[SCA-BMDL] Baronial Petition - Please read

[Raven]

Unto the Populace of the Barony-Marche of the
Debatable Lands does Hrefna in heppna send greetings!

The Baronial Petition to make Lord Byron and Lady
Ariella our next baron and baroness will be that
Barony meeting on Wednesday and at AEthelmearc Tenth
year.  Unlike previous Baronial Petitions, this one 
will have wax seals with signatures on the back.

To prepare for the seals, please read the Q&A below. 
If you have any further questions, please email me on
this list.  Other people probably have the same
question.

In service,
Hrefna

------------------------

Q: How will this work?

A: Where previously members of the barony signed their
names to the document, this time barony members will
sign a small piece of paper. The scribe will then
affixed to a wax seal in a period manner to the back
of the paper and to a string hanging from the
petition.  

NOTE: Barony members are encouraged to "share" seals,
i.e. multiple people should sign each piece of paper.

Q: Can my seal substitute for my signature?
A: No. Signatures are required. 

Q: Why are we doing this?
A: Because the petition is requirement for changing
over the baron and baroness.  But you probably mean
the seals.   :)

As the scribe for the petition, I wanted to create a
period looking scroll that would have been appropriate
for this type of document.  Relatively plain-text
documents were common for legal matters in the late
Middle Ages. Overwhelmingly, they were "signed" not
with a signature but with a wax seal. Since signatures
are required, signing the "back" of the seal is a way
in combine a modern requirement with a medieval
aesthetic.

Q: Are multiple seals on a document period?
A: Oh yes! 

Q: Is paper or vellum on the back of wax seals period?
A: Yes, it was a method used to stabilize and protect
wax seals. Another method was to encase a seal in a
metal box.

Q: Can I still sign the petition itself?
A: No, as that would detract for the authentic look of
the document.

Q: I don't have a seal or signet ring. What do I do?
A: There will be seals and wax available for the
populace. Just sign one of the pieces of paper and
hand it to the attending scribe.

Q: Can I stamp the wax for my own seal?
A: Probably not.  Hopefully lots of people will sign
the petition. If everyone stamped their own seal, we'd
all be at barony meeting until midnight. 

Q: What if I use my own seal or signet ring?
A: Talk to me privately. You may have to wait if there
are people in line. 

Q: So I can use my own seal or signet ring!
A: Yes, if you also bring the wax.  The populace seals
will be small so that there will enough wax for
everyone.  I can't supply wax for large seals.

Q: OK, what color wax should I bring?
A: Red. 

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And this above all to thine own self be true.
                                - Shakespeare, "Hamlet"


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