Last Saturday, Earl Edouard Beausoleil and Countess Eanor of Amberhall were crowned in Ealdormere, and there was a pas held to celebrate theoccasion and to choose the captain of the Queen's Guard.

The new King and Queen gave great honor to the knights of our realm by recognizing them as their champions for the reign. We knights were given not only beautiful champions' baldrics, but also new white belts, made for our honor by the King himself.

After coronation court, we retired outside for the tournament.

The pas began with the foreign knights and masters present -- who included Earl Brion Thornbird from the West, Count Ruslan from the East, Earl Brannos O'Irongardail from the Midrealm, Sir Kirk from Calontir and Baron Sir Kragon of Land's End from the Outlands -- challenging various of the knights of Ealdormere.

When those challenges were done, the assembled gens d'armes of non-knightly rank each challenged one of the chivalry. Thereafter, the combat was unceasing except on a few occasions when the Queen and the ladies advising her saw deeds worth rewarding, when the combat
ceased briefly for  a presentation of a gift.

We fought for a long time. It was a bit crowded in the lists, but no one could claim that he or she did not have enough opportunity to fight, or a grand selection of opponents.

The main business of the evening was feast, which included some of the best cooked beef I've ever had a Society feast. There was very little court business, the main being honor given to those who did best in the day's combat.

King Edouard and Queen Eanor were pleased to give Earl Brion Thornbird a white belt in recognition of the great impression he had made on the ladies of the entourage and gallery.

Then the Captain of the Queen's Guard was named. Her Majesty prefaced this by saying she'd sworn before the event that no one close to her should have this position, but she had had to change her mind when all the ladies consulted had come up with the same name -- Dom Nicolae,
whom, she said, without doubt had best exemplified the spirit of that tournament.

Among other things, he had taken a vow of silence until his lady should judge that he had done enough deeds of honor to be released, and had begun the day with a "crest" of a basket of flowers, which, when struck soundly, proved to be full of candies for the delight of the children in attendance, who cleared the lists for us.

Two other members of the Guard were named, but since neither was present in the evening, they will be honored publicly later.

It was our very great pleasure to attend a grand tournament on the occasion of our good Ealdomerian friends--Eduoard and Eanor--ascention to the thrones.

With the upmost of grace, Eduoard and Eanor extended courtesy that bespoke of their nobility. We were more than well fed, although none found their bed early for the wonderful company and good cheer that ruled the evening.

Prior the tournament, I had the good fortune to fight Duke Hasdrubal, an old mentor to a good friend Hanno von Halstern. We passed a most enjoyable fight and good pleasantries built upon our mutual friendship with this long-since departed companion. I offered his Grace a rose in commemoration of our fine exchange, and although it accounts little for the esteem won during our brief encounter, I hope it communicated at least a little of the pleasure I felt during the exchange.

It was also my pleasure to make the acquaintance with Lord Vitus, from the Middle Kingdom, with whom letters had been exchanged, yet we had never had the opportunity to meet. Lord Vitus impressed us wit his wit and his presentation; certainly a noble combatant who's field of sable with a cross argent emblazoned his acoutrements with great style. In his generosity he also went far beyond the pale and presented me with a fine poleaxe; one that served me well in several fights during the day--and will probably account for itself well in the future as well.

At the tournament, the foreign knights were invited to challenge some of the Ealdomerian defenders, after which they were asked to join them in this honor. It was my very great pleasure to meet Finnvarr de Taas in combat over the barriers, with poleaxe, to the number of five. It seemed to me that the honors ought properly to go to his Grace, since he offered that this was the occasion of thirty years within the lists; and over the years he has trained and influenced many, many chivalric combatants.

During the first pass Dom Nicolae della Bande Rossi and Lord Vitus both challenged me to fights with the poleaxe; Dom Nicolae with his brilliant crest. This crest, though usual for the 15th century, is of a type rarely seen today; generous in both proportion and in the largesse it contained. The two of us positioned ourselves directly in front of they gallery, the better to show his crest to the gallery, and fought one another to seven good blows with poleaxe. On the fifth blow, my poleaxe struck the crest with some force, dislodging the sweets and flowers hidden in a great stream that caused the fighting to stop while children and ladies ran forward to partake of his courteous offering.

As a penalty for breaking such a beautiful decoration, their most gracious royal majesties suggested that I fight all of the assembled, countless defenders. It seemed like a just and favorable judgment, so I began in earnest, breaking nearly every piece of my equipment but having a whole series of truly memorable exchanges in the process.

It was at the sumptuous feast that Her Majesty presented me with one of the Ealdomerian belts, a token I will wear with pride. It is clear to me that Nicolae della Bande Rossi made of with the best honors of the day owing to his steadfast devotion to the ideals of chivalry for which we all fight.

Her Highness, Princess Eanor, invites all fighters of honour and renown to attend her tournament on
this glorious day. Come and show to her the inspiration of your consort! Come and display for the
people of the known world your heraldry and your prowess on the field!

And although the chance to test your mettle with such noble company as the Knights of Ealdormere
must be draw enough, know also that an exalted prize will be given to the gentle who wins this Passage - a prize of unequalled honour in all the world over. For that person will be known as the Captain of the Queen’s Company for as long as Eanor sits upon Ealdormere’s throne, and will be granted all the privilege such a title deserves.

 Such an honour will not be lightly won. The challengers in this tournament will be judged as the
give their initial challenges to the tenants of the day, as they do honour to their consorts through their
prowess on the field against their opponents and in their last great fight at the conclusion of the
tournament.

Good gentles, prepare your harness, your livery and your challenges. Hone you skills at arms, look to
 your consort for inspiration and present yourself upon the field on the Coronation day.