord Eirik Andersen and I traveled to Ramshaven in the very large wagon of Sir Evander. When we arrived we found that most of the guilds had been set up in one room, while a few (including us) were in a second. At first we were dismayed that we were not sitting with the other guilds, but we quickly realized that we were actually in a very good position. For the lists field ended up being set up only a few feet from us, promising us a good view of the tournaments. Also, food and drink was only allowed in our room, which made watering and feeding our fighters easy. Thorfinna discovered that behind us there was a ledge that could be extended from the wall, so we ended up with more than ample storage space for us, our champions and many members of other guilds as well.

Spreading our wares and books about games on our table, I put our champions tokens into three bags. While doing so Larmer and Aaron both arrived, and all three champions began to armour (several other guild champions were already fully armoured and standing by the lists waiting for the fun to begin).

The format of the token tourney was then explained. It would be challenged based, with fighters challenging each other to combat, in a manner agreed to between them. For example, one fighter could challenge a second to best two out of three, while fighter three could challenge fighter four to first landed blow. The winner would then receive a token from his opponents collection. Once all of a fighter’s tokens were gone, they were out of the tournament, which had a set time limit. As an added treat, His Highness of the Middle Kingdom, Sir Felix, and his squire Serjant Lucien, were representing a guild upon the field of honour.

I watched as many of the battles as I could while answering questions of those who walked to our table interested in our wares. I can report that the fighting was chivalrous and that many glorious feats of arms were preformed that day. One such feat concerned the Honourable Lord Richard Larmer, who faced His Highness Felix in a best two out of three challenge, and emerged victorious.

When the tournament was over I was approached by the Honourable Lady Arnora, who told us that our guild had won the day, and also that Sir Aaron had won the most tokens of any fighter on the field. As such, we were to sit at a special table above the salt during feast.

The Champion of Ramshaven, Lord Almos, then faced His Majesty Ealdormere’s champion, Sir Evander. Several bouts were fought in various weapon forms with Almos emerging victorious in the end.

Following this, the tournament of beauty was held, with fighting over a barrier. His Excellency Ramshaven, Konrad Matthias Jaeger, had given rings crafted by Sir Vali inn svartr fleikingr to Her Excellency Ramshaven, Alyce de Sheppey, Her Excellency Adrielle Kerrec and His Highness Sir Felix to distribute to fighters who had inspired them. Adrielle gave her ring to Serjant Lucien, His Highness gave his to Sir Nigel McFarlane, and Her Excellency Ramshaven gave hers to Larmer. As well, Lord Lucien was given a chaplet of roses as the over all best fighter of the day.

Having been manning the Games Guild’s table, and delivering copies of the Ursus, meant that I could not get out and see as much of the event as I might have wished. I did see a large group sitting about the Brewers and Vintners Guild sampling each other’s wares and giving each other pointers, and I saw several Pentathlon entries that left my jaw dropping on the floor. However, I will have to leave it to other chroniclers to describe the various arts and sciences displays and entries.

At feast we invited two guests to sit with us, being Baron Sir Siegfried Brandbeorn (who had fought for the Bowyers and Fletchers Guild) and Lady Katherine Rowberd, who had won Pent at the previous year’s kingdom arts and sciences competition. The feast was sumptuous, so sumptuous that a pair of Excellencies raided Thorfinna’s crème brulee while she was singing to Her Majesty Susanna the Unyielding. And with the kind attentions of several servers were given so much food that we all walked away popping at the seams.

Court followed, but being comatose from so much food (yummy lamb) and having left my parchment in the wagon, I did not record a list of all those recognized that night. I can however report that the winner of this year’s Pentathlon was Lady Asa Gormsdottir, from the Royal Citie of Eoforwic. Wassail Asa!

After court much time was spent in good company until the whickers of our horses finally drew us to our wagon and the long ride home.

Who Made That?! (Kingdom A&S, Oct 19, 2002)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart 

(TankArdVersion)

Thorfinna and I set out for Burford, in the Barony of Ben Dunfirth on yet another drizzly day. The autumn was wet in Ealdormere this year, the leaves soaked in rain. We traveled in good company, in the cart of Berend and Mahault van der Eych, with Teah and Rhiannon in the back. The drive to Burford was longer than we had anticipated, but arrive we finally did. As we drove down the street we passed Qadanchin Bayar, better known as Iolanda, resplendent in her Mongolian garb.

We had brought cloaks with us, which served us well, as a chill wind blew from the north. We entered the hall and were soon lost in a sea of arts and sciences displays. Flabbergasted we walked about and gazed at the many talents of Ealdormereans, many of whom hailed from Septentria. Among these were: Corwyn and Domhnail Galbraith, who displayed horn carving, wood carving, the kerric made for Garraed and various other items; Graem deListe de Cherbourg, Japanese calligraphy, British royal geneaology, Italian cooking; Ceridwen of Vest Yorvic, illumination and portrature; Wencenedl of Vest Yorvic; wood carving, pewter casting. Ardchreag only had two displays, but they were good one: Kennric Manning’s metal bowl work and Iolanda de Albornoz’s knuckle bones. Iolanda’s judge, Lord Gerrard Carpentarius (known as the toy maker) was full of praise for her work, and someone left her a ring as token of her skill. I know there were likely others, and likely more shown by the people I have mentioned, but in such a plethora of skill it is hard now to keep them all straight. Other displays of note included Viscount Sir Edward the Red and Viscountess Rylyn Buchanon with their slat bed and sundry goods (such as a skillet) and Baron Sir Menken Brechen, who was trying his hand at pewter casting.

Count Sir Brannos O'Iongardail, from the Middle Kingdom, had come far to teach a class on fighting. Though Thorfinna and I had not brought our armour (we were unaware the class was happening) we watched most of it and learned much. Sir Berus Wolfsson, Their Majesties Roak and Arlette, Lord Wulfgang Donnerfaust, Lord Vlad Blahuciak, Baron Siegfried Brandbeorn, THL Aelwyn of Longwood, Master Konrad Matthias Jaeger, and Lady Isotta Gianfigliazzi were among those taking the class.

The hardy dancers of the Kingdom, many from Eoforwic, braved the chill and danced in the only available open space—the gravel parking lot.

We could not stay for feast, which is unfortunate from all accounts as it sounds like it was excellent. We left the event feeling tired (it had been a long day) but also burning with a desire to make and create. Truly Ealdormere is the home of many skilled artisans, and I am proud to be their kinsman.

(Ursus Version)

Thorfinna and I set out for Burford, in the Barony of Ben Dunfirth on yet another drizzly day. The autumn was wet in Ealdormere this year, the leaves soaked in rain. We traveled in good company, in the cart of Berend and Mahault van der Eych, with Teah and Rhiannon in the back. The drive to Burford was longer than we had anticipated, but arrive we finally did. As we drove down the street we passed Qadanchin Bayar, better known as Iolanda, resplendent in her Mongolian garb.

We had brought cloaks with us, which served us well, as a chill wind blew from the north. We entered the hall and were soon lost in a sea of arts and sciences displays. Flabbergasted we walked about and gazed at the many talents of Ealdormereans, many of whom hailed from Septentria. Among these were: Corwyn and Domhnail Galbraith, who displayed horn carving, wood carving, the kerric made for Garraed and various other items; Graem deListe de Cherbourg, Japanese calligraphy, British royal geneaology, Italian cooking; Ceridwen of Vest Yorvic, illumination and portrature; Wencenedl of Vest Yorvic; wood carving, pewter casting. Ardchreag only had two displays, but they were good one: Kennric Manning’s metal bowl work and Iolanda de Albornoz’s knuckle bones. Iolanda’s judge, Lord Gerrard Carpentarius (known as the toy maker) was full of praise for her work, and someone left her a ring as token of her skill. I know there were likely others, and likely more shown by the people I have mentioned, but in such a plethora of skill it is hard now to keep them all straight. Other displays of note included Viscount Sir Edward the Red and Viscountess Rylyn Buchanon with their slat bed and sundry goods (such as a skillet) and Baron Sir Menken Brechen, who was trying his hand at pewter casting.

            

Count Sir Brannos O'Iongardail, from the Middle Kingdom, had come far to teach a class on fighting. Though Thorfinna and I had not brought our armour (we were unaware the class was happening) we watched most of it and learned much. Sir Berus Wolfsson, Their Majesties Roak and Arlette, Lord Wulfgang Donnerfaust, Lord Vlad Blahuciak, Baron Siegfried Brandbeorn, THL Aelwyn of Longwood, Master Konrad Matthias Jaeger, and Lady Isotta Gianfigliazzi were among those taking the class.

            

The hardy dancers of the Kingdom, many from Eoforwic, braved the chill and danced in the only available open space—the gravel parking lot.

            

We could not stay for feast, which is unfortunate from all accounts as it sounds like it was excellent. We left the event feeling tired (it had been a long day) but also burning with a desire to make and create. Truly Ealdormere, and its heart Septentria, is the home of many skilled artisans, and I am proud to be their kinsman.