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July 1, 2015
Aestas
A Look Back
In This Issue:
A Look Back
1
From the Chronicler
2
Serrano Demo
3
The Tasting Room
4
Leatherworking
5
Upcoming Meetings
7
Submission Guidelines
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became active in the SCA in Orange County in late 1979, just
prior to the formal installation of Armand and Diana as Baron
and Baroness of Gyldenholt (January 1980). I had had a couple of
passing encounters with the SCA previously, the first being sometime in late 1977 or early 1978, when the University of Ithra (then
the University of the Kingdom of the West) held a session at UCI. One of the people in
my dorm had a brother in the group and told my then boyfriend (who became Ambros Celidonis) and me about it. We went and took classes and had a good time. On of
the people we met there was Käthe Willig von Mainz (sometimes Käthe von Munchausehn). She was very friendly and helpful to us both. Sometime after that, a person I worked with as a student told me about the rebellion in Reiselingshire, which led
to the Kingdom of Caid. Again, he had a friend who had attended and he knew I was
interested in history and reenactment. In November of 1979, Jim (Ambros) and I
attended a Newcomers meeting at the home of William of Harthaven. There we met
Armand and Diana, as well as several others of the original members (James du Mer,
Alacya Daveraugh, Noël Roseaux, and William our host, of course). We also met Tom
and Theresa Harrison who were newcomers at that meeting as well. Jim became involved in the Merrymakers music group, while I was interested in the cooking, costuming and history. Armand and Diana were invested as Baron and Baroness at 12th
Night in 1980. The event was themed “White and Gold” and many people made special costumes for it. I missed the event due to school deadlines. Other early events I
attended were the Barons’ Reception to celebrate the new Barony, and the Huntington Library Demo. At the Barons’ reception I met Leo and Rowena (Baron and Baroness of Dreiburgen), Damon and Mistral (Baron and Baroness of Angels) and Conrad
(Baron of Lyondemere). I had already by that point met Talanque and Rowen Lyn
(Baron and Baroness of Calafia). I finally became active in the SCA after Gyldenholt
was already scheduled to become a Barony, so I missed the presentation of the petition for it.
Countess Leonora Morgana
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From the Chronicler
earest Friends and Companions,
As the way we use social media in communicating the function of
smaller group newsletters need to find new ways to be relevant to
our readers. Some of the changes for this newsletter in this past
year have included becoming a quarterly publication and focusing
on activities rather than upcoming events. One of my goals has
been to create original content that is not available elsewhere on online.
I was able to spend some time at Collegium Caidis with some of my
fellow chroniclers and share thoughts and ideas as we all face these challenges.
I am still thinking over some of the ideas that emerged from that and from our
new chroniclers Facebook group. One idea you will see reflected in this issue is
to report on events that we have hosted. I would also like to include our participation in events outside our barony. I love full articles, but please consider
sharing even just a sentence or two that I can include in reporting on events.
Look for posts online for other fun ideas heading your way.
As I have been doing this for a full year, and as a prudent person, I
would be wise to recruit and train a deputy. Please know that I really enjoy
this job and have no impending plans to back out of it, but life is unpredictable
and someone should at least have the basic knowledge to step in if needed. I
also would not mind an extra set of eyes on the editing and another dedicated
field reporter (yes, that is all part of the same job). If you are interested let me
know, I promise to feed you and fill your cup.
When I was a child my grandmother gifted me with a novel about a
teen girl starting her own neighborhood newsletter. It planted a dream in
heart, and given different life choices I would have probably gone into journalism. Being allowed to serve the barony in this way has brought me an unexpected deep satisfaction, and I thank you all for that. Your continued support
and participation mean more to me than you may know.
Upcoming Issue

The next issue of the Gyldenholt
Press will be published on
October, 2015.

Submissions will be due Sunday,
September 19, 2015, earlier
submissions appreciated.

The theme of the issue will be
Personas.
Wish list:
Articles on Events.
Persona stories.
Masthead and filler art.
Photos.
THL Sadb ingen Abner uí Lorccain
Reviews of books, movies, or
exhibitions.
This is the July 2015 (Summer) issue of The Gyldenholt Press, a publication of the Barony of Gyldenholt of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Inc.) The Gyldenholt Press is available from Paula Downs, 1722 Mitchell Ave #13, Tustin CA 92780. It is not
a corporate publication of SCA, Inc., and does not delineate SCA, Inc. policies. Copyright © 2015 Society for Creative Anachronism,
Inc. For information on reprinting photographs, articles, or artwork from this publication, please contact the Chronicler, who will
assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors.
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Serrano Demo
By Lord Theo Van der Zee
n May 29th, a number of SCA’ers, descended upon Serrano Middle School in Laguna
Hills in full demo mode. Having attended a number of demos in the past twenty
two years, I have to say that this was probably the most interesting and entertaining demo I have ever participated in. I arrived at this particular event and was astonished to find a full
‘medieval’ fair in progress. The seventh graders of Serrano (there are a lot of them, the school consists only of a
seventh and eighth grade) had painstakingly researched medieval professional guilds, and then re-created them
for a day of sharing, games and fun.
Dozens of canopies over tables full of organized displays involving the culinary arts, herbalism, medicine, masonry, heraldry and more, were in full participation between the students who were working the event and those that were attending the
event as participants. Students came by Gyldenholt’s demo tables with well-informed comments and questions, as they had
already performed a great deal of research on the high-middle ages (some citing SCA pages as sources). Period music, maypole
dancing and a fully function trebuchet rounded off the event in a way that was incredibly gratifying. If anyone in the SCA wants
to see what enthusiastic seventh graders and a few amazing teachers can do to exemplify research and historical interpretation,
Art in this issue:
Page 3 top photo by Lady Staeina Halfdanardottir , other photos by Lord Theo Van der Zee
Page 4 photo by Lady Staeina Halfdanardottir
Page 5 and 6 by by Lord Joseph de Montfort
All Other photos by Marcus Kennedy Photography
Scribal Capitals by Lady Astrid Skalphaena, digital editing by Melchior zum Bruche.
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The Tasting Room
By THL Vitasha Ivanova doch’
s we head into hot summer days, we find ourselves gathering for events in public parks. We try to look as period
as possible with our clothing, our encampment, and our food and drink choices. We hide our food wrappers and
pour our soda and Gatorade into period drinking vessels. For a more period feel, we could drink wine or ale, but
with outdoor events, we run the risk of dehydration as well as prohibitions on alcoholic beverages. So for those
who are looking for a more period drink, what can we drink that is refreshing, period, and legal?
At Gyldenholt Anniversary this past month, I made both a sekanjabin and a syrup. Both drinks keep well, and you only need to
dilute them with water to your desired taste and enjoy. I offered many people the sekanjabin, Hippocras spice syrup, or a
combination of the two. One fighter said that it “greatly lessened the fatigue of heat and humidity,” and he even nicknamed it
“Combat Mana”. How do I make myself some of this fine, refreshing drink, you ask? Well…
Sekanjabin is the Middle Eastern name for a drink made of vinegar and sugar. The vinegar and sugar are combined and heated to form a syrup. A drink is made by diluting the syrup with water to suit one’s taste. The first time someone told me it
made a delicious, refreshing drink, I was very skeptical. However, I tried it and found it true. On a hot day, the water provides
rehydration, the vinegar replenishes electrolytes, and the sugar increases blood sugar. Herbs and spices can be added to enhance the flavor.
A recipe for Sekanjabin from An Anonymous Andalusian Cookbook of the 13th Century:
Syrup of Simple Sikanjabîn (Oxymel)
Take a ratl of strong vinegar and mix it with two ratls of sugar, and cook all this until it takes the form of a
syrup. Drink an ûqiya of this with three of hot water when fasting: it is beneficial for fevers of jaundice, and
calms jaundice and cuts the thirst, since sikanjabîn syrup is beneficial in phlegmatic fevers: make it with six
ûqiyas of sour vinegar for a ratl of honey and it is admirable.
...[gap: top third of this page has been cut off]...
... and a ratl of sugar; cook all this until it takes the consistency of syrup. Its benefit is to relax the bowels and
cut the thirst and vomiting, and it is beneficial in bilious fevers.
* A ratl equals about 1 pound, and about 12 ûqiyas equal a ratl.
This recipe says to mix one part vinegar to 2 parts sugar. I prefer to mix one part white wine vinegar to one part cane sugar.
Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved in the vinegar. Bring to a simmer and turn down the heat so that it is just barely
bubbling. Stir occasionally for about 30 minutes to an hour to reduce the water content and create the syrup. Remove from
the heat to cool before bottling.
So with these hot days of summer, sip a cup of refreshing, period (and legal) sekanjabin.
[Note: Information about and recipes for fruit syrups can be found in the October 2014 edition of the Gyldenholt Press. A list
of spices used in Hippocras can be found in the December 2014 edition of the Gyldenholt Press.]
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A short primer on Leatherworking in the SCA
By Lord Joseph de Montfort
irst let me say that the art of leatherworking can include a vast array of different focuses and
subsets and that all are valid and equally beautiful. So do not be afraid to be interested in
only a little bit or ashamed that you don’t know something. Do what you love and what intrigues you.
What I would like to do is give a brief overview of leatherworking, and what it could be used for in the
context of SCA related activities so that any beginners in our barony, or beyond, have a place to get
started.
Common uses for leather in the SCA
Armor: One of the primary uses for leatherworking in the SCA is the creation of armor for all
types of fighters. Fighters can create a coat of plates, kidney belts, lamellar, gorgets, gauntlets, and a host of other
pieces of kit. Benefits of using leather for armor include price, availability, ease of construction, and the ability to be
used with many different personas on the field.
Accessories: These projects can include belts, shoes, purses, bags, bottles, hats, and many varied items that can take
your garb to the next level. You could buy these types of items from a merchant or online but why not make something unique.
Art: Leatherworking pieces can be made just for the beauty of it. You can embellish other items or create stand alone
artwork. You might add bling to a chair or box lid, or create a award scroll out of leather.
Beginner’s Leatherworking Toolbox:
Leatherworking is like any other art or hobby in that it can require specialized tools. However the bare minimum to get started is fairly
low and can usually be had for under $20-25. As you progress you can
slowly accumulate more specialized tools for more specialized tasks (until
your significant other has to step in and take way you Tandy card.) Here is
a list to get you started, and many you may already have.
Knife - I still use the razorblade knife I first got 5 years ago. Just replace the blade every now and then.
Heavy Duty Shears - From the leather store $15, from hardware store $3.
Mallet - Wooden, rubber, or plastic, not metal. Something light and easy to handle.
Punch Set - For punching nice round holes for things like rivets or eyelets.
Swivel Knife - A must have if you want to add any tooling (decoration).
Sponges/bowl - Something to keep water in and use for dying.
Cutting Board - Kitchen plastic cutting boards will work fine.
Something Hard to Hit - You need something with very little give to use as a flat backstop when tooling or setting rivets.
Currently I have a piece of granite countertop that was cut out when they put the sink in.
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Resources for leather and tools.
Tandy - Probably the most recognized and easy to access store. www.tandyleather.com
Brettuns Village - Good online source on leather for a good price. www.brettunsvillage.com
Craft Stores - Joanne’s, Michaels, Hobby Lobby often have a small selection supplies.
Tips:
The two central ideas that you need when talking about leather projects are the concepts of “form” and “function”. The
“form” is the aesthetics of a piece, or how you want it to look to others. “Function” is how the project mechanically
works in reality, or does it do what it is supposed to? First decide on how you want the object to function. For example you are creating a belt bag. Decide how much you want to carry in it, how it will open and close, and how it will
attach to your belt. Then, within the confines of your design, add artistic value. Add some Celtic knotwork or a Thor’s
Hammer. Dye it to match your heraldic colors, whatever you like.
Measure twice. Really measure two or three times to make sure! You cannot uncut leather. Often if a piece has a difficult
construction, or needs to be fitted, I will make a mock up out of construction paper. Once I am confident of all the
pieces then I can transfer that pattern to the leather.
Inspirational resources can be found everywhere. With a little effort you can turn almost any picture or design into a
leatherworking pattern. The internet has a huge collection of celtic knotwork patterns. For some great historical ideas check out the Maciejowski Bible, Bayeux Tapestry or almost any medieval woodcut.
Don’t be afraid of mistakes, they happen, accept them and learn from them. Also remember when tooling, leather can be
re-soaked with water and little marks can be tooled over.
Cultivate friendships with other leatherworkers. Remember the art of leatherworking is so wide ranging that no one can
be an expert at everything. So don’t be afraid to ask questions. We would probably love to talk about how we made
something.
Now get out there and have some fun!
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Upcoming Meetings
Meetings are subject to change, please contact group heads for the most up to date information. For a current calendar and list
of Officers and Group leaders please visit: http://www.sca-gyldenholt.org
Counsel Meeting: Second Thursday of each month at 7:30pm in 614 N. Bush St., Santa Ana, CA.
Fighter Practice: Every Tuesday at 7:30pm in Murdy Community Park, 7000 Norma Dr., Huntington Beach.
Rapier: See Fighter practice.
Youth Combat: See Fighter Practice.
Archery: Practice is every Sunday at 10:30am in Santiago Park Archery Range: 2781 E. Memory Lane, Santa Ana CA.
Thrown Weapons: Practice is the second Sunday of each month at 12:30-2:30pm in Yorba Linda, CA.
Brewers: Meetings are held the fourth Sunday of each month at around Noon in Tustin, CA.
Merrymakers: Meetings are held every Wednesday.
Newcomers: Meetings are held the third Sunday of each month at 1:00 PM in Fountain Valley.
Pewterers: Meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in Yorba Linda, CA.
Scribes: Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 6-9pm.
Sunday Solar: Meetings are held the third Sunday of each month at 1:00 PM in Fountain Valley.
Upper Crust: Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in Meetings locations vary, please contact the
guild mistress for details.
Officers
For a complete listing of our officers please visit: http://www.sca-gyldenholt.org
For information about the Gyldenholt Press or it’s contents please contact: [email protected]
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Gyldenholt Press Submissions Guidelines
Your submissions are always welcome and I will help you in any way I can so you can be a part of our Newsletter. These are a
few suggestions to help the submission process run a bit smoother and to minimize follow up questions.
I am fine with any format you wish to submit to me electronically, such as in the body of an email, as an email attachment,
or as a Facebook message. I use Microsoft office, or copy and paste. If I have trouble opening an attachment, I will contact you so we can resolve it.
I would prefer plain text and photos submitted separately so that I can edit them to maintain style consistency. If you wish
to create your own look with photos or illustrations, please let me know that this is important to you. I will always respect your creative process, and will not make major changes without consulting you.
Please be sure that you have release forms on file with the Seneschal, or include release forms, for any work you submit,
including photos and artwork.
Please include your full SCA name with any titles.
Please identify people in any photos you submit, full SCA names and titles. If it is a posed photo or a photo of a minor, I will
also need model release forms. All needed forms may be found in the Chronicler handbook on the Kingdom of Caid
website, or from me. If you can’t find them, message me and I will send you attachments.
While I will always publish due dates for submissions, earlier submissions are always appreciated and slightly late small submissions may still be able to be used.
Thank you so much for your support in helping me publish a good representation of our barony. If there are other questions I
didn’t cover please, please, please let me know so I can update the Guidelines.