NOTICE - This article was submitted by the author for inclusion in the Arts and Science Archives of the Barony of Dragon's Laire. Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author. While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first --- Thank you, Rycheza z Polska, webminster  Many Thanks to Their Excellencies Amanda and Gerhard Kendal for its inclusion here.

Chivalry and Etiquette

Reprinted with the permission of

Mistress Amanda Kendal, Master Gerhard Kendal

Definitions 

Courtesy ( or discourtesy) is a person's attitude toward his relationships with other people.  It is the Behavior of people who frequent courts.

Chivalry is conduct befitting a knight or someone in a martial situation.

Etiquette  is rules governing behavior:  Specific forms of behavior and courtesy for a given time and place … such as which fork to use.

 The basis of medieval courtesy 

Only the strong man can appear weak;  therefore a man should act with restraint to appear strong.

 The Three Heroic Virtues 

Loyalty - owed first to one's lord and one's own sworn word; faith to kin and friends; faith to one's Self-image as a man of honour.

Glory - the primary motive for conduct was the desire for praise or self-worthiness.

Generosity - < including the quality of mercy> for it is the mark of a man who is in no danger from his Opponent.  The ability and willingness to be generous were marks of a gentleman…and great Sources of glory.  < This virtue is very close to the 'barbaric' virtue of hospitality.>

 The refinements of the three virtues

 Douceur - Sweetness and gentleness;  "gentle" or gentile as opposed to the " simple" of the peasants

Joy - Cheerfulness and gaiety - " joie de vivre" --  the joy of life and living -- grace and vitality

Pity - the ability to empathize with another's misfortune.

Mesure - control;  the ability to display all the virtues with just the right degree in a reasonable manner.  What we would refer to modernly as "being cool".

Courtly Love  - as military chivalry diminished, courtly love grew, starting in the court of "Eleanor of Aquitaine".  It places the emphasis on both sexes:  a lady must be a worthy inspiration, a gentleman must be worthy to win her approval.  Wars were fought for feudal loyalty;  tournaments were fought for glory, to win favour in a ladies' eyes.

 The Society for Creative Anachronism

In the Society, the chief purpose of fighting is to gain the right to crown one's lady < whose beauty and virtues have given the strength to achieve victory> Queen of Love and Beauty, or perhaps even Queen or Princess of a Kingdom.

 Rules of courtesy in the Society

Primarily, attendance at an SCA event requires the participants to behave as ladies and gentlemen.

1.      Treat your inferiors in rank, knowledge or experience as if they were your equals; treat your equals as it they were your superiors; treat officers and representatives of the Crown and treat the King and Queen with the reverence due to your sovereigns.

2.      Use medieval forms of address.

3.      Be faithful to your lord and your word.

4.      Gentlemen, honour all ladies.

5.      Ladies, be worthy of all honour.

6.      Touch no man's goods unasked, give and receive with grace.

7.      Be gentle with the stranger.

8.      Raise your sword, but NOT your voice.

9.      In battle, let the slain man tell if he be slain.

10.  Reverence the King and Queen, Prince and Princess.

 Courts

The Royal presence:  Leave Royalty space to move and breathe.  Do not crowd or " invade" their space unless invited to do so.  Stand back and wait for their acknowledgement to approach and speak.   When you are called before the throne …. March forward … bow approximately 15 feet in front of the throne and then continue your approach.

 Announcements

If you have an announcement in Court… know what you are going to say. Keep the announcement short.  Have drawn maps or directions available after court. Go up to the thrones, bow, move to one side and make your announcement in a clear voice. Speak slowly, Do not turn your back on the royalty.

 Presentations

An occasion may arise where you want to make a presentation in Court.

Tell the herald ahead of time; it it is complex, give the details.  He may want you to do it later as a "piece of business"

Keep your presentation short and simple.. and stay in "period" if possible.

Be ready when you're called < the herald can usually tell you about where you are on the court list>

Speak loudly enough to be heard, especially if the presentation is humorous or depends on words to be effective.  Speak slowly and clearly

Don't be " cute" unless you really know what's happening.  What seems funny to you might be tasteless or even insulting to another time or culture.

Some courts have been known to be 5 hours long.

When the herald asks " is there any more business before this court?" it is almost rhetorical… very important items only!

 Spectators

Ensure that people with business at court can get through.  This includes leaving a wide aisle

Don’t block the view of those around you.

Try to keep the extraneous chatter down

On being shown a newly-presented scroll or presentation piece, doing the OOOhh Aahh is one of the most discourteous things you can do.  It is insulting to both the recipient and the artist.

 Camping etiquette

The tent as a castle.  SCA camping events are not camping.. they are instant towns…  respect others homes and personal belongings.  Request permission to examine items of interest.  We not only clean up after ourselves, we also offer to assist others.

 Movement 

It is courteous to offer a lady your arm while walking.

It is courteous to open doors, offer to assist in carrying loads and helping with other obstacles

Bowing and showing reverance in acknowledging others is smiled upon … a simple tilt of the head may accomplish the same polite acknowledgement.

Flirting:  welcome to the Current Middle Ages, where flirting is not always a path to something more, but rather an art form.

 Etiquette at feasts

Equipment:  bring everything your are going to need except a chair and table.  Include:  trencher<plate> bowl, goblet/tankard, spoon, knife,  napkin.  Options include tablecloth, saltcellar, cushions, banners, extra dishes, cutlery and goblets, candlesticks or lanterns.  Options can also include beverages, but check regarding dry sites.  Keep mundane containers hidden.

 Pot-Luck:  the food should be medieval and enough to give a serving to 10.  You will need to provide the serving dishes/utensils and cooking/reheating pots for your dish.  Don't expect the cooks to prepare your contribution and please provide an ingredient list for those with allergies.

 Behaviour

Don't overindulge on the first course, or over-load in the pot-luck line

Behave with deference toward the head table.

The first toast is to the Crown, and usually made by the senior noble present.  A toast to the Coronet mat follow, the Dowager Princess and sometimes the Baron and Baroness of the area.  Cooks and autocrats are usually toasted at the end of the banquet.  These toasts are done standing, while other "private" toasts<to one's lady/friends/etc.> are done only to the local table, and usually seated.

Make your reservations wll ahead of time and if you have special food considerations <vegetarian/kosher/allergies/ etc> make them known at this time.

The autocrat will always welcome any available help with set-up, take down and cleanup.  We always leave a place cleaner than when we found it.  It is the SCA way.

If you volunteer to serve, arrive in plenty of time and know what your are suppose to do.

 Servers are gentle people too.  Treat them with respect

Entertainers:  some need quiet, some are local entertainment or background sound.

Be pleasant and helpful with strangers at your table

Sharing a trencher with your lord or lady is in period as an option.

Practice  

 Webminister's note:  The authors of this handout from their class in Chivalry and Ettiquette, Mistress Amanda Kendal and Master Gerhard Kendal are the former and founding Baroness and Baron of Lions Gate centered mundanely in Vancouver, BC.  They are generous and wise teachers and have long been icons of SCA Ideals.

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