Welcome to the September 2002 issue of the ChivalryDaze Newsletter.

Being that my family and I are members of St. Davids Renaissance Guild.  I thought I'd share some information on the Guild and historical tidbits it's based on.

St. David's Renaissance Guild

As stated on the guild website, With the royal blessing and consent of Her Royal Highness, Queen Marguerite of Denmark, St. David's Renaissance Guild was created to educate guild members and the public concerning the history, costumes and lifestyles of the Renaissance, particularly the Royal Court of King Christian III of Denmark in the years 1538 through 1570. As actors, one of our main goals is to entertain by stimulating the audience's imagination whilst educating them against the backdrop of Renaissance court procedures and protocol.

The courtly ceremonies of the Renaissance were as opulent and grandiose as they were fulfilling for its participants and curious observers. Thus, when the King holds court at St. David's campsite at fairs, his words and deeds bring to life ancient court events and rituals long discarded by modern society, such as:

* Knighting ceremonies
* Combat tournaments
* Wooing contests
* Traditional Handfastings
* Weddings

If you are interested in joining St. David's or would like St. David's Guild to perform at your faire, party, or business event, please contact Guildmaster Phil Maxson (King Christian III) at:

Maxson Entertainments * 136 West Drive * Felton, CA 95018 * (831) 335-0193  

In 1985, Phil Maxson created St. David's Guild and portrays King Christian III of Denmark. There is never a dull moment with Phil as our guide.  At Ren Faires, patrons and actors alike frequent St. David's campsite annually to pay homage to the King and his court. A committed professional entertainer, Phil scripts many impromptu plots that invite audience participation whilst promoting improvisational theater. Add to the mix guildmembers portraying nobility, knights, soldiers, merchants and peasants, and the result is a thoroughly entertained and better educated audience.

You can find an article on Phil and St. David's in the premier issue of Renaissance Magazine and his picture also graces the cover of Issue #4 along with a second photo in the issue #4 article: The Fine Art of Brewing.

Christian II, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden was so cruel that his own people booted him off the throne in 1522. He had killed Danish nobles and an archbishop, lost Sweden through brutality, and allowed his Dutch mistress to control government finances. As odd as it may seem, his follies cleared the way for the reformation in Denmark.

The Danes asked his uncle Frederick to occupy the throne. Needing Catholic support, Frederick I promised to crush the Lutherans.

Halting Lutheran ideas was important to the Catholic church. Reform teaching was leaking across the German border into Denmark. Catholic leaders feared Denmark would follow Germany and go Protestant.

On the other hand, the peasants griped that the church owned forty percent of the land. Although they paid heavy church taxes, the church did not meet their growing appetite for spiritual things. No wonder they listened to reformers when they came. Frederick I did not keep his promise to fine and kill Lutherans. When the bishops complained, Frederick replied that "the king governs life and property but not the soul." Although he helped Catholics collect their tithes and shielded them from violence, he appointed reformers to vacant church positions. Hans Tausen, the first Lutheran to preach openly in Denmark, did so under a letter of protection from the king.

When Frederick died, Denmark's Catholics revolted. Duke Christian defeated them and was crowned King Christian III. He locked up Catholic bishops, blaming them for the rebellion. The new king reformed the church with the help of Lutherans such as Peter Palladius, a teacher who could explain complicated theology so simply that common folk could understand it. Christian III even preached the new ideas himself.

At a Diet of Estates of the Realms, Catholic bishops were officially dismissed. On this date, October 30, 1536, a bill redistributed power between the church and the state. Lutheranism became the official religion of Denmark and Christian III promised to appoint new bishops. In 1537 the king made the break with Rome irreversible when he ordered reformer Johann Bugenhagen to consecrate bishops outside of the apostolic succession.

Source: Used with permission by Christian History Institute

Sept. 27-29: Skandifest - Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock, CA

St. Davids Renaissance Guild

Christian History Institute

Renaissance Magazine

Washington Renaissance Faire's Actors Library

andrew@ChivalryDaze.zzn.com

MSN Messenger ID#: sworddaze

"And no one should give up performing great exploits, for when the body can do no more, the heart and determination should take over;
and there are many people who have been more fortunate in the end
than they hoped for in the beginning..."  Geoffroi de Charny

At many re-enactment events you will hear cheers of "Huzzah" but at St. David's Guild encampments you will most likely hear shouts of "Uffta".  

This is because St. David's likes to throw in a smattering of Danish words into it's use of Basic Faire Accent.

More Information

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of preparing for renaissance faire is not putting your costume together, creating and researching your persona, or even the camping - its teaching yourself to speak naturally in what's commonly called "basic faire accent", or BFA. Fear not, however, the basics are not that hard to master and you can easily teach yourself the basics in under an hour (though it make take a bit longer for the words to flow naturally off your tongue).

Check out how: Washington Renaissance Faire's Actors Library