Unto all good gentles of the shire of Forth Castle does Lord Crystoffer ap Cynan Llwyd, send greetings and wishes of health unto you all.

As was customary in the times of our ancestors, it is hereby my desire that we emphasize the brotherhood of chivalry that reaches deeply into our hearts. Pleased with the success of our previous passage of arms, it is my desire to once again test the mettle of our squires and other men-at-arms in our shire in a pas d'armes. I also wish to provide unto our fighters a chance to demonstrate their prowess, their courtesy, and their eloquence to the gentiles in the gallery. It is also desirable that this display of martial skill be fought for the entertainment of the gallery and for the joi de combat of the combatants. I challenge those fighters in attendance at our 10th Anniversary Social to join me on the Field of Chivalry before the good and gentle ladies of Forth Castle beginning at the eleventh hour of January 19, 2003.

In the words of the 14th century chronicler Froissart, "We beg all those noble knights and squires who are willing to proffer challenge, not to imagine for a moment that we are doing this out of pride, hatred, or malice, but in order to have the honor of your company and to get to know you better, a thing which we desire with our whole hearts. And there shall be no unfair advantage, fraud, trickery, or evil design, nor anything not approved by those appointed to guard this lists."

The idea here is to look and act your best. With that in mind here are the guiudelines...

Item: This pas d'armes will be held in the customary manner, being contested solely for honor and renown, rather than for the base spirit of victory.

Item: All who would fight in this pas d'armes, be they squire or man-at-arms, should come to the field by the hour of: 10:30 on Sunday, to the list enclosure before the Ladies Pavilion, bearing their arms and armor as are appropriate for fighters to bear: poleaxes, swords, masses, or axes.

Item: All participants must own one-third of their own armor, and have had experience fighting on a regular basis for the preceding six months. Since this is all a big party, Fighter Authorization is not a requirement.

Item: Each combatant must wear a surcoat or tabbard and carry a Shield bearing the same device that he may be known upon the field. A tabard can be a simple colored piece of cloth that extend from the shoulders to mid-thigh both front and back..

Item: All challengers will equip themselves so that from ten feet away they look like fully equipped men-at-arms of their chosen period with no visible mundanities. Equipment fully covered by Surcoats, Tabards, Jupons, and Coat-Armor need only meet Society safety standards, provided that the covering garment is appropriate to the rest of the harness, and authentic in appearance, and the dubious harness is entirely covered and does not impart an inauthentic outline to the covering garment. Equipment that is more authentic is encouraged.

Item: All combatants are encouraged to wear a crest upon their helm suitable for their chosen period and harness. Be imaginative. A panache of feathers, a stuffed animal, or some other soft pliable item will suffice. The crest can be tied to the helm or attached with Velcro.

There will be no prize for this pas d'armes, but it is strongly recommended that the ladies gathered bear tokens of their appreciation with them that they can present to the combatants who strike them as particularly worthy of honor. In this way will the renown of virtuous combatants and fair ladies be strengthened, such being the purpose of the pas d'armes.

Done by my hand this fifteenth day of January, A.S. XXXVII,
THLord Crystoffer ap Cynan Llwyd