Christmas tourney

Is there anything better to get into the holiday mood than to watch our shire’s most esteemed heavy fighters compete for victory? Possibly, but it did the trick this time. Plenty of cheer was provided by the populace in the stands (or rather, the dry area) with a wonderful spread of delights and delectables brought in by many. This author particularly appreciated Lady Gwerful’s hot mulled apple drink (as much due to its warmth as its flavour), the ginger & white chocolate buns from the same kitchen, and the focaccia and pastries with bacon jam that lord Nuno brought in.

Under supervision of Lady Terri, our marshal for the evening, the tournament commenced with a bout between His Highness and Lord Cernac.

Allowing Lord Cernac little respite, he faced off with THL Mícheál almost immediately after. His Highness on the other hand benefitted from a brief interlude from the fighting and the rain, but faced both Lord Cernac and THL Mícheál on the battlefield after.

Our valiant fighters all scored points, but only one can be the winner. After many a crossing of swords, several “deadly” defeats (do not fret, our medic Lord Tomás did not need to apply his poultices), and a good bit of fighting from the knees both THL Mícheál and Lord Cernac conceded the victory to His Highness, Prince Etienne. Huzzah!

A glance of the future

Having passed the longest day of the year, we cast our glances towards the lengthening days. We may have seen our stocks of fresh vegetables dwindle somewhat, and may perchance be thinking of when to start sowing seeds for this year’s harvest, and how to make it last as long as possible. That, dear readers, is fully in the spirit of Imbolc. It just so happens we have an event on Imbolc (what a coincidence).

The first of its kind, Imbolc will take place on the 1st of February marking the beginning of Spring. Instead of a Feast provided by one of our amazing cooks, with great relish we will be feasting on a Potluck with a focus on preserved foods. If people have been inspired to preserve something, we cannot wait to try it (or hear about it)! If you were unable to preserve food, you can still bring other kinds of food to complement the preserves. Consider bringing loaves of bread, cold meats and cheeses, fruits (dried or fresh), nuts, eggs, pies, and more!

During the day you’ll be able to try your hand at candle making and butter making in our A&S classes. The candle-making class is particularly aligned with the theme of our Arts & Science display: Light. That being said, even if you do not wish to display your work, please do bring any A&S project you wish to work on throughout the day as there will be ample opportunity. In fact, you may find the ambiance suited to it, as we encourage all those of bardic persuasions to bring their medieval music, prose and poetry. We would love to have this peppered throughout the day. 

This eggcelent event will take place in the Jim Kirwan Scout Center in Clara, starting at 10 in the morning, lasting until 8 in the evening.

Book your tickets here!

A recipe for Preserve of Quinces

With Imbolc just around the corner, Lady Gwerful has selected a recipe for us to get inspired by. Most if not all of us are familiar with the results of fruit preservations in the form of fruit jellies, marmalades or curds, but fewer of us have actually tried these techniques ourselves.

Excerpt from Verity Isitt, 1987, ‘Take a Buttok of Beefe’

Original recipe

Modern recipe

The book that inspired the author was ‘The Queen’s Closet Opened’, Nathanial Brook at the Angell Cornhill, 1655.

This book details recipes from a little out of our time period, but it has recipes that would have most likely been in use during the lifetime of Queen Elisabeth I.

Today, but several hundred years ago!

Not quite today but close enough: on January 13 in 1404, the Act of Multipliers was passed by the English parliament, prohibiting the “craft of multiplication”:

As you may have gathered from the quote above, the craft of multiplication refers to what we in our day are more likely to call alchemy, the medieval forerunner of chemistry, or simply the practice of trying to turn lead into gold. The latter of which is of course a gross reduction of a very complicated subject, but very much appropriate to the Act:

Arts & Sciences, illuminated

Rather than highlighting a single (though impressive) A&S project, for this edition we will take a look at the projects our shire is planning to work on this year! With the new year we will work on (or at least we intend to) new garb, new recipes, new crafts, but with the same enthusiasm for the Arts & Sciences. As a notorious magpie in terms of garb, this author can be depended on to have more plans and projects in mind than feasible, and so from a perspective of self-preservation, this author pleads to interpret the below as shared inspiration rather than commitments or resolutions.

Let us start this thread by looking at just that: fiber crafts. Juliette is interested in learning tablet weaving, and Noble Ingemar has plans to weave some trim for early period tunics. Similarly Noble Mallymkun plans to continue on tablet weaving a trim directly onto Lady Gertrude’s cloak. Amber may attempt to knit stockings, and this author has been eyeing a pair of pin-on knitted sleeves from the Typical Tudor which she may direct her knitting needles to.

Speaking of garb, there are also many of us who are aiming to transform their fabric stash into wonderful new pieces, such as Viscountess Agnes who has several meters of nettle fabric for some undergarments, and also plans to make a set of male and female 13th century nobles’ garb. Noble Farraige intends to start on Tudor period garb (which this author can only applaud, but some bias may apply), and is looking to make a cloak as well. Lady Caitriona mentions she is tempted to make a tunic and pants, which is echoed by Yda, whose main focus is pants as well. Noble Ingemar has plans to make an outfit from the Codex Manesse, as well as a Birka coat. Staying closer to home, Juliette wishes to recreate the Shinrone Gown as well as an Irish léine. This author will aim to create something warm for the somewhat unpredictable Irish weather, namely a waistcoat in the tudor fashion made out of wool. It is inspired by the Tudor Tailor’s, but comes with the promise of extra embroidery and a fancy lining. Additionally, this author has plans to make embroidered cuffs and collars, and may perhaps finally succeed at starching and shaping an Elizabethan ruff. Lady Gertrude also aims to expand her tudor wardrobe and wants to make a waistcoat similar to the aforementioned. It will be interesting to see the differences in execution! Amber already has the fabric for some late period garb, aiming for late 16th century rural Scottish styles.

Lady Gertrude, to no one’s surprise after her excellent 4-day class at Strawberry Raid IV in collaboration with Mistress Órlaith, will continue exploring natural dyes and will aim to set up part of her barn to continue dying wool more easily. Also exploring dyes, Noble Ingemar will continue their work on ink making and parchment dying, in addition to wanting to improve their calligraphy and illumination skills. Their goal is to sign up to create scrolls. Remaining in the world of ink, Noble Farraige is looking to try their hand at block printing in addition to several other new crafts (as this author can attest, new hobbies are extremely tempting). Such include new techniques of basket weaving, learning to play a 10-string lyre, and leatherworking. Juliette declared an interest in whittling, for which this author feels partially responsible after sending Juliette details on a workshop to make one’s own wooden spoon. Such is the danger and delight of A&S conversations.

Speaking of delight, much will be happening in the Arts & Sciences corner that forms such an integral part of many of our events: food. Máistir Aodh will be working on his main project: research into pre-Norman food. Additionally he will also be doing research into harvest festivals, as well as intending to do several feasts and cooking projects throughout the year, for example some of the household meals at Strawberry Raid. This author has long intended to borrow Máistir Aodh’s setup to make a spit cake (the roasting over an open fire kind) and may inquire about availability at some event this year. Lady Gwerful has promised us not one but at least two projects around bread; she’ll be researching (and hopefully making) rye breads of Europe and ring breads.

While surely our creativity and number of plans will only grow throughout the year and its events, it is heartening to see such inspiration in our shire at the onset of this year. Not all will or even can be accomplished this calendar year, and that is okay. It means we have something to look forward to even further in the future. A&S days are there as a resource of course (in fact, this author has heard rumours of more themed A&S days like the one in December which featured a class on Heraldry, so more to come on that subject). And if you cannot make it to an A&S day, it may be possible to read about each other’s A&S adventures and experiences on the Discord server, or perchance, even on some dedicated blogs such as the one Lady Gertrude is intending to start. We look forward to seeing it all.

Did you enjoy this read? Consider submitting content for the next edition!

Please contact [email protected] for questions, feedback and content submissions. We welcome any ideas or suggestions 🙂 
If you received this newsletter but aren’t subscribed yet, click here to make sure you get the next edition!