The Great Fungus Song Wars Competition

known as the “Saga of Rosewall Creek”

as told by Lady Reann Worthy gentles,
Some years back Ravensley petitioned Cragmere for more lands. Although Cragmere was willing to cede certain lands to the care of Ravensley, the final terms of the agreement were to be discussed at a tavern night that Cragmere was planning. The issues of Morel’s mushroom patch and the appropriate tribute would be resolved.

Lady Morel, (now called Lady Doireann), is an avid mushroom picker and knows all the best places to pick mushrooms. Well, it happened that I had a chance to discuss this situation with Lady Elizabeth Chatfield, Seneschal of Raven’s Key and also a founder of Cragmere. Wouldn’t it be funny if we could stage an argument, complete with name-calling and accusations. Both our shires would be stunned at our behaviour. (Elizabeth and I seem to be able to get away with anything.) We both write filk songs, so why not propose a song battle.

And so I composed a song, entitled “The Saga of Rosewall Creek”, telling the story thus far. I sent the song to Lady Elizabeth that she might prepare her reply. Needless to say, I waited until the last possible moment to gave her the least amount of time possible in which to write her song. {evil grin} Her song was still much better than mine and we had great fun doing it.

The battle was won by Lady Elizabeth’s song.

The Saga of Rosewall Creek
lyrics: by Reann - Carol Hamill © 2003
tune: “Robin Hood and the Tanner”

In the shire of Cragmere live gentle kind folk
With a hey down, down a down, down
Good to their neighbours in need
And one day the plight of poor Raven’s Key
Did stir their hearts indeed.

Now poor Raven’s Key is a tiny wee place
With a hey down, down a down, down
Without lands enough of its own
The generous nobles of rich Cragmere shire
Dids’t hear of their plight anon.

The nobles of Cragmere would grant them some land
With a hey down, down a down, down
They offered the lands they did seek
And all did agree, the new boundary
Would be along Rosewall Creek

“But what of the tribute” Lord Asa dids’t cry
With a hey down, down a down, down
And what of our shires defense
But council decreed, that good Raven’s Key
Would give us good recompense

Our Lady Morel who is Herald Black Stag
With a hey down, down a down, down
And also mis-tress of the foil
Reminded us that, the mushrooms she gets
Will come from Raven’s Key soil.

Now what of the Raven’s Key peoples response
With a hey down, down a down, down
What of their honest debt
Such tribute as we, …. are ever to see, …
WE MUST GO THERE to get.

Reply to The Saga of Rosewall Creek
lyrics: HL Elizabeth Chatfield © Jean Clark 2003
tune: Greensleeves

My lady Fair, You do us wrong
To treat us so discourteously
We be not tiny and we are strong
But we behave most honorably

Chorus:
Oh Ravens Key, Oh Ravens Key
Our water is pure Our lady’s free
To pick mushrooms beneath the trees
Oh the pleasures of living in Ravens Key

In Cragmere Shire, Did I reside
For many years with wondrous pride
But my young Lord did lure me far
To the Bonny Castle of Ravens Key

Chorus

And now I live in my new home
Yet often to Cragmere our family doth roam
All that I ask from my Cragmere kin
Is to visit me in Fair Ravens Key

Chorus
At tribute time, We bid you come
To Ravens Castle for fighting and fun
And when day is over we’ll sup upon
The mmmarvelous mushrooms of Ravens Key

Chorus

And so was held “The Great Fungus War” in the summer of 2004 (AS39) at Ravens Key castle.

That night we performed the second battle. This time Lady Elizabeth had sent her song to Reann in plenty of time, and Reann’s reply by was prepared. By general consent, it was agreed that this time the battle went to Reann.
Score tied 1 - 1

The Saga of Rosewall Creek Continues
lyrics: HL Elizabeth Chatfield © Jean Clark 2004
tune: Early One Morning
(Loosely to the tune of what I call The Friendly Giant Song for I can't remember the name)

‘Twas in the land of Ravensley
Where dwells the Castle Ravens Key
That many gentles travel far
To fight a bitter war.
But why are we fighting
When neighbours should be friendly
Could all of this be just about a little fungal patch?

My many friends in Cragmere Shire
Declined to come and visit me
Seems ‘tis too far to travel
For those as frail as they
But why are we fighting
When neighbours should be friendly
Could all of this be just about a little fungal patch?

After much considering
I came to a conclusion
The only way to get them here
Was challenge them to war.
So this is why we’re fighting
When neighbours should be friendly
‘Twas my desire to see my friends that caused this plot to hatch..

Reply to “The Saga of Rosewall Creek Continues”
Lady Reann

I am but a poor teller of tales and what is more I am burdened with the fate that I must bring sad, sad, news. Lady Elizabeth says that it was her desire to see her friends that brought about this war, but I say there is a greater and noble cause that Cragmerians need know.

But by way of introduction to my news, I shall tell you something about the people of Cragmere.

They are a gentle and genteel folk. For in Cragmere, great value is placed on respect of nature, nurturing of body and soul, and diligence in stewardship of the lands that are granted to our custody by our good King.

Lady Meredith teaches of the wild plants; Lady Zoë grows beautiful flowers. In Cragmere, Lady Halima and Lord Asa, harvest the metal in the earth and Lord Kjartan takes the wood in the forest, to create things of great beauty. AND such is the delicate temperament of Lady Morel that she takes care that she not harm any creature. But back to my news.

It came to pass that Lady Morel and myself did grow weary on our journey homeward. Anon we came to the border between Ravensley and Cragmere. We decided to stop for respite on the banks of Rosewall Creek, which is the border between the two shires. We came by the highroad into Cragmere, and walked back to the creek, that we might walk in the shade of its beautiful valley.

We entered the valley, and, lo, what horror we did espy, for on the far bank, on the Ravensley side: terrible desolation, disarray, disrepair. On the Ravensley side of that lovely stream the woods are unattended, the flowers trampled, the trees broken. A mighty maple lay across the stream, dead. We looked as well as we may but it was in vain for Lady Morel's favourite mushroom patch. But it was lost. Destroyed through neglect. Lady Morel was distraught; I tried as I might to console her, but, alas, she fell into a deep melancholia. Look at the anguish bestowed upon the heart of the gentle Lady Morel. And as to the Kings land...! This neglect is inexcusable Look at how they keep the lands entrusted to them. Our cause is just! I speak for the trampled mushrooms.
How say you, Cragmere
How say you, Cragmere
How say you, Cragmere, to this war!

The next summer at the Ravens Key War (AS40) at Ravens Key castle, it was Lady Reann’s turn to provide the first song. This time I sent it to Lady Elizabeth in plenty of time. It is a song of reconciliation. Due to her hectic life, Lady Elizabeth did not have time to prepare a reply.

Honour An Tir
Tune: “Non nobis and te Deum” by Patrick Doyle
from the film: Henry V (Branaugh version]
words Carol Hamill © 1999, 2005 revised version

Honour Ravensley, Honour Cragmere

In service to the dream
We together stand
To teach and learn
Our voice united as one

Honora An Tir, Honora Tir Righ
In servitibus ad somne
Una stamus
In concordurum
Docere et cognoscere

And so the battle stands tied, as it should be; but we each stand ready to fight yet again.

updated to July 2006

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