The Most Important Question

Since I'm a triple peer (royal, chivalry, pelican) I've had a number of people ask me over the years how to become a peer.

I usually answer with a question of my own:

"Do you want to be elevated to the peerage or do you want to be a peer?"

That's not a trick question. Well, actually it is, but the trickiness comes from the nature of the peerage.

Most of what a peerage brings you doesn't come from the symbols of rank or being entered into the order of precedence. In fact a lot of the formal duties of a peer are boring when they're not frustrating. (Try sitting through a couple of two-hour circles back to back while everyone else is having fun at the event.)

The good part of being a peer, the fun part, comes from the fact that people look up to peers. They tend to respect them, value their opinions and hold them in regard.

But that isn't conferred with a peerage. Ideally, a peerage is the SCA's way of saying "you're what we want to be when we grow up." It is a recognition that someone has achieved the skill and displayed the personal characteristics that represent the ideals and aspirations of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Again, ideally the peerage recognizes these characteristics, but it does not create them.

I've pissed off a couple of kings, and not a few peerage circles, by pointing out that neither the king nor a peers circle can create a peer. They can only recognize that one exists in our midst.

The other hard fact is that elevation to the peerage is not a fair process. Most kings at least try to make it fair and some strive mightily to find and elevate deserving candidates, but at the end of the day and with the best will in the world, good people get overlooked.

And of course not all kings are good and not all peers deserve the honor. That too is a fact of life. Favoritism, political considerations and good, old-fashioned sucking up all play roles in who gets elevated.

Of course there are always people for whom the symbols are more important than the thing. They are desperate to have that medallion or belt or baldric or whatever, to be addressed as "sir", or "master" or "mistress", to be seen hanging around with the others with similar accouterments, to get a special place at court.

Mostly those people want to be peers because they think it will fill a gaping hole inside them. That being made a peer will make them better, wash away their inadequacies and make people respect them.

They're wrong. And many of them end up being very frustrated.

The choice is simple. If you want to be a peer, act like a peer. Display the virtues of honesty, chivalry, noblesse oblige, and support for the goals of the SCA and your Crown (the institution, not the person currently wearing it). Further yourself in your chosen art or skill. Teach others as you can. Learn from those who are better than you are, eagerly and humbly. Avoid excessive pride and overbearing behavior.

And guess what? You will receive the respect and the other important things that go with a peerage whether you are ever elevated or not.