The Isles Circle of Fence

In the thirty-third year of the Society, after a rapier practice in the autumn of 1998, Martin FitzJames, Stefen Winter von Rosenheim (then Stefan of Lorraine), and myself (Todde mac Donnell) were talking about the proclivity of larger SCA groups to forms "Schools of Defense." In the style of Elizabethan combat schools, these took the form of an organization with various ranks, in which the more senior masters or provosts would teach the students or scholars. We had a few problems: There were only three of us regularly attending practice, we were all of about equal skill, and we thought it really stupid to award ourselves fancy ranks just because there was (presently) no one around who could whip us and teach us a thing or three.

So, observing the equality of our talents, and hoping to expand our ranks beyond a triangle, we boldly named our endeavor the Isles "Circle" of Fence, drew up an egalitarian charter, designed a badge and made tokens (shown below) for the initiates. In AS XXXV our triangle became a heptagon, and has expanded since to 34 members (quadtridecagon?), about half of whom actually still live here.

Members of the Circle

• Lord Martin FitzJames (AS XXXIII)
• Lord Stefen Winter von Rosenheim (AS XXXIII)
• THLord Todde mac Donnell (AS XXXIII)
• Lord Finnian the Fierce (AS XXXV)
• Genevre da Isole (AS XXXV)
• THLady Mora Ottavia Spadera (AS XXXV)
• Nepeta of Isles (AS XXXV)
• Lord Alberic Kentigern (AS XXXV)
• Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa (AS XXXVII)
• Leah of the Sandy Stream (AS XXXVIII)
• Rachel of the Sandy Stream (AS XXXVIII)
• David Roth (AS XXXVIII)
• Lord Raul Francisco d'Abrantes (AS XXXIX)
• Catalina Dominico de la Fuente (AS XXXIX)
• Lady Tessa the Tipsey (AS XXXIX)
• Vicente del Valle (AS XL)
• Lady Juanica Montañez (AS XL)
• Lord Arye ben Ezra (AS XL)
• Lady Sviatoslava Andreeovna Vasil'eva Sergeev (AS XLI)
• Raes de la Mer (AS XLI)
• Lord Viktor of Isles (AS XLI)
• Lady Adelaide de la Jupe Cramoisie (AS XLI)
• Lady Annabelle di Amalfi (AS XLII)
• Lord Edward the Pink (AS XLII)
• Lady Delphine de Montaillou (AS XLII)
• Aniella Rovani (AS XLII)
• Lady Enid Gwyr (AS XLII)
• Lady Zhivana Igorevna (AS XLII)
• Lady Rikitsa Tuolomainen (AS XLIII)
• Lord Lodovico of Isles (AS XLIII)
• Lady Elo of Isles (AS XLIV)
• Orraca de Coimbra (AS XLV)
• Ulysses of the Aisles (AS XLV)
• Sir Rhys Ravenscroft (AS XLV)

One of the points of the Circle is to give the new Isles fencer some modest goals to aspire to, and a nifty thingy to hang from their belt when they do. (Coincidentally, these have the side-benefit of making them self-sufficient and the Isles loaner gear available to other folks.) The requirements are (roughly) as follows:

• Authorized for rapier (in some kingdom)
• Own their own armor and (at least one) weapon
• Familiar with offensive & defensive secondary weapons
• Marshal-in-Training, or help out unofficially
• Resident or regular visitor to Isles (whatever we decide that means)

When the new fencer is satisfied with their training and readiness, they ask (or are invited) to play the prize for membership in the Circle. The challenge is announced a week in advance, and (usually) contested at a nearby practice, though Karta Purkh, David, and Arye played their prizes at Estrella War. Each Circle member present plays at least one touch each with single rapier, rapier & dagger or case, and rapier with buckler, baton, or cloak. Sufficient extra challengers are usually recruited to ensure heat stroke. The prize is claimed, and membership in the Circle is granted if the challenger (when revived) is satisfied with his or her performance.

-THLord Todde mac Donnell

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