[MR] Arts for fighters

[Mary Bowles]

Greetings Your Grace,
   
  I usually lurk on the list when it comes to debates like fighting at KASF or why a knight should know Arts and Sciences, because I'm not all that well spoken. My thoughts get muddled and my words sometimes come out wrong.  But now I feel I must point out a few things that haven't come up in this discussion. Our Society (SCA) created the Laurel and Pelican as the highest Order of Merit for the Arts and Services. It did not create the Order of Chivalry. Knighthood and the training it requires are well documented in many books, illuminations and songs. Knighthood is different because it existed before the SCA existed. It's not just an award, its a way of life. That is not to say the Laurel and the Pelican are not as well, but the parameters for these Orders are not as well documented as the Order of Chivalry. Chivalry has  a long history, as well as training manuals and instruction on how the page, squire and knight were brought up. What it takes to be a knight is a well
 rounded person, who can speak eloquently on ALL aspects of the medieval life, because that is what they did in the past. A Knight needed to have a strong arm in war but also a strong mind outside of war. He needed to be knowledgeable, diplomatic and have a respected demeanor  when not at war. That meant they knew how to entertain, knew heraldry, courtly manners, arts and sciences to a greater or lesser degree AND above all how to fight and lead troops on the field because they like diplomats and government officials today were the image of the government of there time. To be ignorant was to show your Kingdom to be ignorant.
   
  Another thing I'd like to point out is that there are several Laurel's that I know who encourage the fighting arts in there apprentices so that they may understand other aspects of the SCA. They make this a requirement for promoting them within the Laurel's circle. Weather this is done by all or just a few is any ones guess. However it is done, and it is encouraged so that the Laurel will also be as well rounded as our Knights.
   
  Now I have a few  questions. Why are we in the SCA if we don't encourage the promotion of the middle-ages in all aspects of our persona's? Why join the SCA?
   
  Pax,
  Lady Marie-Therese Normand
  Fighter Chic and Artisan.

Logan <logan at ebonwoulfe.com> wrote:
  
cool.....ummm not really.

i said nothing about crown. anyone can win crown. please read what i said.

that being the "difference" between knights and whatever. not some guy that
wins crown.


regards
logan



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-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of
mathilde at mathildegirlgenius.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 8:54 PM
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Subject: [MR] Arts for fighters

I have a talent for not leaving a dead horse be. :-D

Logan wrote:

> but then again.... ive never heard anyone ask a
> laurel or pelican candidate how good their fighting is. yet, knights are
> expected to be all encompassing....

Sometimes fighters are expected to provide an A&S piece and documentation to
enter crown tourney. Artisans are never asked to show their fighting skill
when
entering a pentathlon. People might wonder if this is fair?

It is fair. When a fighter wins crown tourney, that fighter becomes king or
queen. That king or queen is the ruler, makes laws, holds court, and sets
the
mood and theme for six months. That ruler ultimately decides who gets an
AoA,
who gets a Pearl, who becomes a Knight, Pelican, or Laurel.

The prize for the personal pentathlon last year was (IIRC) a beautiful woven
bag, and a Borders gift certificate. Lovely, but the winner of that tourney
does not then gain a position where they make decisions about the fate of
others in the kingdom.

As long as the people who rule are chosen by deed of arms, and not skill of
needle, many artisans may feel a bit like the red-headed step-child. I'm not
calling for changes, far from it, just a simple understanding of the context
of
some people's point of view.

Respectfully,
Mathilde
Who actually did used to pick up a stick and *try* to beat people with it,
before her back said "please stop!" :-D

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