Category: Order of the Tygers Combatant

To all trewe Eastern people these present, reading, or seeing this missive, We, Cyng Kenric & Cwene Avelina, send due recommendation & greting. Reason ordeyneth that vertuouse men of noble courage be by there merites Renounned  Rewarded. And not oonly in theire psones in this mortall liffe so breef & transitory but also in theire good name & fame to be of noble memory after theire departing out of liffe & to be in euery place of honour before other persones euermore Reuerenced & Recomendid for shewing of certaine signes  tokenes of honour & gentilnes to thentent that by theire ensample other psones may the sonner & the more enforce & applye theyme theymeself to dispend theire lyves in honourable worke & vertuous dede for to purchace & gete therby the renoun of gentilnesse euermore. Not only by common renoun but by the report & testimony of noble psones worthy of faith We are truly advertised & informed that Gryffyn Dunham has long pursued valiant feats of armes as well in this as in other matters applyed & honourably governed himself in goodly entent & disposition so that he is worthy that henceforth for ever he be in all places by his gode disposicion honourably accepted, receiued, admitted, counted, & renouned among the number & company of the Antient & Noble Order of the Tygers Combattant.  We devise, ordaine, & conferme him unto these happy few that with noble Courage excercyse vertuous manners of arms endorsed by the abillitye of wch psons foresaid. Our will shall be peasebly & without challenge or interuption for eumore. In wittenesse wherof I, Cyng Kenric, & I, Cwene Avelina, haue signed these psente with Our owne h&e at Anglespur the 4 Day of January the XLVIII yere of the Society.



Based on the charter texts of John Alfrey, 1459/60, John Picton, 1486, and Edmond Mille, 1450.  (http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm)

Modern English spelling and punctuation

To all true Eastern people these present, reading, or seeing this missive, We, King Kenric & Queen Avelina, send due recommendation & greeting. Reason ordaineth that virtuous men of noble courage be, by there merits Renowned, Rewarded.

And not only in their persons in this mortal life so brief & transitory, but also in their good name & fame to be of noble memory after their departing out of life & to be in every place of honor before other persons evermore Reverenced & Recommended for showing of certain signs, tokens of honor & gentleness to the intent that by their example other persons may the sooner & the more enforce & apply themselves to dispend their lives in honorable work & virtuous deed for to purchase & get thereby the renown of gentleness evermore.

Not only by common renown but by the report & testimony of noble persons worthy of faith We are truly advertised & informed that Gryffyn Dunham has long pursued valiant feats of arms as well in this as in other matters, applied & honorably governed himself in goodly intent & disposition so that he is worthy that henceforth forever he be in all places, by his good disposition, honorably accepted, received, admitted, counted, & renowned among the number & company of the Ancient & Noble Order of the Tygers Combatant.

We devise, ordain, & confirm him unto these happy few that with noble Courage exercise virtuous manners of arms endorsed by the ability of which persons foresaid.

Our will shall be peaceably & without challenge or interruption for evermore.

In wittiness whereof I, King Kenric, & I, Queen Avelina, have signed these present with Our own hand at Anglespur the 4 Day of January the XLVIII year of the Society.

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Gryffyn Dunham’s persona is of the Agincourt era. Because I couldn’t find extant English poetry for this era (1415) and I wanted English, and close to period language, without using Latin. Because it’s a martial award I also didn’t want it to have a delicate feeling, which poetry of the era might have. So I researched some charters as close as I could find to the date I wanted – 1450, 1460, and 1480 as a language guide. From that, I took the portions which suited my purposes best and altered them. Most charters have a very “template” feel to them (of course) which made the mixing quite easy. I changed the later language spelling to match the spelling of the era and I snuck in a small Shakespeare bit from the famed St. Crispin’s Day speech, a piece I know Gryf really likes. Ultimately I hope that it reads like a period document appropriate for his persona.

(I used many sites with charters on them, but this was an incredible resource for me: http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm )

Wilhem de Broc’s OTC wording is in the style of the Paston letters, 1422-1509.  http://bit.ly/rlj1HO . It was done with the permission of the royalty as  a letter written by a gentlewoman friend to his wife, Isabel Chamberlain, telling of his exploits and how the King and Queen have recognized him, and have themselves affixed their seal to the document as proof.  It was very, very long, and was presented at the Crown Tournament of King Gregor and Queen Kiena. Below is the text in period English, and beneath that is the piece in modern American English.

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To my frynde and faire jentylwoman, I recomende me unto yow, and thanke yow of your gyudenesse evermore shewed, and pray yow to contenew. I have resyvyd newes of yowr husband, Lord Wilham de Broc, a jentylman who has come to the attention of our most fierce lyon Kyng Gregor and his brave Queen Kiena.

Sondry and diverse persones have told tales of Lord Wilham and of his prowess and goodness seyn by all before hym over these many monthes, and I desire yow to hear them proclaimed.

When yew arrived from warm lands, they marvaylyd that Wilham had not borne the sword, for he comandyd it as thouh rehersyd. And saw they the sinister casueltes and consydered the sped of Wilhem and demeyd hym suche man as gode man shold be, of umble wyse, of whom dute and servyse are the most joye of erthely thynges.

He fyrst rode, as yow know, be yond to the Roses War, and ther spake a pace with men of arms. Witness seyde that he sholde take the sword up and procede to the list, and moor ovyr, that he shoulde cawse hym to take arms against brave men and knights and dukes and masters. He was entretyd to take hys myght up on thym, and many he did beste.

Thys prowess causyd hym a desyeryg place with beltless broders, and at the mudthaw he fought with them and many he did beste.

With serteynte wold he take the Pennsic field with the frendys sent hym, and broders and squires of dukes and knights and masters. For two summers he remembred hys brotheris at arms, and went to aplye the sword and hold shield against the shrewyd dragons and theyr kin.  And many he did beste.

For when hys hand hys not set to carve that wood which he lykes, and which all who see these thynges lyke, hit hath been set to sword wich hath carved with entent upon all fields, and hath troblyd soor all foe touched by his blade.

Persones seyd he shuld have his honors, and enquered after the solisitors and Kingges men, and sendeth letters and speke of his desir to serve the East, and of his long travels this wey and that wey with Pembridge kynnesmen to fight, and of his desir to master the sword and grete sword, and his corage in all dealyngs, and protection of the land from any thretis before hit, as is hys ryght as a yeoman.

And furthermore I understond that upon inquisicyon to the members of the august Order of the Tygers Combatant, it hath been agryed by Kyng Gregor and Queen Kiena that this be fynyshed hastyly for they desyred Wilhem to be named as broder to them all, and it was agreid that theye wold make a bond of hym to the Order of the Tygers Combatant upon this feast day of St. Dominator of Brescia, for Wilhem ys lyke a full trewe, harty frende to the kingdom and all gode persones, who we are wele favored with.

And so here we see this gift gret that the Kyng and Queen should geve hym, in ryght bothe in law and in concience, whereby now on feythe as moche as the maner is worth, on this day of the Crown Tournament of the East, which is the fifth day of the monthe of November, anno sociatatis XVI, in their Barony of Bergental, to induct Lord Wilhem de Broc into the Order of the Tygers Combattant, and remitt thys day to youre remembraynce.

My counseill hath told me I may sette a letter that yor may have word of this. And may oure blessed Lord ever preserve you and Wilhem, and be your governour and defender.  All this is so endorcyd by the signgatures of golden Kynge Gregor and radient Queen Kiena which bless this page, having been witnessed by the clarke and herald and all assembled in the Court this grete day.

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OTC for WILHEM DE BROC – in AMERICAN ENGLISH

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To my friend and fair gentlewoman, I recommend me unto you, and thank you of your guidance evermore showed, and pray you to continue. I have received news of your husband Lord Wilham de Broc, a gentleman who has come to the attention of our most fierce lyon, King Gregor and his brave Queen Kiena.

Sundry and diverse persons have told tales of Lord Wilham and of his prowess and goodness seen by all before him over these many months, and I desire you to hear them proclaimed.

When you arrived from warm lands, they marveled that Wilhem had not borne the sword for he commanded it as though rehearsed. And saw they the sinister casualties and considered the speed of Wilhelm and deemed him such man as good man should be, of humble ways, of whom duty and service are the most joy of earthly things.

He first rode, as you know, beyond to the Roses War, and there spake a pace with men of arms. Witnesses said that he should take the sword up and proceed to the list, and more over, that he should cause him to take arms against brave men and knights and dukes. He was entered to take his might upon them, and many he did best.

This prowess caused him a deserving place with beltless brothers, and at the mudthaw he fought with them, and many he did best.

With certainty would he take the Pennsic field with the friends sent him, and brothers and squires of dukes and knights and masters. For two summers he remembered his brothers at arms and went to apply the sword and hold shield against the shrewd dragons and their kin. And many did he best.

For when his hand is not set to carve that wood which he likes, and which all who see these things like, it hath been set to sword which hath carved with intent upon all fields, and hath troubled sore all foe touched by his blade.

Persons said he should have his honors, and inquired after the solicitors and king’s men, and senteth letters and spake of his desire to serve the East, and of his long travels this way and that way with Pembridge kinsmen to fight, and of his desire to master the sword and great sword, and his courage in all dealings and protection of the land from any threats before it, as is his right as a yeoman.

And furthermore, I understand that upon inquisition to the members of the august Order of the Tygers Combatant, it hath been agreed by King Gregor and Queen Kiena that this be finished hastily for they desired Wilhem to be named as brother to them all, and it was agreed that they would make a bond of him to the Order of the Tygers Combatant upon this feast day of St. Dominator of Brescia, for Wilhem is like a full, true, hearty friend to the kingdom and all good persons, who we are well favored with.

And so here we see this gift great that the King and Queen should give him, in right both in law and in conscience, whereby now on faith as much as the manner is worth, on this day of the Crown Tournament of the East, which is the fifth day of the month of November, anno sociatatis XVI, in their Barony of Bergental, to induct Lord Wilhem de Broc into the Order of the Tygers Combatant, and remit this day to your remembrance.

My counsel hath told me I may set a letter that you may have word of this. And may our blessed Lord ever preserve you and Wilhem and be your governor and defender. All this is so endorsed by the signatures of golden King Gregor and radiant Queen Kiena which bless this page, having been witnessed by the clerk and herald and all assembled in the Court this great day.

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