Bards - having influence.

[delaufyson at juno.com]

Greeting from Duke Jonathan,

When I joined the SCA some 23 years ago, The Corpora stated that any paid
member was Gentry, therefore petit nobility.  I expanded that view to
include everyone who played in Ansteorra. whether they were a paid member
or not.  I realize that I had probably over stepped my bounds, but I
justified this due to our requirements to enter Crown Tourney.  As anyone
could become Gentry by simplify paying their money and becoming a member,
 and membership was the most important requirement in order to fight in
Crown, I held that everyone who played was therefore Gentry and therefore
of noble birth.  To me this meant that everyone's blood was as " blue as
mine" and everyone was entitled to strive to be come the king or queen
and therefore should be treated with respect.  It had been a common motif
that most nobles in period had realities who did not have the title or
arms that their blood qualified them to have.   In other words, I felt
that if simply paying one's money made you petit nobility and eligible to
compete for the Crown, then you must have been petit nobility before you
paid your money.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.  I hope this is helpful.
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