Title: F-Hldry-Trnmt-art
Subject: "Field Herald’s Litany for Tournaments" by H.L. Alden Pharamond.
Author: Edited by Mark S. Harris
Last saved by: Mark S. Harris
Keywords: SCA, tournament, herald, vocal, voice, announce,

F-Hldry-Trnmt-art - 1/12/03

"Field Herald’s Litany for Tournaments" by H.L. Alden Pharamond.

NOTE: See also the files: Field-Herldry-art, voice-herldry-msg, banners-msg, heraldry-msg, heraldry-bks-msg, p-heralds-msg, Sinister-Hand-art, arms-humor-msg.

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NOTICE -

This article was submitted to me by the author for inclusion in this set of files, called Stefan's Florilegium. 

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

Copyright to the contents of this file remains with the author.

While the author will likely give permission for this work to be reprinted in SCA type publications, please check with the author first or check for any permissions granted at the end of this file.

Thank you,
Mark S. Harris...AKA:..Stefan li Rous
stefan at florilegium.org
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FIELD HERALD'S LITANY FOR TOURNAMENTS
by H.L. Alden Pharamond

 "OYEH, OYEH: MY LORDS, LADIES, AND GENTLES, PRAY ATTEND."   (Pause & Wait) 

"IN THIS: THE _____ ROUND OF THE _____________ TOURNAMENT, THE PAIRINGS (On Field _____) ARE AS FOLLOWS: 

IN THE FIRST BOUT, _____ WILL FIGHT _____.  
IN THE SECOND BOUT, _____ WILL FIGHT _____.
(Continue through all pairings) 	

(After all pairings have been announced) 
"WILL _____ & _____ (1st pair) PLEASE ARM AND TAKE THE FIELD (Take Field _____)." 
 "WILL _____ & _____ (2nd pair) PLEASE TO ARM YOURSELVES." 
 "WILL _____ & _____ (3rd pair) PLEASE TO MAKE YOU READY." 	
(These calls advance accordingly) 

 	(When both fighters are present and ready) 
"MY LORDS AND LADIES; IN THIS, THE _____ ROUND OF THE _____ TOURNAMENT, _____ DOTH MEET _____ IN HONORABLE COMBAT."

 "FIGHTERS (Gentles, My Lords, My Ladies) SALUTE THE CROWN (Coronet, Their Excellencies, The Crown in the Presence of the Mistress of the List)."
(You bow too) 
"SALUTE THE ONE IN WHOSE HONOR YOU FIGHT;" Or (Salute the Lady/Lord whose favor you bear) 
"SALUTE YOUR WORTHY AND HONORABLE OPPONENT." 

"AT THE MARSHALL'S COMMAND, YOU MAY BEGIN." (DO NOT use the phrase: LAY ON!) 
Or "MY LORD MARSHALL, THE FIELD IS YOURS." 
 (And LEAVE THE FIELD!) 

 (When the fight is over, wait for the Marshall to call you on to the field, and wait for him to indicate the winner.  Don't assume.) 

"VICTORY TO _______." 
(Return that pair of cards to the List Mistress, and indicate the winner.) 

"WILL _____ & _____ PLEASE TO TAKE THE FIELD (Take Field _____)." 
"WILL _____ & _____ PLEASE TO ARM YOURSELVES." 
"WILL _____ & _____ PLEASE TO MAKE YOU READY." 

FIELD GUIDE FOR HERALDS 

WARM UP: Stretch your back, neck, and shoulders (arm swings, neck rolls, full body stretch).  

VOCAL: Your voicebox is a muscle too.  (yawns, talking, sing, hum) 

POSTURE: Stand up straight, tilt your pelvis slightly forward.  Head up, shoulders straight.  Don't stiffen up.  Relax.  

PROJECTING: Breathe fully and evenly.  Don't tighten up your throat.  Try to keep an even column of sound and air moving up from your diaphragm (under your lungs).  DON'T try to raise or lower your voice from your normal speaking tone; you can permanently damage your voice! Keep your words clear and evenly spaced.  Keep your head up when speaking or reading.  

PERSONAL: Keep your clothing loose in the chest.  Avoid heavy cloaks; they pull your shoulders down.  Don't wear high heels; they affect your posture.  Keep your head covered in the sun, and your throat and chest warm in the cold.  We stand out there much longer than the fighters do, so take care of yourself.  Make sure that you get plenty of water.  If you have a tabard or baldric, wear it.  

ON THE FIELD: Check all the names first; make sure you can pronounce them correctly.  If you make a mistake, don't panic.  Correct yourself and keep going.  Try to stand upwind or on a high point when heralding.  Keep your cards in order.  Never announce over another herald; raise your staff (if you have one) to signal that you are next, and wait for "clear air".  When you give the field to the marshals, GET OFF.  Don't venture opinions or argue when on the field.  You are a HERALD, nothing else.  When the fight is over, the Marshal indicates the winner.  Wait for him to call you on the field.  

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Think it through, first! Make sure that you have your announcement firm in your mind, in order.  If you're not sure whether an announcement needs to be made, check with someone in charge: the Autocrat, the List Mistress, the Marshall, the Crown.  Use your "Tact Filter"; don't repeat what someone told you word for word (they may not like you very much afterward).  

I hope this helps.  Have fun, and Happy Heralding.

NOTE: For a much more extensive guide to field heraldry by this same author, see this file: Field-Herldry-art.

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Copyright 1986, 2001 by Paul DeLisle, 804 N. 7th Street. Temple, Texas, 76501. <ferret at hot.rr.com>. Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited and receives a copy.

If this article is reprinted in a publication, I would appreciate a notice in the publication that you found this article in the Florilegium. I would also appreciate an email to myself, so that I can track which articles are being reprinted. Thanks. -Stefan.

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