The Crier

January issue of AS LI

The Crier is the official newsletter for the Kingdom of An Tir. It is created by The Crier Editor-in-chief. If there is no Editor-in-chief, the Kingdom Chronicler must fulfill this duty.

What's in The Crier?

The Crier prints news important to the Kingdom. It includes event information, officer contacts, and missives.

The Royal Court

All royals are listed with contact information. Kingdom Great Officers and all branch seneschals are also listed for quick reference.

Royal and Officer Missives

Kingdom officers use The Crier to make requests of the populace, officially declare edicts, or announce changes in law.

Current Month Calendar and Event Copy

A minimum of the current month is listed and event copy for events within six months is also posted.

What is Event Copy and Why Do I Need It in The Crier?

Only events published on the Kingdom Calendar AND, at least once, in The Crier are considered official and can hold official business.

      Official business is any of the following things:
        • Holding a Crown and Coronet Tournament
        • Holding a Coronation or Investiture
        • Appointing one or more Kingdom or Principality Officers
        • Presenting awards or titles that carry precedence
        • Proclaiming new or updated Law
        • Establishing or advancing a branch

Event Copy is the basic information about an event; event copy guidelines can be found in the [Kingdom Library]. It is not required to be printed for all events, but any event can do so.

If you don’t need to hold official business and your event does not need to be Level 1 (see the [Kingdom Calendar Policy!]), then copy in The Crier is not required, but it’s a good way to ensure you’re reaching the widest possible audience.

Telling Time The Crier Way

A common question, especially from new Event Stewards, is when should you send in your event copy? Let me explain why you need to send in your copy at least two months before your event, I promise, it makes sense.
The Crier publishes monthly. Every issue is for the following month, this is so everyone can have the event information for the next month ahead of time. e.g. In January you want the copy for February events. In order to print next month’s copy, we have to have it ahead of time, hence the two months in advance deadline. Now, that will vary as the deadline is always on the 15th of the month so the actual amount of time varies. The easiest way to remember is to count back two month names and not actually 60ish days.

I have issues remembering what day it is already...

If you have your basic event information set a head of the deadline, you can even send in your copy up to six months ahead of your event!
So there’s the long and the short of it. Whatever month is it, The Crier is one month ahead of you. It’s like living in the future!

Society News and Announcements

Some Society news is disseminated via Kingdom newsletters. This includes changes to Corpora, requests for Board nominees, or commentary on current events.

Submissions from the Populace

Anyone can submit content for The Crier, or their branch newsletter. All submissions are appreciated.

                          Types of submissions (not a complete list)
                             •  Photos of events or artwork
                             •  Artwork
                             •  Articles on SCA-related topics: e.g. How to lace a bodice, a brief history of cheese, etc.
                             •  Short stories
                             •  Writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme. Rhyming not required.
                             •  Recounting of happenings at an event.

Editors Past and Present

AS 50-51: Editor-in-Chief - Tachibana Tsukime-dono.

AS 59: Kingdom Chronicler/Editor-in-Chief - Suzanne de Chinon (see Arnóra Grimsdottir)

History of the Crier

The History of the Crier from The Crier #100 May 1980.

For the 100th issue of The Crier (May 1980), Deirdre Muldomhnaigh, drawing from the archives of Roger the Goliard, wrote an article entitled “Roots: the History of the Crier.”

"Perhaps no girl was ever ruined by a book, but a lot of people have been wrecked by this newsletter."

Long, long ago, in October 1971, the young and struggling Barony of Madrone, perceived the need for a newsletter. In response, Roger the Goliard and Nancy Current published Issue #1 of YE CRIER. Had they but known the horrors that awaited them when first they set down that lengthy road...

Roger is now a Baronial senschal; NANCY CURRENT HAS LEFT THE SOCIETY. The next to throw himself into the breach, in January 1973, was Gernot of Gallimauffray. In his house trailer the papier-mache dragon mentioned in Issue #1 (still extant) was created. He served as editor from January 1973 through March of that year. GERNOT OF GALLIMAUFRAY HAS LEFT THE SOCIETY.

In April 1973, Robert of Winchester and Margaret of Ashford assumed control. More tenacious than most, they persevered for two and one half years. Under their leadership The CRIER grew from a one-page calligraphed Xeroxed newssheet to a typed, photo-offset magazine--especially after Blarney, the Barque's Correcting Selectric, joined the crew.

Robert and Margaret initiated articles and features. They also began to publish Chronicles, which Deirdre Muldomhnaigh had previously Xeroxed. Her theory was that no Madronite would get recognition if California knew not what we did. In those days California was much farther away (continental drift?). Though gas was cheap and plentiful, we were all young and poor.

During Robert and Margaret's editorship, the Principality of An Tir was formed of the baronies of Lions Gate, Madrone, and Three Mountains. Richard of Ravenwolf, as Prince, appointed The CRIER "official" Principality Newsletter, as far as the Throne of An Tir was concerned. Deirdre happened to be standing next to Robert when this was proposed, and got included.

After continual bitching constructive criticism, Robert asked Deirdre to put her money where her mouth was. She gulped and took over as of Issue #47, October 1975, with the understanding that Donn an Bronach would serve as Subscription Editor. ROBERT OF WINCHESTER, MARGARET OF ASHFORD, AND RICHARD OF RAVENWOLF HAVE LEFT THE SOCIETY.

Issue #47 was ugly, but literate. Liam of the Barque and Deirdre produced it single-handedly. The first CRIER collating party consisted of the Barque and Edward Zifran, who was then Prince.

Recognizing a need, Deirdre screamed for help. The populace artists crawled from the woodwork. Many also proved to be editors and typists. The CRIER became famous for its artwork, and contributions poured in from all over the Known World.

Caitlin na Darac initiated us into the mysteries of layout and waxing. Editors were no longer stupefied by rubber-cement fumes, which tended to synergize with the copy. CAITLIN NA DARAC HAS LEFT THE SOCIETY.

Eventually the Usual Suspects, whose names appear in each issue, coalesced into the Laurel-and-‘’Hardy’’ Pelican-adorned group they are now. Donn's term of ‘’penal servitude’’ office has been interrupted only by his employment near the slopes of an active volcano; during that time Liam of the Barque took his place.

Donn (and Liam) scorn computers. They rely, instead, on mental acuity and file cards. Turn-around time for a CRIER subscription is still less than a week; any delay is due to the mail. Under current management the CRIER has never missed a deadline. We now have a system of rotating editorship; our editors no longer feel an irresistible urge to LEAVE THE SOCIETY though Blarney, our war-weary typer, recently spent a month in hospital.

During our first hundred issues we weathered BoD decress, poverty, inflation, printing crises, politics, the Great Flying Coconut Flap, and CRIER spaghetti. We have, nonetheless, a circulation of several nations and at least two continents; and we are often referred to as "the best newsletter in the SCA", even if we are, thank the gods, "Still Unofficial After All These Years."

[The Crier #100, May 1980]

Notes from Sir Richard Fitzalan:

The first, one page issue of Ye Crier / The Crier was dated 10 October 1971, published by the “Society for Creative Anachronism…Coterie of the Contemporary Middle Ages.”

According to communication with Theodulf of Borogrove, the Coterie of the Contemporary Middle Ages was the name of the student group at the University of Washington.

The first advertised event was “Harvest Revel” on October 30, 1971.

The staff of Ye Crier was not identified until issue number 5, in April 1972 when it was printed “subscriptions are free; if you want to be on the mailing list or have a change of address (or comments or suggestions), notify Lady Nyneve. The next issue would invoke subscriptions at the cost of 25 cents a year and provide the name “Nancy” to contact. Issue #8 would identify her as Nancy Foote and #10 named her Nancy Current.

In the 12th issue, the “Society for Creative Anachronism” was dropped from the masthead and the Seneschal, Gernot of Gaullimaufry, and his address was listed.

The thirteenth issue, January 1973, has several graphic changes and information about subscribing no longer includes anyone’s name.

In May 1973, the 17th issue is still published by the “Coterie of the Contemporary Middle Ages” but the return address is now “Bellevue Community College.”

The 18th issue for June 1973 the masthead again included the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and proclaimed Ye Crier for the first time to be “Official Principality Publication for the Baronies of Madrone & Three Mountains.” The subscription cost increased to $1. Payable to “Lord Chamberlain - Barony of Madrone.” The return address was “Trotter”.

The next (19th) issue proclaimed “Ye Crier is the official publication of our Principality, and as such should be subscribed to by all court officers-Madrone, Three Mountains, Flaming hall & Rumpshire. Starting next month the price per year jumps to $3 since we have lost our free mailing privileges - Lady Colleen did her best. And lastly, this is your paper and we will print all principality news if we can get it. Turnout for events will be better with advance notice.”

Starting with #22 in October 1973, the masthead changed to “Society for Creative Anachronism - Principality An Tir.”

Beginning with #37 in January 1975, subscriptions were no longer paid directly to Ye Crier, but instead subscription was through General Membership in the Society for Creative Anachronism by paying a subscription fee of $4 per year and included “the Newsletter of your kingdom as part of your subscription.” There were also options to add other kingdom newsletters and first-class postage.

By #47 in July 1975, Ye Crier’s mastheads changed to: “Newsletter to the Principality of An Tir, Kingdom of the West, of the Society for Creative Anachronism Inc.” Robert of Winchester is listed as the person to send material to.

According to an editorial by Deirdre Muldomhnaigh in the March 1976 Crier (#51), the Crier became the official newsletter of the Principality of An Tir when appointed by then-Prince Richard of Ravenwolf, who was prince from March 2, 1974 to June 15, 1974.

The Madrone Leaf, the newsletter of the Barony of Madrone, appears to have begun about January 1977.

A note by Rowenna de Manning, OL, OP, Lion of An Tir

Before the Crier became the Kingdom newsletter for An Tir, the Crier was the name of the newsletter of the Barony of Madrone. A heraldic device was devised and registered with the College of Arms through the Kingdom of the West in 1979, by Baroness Deirdre Muldomhnaigh and Mistress Serena Cleindori of Bagulay, tho' Master Donn an Bronach, well known for punning, probably had a hand in it, too. The Crier "graduated" to become the Kingdom Newsletter when An Tir became a Kingdom in January 1982. The Barony of Madrone started up a new branch newsletter called "The Leaf."