• pay up and get storage unit contents
• purchase tent (Panther Regency?)
• make/check tent poles for tent, along with ropes
• purchase horse trailer(?)
• clean armour
• restrape armour
• blue armor (puchase of tank/torch)
• organize armour packaging
• redo cloasure on bar grill  basinet
• roll front edges on vambraces (trim down a bit?)
• repair/fix guantlets
• nix padding for padded liner (period style) both helms
• purchase aventail/camails X2 and install
• ? of voiders and skirt or habergon – looks like habergon is right
• jupon or arming coat
• spiff up some garb
• make a new piece or two of garb (better stuff)
• order chuasses and braies
• use above to pattern a few more
• order turn shoes
• make chamfron and crinit (w/ eye protection)
• get saddles/tack out, clean and oil
• get bottles for cordial
• bottom cordial (simple syrup 2:1?)
• labels for cordial?
• ride a bunch on Jack and some on Angel
• fix one suitcase
• make a choice about 1350-60 versus 1390-1400?
• make a sheild, heater curved opposite (jousting)
• make side/back plates for churburg #13, strap, use…

I used the graphic above because I am pretty sure that I if I do one thing a day I will be pretty close to completion by the time GW rolls around.  Keep in mind the list is kind of crude at this point, like garb for instance needs to be broke down more into what specifically are goals for the war and listed out separately.

I suppose because of the sheer volume of the number of such books made and lack of really anything new or profound in them, while some are pricey, for the most part they are not excessively out of range.  For instance, the page above, one of the more extravagant that I have seen was priced less the $1000 and I have seen several actually sold in the $100-150 range, especially with less artwork.  My point with that pricing is it is not completely out of my own range and I have thought about acquiring a few of these beautiful works.

My thoughts run something like this, they are for sale.  I like them.  I like the period in general.  I am  likely never going to be able to afford a piece of armor or something from the period.  Clearly not something museums are very interested in given the volume of them already in museums and the lower prices indicate if they wanted they would pursue them.

But then the thing that stopped me before, was as it was pointed out to me by a friend, with a major in historic preservation – something is being destroyed in the process and spread to the winds.  Namely the book from which the pages are taken.  Of course, reality is I suspect in most cases the pages were taken from the books years ago.   But then there is the question of the ones that maybe are not already apart and by making such a purchase is there a promotion of such defiling behavior?  Does it make the next person who finds one in grandma’s attic decide to carefully remove the pages one by one?

And then my thoughts turn to I would care for it and cherish and probably leave it with some organization that would display it on my ultimate demise.  And I also think that if I saw a complete prayer book at a price I could afford that would be a good thing instead, of course the likelihood of that is pretty slim, both based on what I have seen and probably because of just the fact the price point of individual pages leads to easier sales over an entire book.  And that furthers the argument against single pages.

Anyway, just curious from those of you out there and what your thoughts on the matter are?

** – page from a Book of Hours, circa 15th century, listed on eBay several weeks ago

To begin, a bit of background about the term.  A lot of historians prefer to not use the term renaissance as a description for a specific time period, but rather as the time when society began to once again seek answers to questions and pursue methods beyond.  A number of the great thinkers that we associate with the renaissance and enlightened thinking are precisely why we call someone who thinks own there own and outside of the current world view a true renaissance man in todays nomenclature.

Further, a fair number of historians, instead of defining the period by timelines, again prefer to define the pursuit of the classics.  From my own very limited reading on the the subject a great number tend to define it as the time when the local scholars began to turn back to Latin for both science and math, and to some extent even the humanities like plays the theater and poetic writings.  Of course other scholars argue that the relative ease and even common availability of Latin works on such subjects and the turning  back to is not really a renaissance.  They would instead argue that the renaissance is much more closely defined as the time when the scholars exhausted the Latin resources and turned to the Greek, especially in regards to the arts and humanities.  They will note that by the late medieval times, most knowledge of Greek language had been lost and this required interaction with the Byzantine Empire and a rather large learning curve.

All of that aside though, most of us are much more apt to define it as a specific time period, specifically associated with both a rediscovery of classical art forms and scientific methods, in associate with exploration and expansion on all the concepts.  But even that definition leaves us with plenty of room to haggle about things, as each country or area of Europe seemed to have this process, for various reasons, occur at different times.

Simply put, there is clear evidence that most all would agree the concepts of the renaissance occurred first in Italy.  More specially those changes tend to take place in Florence before any other place.  There are many arguments as to the possible cause of this ranging from the support of the various families trying to out do the others, especially as the Medici came to power.  Another is of course the various artists and such vied for the attention and subsequent support of the powerful families that it spurred the rapid development of the art forms.  Regardless the typical date of the start is 1350, though I have seen as early as 1300 and a lot of 1380, 1390, and even 1400 dates suggested.   Clearly, this would say in Italy and Florence in particular the renaissance started in the 14th century.  As an additional note, it is typically considered as continuing up through about 1550.

Skipping over to the place that I know the history a bit better, in England the renaissance was a much later happening.  A lot of people would give the beginning date as 1485, very late in the 15th century and coinciding with the Henry VII taking the thrown and the end of the War of the Roses and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, most closely associated with the English renaissance.  Many more would argue though, that the renaissance begins with Henry VIII coming to the throne in 1509, suggesting his father was more of a transitional figure.  And a few others would say it really does not flourish in England until roughly Henry’s break with the Church of Rome at a later date.  Regardless this put the date clearly in the early 16th century.   Of interesting note, is unlike in Italy where the focus was much more on painting and sculpture as art, here the focus was much more on writing, theater, and such as that from an artistic standpoint.  Clearly the greatest association with the English renaissance is the very stable reign and great support of the arts during the Elizabeth I time on the throne.  Most would argue an end to the renaissance between 1620 and 1650, though most will go with the later date.

History lesson over, any questions?

** – picture of Henry VIII, note not obese, but a much younger and very stout Henry and not a turkey leg, but as originally painted, a glove!

In conjunction with that, there are a few things that I am hoping to get updated here on the site this weekend coming up.  As I get those done, I think I will come back here and check them off as a list type of thing and add to this post.  By the way, if you have suggestions shot, I am always open on that kind of thing.  Lastly, I am also looking for other sites of a medieval/historical re-enactment type to link to from here, especially blogs, but not exclusively.

Before I start describing the events, one thing I left out previous was the huge as long as forever wait the day before.  Then once everyone was lined up, we had to do this pair off and shake hands.  Hmmm, maybe I did mention it.  Anyway… the anticipation and even some of the early reporting indicated a second round of such time delay and pretty much pointless delay.  Of course, this did not happen.  But because of the prophecy their were, I am guessing a lot of VIP fighters that were not present and we still took forever to get started with the open field battles.

So, when we eventually started the field battles it was awesome.  It was a lot more fluid and required a lot more attention to where the lines were to stay in the right place and hence alive.  Lines, once engaged generally become a swirly mass, but watch the flanks if anything should become open.  I am going by a sketchy memory.  I do know all the following happened, but I do not recall the exact battles in which things occurred.  Oh, and today, we (being myself and a couple of good friends) were fighting with the Barony of Phoenix today, though in most cases Stalgheist was still pretty close to where we were most of the day.

So what I believe was the first battle, we pretty much closed and I was kind of in the pack for sometime.  I aggressively made my to an opening where people I knew where hotly contested and pretty  much took about one swing, one block and did not get my big fat slow head out of way and was dead almost before  it started, but definitely before things went in earnest.

In the second battle, which is when I think we switch sides and direction that we were working the field, there was a lot of movement on our side, but a seeming refusal on the other part to engage.  We would creep up a bit, and stop.  Our unit was in reserve on the near extreme right of the line so it promised to be a long time.  At some point, when we were over halfway across the field, someone gave the command for our reserver to oblique to the center behind a gradual forward move and when we hit the middle of our line there was going to be charge in mass.   The battle furry must have taken over, as I don’t know if I center looked weak before that or not, I suppose it did.  But as we crashed into the opposing line, which had barely moved the end of the field at the moment if impact we broke them.  From there, we rolled to the right, basically doing a classic envelope of the exposed flank that was formerly their center.  In the swirl isolated pockets were destroyed.

As the remains turned, there was some pockets to the left, but our own left had been pushed hard.  We turned and took on the resistance in pockets to our left, often find just a few opposing fighters nearly surrounded.  I am not sure of kills, but I hit several what should have been good blows in this sequence.  Now I unit was working back across the field on the left side from whence we had originally came.  Eventually it become a mop up job of victory, when  horse would have been a nice asset.

The third battle of the day, after a LONG delay (or was between the 1st and 2nd?) for someone to be knighted on the field was similar to the second one.  Though the tactics did not work out the same.  Somewhere in this battle, I know our until engaged and for a moment it seemed liked we were going to push them easily.  Then all the sudden a surge on the oppose side as we swirled to nearly 90 degrees of our original facing.  I knew those shields… who are they.  Oh yeah, that is House EbonWolfe and that is indeed Duke Logan.  (The same that as the spears and who I have see in tournaments, so fast, so hard hitting, and just in general, awesome).  Boom, I was hit.  Guess I was paying to much attention the Duke who was not really close to my own front.  As I went down, boom, boom, boom – wanted to make sure I was dead and going to take it.  Do not even thing it a house EbonWolfe that hit me, but it was a spear or maybe a pole-arm on the extra blows.  What a pretty bruise that left that showed up a few days later.  And glad the next day we had a general break, as I am not sure I could have lifted my shield.

The video is just funny and great and the very light editing that has been done leaves it even funnier.   Anyway, the shafts are fiberglass with a wood grain embedded in the surface.  It makes them look a LOT better.  Additionally, they are available in a slightly heavier version that, as evidenced by the video, makes them just a little bit harder to break.  They are also available in a regular wall thickness at a similar weight to a typical fiberglass spear shaft.

What is more, as we use fiberglass lances when tilting at the quintain on the equestrian side of things, I have inquired about getting 10′ lengths for such purposes.

** – picture is credit to Christophe de Frisselle, aka Chris Fraser, an inspiring spear to say the least.

UPDATE:  His Grace, Duke Logan has indicated he can make 10′ and 12′ lengths available, but would have to cut them down to ship (as the limit is apparently just under 9′.   However, I going to get some heavy and some for equestrian and I am seeing about if he is heading this way.  If I got enough interest I would even drive to Atlantia and pick them up.  I know several people might like to get them from here in the Midrealm, so let me know.

I made my way over at a good early hour, as I had not managed to get over and get an inspection prior and I did not want to get stuck in a line and miss out on anything waiting for an inspection.  What a mistaken idea on my part.  Anyway, inspection was quick, easy, and of not pain at all.  It was a very nice process and very well organized.  Given the number of those being done I was rather impressed with it.  I will note, the green paint on my black sword guards was a bit if a pain, but the open faced beater basinet getting a sticker was fine – would have to think twice on the other one though.

Then I made my way to some folks I knew and after some introductions and willingness to have me, decided to fight with part of Stalhgiest for the time being.  I had a couple of friends who are squired to a knight in the household so it made a good deal of sense as a beginner at this level to do that.  I was ready to go, pumped and had sword at the ready, helm on (since it is a bit of a pain to get all set), and sword on arm.  After about fifteen minutes past the start time I ditched that and chilled out.  Another eon went by, and then someone decided we needed to form lines and pair with someone for the other side.  What a forever long process and in the end, no one was sure what the reason behind it all was.

After what did seem another eon, we finally were able to start and we had one of the center bridges.  As we got close to the bridge, but still no where near an engagement I realized just how much of a press we were going to have.  For those not familiar with, as a shield guy my job is to protect those spear guys working over my shoulders and such, once we get up close enough in the land.  Generally, the idea of a sword guy getting a kill is not likely, short of a big surge forward.

Eventually the time came and I was front.  I think I made a decent showing before going down.  At that point, one begins to realize in a battle just how much bodies could pile up.  You read about such descriptions in the history and think little about it and even dismiss it.  But a limited front, where else can the bodies go.  And so there I was on the bottom and a battle going on over my head, until a couple of other folks were dead on top of me.  Eventually, unlike the real warfare, a marshal called a hold and let the dead get from between the lines.

The battle was to be contested three times, so a bit of a break while the first was finished and then shortly after that, back to it.  This time a slightly different approach and different organization as we went  at it.  This time we were closer to the front.  In the battle, we first settled, and later surged and amazingly I was still alive.  I am pretty sure in the surge I had knocked a couple of folks off the side of the “bridge,” which was death to them.  Then a count I know in front of me was taken out and we were pressed so tight he could neither go down nor even move.  He did get out though, eventually.  Then we were pushed back and surged forward again, somehow I got a bit ahead and by the time someone yelled loud enough for me to get back in position (helmets are hard to hear in, especially with the rush of battle around) I was hit.  As I went down, I was hit again.

I get a little fuzzy – but I think the situation changed somewhat, but it was still a limited front next up.  I know in this one our tactics broke down or we just got beat.  This particular battle I think I got a kill before I went down myself, but I am not 100% sure that it was taken.  I went down though and had some  step on my grill as the ebb and flow took place and that twisted my helm nearly off.  Just as I was about to yell hold, someone above me must have seen and did so.

After I cleared out and got back to a safe point, I realized my gauntlet was missing the linkage on the thumb.  That blow I took on the way down had apparently broken the rivets.  Worse, I was missing a piece.  Later, along with some marshal friends of mine, I did find the piece.  Still not assembled though.

What a HUGE amount of fun the fighting was though.  I could hardly wait for the next day, despite the heavy shield and fatigue I was feeling at the moment.  So, in the evening, we spent some time having a good meal, lots of mead, and eventually wandered around pursuing various parties.  I suspect some of them where good fun, but the ones we pursued were more of deep amounts of drinking and probably lewd behaviors.  All in all that was a lot of fun as well and not something, with horses, I had gotten to pursue a lot at Gulf Wars.

Below is of course this upcoming schedule from roughly the first of November until Gulf Wars.  A couple of notes though, as Pennsic is officially on my radar now I suppose that will be the official midpoint in the future.  And while, I have not made any announcement to such effect at this point, I am already starting to think of equestrian events in the Midrealm for 2010 – so if you are one of those equestrian people – start giving it some thought.  I know I have heard some good ideas for some events.

Lastly, before jumping into the schedule, I am definitely planning on attending Gulf Wars this spring and I am hoping for a large turnout of Midrealm equestrians, hopefully some with horses.  I think I have volunteered to run the Emprise, given the abortive attempt this past spring.  I would like to start getting a head count and plan to make an announcement and put some plans together very soon.

On to my event schedule – and more details on the events, including websites and such can be found on Midrealm Calendar website.  I have made a note of what I am planning on doing at the event myself.

• Dec 7, 2009 – Christmas Tourney (Elizabethtown, KY)  -  fighting (heavy) in the tourney
• Feb 6, 2010 – Candlemas (Lexington, KY) – fighting in the tourney
• Feb 20, 2010 – Masque of Courtly Love/RUM (North Canton, OH) – try to fight heavy, but teaching equestrian
• Feb 27, 2010 – Winter’s End (Edgewood, KY) – not sure what is going, but will fight if that is in the offerings
• Mar 6, 2010 – Ceilidh XXII  (Dayton, OH) – fighting and stuff, getting ready to do Gulf Wars
• Mar 14-21, 2010 – Gulf Wars XIX (Lumberton, MS) – fighting, equestrian, partying, and more!

It is based on a battle that took place between France and England during a lull during the hundred years typically called the Combat of the Thirty.  It was fought between two side of thirty each and was to decide the succession of the Duchy of Britanny, though it failed in that endeavor.  It was fought both  by mounted and dismounted combatants.  Historically, after most were wounded, Guillaume de Montauban mounted his horse and overthrew that last of the English champions.

The basic idea is to take a very narrow time period and require that every participate has extremely appropriate armor for that time period.  It is also suggested that everyone be using a weapon format that would have been really appropriate for the time as well.

Then a slight twist on things from a normal SCA type of battle.  Instead of taking a wound as is the typical SCA battle scenario, armor does its job.  If it covered appropriately it protected.  However, three blows are stun and allows someone to capture you for ransom, but they in turn must escort you off the field.    If you take a blow in a vital area that is not protected, you are of course dead as to have been expected.

Seeing the combat was awesome from two perspectives.  First and foremost was just the grand spectacle of everyone in their mid 14th century kit with all the extra little nice touches.  Every weapon on the field had a very nice realistic look to it, along with armor that in most cases was nearly perfect for the time period.  Add in a several silk banners fluttering around the field and you get a really nice picture.

The second of course was just the great fighting that was present on the field.  It lasted for a good while with a good ebb and flow to things as it played out.  There were clearly several times when a ransom or not made an impact on things at the moment or even later in the battle.  Beyond that though, was the highly competitive level of things that were taking place on the field.

For me personally of course, there was also the several friends that were on the field.  They availed themselves well.  I am personally counted down the days to the next one and of course its counterpart at Gulf Wars in the spring.  Lastly, some video follows of this years combat – I am not sure but I think Garrett put this up.  Oh, and it on facebook, sorry if that bothers anyone.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1192557650066