... *DuH* It would have helped if I'd included the link! http://www.goldsword.com/sfarmer/SCA/Articles/VikingResources.html Jerusha -- Susan B. Farmer

Travelers in northern Norway were inconvenienced recently when a truckload of burning cheese closed the Brattli Tunnel at Tysfjord. The fire continued for five days, releasing toxic gases, and making clearing the tunnel hazardous.

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Hi! http://www.ipasa.ws/zzdcsmq/6?hf3cgk6lb0f5ihjdtorhacv9nb68eejv0z9ahy1gu4t6i4kysFrank Douglas [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

<<< my name is David N Yanolatos, and I am new to the SCA. I am looking into both pre 17th century Japan and Ireland for my SCA background. I was wondering if

Residents of south east Cornwall are hoping to raise the UK£3m needed to save the priory at St Germans, a 9th century church in dire need of modernization. The fundraising efforts hope to attract such organizations as the Heritage Lottery Fund to their cause.

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The Society Seneschal's office is seeking a Deputy Seneschal for Market Research to develop and implement a market research capability support the ongoing primary research needs that will prove fundamental to the continued improvement of decision-making for the Society for Creative Anachronism.

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All Pelicans & Proteges of the Known World are invited to come together to enjoy nosh, libations and conversation.

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Countess Marguerite ingen Lachlainn has been kind enough to send us the following report from King’s and Queen’s Rapier Champions, currently being fought in snowy L’ile du Dragon Dormant.

Following the round robin pools, the final sixteen met as follows in a double elimination tournament:

Lord Guthfrith Yrlingsson vs. Baron Diego Miguel Munoz de Castilla
Don Quintin Brilliant vs. Don Ogedei Becinjab
Baron Ian Raven of Tadcaster vs. Don Griffith Davion
Don Alain Longship vs. THL Owyn Greenwood
Rowen of Dragon Dormant vs. Lord Davius St. Jacques
Don Fraser MacLeod vs. Lady Camille des Jardins
Don John Radburne vs. Don Nathaniel Wyatt
Sir Antonio Patrasso vs. Lady Anastasia da Monte

The following combatants were victorious and moved on to compete as follows in the “winners list”

Lord Guthfrith Yrlingsson vs. Don Ogedei Becinjab
Don Griffith Davion vs. THL Owyn Greenwood
Lord Davius St. Jacques vs. Don Fraser MacLeod
Sir Antonio Patrasso vs. Don Nathaniel Wyatt

The remaining combatants competed as follows:

Baron Diego Miguel Munoz de Castilla vs. Don Quintin Brilliant
Baron Ian Raven of Tadcaster vs. Don Alain Longship
Rowen of Dragon Dormant vs. Lady Camille des Jardins
Don John Radburne vs. Lady Anastasia da Monte

After those bouts were completed, the final four are:

Don Nathaniel Wyatt vs. Don Ogedei Becinjab
Don Quintin Brilliant vs. Don Griffith Davion

Don Nathaniel Wyatt bested Don Ogedei to advance.

Don Quintin entered his final four bout with one loss, and Don Griffith was unbeaten entering the final four.  Don Quintin won the first bout, giving them one loss each, and forcing another bout. Don Griffith won the second bout, giving Don Quintin two losses, which eliminates him from the tournament. Don Griffith moves on to face Don Nathaniel in the final.

The finals of the tournament was best three of five. Don Griffith Davion won the first bout, with Don Nathaniel Wyatt winning the second and third bouts. Then both combatants took a short break. Following the break, Don Nathaniel Wyatt won the fourth bout — his third win — and won the championship and the title of King’s Champion.

At court, Her Majesty announced that Lord Davius St. Jacques has been selected to serve as Queen’s Champion. Countess Marguerite reports that he was “overwhelmed” when he learned that he had been selected.

The Ladies of the Rose present also presented tokens to the following combatants to recognize their exemplary chivalrous conduct during the tournament: Lady Camille des Jardins, Baron Ian Raven of Tadcaster, Lord Guthfrith Yrlingsson, and Lord Robert Earlson.

Congratulations to Don Nathaniel Wyatt, Lord Davius St. Jacques, and to all who fought with skill and honor in today’s tournament.

Filed under: Events, Fencing Tagged: Dragon Dormant, fencing, Kings and Queens Champions, rapier champions, rapier combat

In the forty-seventh year of the Society, upon 2 February, in the Barony of Carolingia, Edward the King and Thyra the Queen did enact and cause to be enacted the following:

Item. Their Majesties accepted the fealty of Fergus and Imigla, Baron and Baroness of Carolingia.

Item. Their Majesties caused those good gentles new to our Society to be brought before the Tyger Thrones, and did gift each with tokens of the day.

Item. Their Majesties summoned the children of the East Kingdom and shared with them toys donated by la Chambre des Dames d’Alisay.

Item. Their Majesties called before the Tyger Throne the subject Metilda Grey of Lochleven and thereupon awarded her arms, the which deed was memorialized in a document created by Martelle von Charlottenburg.

Item. Their Majesties gifted Everest of Lochleven, Alden of Lochleven, Ellery of Lochleven and Avery of Lochleven with the token of the Golden Kinder in recognition of their artwork.

Item. Having held upon this day a great convocation and assembly of bards, songsters, poets and performers, His Majesty selected from among their talented number Grim the Skald to be King’s Bardic Champion, the which appointment was memorialized in a document authored by Linette de Gallardonand calligraphed by Svea the Short-Sighted.

Item. Being no less equal in dignity, Her Majesty selected Lucien de Pontivy as Queen’s Bardic Champion, the which deed she memorialized through the gift of an engraved instrument created by Marion Quyn and Grim the Skald.

Item. Their Majesties called into the Court Shannon de Valois and thereupon inducted her into the Order of the Tyger’s Cub, the which deed was memorialized in a document created by Jan Janowicz Bodanski.

Item. Their Majesties called into the Court Fiona de Valois and thereupon inducted her into the Order of the Tyger’s Cub, the which deed was memorialized in a document created by Katherine Stanhope.

Item. Her Majesty summoned into her presence Toki Redbeard and gifted him with the Queen’s Honor of Distinction.

Item. Their Majesties bestowed the token of the Golden Lyre upon Toi Poisson de Mortagne.

Item. Their Majesties appointed Lianor de Matos, Simona bat Leon, Fortune SancteKeyne and Matilda of Carolingia as Seamstresses to the Court.

Item. In acknowledgement of his manifold skills with the bow, Their Majesties acknowledged Richard of Carolingia as a Master Bowman.

Item. Their Majesties called before the Tyger Throne their subject Colin Ursell and, in celebration of his long service, inducted him into the Order of the Silver Crescent, the which deed was memorialized with gifts of multiple medallions and a document authored by Alys Mackyntoich, calligraphed by Eva Woderose and illuminated by Khioniya Nikoleva Ryseva.

Item. The aforesaid Order being as of yet incomplete, Their Majesties summoned Hugh Tauerner and, in praise of his service, likewise inducted him into the Order of the Silver Crescent, the which deed was memorialized in a document authored by BoudiceaRavenhair and calligraphed by Ekaterina Volkova.

Item.  His Majesty brought before the Court Paskahalika Kananbala and thereupon presented the King’s Order of Excellence, the which deed was memorialized in a document created by Eleanor le Brun.

Item. Their Majesties summoned into the Court their subject Constance de Saint Denis to answer whether she would join the Order of the Pelican; and the said Constance answering in the affirmative, the aforenamed Order was summoned forth; and many Peers giving good testimony of the said Constance’s worth, Their Majesties did invest and endow the said Constance with the Order of the Pelican, the which deed was memorialized in a document authored by Catrin o’r Rhyd For and calligraphed by Eva Woderose.

All these things were enacted upon the Feast of Candlemas, in the presence of witnesses.  Mistress Alys Mackyntoich, Their Majesties’ Herald, wrote this, based upon the report of Master Ryan McWhyte, Brigantia Herald.

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien

Filed under: Court Tagged: Bardic, bardic champions, Carolingia, champions, court, court report, Edward and Thyra, events, King and Queen's Champions, Kings and Queens Champions

A mumming greeted King Edward and Queen Thyra at their recent visit to Carolingia.  “In honor of their visit, and in keeping with our duties has baron and baroness, we wanted to honor them with something both appropriately Carolingian,” said Baron Fergus MacRae. “ Leaning on the strong traditions of our fine barony, a Mumming was presented during feast.  In keeping with His Majesties fine Scottish roots, it was all about sheep.”

Baron Fergus and Mistress Catrin o’r Rhyd For commissioned Master Christian Lansinger von Jaueregk to create a poem for the performance.  “Mummings were used in period to entertain, deliver advice or present gift to notable people,” explained Mistress Catrin.  “We do them periodically in Carolingia, and they’re always popular.”

Mistress Gwendolyn of Middlemarch performed the poem, admonishing the local shepherds and shepherdesses for paying more attention to their sheep than each other.  Master Peregrine the Illuminator and Lady Clara Beaumont were the shepherd and shepherdess.  Additional shepherds and shepherdesses were Lord Ulrich Reinhart, Lady Sorcha Dhocair inghean Ui Ruairc, Lord Symon of Barnesdale and Lady Deirdre of Mitgaard.  Onlookers who were dragged up to dance by the shepherds and shepherdesses were Their Majesties, Master Justin du Couer, Lord Andreiko Eferiev, Lady Rosina von Schaffhausen, Countess Mara and Duke Vissevald.

The poem, photographs and a video follows. The video starts a few seconds into the mumming.

A Mumming for King Edward and Queen Thyra
by Christian Lansinger von Jaueregk (mka Michael McAfee)

Sad tidings, oh, sad tidings do I bring!
Good people, oh, good people, weep and wail!
And yet what good are tears ‘gainst serpent’s sting?
For now we strive ‘gainst grief to no avail!
‘Tis no hyperbole, no strain of truth
To state the gods themselves must be dismayed
For through the silly foolishness of youth
The dancing, my dear friends, has been delayed!
The frolicking and merriment tonight
Would have begun on time, and started well,
But, oh, we now must wait upon delight
And fires in our hearts we now must quell.
But whom, I hear you ask, are we to blame
For such a heinous fate now to befall?
I shall not single anyone by name
For truth to tell the blame is shared by all!
The fair young men and women of the field,
Those shepherds and the maids who roam the hills,
Unto their baser natures they did yield
And thus have proved the cause of all our ills!
And here is why our revels cannot start
And why our promises we cannot keep:
Each shepherdess and swain has lost his heart
Unto a fluffy, cute and cuddly sheep!
Instead of taking pleasure in good sport,
These commoners defy Terpsichore!
Well, I shall call them to a higher court
And absolution they must seek from me!
Distraction I can understand full well
And would forgive as natural and pure
But this abhorrent curse I must dispel.
Approach, you malefactors! Take your cure!
I will confront the source of all these harms
For I know where the origin must lay!
No matter how compelling are their charms
I tell you now to put the sheep away!
I see that some of you do not believe
That we lie under some unlucky star!
Well, sit you back, and I shall, by your leave,
Present how sorry these affairs now are!

I summon forth a young and lusty swain
Who, as a shepherd, would, in normal days
Come seek a dance as flowers seek the rain
And show such skill that would your eyes amaze.
Out on the floor, he would examine all
The eligible maidens that desired
To be called forth and asked to join the ball,
But he would hold out ‘til he was inspired
By one so fair of face and sleek of limb
That one would think a nymph had joined the fun,
And, with her loveliness entrancing him,
He would attempt to be her special one.
He’d wrap his arms around her slender waist
And with sweet words the shepherdess he’d woo,
And see if he her honey lips might taste,
And then repeat with maiden number two
And maybe more, for, ladies, after all,
There is enough of him to go around.
‘Twould be a shame if, somewhere in the hall,
There was a maid with heart left on the ground.
Then later, he would tell his every friend
Of all the triumphs he’d achieved that night,
Of every mean he used, of every end,
And say which wonton showed the most delight.
And then they would their muscles and physiques
Put side by side to see whose was the best,
For young men will, their skills and their techniques,
As is their nature, put them to the test.
As it should be! Instead, what do we find?
He pets a sheep instead of chasing maids,
Caressing wool that has not been refined
Instead of maiden’s skin and maiden’s braids!
No more, I say! Bad shepherd, I insist!
Put down the sheep! Make ready for the dances
Or I shall drub thee soundly on thy wrist
Until this beast no longer thee entrances!
Present the beast, with you’t shall not remain!
Strike up your courage, man, and do not blench!
You have done what is right, and for your pain,
Take this embrace. Now go and find a wench!

To speak of wenches: now, here comes a maid
Who normally in dances would be found.
From such amusements she would not have strayed
But rather to such circles she’d be bound
And possibly a handsome swain she’d meet
And then distract him with her female charms.
As he approached, she would take to her feet
Evading lithely his embracing arms.
Yes, she would lead him on a merry chase.
She would approach, perhaps sit on his knee,
But if he would lean close, away she’d race,
Like in those dances learned from Italy.
But soon he would completely be entranced,
And she might deign her graces to bestow
That lucky man, on treasure he has chanced
That onto him such fortunes she would show!
But maybe not! Perhaps she might again
Escape his clumsy, awkward, gauche advances,
And, laughing, mock the foolishness of men
To think she might be won with graceless dances.
And afterward, when all the shepherdesses
Retired to some grove, as maidens do,
To brush each others’ hair and comb their tresses
And help each others’ corsets to undo,
Her dealings with the lads she would relate
And everyone with laughter near would burst
The silliness of swains they would debate,
And then with wines and ales they’d quench their thirst.
But do we see such wholesome doings here!
Why, no! This shepherdess her sheep must nuzzle!
Although some men of quality stand near,
She feels the need to stroke and rub its muzzle,
And from these lads she will withhold affection!
Come forward, girl, pay heed to my complaint!
You are in need of serious correction!
From this affliction, you must show restraint!
Put down the sheep! Don’t make me say it twice!
If you do not, more strongly I’ll insist!
Ah, lovely girl! You see? Is that not nice?
Your soul’s no longer lost! You are dismissed.

Alas, such tales are easy to recount,
Such tales of woe, such tales of wretchedness.
But I dare not narrate the whole amount,
Nor shame all the benighted populace.
But not because I lack the will to try
Nor am I to discuss these things afraid
But doing so would make the time slip by
And dancing will be even more delayed,
Which I am guessing is the wicked plan
These ovine devils plotted all along
But we will edit out as best we can
So I will simply call out to the throng!
Oh, you who also carry on with sheep
I do command you, stop with this distraction
Now cast them forward, no more yours to keep
Or risk the wrath of my dissatisfaction.
And now, to face the leaders of this plot!
Conspirers all! So foul, so treacherous!
But thank the Muses nine they have been caught
For holding up our sport so lecherous!
I know these troublemakers! I have seen
Their workings, like a pox upon the land!
The day they first arrived, these sheep have been
A strain upon our barony so grand!
They have brought mayhem, bedlam and confusion
Upon the most innocuous proceedings.
Of headaches we now suffer a profusion.
Our doctors give us heated cups and bleedings.
A curse upon the road they followed here!
These fleecy, wretched beasts with soulful eyes,
And bleatings that can’t help but to endear!
And cuddlings that draw forth happy sighs!
Oh, they’re so pwecious! Who’s a widdle sheep?
Oh, who’s a widdle sheepie? Yes, it’s you!
I want to bring you home so I might keep
You to myself, to kiss a time or two!
Oh, no, no, no! I’m starting to succumb!
Their diabolic cuteness is too much!
Enough! I cast you back to where you’re from!
And do not further tempt me with your touch!
Aroint thee, sheep! I tell thee, get thee gone!
I’ll place you where you’ll do no further harms!
So ere you see another sinful dawn
I’ll place thee under guard of royal arms!
With that, these ill-timed incidents I’ll close
And what has been delayed I’ll now advance.
So, lads and lasses, lose your cares and woes!
With gladsome hearts, make ready for the dance!

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Arts and Sciences, Events Tagged: Bardic, Kings and Queens Champions

... Keep in mind that a chemise is "body linen" -- i.e., you slip -- it's not somthing that's going to show. *IF* you wanted to have all the layers, you'd

Now that Richard III has been offically identified, millions of readers are seeking to learn more about the English king. An extremely-detailed article on the Daily Mail website follows the saga of Richard from the discovery of his bones to the reveal of his appearance through facial reconstruction. (photos)

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The online comic xkcd offers advice for "dropping pounds" in a recent cartoon.

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Greetings from the Performing Arts of this years Gulf Wars XXII. We are proud to announce that we will conducting the 6th Annual Gulf Wars War Bard Competion on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.

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Magdalen, Victoria and Tigra, Estrella War Mains 2013, are requesting volunteers to help with Early Set Up at the War.

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Who Will Speak for the Sheep?
by Myra Hope Eskridge
(performing as Lucien de Pontivy)

When dispute threatens the great Leven Loch
And good Saint Robert cries, “och, Meggie, och!”
Lords and Ladies, let noblesse oblige be your teacher
As you gaze on the weakest, the meekest, the sweetest of creatures…
Tell me…

Who will speak for the sheep?
When great houses battle, who speaks for the cattle?
Who will speak for the sheep?
Their little hearts break for the beating,
And their voices expire for the bleating,
Tell me, who will speak for the sheep?

Sheep don’t know the terrors of war
They don’t read history… (well, who does anymore?)
Wooly ears hanging low trotting in to their beds
Getting stuffed into cannons? No! Losing their heads!
Tell me, who will speak for the sheep?

Who will…?

Longing for the taste of tender green grasses
The cool breeze is the balm for the brands on their… delicate hindquarters
Who will speak for the sheep?

Who will…?

Words and music (c) 2013 Myra Hope Eskridge
Released under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Arts and Sciences Tagged: Bardic, King and Queen's Champions

“Bold Lord Robert of Lochleven”
by Martyn de Halliwell to the tune of “Edi Beo”

Verse 1
Bold Lord Robert of Lochleven,
was riding along on his best riding sheep.
Through the woods he did travel,
carrying pigs for the smoker that night.

All the bacon he would provide,
All his pulled pork goes right to our thighs.

Then Lord Robert he did arrive,
at court without taxes to pay for his Styes

Verse 2
Then the mighty Baron roared
The headsman’s axe swung with a terrible fright.
Good Lord Robert’s head flew by
A look of shock as it took flight.
All the bacon he did provide,
All his pulled pork went right to our thighs.

Then Lord Robert he was no more
Though now a saint as declared by our King.

Verse 3
Saint Lord Robert came along
On Saint Robert’s Day he still traveled on
Upon a Herald he came by
And said, “hello I am Lord Saint Ro-“
STOP!

“What are you trying to do?”
“There’s no title stacking ever!”

So Saint Robert a Lord no more
He traveled along looking for boar.

Verse 4
Then Saint Robert he happened upon
A dastardly black knight with treacherous heart.
“Why the face and the heart so long?”
“I’ve not any clue I’m just really ticked off!”

“All the bacon can heal the soul”
“All the pulled pork goes right to your thighs.”

So go off and eat some now,
And know that the kings tax is due tomorrow.

Verse 5
So we’ve learned two important things,
To eat all the bacon and not title stack.
Thank you Saint Robert for not who without
We’d pray for bacon and pulled pork.

All the bacon your sainthood provides,
All the pulled pork goes right to our thighs.

So to him on his holy day,
We raise up a pork chop and shout “Amen.”

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Arts and Sciences Tagged: Bardic, Kings and Queens Champions

Time of taxes came to
trusty Carolingia –
brash Baron demanded
bah-bah calling livestock.
Righteously then Robert
roared against this sheep-toll;
painful price was made to
pay that day of horror.

Youthful hero had a
heady plan that day and
stealthy stole wool bearers
straight from tax-years prior.
Fast a brand was fashioned
fine sheep back were gifted –
Alas too late to save the
lord who spoke so bravely.

Remember good Robert!
Raise a glass to toast him –
Great his gift of courage,
gave his life for household.

-Grim the Skald
(also known as Matthew Grymm)

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Arts and Sciences Tagged: Bardic, Kings and Queens Champions

“This piece was adapted from a story in ”(Merry) Tales and Quick Answers”, (printed c. 1535) based on the notes I used in the competition,” reports Lady Judith. “The words may differ slightly from what I said in the video.”

The Resurrection of St. Robert

You have all heard of Saint Robert, how he defied his Baron…how he was martyred, how Lochleven mourned the loss of bacon–er, of HIM.

What you may not have heard was the tale of St. Robert’s resurrection. For, I tell you that he was Not dead as he did seem to be. When he was brought back home to lie in state, he remained lying down as if dead, to see what his wife would do (for she had not seen him die). When she entered the house, she had some bacon in hand, meaning to cook it over the fire. She saw her husband, lying as if dead, and stopped, unable to decide what to do, for she was very hungry. ”Call for help…cook the bacon….call for help…cook the bacon…” Finally she decided to cook the bacon and call for help after she had eaten. This she did, cooking the bbacon and eating her fill, until the saltiness of the bacon made her thirsty, then parched.

She began to cough, and choke, louder and louder. When other people from the household came to see what was happening, she quickly began instead to cry, and wail, and make great lamentation, crying, ”Oh, what shall I do?” Hearing this, her husband sat up, and said, ”Go quickly and drink, before your bacon chokes you!”

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Arts and Sciences Tagged: Bardic, Kings and Queens Champions

Crumbs
By Chatricam Meghanta
(also known as Marguerite ingen Lachlainn in the SCA)

Crumbs

Memories of my love
have lifted me up out of my body
and sat me next to him in a remembered
place of honor.

With his own hand he has fed me
the tenderest of morsels.
I taste wine from the cup
where his lips have rested.

All night the melodies the musicians
play for him goes into me,
leaving me wild with passion.
His scent is all around me,

the shuddery perfume of amber and musk.
His voice is in my ear, murmuring
the most erotic verses of those midnight songs
until I loose the last shreds of my restraint

and beg him to take me,
take me!

In the morning, when I awake alone
and thirsty for more wine,
I pluck these word crumbs
from the sheets where he no longer lays

and I write.

Photo by Lady Katherine O’Brien
Video by Lady Arlyana van Wyck

Filed under: Archery Tagged: Bardic, Kings and Queens Champions