This is the Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon's December 1999 letter. Comments in braces {} were removed from the Letter of Intent sent to Laurel and the College of Arms. Names, devices, or badges in braces have been returned or pended; general comments or replies to commentary are also placed in braces.
Thanks to Master John ap Wynne, Lady Moraig Drummond, Lord Gabriel Ximenez de Malaga, Mistress Elena de Vexin, Lord Dominic Durrant of Marlborough, Lady Adelais de Saviniaco, Mistress Doré van der Zee, Lady Ælfreda aet Æthelwealda, Lord Mikhail of Lubelska, and Master Talan Gwynek for their comments this month.
DEADLINE CHANGE: Because of the April 1 road show at the Heraldic Symposium in Shadowed Stars, I will need to receive comments on Escutcheon's February letter by March 31. On the other hand, if you show up to the Symposium you can deliver your comments in person.
1) Agnes van Kouwenhoven--New Name
Submitted as Agnes Rose VanKouwenhoven, the name was modified after consultation with the client Agnes was an early saint who lived from 291-304, according to "Catholic Online Saints," (saints.catholic.org/saints/agnes.html). The name also appears in Friedemann, "15th Century Dutch Names" (http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~sfriedeman/ names/dutch15.htm). The client documented VanKouwenhoven to 1652 Dutch from a Web page showing a view of New Amsterdam that includes the "house of Pieter van Kouwenhoven." (http://conovergeneaology.com/Pages/my0 1005.htm) Although this is outside our acceptable limit for documentation, the client has said that she would like her name to be corrected to a 14th-century Dutch form. She asked for a German name on the form only because she was aware that the Netherlands were not a nation in the 14th century; she is interested in a name from that area.
{2) Cainnear inghean Ui Chatharnaig--New Name and Device.
Per chevron argent and sable, two hazel springs sable and a snowy owl guardant proper.
The client documents the name from a Gregan, Dictionary of Irish Names, 176-177; Elliott, "Choosing an Irish Name" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/na mes/irishnam.html) MacLysaght, 171; and Ó Corráin & Maguire (no page numbers). She wants to have her name to be corrected for 11th-century Irish, and says that she is "aiming to style myself as grandaughter [sic] to Tadge (Sionnach) O'Catharnaigh of County Meath [d. 1084]." She wants to keep this meaning.
This makes for a complicated situation. Cainnear is the modern form of the early name Cainder, the name of a daughter of Medb and of several early saints. (Ó Corráin & Maguire, s.n. Cainnear). Chatharnaig.is the genitive of Catharnach, which can be dated back to the 11th century. Cainder ingen hui Chatharnaig is a plausible 11th-century Irish woman's name. (Talan, where did you find out that hui is appropriate for the 11th c.?) However, it doesn't quite fit with the meaning that our client is looking for. Part of the confusion is that we can't identify a person named "Tadge O'Catharnaigh." Woulfe, s.n. Catharnaigh, says that the original Catharnach from whom this family is descended died in 1084. If she wants to be a descendant of this person, then she's on the right track. However, if she wants to be a descendant of a man named Tadc ui Catharnaig, she should use a different name--probably Cainder ingen Thaidc ua Chatharnaig. Rather than guessing, we'll pend the name and contact her for more information.
The device is registerable as is. Although the hazel sprigs are pretty sketchy--literally--I don't think that they're so low-quality that they can't be registered.}
3) Clarissa Wykeham--Device Resubmission
Or, a seeblatt azure.
The client's previous submission, identical to this one, was returned by Laurel in 2/00 for administrative reasons.
4) Dananir bint Zang al Tabib--New Name {and Device
Argent, a natural panther's head cabossed sable, on a chief indented vert a crescent argent.}
The client documents all the elements of her name, and the name construction, from Da'ud ibn Auda, "Arabic Naming Practices And Period Names List" (http://www.panix.com/~mittle/name s/daud/arabic-naming/).
{I couldn't really identify the head as belonging to a panther either, so I'm going to pend this for redrawing.}
5) Eloise of Tre-Girt-Sea--Device Resubmission
Argent, masoned sable, on a bend sinister azure a unicorn's horn argent.
The client's name was registered in 2/00. Her previous submission, identical to this one, was returned by Laurel in 2/00 for administrative reasons.
6) Elsa von Heilbronn--Device Resubmission
Argent, on a pale wavy azure between two roses proper a cross bottony argent within a bordure azure.
The client's name was registered in 9/99. Her previous submission, identical to this one, was returned for redrawing of the bordure.
7) Fasach Mor, Canton of--Name Resubmission
{This group has been the victims of miscommunication between their heralds and Rouge Scarpe staff, and their resubmission was delayed for several months as a result. Because their name is one of the few remaining obstacles for their advancement to full status, I am going to take the unusual step of sending it forward right now.
The clients' original submission, identical to this one, was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 6/99 because there was no documentation for Fasach.} The clients provide numerous references from Coghlan, passim that show Fasach as a first element and Mor as a second element in Gaelic placenames.
8) Gleann Iarainn, Canton of--New Device
Per chevron inverted gules and sable, a chevron inverted between two laurel wreaths Or.
{These clients also have a complicated story that has led to unnecessary delays in their device submission. They have sent me their device submission directly and it appears to be clear of conflict, so I am sending it on to Laurel.}
{9) Guglielmo Buonmare--New Name
The client documents Guglielmo from "Italian Names from Florence, 1427" (http://www.srv.net/~thor/toddf/names.htm). He does not provide any documentation for Buonmare. We will talk to him about some alternatives.}
10) István Valkai--Device Resubmission
Gules, three chevronels enhances and a basset hound Or.
The client's name was registered in 7/98. The client's identical previous submission was returned by Laurel on 9/99 because the basset hound was drawn unclearly and was too small. The client has altered the drawing to fix these problems, and would be happy to have the basset hound blazoned differently if that would allow his device to be registered.
{11) James Cunningham--New Device
Vert scaly argent, a shakefork Or between three sheafs of four billets argent.
The secondary charges are definitely not mullets; I came up with an alternate blazon but I don't think that this would be registered as is. I am pending it for redrawing; the client could use mullets or escarbuncles, which are also similar to the shape of his secondary charges. While he's at it, it wouldn't hurt to use larger scales either--there should be about six scales across the top of the field.}
{12) Liam O'Shea--New Name and Device
Sable, a fishhook inverted Or.
Liam is a modern Irish form of Uilliam, which is a form of William that can be dated to period. O'Shea is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Seaghdha. For the client's period, either William O'Shea or Uilliam Ó Seaghdha would be appropriate. I will pend this name and contact the client.
The device is registerable as is.}
{13) Liam O'Shea--New Badge
Sable, a fishhook Or.
The College of Arms won't register two identical pieces of armory, and I don't know of any reason for the same person to register the same armory as a device and a badge. Therefore, I'm returning this.}
{14) Mary Ann Elizabeth Wollenschläger--New Name.
Mary is in Withycombe, 211. Ann is in ibid., 25. Elizabeth is in ibid., 99.. Wollenschläger is constructed using the English translation of Bahlow.. Woll(en)schläger itself is found on 621 without a date, but the client notes that the elements are found in period names (Wolenber "woolly bear" is dated to 1350 on page 621 and Slegher "striker" is dated to 1378 on page 492.. The client cares most about sound and meaning ("must be person who works with wool/Germanic"). The client would like an authentic German name.
There are no examples of people with three given names in period, and so we have to return this name. All three of these names are fairly common, so any two of them might be found in a late-period German name. Although all of these names are in standard German forms, Bahlow has period German forms including Marye, s.n. Marien: Anne, s.n. Annen, and Elisabeth as a header spelling. The client should be aware that Marya and Anne would be pronounced with two syllables.}
{15) Middle Marches, Barony of for Baron's Challenge, The Award of the--New Order Name.
The barony's name was registered in 1/73.
No one was able to find any evidence that this is a period form for an order name, and so we are returning it.}
{16) Middle Marches, Barony of for Hope of the Marche, The Order of the--New Order Name.
The barony's name was registered in 1/73.
No one was able to find any evidence that this is a period form for an order name, and so we are returning it.}
{17) Middle Marches, Barony of for Shepherd of the Marche, The Order of the--New Order Name
The barony's name was registered in 6/99 (just seeing if you're still paying attention! It was really registered in 1/73).
Shepherd of the Marche might be a reasonable title for a person or a group of people, but it isn't an order name and so I have to return it. The good news, for me at least, is that the College of Arms does not regulate titles.
The relevant section of Corpora is VII.C., "Titles." I'm not going to quote it at length here, but the gist of it is this: anyone can use a title that denotes a relationship with another society member or a particular vocation on an informal basis, as long as it doesn't imply "noble rank or territorial jurisdiction," is not offensive, and carries no precedence. The creation of titles which don't fit these criteria is reserved to the Board.
If the title Shepherd of the Marche meets the criteria that define an "informal title" in Corpora, then members of the group can use it as they wish. If it doesn't meet those criteria, then they are prohibited from using it by Society law.
The question of whether this usage is appropriate or not probably does fall under the jurisdiction of the heralds, but it doesn't go through the normal submission process. Lord Thorvald Redhair, the Kingdom Minister of Protocol, should be able to shed some light on the question; I'll bring the matter to his attention.
18) Middle Marches, Barony of for Warden of the Marche, The Award of the. New Order Name.
The barony's name was registered in 1/73. The lengthy comments for item 17 apply to this submission as well.
19) Midewinde, Shire of--Device Resubmission
Azure, a bend sinister wavy cotised argent, in dexter chief a laurel wreath Or.
The group's name was registered in 2/98. Their previous device submission, identical to this one, was returned by Laurel in 2/00 for administrative reasons. Their original submission, Per fess azure and gules, a gateway argent and a moon in her plenitude, all within a laurel wreath Or, was returned by Laurel in 12/98 for using the prohibited gateway.
20) Northshield, Principality of for Hearthstead, Award of the--Order Badge Resubmission
Sable, a brazier Or enflamed proper within a bordure Or masoned sable.
The principality name was registered in 10/94; the order name was registered in 5/98. The previous badge submission, Per fess embattled sable and argent masoned sable, in chief a candle argent enflamed proper in a candlestick Or, was returned by Laurel for conflict with Lorelei of Lockehaven, Per pale azure and Or, a candle argent, sconced sable, enflamed proper, fimbriated counterchanged. This is a complete redesign.
21) Northshield, Principality of for Crwth, The Order of the. Order Badge Resubmission.
(Fieldless) A crwth argent.
The principality name was registered in 10/94; the order name was registered in 5/98. The previous badge submission. The clients' previous submission, (Fieldless) A lyre argent, was returned by Rouge Scarpe for an unknown conflict.
A crwth was a Welsh musical instrument that dates back to at least the Carolingian period, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, 1961 ed (Vol ??: 760).
22) Peter Trevor--New Device
Per bend sinister bevilled azure and argent.
The client's name was included in the 1/00 LoI. {His device was pended for redrawing at the same time.}
{23) Selene de Lorraine--New Name and Device
Per bend sinister gules and Or, a descrescent Or and a bird volant purpure.
The client documents Selene as the name of a Greek goddess, according to the "Greek Mythology Link" (http://www.maicar.com/Selene.html). This is not evidence that the name was used by a human being, which is what we need to register an SCA name. Given that, I'm returning this name, but there are different ways she can approach a resubmission.
There is a French name Céline, but this is not related to the Greek Selene--rather, it derives from the 5th C. martyr Coelina. Since the client says that she wants a name related to the Greek moon goddess, we can't just make this substitution. If she uses this French name, de Lorraine is not a problem--Lorraine is a region in France.
The device is probably registerable, although some commenters are likely to complain about the combination of name and arms.}
24) Stephana Relicta le Clark--Device Resubmission
Or, pily to point azure, a comet palewise Or.
{The client's first submission was returned for an unknown reason by Rouge Scarpe in 12/97.} Her last submission, identical to this one, was returned by Laurel in 2/00 for administrative reasons.
25) Ysolt Pais de cuer. New Name and Device.
Quarterly gules and Or, four suns counterchanged, a bordure vert.
Documentation for the name comes from an unnumbered Gabriel letter dated October 19, 1998. Ysolt is dated to 1201 and 1204 in Scott, "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" (http://www.panix.com/ ~mittle/names/talan/reaney). Pais de cuer is a reconstructed form of Paixdecoeur, which is found in Cateline, "Sixteenth Century Norman Names" (www.panix.com/~mittle/names/c ateline/norman16.html). The spelling is based on period variants found in Reaney & Wilson, s. nn. Pace, Codlin. They date the spelling Pais to 1247 in the former and have a rather extended discussion of the various forms of Coeur-de-Leon in the latter that includes the forms Coeur and quer for the standard coeur. This collected evidence suggests that the client's spelling cuer and her use of three separate words for the byname are both reasonable.
While the charges don't have the 16 points in a standard modern depiction of a sun, I'm not sure what else you would call a circle with rays coming from it.
Done by my hand on the xxi day of March, anno societatis xxxv, being the feast of saint Benedict.
Alan Fairfax, Rouge Scarpe
Alan Terlep
PO Box 214071
Auburn Hills, MI 48326