[TY] TYF - Summary (fwd)

[Matthew R. Popalisky]

light at the end of the tunnel :)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 16:34:08 -0600 (CST)
From: "David L. Backlin" <dbackli at comp.uark.edu>
To: mrp at engr.uark.edu
Subject: [TY] TYF - Summary (fwd)

NOT in order... may wish to sort before resending


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 20 Nov 96 20:48:00 GMT 
From: w.colbert2 at genie.com
Reply-To: meridies at web.ce.utk.edu
To: meridies at web.ce.utk.edu
Subject: [TY] TYF - Summary

CONCLUSION

Your Majesties, I have now addressed all of Your concerns.  It
should be clear that much of what You had assumed was simply
inaccurate.  To summarize:

One of the two incidents You cite never happened.  Measures are
being taken to prevent a re-occurrence of the other.  In fact,
the morning of November 7th, Lady Irene had purchased a small
bolt cutter and a file specifically so that damaged blades could
be marked destructively.

She was taking them to Fighter's Collegium to illustrate their
use on a broken blade in the fencing marshals' class, and to
encourage the other marshals to begin using them.  When such
equipment is in general use, as it will be shortly throughout the
Society, an incident caused by a fencer bringing a failed blade
to the field could never again occur.

Additionally, the analysis by Dr. Ernoehazy clearly reveals that
the safety of period fencing compares favorably to that of rattan
combat.

>>From the foregoing, it is plain that the issues of safety You
raised are in the first instance non-existant, and in the second
easily manageable.

Concerning Your other issues, it is plain from the record that
Your fencing marshals have done a superb job in introducing
period fencing, with heavy emphasis on safety, throughout Your
kingdom.  Interest in, and support for, period fencing is
widespread and growing.

At present, there are six groups with regularly scheduled fencing
practices.  As the number of fencing marshals continue to increase,
this number will increase as well.  Obviously a group cannot have
a fencing practice without the presence of a marshal.  Just ask
Novus Matisco.

Despite there being almost no one to hold fencing events at the
beginning of the year, about one-third of all events in Your
Kingdom prior to November 7th had fencing activities of one sort
or another.  Nearly two-thirds of the events on the calendar
after that date had scheduled fencing activities.  Your
Majesties, these are not being forced on any group.  The
seneschals and autocrats are requesting them.

As far as interest goes, counting the fencers who had authorized
but not received their cards, the numbers authorized in period
fencing now surpass all other marshallate activities except, of
course, rattan combat.  This has occurred within a period of ten
months.

If Your Majesties did have a fencing population target in mind,
none of the fencing marshals knew it.  Lady Irene originally
asked the Crown for that criterion as far back as January.  Sir
Robert Greenheart asked again this fall.  Thus far, no answer has
been forthcoming.

The equipment issue You raised seems to be a miscommunication
between the Crown and the Marshallate, or within the Marshallate
itself.

No reports are currently late.  The initial set of reports was
slightly late, but not so as to concern Your fencing marshal or
the Society's.

Finally, there was one procedural incident that was dealt with
within the framework of the marshallate.  This is the proper
place for it.  The individuals involved and their group received
and served a suspension as a result.  I cannot be certain that no
other incidents occurred, but there were certainly no other
official complaints.

Your Majesties, I have defended Your actions in making the
decision to abruptly terminate the fencing experiment for safety
reasons based on the information available to You at the time.
I did so in a highly public format; one which I know is frequented
by Her Majesty.

I take You at Your word.  You invited written comments, and I
have discharged my duty as a peer by providing them.  You stated
that You acted for safety reasons.  These have all now been
addressed.

Your Majesties, in consideration of Your Own words, and of the
manifold efforts and loyalty of so many of Your subjects, I
humbly request that You reinstate the period fencing experiment
in Your kingdom for its original duration.  I further request
that, upon completion of the experiment, You, in consultation
with Their Highnesses, Your Earl Marshal, and Your Marshal of
Fence fairly consider the report to be written in evaluation of
the experiment.  Those who have worked so hard to serve Your
kingdom deserve no less.

I swear before You that this information is as complete and
accurate as I have been able to make it.  I have made no attempt
to cover any potentially damaging information or to skirt any
issues.  Should Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, or my Lords
marshal have any concerns or questions, or require any
clarification as to the information I have presented here, I am
ever at Your service.

And please believe I write now in Service to the Crown and
Kingdom of Meridies, this XV Novembris, A.S. XXXI, being 1996,
Gregorian.





William de Montegilt
   Companion of the Pelican
   Baron of the Court
   Companion of the Argent Lily
   Companion of Compostella
   Sovereign's Pleasure
   Companion of the Red Raven
   South Downs Chivalry Medal