Saint Edwin’s Tourney and Beltane

Saint Edwin’s Day Tourney and Beltaine

On May 1, 1976 in the Barony of Madrone there was held a grand Saint Edwin’s Tourney and Beltane celebration in Ravenna Park, Seattle.

Coronation

This event also witnessed the coronation of Prince Steingrim and Princess Hrefna. Theirs was the second coronation not held at the Coronet Tourney. This change set the process of separating the Coronet/Crown Tournament from the Coronation, which caused delays in the previous routine for Coronet Tourney dates.

The next Coronet Tourney was planned for May 15th, but since Coronation was just on May 1st, the event became known as the “An Tir Non-Coronet” and the next Coronet Tourney was rescheduled for July 17-18 in Duvall.

Pre-Event Mention

The second annual Saint Edwin's Day Tourney will take place at Ravenna Park Picnic Ground on May 1, 1976 (Beltaine). In addition to the usual on-field carnage and mayhem, there will be divers competitions:

• • • Best dish made using rabbit
    • Most artful dying scene
    • Worst rabbit joke, preferable involving

Monboggians (to be judged by Deirdre Muldomhnaigh)

• • • Best piece of pottery using medieval

methods and materials, sponsored by Catharine of Haga. Lady Gwyli and Catharine of Haga are also offering a ceramic drinking stein as prize to the victor in the lists. In view of the date there will be a Maypole dance and, mayhap, other pagan observances of the day. The champion of the lists wins the right to crown his lady Queen of the May.¹

Event Story

Sean Gealt autocrated the Saint Edwin's Day tourney and Bealtaine fest, in honor of the date and the patron saint of the Monboggian Horde; many of said Horde did travel from Lionsgate to help the celebra­tion. Civilized folk also attended from many parts of An Tir.

As is customary with Sean's tourneys, the weather was in direct contrast to the deluge with which Spring is celebrated in the Great Northwet.

So perfect, in fact, was the weather that the mushroom­ complexioned folk of An Tir begged him to turn down the thermo­stat.

Ceremonies began with the Grand March, the final court of Prince Elrond and Princess Gilrean, and the coronation of Prince Steingrim and Princess Hrefna. Their Highnesses thereupon received oaths of fealty from the chivalry, the great officers of state, and the holders of the Pelican and Laurel. Sir Elrond was made Viscount, and his viscounty defined as the area of Duval. His lady Gilrean was made Viscountess.

Announcements and presentations followed, and the College of Scribes demonstrated its productivity by delivering countless scrolls, to the sound of frying populace. As is fitting, Royalty (and most Celts) sat in the shade. So warm and relaxing was the weather that the fighting was carried on in a desultory manner. Only Nhille from Lionsgate was sufficiently mangled to seek the tourney medic, and he not mortally. So peaceful did all feel that no one bothered to keep lists, and it was never determined who won the tourney. No one seemed to care, even when Motley presented a skit which shall remain mercifully undescribed.

Liam of the Barque held a Baronial Court, at which he announced that the Order of the Red Branch had decided to present the Green Leaf Award to Roger the Goliard, Hal of Gloucester, Linda of London, Genevra de Estolat, Elspeth Schnee­flame, Fritha of Caer Bannog, Trixie la Tush, Eugen von Ostmarch, and Serena. He himself, in honor of the Celtic roots of chivalry, awarded the Order of the Red Branch to Sean Gealt, Caitlin na Darach, Shalom of York, Donn an Bronach, and Serena (who by now was looking a bit flustered). The ORB medallions having committed suicide in the casting, other members of the Order provided their own to their colleagues for the presentation.

At final court it was announced that Serena had won the pottery contest, and that Sigurd von der Nordenkraase had won the rabbit-joke contest with an entry so vile that it did not bear repeating. Sean Gealt was awarded the Incomparably Nefarious Award of the Plastic Turkey for his dashing pith helmet, appropriate to the weather, but not to the ambiance.

Then did Shalom ben-Avram of York graviously offer Wakefield Castle for the Unravel. Even as the last bit of gear was stowed, those who had requested cooler climes had their wish granted: it began to pour. It is thought that Sean was showing off.

The revel roared well into the night and to the wee hours; so violent was the dancing that Lord Shalom feared for the continued existence of his floor. Bunstable watched over the gathering, however, and ensured that the castle dungeon was not abruptly filled.

Chronicled by Deirdre Muldomhnaigh. Typos also by Deirdre…²

Photographs Courtesy of Theodulf of Borogrove.

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Citations

¹The Crier, May 1976, page 7.
²The Crier, June 1976, page 13.