This challenge was written for the inaugural SCA event for the Barony of Illiton called the Fields of Cloth and gold. It was written January, 2013:
To all Princes, Dukes, Counts, Barons, Knights, and Men of coat armor who be not enemies of the King our Lord, or who are not cast out of the Culture of Chivalry do I, Baron Robert Downey, send heartfelt greetings.
I have assurances that the Heralds of the Great and Dread Baron Willhelm, and the Fierce and beautiful Baronwa Alzbeta have spread word far and wide of the Great festival of armes to be held in their lands on the Feast day of St. Hildegard of Bingen, this coming Saturday.
I would have you know the nature of the test set before you, my fellow Men at Armes. For make no mistake, those who don harness at this great festival of Arms will bathe their souls deeply in the Bath of honor, and shall emerge cleansed and clothed in great renown.
It has been written by the Great Pagan philosopher, Aristotle, (may God ease his pain in hell) that Man is composed of four states: The physical, the Emotional, the Intellectual, and the Spiritual. It is testament to the Wonderment of God’s creations that even a Man who’s soul is damned to hell, can discern the truth of God’s creation.
This truth is further revealed in the works of Fiore de Liberi. This Master of the arts martial has left us the mystery of the Segno.
When last this tournament was held by Their Excellencies, The company of men of coat armor, and the Noble ladies of the gallery discovered that these truths were right and proper, and as the Great Master Fiore stated, the perfect swordsman emerges from expressing to their fullest the four aspects of man.
And so their Excellencies have determined that this Noble Enterprise will be focused on testing these aspects.
Those who care more for honor than their craven and corrupt bodies will present themselves upon their Excellencies’ list, so their bodies, their minds, their emotions and their spirits may be tested by the blows of their peers, under the watchful eyes of a gallery of fine ladies.
As the ancient saying goes, “Renown is the coin of the tourneyor”. Make no mistake on the morning of the 17th there is great opportunity for Renown or Infamy. Should you choose to not don bright harness in the sun, you will count yourself lessened for not hazarding your body to win worshipful honor.
I shall meet those who seek greatness upon the Fields of cloth and Gold.