(First page, describing what Corpora is, is repeated.)
(a) It has been announced properly in a Kingdom Neesletter (sic) to all SCA subscribers within that Kingdom, and
(b) the Imperial Marshall shall receive the properly numbered and executed Waivers of all participating fighters within one month after the Tourney date.
(Rather interesting precedent in light of the "Evil Waiver" flap of 1994 -- one wonders how long it took before they realized how much paperwork they were generating...)
1: A Society publication shall be defined as any material mass produced (more than ten copies) by any means, and disseminated by the national office of the Society or any branch or department thereof. This includes: Tournaments Illuminated the Kingdom newsletters, divers (sic) handbooks, information sheets and brochures, monographs, etc.
2: Any statement of general Society policy, particularly with regard to government, appearing in a Society publication must have the approval of the BoD (this does not include quotes or close paraphrases of existing policy statements).*
(This appears to relate to the big John of Brook Lynn flap. I'd love to get more details on exactly what happened...)
3: Articles for Tournaments Illuminated must be approved by the appropriate Imperial Officer, if any, and the Editor. If said Officer does not reply within six weeks of the time the article was mailed to him, then approval will be assumed.
4: Any monograph or handbook published by the Society must be approved by the appropriate Imperial Officer, if any, and if possible by an expert in the field chosen by said Officer or by the Chronicler, or recommended by the work's author, and agreed to by one of the above.
5: Handbooks produced under the auspices of an Imperial Office, College, etc., shall arrange payment as follows:
(a) All production expenses shall be paid back to the original source of funds from the first profits.
(b) Further profits shall be divided among the Research Fund, the Office or College treasury, the editor or author and contributors, according to a contract which shall be drawn up at the time the material is accepted for publication. A copy of this contract must be filed with the Imperial Chronicler.
6: Monographs by a single author shall be reimbursed as follows:
(a) As in 5: (a), above.
(b) 50% of further profits shall go to the Research Fund; 50% to the author.
* Failure to observe this ruling may render the perpetrator liable to legal action.
(A really impressive hash of bureaucracy. One wonders how much lag time some of these rules added to, say, the production of TI...)
The BoD of the SCA, acknowledges the existence of magical and religious phenomena, at least as psychological factors, that can be used for the good or ill of the Society and its members. The following policy shall therefore be enforced, for the intent to use religious, magical, or psychic powers dishonorably is unethical and constitutes grounds for censure.
The SCA shall neither establish nor prohibit any system of magic or religion among its members. It is therefore unlawful to violate or infringe the religious or magical freedom of the Empire and of its members, collectively and individually, by performing a religious or magical ceremony at any official S.C.A. event or the association with the name of the S.C.A. in such a way as to (a) imply that the rite is officially authorized, sponsored or promulgated by the S.C.A.; (b) force participants or bystanders at the event, by either direct or indirect pressure, to join the rite; (c) perform the rite in such a location as forces others to participate or observe whether they will or not; (d) cause religious, magical, or psychic effects upon those who do not wish to endure them; or (e) invoke supernatural powers or gods to the political or social benefit or detriment of any member of the S.C.A., of the S.C.A. as a whole, or of any of its parts and branches.
It shall be unlawful for the S.C.A., or any member acting in the name of the S.C.A., or any of its parts or branches, to interrupt or interfere with any other person's lawful ceremonies, or for an officer to discriminate against any member of the S.C.A. upon religious, magical, or psychic grounds. It shall likewise be unlawful for any member to claim such interference without specific and objective evidence.
Nothing in these laws shall forbid the performance by competent representatives of religious, magical, or psychic groups and movements of ceremonies previous to an official event of the S.C.A. with the intention of benefiting the event and those gathered at it as a whole, e.g., with the intent of preventing rain, major injuries, the unethical use of religious, magical, or psychic powers, etc.
It shall be unlawful for any combatant at an official S.C.A. event knowingly and deliberately to use any amulet or device of magical, religious, or psychic nature to give him thereby an advantage upon the field of honor.
Recognition of magical, religious, or psychical organization(s) by the S.C.A., or any of its branches, shall not be based on the magical, religious, or psychical claims of such groups.
(This rule survives largely intact today. It's not nearly as onerous as some people think, although it does have its problems as stated here...)
(Note that the following are almost completely different from the working definitions today.)
1: Descriptions
(a) A Shire is a branch which is in the process of forming. Its hope is to become a territorial Barony, but it has not yet developed to the point where it deserves this title. It shall hold events, recruit members, acquire a set of officers, and initiate registration procedures for the Society in its state (unless another branch has already registered there) in order to qualify as a Barony. Its officers shall be titled "Acting Seneschal," Acting etc.," until it advances to Baronial status.
(This, I suspect, must be why Shires aren't allowed Sheriffs. I'd bet that the no-Sheriff rule dates back to these days, where a "Shire" corresponded to what we think of as an incipient group. This is good evidence to get the silly rule changed...)
n.b. Those groups presently titled Barony which have not yet developed sufficiently to meet the requirements for this status as defined in #1 (b) shall have a reasonable time to meet that definition before being considered for reclassification.
(b) A (territorial) Barony is a branch sufficiently far from the guardian Kingdom capital that its members cannot easily attend Tournaments, Revels, and other events held at the capital. Like a province, it has a full set of officers who are responsible to their counterparts in the Kingdom. A Barony holds its own Tournaments, at which the champion chooses a Queen of Love and Beauty, as well as Revels, classes, etc. Its members are defined as those who can easily attend events held near its capital (the residence of its Seneschal).
(Essentially, a Barony was a mini-Kingdom, that was far removed from any other Kingdom. Boy, did this change...)
(c) A (charter) Barony is a branch formed of voluntarily associated individuals within the territory of a Kingdom (although a member who moves to another Kingdom may retain his affiliation with the Charter Barony). A Charter Barony may be located in any part of a Kingdom, but must fulfill certain other requirements in order to be granted this status (see #2 (c)). This type of Barony is headed by a Baron or Baroness appointed as such by the King under his power to appoint "Court" Barons, and it has a full set of officers, who, like those of a province rank as subordinate to those of the Kingdom. It holds tournaments and other events and pursues a program of education and research, while participating fully in all the activities of the Kingdom as well.
(This one is sort of like a household with teeth. Interesting idea; it's rather too bad that it went away...)
(d) A Canton is a branch which bears the same relation to a Barony as a province does to a Kingdom (see #1 (e), below). Like a province, it has its own officers, etc., and when its Barony advances in status, it becomes a Province. In cases where the name of the Barony includes the term Marches (i.e., "The Barony of the Middle Marches"), its cantons may be titled Marches instead.
(e) A Province is a portion of a Kingdom or Principality whose members live close enough to the Kingdom's capital to attend Tournaments, Revels, and other main events, but who would find weekly attendance at guild or other meetings too difficult. Provinces have their own officers, who are subordinate to those of the Kingdom, and may put on their own Tournaments, Revels, and other events as well as holding meetings, classes, etc.
(Note the extraordinary similarity of Barony and Province, especially since it never defines whether Baronies have Barons. (Is the Baron the Seneschal? The Baronial Champion? Both are possible readings.) More on Territorial Barons in Entry Number Five. Note also how important the concept of a Kingdom Capital is at this point.)
(f) A Principality is a branch which has a full set of officers, and is developing well, but needs experience and more variety. A Principality has the right to choose Princes at its Tournaments, who may reign over its events and may be given the power to make certain awards by the King. A Principality is still a part of the Kingdom, to whom its officers are responsible. It may eventually become a Kingdom itself, or remain to increase the glory of the Kingdom of which it is already a part.
(g) A Kingdom is a fully developed branch of the Society. It has officers in charge of all the main aspects of Society activity and is developing its own specialties, has regular, well-attended Tournaments and Revels, guild and study group meetings in between, and has taken on the responsibility of offering demonstrations of skills learned in the Society, and other educational activities in the community. It has the right to hold Crown Tournaments at which its Kings are chosen, and its Kings have the privilege of raising deserving subjects to the Peerage and Gentry, making laws for the Kingdom, etc. A Kingdom is also capable of advising and guiding branches of lesser development, and is answerable for them to the Imperial government. The Kingdom is also responsible for putting out a newsletter which will announce the activities of all the branches within its bounds.
(h) A Protectorate is a term used to describe an irregular Society branch which for some reason cannot exist within the regular feudal structure. It is under the protection of the nearest King, but its officers, if any, are responsible directly to the Imperial government.
2: Criteria for advancement in status.
(a) Shire -- The prospective Seneschal of a new Society branch shall have formally requested permission to form a group and received authorization from the BoD. To receive this authorization the new group must include at least three paid memberships, including at least one paid subscription.
(b) (Territorial) Barony -- At least twenty (20) paid memberships, and at least ten (10) subscriptions (required of all officials), a reasonably complete staff of officers, and evidence of significant activity in the form of Tourneys, Revels, and other events appropriate to the period. It shall have submitted regular reports to the Kingdom Seneschal and accounts of its activities to the Chronicles section of Tournaments Illuminated. It shall have initiated registration procedures for the Society in its state if this has not already been done, and shall have chosen a name acceptable to the College of Arms.
(c) (Charter) Barony -- At least thirty (30) paid memberships, and at least ten (10) subscriptions, a complete staff of officers, and a record of notable participation and contribution to the Kingdom and the Society in the various aspects of current medieval culture by a substantial number of its members. The members shall demonstrate in these areas on the occasion of the Barony's elevation to this status.
(d) Canton -- At least three (3) paid memberships, including at least one paid subscription. It shall report regularly to the Barony of which it is a part.
(e) Province -- Although this type of group is organized for the administrative convenience of the Kingdom, ordinarily there should be at least twenty (20) paid memberships, ten (10) paid subscriptions, that including subscriptions from all provincial officials. The Province shall report regularly to the Principality or Kingdom of which it is a part.
(f) Principality -- No less than fifty (50) paid memberships, and at least twenty (20) subscriptions, a well-developed staff of officials, a record of activity in the various fields of current medieval culture which is appropriate to this status, and a sufficient number of fighting men of such caliber as to provide the competition for the Princely Coronet with the dignity and value it deserves. It shall report regularly to its parent Kingdom, and submit regular contributions to the Chronicles section of Tournaments Illuminated.
(g) Kingdom -- The groups to be included in the prospective Kingdom shall have a total of at least two hundred (200) paid subscriptions. The group which is to become the capital shall have a full staff of officers with the capability to provide guidance for the groups which shall be under their care. The Kingdom shall be able to offer instruction in all areas of knowledge required for admission to the Peerage, and shall have a sufficient number of fighting men of such caliber as to provide the competition for the Regal Crown with the dignity and value it deserves. It shall report regularly to the Imperium on its own development and that of its subsidiary branches, and shall submit regular contributions to Chronicles.
(Fascinating -- Kingdom officers were expected to be from the Capital.)
(h) Protectorate -- Protectorates shall be formed by special authority of the Imperial Electors as conditions shall warrant.
3: Procedure for advancement in status.
(a) Any group wishing to change its status must make a formal request to the Imperial Electors (BoD) which should be accompanied by the authorization of the King of the realm in which it is located. The Seneschal of the Kingdom should be asked to send a report expressing his opinion of the proposed change, and the group should submit any other related evidence of achievement they may have. If the King and Seneschal do not recommend advancement, the case may be appealed through the Lord Laurel King of Arms.
(a-1) If the request is for advancement to Kingdom status, the possessions to be attached to the new realm will be decided by negotiation and treaty between the various existing Kingdoms concerned and the Imperial Electors.
(b) The Imperial Electors may, at their discretion, for good and sufficient reason modify the above requirements in any particular case. In particular, sustaining and patron memberships may be considered in determining whether a branch does meet its obligations to support the Imperial administration financially in proportion to the services which a branch of its status generally requires.
(Oooh! If you read that maliciously, it *almost* says that the BoD can be bribed into advancing a group...)
(c) The Imperial Electors (BoD) reserve(s) the right to deny any of the foregoing statuses to any group, regardless of other criteria met, if they have reason to believe that the interests, goals, or intentions of the group are not compatible with the chivalric ideals and educational goals of the SCA, in either its modern/legal or its medieval character.
1: Court Barons
a; The title of Court Baron shall be awarded at the discretion of a King, and shall carry only such privileges and duties as he may indicate.
b; The Baron of a Charter Barony shall be responsible for seeing that it is conducted so as to continue to meet the criteria by which it attained Charter status.
c; It is recommended that the donation of this title be accompanied by an Award of Arms, if the prospective baron possesses no rank already.
2: Territorial Barons
a; The title of Territorial Baron or Baroness shall be awarded by the King with the permission of the Imperial Electors to the person responsible for the establishment of a branch which has achieved the status of Barony.
(Note that this entirely glosses over the fact that most groups are established by a number of people.)
b; The Territorial Baron shall have the right to wear the badge of the Barony upon a cloak bearing his own arms, and to fly the Baronial banner before his pavilion.
c; The Territorial Baron shall have the option of presiding over Baronial events. He may make such awards as the King specifically delegates (such permission having to be renewed by each new King), or establish awards which shall be specific to his Barony. Since the duties of the Baron are ceremonial only, he shall not be assigned, neither shall he take upon himself, any governmental duties in his character as Baron. He may hold any Society office for which he is fitted, but he must not in that case allow his duties and/or privileges as Baron to influence or interfere with his performance of his duties as an officer.
d; If the Baron has achieved no rank already, it is recommended that his title be accompanied by an Award of Arms.
e; If the branch founded by the Baron becomes extinct, and a new group is later founded in the same area, the new group shall take a different name, and its founder shall be eligible for the title of Baron/Baroness.
f; If a territorial Baron moves out of his Barony, resigns from the Society, travels extensively, or for some other reason will be temporarily or permanently absent, he must appoint a Vicar, which appointment shall be confirmed by the King. If he does not do so, the King, advised by the Seneschal of the Barony in Question, shall appoint a Vicar for him (this procedure to be followed in case of the Vicar resigning, etc., also). The Vicar shall exercise the duties and privileges described in 2: c;, and fly the Baronial banner in front of his pavilion.
(Really lousy law. The implication here is that you can never replace the founding Baron -- any successors are Vicars, instead. Ten to one this is the origin of the idiotic "Baron X" vs. "Baron of X" distinction.)
g; When a Barony advances in status to Principality, the Baron, or his Vicar, shall resign to the Prince his right to fly the banner of the branch in front of his own pavilion, his right to make such awards as have been instituted as specific to the group (this does not include any awards be may have been making in his own person), his right to make any awards delegated to him be the King, and his option to preside over the group's tourneys, revels, etc. He shall retain his title, his rank, and the right to wear the badge of the group on his own cloak. The office of Vicar, if any, shall cease.
3: Territorial Princes
a; The title of Prince shall be given to the winner of an officially announced Coronet Tourney held in a Principality for that purpose, and the title of Princess shall be given to the lady for whom he fought, at coronation ceremonies to be held either at the close of that event or at some other officially announced convenient time.
b; The coronation of the new Prince and Princess will be held at an event or portion of an event previously announced as being for that purpose. The tanist shall receive the ancient and honorable coronet of the Principality according to the traditions of the Principality. The previous Princess shall then transmit the coronet of the Princess to the new Prince, and he shall crown his lady as Princess (personal coronets may be assumed after the ceremony). Such other ceremonies as are traditional in the Principality shall also take place.
(Great -- they introduce the term "tanist" suddenly, with absolutely no definition...)
(1) The first Prince in a new Principality shall receive his coronet from his King, or the King's special ambassador.
c; No fighter shall enter the lists for the Princely coronet who knows himself unable to fulfill the responsibilities that will be his as Prince, and no Prince shall hold any other Society office during his reign.
d; The duties of the Prince shall include:
(1) Being present at his own coronation, at the next coronet tourney, at the coronation of the next Prince, and at all other primary events of his reign, and signing such documents as may be necessary for the conduct of the Principality;
(2) Being for his people the chief example of chivalry and all the virtues appropriate to a nobleman;
(3) Knowing, upholding, and abiding by the laws of the Kingdom and the Society, being a true and faithful servant to his King and lord to his people, upholding their rights and working for their benefit, maintaining the King's Justice impartially among them;
(4) Recommending to the King for recognition those who through their achievement and service within the Principality are worthy of honour;
(5) Providing a Princess to fulfill the functions of that office.
e; The rights of the Prince shall include:
(1) The right to make such Royal awards as shall have been specifically delegated to him by the King, and the right to make awards specific to his Principality and such other awards as he shall deem proper;
(2) The right to make such laws as he shall deem necessary for the conduct of the Principality, subject to the approval of the King, and such qualifications as govern the laws of the Kingdom (see #5 e. (3));
(3) The right to receive such tithes and gifts as shall be made to the Principality during his reign, and to make use of such possessions and treasures as the Principality already possesses;
(4) The right to fly the banner of the Principality as his own during his reign;
(5) The right to make his own lady Princess of the Principality;
(6) The right to call such courts as shall be necessary for the government of the Principality with the approval of the King.
f; If the tanist of the Principality finds himself unable to serve as Prince, he shall inform the Seneschal immediately so that arrangements for a new Coronet Tournament may be made. If the tanist fails to appear at his coronation without notification, the Seneschal is authorized to proclaim that event (If it is a tournament) or the next Tournament, a Coronet Tournament, in order to choose a new Prince, who shall be crowned at its conclusion. If the tanist is in all honour unable to attend his coronation event, but will be able to reign, he may be crowned at a subsequent event, or the ceremony may be performed privately, if necessary.
g; If a Prince must be absent from one of the principal events of his reign, he may appoint his Princess to reign in his place, or if she is unable, some great lord of (sic) chief officer may preside. If he is unable to complete his reign, he shall inform the Seneschal so that a new Coronet Tournament may be called as soon as possible.
(That's as far as I've gotten. More as I have time...)