Squires

[Fox Purtill]

At 10:54 AM 11/2/95 PST, you wrote:
>Do you make your squire's belt or do you ask them to make it themselves?

Ches, although we never quite seem to see things eye-to-eye I'll respond as
a squire.  I received my first belt from my knight in 1980.  It got lost in
a move and his lady replaced it for me.  That one was destroyed by water
damage and i have yet to provide a suitable replacement (I have a custom one
planned).

>What kind of artwork do you put on the belt, your device - their device -
kingdom?

On my belt at the tip of the tongue is a symbol related to my knights
device, I have seen in Caid and the west a few that have a kingdom icon &
their knights device, and I have seen those that are un-marked.

>Do you have a ceremony for the belting?

In my own case, there was no cerimony, but that was 15 years ago.

>What do you look for in a squire?

Heh, I feel funny answering this one.  Dedication.  A squire is dedicated in
many ways.  Fighting and the art of fighting.  Persistance and the ability
to keep trying even at great odds.  Friendship, a squire is a close personal
bond with his knight.  They have to work together and learn from each other,
these two will be in close situations and events for many years.  Honor to
duty and civility, I no longer have a knight because he died, however this
does not preclude me from the duties I was charged with.  I am his squire
'til death take me or the world end' as the oath I took goes.  Well, I'm
still alive and it appears to be the same world.  I am his squire and shall
do duty in his name.
This is not as easy as it may sound, what duties do you do for someone who's
not there?  Some knights (or non-knights) go to events and they have
squires, sometimes the squire is unable to attend, I try to fill in that gap
for my fellow squires in aiding that knight or fighter as best I can and
still discharge other household or event duties I may have.  I must dedicate
myself to service of the group as a whole and to any station or office I may
hold and I do so in honor to my knight.  To serve thoe whole is to serve him.

>How many squires do you limit yourself to? 

My knight had only one, but he did speak of 3 as the most he could deal with.

>How do you feel about Knights that have too many squires?

I feel that the squires may not be fully able to benefit from service if
there are too many.  Part of being a squire is knowing you are the chosen of
a knight and therefor special, it is somewhat defeating to be 'just another
squire' of a throng.

>And, what constitues too many squires?

That can only be up to what the knight is looking for IN a squire.  If the
knight is in a Household of squires the more the better for him, but it
loses the charm for the individual squire.  My own knight said 3 would max
him out, so I think 2 would be best and when one gets promoted get another
and start anew and watch how your own treat THEIR new squire(s).

----
You can lead a horse to water, but we make you drink

Lord Squire elitist-militant-waterbearer Crispin Lechtscaerpne Starblade
Bryn Gwlad - Ansteorra - House Starblade (aka-Fox Anton Purtill)
blackfox at eden.com | starblad at eden.com |  {anyname}@trueblue.com)