Large Fierce Mammal

Image courtesy of The Swordmaster’s Grimoire.

“‘In ferro veritas” means “in the sword is truth,’ or, more loosely translated, ‘studying the sword will smack you face-first into a lot of truths you’re not going to like.'” ~ Adam Adrian Crown, The Swordmaster’s Grimoire

Every now and then, I experience the sheer delight of learning that someone whose work I respect and enjoy has similar feelings about my own. This happened most recently last Wednesday, and came in the form of an e-mail from the Esteemed Adam Adrian Crown whose words, and motto adorn the top of this piece. That’s right – his motto. Permit me to elaborate.

The hour was late and I was checking my e-mail before retiring. This is what I found:

Just wanted to say I enjoy your blog.
And thanks for the complimentary mention. I’m glad you found something of value on the Swordmaster’s Grimoire.

Best,

aac

If you follow me here, you will know that I have quoted Maestro Crown, and recommended his blog – The Swordmaster’s Grimoire – more than a few times (Spoiler: I will again!). You will also know that I have employed the afore mentioned motto – In ferro veritas – as the title of a series; one you may be delighted to learn is far from finished, this being a troubled world and all. Well now, in the wake of reading Adam Crown’s kind words, having in hand a small tipple of whisky that needed dealing with, and knowing that my dear Wife had th’ Bairn at her breast for the short term, the whim caught me to visit The Swordmaster’s Grimoire; you know, just for a minute or two. You can read what I found here.

As I’ve said, the hour was late, and I determined to address the matter in detail the following morning. In the mean time, I took my thoughts to the bedroom with me where I disclosed to Mrs. LFM what had transpired. She asked me if I was sure it wasn’t a passive aggressive thing to which I replied that nothing in my knowledge of Adam Crown indicated him to be anything other than active aggressive, where aggression was deemed necessary at all, and a Gentleman of the old school. Also, nothing in his e-mail to me in any way urged or even suggested that I go and read his latest Grimoire post. I’d done that on my own whim, and the timing of the doing could not have been predicted.

The next day, I retraced the steps I’d taken last summer when I had, as is my policy, searched applications and interpretations of the motto before using it. After all, as much as it spoke to me, one must be aware of past unfortunate associations of any oft quoted passage, let alone such a deadly serious one. Among the flotsam and jetsam of the internet, I found a thread on a forum that was actually titled by the phrase in question that began with, “The term comes to us from the duelists of old …”, and what appears to be an abandoned blog written by a man from Alberta titled – you guessed it – In Ferro Veritas, and who likewise casts the genesis of the motto into the realm of an indeterminately remote origin. The poster on the afore mentioned forum operates a firearms centered tactical training establishment, and continues to use the motto in the proper spirit, but with origins he seems to accept as lost in the mists of time.

Acronym Finder lists it under IFV, attributing it to, “In Ferro Veritas (Latin: In the Sword is Truth; fencing organization and motto),” something that never surprised me because I have been aware for many years that it’s the motto of Maestro Crown’s school of classical swordsmanship.

I also found this interesting discussion (to which I couldn’t resist making my own contribution) that began on St. Valentine’s Day 2012 on the facebook page of a company called Genomyx. I could go on, but the upshot is that with the exception of these people in their attempts to reinvent it, everything out there either uses the motto to make their point, or simply seeks to define it. All harmless fluff until your use runs headlong into someone who will not only stand up and lay claim to its origin, but can also cite the chronology of their use of it as representative of brand. My own use came strictly from the fact that it spoke to me, and offered no conflict, but accepting Maestro Crown’s impassioned claim as written, I shared his frustration and resolved to put things right insofar as it was in my power to do so:

Good Sir!

Thank you for your kind words; and it’s always a joy to learn that someone whose work I enjoy and follow is finding some edification in my own efforts.

You know, it was after reading your e-mail late last night that I decided to pay a visit to the Swordmaster’s Grimoire and thence read your recent piece on the subject of your “In Ferro Veritas” motto. You have my apologies if by using it in my work I have in any way offered offense, and retroactively ask your blessing to use it in the future, with proper credit.

That having been said, I do intend to post a piece of my own to LFM in the next few days pointing to your ownership of the motto. What you’ve recently written about it yourself is more than needful of the widest possible broadcast.

I regret that the travails of geography conspire in preventing me from delivering this message in person so that the veracity of my sentiment, and inherent trustworthiness, could be demonstrated by permitting me to open a bar tab and observe your personal translation of “in vino veritas”, but one does what one can.

All the best to you and yours,

Randy

The response was as swift as one would expect from a Swordsman:

Dear Randy,

You’re a gracious gentleman.

I’m very pleased that my motto resonates with you. No offense taken, and you certainly have my permission to use it in future.

One of the things I find in it is that it has many facets, many valid interpretations and applications. One of them was offered to me by a student who was about 11 or 12 years old: “There’s no room for bullshit in a fight.” Terse but not inaccurate.

Thank you for understanding the importance of the motto to us.

Keep up the excellent and entertaining writing.

All the best,

Adam

The last words in the matter were mine (at least so far):

Dear Adam,

Thanks in abundance for your kind permission to use “In Ferro Veritas”. Rest assured that I will never dishonour it.

There is an occasional spam comment directed to LFM by a source for whom, as I say, language his first English is not. It’s always some iteration of, “You have indeed struck the nail upon the top!” We’ve adopted that as our own around here (with absolutely no intention of asking permission, EVER), and I can say without reservation that your student has indeed struck the nail upon the top with his reference to the folly of coming to a fight armed with bullshit. In the annals of combat, I feel safe in asserting that no proper fight ever began with the words, “If you have any poo, fling it now!”

As to keeping up with the excellent and entertaining writing, I would ask that you do the same.

Regards,

Randy

There will be some who will wonder what the big deal was, and for a portion of those there is no amount of explaining that would invoke understanding. I don’t write for the willfully ignorant, and simply present this as an example of how Gentlemen conduct their affairs. While I would be the last to poo poo the veracity of the oft well applied adage that it’s better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, I would also posit that this should only govern your behaviour if you don’t mind donning the mantle of the shit who upended a relationship of mutual respect.

Adam, thank you again.