Geoffrey FitzHenrie

Court Herald Long & Short of It 2009

I started in the SCA in the spring of 1993 at an event called Bar Gemels in the Barony of Terra Pomaria. It was a cold and wet event and sleeping was in an old building that had screened windows that we could not cover. The main hall was up from the cabin and you almost needed to walk through a small river running down the road. It was almost my first and last event!

I was brave enough to attempt another event, during the summer months, and enjoyed myself greatly.

During my first years I was with the Shire of Dragon's Mist. I got to experience such things as having a jingle of belly dancers arrive at our pavilion as we drummed to the fun of camping at the Hillsboro airport for a demo as a hugh lightning storm rolled along. During those first years I did not do much of service or of A&S. Maybe I would work gate for a shift, or do the evening firewatch and constable.

As time moved on so did I and found myself at home with the people of the Shire of Mountain Edge. I also felt a need to give back to the society and began to get actively involved. There was a need for a web minister and I took the position and made some changes to the site to help inspire people that would go there. And I took on the newsletter that had been abandoned for many years and created an electronic only versions (that got posted to said website). I found myself volunteering to do gate often, and would help not only set up the event but also other encampments. I found that I was a good member of an autocrat team and was happy to help out behind the scenes. I had found my first real home in the sca. I also for a brief time had my experiences with the equestrian community as I had a horse I could ride in the games. I also found myself autocrating the St Crispin's event and even survived it.

But a few years later we found ourselves living in Marion county. We complained while in Mountain Edge about how few of the people living in the shire were contribution to events and the everyday activities. So it was time to find a new home so we became members of Terra Pomaria. Again wanting to give back to the society I looked around for a role for myself. At one event Baroness Emma asked me if I knew the proper heraldic colors for the group of youth that were working on a project. Seeing a need I volunteered to be a deputy book herald for the Barony. Within a short time the Baronial Herald resigned and I found myself in their place.

The Gods have a funny sense of humor. My first event was Bar Gemels where during court at one point it hailed. The populace moved under the principality pavilion and the baronial pavilion and us heralds stood out in the weather announcing to them!

Persona

Until the last few years not much of significance had happened in my life. Growing up as the youngest son to Herbert FitzHenrie, I was always taken for granted. I knew there was not much to be had in these lands of Normandy as my brother Richard, being the eldest, would inherit when my father passed away. My father was ill of health and I could hear the deep wet coughing that would come in spells, especially during the evening. My brother Richard thought me of no use to the family and assigned me menial tasks that were unbecoming of my. My mother Emma had died when I was but a lad while giving birth to my sister, who also died shortly thereafter.

I could have been like my brother Henry and joined the monastery at Bayeux, but the life did not appeal to me. I could not see myself sitting for hours on end drawing the illuminations that adorned the books he was tasked with. But indirectly he became a savior to wretch me from the dullness that I was surrounded by. For on a visit to see him I was introduced to Bishop Odo. As we spoke my brother informed the Bishop of my skills with the bow and arrow. Indeed I was quite good at shooting the local game to place upon our plates, and took joy in it rather than finding it a chore.

The Bishop said that he was forming an army to aid his half brother William in taking back his rightful lands of England. He asked if I would like to aid my Duke in his holy conquest as Harold had broken his word sworn on a sacred relic. I could become one of the archers that would fill out the ranks. I quickly agreed and returned home to claim my few possessions. My father actually seemed sorry to see me go and I think he realized I would not be returning again.

The summer of 1066 was a frantic and hectic time for a man of seventeen. I found myself amongst a huge variety of people. I could never have imagined the number of men, horses, and ships could be that great. I was told there were at least 500 other archers with me under the control of Duke William. And then there with the 1000 horses and their knights, and twice that many of foot soldiers. And ours was the largest of three armies, The Flemish and Bretons were camped nearby and would be our allies in the upcoming battle.

As the summer drew onward I found myself practicing my skills with the other archers, and also helping haul wood for the ships being constructed in the estuary of the River Dives. As I could never had imagined the number of men, I was overcome with the number of ships needed. I had heard talk that several ships held the materials to build forts when we landed. It was thought the English would be waiting and ready to do battle.

The summer quickly passed and the fall was arriving. There was much talk between the men of returning home to take care of their lands. The weather had been so poor we begin to doubt that anything would happen before winter fell. I was distraught at the thought of where I would go. But come late September came word to board our ships and prepare to sail. I was glad that there were no horses in the ship I was assigned. It was bad enough the retching of the poor souls that could not take to water. I felt myself blessed.

As we made the journey our ship was attacked by a Kraken. I had been up on deck with bow and arrow and had been giving them much needed repair before the battle. I quickly dispatched the creature with an arrow to the applause of my shipmates. I did not realize at the time the import of this action. The landing was rough getting all the people and animals from the ship to shore and expecting a battle at any time. We later learned the army was in the North and we would not be bothered. The place was called Pevensey and we quickly set up our fort and began to forage for food. I was assigned to accompany a group heading north to some of the small towns thereabout. It was at this point I was approached by Duke William himself! He said one of his men at arms had told him of the dispatching of the beast and hoped my arrow flew as true in battle. It seemed a man had died of illness during the crossing and the Duke gave me his chainmail shirt to protect me it what was to come.

As we ravaged the lands we expected to draw the ire of the English at any time. We marched up the lands, staying close to shore, until we reached a place called Hastings. There, the English has set up camp and were waiting for us. On October 13th we did battle. I remember starting that morning with a full quiver of arrows. The English shield wall we had heard of was blocking our arrows. As the day wore on the battle continued and we archers began to conserve our ammo. We were told to fire high above the shields and hope to cause damage. Finally as evening was arriving the English lines broke apart and the battle ended. As the calvery solders rode back to our last camp they stopped and told the story of how an Arrow had killed King Harold and how Duke William had chopped up what remained. As he was talking a knight whose steed had gone wild was running towards us with reigns hanging loosely. I foolishly reached out to grab the reigns and was able to help stop the horse, but did damage to my arm in the process. We archers were in high spirit that eve, yet I worried what was to become of me.

I had to fear not as I was told as we marched to London that all would be taken care of. I had served my Duke, and soon my King well, and past deeds would be remembered

Awards Received

Award of Arms (An Tir) By: Amalric Blackhart, Caia Snowden Sep 9, 2006 (AS XLI)

Silver Apple (Terra Pomaria) By: Roland von Bern, Emma von Bern Aug 23, 2008 (AS XLIII)

Goutte de Sang (An Tir) By: Cedric Blackwell Rolfsson, Elizabeth Yvonne Owles Sep 5, 2009 (AS XLIV)

Iris of Saint Elizabeth (Terra Pomaria) Feb 27, 2010 (AS XLIV)

Grail of the Summits - Service (Summits) By: Abu Nur Rustam ibn Abdallah, Suvia filia Heriberti Apr 24, 2010 (AS XLIV)

Apple Tree (Terra Pomaria) By: Roland von Bern, Emma von Bern Apr 24, 2010 (AS XLIV)

Order of the Hazel-note (Terra Pomaria) By: Roland von Bern, Emma von Bern Feb 26, 2011 (AS XLV)

Courtier (Terra Pomaria) By: Roland von Bern, Emma von Bern Feb 26, 2011 (AS XLV)

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