(Long reply regarding chivalric philosophy) Re: Alexis's List

[Galen of Bristol]

Forgive the quote in full, but it's been awhile, and I've let this 
percolate through my brain a bit...

Baronman at aol.com wrote:
> 
>   Concerning all the work it take to become a knight in thus kingdom reminds
> me of  a list compliles by our baronial senacheal Ld. Alexis-  the list is
> compiled from a conversation he had  (supposedly) with an on looker at
> fighter practice.
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group.
> Alexis: You have to spend lots of money and get you armor together.
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together then I can be a knight?
> Alexis: No- you then have to come to fighter practice
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together and come to fighter practice, then I can be a knight?
> Alexis: No- you have to get noticed by a knight and become his squire.
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together and come to fighter practice, and become a squire, then I can be a
> knight?
> Alexis: No- you have to win some major tounaments and alot of minor
> tournaments before you can become a knight.
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together and come to fighter practice, and become a squire, and win alot of
> tournaments, then I can be a knight?
> Alexis: No- you have to be voted upon by alot of other knights who all have
> to like you even though you have beaten them in the tournaments.
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together and come to fighter practice, and become a squire, and win alot of
> tournaments, and be voted upon by the other knights all of whom have to like
> me, then I can be a knight?
> Alexis: No-the King has to approve of you .
> Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group. When I get my armor
> together and come to fighter practice, and become a squire, and win alot of
> tournaments, and be voted upon by the other knights all of whom have to like
> me, and approved by the king, then I can be a knight? How long is this going
> to take?
> Alexis:About 2 to 10 years.
> Observer: Goodby---
> 
>                                                         Baron Bors
>                                                     ex- kight wannabe
>          soon to be ex- squire to Sir Ruric ( alias the party knight- now
> known as Ruric
>                        the invisable)  free at last- free at last-thank God
> I'm free at last 
Observer:  I would like to be a knight in your group.
Galen:	Why?
Observer:  Because I think it would be cool.
Galen:  Trust me:  if I can do it, it isn't cool.  Look at us, a bunch of
aging, often overweight guys, who have "laid down the melancholy burden of
our sanity", running around spouting pious and pompous speeches and pretending
that we're real "knights"!  That's not cool by any definition I ever heard.
Observer:  But it looks like fun!
Galen:  Which part?  The fighting?  Go fight!  You don't have to be knight
for that!  Get your armor together -- it won't even cost as much as many other
sports you might take up.  Duke Inman will still sell a helm, knee & elbow cops,
basket hilt and shield basket for just about $100 for new fighters.  The rest
you can make yourself.
Observer:  But isn't there more to it than that?  What about honor?  And
chivalry?
Galen:	What do you think those words mean, anyway?
Observer:  Well, I guess honor would have to do with being honest, and trying
to do things for other people, and chivalry would be ... what?  Is that like
good sportsmanship?
Galen:	Not a bad beginning.  Do you think you'd like to be with a group of 
people who respect your behaviour for being honorable and chivalrous?  Do you
think you'd respect yourself for always being like that?
Observer:  Always?
Galen:  You'd always need be doing your best to be honorable and chivalrous,
even when you're in a hurry, or tired, or drunk.  You can never say, "I don't
need to be like that _now_."
Observer:  Nobody can do that!
Galen:  Nobody can do it perfectly.  But anyone can try.  Some come closer
to success than others.  The question is, how successful can _you_ be?
Observer:  So, all the knights do that?  And are mostly successful?
Galen:  I wish I could tell you yes to that.  But the truth is, sometimes
a person gets knighted and stops trying; he thinks "I've made it, I'm 
chivalrous enough now."  Other times, someone who never really did try might
get knighted.  But just because they were knighted, doesn't mean they're 
knights, really.  Some would tell you that I'm not _really_ a knight, even
though I was knighted.  You'll have to learn to judge each knight for yourself,
to decide if he's really trying his best to be knightly; because that, more
than anything else, is what makes a person a knight.  The belt, the chain,
the ceremony, that's all for show; it doesn't change what you are.
Observer:  Only Superman could do that!
Galen:  Being a knight in the SCA is the closest thing I know to being
a comic book superhero, in many ways.  Belted circles often resemble a
meeting of the Justice League.
Observer:  Oh, please!  The Avengers at least!
Galen:  I told you it wasn't cool.
Observer:  So if I'm trying all the time to be as chivalrous and honorable
as I can, then can I be a knight?
Galen:  When you are not only trying, but succeeding as well as a knight
should succeed, and still trying harder, then I'll bring you up in the
circle myself.  If you've shown enough of the other knights that you are
already their equal on or off the field, and you're still trying to improve
yourself, they'll advise the king that it'd be a good idea to knight you.
If the king agrees, then he'll knight you.
Observer:  How long does this take?  
Galen:  That depends on you.  I've seen it done in three years.  A friend of 
mine just got knighted in another kingdom after 20 years of trying.  But the
hard part is after you're knighted.  Then you have to keep working to still
be more knightly, keep your skills up, and speak your mind whenever you see 
the circle going wrong, even if the rest of the knights disagree.  And some
people will tell you they look up to you, that you're the epitome of knighthood,
and others, including some knights, will say you never should have been
knighted, so you can never be sure how well you're doing, unless you can
say that you're doing your best.
Observer:  That's heavy!
Galen:  It is.  Tell you what:  don't worry about it now.  Let me get the
knight marshal over here, we'll get you into the loaner armor, and I'll give
you a lesson or two and see how you like the fighting.
Observer:  Sure!  That sounds great!


Bors -  

You guys have _got_ to quit letting cynical Seneschals -- or Barons -- talk
to your newcomers.  You'll lose more people that way...!

- Galen

-- 
Viscount Galen of Bristol, KSCA, CSM, etc.
Paul Mitchell, pmitchel at flash.net / "noblesse oblige"
http://www.flash.net/~pmitchel/galen.htm 
Visit the Ansteorra On-Line Award website at:
http://www.flash.net/~pmitchel/awards.htm