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Period Presentation   |  Guilds  |  Orders  |  Squires  |  Martial

Order of the Falcon Martial Requirements

There are certain skills that a Martial Squire must acquire before he or she can become a Martial Knight. These skills are important so that House DuChasse Knights are historically accurate, professional and proficient.

House DuChasse recognizes two types of Martial Knights. These are Ground (The Boot) and Equestrian (the Horseshoe). Any individual can hold either or both Knighthoods.

Martial Squires

All Martial Squires must become proficient in the following basics skills;

Swordsmanship - The sword was and is the main weapon used by the knight and often was the knight's most treasured possession. The sword itself was a symbol for God, wealth and power because it was, in most cases, shaped like a cross, hard to make and therefore expensive, and in the right hands a dangerous weapon. Basic swordsmanship for the House DuChasse is the based upon a form known as the "House". The "House consists of the nine basic blocks and attacks and is the basis of House sword training.

Sword and shield- In addition to learning single hand sword, the use of sword and shield is required for all House Squires. The use of sword and shield is fundamentally important as Knights used their shields to protect themselves from attacks or other objects that could not be defended with their lead hand weapon, The shape of the shield varies by use and country, however all medieval shields were made of wood, not metal as some people believe. A defense weapon, the use of the shield in conjunction with the sword is an impressive fighting style.

Additional Weapons - Squires will also be trained in the use of the axe, mace, and spear. Squires will also be trained in archery.

Ground Knight

Squires who seek to be dubbed as a Ground Knight will be required to demonstrate a variety of skills in a "Gauntlet" format demonstration.

Equestrian Knight

Squires who seek to be dubbed as Equestrian Knights will be required to demonstrate the skills necessary to support a Knight in the field as well as those required to survive on the battle field. In order for a Squire to become an Equestrian Knight he or she must be able to take care of, ride and fight from a horse. There are many different skills to horsemanship besides just riding or fighting on horseback. There is also the care and upkeep of the horse and the horse's equipment.

Equestrian requirements are broken in to five different categories.

Horse Care- The brushing and grooming of the horse, this is where the horse is checked for cuts, bugs or any other surface problems.

Ground Work- Working with the horse on the ground and gaining a working relationship with the horse by making the horse walk, turn, stop, backup, stand, and follow.

Tack Work- The horse's equipment or "tack" is every thing that goes on the horse such as the saddle, bridle, and halter. Tack work is taking care of and maintaining the metal and leather parts of the tack by keeping it clean and making sure that it is in good working order.

Riding Preparation- Prior to riding the Squire must perform all the previous tasks, preparing the horse to be tacked up as well as saddling the horse, putting on the bridle as well as any other equipment that is needed for the day's activities

Riding- The skills for riding are similar to the skills for ground work except that the Squire is now on the horse. The Squire will learn how to guide the horse, holding the reins in their hand, using their feet and body. The horse can feel the rider's body movements and use that as a signal to move. They also must feel the movement of horse and keep their body in rhythm with the horse. Developing that sense of rhythm is probably the most difficult part in learning to ride with balance and control.

Combat Riding- Skills for combat riding include full armor riding, handling weapons on horseback such as sword and axe, and pole weapons on horseback such as lance and spear. The war games for combat riding include "Saracen's Head," where cabbages are placed on poles and struck with weapons while on horseback. Another war game includes use of the quintain, a spinning device that has a shield on one side and a sand bag on the other side. When struck with a lance or sword, the device will spin and if struck correctly, the sand bag will not hit the rider. However, if struck incorrectly the sandbag will hit the rider. "Shooting the rings" is a game where metal rings, about six to eight inches across, are held by an assistant and the rider uses a lance to "shoot the ring" and pick it up.

1. The Target Archery Marshal's commands will be followed explicitly while on the target archery range. Failure to follow the Target Archery Marshal's instructions may result in removal from the range.
2. The Target Archery Marshal in Charge may request the assistance of other Marshals in the performance of his/her duties. However, the responsibility for safely setting up and running the range remains with the Target Archery Marshal in Charge.
3. The Target Archery Marshal in Charge or the assisting Marshals have the authority to inspect all bows and arrows/bolts for safety and compliance with House rules.

4. While on duty, Target Archery Marshals are responsible for taking alt reasonable steps to enforce the rules and safety standards for archery activities or events.
5. The Target Archery Marshal in Charge at an event shall report, to the head of House, all injuries requiring professional medical treatment as a result of activity on or about the as well as any potentially dangerous circumstances or incidents involving archery in the House and their outcome.
6. As part of their duties. Target Archery Marshals are responsible for ensuring that all archers are familiar with and comply with the House Target Archery Rules. This may be done either by verbal briefings or by requiring the archers to read the posted rules.

1. All equipment should be consistent with pre-14th century archery in look and function. The construction and knowledge of period-style equipment and its safe use are among the primary goals of House archery.
2. Each archer has the ultimate responsibility for the proper care, inspection and safe use of their own weapons, and for knowing and following House target archery rules.
   • An archer shall not knowingly use unsafe equipment.
   • If an archer is unsure of the safety of his/her equipment, he/she shall request the assistance of a Target Archery Marshal in inspecting the equipment.
   • The Target Archery Marshal assisting in the inspection shall make a reasonable attempt to locate any unsafe conditions or violations of House rules and inform the archer of what is found and how to correct it.
   • The inspection by the Target Archery Marshal may not find all equipment faults and is conducted as a service to all the archers on the line. It does not remove the archers' primary responsibility for the safe condition of their own equipment.
   • Any equipment observed by a Target Archery Marshal to be unsafe shall not be used until it is made safe and is reinspected by a Target Archery Marshal. 3. Exceptions to the use of prohibited equipment may be allowed as follows:
   • The House archery officer, or his/her designee, may approve the use of prohibited equipment by dass, such as the use of plastic vanes or non- wooden arrows for children's archery.
   • The Target Archery Marshal in Charge of an event may allow the temporary use of prohibited equipment on an event-by- event basis.

1. Bows may be made of any material, provided they are judged safe to shoot by the Target Archery Marshal.
   • Bows constructed of non period materials will be acceptable if the non traditional materials are completely concealed. o No compound bows are allowed in competition. There will be no exceptions to this prohibition.
2. Sights
   • No adjustable or fixed sights are allowed.
   • Sighting and/or ranging marks on the limbs or riser are not allowed.
3. There are no draw weight limits for target archery bows. However, should a Target Archery Marshal observe that an archer is using a bow too heavy or overdrawn for them to safely shoot, the Target Archery Marshal will require the archer to stop using the bow.
4. No modern spring/flipper rests or plunger buttons are allowed.
5. The use of simple rests is allowed, such as:
   • simple one-piece plastic or non-adjustable wire rests;
   • feather, bristle, leather, etc. rests;
6. Built out shelves or rests.
7. The use of the shelf in a cut-out window is also allowed.
8. No stabilizers, clickers, or modern string release devices are allowed.
9. Bows with cut-out risers are not allowed

1. No center-shot trackless crossbow styles are allowed.
2. No compound prods or break-cocking crossbow styles are allowed.
3. No archer shall continue to use a crossbow that is observed by a Target Archery Marshal to have too heavy a draw for the archer to use safely.
4. Prods of most materials are allowed, provided they are judged safe to shoot by the Target Archery Marshal. Prods of unusual material or construction will be required to pass the inspection of the House Archery Marshal or a designated deputy.
5. Simple rear sights are allowed. Front sights are not allowed.
6. Stocks will be of wood.

1. All strings shall be appropriate in length and strength for the bow type and weight. Linen, silk, artificial sinew, and any modern bowstring materials are acceptable, as long as strings are properly constructed.
   • Strings that have become knotted, or those that have been repaired by knotting strands together, shall not be used. This rule does not forbid those string designs which incorporate knots, such as a bowyer's knot, in their original design.
2. A nocking point may be attached to the string. It may be made of metal or tied on. A single nocking point is allowed.
   • The nocking point may consist of one or two locators, which may be of any type.
   • The locators may not extend above or below the arrow nock in such a way as to allow them to be used as sighting mechanisms.
3. Peep sights or kisser buttons mounted on the string are not allowed.

1. All shafts shall be of wood or of bamboo-like materials.
2. Both self and footed shafts are permitted.
3. No broadheads or tips that cause excessive damage to the targets shall be used, except for special competitions using these heads with the permission of the Target Archery Marshal in Charge and the House Archery Marshall.
4. Fletched arrows and bolts shall use feathers or other pre-14th century material. Plastic vanes are not allowed.
5. Nocks for arrows may be of any material. Caps, rings, or nocks for bolts may be of any material.

1. The range and safety zone must be clearly marked off. This may be done by the use of ropes, poles, signs, tapes, etc.
2. At events where large numbers of archers are shooting, the Target Archery Marshal in Charge shall be easily identifiable.
3. There shall be a safety zone behind and to the sides of the shooting line and targets. It shall be of reasonable size to prevent injury to bystanders. It must be free of traffic, camp sites, list fields, parking areas or other hazards.  The distance of the safety zone behind the targets may be reduced if there is a hill, permanent backstop, archery netting, etc., that will stop stray arrows.
4. If there are roads or paths within the safety zone or range, they shall be blocked off to traffic at both ends during shooting.
5. The shooting line shall be clearly marked. It must not present a tripping hazard.
6. So that no archer unduly endangers another by shooting from behind, all archers will line up the same way, either all toeing the shooting line or all straddling it. Archers shooting from prone, kneeling, seated, etc. positions shall have the head of their arrow or bolt, at full draw, in the same line as the other archers on the line and should be placed together at one end of the line.
7. Each archer shall have, at a minimum, three feet of space on the line, with recommended spacing being at least four feet. Other shots with special circumstances may require other spacing and heightened Target Archery Marshal supervision.
8. During shooting, all spectators shall remain outside the marked safety zones and/or at least ten feet to the rear of the shooting line.

1. A Target Archery Marshal shall not allow more archers on a line than can be reasonably and safely supervised.
2. Experienced archers, known to and approved by the Target Archery Marshal in Charge, may assist the Target Archery Marshals. When this is done, the ratio of Target Archery Marshals to archers on line may be reduced.
3. At shoots where many of the archers are inexperienced, it may be necessary to increase the ratio of marshals to archers. This increase need not be as great if experienced archers, as well as Target Archery Marshals, are used to supervise the inexperienced archers.
4. Conditions around the range and safety zone may require the use of additional Target Archery Marshals or assistants to observe €nd prevent traffic through the area. At specialty shoots where the archers are shooting under unusual conditions, such as off-handed, with restricted vision, etc., a one-to-one ratio of Target Archery Marshals and/or assistants to archers may be necessary.
5. Any conditions or artificial handicaps which create an undue safety hazard, even with an increased Target Archery Marshal/assistant to archer ratio of one to one, are forbidden.
6. Archers exhibiting unsafe behavior may be removed from the range by the Target Archery Marshal in Charge.

1. The Marshal will call the archers to the line.
2. The Marshal will look to see that the range and line are clear and safe.
3. The Marshal will call out "Range clear!" or the equivalent, and wait momentarily for any responses.
4. If all is clear, then the order "Loose!", "Loose at will!" or the equivalent will be given.
5. When finished shooting, the archers are to lower their bows, step back from the line, and wait until the order to retrieve is given.
6. When all archers are done, the Marshal will call "Bows down!", "Cease!" or the equivalent and wait for compliance.
7. When all weapons are down, the Marshal will give the command, "Retrieve arrows!" or the equivalent.
8. In the case of a serious safety problem on the range such as someone entering, or about to enter, the target or safety zone, the call "Hold!" shall be given by anyone noticing the problem. All archers are to remove the arrows or bolts from their weapons.

1. Ask the Target Archery Marshal for permission before filling in on the line.
2. If "Hold!" is called, lower your bow, remove your arrow/bolt and pay heed to the marshal's instructions.
3. If an archer sees an immediate problem, he/she should call "Hold!" and inform the Marshal in Charge.
4. If an archer sees a potential problem, he/she should report it to a Target Archery Marshal.
5. All archers shall follow the instructions of the Target Archery Marshal in Charge and of Target Archery Marshals assisting on the line.
6. Step back once you have completed shooting.

1. Archers should always remember the potential danger of their weapons.
2. No arrows/bolts should be nocked when anyone is in front of the shooting line.
3. No archer should discharge a bow when anyone is downrange.
4. No archer should shoot while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

1. Any type of quiver may be used, with the exception of one that attaches to the bow.
2. It is recommended that arm and/or finger protection be used, according to the preference of the archer.
3. It is strongly recommended that the ends of the string be served, and that a serving cover the nocking area of the string. It should be noted that Japanese and Flemish style strings, which are rarely served at the ends, are acceptable.

RANGE SET-UP
It is recommended that the range and safety zone be posted with signs in addition to the required perimeter markers of ropes, poles, etc.

SUGGESTED RANGE DIMENSIONS
The following are suggested dimensions for the range and safety zones for target and specialty competitions. These are general guidelines. The actual sizes may vary, depending on terrain, the archers, and other conditions. It is better to err on the side of safety with too much space than not enough.

1. The safety zone behind the farthest target should extend at least 40 yards back, or for 1/2 the distance from the line to the farthest target, whichever is greater.
2. For shoots of 50 yards or less, the safety zone to the sides of the shooting line and targets should extend outward at a 30- to 45-degree angle from both ends of the shooting line to a line even with the furthest target, and continue straight back from there to the required distance.
3. For shoots of over 50 yards, the safety zone to the sides of the shooting line and targets should extend outward at a 30- to 45-degree angle from both ends of the shooting line to a line 50 yards away or 1/4 the distance to the far end of the safety zone, whichever is greater, and continue straight back from there to the required distance.

1. For clout shoots, the safety zone should extend beyond the target for at least 1/2 the target distance, and to each side for at least 1/5 the target distance. (It is recommended that the Target Archery Marshal arrange for any archers who are not familiar with clout shooting to practice in advance. They should start with their bows aimed at a low angle and work their way up. This will help prevent overshooting the safety zone.)
2. For flight shoots, the safety zone distance should be at least 300 yards, or the maximum range of the heaviest bow allowed. It is not recommended that a flight shoot be held if space is limited.
3. For roving courses, the safety zone distance shall be a minimum of one and one- half times the
4. distance to the target. Include special consideration for the angles and distances required for the other targets in the course. No target should be placed within the shooter's line of sight with another target.

1. When going to retrieve arrows, first pick up any of your arrows lying short of the target.
2. Remove arrows by "worrying" them out. Do not yank them out.
3. Do not handle anyone's equipment unless you have asked for and received the owner's permission.
4. Do not remove other archers' arrows unless you have asked for and received the owner's permission.
5. Keep distraction of the archers on the shooting line to a minimum.