From Their Royal Highnesses

Greetings Good Gentles of Northshield

This is one of our most exciting missives to publish, below we detail the rules of our Crown Tournament list that will be in Our Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr where Our heirs, the Eighth Crown of Northshield, will be decided.

While we wish for a large and varied list We also encourage all consorts and combatants to think well on the duties of the position before committing to this grand tournament. *One new point to consider is the Coronation experiment began by Our Royal Parents; to have the heirs involved in their coronation event rather then having coronation sites chosen by rotation*. As our Royal parents and many in our Royal history experienced, when coronation bids are dictated by rotation and awarded a year before the event, it is inevitable that the Prince and Princess will have to travel quite far for coronation often leaving much of their SCA family unable to witness this day. We all agree Coronations are a day for Northshield but they are also a very special day for the winners and those who know them best. The obvious drawback to this change is lack of planning time to create the coronation event is reduced to the time between the crowning of the winner of the tournament, and our traditional (and written in Law) Coronation dates. That is why We are making special mention of this new facet to the 'winning crown' package so that all Our entrants may have time to think on where they would wish a coronation and making sure those who may be called to service can begin what pre-planning can be done. We wish to continue this experiment and We feel that with each successive reign this could become as second nature as having a Chamberlain and staff in mind.

Criteria for our Crown is otherwise simple; Governing documents and Northshield law dictate that all combatants and consorts: 1. Must be a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and have access to the Northwatch at their place of residence. 2. Must have been a subject of Northshield for one year immediately before the Crown Tournament 3. Must be over 18 years of age at the time of the tournament

We require a letter of intent naming both the consort and combatant and contact information for both to be in our hands no later the Our Coronation and a copy to be sent to the Kingdom Seneschal. The documentation for age etc will be reviewed at Crown, no need to send copies with your letter however we trust that all will be in order for the day of the tournament. We require no other statements of quality or virtue but as Kingdom law grants Us, we reserve the right to dictate whom we find acceptable for entry.

The format of the tournament will be standard double elimination with best two out of three for the final round only, weapons will be personal choice for the entire tournament with no matching required. There are no other restrictions for armor or weapons beyond the Kingdom standards.

We hope for a large tournament to best test the metal of the 8th King of Northshield and We hope as many members of the populace join as witness to this progression of the great Kingdom of Northshield.

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I will not restate what I say above, but, Hagan and Ellis's experiment for Coronation location should be a consideration of any couple entering. Though it is not said in the missive (since there is not unlimited space in the
Northwatch) *Your Coronation need not be in Your Group*. We encourage all groups to keep an eye on sites for coronations and to contact winners of the tournament swiftly if they have a tentative bid. I have heard that a few groups will still bid no matter who wins and I hope that is true! The point is that the winner of crown will now have to be involved in the process, there is no coronation site waiting in September and rather then leave this surprise for the day of the tournament, now may be a good time to begin thinking about where you would want your coronation.

In Service
Lars and Mary
Prince and Princess of Northshield

P. S. There is No, We repeat NO passport requirement for Our Crown. Please spread the word.