The Fourth Book of the Chronicles of Eoforwic

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Of the continued absence of Robert of Two Cliffs.

obert of Two Cliffs remained in Drachenwald at this time, in Eran, along with his Lady-wife Jane of Hendon. There Robert went to work in a scriptorium which had been established nearby, though Robert sent missives to Eoforwic in bottles, which were reproduced for the edification of all in the Ursus. Both Robert and Jane were missed sorely by the Eoforings, for they were both kind and graceful gentles.

Of Arthur ap Idwal and his wife Maud, and of the continuing Civic stature of Charles of Hamme.

here was a noble named Arthur ap Idwal who was active in the City as an artisan and served as Sciences officer for the Barony and so was given an Award of the Purple Fret by Their Majesties Reynard and Brynhildr. He was skilled in divers arts and sciences, and for a time he kept the only shield-press in Eoforwic. In honour of his talents King Palymar II and Queen Katherine II did make him a member of the Order of the Silver Oak at their Coronation in Eoforwic, which was a right good thing. Arthur was a good fighter and was steady in the shieldwall. He married a lady named Maud the Bemused^[28] who did suit her husband well for she was short and spirited while Arthur was tall, slim and quiet. Later they were seen seldom and Maud not at all. They were missed.

^[28] This is the Maud the Bemused who was awarded arms by Their Majesties Reynard and Brynhildr on the day they created the Barony of Rising Waters.

In this period of Eoforwic's history Charles of Hamme was seen less often around the City, though when he was seen he was still very, very tall and his voice remained very, very deep.

Of Ealdormere's first Coronet Tourney, which was not held in the City of Eoforwic but was notable none the less.

fter many months of planning and much work (especially by Lady Katerina de Turenne, who was Principality Seneschal) the great day came for the first Coronet Tourney of Ealdormere. Their Royal Majesties Tadashi and Ariake came North on the seventh day ofApril in the twenty-fourth year of the Society, along with many Royal Peers who would see the making of a Prince. These worthies were joined by visitors from far Calontir; Mistress Morgana, Master Hugen and Lady Jenna of Southwind (the daughter of Baroness Finola O'Clary) who brought good wishes and gifts from a former Principality of the Middle.

The first Coronet List itself was fought with distinction. While a number of familiar faces performed valiantly (including Eoforwic's own Duke Finnvarr, whose prowess with sword and shield was impressive indeed and carried him to the quarter-finals), thefinal round offered no surprises. Yog Rhys Mordwyn ^[29] , first Champion of Ealdormere in the days before King Alen's proscription, and called by some "the Granite-Cleft", carried the favour of Hannorah O'Neil into the ultimate list against Sir David Martin Failsworth, who bore the favour of Lady Tangwystl Siwan Failsworth. This was the same David Failsworth who had been esquire to Sir Bealdgar and was knighted by King Tadashi.

^[29] It is seldom remembered that just before Alen's proscription, Yog and Hanora had handed their titles and duties as Champion and Consort of the Region of Ealdormere to successors chosen in a tournament. These successors were Lord John of Slaughterfield and Lady Deirdre (Dea) Carlysle, both of House Inness.

Yog hailed from Ben Dunfirth in the Barony of Rising Waters, Sir David from der Welfengau in Septentria. Eoforwic's favourite was the Septentrian, though none bore Yog ill will. Sir David won the first bout fighting florentine, Yog won the second with sword and shield and Sir David won the third and final bout with a greatsword blow that rang through the hall; that evening David would be the first Prince of Ealdormere by Right of Arms, and Tangwystl would be his Princess.

The investiture was a notable ceremony. As well as creating the first Prince and Princess, the Crown had to create the legal structure of the Principality. This meant all the laws of Ealdormere had to be read into court, and many dazed expressions were seen - if one was awake to see them - as court went on and on.

The embassy from Calontir brought great gifts, the first regalia of the Principality. This assumes one does not count as Principality regalia the collars of estate made by Master Sylard and his companions. These collars were the marks of the Regional Champion and his Consort before King Alen's proscription; they were to return to use as the marks of the Prince's and Princess' Champions in a matter of weeks after this investiture. Regardless, Calontir presented three great gifts on investiture day, one a banner bearing the Device of Ealdormere. On the loops from which the banner hangs is embroidered "To Our Friends, From Calontir". The other gifts were the first Coronets of the North, plain silver with a cut-out wolf's head for the Prince and a cut-out trillium for the Princess.

These gifts were all made by the hands of Her Ladyship Jenna, whose name is known by too few, though her gifts are still seen among the Principality's regalia. Until now, fewer still knew how Jenna came to know of Ealdormere, thanks to a bloody bridge and song for her Lady-mother.

There was also a gift from the Clan MacGregor, or as they called themselves, the Gregorach. They did give a fine sword for the Principality, and it bore no name. Lady Tangwystl thought hard on this and named it Gwailor, which is the name of a great hawk in the legends of the folk of Wales and is a name meet for a sword sharp as the North-wind.

The actual ceremony of investiture was not as well-prepared as could have been desired. In fact, Prince David announced during the investiture that while he was Prince the ceremony would be re-written so no-one would have as much trouble ever again. The drafters used the Middle Kingdom's coronation ceremony as their model. As in a coronation, the Trillium Herald called forward the Chivalry to swear fealty to the Prince and Princess. Fiery Queen Ariake brought the ceremony to a sudden stop and explained in no uncertain terms that the Chivalry were already in fealty to the Crown. Despite what the heralds might want, there would be no swearing of local fealty by the Crown's Chivalry! King Tadashi nodded sagely (as ever was his wont, even though some called him "the Old Sea Otter" for his merry ways), the Knights sat down, various heralds scribbled furiously in their books of ceremonies and several faces were red with embarrassment.

After the investiture had been struggled through there were great cheers, for a long ceremony had been endured, as had the years of Alen's proscription and then the status of Crown Principality. Ealdormere had its own Prince and Princess! Eoforwic's own Baron Aedan and Baroness Enid of the Skrael, the Lord and Lady Lieutenants of the former Crown Principality, were retired from their offices which were then abolished. As was suggested in King Corwin's charter, both received Augmentations of Arms from the Crown for their great service and wise counsel, and for these well-earned honours there were loud cheers ^[30] .

^[30] Corwin's charter actually said the Lord and Lady Lieutenant would receive Grants of Arms, but Corwin's charter indeed did also say that the Crown Prince and Princess of the Middle would be styled Prince and Princess of the Crown Principality of Ealdormere. In retrospect, the only congruence between the plan of Corwin's charter and the revealed truth of history is that Ealdormere somehow managed to become a Principality.

Other worthy folk also received recognition that night, and several Eoforings were among them. Lady Vittoria Camilla Riola di Firenze was invited to join the Order of the Willow, for she was a most excellent calligrapher and illuminator and later served all Ealdormere as its Signet, which office was for a time called the Privy Seal. While her talent was great, her enthusiasm for the City waned and after a time Vittoria was seldom seen. It was rumoured that she was a adherent of Oomrah, had frequented the Tabard Inn and had travelled to Southwark, following the rude soldiery of the Trayn'd Bands on campaign.

James Schoen MacAndrewes was made an award of the Doe's Grace this night, for he could be a parfait graceful gentle.

Their Majesties decided that, as well as having borne the weight of the Lady Lieutenancy of Ealdormere, it was unfair for Baroness Enid to bear the burden of the Barony of Skraeling Althing alone. Accordingly Their Majesties did create Henry of Linlithgow ^[31] , already a Baron of the Court, the Baron of the Skrael to sit beside Baroness Enid. As Baron Henry was married to Baroness Enid ^[32] this arrangement suited both the Baroness and her populace well.

^[31] Called by some the Vipper Baron, the eminence gris behind many plots and connivances in years gone by, or some scandal-mongers in the City would have said.

^[32] And still is, so far as all reports indicate.

Their Majesties did also proclaim a new Baron and Baroness of their Court. These were His Excellency Tristaam of Galador and his wife, Her Excellency Livia di Lancelotti. While these two were not Eoforings, there were most kind, generous and refined nobles and well worthy of the honour done them.

Of subsequent events.

hortly after the first investiture, the Principality Arts and Sciences competition was held in the far Skrael. At that event Prince David and Princess Tangwystl saw Lady Sarra Graeham of Birnham, from Greyfells in the Barony of the Skrael, emerge victorious in the gruelling arts pentathlon. The Coronet was well pleased and did grant her two singular honours. First, they declared her the Arts and Sciences Champion of the North and did invite her to serve in their courts as cup-bearer. Second, they did declare that she, as first champion, would be the Principal of the Ealdormeran Order dedicated to the Arts and Sciences.

The Coronet did also declare they would have a Bard for their Court on this day, a precedent followed by the next four Princes of Ealdormere. The sixth Prince kept a silent court, as did all his successors until Roak II, the eleventh Prince, who did appoint and maintain the sixth Bard of the North.

Of Wulf Borisson.

here was a smith named Wulf Borisson von Hochfeld who lived for a time in Eoforwic. He studied armouring with Baron Aeden and then started his own smithy. Wulf was known for a time as the most skilled armourer in all the Northlands, even more skilled than the great Glandydd Rhys Mordwyn (who later settled in Ben Dunfirth). Wulf was also known as the fastest fighter afoot. In battle he could lope up hill and down dale like his noble namesake, in full armour faster than the scouts. His glaive fighting was legendary for speed and grace; Wulf's hands and eyes were as fast as his feet. Wulf did dance with Eoforwic's local troupe of Morris dancers, among Mistress Tamarra, Baron Torbin (father of the beautiful Eanor), Edward Unraed and others. When Wulf danced, as when he fought, all stopped to watch for he was beautiful to behold and full of joy. Many ladies were enamoured of Wulf, and men loved him as a brother for he was kind and well-mannered. As time passed Wulf was seen less and less on the list field. He gave up his smithy and began a wandering life. Wulf took up the tin whistle, which he played with much skill and a dancer's soul. In his wanderings he returned to Eoforwic from time to time, though not as often as all would wish.

Comar I and Lisa I come to Ealdormere.

n the sixteenth day of June, Anno Societatis XXV King Comar I and Queen Lisa I did venture into Ealdormere, for they had been visited south of the Inland Seas by their Royal Cousins the Prince and Princess of Ealdormere upon the King's Coronation day. They came into the Barony of Rising Waters and had a splendid day's revelry. Many remember the glory of the list field when the new King and the Prince of the North took the field together and held it against all comers, regardless of number, until they bored of the sport.

In court that afternoon the Crown was generous to the people of Ealdormere, giving several awards to the worthy. Lord Odd Grimsson was made armigerous. He would later become an apprentice of Master Ricard of Sable Tree. Lady Catherine de Harcourt, of blessed memory, also received Arms that day.

Don Giacomo Frisinghelli received the Award of the Purple Fret and there was much rejoicing, for Don Giacomo was a most hospitable man who would host all who passed by and give hot drinks to those waking after a long Pennsic evening ^[33] . He, Dona Francesca and all of Casa Frisinghelli were blessed by all who came to know them. This is the same Don Giacomo who came to edit the Ursus for a time, until he had to leave West Yorvik (no doubt driven off by the rank stench from the harbour) and take up farming in the country, when he was no longer seen in these lands.

^[33] Which for some may have stretched into the morning.

Lady Aislinne of Alainmor was invited to join the Order of the Dragon's Heart by the Crown, which Order was well-honoured by her presence, for she was a most tireless chirurgeon and ministered to the sick. This is the same Aislinne who was adopted by Master Sylard some years before.

Finally, the Crown did make unto the first Prince and Princess of Ealdormere Awards of the Doe's Grace. All agreed that the most gracious Lady for whom the Queen's Favour had been re-named, Duchess Eislinn of beloved memory, would have been pleased, for she and Duke Talymar did love Ealdormere and were its firm friends in the days after Alen's hated proscription. There were some happy tears shed, and that evening during feast a song was sung to honour both wolf and doe, which song Prince David had judged fit for the occasion.

Of Starleaf Gate and its obstinacy, and of Ceallac.

ver the years, dealings with the Shire of Starleaf Gate had become more and more strained. Though Starleaf Gate fell within the original boundaries of the Barony of Septentria, it never saw its loyalties lying with Septentria. Instead it was drawn to Roaring Wastes and what would someday be called the Region of Pentamere. The folk of Starleaf Gate were independent to the point of fractiousness, and their land was riddled with heretics. They saw in the proclamation of the Principality of Ealdormere the creation of another level of bureaucracy to restrict their freedom of action. They denied the Prince of Ealdormere his place in the Great Chain of Being, refused to become part of Ealdormere and had petitioned the Crown for status as an independent Shire, which somehow was granted.

The First Prince and Princess of Ealdormere, David and Tangwystl, visited Starleaf Gate ^[34] and met with the populace in their holdfast. The Prince and Princess were accompanied on this trip by Ceallac cu Mellain, who originally hailed from Starleaf Gate and knew many of the leading citizens, heretics though they were. While the Prince and Princess were welcomed politely and Ceallac gave prudent counsel to all, it was clear that the people of Starleaf Gate were suspicious of anything which they saw as a threat to their independence. The Coronet retired from Starleaf Gate and made no attempt thereafter to coerce the populace or annex their lands. Starleaf Gate went on its own way, remaining an incipient shire. Apart from hosting a Clancy Day event to open the great tourney season each spring - and ignoring its neighbours thereafter - that shire was singularly unremarkable.

^[34] Please note the Coronet visited the Canton of Starleaf Gate, not the "Essex County Medieval Historical Society", an even more perverse and unnatural band of heresiarchs. Former members of the Society, the Essex County schismatics were dedicated to running big-money Bingo games for the surrounding town-folk and fattening their own purses thereby.

Lord Ceallac had once served with a band of warriors from around Starleaf Gate and the Roaring Wastes, called "Ye Killer Elite" ^[35] . With a name like that, these fighters became proficient out of self-defence; the young Ceallac was known for his ferocity with sword, axe and bastard sword, a reputation he maintained for many years. He was a MacGregor and led those proud people in battle from time to time when circumstances allowed. He also brewed beer, which made as many Eoforings happy as his fighting made foes sad. Ceallac was a hard man, never shy about expressing his opinion and sharp of both wit and tongue, but he was reputed to be fair. He had a bad knee which took long to heal. His years of experience on the list field made him a respected Marshal throughout the North, and he was Principality Marshal for the first years of Ealdormere.

^[35] No doubt inspired by a popular tale of those times which was about a sheriff's man name Filthy Henry (or some such), reputed to live in far western lands, in the east-wood near a great bay.

The Honour given the Barony by the Crown.

n the fourteenth day of July, in the twenty-fifth year of the Society, the Crown did award the Purple Fretty to all the Barony of Septentria, for long service to the Kingdom. This was a right good thing, for it recognized that Septentria had been the frame for the edifice which had become Ealdormere. It also was implicit recognition of the shape of things, for Septentria was only a part of Ealdormere, and the two other Baronies were separate parts of the greater whole.

Baron Aedan, in accepting the Crown's bounty, did remark that such honours were earned for Septentria by both Rising Waters before it became a separate Barony, and by the co-operation of all of the people of the far Skrael but especially their warriors,who were well-known to Septentria's shieldwall. All agreed that Aeden's words were gracious; not all recognized the wisdom implicit in the admission of the Barony's place in the new North. The folk of the City hear Aeden's grace and for the most part ignored his wisdom in this matter, though all knew him to be wise.

This was the same time that the City held its first Market Day, and at this event were three notable events. First, in the tourneys of that day was a grand melee where projectile weapons, yea even fuzzy yellow death, were used for the first time in all Ealdormere. Second, there were boat battles upon the Commons of University College, which confused many for these are a place which is customarily dry. Third, the great mystery play "The Founding of Eoforwic by Cariadoc" was performed to great praise and Lady Elspeth (later a published poet), the play-wright, did bask in well-won glory.

Of the House of Richard the Clever, of sundry other good folks and of mysterious signs.

bout this time there came to Eoforwic a young lady named Austrechild von Mondsee, who was daughter of Richard the Clever of whom scholars shall speak more in other volumes. She was a calligrapher and illuminator and had a fair, sweet singing voice. Many did find her good company, and she found many friends in Eoforwic. In years to come she would serve the City as its Chronicler, but when she first appeared she was but a slip of a girl.

Her young brother was a strapping lad called Dann by some and Birstan of Tall Hills by others. He became the ward of Grimwulf the Hairy, who did instruct him in all manner of things. Grimwulf proved a most wise patron and Birstan did grow into a most noble page whose great desire was to don armour and follow Grimwulf and Ceallac into the lists. This he could not do, for he was but a boy, but he could dream and when not dreaming he could serve and be a valued companion to the populace.

In this time Richard Larmer was first seen around Eoforwic, as was Heoroweard the Feorbeund, or Far-Dweller. Richard and Heoroward would later become squires to Duke Finnvarr. Both were well-skilled on the field and at all times and in all places they were chivalrous, courteous and graceful in appearance and manner.

Agnar the Goth, a stalwart fighter in the shieldwall who would in later years take up a spear, also was seen in the City by several Eoforings in June of this year. After much discussion and consultation with the records of past summers it was agreed that a confirmed sighting of Agnar meant the Pennsic War must be approaching.

Of the great campaign of Pennsic XIX.

reat excitement surrounded the preparations for the summer campaigns in Eoforwic. The City Militia, as part of the first Army of Ealdormere, would follow Prince David to Pennsic XIX. Lord Grimwulf the Hairy did take his rightful place at the head of the City Militia, for he was a wise and brave man who had learned well from Baron Aeden and Baroness Kaffa, who some called "She-Kitty of the North", though not to her face. Grimwulf, like his teacher Aeden, could read the lay of the land like a helmsman reads the seas, steering for open and calm amidst the tumult of battle. With such leadership the fighters of Eoforwic set forth south with light hearts and heavy armour bags. Aeden led the Barony in battle as was his wont (though he led only the Barony when in the past he had led all the Crown Principality's fighters as the Lord Lieutenant) and Kaffa strode the field like a fury, shouting strange cries in Gaelic and frightening men much larger than she with her mad laughter and thirsty spear, which she stroked and spoke to with loving words.

In the Debatable Lands Eoforwic camped close to its customary place near the lake. That prime land was again given to the vile and unscrupulous squatters of Trimaris, who shamelessly stole Septentria's claim to the wild brush-land which Northern folk had cleared for the Coopers some years before. This theft caused no great love to be held by Eoforings for Trimaris and its slime-ridden, swamp-dwelling denizens, whose King cheated honest Septentrians of their birth-right. This dishonesty was accomplished through sordid political manoeuvring with the King of the East, which manoeuvres included negotiated land claims in exchange for martial alliance. The East got Trimaris' swords, Trimaris got Septentria's land and Septentrians got Poor Richard's share ^[36] . Days where Trimaris and Septentria crossed swords on the field were counted good as a result, though there may be a few common folk of Trimaris who are honest and innocent of their various Kings' perfidies.

^[36] To wit, Dick-all.

It was decided that the new Principality of Ealdormere would declare its pride and puissance by marching in splendour onto the battlefield on the first day of battle. The good people of Calontir, who had been so generous to the new Principality far to the North, declared that for love they would join Ealdormere in procession. On the day of the great field battle a double column, one side scarlet, the other purple and gold, made its way through the Coopers' market place and onto the battlefield in the shade of Mount Eislinn. The Calontiri warriors sang their anthem "Calontir Stands Alone", and by some miracle they sang in the same key that Ealdormere sang the Ealdormere song which sounds like "Green Grows the Rushes-o", so that when Calontir finished one verse of its song Ealdormere could start a verse of its song as if it had been rehearsed. Calontir's song was shorter than Ealdormere's, so for the last three verses the two great columns shared the one song. By the end of the parade there were many new friends, and Falcon and Wolf saw each other as brothers.

In the field battle the Eoforings fought hard and well in the shieldwall as their Prince and his body-guard skirmished on the flanks of the Eastern army. Sad to say, the shields of Calontir locked and held in place, allowing the battle to swirl around them. The Eastern foe ignored stationary Calontir, defeating first one wing and then the other of the Midrealm army. Finally the East fell on Calontir and crushed them, the greatest heavy infantry of the Known World. In this battle the East overcame its inferior numbers to win a great victory. Master Feral von Halstern was warlord of the East and earned all the glory he garnered that day, and more beside. Those with eyes to see could find in Calontir's defeat the end of the dominance of heavy infantry at Pennsic. Mobility was to be the key to success, and many Eoforings would have cause to smile into their beer in the winter months to come, for Aeden and Grimwulf had long taught the City's fighters to move like deer and yet strike like bears. Well was it said that Grimwulf's favourite things at War were a keg of beer, a pot of beans, a bushel of corn and a battlefield with daylight to charge into. The story of the beer, beans and corn may someday be told by another chronicler, but this one will merely attest to his love of open ground in a melee.

This was the same War which included a boat battle between the pirate levies of athelmearc and the righteous and law-loving folk of Ealdormere, for control of the Inland Seas. Eoforwic's fleet, which first sailed on Market Day in the Commons of University College to much confusion, sailed again on the fields of Pennsic, and there was yet again much confusion, for the fields seemed dry and Cooper's Lake was empty of ships which were somehow on the battlefield. The scholars of that time have recorded that David, Prince of Ealdormere, did wipe the decks with one Prince Yngvar the Dismal and forever earned for the Lupine Coronet the title of Admiral of the Inland Seas, though I would be remiss if I were not to say 'tis true that there were two boat battles that day and one was won by David and one was won by Yngvar. Be that as it may, who is a humble monk to argue with those fervent scribes who would award the victor's palm to a righteous Northern Prince?

In the woods battle a new site was used, with fewer trees, more open ground and much more ragweed. In fact several major skirmishes were fought in a huge field of five-foot high ragweed, leaving all participants covered in a soft, yellow dusting of pollen. Several fighters on both sides had to quit the fight because of breathing problems as a result.

Under the command of Duke Finnvarr and Baron Aeden, Ealdormere's fighters blocked a major approach on the left flank of the Midrealm's banner guard, which was provided by Calontir. A large Eastern column was stopped by an Ealdormeran attack, and then as the East renewed its advance the Northern survivors, including many Eoforwic fighters, reformed and again threw back the Eastern column. Reforming successfully in the face of the enemy was seen as a prodigious accomplishment, even though the East did eventually break the banner guard, take the banner and win the battle. Loud was the praise for Finnvarr and Aeden on this day.

On the bridges, the forces of the Middle fought long and hard and many were the slain on both sides. The proud Eoforing Lord Frederic L'Avarre, under the watchful eyes of King Comar I, helped the scouts of the Midrealm erect a keep in the manner of William the Bastard's sappers after crossing the channel. Finally the Middle pushed through the East's bridge guards and pressed into the Tyger's keep. As in the storming of any keep the fighting was intense, but after hard pressing the doors were burst open and the Eastern King's banner was seized. This was done by two noble warriors, Roak of the Rozakii, who would in the future win even greater fame than this, and Eoforwic's own Grimwulf the Hairy, who did yet again prove his worth in battle.

Many were the gifts given in Middle Kingdom court on the seventeenth of August, and Lady Sarra Graehem of Birnham was then and there made one of two Principals of Ealdormere's order which recognizes the Arts and Sciences, called the Order of the Golden Otter. In token of this Sarra was given a little cup by her Princess, as she was Arts and Sciences champion to David and Tangwystl and thus their cup-bearer. Haakon Oaktall, a noble and mighty warrior from athelmearc whose name does the trees great favour ^[37] , was also seen in court. There he did give a splendid arm-ring into the care of the Princess of Ealdormere for a time, a ring which some years later found its way to the rugged Principality of Northshield and the arm of Lord Owen Alun, reputed to be the finest skald in all the Known World.

^[37] This is the same Haakon whose legends are recorded in the Haakamaal, a saga which is contained in some libraries in the City.

Two other noteworthy awards were made in the Kingdom court that night. Lord Frederic L'Avarre was awarded the Doe's Grace, and all his fellow Eoforings were well pleased for he was a gentil good man and well-mannered to all.

Also, the Crown created an award to compliment the Dragon's Tooth, called the Dragon's Teeth. This would recognize within the Midrealm those groups of fighters who had distinguished themselves in battle. Duke Moonwulf's famed Midrealm Rangers were one of the principals of this award; the fighters of the Principality of Ealdormere were made the other principals of the Dragon's Teeth. While there was great pride in being principals of a high Kingdom award and being associated with Moonwulf's Rangers was praise in itself, many of the City Militia were not overly excited. They knew that while the Middle Kingdom had just decided to recognize the fighters of the Northlands, the warriors of the East, their commanders and scouts - which were the Southron Tyger'ssinews, heart and eyes - already recognized Ealdormere's fighters as feared foes and had done so for many years. The boon of the new award was not treasured so highly as was the reputation with the foe which had been hard-won by Northern dash and daring.