Order of the Wain - Lars Eriksson

So my friend Lars was receiving the Order of the Wain for service, and he is our kingdom seneschal, but he really, really loves fencing (just ask him).  He also has a wicked sense of humor – so when I was asked if I would like to do the wording for his scroll, I thought it would be fun to do some wording as close to a fencing manual or fechtbuch as possible.  Sometimes it’s not just the wording, it’s the inspiration of the wording that can be meaningful to the recipient.

Below is the wording from Hanko Döbringer’s fechtbuch, circa 1389 (incidentally, Lars' favourite century as well) … it’s the section on motion or movement (which Lars is also a big fan of when he fences).  I’ve taken the word ‘movement’, substituted it for service, and while I’ve tried to keep the final product as close to the original document as possible, I’ve cleaned up the grammar and phrasing so it makes sense in the context of his years of service to the kingdom.

17V Motion/movement [Motus], note that word well, it is to the fencing a heart and a crown, it is the very matter of fencing. All that it contains and all the fundamentals will be mentioned by name and made well understood hereafter. When you fence with another, then in this you are well taught, and remain fast in movement, and do not tarry when he starts to fence with you. Then make without limit and end that which is skillfull. Be quick and steady without faltering, at once so that he cannot strike. That is fortunate and he will be hurt, when he cannot strike away, as the other cannot part without being beaten. And after the teaching that is here described, I say truly, that the other cannot defend without danger. If you have understood this he will not come to strikes. Here note that constant motion [Frequens motus] holds the beginning, middle and the end of all fencing according to this art and teaching. That is you should quickly do the beginning, the middle and the end without delay and without any hindrances from the opponent and not letting him strike at you. That concept comes from the two words before [Vor] and after [Nach], that is the first strike [Vorschlag] and the after strike [Nachschlag], in the middle

And here’s the wording for Lars’ scroll …

Service, note that word well, it is to a good noble of Ealdormere such as Master Lars Eriksson both his own heart and his Crown, Roak and Hyrrokin, Khan and Khan Begam, that he bends a knee to, it is the very matter of a good servant.  All that service contains and all the fundamentals have been mentioned to the Crown with Lars name attached to many deeds, and made us well understood his contributions to the realm.  

When Lars serves others, in this many are well taught, and remain fast in their ongoing service, and do not tarry when he beckons them for aid.  Lars makes service without limit and end, which is humble and ever grows the realm.  He is quick and steady without faltering, all at once so that he cannot rest idle.  This is fortunate for all and he will be recognized, by Roak and Hyrrokin with an invitation to join the Order of the Wain, and he shall only tarry before Us and his fellow companions to hear our proclamation, and he cannot part company with Us without receiving our praise.  

If all gathered hear understood the years of service of Lars, he has been at the beginning, middle and current days of our Kingdom of Ealdormere.  The concept of service has long been with Us, but let this X day of August, Anno Societatis Q demark the time of the Order of the Wain both before Lars Eriksson and after Lars Eriksson did join them.

Roak                      Hyrrokin

(Based on the Hanko Doibringer Fechtbuch from 1389, Plate 17V

If you would like to see the original fechtbuch, it can be found at the following link: http://www.thearma.org/Manuals/Dobringer_A5_sidebyside.pdf

Cheerfully slaving for my feudal masters,

Brand, Barenwalde

checkyboy@gmail.com