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Statement on Archery, Fencing and the Equestrian Arts by the Lochac Order of the Laurel

The Order of the Laurel in Lochac is not opposed in principle to the creation of Laurels in the fields of Archery, fencing and equestrian arts, provided that the candidates meet the usual requirements for elevation to this order. These requirements are: that the practice of the art be consistent with period practices, that the candidate conducts and applies high level research into their art form, that they each and share their knowledge with the SCA community, that they comport themselves as befits a peer, and that they have demonstrated excellence in the field and their mastery of it.

In the case of archery, the Order would expect that a candidate being considered for a Laurel would be using historically accurate and consistent period equipment, including protective clothing or armour (recognizing that modifications may be required by SCA or kingdom law for combat archery). It is not necessarily an expectation that a Laurel-level archer would make his or her own bow and arrows, since these were separate crafts in the SCA period, although they may need to be able to make running repairs to their equipment.

The Order would expect that a candidate would be well versed in the history and theory of archery in the SCA period, and would put this knowledge into practice in an SCA context as far as is practicable, and would teach this along with the practical skills of period archery. While physical prowess in either combat or target archery is less important to the Order than historical accuracy, the Order would expect the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge of and competence with a range of equipment and styles of archery.

In the case of fencing, the Order would expect that a candidate being considered for a Laurel would be using historically accurate and consistent period equipment, including protective clothing or armour (recognizing that modifications may be required by SCA or kingdom law). It is not necessarily an expectation that a Laurel-level fencer would make his or her own equipment where these were considered separate crafts in the SCA period.

The Order would expect that a candidate would be well versed in the history and theory of fencing in the SCA period, including familiarity with period fencing manuals, that they would put this knowledge into practice in an SCA context as far as is practicable, and would teach this along with the practical skills of period fencing. While physical prowess in fencing is less important to the Order than historical accuracy, the Order would expect the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge of and competence with a range of equipment and fencing styles.

In the case of equestrian arts, the Order would expect that a candidate being considered for a Laurel would be using historically accurate and consistent period equipment, including protective clothing, armour or weapons (recognizing that modifications may be required by SCA or kingdom law). It is not necessarily an expectation that a Laurel-level equestrian would make his or her own equipment where these were considered separate crafts in the SCA period.

The Order would expect that a candidate would be well versed in the history and theory of equestrian arts in the SCA period, including familiarity with both combat and non-combat arts, that they would put this knowledge into practice in an SCA context as far as is practicable, and would teach this along with the practical skills of equestrianism. While physical prowess is less important to the Order than historical accuracy, the Order would expect the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge of and competence with a range of
equestrian skills and styles.

The Order of the Laurel in Lochac believes that the Laurel is not the appropriate peerage for those who excel in the practice of the above arts but do not practice them in a historically accurate way, or do not meet the standards usually required for a Laurel.