"By the code of valor must all combat be governed, when brave men and true on the field of battle meet. If there is no valor, the thrust of the sword and the swing of the mace are extinct in meaning and bring no honor."
Let all princes, lords, barons, knights and squires of the Shire of Caer Adamant, Kingdom of the East, and all others of whatever marches that are in the Known World, who are not banished or enemies of the king our lord, may God save him, know that on the 30th day of the month of August, in the Shire of Caer Adamant at Swamp Thyng there will be a very great festival of arms and a very noble tourney with rattan wasters, in appropriate armor, with mantles and crests, coats of arms, as is the ancient custom. And it shall have twice in meaning first shall be the overall victor, second if the over all victor does not reside within the jurisdiction of the Shire of Caer Adamant, the highest finishing resident of the shire shall be titled Champion of the Shire of Caer Adamant.
All Combatants are encouraged to submit letters of intent prior to the 25th day of August. Letters of intent shall be sent to shireherald@aol.com, and shall be displayed for all to see. (If you heed help with a letter of intent. please see the link)
Prizes for the Pas: Overall winner shall receive an etched granite slab to commerate his win, The Shire Champion shall receive a scroll and the Shire Champion Tabard, An Emerald shall be awarded to the combatant that strikes the best blow of the day: a Ruby shall be awarded to the combatant that shows the best death of the day: a Diamond shall be awarded to the combatant that stays the longest in the list without falling
Duties of the Combatant: To fight for the honor of a Lady of the Gallery, to comport himself in a chivalrous and honorable manner, to engage the services of a Herald and adorn said Herald in a tabard with his arms, to hide any mundanity upon his person, and to display his best tournament armor and banners.
Duties of the Ladies: To be the grace that inspires greatness, to attend to the contests so they may collectively determine the most valiant and most chivalrous, to call to task those who have displeased and to compliment good deeds.
Duties of the Heralds: To speak truly of the great prowess of his employer, to assure the combatant is correctly entered into the lists, and to issue challenges as directed, in his most eloquent manner
The Passes: First shall be a grand Melee. The list field will then be divided into two lists the first shall consist of a field with a barrier, the second shall be an open field.
Passes over the barrier: Shall be done through a challenge set forth. There shall be not set number of passes per combatant. Passes over the barrier shall be of the following, single broadsword, mace, Danish axe or great sword. All shall be of matched weapons and shall be of five counted blows. All passes here done with single hand weapons shall require the combatants to hold on place on the barrier his off hand. Should the hand leave the barrier the combatant shall be considered in surrender of the pass.
Passes in the Open Field: Shall be done through a challenge set forth. There shall be not set number of passes per combatant. All passes in the open field shall be fought with the same weapons as the barrier save sword and shield, and shall be fought till one combatant falls.
Judges of the Pas: There shall be four judges of the Pas. They shall judge the combatants on Chivalry, Puissant Skill at Arms, and Wisdom. They shall confer with the results from the Mistress of the Lists, to decide the winner and Shire Champion.
Ladies of the Pas: There shall be five Ladies of the Pas representing Chivalry, Prowess, Wisdom, Innocence and Justice. Each lady shall posses a token: these tokens shall be. awarded to combatants in Passes over the barrier. Each lady may at her discretion award her token to a combatant that best displays these virtues in any pass over the barrier
Entry of the Combatants: After each combatant has passed through the MOL and Armour inspection, his helm, shield and banners shall be displayed on the field so that the ladies, lords and all present may view them. The herald of the Pas shall cry the name of each combatant as he passes his crest, so that all may know who he is. When all have been displayed and viewed, the retiring Champion of the shire shall choose both lord defendant and lord appellant. The remaining combatants through drawn lots shall take up place with either the Lord Defendant or the Lord Appellant. Upon completion of this all combatants will gather at the barrier. The herald of the Pas shall say: “High and powerful barons, knights, squires, and lords, each and every one of you, please raise your right hand on high, towards the saints, and all together, as you will in the future, promise and swear by the faith and promise of your body, and on your honor, that you will strike none of your company at this tourney knowingly with with a blow below the belt, and that no one will attack or draw on anyone unless it is permitted, and also that if by chance someone's helm falls off, no one will touch him until he has put it back on, and you agree that if you knowingly do otherwise you will be banished from the tourney; also to observe the orders of the judges in everything and everywhere as they order delinquents to be punished without argument; and also you swear and promise this by the faith and promise of your body and on your honor.”
The Herald of the Pas shall then ask the five ladies of the Pas to come forth saying: "Very noble and redoubted knight, Baron (or very noble and gentle squireor lord), as it has always been the custom of ladies and damsels to have compassion, those who have come to see the tourney that will be held one hour before noon, fearing that some gentleman who has done ill out of simplicity may be chastised too heavily by the demands of justice, and not wishing to see anyone beaten very hard, regardless of who he is, unless they can help him. The ladies have asked the judges to assign to them a famous, wise, and notable knight or squire who, more than all others, deserves the honor of carrying on their behalf this veil on the end of a lance at the tourney. And if someone is too severely beaten, the knight or squire will touch his crest with the veil, and all those beating him must stop and not dare touch him: because from that hour forward, the ladies have taken him under their protection and safeguard. You have been chosen above all others at this tourney to be their knight (or squire) of honor, and undertake this charge, and they ask and require you to do as they wish, and so do the judges.” The ladies shall then choose the most gentle and chivalrous combatant. Then the ladies should give him the veil, asking him to do this; and after, the knight (or squire) kisses them, and then answers them as follows:
“I humbly thank my ladies and damsels for the honor it has pleased them to do to me: and although they could easily have found others who could do this better, and who merit this honor more than I, nevertheless I obey the ladies freely and will do my loyal duty, asking always that they forgive my mistakes.” The veil shall be tied around the sword arm of the chosen. The Herald of the Pas shall then cry: “Let all lords, barons, knights and esquires know that ------. has been chosen by the ladies to be knight, Baron (or squire or lord) of honor, because of his honor, courage, and gentleness. You are commanded by the judges, and the ladies also, that when you see this knight (or squire) this day lower this veil over some one of you who is being beaten for his misdeeds, no one should dare to beat or touch him; from that hour the ladies have taken him under their protection and mercy, and this veil is called The mercy of ladies.
The Herald of the Pas shall then say: “High and noble princes, counts, lords, barons, knights and squires who will be taking part in this tourney: I am to tell you on behalf of the judges that each of you must be in the lists within the hour, armed and ready for the tourney, because at one hour before noon the judges will cut the ropes to begin the tourney, where there will be rich and noble gifts given by the ladies."
At the hour of the list all shall process in to the list field which has had the barrier and divider removed: each shall have with him all his retainers. All shall salute the crowns of the East, the ladies whose favour they do bear, the ladies of the Pas. They shall then avail themselves to either Lord Defendant or Lord Appellant and prepare for a Grand Melee a’pied held to the last man standing. Once completed the divider and the barrier shall be replaced and thus shall begin the passes.