12TH NITE IN A SCOTTISH CASTLE

JANUARY, 2001

The long anticipated 2001 12th Night celebration in Bordermarch has proven once again to be a marvelous gathering. A more beautiful day has seldom seen sunrise. Ephiphany, 2001, was a georgeous day from start to finish. The crisp golden dawn with mild temperatures revealed the absence of mist at the shaded field whose footing was only slightly softened by previous rains. With this year's theme being Scotland's Highland Games, not everyone changed to a Scottish persona, but many attendees had expanded their usual persona studies to include more research into the Scottish period and wardrobe. T'was a fine lot of great plaid kilts to be seen at the fighting field among notable combatants of other nationalities. At least seven had been wardrobed in plaids by tailors at deLacy Manor. Many a fair lady and lord adorned in the plaids or in other personas enjoyed the family-type kitchen as well as the competitions outside on this fair, fair day.

Standing in prominence, a full suit of deLacy museum armour did invite the guests inside the great hall. Upon entering the hall, one's breath was taken a-draw, stepping back in time. Inside, your eyes feasted upon castle interior with floor-to-ceiling great stone walls, shuttered windows and huge hinged door, including wrought iron furnishings, and hanging tapestries or plaids, bedecked in yards upon yards of greenery garland, with red-gold festoons and holly branches. The huge stone walls had come by courier, stone by stone, on generous private loan from friends in the Barony of Bjornsborg. Talented stone masons of renown, Master Cynric and Baroness Seraphina desired in great measure to extend unto Barony Bordermarch the beauty of yule celebration décor as it had been just weeks before in the Barony of Bjornsborg.

The walls had been erected stone by stone and local tapestries hung and bedecked on a previous evening in joyful labors of love by the hands of HE Countess Tessa of the Gardens & HE Count Simonn of Amber Isle, Seneschal HE Dona Leah and her niece Lady Angel. Present also to help were event steward Lord Malcolm and construction engineers including HE Valencia and her charming niece- another mi’lady Angel; mi'lady Alicia who cut many ribbons, Lord Armand deLacy, Lord John Sterling, Lord Zane, Lady Claire, Lady Phillissettee, HE Don Ericus, Lady Maise, Lord Eric la so Drum, Lord Vincois & Lady Birgitta, and Lord Ian McGregor. The cooperation of these is appreciated, for without their work and eye for decor, the castle could not have been prepared by Friday midnight.

Seen at morning displays of prowess and coordination while engaged in lessons of history were mi’lord Killian and Lord Slovaczek at the horseshoes, Lady Katicha Brendwyth making introductions, and mi’lady Mackarey Makusty making new acquaintances. Lady Ehlen Kidhenknopf ejoyed the field lessons. Mi’lydy Tonya Steele escorted by Matthew arrived in time for feast. Returning to the grandeur of Bordermarch after several seasons of absence were Lord Brendan of Hy Brasil, and Geoffroi du Marche along with his deare wife Andria, as well as law-school graduate Bridiget White. Well met and presented at 12th Night, attending their very first event, were m'lord Jeremy, mi'lady Courtney, m'lord William, mi’lady Angel, and of course Dona Leah’s infant grandson bundle, Zachariah. (Please, other first timers, contact the web-captain with spellings. Any names inadvertantly left out of chronicle are certainly not intentional.) Rather a military academy surrounded the great hall, being that after lists of the day, field directions for rapier lines in advance/retreat styles were instructed by Don Shea and Don Ansgar, well attended by cadets and more trainess. Sir Simonn "Mac" Amber Isle did present chivalric lessons of sword and shield combat as Lord Malcolm MacLean explained the hammer throw and caber toss while one field beyond, Lord Armand de Lacy was guiding target archery for ladies, gentlemen, and youngsters of all stations, to the delight of the galleries. Board games in the hall held the interest of several youth and their families during the afternoon. Meanwhile, smoking preparations of great beef, pork and fowl were overseen by Lord Antoine, and individuals in the kitchen were preparing their buffet offerings. All the while, Prior John made sure the site was secure.

A personal touch at dusk was the processional and repeated wedding vows of Lady Brigitta & Lord Vincois, each attended and congratulated by their loved ones. A single rapier bout was fought to find, by ladies’ decision, the most impressive rapier combatant. Thus was named Don Ansgar of Aachen.

The day's various competition winners were presented new scrolls, inks barely dried, prepared by HE Valencia assisted by mi’lady Angel, Mi’lady Cara & m’lord Caradoc, for the following events: Archery: Lady Gwyneth Blackrose; Caber Toss: Lord Zane Amber-Gate ap Simonn; Chivalric tourney: Lord Uther Blackthorne; Rapier tourney: Don Simonn "Mac" Amber Isle; and the day's Clan Chieftan was determined to be Sir Simonn "Mac" Amber Isle.

Tables spread in plaids or shawls, trenchers or bowls in place, feast a-lit by the first flames from the floor-standing candleabrum, all under red/gold festoons hanging from the ceiling, made for a remarkable castle ambiance within the stone walls. Banners, chandeliers, a sword and mace hanging on the wall, all made feasting for the eyes. With candles aglow in the great hall where many families and friends had set their places, a bean was found in a slice of yule cake. By this tradition was the evening court's “King of Yule Mis-Rule” determined to be Lord Derek (one of the original organizers of Blackmoore) from across The River, who chose Bordermarch Seneschal HE Dona Leah to sit with him at high table for the festivities. Accompanying him in his chosen court were Blackmoore’s Lady Barbara & Lord John with their ever-lovely daughter Ancyra, Lord Jean Louis(always a messenger from Viscount Sir Francois of Meridies), and Their Excellencies Dena and Dafydd de Mortemer, former landed Baron+ess Bordermarch who came for a visit in earnest. His Mis-Rule Majesty Derek chose Lord Alaric Bryan as the court fool and HE Gwaelyn Giolbhryde as court herald.

Thus did punn-ishments, tales of land disputes and much jocularity fill the castle throughout the candle-lit evening meal which featured the barony's plentiful meats and legendary hospitality. Also, lentil stew, potato soups, gumbo, ample fruits, breads, and sweet breads or pies, all eye-pleasing, contributed to the buffet. Presented as a centerpiece upon a platter of greens was, in fact, one huge head of a great beast from whose buldging red eyes, enormous scaley ears, and sharp teeth did the populace at first repel. As frightful a sight as the dragon’s head was, several portrait makers did capture his likeness. HE Countess Tessa announced that brave huntsmen and defenders had slain the beast, beheaded him, and she had roasted him forth; but, beware, his tasteless reptillian carcass was unfit for human consumption and should therefore be forgotten. With that, the cry went out, "The beast is dead! Long live Barony Bordermarch!" Hands and cups were lifted to honor Ansteorra, Radiant Majesties King Timo and Queen Allyson, and the Heirs apparent, Prince Jason MacFearson and Princess Saeried to be coronated within the next week. Toasts as well went up for the people of the Crown’s Barony Bordermarch. The bridal party also was honored by a salute.

Similar to a stained glass window, an intricate quilted wall hanging in depiction of humble gifts unto The Child of Christmas placed focus on the reason for giving at Ephiphany. Within the art piece, a young ram with a curled horn is seen at the manger. Ephiphany Gifts were exchanged among participants standing in a circle in the middle of the grand castle hall moving the gifts from hand to hand as the pipes played. When the pipes quit, the gift holders could then keep or barter as they desired. Many period candle sets, leather goods, pottery, sachets, and even a mark of Bordermarch (shofar/ram's horn) were circulated and received.

As night drew in, Bordermarch toasts were made to absent friends, new forming friendships were further bonded and other reunions continued, many gentles and guests of the populace did exchange tales of prowess or love, the bride and groom did celebrate, and voices of songsters were heard in melody and harmony in and out of the hall. Then, as cleanup began and candles whiffed out, the merriment of little children safe at play continued while careful hands did lower the stone walls, section by section, to return all stones carefully to Bjornsborg by the conveyance of Cadet Lady Amberina’s caravan.

With tapestries and tablecloths folded, dishes and pans cleaned and polished, tables stacked and chairs stored, and castle furnishing ready to move back to deLacy Manor, thus did come to a close only the evening. For pleasant company did continue by Sunday morning when as many as had come to set up, did come now to sweep and mop and rake clean as new. This “grand among grand” Bordermarch 12th Nights could not have happened in the style in which it did without each one doing a part to make it so, supporting the dream, one for all. The next local Barony Bordermarch event besides local practices and populace meetings is already on the Ansteorran Kingdom calendar, Baronial Championships, May, 2001.

Killian throwing horseshoes Playing a medieval board game

Wide eyed wonder!

Roast Beast...

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Last modified: July 27, 2007