Device

Serjeantry of the Barony of Dragon's Laire

A Barony in the Kingdom of An Tir which is
a Part of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA, Inc)

What is Serjeantry?

An order of SCA involvement whose purpose is to introduce the candidate to deeper aspects of the SCA and to give back that knowledge and the experience gained with it to the populace. With this 'give back' the populace in general will itself gain a deeper appreciation for the purpose of the SCA as a whole. In short - to gain and give a well-rounded and grounded education in all things that are the SCA.

A History of 'Serjeantry' in An Tir:

When An Tir was a Principality of the West Kingdom, most of the members of the Peerages lived in the origins of the West Kingdom, a long distance away from An Tir. There was not much opportunity for the established Peers to witness the deeds, behavior and bearing of those gentles residing in An Tir who could be considered for membership in the Orders. There might be an opportunity to view their fighting prowess if they entered a tournament, or a sampling of their artistic skills if they entered a singular Arts and Sciences competition or display. But there was no real opportunity to view their day-to-day activities. How chivalrous were they? How courteous? How did they embody the peer-like qualities that are requirements of entry into the Orders?

In addition, especially in the earlier days of the SCA, it was important for a potential Peer to be well-rounded in their knowledge base. Knights in particular had to know how to dance, how to play a medieval game such as chess. It was important that they have a working knowledge of heraldry and that they know their SCA geography. Their persona must have some depth, with bearing and clothes to match. This was to act as inspiration to the younger generations of the SCA as well as be the models to which new people were pointed as to what the SCA was supposed to be.

To develop the Peerages in the then remote Principality of An Tir, the Baroness of Lions Gate created a series of Trials which demonstrated a candidates knowledge level of all those attributes reviewed by the Peers so if that candidate came up for discussion in a particular Peerage Council, having succeeded in these Trials would be a level of proof that the candidate was indeed well-rounded in SCA knowledge and experience as well as possessing of the 'peer-like qualities' sought by the Peerage Councils. The Baroness gave the title of 'Serjeant' to those who first passed these Trials and created an Order whose primary purpose was to act as her personal elite guard.

As An Tir became its own Kingdom and developed its own Peerage Councils there was less of a need to have these Trials take place and candidates to be vetted in this way, so the concept of Serjeantry changed and evolved. It increased in the number of different venues, adding Yoeman (for those who excel in archery), Gallants (for those who excel in Rapier Combat), Lancers (for those who excel in Equestrian Activities) and Courtiers (for those who excel in the Arts & Sciences and / or Service). It also became more unique to each Barony it represented, taking on the local flavor of the people and their beliefs and values. But at the core the concept remains the same, a dedication to the purpose of displaying the truly noble aspects of the SCA in the forms of Chivalry and Courtesy as well as the SCA love of history and knowledge of all things medieval.

The Over-Arching Requirements for Membership:

The achievement of a Rank of Serjeantry will be attained through a series of three parts which will take place over a year from the first declaration of intent:

Part 1: The Trials: This will take place over the first six months, starting with the submission of a letter of intent (which will declare their intended rank, their persona and the reason they would like to be considered) and culminating in a tournament where the candidate will be tested in their knowledge of SCA and medieval knowledge and skills in the below areas.
1.) Letter of Intent (Calligraphy Skills)
2.) Persona Development Appropriate To Their Persona
3.) Working Knowledge of Martial Skills and Ability
4.) Basic Heraldry: Voice and Book
5.) Chivalric Behavior and Court Etiquette
6.) The Court of Love
7.) Basic Knowledge of Games
8.) Basic Knowledge and Ability of Dance
9.) Basic Bardic Skills
10.) Working Knowledge of Military Sciences (Courtier Candidates will not work to this section, instead to No. 12.) or 13.) depending upon their discipline)
11.) Working Knowledge of Arts and Sciences Discipline (Applies Only to Courtier Candidates whose focus is the Arts and Sciences).
12.) Working Knowledge of SCA Administrivia and Service (Applies Only to Courtier Candidates whose focus is the Arts and Sciences).
13.) Working Knowledge of Practical and Domestic Sciences
14.) Working Knowledge of SCA and Medieval Geography
15.) Arts and Sciences (Basic Knowledge Except with Courtier Candidates of Whom This will be a Primary)
16.) The Coronets' Question

Not all of the above will be done at the tournament itself, but at times that may be more convenient for the Coronets and judges needed. However, the concept of a tournament is itself important in that it is a day (or more) long endurance as well as a testament to how well the candidate can motivate a group of people to support them through the tournament.

Part 2: The Quest: After the Trials are complete and the candidate has been declared to have passed them, it will be time for them to Quest. The Quest will be a Project declared by the candidate as something worthy that will benefit not only themselves, but the Barony and the SCA as a whole.

As an example - For a Serjeantry candidate with his primary object being Sargent (Heavy Fighter), it could be a declaration to fight (50) fights all with different fights from all parts of An Tir and document them by signature in a book. This would be knowledge gained by the candidate that he could then pass on to heavy fighters in Dragon's Laire. The Quest must be challenging, but within the realm of possibly finishing within the allotted six month time period. It must be a Quest that is agreed upon by the Coronets prior to the declaration.

Do not use the above example as a limiting factor in the decision as to what your Quest will be. Every Quest will be unique to the individual undertaking them!

Part 3: The Continuance (The Round Table): At the end of the six month Questing period it will be time for the members of the Serjeantry and the Coronets to meet and hear the stories of the Quest. How the Quest was achieved. What was learned. How it gave back to the populace, the Barony, the Kingdom and the SCA at large. The person completing the Quest need not embellish or even tell the story themselves, they may employ another to tell the story. The important point is that a Quest was undertaken and accomplished.

It will be a requirement of all members of the Serjeantry that they undertake a new Quest each year. The new Quest need not be as arduous as the Quest employed to enter the Serjeantry in the first place, but should be something worthy of the telling at the next gathering. If the Serjeantry member has to forego the Questing for any reason (due to modern circumstances) it is permissible to become Emeritus for that year and each successive year until able to continue Questing again.

What happens once a 'Serjeant' attains a position as a member of the 'Serjeantry'?

Upon the completion of the Quest and its tale being told, the Serjeant will be formally accepted by the Coronets through an Oath of Fealty given to them and at that time they will be given the symbols of the order to wear so that others may know of their achievement and rank within the Barony.

The Serjeantry will be given special standing in the Court of Their Excellencies and will be acknowledged accordingly with the titles of their new qualifications: Sargent, Yoeman, Gallant, Lancer or Courtier. The Serjeantry will be given right of personal counsel with Their Excellencies. The Serjeantry will have the right to recommend changes to the requirements of the rank of Serjeantry as appropriate. The Serjeantry will have the right to help organize succeeding Serjeantry Trials.

It will be their duty to protect and defend the Barony, its Coronets, and through them, the Crown of An Tir. To uphold the ideals of Chivalric behavior as embodied in the SCA. To maintain a level of competence in accordance with the requirements of their rank. To support and aid in the dissemination of information to the populace in all manner of marshallate, arts, sciences and service, not only in skill, but in all manner of chivalric and courteous behavior; remembering at all times that the Serjeantry embodies an ideal as well as a rank.

Next Trials:

December 10, 2011 at the VFW Hall

Autocrat

Lady Adelheide Leeuwin