ST Geroge's Faire 2010

What is St George's Tourney?

St George's Faire 2010

The Ordinaunces,Statutes
and Rules of St. George's Faire

To all honourable Men at Armes,
and Knight Adventurers of hereditarie
Note, & examplarie
Noblesse, that for most memorable
actions doe wield either
Sword or Launce in Quest of glorie:

A general Challenge, at Tilt,
Tourney, and Barriers,
these Ordinaunces & Statutes ,
In defence of these Propositions:

• That in Service of Ladyes, Knights have
no free will.

• That it is Beautie which maintains the
World of Valour.

• That no fare Ladie was ever false.

(Harleian ms. Vol. III, p. 215, cod. 4888,
Art. 20, 1612)

What is St. Georges Tourney, you ask?
By: HL Seannach Mac Lochlainn

"You've never been to St. Georges Tourney?"
"What is it?"
"Aaah," I sigh. "To me, it is the dream made real, as real as mere mortals can
produce." I reply.
"Tell me more."
So I shall.

Picture this, then: a sweet spring day with gentle breezes blowing clouds across
the Trimarian blue sky. You look out at the brightly colored pavilions ringing
the lyst field, their banners and pennants fluttering in the wind, and try to pick
your favorite from among them - for one will win a prize for Best Heraldic
Display.   The competition must be in earnest, for there are more beautiful
pavilions than you've seen since war!

The Fighters' highly polished armor gleams in the sun as they prepare for the
tourney, assembling painted shields and donning new heraldic surcotes. Your
eye is caught by the fluttering of silken veils as beautiful Ladies in their fine
gowns visit among the pavilions, where the Fighters bow to kiss the hand of the
Ladies who offer wishes of good fortune.   There is much flirting and coy
laughter between the Ladies and the Fighters, for courtly love is the ideal of
this day.

You see that there is a table aside the lyst field where amazing handmade
crested helms with their feathers, horns, animals and flowers of all sizes and
styles wait to be judged by the Ladies. Each Lady has in her possession a red
rose that she will pin to the helm of her choice - and the Fighter with the most
roses will win one of the coveted prizes assembled in the hall.

You watch as the Fighters and Consorts process the lyst field in their finest
regalia, the Fighters being led by their Ladies on chains or cords looking as if
they have stepped from the pages of history.   In 13th century fashion these
same Ladies act as judges and present the Prizes. As the tourney begins you are
surprised to see that the men who fight in the tourney do not fight as usual with
killing blows to the head and the taking of arms and legs; rather they strive to
knock the crest off the other Fighter's helm with a greater degree of grace and
delicacy than usual. Acts of Chivalry abound all around you both on the field
and off, and in general it is a celebration of the best of the Middle Ages.

Between bouts you watch as each Lady and her Fighter make their way to all of
the pavilions encircling the tourney field, extending greetings and giving a
small gift to honor the other Ladies. In this way the Fighter and his Consort
both practice the Virtues of Chivalry, Honour and Largesse. The gifts are
small, but in-period and in good taste: velvet pouches of sea salt or other
spices of the realm, small bottles of flavored honey, fresh flowers with
ribbons, hand-dipped candles, scented oils in pretty vials, hand-made items
and gifts from history all of which contribute to the illusion that you have
travelled back in time to a more noble era.

You hear cheering and laughter by the crowd around you, and see that a
Fighter was successful in knocking his opponents crest off. The Ladies bestow
compliments and favors of their own to the Fighters who please their eye, and
the merriment continues until one Fighter remains triumphant, and he will be
awarded the prize for Champion of the Tourney.

The crested helm tourney is finished, but this day is far from over. You find
that you are served a bountiful and tasty lunch before you hurry to attend the
Bocce Tournament that you signed up for (there are only 16 players allowed).
It seems so simple: you are given a colored ball to toss toward a target ball, and
the one who gets closest wins points - unless someone else knocks your ball
away. It's easy to see why this game became such an obsession in the Middle
Ages that it was prohibited! The laughter continues as this seemingly easy but
surprisingly challenging game tests your skill and stamina far into the day until
one of the teams emerges victorious and takes the coveted St. Giles Cup.

As the afternoon wears down you attend court beside the beautiful lake. There
many awards and prizes are given out in celebration of the virtues shown by all
today, followed by a bountiful feast. Courtly love and dancing continue on into
the night, completing a day that you will fondly remember forever.