Selected Articles
from
The Gull Archives
If you would
like
to submit an article for The Gull, please
contact the Chronicler.
Sumptuary Customs In the West Kingdom
April 1983
Euriol of Lothian
In general, there are no Sumptuary Laws in the Kingdom of the West, just Sumptuary Customs. This does not mean that they are any less rigorous, just that they are harder to discover and much harder to change. You should also be aware that other Kingdoms have Sumptuary Laws (and/or customs) which can differ dramatically from those here; if you move elsewhere, check on the local customs with the College of Heralds or with a knowledgeable person in your new Kingdom.
Colors and Fabrics. As you might guess from the above, you may wear any color or fabric which you can afford. If you like velvet, wear velvet. If you can afford silk, feel free to wear silk. If you look good in purple, you can use it extensively.
Banners. A banner should have your own device on it, not that of someone else’s. There arc no restrictions on size, shape, number, etc. of banners you can display (but you should avoid combinations of number and size which block the view of others). Flags, such as those flown from pavilions, are also generally unrestricted. There is no restriction on the displaying of a banner with the arms of the Kingdom at any event held by any branch within the Kingdom, though it should not be displayed by an individual other than the King or Queen. (You should probably make the construction of such a banner a project of the entire branch rather than just pulling one together on your own).
Headgear. Generally, you may wear anything on your head that you can afford, so long as it does not look like one of the handful of restricted items: the Kingdom Crowns, the Principality Coronets, the Ducal and County Coronets, the wreathes of the Order of the Golden Poppy, or the torse of the Order of Valor. It is recommended that headgear not be made so ornate that it could he mistaken for a Crown worn by visiting Royalty. In general, if you avoid roses and poppies, oak leaves and strawberry leaves, and do not have an embattled top edge, you are unlikely to accidentally cause offense. The Principality Coronets do not feature symbols which you are likely to include by accident.
Wreathes of laurel and/or rosemary leaves are frequently used for the winner of a tourney; unless you have been awarded one that day, it is better to refrain from wearing one (no matter how many you may have won in the past) – just so you don't confuse people.
Neckwear. Knights' chains are generally of open links, and do not have anything (except possibly the medallions of other Orders) hanging from them. If you wear such a chain, it will be seen as a Knight's chain; jf you wear a chain of small links, or one with other kinds of pendant(s) hanging from it, it will not he. Knights do not always wear chains; some wear other kinds, but your use of one of these other kinds will not be seen as presumptuous. If you stick to jewelry which looks like jewelry, you should be clear.
Belts and Baldrics. White belts and baldrics should only be worn by members of the Order of Chivalry. (Note that 'white' includes silver and various off-whites, and 'belt' includes leather and cloth belts, sashes etc,) Other colors of belts and baldrics may be worn by anyone in this Kingdom, but may be restricted in some other realm. (e.g. red for squires, green for apprentices, etc., etc.). Generally, the Chivalry are tolerant of others who wear an outfit which happens to have a white band around the middle as part of its color scheme, provided the wearer does not use only that sort of color scheme in all of their outfits. That means you can wear a white stripe or a white rope around your waist once in a while with¬out having the world come crashing down around your head. But if you wear the same white stripe with several different outfits, you will be expected to have earned it, and will earn criticism if you have not.
A simple, single color, baldric with the symbol of the office on it is often used by officials when they are on duty. So long as you avoid the color and symbol combinations used by the offices (red with a gold key, green with gold trumpets, black with gold swords, etc.) you may Wear any kind of non-white baldric you like. You should be aware that if you are wearing the baldric (or tabard or anything else) with the symbol of an office on it, you are assumed to be on duty and available for work
Spurs. Anyone may wear spurs when appropriate, i.e. when riding. At other times, anything more than prick-spurs are a safety hazard to others and should be avoided.
NOTE:
Copyright of each article belongs to the original author. Reproduction rights are not given by virtue of their appearance here.
If you wish to reprint any of these articles, in whole or in part, in any medium, you must first get permission from the the author. Please contact the Chronicler, who will forward your request to the appropriate party and respond to you.