Introductions

Greetings Noble Equestrians, Best of the Knowne World, Slayers of Evil, and Champions of Good,

On the dawn of tomorrow morn, I predict that I shall look upon the field of honor with much awe for what I shall see are the best examples of horsemanship from throughout My land. Your Queen is honored to ride among you, the heroes of the horse. My mount, Odds Er On Oreo, known by many by the sable and argent marks she bears, stands ready to meet the challenge. Being fleet of foot and a stalwart steed, she has carried me into battle many times always rising to the occasion and bringing much entertainment and glory in doing so.

I look forward to the events of the arena and to watching each of you ride. May you demonstrate both skill and chivalry, the competitor's spirit and camaraderie of kin, stewardship and graciousness. I wish you a day of personal accomplishments, enjoyable conversations, and well-seated rides.

For An Tir
Queen Miranda

Unto our Gracious Majesty, Queen Miranda, Noble Judges, Glorious Ladies of the Berfrois and to my most excellent fellow riders.

I, Kolfinna Hestasdottir, accept the honor and privilege to ride this challenge. By my arms you shall know me: Or, 3 gules rose's argent and a gules horses head couped. Know me also by my office, Seneschal of the most gracious Shire of Midhaven, member of Aquaterra Cavalry, AnTir Equestrian Guild and the Ordre of the Lion et de la Lance.

My mighty steed, Skyggnir, also eagerly awaits to prove his prowess on the field in flights of fancy and flirtations with the ladies. (Carrot gratuities are graciously accepted.) We will compete in the Reeds, Rings, Speed Quintain and Birjas with great enthusiasm!

I shall ride for the honor of my inspiration, the noble HL Sven inn Helte, he who strengthens and prepares my arm in times of battle.

Yours in Service,
HL Kolfinna Hestasdottir

Unto the noble Earl Edward Cire of Greymoor do I, Baron Sir Aleksii Konstantinovich Chernoi, send proper greeting and well wishes to you and your esteemed house. Thus do I bid you hearken to my words:

It is come to me that a trial by combat is drawing near, and the warrior's spirit within would have me test the mettle of those worthies who would seek to gain wordfame from such exploits. As a warrior, as a Baron, and as a King's Man do I wish to thus enter the trial and prove the grace, harmony, and beauty of my most Noble Inspiration, Baroness Elspeth nic Grath. Knowing that mortal harm might come to me, I have said this of my own free will and hold no other responsible for this act.

Baron Sir Aleksii Konstantinovich Chernoi
Baron of Blatha An Oir

Unto her Majesty Queen Miranda of all An Tir, to the powerful and most fair judges, and to the other brave equestrians on their most valiant steeds, I do bid you greetings.

I, Ann Taylor (having no Society name as of yet), having faired well at Autumn War, and being now the Spirit of the Gaurdian Horse, defender of her lands, do intend to enter the lists at the Seventh Emprise of the Lion on my noble sweet mare Rhodi. Known I will be by my, as yet unregistered, Arms purpure per pale azure.

We will ride to honor Cyriac the Hunter, defender of our lives, builder of our weapons, and adored Lord in my life. To honor also our three young charges; Corey, young bowman extraordinare; Casey, lover of all things equine; and Lane, puller of hair and eater of all things that have fallen to the earth.

We ride to the lists in Behord, Speed Quintain, Pig Sticking, and Rings, and welcome all comers, bearing no ill will, in the spirit of competition and friendship.

Signed by my own hand, this ASXXXVII, being the 20 of September.

Ann Taylor, Shire of River's Bend

To the very noble and powerful judges of the Emprise of the Black Lion, and to all who will meet upon the tourney field at the grand Emprise of the Black Lion VII, greetings!

For the glory and honor of horse and rider; I, Lady Aeschine Gearranach and my swift mount Willow of the Lake, Sired by Galahad of the Lake out of Sorsha, shall meet all who would give challenge honorably on the field of the Emprise of the Black Lion VII. This day, Willow and I, Lady Aeschine ride forth in honor of two people who inspire me daily; Mistress Ynesen Ongge Xong Kerij-ee and Sir Rapheal the Rogue. It is these two, who show their nobility, by giving of themselves to others; freely giving of their time, their treasure, the resources of their estate and inspiring others to take up their exercise of arms more often.

In such a noble deed as this tourney, my destrier Willow and I shall take up our weapons for competion in Birjas, Rings, Reeds, and Willow's favorite, Pigs. In the hope to farther my steed's training in going slowly, we will leave the games of speed quintain, jousting and behourd for another emprise.

You may know me by my yet unregistered arms: Per Chevron gules and vert, two crescents and a sheep passant argent. You shall see my steed and I as we charge across the tournament field as a bright blur of orange. You shall observe that upon my helm rests a silver sheep wearing a crescent moon, which none but the most godlike of challengers may send from its perch. Let us show the Known World our love of the horse, of the tourney, of spirit, chivalry and honor, in a grand display of equestrian might and skill, at this, the Black Lion Emprise.

Signed by my own hand, this ASXXXVII, being the 19 of September, at my manse in the Shire of Wyewood.

Lady Aeschine Gearranach

Greetings, do I Eadric give unto those who sponsor this noble contest known as the Emprise of the Black Lion.

At the behest of my Lord do I come to announce that inspired by the beauty and troth of his lady love Her Ladyship Alyna Wolfstan does Sir John Wolfstan announce his intent to meet those who would quest for honor in the armoured combat tournaments.

You will know him by his prowess and knightly countenance, and on his Surcoat will proudly be his arms; per pale Azure and Gules, A bend embattled, counter embattled Or, overall a Wolfs head erased ululant contourney Argent.

This I humbly submit to you,
In service to my Lord and Knight.

Lord Eadric de Lonestone
Squire to Sir John Wolfstan

Unto my Liege Lady and Queen of all An Tir, do I, Your Equestrian Champion by right of challenge, send Greetings! Likewise to those august judges and noble spectators, and most especially to the honored and gentle ladies of the Berfrois do I, Lady Francesca da Monte, send joyous salutations!

I come to the call of my Queen, and to the greater glory of the sport of the Equestrian, to join my fellow Venants upon this field of honor in this the Seventh Emprise of the Black Lion, Anno Societatus XLII, a very great festival of arms and a very noble tourney; with crests, coats of arms and horses covered with the arms of the noble tourneyers as is the ancient custom.

All may know me by the Champion's cloak that I wear at the forbearance of the Crown and the barding of An Tir on my destrier; and by the banner my herald shall carry bearing my proposed arms: gules, a pale or, a wolf's head erased sable.

Mounted on the fiery chestnut warhorse Lakota, who has the courage of a lion and the speed of an hart, I challenge all comers in Ring Tilt, Reeds, Pig Sticking and Speed Quintain. I ride in such a noble deed as this tourney in the hope that my consort Dirk the Dark, he who carries my soul and is the light of my eyes, is well pleased.

I ride for the honor of my Queen and for my beloved and glorious Kingdom, An Tir!

Ever your humble servant,
Lady Francesca da Monte

Great and Noble Judges of the Emprise, Beautiful Ladies of the Berfois, Notable and discerning spectators, Greetings.

Here do I Alitor come before you, Herald for My Lord Rapheal. He is my countryman of old from Artimisia where he and his Inspiration Lady Kerij-e ruled with a just and kindly hand. You may know him by his arms: Per bend sinister argent and sable, a stag springing bendwise sinister and a wolf courant bendwise sinister counterchanged.

He is mounted upon his newest and young destrier Bourdain.

He comes before you, the title of Viscount denoting his Royal Blood.

He comes before you, the title of Knight of the Realm denoting his skill at arms and Chivalry.

He comes before you, the title of Master of the Laurel denoting his knowledge of the Arts and Sciences.

He presents himself to the Great and Dread Judges, Jarl Ulfred, Graf Berek,Earl Cire, and Viscount Donnan. To these great worthies who are justly overseeing this Emprise he comes as a humble competitor and true servant of the Kingdom and the Dream.

He has competed honorably in all previous Emprise, proving victorious twice against all comers, and with your grace he shall compete at your pleasure here today as well.

Of all his accolades he bids me to tell of only these.

That he is called a true Knight by the most discerning ladies of the kingdom.

That he is called a hard man by those who have felt his sword's edge.

That he is sought after as a teacher in his best known skills of science and art.

That lastly, those who have sought his advice in matters Royal have always walked away the gladder for it.

This day he begs your indulgence in his choice of competitions.

Birjas, a game of skill from lands far east.

Speed Quintain, a great favorite combining skill with a weapon and the control and speed of ones horse.

Reeds, as a noted favorite game of the crowd he shall endeavor to entertain.

The tournament of blows, here he shall show his honor with those notable warriors who have fought their way to this final competition.

Jousting, he shall serve you the judges as a Marshal rather then his own vanity as a competitor.

Behord, he begs you excuse his absence for the sake of his new horse, though he shall again offer his service as Marshal.

Pigs and Rings, favored games of his indeed but he shall make way for others.

These are his words and his meaning is clear. Good, Noble and Honest Judges what say you? Do you accept My Lord here this day as a competitor in this the 7th Emprise of the Black Lion?

Unto those August Judges, Princely Knights and other Noble Combatants who shall be present at this the septimal Emprise of the Black Lion, do I, humble herald, bid Greetings.

Into the lists of honorable combat does enter Sir Gernon Valletort du Harfleur, to be known by the splendor of his person, the nobility of his bearing, and the display of his device, azure on a chevron argent, three escallops inverted sable, a bordure invected argent.

At the wish of Sir Gernon do I hereby publish his intention to go forth and take up those arms whose use does elevate the spirit and test the body: the sword, the shield, the lance. All this to win the favor of his inspiration, Her Ladyship the Radiant and Gracious Aisha Al Zahra, whose blessing and approval Sir Gernon seeks above all things.

Come Champions all, earn the honor of your inspiration’s favor by your skill, your courtesy, and the seemly exhibition of the arms that you have attained.

For Honor and Glory, do I Emelot du Harfleur, hold forth at the command of

Sir Gernon Valletort du Harfleur

To Her Majesty Queen Miranda, to the most noble judges of the Emprise of the Black Lion VII, to all those who have made this grand tourney possible, and to all those most valiant riders that today I will have the great honour to meet upon the field in all love and friendship, and not out of any ill will:

I, HL Macha the Determined, AoA, member of the Order of the Goutte de Sang, member of the Order of the Lion et de la Lance, bring my most respectful greetings to you all.

Such a glorious spectacle as this tourney was not yet conceived when first I rode into battle. Thusly I and my valiant war horse, Kings Royal Mist (known as Ace) are attired with the most festive trappings from my own time, to show great honour to the assemblage after our own customs. I ride in this tourney thanks to the support of my most noble Lord Ken of Mountain Edge, who is my inspiration, and with the assistance of our Heir, m’Lady Alison.

Know me by my (not yet registered) arms, upon a shield argent a dolmen (tor) gules, within a roundel azure.

Know my valiant war horse by his joy in the tourney and by his spirited defense of me in the behourd. We will also vie at rings, reeds, and pigs.

Any day on which we can take to the field together is a great day!!

In celebration of honour, glory upon the field, and friendship –

HL Macha the Determined, Shire of Mountain Edge, Kingdom of AnTir

Greetings unto the Noble Judges of the Emprise of the Black Lion from Madonna Contessa Ilaria Veltri degli Ansari.

I hereby announce my intent to ride in this Emprise. As some of you may not have heard of me and my skills, I do send this letter of introduction. As noted above I am known as Ilaria Veltri degli Ansari, Member of the Order of the Laurel in the Society for Creative Anachronism, and am honored with the title of Countess in this our Society. I will be riding upon my famous steed October Dawn, familiarly known as Toby. I do hereby challenge all comers to the Joust, Rings, Birjas and Reeds.

I was awarded Arms by the hands of Ulfred and Adara, and elevated into the order of the Jambe de Lion by the hands of Manfred and Morwyn. I contested in two Sergents Tourneys, at the second one crossing swords with King Berek, receiving my belt from the hands of Baroness Anne of Madrone. I have been A&S champion for the Barony of Madrone, the Kingdom of CAID and the Shire of Stromgard, and am currently the Equestrian champion of the Barony of Stromgard. Some other awards I hold are the Green Leaf of Madrone, the Harp Argent of CAID, the Bell and Chain of Stromgard, the The Athena of the Barony of Angels and the Ordo Musarum of Stromgard.

So that you will know me when I appear, I will have my arms clearly displayed, Azure, a greyhound bitch rampant, argent, gorged by a county coronet, or, standing on an Italian tri-mount in base, paly or and vert, all surrounded by a bordure, argent.

I ride in the name of and for the honor of my Lord and Husband Eorl Sir Edward Ean Anderson. In doing so I hope to inspire others to take up the challenge of simply getting out there and riding.

Unto the Most Noble Judges of the Emprise of the Black Lion VII, I send humble greetings:

I, Taradan banMarca, do by this letter proclaim my intent to enter the lists of such a noble deed as this tourney.

I am a Companion of the Goutte de Sang and Member of the Order of the Lion et de la Lance.

I would proclaim to be of noble birth by display upon banner and billet My arms (as yet unregistered): Erminois on a pile raguly vert a winged seahorse Or.

I come to the Lists in Friendship and bearing naught but good will for all I shall there meet.

Upon my fiery steed Chai I make bold to enter the Competitions of the Behord Melee, Pigs, Speed Quintain and Rings.

I ride by the inspiration of my beloved husband, the Honorable Lord Thorkel Haraldsson to do honor to all my fellows who enter the Lists and for the amusement of the Ladies and all present.

To Honor, my fellow equestrians, to Honor!

Lady Taradan banMarca

Unto Her Majesty, our most esteemed judges, the good audience and my mounted fellows.

I give you greeting most sincere form Thorkel Haraldsson, squire to Sir Hrothgar Throvaldsson, mounted champion of the Shire of Midhaven, sixth champion of the Emprise of the Black Lion, and humble servant to Her Ladyship Taradan ban Marca who inspires me with her humble generosity and tireless spirit which I strive to emulate. I am mounted to meet all comers on Blondie. In the hope of proving my worth to my Lady and my Knight I will compete in the behord, the speed quintain, the joust though the generosity of Guillaume de Garrigues with the offer of his lances, and the counted armored combat on foot. If I prove victorious it will be though the grace of my lady and should I prove weak let me ride the fence alone.

My thanks to the great people of the Shire of Wyewood and the Madrone Equestrian Guild who have offered this opportunity for us to display our mettle for the greater glory of An Tir.

Thorkel Haraldsson

Noble Judges, Lords and Knights of this, the VIIth Emprise of the Black Lion, I do bear you Greetings!

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, do hereby swear and announce to all of my entry into said Emprise as a Defendant, having been given notice sof this most worthy event taking place by your noble leave.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, am Ranked Gentleman, neither greater nor lesser, and Captain of Cheveaux Léger, styled “Rittmeister” by the Almaynes, feal to none save my Lord and King.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, shall be known by my device, which is Gules, Three Fusils Or.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, shall be carried into the fray by my most gallant charger Woodrow, a Destrier famed for his strength and most valiant courage.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, shall enter into the Competitions of the Rings, Pigs, Reeds and the Joust.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, do hope and trust that I might inspire others above and below to give all due love and respect to those whom we emulate, and to strive incessantly with arm and purse, with good virtue and fidelity to arm, clothe and accouter ourselves in the proper finery, true to those who came before us, and not to be base and parsimonious, to the detriment of these our endeavours.

Know it that I, John Frye of Tilbury, do offer and bring this with all love and friendship.

John Frye of Tilbury, Gentleman.

To the noble and powerful judges of the Emprise of the Black Lion VII:

I, Spike Zoetaertd, herald to my master Guillaume de Garrigues, greet you and want you to know that my master has charged me to deliver this letter to you, which you may read whenever it pleases you.

On account of the great chivalry and prowess that my master knows is in your very noble persons, my master wishes to show himself in the lists of the very noble tournament of the Emprise of the Black Lion VII. My master takes up the exercise of arms in all love and friendship, and not out of any ill will, but rather to please the judges and to amuse the ladies.

And if by chance it may happen that my master will, by doing well, get mercy, grace, or an increase of love from his very gentle lady Annisa Gabrielli, then my master will have done his loyal duty, asking always that she forgive his mistakes, for if by chance he errs, from which God protect him, it will be more from innocence than from vice.

And you will know that my master is come from ancient nobility, by the way his horse is covered with his noble arms argent, an oak tree proper, on a chief gules three Toulouse crosses or, as is the ancient custom.

My master, Guillaume de Garrigues, wishes to compete in such a way that fame and widespread rumor will go out to sustain nobility and increase honor, so that, if it pleases God, every gentlemen will wish henceforth to practice the exercise of arms more often.

I, Spike Zoetaertd, in the service of my master Guillaume de Garrigues, announce these things to you, and I tell you this on behalf of my master, so please excuse me.