The Question received was…
What are you looking for in a squire and how do you see the Knight / squire relationship?
In my eyes, these are two very separate and distinct questions. So that’s how I’ll deal with them.
1) What am I looking for in a squire.
The answer to that question will vary GREATLY from Knight to Knight. The easy answer is I’m not looking, but I’m incredibly happy when I find someone who I might consider. And what I can list is a few things that “catch my eye”
I. Someone who I can be friends with, and that I think may really love what we do (fighting wise).
II. To me friendship is the basis of any knight – household member relationship, if its not someone I like or could drive 8 hours to an event with, then they aren’t a good fit for me regardless of how “hot a stick” they are.
III. Do they have any “dedication” to what we do? Yes I personally require a level of activity in my household members. Which in and of itself lends to the probability of a small (and hopefully close) household.
IV. If they meet the idea set forth in part I & II. I might approach them to see if they want to be a member of my household. That means usually a Shield-Maiden or Man-at-Arms, but not always there are few (very few that I might consider directly as a squire, or some that may just want to be “associated with the household” and those will be dealt with on a single case by case basis)
V. If after a little while of hanging out and seeing if we all (myself, my lady , the candidate and the rest of the household) all get along. And If it is still the Shield-Maiden / Man-at-Arms wish, and they are okay with my quirks and rules. Then We would speak with them about being a Squire. –
VI. Now that said it can all go GREAT, but after that time I may think, you know Bob is great, and I love hanging with him, but I don’t think he’d be a good fit for one of my squires. –if that is the case, I would be more than happy to help find another Knight that might be a better fit.
That’s how you become my household member/squire…
2) The Next part of the question is how do I view the Knight/Squire relationship.
Again a very ambiguous question, for me however it is all about friendship and student/teacher.
As I told Leyli when I talked to her, first and foremost we have to be friends, second you have to be willing to learn, and learn what I have to teach. Next I have to have something that you want to learn, and I am able to teach. Then I have to realize what I can’t teach and find you someone who can teach those things, then you have to realize what I’m still missing and get me to help you with all of that.
I know that sounds confusing but it all works, right now she is young in her SCA fighting career, and I have a lot I can teach her. But as she grows I’ll have to recognize what I can’t teach her and get her new tutors for those areas (lefties, other women fighters, etc…) things that I am not. Then as she progresses past things that I am providing either through my own efforts or the efforts of those that I line up to teach her, As she out grows my prowess training SHE will have to notice what I am not teaching her and come to me for help finding those tutors she needs, or find them herself.
Outside of fighting, It is my duty to teach and hers to learn about the other portions of the SCA, the heraldic, arts, science, service, and dare I say it the nasty word, political side of things. Because you MUST know these things even the dirty dark underside of things to be able to serve the society as a fully functioning member, and as a Peer (which is what I am training her to become).
There are times when I will praise her and be her friend, and there will be times when I have to correct her or even require penance for her actions. So we have to have a distinct line there. Usually it will be drawn by my statement of “this is a Knight to Squire conversation.”
I also draw a serious line as to when we are Knight/Squire and when we are friends. The USUAL line is when we are at an event or in garb = Knight/Squire vs. Mundane situation = just friends. Not too hard, but there will be times, when it bleeds over. But it doesn’t take a lot of common sense to figure that out. If a squire is acting up in a mundane setting, then for the most part I have nothing to say. However, if they are acting the ass at an SCA event, showing out and making a fool of themselves, then I might have something to say about it. It depends on what it is, if it was a singular incident, or repeated behavior.
I require all Squires to do more than just fight, they must do service unto their household, their crown and their kingdom by doing this they serve society. They should do some type of A&S (if they cannot they can support it by attending some A&S events as I do), and they must learn multiple weapons styles (I know, I require dangerous in 2, competent in 4, and I count Melee as a fighting style – for those who wonder I consider myself dangerous with sword and shield, and single sword, competent in spear and melee) They must be able to adhere to the requirements set forth in corpora (able to play chess, dance, etc) .
