[Archers] Nature of peerage

[John Atkins]

Fen,

Once again, excellent point.  If one has read Bernard Cornwell's books about
early England and the Northmen and particularly his descriptions of a true
shield wall then watching an SCA battle with a shield wall holds little, if
any, resemblance to the "real thing".  Cornwell's shield walls are actual
walls with specific techniques.  SCA shield walls are a bunch of SCA
fighters lined up shoulder to shoulder digressing into one on one battles
soon after "engagement".  And more to the point, for an archer to become a
"peer" they should be known as making their bow, quiver, arm guard, string,
and arrows and fluent in the history of archery and done displays of
recreated archery gear?  And a fighter is made a knight/peer because their
bought their armor, shield, weapon (let's be honest about how many heavies
actually make their own gear and how period it is) and "hit real gud with
it"?

 

OK, I'm missing something here..........

 

cog

 

From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Fen &
Michelle
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 11:55 AM
To: Siegfried; archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [Archers] Nature of peerage ... was: Re: Archers Digest, Vol
101, Issue 25

 

 

His Excellency Siegfried has me thinking about... zebras.  Yes, zebras -
both horse and donkey, but also neither.  I'll try to explain what I mean:

 

An archer will make his own "period bow & arrows" and then use them in
competition (skill at martial art). But do the heavies make "period" armor
to use in Crown Tourney?  Correct my ignorance if I'm wrong, but I believe
they would still use foam inserts as padding or stainless steel, modern
techniques to form metal, etc.  Same for personal combat techniques - aren't
most trained in how to use a rattan "club" instead of a sword? Again, same
for melee tactics on the field. Do we really use "period" tactics at Pennsic
if they are not effective?

 

Maybe someone more knowledgable can flesh these thought out. It just seems
to me that archery is like a zebra - portions of it fit into martial and the
laurel, but not enough to actually belong to either group.

 

Cheers

Fen

 

Atlantian Archery. Nothing exists within 100 yards without our permission.

 

 

From: Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz>
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org 
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 10:51 AM
Subject: [Archers] Nature of peerage ... was: Re: Archers Digest, Vol 101,
Issue 25


...Where the one disconnect comes, is in the art/skill/science of the
activity itself.  IE, in the 'martial art' of "Skill at archery", or
"Skill at rapier".

...However, the 'gap' that is often trying to be addressed here.  Is
specifically the skill at the 'Martial Art' itself.  Being Amazing, at
the skill of fighting with a sword, or Amazing at the medieval art of
shooting a truly medieval crossbow or bow.

...Right now, it's that 'skill at martial art', that isn't being
recognized.  The Pelicans do not recognize it, because it's an 'art',
not a service.  The Laurel do not recognize it (though a decade ago
now, Society stated that they should), simply, and not their fault,
because it doesn't fit into the 'typical' mindset of the rest of the
Laurel arts, which revolve about research & creating physical items.

 

...However, this specific 'skill at a martial art' form, is recognized
specifically & solely for Armored Rattan Combat.  While yes, you need
(or should) have all the other characteristics of a Peer, comporting
oneself, teaching one's art, learning historical forms of one's art.

...Someone can be made a Peer, in this case a Knight, for the 'primary
reason' of their skill at medieval bladed combat, as represented by
rattan swords.

...However, if their chosen weapon that they want to perfect their skill
with, and their focus is that skill alone, is a Rapier.  Or is a
bow/crossbow.  Then they currently cannot be recognized the same way.

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