A Midsummer Behourdium & Deeds of Arms
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22 June 2013 at the Drachenwald   Twenty Year Celebration What's All This? Most of us have seen pictures from "The Book of Tournaments" by René d’Anjou.  They occur in many coffee-table books of the middle ages, lavishly illustrating an ideal picture of a 15th century baton tournament, or behourd. Now, as do most books, this one (these pages) also contains text. It is actually a very down-to-earth manual on how such a tournament might reasonably be organised. René’s book has inspired several tournaments in modern times, among them the three Drachenwald Behourdiums according to René, held in July AS33 between Earl Morgan and Duke Elfinn, the one in May AS37 with Sir Gilliam and Sir Hartmann – among the organisers of the first Drachenwald behourdium - and the one at Drachenwald’s Ten Year celebration between Duke Elffin and King Matthew Blackleaf. We would like to continue this tradition with a great tournament celebrating the twentieth anniversary of our Kingdom. As this is such a historic occasion, historic challengers seemed appropriate. Therefore, His Majesty Thorvaldr, fortieth King of Drachenwald, has challenged Duke Elffin, the first King of Drachenwald, to a behourd, to take place at Ludwigstein castle on the 22nd of June. Our efforts focus on having a more medieval tourney, and also a damned good fight. The first part of the tourney is a long grand mêlée, that will be fought between Thovaldr's and Elffin’s teams. All comers who are not part of the two Lord’s entourages (see rules on Followers) will be divided into the two teams by the judges. After that, individual and group challenges will be fought in several themed arenas. Of course, this will be an excellent time for heraldry, pageantry, and other such things that make any event more atmospheric. 15th century dress and equipment is certainly encouraged, but we stress that all comers are welcome. As this our version is concerned with 15th century fighting on foot, typical 15th century weapons like two-handed swords, poll-axes, bucklers, and the like are especially welcome. For more details on the special rules, and how you – whether you plan to be a fighter or a spectator – can help make this tourney more spectacular and memorable, read on. The Call To Tourney “Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Let all princes, lords, barons, knights, squires and men-at-arms of the marches of Nordmark, and Insulae Draconis, and Knights Crossing, Aarnimetsä, Styringheim the blessed, Gotvik, and Ad Fluemen Caerulum, Isengau and also Meadowmarsh, and Veerfoerden, and Polderslot and Alcazar, and also Adamstor and Griffinstor where the stars are strange, and the College of Saint John, and all others of whatever marches that are in this kingdom and all other Christian and Noble kingdoms, who are not banished or enemies of the King our lord, may God save, know that at the Drachenwald Twenty Year celebrations on the day after Midsummer being Saturday the twenty second of June, at Schloß Ludwigstein in Drachenwald, there will be a very great festival of arms and a very noble tourney with maces of one measure and rebated swords, appropriate armor, with crests, coats of arms covered with the arms of the noble tourneyers, as is the ancient custom; Of which tourney the captains are the very noble and powerful princes and my very redoubted lords His Grace Duke Thorvaldr Skegglaus, appellant, and His Grace Duke Elffin O'Mona, defendant, being the first and fortieth Kings of Drachenwald. And to make this better known, all princes, lords, barons, knights, squires and men-at-arms of the above marches, and others from whatsoever nations they are, not banished or enemies of the king, our lord, who wish to tourney to acquire honour, may carry little shields, so that everyone may know who are the tourneyers. And anyone can have them who wants. The little shields are marked with the signs of the two princely captains, appellant and defendant. And if anyone cannot get one of the little shields, or if he has no servant who can make one, he can wear instead a sprig of forest leaves. And this is in honour of the forests of Drachenwald. And at the tourney there will be noble and rich prizes given by ladies and damsels. And the White Lady, whose name and countenance are secret, shall bestow her favour. Moreover, I announce to all of you princes, lords, barons, knights, squires and men-at-arms who intend to participate in the tourney that you must come to the inns the day before the day of the tourney, and display your arms at the windows and your crests to the judges, on pain of not being allowed to participate; and this I tell you on behalf of my lords the judges, so please excuse me."   What will happen? The original manual describes a tournament that spans many days. We have tried to compress the activities a bit since this event will be run over one evening and one morning of the Twenty Year Celebration event. The precise schedule will be announced at the event, but here is an outline of what will happen. Helmschau (Helm Show) (starts Friday evening) "Very high and powerful princes, dukes, counts, barons, lords, knights and squires at arms: I notify you on behalf of my lords, the judges, that each of you must bring your helm, with the crest which you intend to wear at the tourney, and your banner, at the ninth hour after the noon, to the inn of the judges, so that the judges, at ten o'clock, may set them up for the ladies to come and see and give their opinions to the judges." All fighters that intend to participate in the behourd must bring his/her helm to the place decided by the judges. The fighters should also bring their banners and display shields. This is the time when the judges divide the two teams.   Knight of Honour "Very noble and redoubted knight (or very noble and gentle squire), as it has always been the custom of ladies and damsels to have compassion, those who have come to see the tourney that will be held tomorrow, fearing that some gentleman who has done ill out of simplicity may be chastised too heavily by the demands of justice, and not wishing to see anyone beaten very hard, regardless of who he is, unless they can help him, the ladies have asked the judges to assign to them a famous, wise, and notable knight or squire who, more than all others, deserves the honor of carrying on their behalf this veil on the end of a lance tomorrow at the tourney. And if someone is too severely beaten, the knight or squire will touch his crest with the veil, and all those beating him must stop and not dare touch him: because from that hour forward, the ladies have taken him under their protection and safeguard. You have been chosen above all others at this tourney to be their knight (or squire) of honor, and undertake this charge, and they ask and require you to do as they wish, and so do the judges. Then the ladies should give him the veil, asking him to do this; and after, the knight (or squire) kisses them, and the White Lady if she wishes, and then answers them as follows: I humbly thank my ladies and damsels for the honor it has pleased them to do to me: and although they could easily have found others who could do this better, and who merit this honor more than I, nevertheless I obey the ladies freely and will do my loyal duty, asking always that they forgive my mistakes." The knight (or squire) of honour will have the function of a marshal in the lists. If he should lower the cloth over a fighter, that fighter is under the protection of the ladies and may not be struck until the cloth is again removed. Swearing of the Fighters After the armour and weapons have been inspected, there will be a short ceremony where the fighters must swear to follow the rules of the tourney and observe the orders of the judges. High and powerful princes, lords, barons, knights and squires, each and every one of you, please raise your right hand on high, towards the saints, and all together, as you will in the future, promise and swear by the promise of your body, and on your honor, that you will strike none of your company at this tourney knowingly with the point of your sword, or below the belt, and that no one will attack or draw on anyone unless it is permitted, and also that if by chance someone's helm falls off, no one will touch him until he has put it back on, and you agree that if you knowingly do otherwise you will lose your arms and horses, and be banished from the tourney; also to observe the orders of the judges in everything and everywhere as they order delinquents to be punished without argument; and also you swear and promise this by promise of your body and on your honor. The tourneyers will then depart the field and gather with their respective captains. Entering the Lists First the knight (or squire) of honour will enter the lists. When he has taken his place, the appellant, Duke Thorvaldr, and those fighting under his banner shall approach and ask the judges to prepare a place in the list for him and his men. When all are in place the defendant, Duke Elffin, and those fighting under his banner approaches the same way. "...and they should go a pace with trumpets sounding and minstrels singing, as soon as someone opens the passage into the lists, by which they should enter: and when it is open, they should enter within, and their servants should make a great cry, and the tourneyers should lift their arms high over their heads, making threatening motions with their swords or maces"   The Tournament I - The Grand Melee The fighting begins once the ropes have been cut on the order of the judges, and will last until the judges call the retreat. Please see the special rules in this booklet. Tourneyers are welcome to take dignified breaks during the fighting, and may wish to have a follower ready with a hat and goblet of water so that they can drink at their ease and watch the fighting for a while before rejoining the fray. Refreshments After the grand melee, there will be a short break for refreshments. The tourneyers are invited to make a dignified picnic near the list field with their consorts and followers. It is recommended that all tourneyers remain in armour, perhaps just doffing their helm in favour of an elegant chapeau, so that all may see that they are eager to continue the fight. During this time, the tourney field will be re-arranged into several arenas. The Tournament II - Challenges After luncheon, there will be several challenge arenas available, each with a theme or specific weapon. The tourneyers are invited to progress from arena to arena and try their skills in each. They are free to challenge whoever they wish, individually or as groups according to the theme of the arena. These challenges will continue until the judges call a halt, or the combatants are too tired to continue. The Tournament III - Grand Melee at the Barrier Time permitting, the final round will be another, shorter grand melee, this time over the barrier. This round gives special opportunities for acts of courage, such as the fighter who swears not to remove his hand from the barrier.       Prize Ceremony According to René’s book there should be three prizes given: "...for him who strikes the best blow with a lance that day." "...for him who breaks the most lances" "...for him who stays the longest in the lists without losing his helm." We have summarised this by asking to judges to award a prize to the one who most impresses them with courage, prowess and chivalry. In addition, the judges may present prizes for other noteworthy actions, such as the best challenge. At this Twenty Year tourney, there will be an additional, very special prize given by the White Lady.   "First, the trumpeters of the judges should go before, playing, then all the heralds and pursuivants like a fleet of ships; and after them the king of arms alone, and after him the knight of honor carrying the shaft of a lance in his hand, about five feet long or thereabouts. After the knight of honor should come the White Lady who carries the prize covered by the veil that was carried by the knight of honor. And on her right and left should come the judges, knights and squires, who should support her under the arms; and to the right and the left of the knights should be the two damsels on the arms of the two judges who are squires. The two damsels should hold the two ends of the veil, and in this way they should go three times around the hall, and then stop before the one to whom they wish to give the prize. And the White Lady shall give the prize of the Judges to the knight of honour and he shall present it to the one whom the Judges have chosen. And afterwards, they shall go three times around the hall once more, and the White Lady shall bestow her favour where she will, for none but she may bestow it. And he who receives the prize from the Judges shall be bourne up on the shoulders of the combatants and carried forth. But he who receives the favour of the White Lady shall kneel, and he may kiss her if she will, and she may reveal her face. And his prize is the greater." There will be also a prize presented by the organisers for the tourneyer whose equipment (and entourage, if appropriate) most contribute to the fifteenth century atmosphere of the tourney. All gentles watching the tourney, but especially the Ladies, are invited to give tokens and speak gentle words to tourneyers who have impressed them. This can take place at any time outside the fighting areas.   Special Rules and Equipment There are many rules according to King René’s manual but they need some modification in order to work for SCA combat. Combat Rules 1. No thrusting will be allowed. (Exception - the Challenges round may have a spear competition) 2. 'Kill from behind' and 'Kill on the ground' will not be used. 3. In some parts of the tourney, blows will only be allowed from the waist up. 4. Apart from the rules above, ordinary SCA group combat rules apply. 5. When a fighter has received a good blow (to any legal target area) the fighter should acknowledge the blow by saying 'Well struck milord' or something similar. The fighter shall then exit the list where he/she entered, drink some water if the fighter so wishes, and then return to the combat when he/she so desires. 6. There will be a person in the list holding a piece of cloth on a stick. This person is the knight (or squire) of honour and his job is similar to that of a marshal. If he should lower the cloth over a fighter, that fighter is under the protection of the ladies and may not be struck until the cloth is removed (local hold). 7. The knight (or squire) of honour may not be struck. 8. The tourney will continue until the judges signal the end of the tourney. We will try and keep the number of holds to a minimum (preferably none at all) by means of the knight (or squire) of honour. In order to have as few breaks in the fighting as possible, we invite the tourneyers to take dignified breaks whenever they feel weary.   Equipment 1.All fighting equipment must be SCA legal. 2.If your weapon is fitted with a thrusting tip, this may be left on but please remember not to use it. 3.The following forms are especially welcome – single sword (for the especially valiant), sword and buckler, two-handed sword, short pole weapons (poll axe, tourney axe, bec de corbin etc.) 4.No weapon may be longer than the distance from the ground to the joint of the fighter’s shoulder.  (Very tall fighters might want to reduce this for fairness). 5.Fighters who prefer to use shields are encouraged to use bucklers or small shields. 6.Fighters are encouraged to use only one weapon (perhaps supplemented with a shield) at a time. 7.Spiral-taped swords – especially in the user’s colours – are encouraged. 8.We very much encourage fighters to wear a helm crest if this is within their means. The organisers will provide colourful feathers for those who cannot bring a crest. 9.We welcome every attempt to create a fifteenth century image (see later in this book) but fighters whose equipment is from other eras is very welcome. Number of followers The number of followers allowed into the lists depend on rank and are as follows. As always in this booklet, male titles are given, but the Lady of equivalent rank is also meant: Captain – five followers King, Duke or Prince – four followers Count or Earl – three followers Peer, Baron or Viscount – two followers Squire or Lord/Lady - one follower Followers do not “nest” - so if a Count is followed by three Barons, the Barons do not bring two followers each making a team of ten (nine followers plus the Count). The team is the Count plus three only. Every fighter is either followed, or a follower - not both. Of course a fighter may bring as many servants or man-at-arms as he wishes,providing that they do not enter the lists. Any fighters (or companies of fighters) which are not already affiliated to the appellant or defendant as followers will fight on the side decided by the judges. Miscellaneous Rules In order to try and create a medieval atmosphere, we ask the audience to be most discreet about photography and to avoid wearing sunglasses. For the same reason, we specifically request members of the audience not to bring modern seating or picnic equipment to the tourney area unless it is completely disguised.   In order to be as prepared as possible, please review the information on "How to Create the Feeling of A 15th Century Tournament"