Treatises
The
following two articles are more just my opinion or perspective on
things. They might also be called 'small treatises'. I wrote them a
very long time ago. They may be useful yet. Please, please, remember
gentle reader that they are my own opinions and that I am trying to
convey or make something intangible into something that is tangible.
~I thank you most
humbly~
The
above are some of the virtues that were part of the Middle Ages. As we
are members of the Current Middle Ages, they should be part of our
play. Each one of us is responsible in striving to do these: to be
courteous, to be considerate, and to be thoughtful.
We should portray these qualities when relating to one another, to new
members, and especially nonmembers. To modern day people it is
refreshing to be treated with kindness and respect. For new members, it
is something to emulate. For veterans, it is something to model and
this can be a challenge but it is still and always to be practiced at
meetings, demos, all other events, or wherever we are for that matter.
We must put ourselves in others’ shoes, so to speak. We should share
information freely with others and properly credit their ideas. If they
have something to share, do not take for granted they want to share it
with everyone else, check with them first. Common sense can be a
wonderful guide in our treatment of others. Doing things for others
without asking when you see they need something.
Whenever you’re doing something or have a great idea in a particular
area, notify or discuss it with the people or officer it may affect.
They would appreciate this a good deal.
By helping our brother or sister when they’re in need, without
hesitation, without expecting a return, we do ourselves service in
regards to our honor and those that are directly affected by our
actions.
TOP
The Magic of the Society
by
Lady Alys de Trois Rivières
<>In
this Society we have had such phrases used as "The Dream" or "A Game".
Games are meant to be fun. Dreams imply sleepiness, to me. But that’s
not what I will be talking about to you today.
I will be discussing what I call the magic that I have witnessed and
even personally experienced in years gone by and these things have made
it a very special place, indeed.
Newcomers marvel at it and have been in awe of it. Old timers, some,
might take it for granted, or, depending upon the area they could miss
it.
Look around and you might see a lord taking a lady’s hand to kiss it
out of respect for the fairer sex after seeking permission first while
never allowing her hand to go above her shoulder, rather stooping or
bending low to avoid such a situation.
Or watch as a lord asking, in a most courtly manner, consent of a lady
to escort her to where she wills. Then watch as she most graciously and
kindly accepts his offer. The lord then offers her his left hand upon
which she places her right hand, together, held out at a comfortable
height for the lady. Continue and you will see them conversing quietly
as they walk along matching his stride to her smaller one.
Wandering a little more now and catch a glimpse as a lady proffers an
armoring fighter her favor to inspire him to combat in a most
chivalrous and honorable fashion.
Go and watch in another area and behold an armored warrior on bended
knee to fetch a little girl's hair tie. Then continue to watch as
he most grandly and with great chivalry asks to carry it and attaches
said hair tie to his shield arm and vows to fight his next battle for
her honor. After proceeding to "vanquish" his opponent very
bravely and valiantly, he goes down on his knee again to kiss said
little gentle's hand and returns her hair tie to her thanking her for
inspiring him to win.
Listen to the ebb and flow of the conversation around you. Not everyone
will bespeaking forsoothly but there will be one or two doing so with
deference, kindness, courtesy, and gentleness.
Hand kissing, escorting a single lady, and favor exchanges are part of
the magic. I call them this because I have seen these in practice and
experienced them. They were done in such a formal and heartfelt way
that how could not one feel in a very tangible way that you were truly,
if very fleetingly, transported to another time and place. The feelings
are very real and, to me, thus making it real magic. It is not a dream
or a game at this point. Or a hobby. It is much more than that.
When I have viewed close up and personal the virtues being practiced in
the Current Middle Ages, I could almost touch them and hold them like a
staff or a cup. I wished for the ability to put them in a bottle to
share with everyone.
Observing the virtues in action is part of what makes us unique and
stand apart from the other re-enactors, re-creationists, and the live
historians. We not only try to bring back some of the sciences and
arts, we try to bring the very fabric of the cultures that we study.
It is my most fervent wish to see it always remain thus.
WELCOME TRAVELER, MY OFFICE, or
THE MAP ROOM
This page and all other
pages found herein on this site were designed by Alys de Trois Rivieres
herself and as such they are maintained and updated by her as time
allows. Her hand last touched this page on April 02, 2005.