The false isle Runestone Vol. ii no. xj March a.s. XXXVij Principality News The original Principality poll, taken in January 2002, has been ruled too old to be valid. This means that a new poll must be held, the issue of which is simply whether we wish to become a principality. As soon as possible, ballots will be mailed out to all paid SCA members within the boundaries of the principality, which should be filled out and sent back as soon as they arrive. Over half of the ballots mailed out must be returned for the poll to be valid, and over half of those must be in favour of becoming a principality for it to pass. more on page 2 Ł Chronicler News It has seemed good policy, since I shall be having surgery to my hand before the next issue of the Runestone and am therefore unsure of my ability to produce it on time by myself, to appoint a "drop-dead" deputy. Therefore I have taken HL Owyn of Clan Frog as Deputy Chronicler. My thanks to Lord Owyn for his assistance in the past, and for all the work he will be doing in the future. Contents Principality News... Page 1 Officer Changes... Page 1 Principality News (cont'd.)... Page 2 Officer Changes (cont'd.)... Page 2 Wanted: Deputy Seneschal... Page 3 Ithra: A Peasant's POV... Page 4 Spring Ithra... Page 5 Schedule for March... Page 6 False Isle Officers... Page 6 Officer Changes At our Shire Business Meeting last Friday evening, His Lordship Grimon de Beaujolais announced that he was stepping down as Seneschal, turning the task over to his deputy, Her Ladyship Rhyannan of Pembroke Castle. Her Ladyship also announced that she was stepping sown as Chatelaine, and turning that task over to her deputy. Tita the Wanderer. It was Lord Grimon who was first inspired by the idea of the SCA to found a group here in False Isle in 1995. With the guidance of the Barony of Lions Gate, False Isle became an incipient Canton of the Barony. And False Isle grew and prospered for the next four years under the leadership of Lord Grimon. By 1999 (AS 34), the group had grown to the point where a petition was laid before the Crown of AnTir that False Isle might become a full, independent Shire. And King Davin made it so at Clinton War that year. Since then, Lord Grimon has continued as Seneschal of our Shire, inspiring and training an excellent group of rapier fighters as one of his most visible contributions to our development. continued on page 2Ł This is the False Isle Runestone, a publication of the Shire of False Isle of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The False Isle Runestone is available from Stephen Fryer, PO Box 110, Lund, BC V0N 2G0. Subscription: $6, or $12 if mailed. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Incorporated, and does not delineate SCA policies.
March A.S. xxxv1j The false isle runestone Principality News (cont.) The following is a message from the Guardians of the Waiting Thrones regarding the voting procedures: Greetings from Jarl Sir Hwolf and Lady Zelda of Jorvik. We are very happy to advise you that our Kingdom Seneschal, Viscountess Callista Balgaire, has confirmed that we may send EMAIL poll replies directly to her at seneschal@antir.sca.org. The labels have already been requested, and the poll is considered to be in motion. The ballots will still be mailed out to all members; so if you have already voted by email, please do not also send in the paper ballot Your email should be in the following format: *************************************** Mundane name Membership number SCA name "I support/do not support (delete the one that does not apply) the elevation of Tir Righ to full principality status". *************************************** Non-members may also send an email in the same format, just state "not a paid member" where "membership number" is. It has also been stated that both members and non-members may send comments to the King Davin or Queen Groa (king@antir.sca.org or queen@antir.sca.org) The findings for the Formal Polling that was accomplished last January, as reported via the Kingdom Seneschal was: No. of Ballots sent out: 416 No. of Ballots recieved: 314 Total No. "Yes": 297 Total No. "No": 15 Officer changes (cont.) Through all of this time, Lady Rhyannan has been Lord Grimon's partner, as Chatelaine, in building our group through its initial growth to becoming a Shire, and working to keep False Isle flourishing. She has developed our Mermaid's Tourney as our major annual event since 1998 (AS 33). This year will be the sixth Mermaids Tourney for which she has been autocrat. Lady Rhyannan is taking over as Seneschal "for at least six months" while training a deputy to eventually take over the job of Seneschal (see Wanted: Deputy Seneschal on next page). Her many years of experience as an officer of False Isle mean that she has developed the knowledge and skills required of the Seneschal. Tita the Wanderer started with the SCA in the Barony Seagirt in 2001, before coming home to False Isle. On arrival, she was immediately drafted to be our Dance Mistress, a job she has performed admirably. She has been Deputy Chatelaine to Lady Rhyannan. I am sure her friendly demeanor will make her an excellent Chatelaine. A hearty thank you to HL Grimon, HL Rhyannan, and Tita for all their efforts, past and present, and our good wishes and support for the future. 2
The false isle runestone March A.S. xxxvij Wanted: Deputy Seneschal HL Rhyannan is asking anyone who is interested to please apply by e-mail at ladyrhyannan@shaw.ca or call 604-485-7234 Please explain in a few lines why you feel you would make a good Seneschal. If we have more than one person interested it will go to an opinion poll. I am hoping to either announce who the Deputy will be at the meeting next month, or to have the opinion poll then. Here are things I am looking for in a Deputy: Must be a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism Must be at least 18 years of age Must work well with other Officers Must have the organizational skills to ALWAYS report on time so as not to jeopardize the Shire's status Should be unflappable Must have excellent communication skills Must treat everyone with courtesy and fairness Must have the Shire's best interest at heart at all times Must promote activities within the Shire and teach the populace whenever the opportunity presents itself Is expected to stay in compliance with Kingdom Financial Policy Must keep both superiors and subordinates informed of any noteworthy changes, e.g. address, phone # Will assist the Seneschal with the coordination of the Society activities in the branch And last, but by no means least, know the history of False Isle, and continue to advise new members of it Following is the job description of the Seneschal from the An Tir Handbook, 3rd Edition, May XXXIII/1998: The Seneschalate The seneschal is the legal representative of a branch. Seneschals sign all contracts, make sure that things are done pursuant to the restrictions of all modern laws, corpora and kingdom law, work with the chatelaines to handle all public relations, and normally conduct the business meetings/curia. The seneschals coordinate the branch officers. 3
March A.S. xxxv1j The false isle runestone False Isle Spring Ithra A Peasant s P.O.V. by Drogo, untermensch Established to provide an environment for de exchange of knowledge und skills pertainingk either to de historical Middle Ages or de Current Middle Ages??? EEthra??? Regular sessions...to facilitate our meetingk, teachingk und learningk??? Ithra, dot s it! Und vhen vere you to let de peasants know of dis?!? Since Owyn, dat Velsh Lord mit eine ship taught me to read dere haf been many surprises. Education here in False Isle; for a price even a peasant could afford! Ve must tell the other peasants, all de peasants can learn und be improved. Read dis to your peasants! Dere were many teachers here for dis ting. Leadingk dem all here vas de Dame Amanda Kendal of Vestmoreland, long may she carry de lamp of learning. I vould say she ist de light of learning, but Owyn told me dot vould be kissink up. Lady Saeunn, dot beauteous Wiking, wast her Registrar. Gerhard Nien Schlitz, dere I Vas Kendal, expounded on War Tactics und schpoke of tings too advanced for me, like Cavalier Etiquette und Buckets to Butterflies, but also schpoke of my Home in de Middle Ages. (I vonder how many of his schtudents make dere home in eine kline mudhole behind de kennels.) He spoke of de famous Leonardo de Vinci. I don t tink he ever stopped teaching, even vonce. Countess Melissa, taught of blackverk, of service und of song, und mit her schtudent, Owyn, of the Vatch. Don Albert helped our local fencers to be even better. Halima al Rakkasa und Zsuzsuanna, showed others of dere cultures. Kirstie de Fairsighted taught of hoods und banners. Owyn tells me dat her lord husband, Alexander, not even scheduled to teach, spent the time to show him how to do piercedwork. Local teachers also shared dere knowledge. Edvard de Merchant vas made a Magistrae Ithra for teachingk of Courtly Love so often. Lady Sabine showed how to Speak Forsoothly. (I tink I should learn dis language eine kleine better before learningk a new one.) Tita, de new Chatelaine, busied herself teachingk others her joy of dancingk. Morgan taught of somethingk called Landskenescht. Owyn will soon haf a banner worth braggingk of, tanks to Aline de Bruges instruction. Dat same Aline arranged for da space at de Hall of Max Cameron. Constance de Montbard, little Effie Little, und Owyn dealt mit everyting else save de billeting of wisiting teachers: handled by Rory, dat Irish Lord mit eine ship. Dat French Lord mit eine ship, Grimon de Beaujolais and Hermannus (you) der Mensch, took on de many tasks of de feast. Eat. Eat. Eat. Ist dot all dey do here in False Isle? Or should I say: Feast. Feast. Feast. Und de tings dey eat! Owyn has been explaining de Ithra feast to me. Aldough my knowledge of dis feast is limited to de leavingks dat made it as far as de midden I can tell it was sumptuous. (Tank you M lady Aline for helping me spell dot. Ve peasants seldom need de vord sumptuous.) In Romania we have few merchants of such fare. Dere ist only so many vays to serve cabbage and barley. Owyn says that it was de first time that all de lords AND all dere ladies sat and ate together. Only two tings on de appitizer menu are familiar to me. In Romania, ve have de fruit soup with barley (only mitout de fruit). Und every Romanian mama can make Strudel. But Oyster und Saffron Chaudree mit a Chiffonade of Sorrel ve never have. Owyn got as far as explaining oysters, vhen I schtopped him. continued Ł 4
The false isle runestone March A.S. xxxvij False Isle Spring Ithra A Peasant s P.O.V. (cont.) De entrée menu was much easier to underschtand. Duck legs from Gasconny brought rave reviews und many compliments. Und ducks in Romania haf legs. Yummm! My mouth waters tinkingk of vild mushrooms but Cornwall must be a harsh place to produce such schmall birds. Romania has many grouse und pheasants big enough to feed many. De Iberian peninsula produces the Great Spanish Peacock. De NY Schteak is much like schnitzel but not breaded or pummelled und served mit ein pffeffer sauce. De most mysterious ting on de menu vas Prowoons. Prawns, I belief. Owyn informed me dot dey ver from de sea and like large shrimp. My knowledge of your language doesn t include de vord oxymoron. But large shrimp makes little sense to me. De deserts sounded to be de highlight of de feast. De Tarts were fantastik and de way de women reacted to de Raspberry Sorbet, you vould tink somevon had discovered chokolate. De social habits of False Isle confuse me often. In Romania, de women dance, especially de gypsy women. De men are musicians and de woman dance. De Daughters of de Desert understand dis. Owyn has traveled in dere lands and de only men dancingk dat he mentions are dervishes dancing to attain religious ecstasy. But in dis land that Owyn has taken me to, it seems very different. Owyn blushes ven de Daughters hush de crowd....and de men...dey dance mit dere women...dey haf only now learned to eat mit dem but dey dance mit dem. Must be de Norman influence. De False Isle Dancers, sounds simple enough, but how do dese people exschpect to rule de Vorld....or at least dot s vot I heard, Your peasant, Drogo Edward the Merchant was made a Master of "The Art of Courtly Love" Lady Sabine de Provence was made a Master of "Speaking Forsoothly" Her Ladyship Rhyannan and Lady Sabine were presented with red scarves in token of being cadets to Master Don Albert Faulke 5
March A.S. xxxv1j The false isle runestone Schedule for March (and beyond) Regular meetings are held every Friday evening at the Unitarian Hall at 7 PM. We ask $1 per person to cover hall costs. Our topics for March include: 7 March... Shire Meeting 14 March...Badges 21 March...? 28 March...Flaming Arrows (bring scissors) 4 April... Shire Meeting 4-6 July... Mermaid's Tourney Other Upcoming Events March 22...Daffodil Feast & Tournament (Seagirt) April 11-13...Sir Edward's Memorial Tourney (Shittimwood) April 26-27...Principality Guardian Tournament / A&S Championship (Eisenmarche) Rapier Practice Tuesday 7 PM at James Thompson School Thursday 7 PM at Edgehill School - advanced Heavy Practice - None at present. If you are interested contact His Lordship Rory Woulfe. Archery Practice Saturday Afternoon (weather permitting). Contact Bartholomeus de Crecy at 414-0319. SCA Dance - Monday 7 9 PM Edgehill School gym Contact Tita the Wanderer at 485-0429 Sewing Night - Thursday evening Contact Aline de Bruges False Isle Officers Seneschal: Her Ladyship Rhyannan of Pembroke Castle ladyrhyannan@shaw.ca 485-7234 Chatelaine: Tita the Wanderer wandering_tita@hotmail.com485-0429 Herald: Lady Saeunn Hrafnsdottir ladysaeunn@shaw.ca 485-5188 Chancellor of the Exchequer: Lady Constance de Montbard de-montbard@shaw.ca 487-4242 Master of Stables: His Lordship Rory Woulfe of Kildare woulfe@shaw.ca 483-3235 Mistress of Arts and Sciences: Effie Little effielittle@yahoo.ca 483-3250 Chirurgeon: Lady Sabine de Provence ladysabine@shaw.ca 483-3235 Chronicler: Stephen of Hunmanby sfryer@prcn.org 483-4642 False Isle Web Site http://www.falseisle.org False Isle Rapier Web Site http://www.falseisle.org/epee/ AnTir Web Site SCA Web Site http://www.antir.sca.org http://www.sca.org Beginning Middle Eastern Dance - Friday 5 PM Unitarian Hall 6