The History of the Kingdom of The West
The Tenth Year

From The Page (June, 1975):

THE FIRST ANNUAL DUCAL PRIZE TOURNEY

The first annual Ducal Grand Prize Tournament for the benefit of the Land Fund of the Kingdom of the West will be held at Coyote Creek Park, San Jose, on Sunday August 10, AS X. Gates to the park open at 8 a.m. (directions omitted)

Everyone attending the tourney will be asked to sign a waiver. Also, anyone attending who is not an entrant in any of the competitions is requested to donat at least $1 to the Land Fund. We will need the help of qualified marshalls, heralds, and list-keepers. If you are one and planning on attending, please let us know.

Following is a list of all competitions being sponsored. If there are not enough entrants in any one competition to warrant holding it, it will be cancelled and the entry fees refunded. Fees in all competitions are per entry, i.e., if you enter two poems you must pay two entry fees. All of the entry fees will go to the land fund. Participants in the competitions are required to supply their own armor, inks, embroidery floss, etc. For events where the entrant is required to create something (such as poetry, clothing, calligraphy, etc.) it must be something created for this tourney. It cannot be something you have already done. Also, if you wish to enter a non-participatory event, but cannot attend, you may send your entry to Helmsgaard by August 5. We will take care of them as best we can, but will not assume responsibility if something should happen to them. For fighting events the entrant must be SCA qualified and have his/her own SCA approved armor and weapons. SCA Rules of the List will be followed unless otherwise noted.

COMPETITIONS

1. War Banners, called dragons, sponsored by House Stonecroft. The prize is a silver pin ($50). It should be fixed to teh staff vertically rather than to a cross tree. Approximate sizes are: Kingdom-4'x6' or more; Principality-3'x5' or more tapering to 2' on the end; Barony, Province, Shire - 2 1/2' x 5' or more with a forked tail; Household, Knight, or free company - 2'x4' or more with a forked tail. Persons entering should plan on donating the dragon to the group it's designed for and should obtain approval of the design from the group's leader. The dragon should bear the colors of teh arms and some device from the arms or representing the group, and something denoting fierceness such as an eagle or a dragon. Slogans or mottos are acceptable. Judged on workmanship and design. entry fee $2.00.
2. Broadsword and shield (lists), sponsored by Duke James Greyhelm. The prize is an emerald ($30). Shields must be heaters or standard round. entry fee $2.00.
3. Lists using 2 weapons single handedly, sponsored by Duke Paul of Bellatrix. The prize is a pair of vambrace elbowcops made by Jean Paul Monraith ($30). Any SCA approved weapons may be used, but they must be used one-handed. Blows below the knee may be struck and will be counted. entry fee $2.00.
4. Lists using the opposite hand, sponsored by Lord Brian Dritar an Con. The prize is a lead-soldier miniature, hand-painted by Lord Brian ($30). Weapons must be impact weapons such as mace or axe. Shields must also be used.
5. Double handed weapons (lists), sponsored by Duke Henrik of Havn. The prize is a pair of steel gauntlets ($30). entry fee $2.00
6. Short sword and buckler (lists), sponsored by Master Harold of Breakstone. The prize is fantasy books and art ($25). entry fee $2.00.
7. Poetry writing, sponsored by Mistress Dorcas Dorcadas. The prize is a dozen assorted bottles of wine from Tiburon Vintners ($25). Subjects should be pertinent to the Current Middle Ages, such as feudal relationships, courtly love, or for or about a person in the Current Middle Ages. Judged on suitability of content, form and tone (feeling). Poems must be in English. Entry fee $1.50.
8. Belly dancing, sponsored by Duchess Verena of Laurelin. The prize is a metal dumbec ($20). All entrants will dance to the same music. It will be about 10 minutes long, a 3-part dance with a drum solo or Kashlima at the end. Floor and veil work desireable in the toxeme. Entry fee $1.50.
9. Calligraphy, sponsored by Sir William Gordon of York. The prize is a set of 3 Osmiroid pens ($20). A finished piece of calligraphy with illumination such as a scroll, missive, or your entry for the poetry or sonnet contest. Must be done for this competition but may be a scroll of Arms if you have been assigned to do one by the College of SCribes. Judged on design and execution. Entry fee $1.50.
10. Scroll layout sponsored by Duchess Sumer Redmane. The prize is a gift certificate to Dirty Rainbow ($20). It can be any type of scroll. It will be judged on the layout and appropriateness of teh design. It need not be finished.
11. Sonnets, sponsored by Sir Steven MacEanruig. The prize is a piece of jewelry ($15-20). The poem must be in English but may be in either English or Italian verse form. Subject should deal with the Current Middle Ages.
12. Ribald song-singing, Sponsored by Baroness Trude Lacklandia. The prize is four pearls ($15-20). "Ribald" does NOT mean "obscene". The songs need not be original- the contest is for the performance (singing only!!!), not composition. Entry fee: $1.00. (Ifyou have a group, though, it would be nice if you each donated $1.00).
13. Spear and shield lists, sponsored by Count William of Houghton. The prize is not yet known ($10.00). Spear should not be over 6' long. May be used for stabbing only -- no cutting edges, no use of the butt end. If no one has done anything at the end of two minutes, shields will be discarded and the spears used two-handed. Entry fee: $1.00.
14. Ecclesiastical needlework, sponsored by Countess Adrienne of Toledo. The prize is a $10 gift certificate to Crewel World, an excellent needlework supply store in Oakland. Work may be of any ecclesiastical nature, such as robes for a priest or altar cloths, etc. Entries should be made with a specific organization (such as the Chapel of St. Julian or your local church or coven) in mind, and donated to that group after the tournament. Entry fee: $1.00.
15. Medieval clothing for a child, sponsored by Mistress Gormflait Ní Cuallacta. The prize is not yet known ($10.00). Washable court costume consisting of at least two garments (dress and hat, shirt and doublet). Entry fee: $1.00.
16. Embroidery done at the tourney, sponsored by Lady Michaela de Neuville. The prize is not yet known ($10.00). Any type of embroidery including crewel, needlepoint, hardanger, etc., done entirely at the tournament. The design may be drawn ahead but all the actual embroidery must be done at the tourney. Entrants will meet with Lady Michaela before beginning so that all will have an equal amount of time. No minimum or maximum size on entries. Entry fee: $0.50.

From the History (by Wilhelm):

Held in Coyote Creek Park, San Jose. This was a Land Fund Benefit. Duke Paul of Bellatrix and Duke James Greyhelm were the autocrats. The sixteen contests were: Dragon Banners (won by Amanda of Cawdor), Two-handed weapons (Sir William Gordon of York), Poetry (Megan St. John), Short Sword and Buckler (Duke Paul of Bellatrix), Broadsword and Shield (Sir Iain of Cawdor), Opposite handed lists (Duke Paul of Bellatrix), Dancing (Celeste), Scroll Design (Sir William Gordon of York), Ribald Song Singing (Geraldine of Toad Hall and Daniel de Leon tied), Calligraphy (Duchess Sumer Redmaene), Spear and Shield (Duke Paul of Bellatrix), Sonnets (Francesca the Bemused), Ecclesastical Needlework (Marynel of Darkhaven), Child’s Court Costume (Morrigan Cailte Fitz-Rolf and Clarissa of Red Crab Manor tied), Embroidery at the Tourney (Amanda of Cawdor), and King Douglas abducted by several ladies and ransomed (against his will -- ransomed that is) for $10.43 and four grapes. Altogether $365.86 was made for the land fund.

Annotations:
“Clarissa's entry was modeled by Kelly and I recall that Morrigan's entry was worn by her and Jon's first-born Gwyneth.” – Kevin Peregrynne

Description of this event, © Copyright 1980 by William R. Keyes (Wilhelm von Schlüssel)
This is from The History of the West Kingdom, Volume 1 (the only volume produced). When reading this text, please keep in mind the following disclaimer:

Disclaimer: This history may have errors in it, as much of the detail is “remembered” history, or as one of the cover pages of the original type-written manuscript states “The material within is derived from the information printed in The Crown Prints and in The Page, and from the memories of the participants.” The original document was typed on onion-skin paper, with hand-written notes (often in the margins). All attempts have been made to reconcile the notes with the original document.

Annotations, when they are added, are from The Annotated History of the West, Volume 1, which is the same text as Master Wilhelm's mentioned above, with commentary from members of the SCA who were active at the time of the event, and are added to help clarify questions and expand on what happened and why. This volume is copyright © Ken Mayer (Hirsch von Henford).

The West Kingdom History Website was created by and is maintained by Hirsch von Henford (mka Ken Mayer).