[TY] Defense of the Crown

[j.l.jackson hartel]

Greetings Ansteorrans!
I have been following the "Fencing Ban" from Meridies since it began.  Here
is a post that all should read.  Before anyone from our kingdom goes off
half-cocked please get more facts on the whiole issue.

In service to Ansteorra but with friends in Meridies...

Moriel^^^

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>
>To the gentlefolk of Meridies
>
>>From Baron William de Montegilt
>
>Good greetings!
>
>Among the duties of a peer are to defend the Crown when necessary, and
>also to advise them.  It is the first of these about which I write at
>this time.
>
>It should come as no surprise that I am disappointed in the Crown's
>decision concerning period rapier combat in Meridies.  However, I wish
>to make some observations concerning duty and service, the two pillars
>of the concept of fealty.
>
>Fealty was historically the exchange of land for military service and
>mutual protection.  As practiced in Meridies, and throughout the SCA,
>it is the protection of the rights of the populace by the Crown, in
>exchange for respect and service from the populace.
>
>There is also the concept of noblesse oblige, the obligations of the
>noble.  This dates (at least) to biblical times.  It is the
>responsibility of the noble to see that the retainers are taken care
>of.  A person lacking this attribute may be entitled to wear the
>trappings of nobility, but is not noble.
>
>In the case at hand, the Crown has stated that the actions taken were
>done to protect the physical well-being of the populace.  This is
>consistent with both the concepts of fealty and noblesse oblige.  In
>fact, the Crown has a duty to take such action, if it believes the
>subjects of the kingdom to be endangered.
>
>The Crown also stated a number of other reservations about the
>experiment in period fencing in Meridies, They also stated, however,
>that these would not have caused them to end the experiment early.
>
>What it comes down to is that the Crown, believing that period
>fencing unreasonably endangered the populace was required by duty to
>act to remove the danger.
>
>This next part is opinion.  I have seen a variety of comments from
>people with various criticism of the way the matter was handled.
>Generally, this is healthy.  Both the King and Queen, as well as the
>Earl Marshall are clearly on the record as being opposed, personally,
>to period fencing.  Gentles, there is nothing wrong with this.  They
>are as entitled to their personal opinions as much as I am to mine,
>or you are to yours.
>
>It would be both unwise and wrong for a Crown to act solely on
>existing biases to take action detrimental to constructive efforts
>of the populace.  It would, in fact, be a violation of the Crown's
>promise "to reward that which is given, fealty with love...".  To
>use their non-ceremonial titles, I am not willing to believe that
>Mistress Rhiannon, or Sir Gareth, or Sir Robert Glendon of Auk sat
>around trying to find a pretext on which to end an activity that
>they did not care for.
>
>Each of these people have served the kingdom, honorably, over time
>and in various capacities.  Their efforts on behalf of the kingdom
>have been constructive and they have given heavily of themselves
>and their substance.  Their record of service, individually and
>collectively, simply does not bear out a conclusion of taking action
>out of simple malice or unreasoned prejudice.
>
>Now, concerning the second duty of a peer, to advise the Crown.
>Their Majesties asked for comments in writing, in the message they
>posted to the Tavern Yard.  By asking for such comments, they
>indicate a willingness to receive them.
>
>While I am quite certain that the Crown has a firm opinion upon
>the subject of period fencing, I am equally certain that they are
>sufficiently open-minded that receipt of compelling, accurate
>information contrary to that upon which they based their decision
>would cause them to reconsider it.  Such information would also be
>helpful to the Crown Prince and Princess in  reaching their own
>conclusions on the issue of period fencing in Meridies.
>
>For my part, I have been gathering information I feel will be helpful
>to the Crown and the Coronet.  It is my intent to discharge my duty
>by sending it to them within the next few days.  As I believe that
>informed discussion of this issue is healthy for the kingdom, I will
>also post it here *AFTER* I have sent the actual letters to the
>royalty.  I suggest that other interested parties follow a similar
>course of action.
>
>I apologize for the length of this message, and know I am ever,
>
>Yours in Service this XIII Octobris, A.S. XXXI
>
>William
>
>