On Tinctures in Period - Part VI: Vert

The sixth of the Tinctures to be viewed in period treatises is Green, known in Blazon as Vert.

Dame Juliana Berners - Boke of Saint Albans (1486)

Secundus lapis

The secunde stone is cald Smaragdus a gravely stone signifiying vert in armys.

The secunde stone is calde Smaragdus a graveli stone. & vert it is calde in armys. The vertu ther of is : that the gentylman the wich in his cote armure it berith kene and hardy in his kyngs batell shall be. the wiche stone is reserved in tharchangelles crowne that was kene and hardy in his kyngis bataile of heven whan thei faught with lucifer.

John Bossewell - Workes of Armorie (1572)

Greene, termed Vert, is compared to Venus, and to the Emeraude or Smaradge.

The Smaradge passeth both the leave and boughe of anye tree or plante, his colour is so freshe and greene, and in this poynite triumpheth all alone, neyther ys the Sunne by his sunne Beames any left or hynderance to this his shewe. There is no greater refection to the eyes, than the sight of this excellent Gemme.

John Ferne - The Blazon of Gentrie (1586)

The sixt cullor is greene, and is called Vert, it signifieth in

1 - Planets. - Venus.
2 - Precious stones. - Smaragd or Emeraud.
3 - Vertues. - Loyalty in love, curtesy & affabilitie.
4 - Celestiall signes. - Gemini and Virgo
5 - Months. - May and August.
6 - Days of the week. - Friday.
7 - Ages of Man. - Lusty green youth from 20. till 30. yeeres.
8 - Flowres. - All maner of verdures or green things.
9 - Elements. - Water.
10- Sesons of the yeer - Spring time.
11 - Complexions. - Flegmatique.
12 - Numbers. - 6.
13 - Mettailes. - Quicksilver.

In the angelic system given later in the book, Vert is given to Archangels, with the virtue Keene & hardy in battaile.

Edmund Bolton - The Elements of Armories (1610)

Upton and Leigh place Vert sixth on their orderings of tinctures, after Purpure or Sable respectively, while Scohier places it fifth, after Azure. In his own throne of colours, Bolton places it sixth, sharing the fourth and lowest tier with Purpure.

John Guillim - Display of Heraldrie (1611)

This Colour is Greene, which consisteth of more Blacke, and of lesse Red [...] This color is blazoned Vert, and is called in Latine Viridis, à vigore, in regard of the strength, freshnesse and livelinesse thereof; and therefore best resembleth youth, in that most vegitables, so long as they flourish, are beautified with this verdure, and is a colour most wholsome and pleasant to the eie, except it be in a young Gentlewomans face.

What a lovely image Guillim presents us with, a young woman with green in her face...

In his table of the names used for the tinctures and their order, Guillim gives Vert the sixth place, as Vert. Emerald. Venus.

On Adapting Modern Stories

Previously, I have spoken on the subject of entertainment at events, and in particular mentioned that modern stories can be adapted for telling at events, with a few (relatively minor) changes. There are often many stories which seem to be impossible to tell without their modern details, but almost always, this is not so, it just requires some care.

Let us take the example of speaking of an interesting morning before the feast you are now attending. For a modern audience, you may mention speaking to your sister on the phone, driving to various shops before driving to the event, with some car troubles on the way (let us say a blown tyre). The phone, the car, and other such small details, can all seem rather pivotal to the story, but it isn't so. Speaking to your sister is possible without the phone, just so long as you also don't mention how far away they currently are. Likewise with the car, what is important to the story is that you travelled, not how, so just leaving out that it was a car will do. Period wagons often had wheel troubles, and a cracked wagon wheel may be quite like a blown car tyre.

Most of the modern details of such anecdotes are really a sideline to the real action, and can usually be left out. For those which absolutely can't? Perhaps this is not a story that needs telling at an event. For example, if you are a computer technician, and there was a particularly engrossing problem which required your attention, you may either discuss it in general terms and focus on your frustrations, or leave the story for another time.

One thing I would beg you to avoid, however, are those gross circumlocutions which are more appropriate for a fantasy novel or LARP. If you would avoid the word "toilet", then "privy" is acceptable (some period English alternatives are "Jakes" - the predecessor to "John" I suppose - and "House of Easement" - which sounds downright relaxing). Please avoid "the Shrine of Our Lady of the Swirling Waters". Likewise, "car" may be replaced with "wain" or "wagon", but never "dragon".

On Tinctures in Period - Part V: Sable

The fifth in the series of Tinctures in period treatises bring us to Black, known in Blazon as Sable.

Dame Juliana Berners - Boke of Saint Albans (1486)

Octavus lapis

This stone is blake and it is called Sabull

The . viii . stonn is a Dyamond a blake stone . Sable it is calde in armys . The vertue therof is . what gentilman that in his Cotearmure thatt stone berith : durabull & unfaynt in his kyngys batayll he shall be . The wich stone was reserved in the cherubyns crowne that was durable & unfaynt in his kyngys batayll of heven . whan thay faught with Lucifer

John Bossewell - Workes of Armorie (1572)

Blacke, termed Sable, is compared to Saturne, and to the Diamonde.

Diascorides sayth, that it is called the Stone of reconciliacion and love: for (sayth he) That woman that hath withdrawne her love from her husbande, by this, is brought to love him anewe: yea it goeth further: for it is saide to give proofe, whether she be chaste or no. For if she be say they, she shall whilest she is in sleape embrace her husbande, through the workyng of this Stone, yf not, she shall flye, and go backe from him. Sir Thomas Eliot in his Dictionarie, saith, that Adamas is the Diomonde, and that Magnes the lode Stone, that hath vertue to drawe Iron unto hym, is of some unproperlye called the Adamant.

John Ferne - The Blazon of Gentrie (1586)

Ferne continues on form with his table of the significance of colours.

The 5. cullor is black called Sable, & signifieth in

1 - Planets. - Saturne.
2 - Precious stones. - Diamond, Agate, or Chelydoin.
3 - Vertues. - Prudence, Constancie.
4 - Celestiall signes. - Capricornus and Aquarius.
5 - Months. - December, January.
6 - Days of the week. - Saturday.
7 - Ages of Man. - Decrepit or crooked old age.
8 - Flowres. - The Aubifaine.
9 - Elements. - Earth.
10- Sesons of the yeer - Winter.
11 - Complexions. - Melancholic.
12 - Numbers. - 5. 8.
13 - Mettailes. - Iron and leade.

In the angelic system given later in the book, Sable is given to Cherubins, with the virtue Unfaint and durable.

Edmund Bolton - The Elements of Armories (1610)

There is quite a range of rankings for Sable in the orderings of tinctures: Upton places it last of all, while Leigh has it fifth, after Azure, and Scohier places it sixth, superior only to Purpure. Bolton's own throne of colours considers Sable much higher, being placed third, sharing the second tier of the throne with Argent.

John Guillim - Display of Heraldrie (1611)

Guillim considers black as being one of the two Simple colours, opposing white and making the creation of all other colours

Blacke is a color contrary to White, having little participation of light [...] Whereby it is apparent that blacke is of lesse perfection then white. This colour is called in blazon Sable of the latine word Sabulum, which signifieth , gross, sand or gravell, in respect of the heavy and earthy substance, wherein it aboundeth above all others. And this colour is reputed farre inferior in dignity to white, and is likened to darkeness [...] Note that the rest of those speciall colours before mentioned, besides white and blacke, are called Colres medii, that they have their primary Essence from these, either by an equall or unevenfor concorporation or mixture of these two together: and in regard of these two extremes from which they have their being, cannot properly be called Colores, nifi per participationem.

In his table of the names used for the tinctures and their order, Guillim gives Sable the fifth place, as Sable. Diamond. Saturne.

On Entertainment at Feasts

In the modern world, when an event is held, the organisers may well be expected to provide the various entertainments that will keep the attendees from growing restive. This receptive form of entertainment is a rather new development, caused by the radio and television infiltrating our homes.

Until the 20th century, the evening's entertainment could logically by expected to spring from those around you, and from you to them, and this is the model most often followed by SCA events. There are of course exceptions, such as theatrical performances planned and presented, or dance events (though even this is debatable, for the performers in these situations will be your fellow SCAdians).

"But," I hear you cry (in my imagination and for sake of illustrating the point), "I can't sing or dance or tell stories! How am I supposed to entertain?" This hypothetical objection is understandable, but not insurmountable. For one, if you insist that you can't do something, and never do it, then you shall never learn how. Also, there are a diverse range of ways to make your evening, and that of those around you, more interesting.

The obvious entertainments which may be engaged are the performing arts. Singing, playing instruments, telling poems or stories (and with so much of period art, the line between these is blurred). All of these take some practice, and some preparation, but the level of skill required to improve the feel of an event is not as high as you might thing. If you have some minor proficiency in an instrument (such as being able to play it without unpleasant screeching), then take a small book of simple period tunes, find somewhere slightly out of the way, and practice. You don't need to draw a crowd, but some background notes can improve the feeling of the hall, and your own confidence will build as you play in company more often.

One thing to remember is to match your entertainments to the feel of the event in general. A beautiful Elizabethan madrigal will feel somewhat out of place at a rowdy Viking revel, as much as a bawdy Elizabethan popular song (and believe me, they exist) will be out of place at a stately high-court event.

As for the bard's art of reading poems and weaving tales, it is perhaps better to consider that you don't need to perform for the whole hall, just those few around you. A short quip in conversation, or fond recollections of the past, can soon give way to longer stories and the like, and those who wish to listen will come to you, rather than feeling like you've imposed yourself on the whole room.

You may find that it is useful to carry a small selection of stories, written in a handy form to remind you if your memory slips (unless you should choose to dedicate the years of work that a period bard would spend learning their various sagas and tales). And these need not be all written in period, many modern tales can be adapted by removing or modifying a few simple details.

Beyond the performing arts, there are a number of ways to entertain those around you. The simplest of these, and often the most engrossing, is through games. There are a great many boardgames, from the simple such as Glückhaus (roll two dice, do something with the numbered square they say), to the strategic such as Nine Men's Morris, to the complex such as Chess. There are diverse dice games, most all of them designed to be gambled over, and card games (both using an early form of the modern deck, or the original form of the Tarot deck (yes, it was for gambling with)).

If you mean to gamble, it is a good idea to bring a supply of tokens, such as small glass pebbles, so that people aren't gambling for real money (this has legal implications, and can cause rather unfortunate fallings out).

Games are often simple to make, or easy to buy, and a travel set of one or two games, stowed in your basket or bag, is a fine way to stave off silence, as during the lulls in the conversation, the game itself may be discussed.

On Tinctures in Period - Part IV: Azure

In the fourth entry in the series on the description of Tinctures in period treatises comes Blue, known in Blazon as Azure.

Dame Juliana Berners - Boke of Saint Albans (1486)

Septimus lapis

A blue stone it is & it is cald asure in armys

The . vii . stone is calde a Saphyre a blew stone Asure hit is calde in armys . The vertue therof is . the gentilman that in his Cotearmure berith that stone : wyse and vertues in his werkyng in his kyngs batayll shall be . the wich is reserved to tronus crowne that was wyse and vertues in his kyngys batayll of hevyn whan they faught with Lucifer

John Bossewell - Workes of Armorie (1572)

Blue, termed Azure, is compared to Jupiter, and to the Saphire.

The Saphire, is a Gemme skye coloured or Blewe, like to the Skye in the most faire wether. Amongest all the kyndes of Gemmes, it is one of the noblest and most royall, and therefore mete to be morne onely upon Kynges and Princes fyngers. Nothing in the worlde doth more recreate or delight the eyes then the Smaradge, & Saphire doe. It is mervelous effectuous agaynste all venyme. Wherefore, yf thou put a Spider into a Bore, it beyng shutt, & upon the mouth thereof thou layest the true Saphire, and do kepe the Spider within the same but a very short type, the Spider beyng vanquished and overcome by the vertue thereof, dyeth sodenly. [...] The Saphire for his soveraignetie, is called of the Lapidarie, the Gemme of Gemmes. In olde tyme in was consecrated onely to Apollo.

John Ferne - The Blazon of Gentrie (1586)

Once more, Ferne provides a listing of all those things which Azure can be compared unto.

The 4. cullor is lighte blew, called Azur, and signifieth in

1 - Planets. - Jupiter.
2 - Precious stones. - Saphyre.
3 - Vertues. - Justice and loyalty.
4 - Celestiall signes. - Taurus and Libra.
5 - Months. - Aprill and September.
6 - Days of the week. - Thurseday.
7 - Ages of Man. - Puerillitye or childishe yeers, (from 7. til 14. yeeres.)
8 - Flowres. - Blew Lilly.
9 - Elements. - Ayer.
10- Sesons of the yeer - Spring time.
11 - Complexions. - Sanguine
12 - Numbers. - 4. 9.
13 - Mettailes. - Copper.

Yet again, a tincture is compared to the Sanguine humour, the name of the attempted murrey coloured stain.

In the angelic system given later in the book, Azure is given to Thrones, and the virtue Wise & vertuous in working.

Edmund Bolton - The Elements of Armories (1610)

In the ordering of tinctures given by Upton, Azure ranks third, below the metals, while in the orders of Leigh and Scohier, it ranks fourth, below Gules. On his own 'throne of colours', he places it fifth, standing on the third tier of the throne together with Gules.

John Guillim - Display of Heraldrie (1611)

In Guillim's estimation, blue is a colour mostly composed of red with some white, where modern colour theory would consider that to be the combination to create a light red or even pink.

Blew is a Colour which consisteth of much Red, and of little White, and doth represent the colour of the Skie in a cleere Sunne-shining day. This in Blazon is termed Azure.

In his table of the names used for the tinctures and their order, Guillim gives Azure the fourth place, as Azure. Saphire. Iupiter.

On Small and Informal Events

The diversity of the SCA means that there is a great spectrum of events, from the exquisite formal Crown events, where the finest garb and arts may be shown off to great effect, to the intimate, informal events, with a much more relaxed feel. The bigger events tend to get a lot more of the attention (as is natural), but there is great value to the smaller events that is sometimes overlooked.

What does a small event bring to the SCA? There are several things which can be brought forth from such situations, including a very different feel bigger from the larger events (with several benefits), and a wonderful opportunity for training people in the various roles.

A small, informal event has a very different feel from the larger, more formal events. While formal events let us show off the best of our works, the expectation of being at our best can make the preparations somewhat more involved. Given this, and the more regulated schedules that are necessary when there are multiple things to get done, mean that an informal event can have a much more relaxed atmosphere.

One of the effects of this more reduced atmosphere is that, for new members, it can make those in authority (such as the local Baron and Baroness) more approachable than they would be at a formal event.

The team required for a formal event includes a large number of roles, including steward, kitchen crew, heralds, listkeepers, gate staff, and more. An experienced crew can help to induct inexperienced members into these, but at a formal event, there can be the impression that it's too hard to start out. Those who've been running events for longer than a Collegian has been alive make it look almost effortless. At an informal event, it can be less intimidating, and if the group's culture has a focus of encouraging people to "have a go" at their smaller events, it can build a skills base among the populace.

Take the example of the Politarchopolis Baronial Sunday for a training occurrence. The steward's job is made simpler and less intimidating, as the hall is already arranged, no kitchen crew is required as it's a pot-luck event, and being a theoretically-monthly event, there is at least a small group who can be reasonably expected to be in attendance every month. If a tourney runs, the list-keeping and field heraldry jobs will be available, and with nothing particularly at stake, it's less nerve-wracking than it otherwise might be (heralds are particularly guilty of deep-end training: I've seen people use Crown Tourney as their first field heraldry experience). The regular constables can have their numbers boosted by those who wish to train as gate keepers. As for the kitchen crew training, a pot-luck feast is a great way to build some experience with cooking period recipes, and gives a captive and willing testing audience for new recipes.

One of the inevitable effects of being good at running events is being asked to do so more often. This can be stressful, and possibly lead to a particular crew becoming burned out from the load. By training more people to help, it can spread the load about and decrease burnout.

Finally, by having a good collection of smaller informal events, interspersed around the larger formal events, there are more opportunities to get into garb, and enjoy an event, without the massive increase of workload on event crews as having such regularly-occuring events on the formal scale. More activity is good.

On My First Ensemble Experience

This weekend, I had the distinct pleasure to attend the St Vitas Dance and Music Weekend in Politarchopolis. This is the third time I've attended this fine event (every year since I joined the Society), and every year brings some new learning and some new experiences. This year's fancy new learning was some excellent breathing technique advice for singing and wind instruments, but the new experience for this year's St Vitas is what I'd like to talk about with today's post.

During the course of Saturday, there were various occasions where the people in the music classes brought out their recorders, for various reasons, and luckily I had also brought my cheap little descant recorder along. When the "Ball Music Practice" session came up, I timidly admitted that I might be able to play a few of the simpler dances with them. They were kind, they were welcoming, they... encouraged me to practice the easier line in whatever they were practising.

I was somewhat intimidated by the prospect, but tried my best. I'd never played in a recorder ensemble (or in any ensemble, other than one concert in year 6. I rocked that glockenspiel) at any level, and going straight into a public performance with it was rather daunting. I'd also never played for dancers, which also changed things rather dramatically. I will freely admit, I was barely keeping up (if at all) while we practised. But, when the ball started, I decided that I would make my seat with the musicians, and at least try for most of the songs.

There were a lot of missed notes, a decent amount of wrong notes, and a fair few songs where I couldn't keep up and had to drop out, but the feeling of being surrounded by excellent musicians, and feeling like I was at least earning my seat in the middle of them was, quite literally, euphoric. I was rather nervous at places, especially the few times when I found myself holding the main melody line on my own while the more experienced players played the bottom lines, but it all seemed to work out reasonably well, and all of my slip-ups and drop-outs were covered by the others.

I left the ball with a lot more confidence in my abilities, and a lot more drive to practice and play the recorder, and a rather fat folder full of sheet music, as much as I'll ever require for almost any ball, and also a deep gratitude for everyone who helped me through my first time playing in an ensemble.

If only I'd thought ahead and gotten contact details for them...

On Tinctures in Period - Part III: Gules

In the third in the series on Tincutres as described in period treatises, we see
Red, known in Blazon as Gules.

Dame Juliana Berners - Boke of Saint Albans (1486)

Sextus lapis

And thys stone is calde gowlys in armys

The . vi . stone is calde a Ruby a redly stone . gowlys it is calde in armys . the vertue therof is . the gentylman that in his Cotearmure that stone berith hote and full of corage in his gyngys batayll shall be . the wich stone is reserved in the principatis crowne that was hote brinnyng as fire in his kyngys batayll of hevyn whan thay faught with Lucifer

John Bossewell - Workes of Armorie (1572)

Red, termed Gules, is compared to Mars, and to the Rubye or Carbuncle.

The Carbuncle, so warreth with the eye sight, that it sheweth manyfolde reflexions. It is founde in Libia.

John Ferne - The Blazon of Gentrie (1586)

Yet again, we are given a great range of comparisons for the tincture of Gules, along with a diversion into the metal known as Latten, which is a catch-all term for copper alloys including brass.

The 3. cullor is vermillion (called Gewls) and signifieth in

1 - Planets. - Mars.
2 - Precious stones. - Carbuncle, Ruby, and Corall.
3 - Vertues. - Charity and magnanimity.
4 - Celestiall signes. - Aries & Cancer.
5 - Months. - March, June, July.
6 - Days of the week. - Tuesday.
7 - Ages of Man. - Virillity or mans age, (From thirtie yeeres, til 40.)
8 - Flowres. - Gillofer and red rose.
9 - Elements. - Fier.
10- Sesons of the yeer - Sommer, and Harvest.
11 - Complexions. - Choler.
12 - Numbers. - 3. 10.
13 - Mettailes. - Latten.

This mettaile of Latten was of such estimation with the old Romaines, before they had found the use of gold and silver (as it is still with the barbarous and unnurtured people of Ameryca, which weare the same in Earerings & Bracelets) that the Romaines did also make rings of it, which were put on the fingers of their valiant souldiours, as some marke and reward of their valoir. By the commaundement of the old lawes of Armes, none might use this cullor of vermillion (representing in robes Scarlet) except he had beene prince, or thereunto licensed by the Soveraigne.

In the angelic system given later in the book, Gewles is given to the Principallities, with the vertue Hote of courage.

Edmund Bolton - The Elements of Armories (1610)

In the ordering of tinctures given by Upton, Gules ranks fourth, below Azure, while in the orders of Leigh and Scohier, it ranks third, subordinate only to the honoured metals of Or and Argent. On his own 'throne of colours', he places it fourth, after Sable, standing on the third tier with Azure.

John Guillim - Display of Heraldrie (1611)

Guillim gives red as the colour of an exact mix of the two simple colours, black and white.

That Colour which is said to bee exactly compounded, doth participate of the two Simples indifferently, in a just proportion, as Red ; which Scribonius thus defineth : Rubedo est color æquali simul Albedinis & nigredinis combinatione constans. This colour representeth Fire, which is the chiefest of the Elements, and the lightsomest and cleerest, and in blazoning is termed Gules.

In his table of the names used for the tinctures and their order, Guillim gives Gules the third place, as Gules. Ruby. Mars.

On the Writing of Award Recommendations

The critical factor in award recommendations in the SCA can be summed up by the text of a typical Award of Arms scroll in the Kingdom of Lochac:

...whereas it has come to Our notice that through diverse, great efforts you have considerably enriched Our Kingdom, it is thus Our pleasure to reward you...

Those first few words tell you why award recommendations are important: "whereas it has come to Our notice". Despite Their wisdom, Their Majesties are not omnipotent. They rely on the members of Their populace to provide them with recommendations of those whose achievements and activities have made them worthy of recognition. The same applies for Their Highnesses, your territorial Prince and Princess (if you are a member of a Principality), and Their Excellencies, your local Baron and Baroness (if you are a member of a Barony).

So, you've decided that someone needs to be recommended for an award. You can either recommend them for a specific award, or you can simply give your reasoning to the relevant Crown or Coronet and leave the decision up to them. If you decide to recommend them for a specific award, you'll first need to work out which award that is. Each Kingdom will have the list of awards made available in a different way. In Lochac, the best source is the Canon Lore website. When you've worked out which award it is, you should also make sure that they don't already have it (in Lochac, this too is done via the Canon Lore website).

There are a multitude of ways in which you can deliver your recommendation to the Crown, but of all of them, I'd recommend two things. First, do it in the way that's preferred by the recipient, because having it in Their preferred format makes it easier on Them, and if They're in a better mood, They're more likely to be receptive to your recommendation. Second, unless They've specifically requested otherwise, it should most likely be done in writing, because They already have enough things to remember, and your recommendation might be easily forgotten.

When writing a recommendation, remember to focus on the positives, describing the good works done by the individual. It can be tempting to point out that they've been skipped over, perhaps muse upon politics causing them to be ignored... but this is more likely to do harm than good. So too with expressing negative opinions about the fact that they've yet to receive this award, whatever it is. Extol their virtues and fields of endeavour, and convince the Crown that they are worthy of whichever award you've chosen to recommend them for.

Finally, remember that you don't actually need to have received the award in question before submitting a recommendation for someone else to receive it. Indeed, you don't even need to have received an Award of Arms before recommending someone to the Peerage - however keep in mind that the Peerages, along with any other Polling Orders which may exist in your Kingdom, are a complicated matter, and one on which I am yet to qualify to speak in any great detail. The shorter version is that the members of an Order consider possible candidates, and recommend them to the Crown. Recommendations from the populace for the Peerage are more akin to suggestions to that Order that a particular individual may be worth considering.