[MR] "Blue Scarfs" and "Free Scholars"?

[Owen Townes]

Greetings Lord Stefan,

To expand on David's response (And, ultimately, Master Geoffrey will
be your best source for this information, since I'm mostly recounting
oral history at this point):
When rapier formed in Atlantia, the fencers and friends-of-fencers
marked themselves with a blue scarf.  When it was determined that
there should be some higher award for the best fencers, those so
awarded called themselves Free Scholars and marked themselves with a
gold or yellow scarf.

When Atlantia signed the White Scarf treaty, the Order of the White
Scarf was formed, and the White Scarves were given the rank of Provost
in the Atlantian Academie d'Espee (I'm not certain whether or not that
had formed previously).  The Academie serves as a guild of fencers,
based on the London Masters of Defence; membership is not required,
but tends to be the case.  The ranks, Scholar, Free Scholar, and
Provost, mark advancement within the Academie.

As in period, each rank is marked by the playing of a prize.
Your authorization bout for rapier is considered your Scholar's Prize,
after which you have the option to take the Scholar's Oath and wear a
blue scarf.

When three Provosts deem you worthy, you may be elevated to the rank
of Free Scholar.  Here, too, you will play a prize, against a
representative of the Provosts, all Free Scholars present, a
representative of the Scholars, and all others who would challenge
you.

When the King deems you ready for elevation to the Order of the White
Scarf, you play your White Scarf prize, challenged by all White
Scarves present, and representatives of the Free Scholars and
Scholars.

One of the end results (which was noted at Gulf Wars) is that most
Atlantian White Scarves are titled "Lord/Lady" or "Provost".  The
title "Don/Donna" is not used widely in Atlantia.

Again, Master Geoffrey Gamble is a far superior resource for the
history of rapier in Atlantia, and contacting him is always
worthwhile.

Yours,
Wistric Oftun (Free Scholar of the Academie d'Espee)

On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 7:38 AM,
<atlantia-request at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org> wrote:
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:02:30 -0500
> From: Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>
> To: Atlantia maillist <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
> Subject: [MR] "Blue Scarfs" and "Free Scholars"?
> Message-ID: <C02C9399-D887-44AF-9445-BECFCCD8629B at austin.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes
>
> HRH Seonaid said:
> <<< A couple of days ago I put out a call on this list for Blue Scarfs
> and Free Scholars who are able and willing to fight for the Roses of
> this Kingdom at the Golden Rose. >>>
>
> Pardon me, but would please answer the curiosity of an Atlantia
> outsider? Who or what are these "Blue Scarfs" and "Free Scholars"?
>
> Stefan
>
> Of course if these scholars are truly free, I do have a number of
> areas of SCA history and medieval life and history I'd love to have
> researched and written up for others to enjoy in the Florilegium. :-)
>
> --------
> THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
>    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
> **** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 01:45:02 -0400
> From: "David Chessler" <chessler at usa.net>
> To: Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>,        Atlantia maillist
>        <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
> Subject: Re: [MR] "Blue Scarfs" and "Free Scholars"?
> Message-ID: <637PcXFSc2080S02.1300945502 at web02.cms.usa.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> It's the white scarf treaty. Blue scarves are "scholars" of the "academie
> d'espee". Gold scarves are "free scholars." White scarfs are provosts.
>
> I still haven't fully restored my bookmarks but try this:
>
> http://atlantia.sca.org/
> http://rapier.atlantia.sca.org/
>
> Academie d'Espee - Kingdom of Atlantia
> http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan/
>
> Academie d'Espee - Roster of Provosts
> http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan/p-roster.htm
>
> Atlantian Freescholars
> http://freescholars.atlantia.sca.org/
>
> I don't believe there is a formal list of the scholars. Most people get the
> blue scarf when they authorize--most but not all.
> Master Aedan says the list is "defunct"
>
> The South Wing - Sacred Oaths and Related Text
> http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan/south.htm
>
> The West Wing - Atlantian Laws, Treaties and Rules
> http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan/west.htm
>
> http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan/treaty.htm
>
> The Academie d'Espee  An Atlantian Order of Merit
>
> Treaty of the White Scarf
>
>
> --
>
> YIS
>
> Davitt il Bigollo da Pisa
> Erudit de l'Academie de Espee de Atlantia [Foulard Bleu]
> Storvik (rapier)
> Roxbury Mill (other things)
>