A Noble Welcome for a wondering Noble.
I had a lovely time at the Baronial Land Court in Bryn Gwlad yesterday. It was hot, cooler inside the lovely meeting hall at Katherine Fleischer Park in Austin, altho with so many bodies inside it was warmer than I had expected. The inside is beautiful, and made an excellent setting for the Baronial Court.
I went with Katerine (noxcat), who I intend to make use of as a local native guide -- she doesn't drive, but is happy to go to events, and I'm happy to chauffeur. A great exchange. ;-)
I was delighted to see Brynja (Sandy Straubhaar) -- I met her and her family at Pennsic 9! Her daughter and youngest son are much the age of Jen and Duncan. Between her and Katrine, I met lots of lovely people. I also ran into Daniel of Lincoln, who was in Cynnabar (Ann Arbor) while we were. As my friend Susan said, when we were talking afterward, as you go around in groups like these, you and the people you met are bound to run into one another again and again.
The Land Court is an occasion for the Barons and Baroness to collect taxes (which come in the form of donations to the local food bank), newcomers to introduce themselves, and when the Baron & Baroness grant lands to members of the barony. (I've put the accounting scheme at the end, below a cut.) This is such a wonderful custom! I took letters of introduction with me -- great fun! -- from my sister Gwyneth (gwyneth1362), Aaron (rustmon), and Cynthia (cvirtue). I also presented my petition for lands, some small corner in which to build a quiet cottage. I came out with 10,000 acres! (My accounting came to 9,600, but I begged the indulgence of Their Excellencies to include a small pasture of public lands next to my plot where local herdsmen take their cattle, and where their herds and flocks were in danger of being poached (or, possibly, roasted or broiled) stolen. The Baron mentioned that his lady was very fond of cheese, and so I brought her a sample of the Loseyns (Lozenges) I had brought for the day board. After she tasted them, and with the condition that I donate some of the cheese and dairy products produced to please Her Excellency's taste, they granted me the extra land! (Here's a picture of sunset over "my" land (from my window) - Now I get to experiment in making cheeses!
As I mentioned, I took loseyns and yrchouns to the potluck, which vanished almost immediately. There were a few leftover hedgehogs, and I gave a few to noxcat and a few to Sebastian, the charming young man who is one of the evening managers for the hotel as payment for helping me carry my stuff up to the room. (He offered without prompting -- a really nice young man, as I said.)
And despite looking like a whale in the pictures, my lacing-strings closed the back of the gown together top to bottom! I've lost enough fat across my back and back porch since I got to Austin -- the last time I wore it we definitely couldn't lace it and still have the gown be loose all-round. I even found a picture! Hoobah! That is, Vivat!
We are following our ancestors' custom in granting lands to our subjects, contingent on payment of taxes. If you are new to the barony or have received new awards since your last land grant, you may request new lands. The lands are shown on a map of the Barony. This map is not to scale. An apparently small portion of the map may contains thousands of acres. The acreage you are entitled to depends on your rank, with the specifics listed below. The amenities of your land (wheat fields, vineyards, pasturage with flocks of sheep, timberland, etc.) may be negotiated with our land steward (to be named later).
Taxes are encouraged to be in the form of canned food donations for the Capital Area Food Bank. You may also donate small items for use in gift baskets for champions' prizes or for largesse. We do not wish to put any burden on our subjects. If your lands have not produced the bounty you had hoped for, your taxes will naturally be lower.
100 acres of land will be granted to all those who are new to our barony since the previous Land Court (December 2008). Those who have received honors in the court since that time, may also petition for lands according to their title and station. Here are the land allocations:
Non-Armigerous Baronial or Kingdom Awards (Muse, Martlet, Cross Fleury, Dragon's Egg, Queen's Rapier, Sable Falcon, etc.) = 200 acres per award.
Amigerous Awards (Dreigiau Bryn, AoA, Thistle, Crane, etc) = 300 acres per award.
Grants (Iris, Star, Centurion, White Scarf, etc) = 600 acres per award.
Court Barons = 1000 acres
Peerages (Knight, Laurel, Pelican) = 4000 acres
Royal Nobles & Former Barons of Bryn Gwlad = up to 7000 acres
Additional lands may be granted for any compelling reason! Properties within the city walls may also be requested for guilds or other established groups.
I went with Katerine (noxcat), who I intend to make use of as a local native guide -- she doesn't drive, but is happy to go to events, and I'm happy to chauffeur. A great exchange. ;-)
I was delighted to see Brynja (Sandy Straubhaar) -- I met her and her family at Pennsic 9! Her daughter and youngest son are much the age of Jen and Duncan. Between her and Katrine, I met lots of lovely people. I also ran into Daniel of Lincoln, who was in Cynnabar (Ann Arbor) while we were. As my friend Susan said, when we were talking afterward, as you go around in groups like these, you and the people you met are bound to run into one another again and again.
The Land Court is an occasion for the Barons and Baroness to collect taxes (which come in the form of donations to the local food bank), newcomers to introduce themselves, and when the Baron & Baroness grant lands to members of the barony. (I've put the accounting scheme at the end, below a cut.) This is such a wonderful custom! I took letters of introduction with me -- great fun! -- from my sister Gwyneth (gwyneth1362), Aaron (rustmon), and Cynthia (cvirtue). I also presented my petition for lands, some small corner in which to build a quiet cottage. I came out with 10,000 acres! (My accounting came to 9,600, but I begged the indulgence of Their Excellencies to include a small pasture of public lands next to my plot where local herdsmen take their cattle, and where their herds and flocks were in danger of being poached (or, possibly, roasted or broiled) stolen. The Baron mentioned that his lady was very fond of cheese, and so I brought her a sample of the Loseyns (Lozenges) I had brought for the day board. After she tasted them, and with the condition that I donate some of the cheese and dairy products produced to please Her Excellency's taste, they granted me the extra land! (Here's a picture of sunset over "my" land (from my window) - Now I get to experiment in making cheeses!
As I mentioned, I took loseyns and yrchouns to the potluck, which vanished almost immediately. There were a few leftover hedgehogs, and I gave a few to noxcat and a few to Sebastian, the charming young man who is one of the evening managers for the hotel as payment for helping me carry my stuff up to the room. (He offered without prompting -- a really nice young man, as I said.)
And despite looking like a whale in the pictures, my lacing-strings closed the back of the gown together top to bottom! I've lost enough fat across my back and back porch since I got to Austin -- the last time I wore it we definitely couldn't lace it and still have the gown be loose all-round. I even found a picture! Hoobah! That is, Vivat!
We are following our ancestors' custom in granting lands to our subjects, contingent on payment of taxes. If you are new to the barony or have received new awards since your last land grant, you may request new lands. The lands are shown on a map of the Barony. This map is not to scale. An apparently small portion of the map may contains thousands of acres. The acreage you are entitled to depends on your rank, with the specifics listed below. The amenities of your land (wheat fields, vineyards, pasturage with flocks of sheep, timberland, etc.) may be negotiated with our land steward (to be named later).
Taxes are encouraged to be in the form of canned food donations for the Capital Area Food Bank. You may also donate small items for use in gift baskets for champions' prizes or for largesse. We do not wish to put any burden on our subjects. If your lands have not produced the bounty you had hoped for, your taxes will naturally be lower.
100 acres of land will be granted to all those who are new to our barony since the previous Land Court (December 2008). Those who have received honors in the court since that time, may also petition for lands according to their title and station. Here are the land allocations:
Non-Armigerous Baronial or Kingdom Awards (Muse, Martlet, Cross Fleury, Dragon's Egg, Queen's Rapier, Sable Falcon, etc.) = 200 acres per award.
Amigerous Awards (Dreigiau Bryn, AoA, Thistle, Crane, etc) = 300 acres per award.
Grants (Iris, Star, Centurion, White Scarf, etc) = 600 acres per award.
Court Barons = 1000 acres
Peerages (Knight, Laurel, Pelican) = 4000 acres
Royal Nobles & Former Barons of Bryn Gwlad = up to 7000 acres
Additional lands may be granted for any compelling reason! Properties within the city walls may also be requested for guilds or other established groups.