This is the Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon's April 2000 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 Lord Godwig Eadfrithing, THL Paul Wickeden of Thanet, Mistress Elena de Vixen, Lord Dominic Durant of Marlborough, Lady Juette von Hach Hammerstein, Lord Angus Gordon, Lady Adeliza de Saviniaco, Lord Mikhail of Lubelska, Lady Ælfreda æt Æthelwealda, Master John ap Wynne, Lord Gabriel Ximenez de Malaga, Jimena Osorio de Solis, and the members of the Polaris Thursday Night Commenting Group for their comments this month.
Roadshow: I have procured a ride to Warriors & Warlords in July, and I will be hosting a road-show for the May 2000 letter on the Saturday of that event, July 8th. I'd be delighted to see you there!
{*) Aislinn Celine de Richmont-New device
Argent semy of roses gules, a cat sejant erect sable within an orle of ivy vert
This was pended on the 12/99 LoAR for redrawing. Fairfax contacted the client, who said she wasn't sure whether the wanted to have the device redrawn or not. Therefore, we are returning this device while she considers her options.}
1) Anna Donnelly-New name
<Anna> is found in Withycombe (25) and dated to 1031. <Donnelly> is in MacLysaght (86) as a modern spelling of <Ó Donnghaile> and in Reaney & Wilson as a header spelling.
2) Áshildr Úlfsdöttir-New name & device
Per pale azure and vert, three hares in pale couchant contourny argent
<Áshildr> is in Geirr Bassi (8). <Úlfsdöttir> is formed according to the rules for patronymics in ibid (17) from <Úlfr> (which is found in Ibid [15]). She would like to have an authentic Norse name. She will NOT accept MAJOR changes.
Submitted as <Ashildr Ulfsdöttir>, the spellings listed in Geirr Bassi had the acute accents. We have therefore corrected the name.
3) Calum MkGow-New name {& device
Sable crusilly crosslet fitchy, a horse rampant Or}
<Calum> is found in Cresswell, Tuttle Dictionary of First Names (162) as a "Gaelic" form of Malcolm and is undated. <MkGow> is dated to 1473 (under "Macgow") in Black (505). None of the commenters were able to find any additional evidence for or against <Calum>, and thus it is our hope that the College of Arms will be able to help us.
{The crosses on this device are not arranged a manner possible to accurately render in blazon. It is neither "a horse between five crosses crosslet fitchy" nor yet is it "crusilly crosslet fitchy." We suggest that the submitter arrange the crosses in a standard heraldic arrangement, such as in orle, or that he add some and make it a truly crusily.}
4) Cassandra of Glastonbury - Device resubmission
Azure, a stick shuttle bendwise between two triskelions argent
Name reg'd 2/00
The client's previous submission (Azure, a triskele and in chief a stick shuttle argent) was returned by Rouge Scarpe for conflict with the Order of the Triskele (Azure, a triskele argent) on 8/99. The client has created a new design with the same elements.
5) Celestria de Cranham-New name
<Celestria> is documented in Nicolaa de Bracton, "A Statistical Survey of Given Names in Essex Co, England, 1182-1272" (http://www.geocities.com/ Athens/Acropolis/5145/names.html) which lists it six times. Cranham is an English place name that is described as "at least a thousand years" old by the "Introduction to the History of Cranham" (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/ ~kelsey/cranchin.htm). The client would like to have an authentic 13th-14th century name but will NOT permit MAJOR or MINOR changes.
{*) Colban Silver-New device
Per bend sable and azure, a bend between a decrescent and a wolf's head couped close contourny argent.
This item was pended on the 8/99 ILoAR. We have not heard from the client, so we are returning it.
The crescent in this device is drawn as a very thin "fingernail clipping." This has been cause for return by Laurel in the past, and so the device needs to be redrawn.}
6) Dana Grochenydd - New name & device
Per pale gules and argent, an oakleaf counterchanged
<Dana> is the client's modern given name (copy of driver's license enclosed). <Grochenydd> is the feminine form of <Crochenydd>, meaning "potter" in Welsh, according to H. Meurig Evans, Wlesh-English, English-Welsh Dictionary, p. 82. Originally submitted as <Dana Y Crochenydd>, we have corrected the third element to the feminine form, and have dropped the definite article <y>. Client cares most about meaning ("Dana the potter") and would like to have an authentic Welsh name.
Possible visual conflict was called against Helena Janowska z Bedzina, (reg. 2/97), "Per pale gules and argent, a fleur-de-lys counterchanged." The two are technically clear of each other through X.2 "Complete Difference of Primary Charge," so this shouldn't be a problem. {Versus Sapphire the Navigator, (reg. 2/92), "Per pale azure and argent, a fig leaf counterchanged," there is one CD for changing half the tincture of the field, one for changing half the tincture of the primary charge, and most likely one for a fig leaf vs. an oakleaf.}
{*) Drusilla Galbraith - New name
According to Withycombe and S. Gabriel report #1732, <Drusilla> or <Drucilla> was not used in England or Scotland until the 17th century. Given that we have no evidence that it was used earlier than then, we are returning this name. <Galbraith> is in Reaney & Wilson (182) and dated to the early 13th century.}
{*) Erinn inghean uí Rónáin-New name & device
Argent vetu ploye azure, a domestic cat couchant contourny vert
<Erinn> is an alternate spelling of <Erin>, which is the genitive form of <Eriu>, who was a Gaelic goddess, whom Ireland was named after. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that <Eriu>, <Erin>, or <Erinn> was used by real people before 1600, and so we are returning this name for lack of evidence for the given name.
The rest of the name is perfectly acceptable, with a minor change. The grammar of inghean uí is explained in Krossa, "Quick and Easy Gaelic Bynames" (http:// www.stanford.edu/~skrossa/medievalscotland/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/). The final element is documented in Jones, "100 Most Popular Men's Names in Early Medieval Ireland" (http://www.panix.com/ ~mittle/names/tangwystyl/irish100). The client cares most about sound and wants to have an authentic 11th century name. <inghean uí> is the post c. 1200 spelling of the phrase meaning "female descendent of." For the 11th century, either <ingen uí> or <ingen huí> are correct.
If she would like to consider alternatives for her given name, she may be interested in the following: <Echrad> c. 10th c., <Eithne> 768, 795, both found in O'Corrain & Maguire, and <Éile>, <Eilgri>, <Elige>, <Érennach>, <Étaín>, <Ethne>, and <Étromma>, found in Jones, "Early Irish Feminine Names Found in O'Brien," http://www.panix.com/ ~mittle/names/tangwystyl/obrien/.
The device is being returned because the name is being returned. However, as drawn, the cat borders on violating the precedents of 9/92 and 10/92 barring Celtic knotwork style armory. Quoting from the 9/92 LoAR: "There was some concern about the Celtic rendering of the hound. I hold identifiability to be the criterion for judging a submission, not necessarily the school of its style. So long as the hound is recognizably a hound, it may be drawn with suggestions of "Book of Kells" style; too many such suggestions, however, can make the hound unidentifiable, and be reason for return. The submitter should know this, when he resubmits." We suggest that the submitter considers redrawing the cat in a less Celtic style when she resubmits.
Versus the possible conflict called against Werenher von Ingolstadt, (reg. 1/95), "Azure, on a lozenge argent, a bear statant erect sable," we believe that there is one CD for a lozenge versus a lozenge ployé, and one for the change between cat and bear.}
7) Fearann na Criche, Shire of-New badge
[Fieldless] Three oak branches cross in pall argent
Name reg'd 3/91
The item is intended as a general populace badge.
8) Friedrich Eric Helmut von Rheinhausen-New badge
Per pale Or and pean, a chevron counterchanged
Name reg'd 2/87
{*) Galen Stuart-Device resubmission
Per bend sinister vert and argent, a tulip slipped and leaved counterchanged
This item was pended on the 6/99 LoAR. The client's name was registered in 2/98. Unfortunately, this item must be returned for redrawing; most of the commenters agreed that it was not properly drawn and needed to be redrawn.}
9) Gavin MkGow-New name {& device
Sable, a Celtic warbird closed argent, in sinister chief three arrows in saltire proper, bonded gules}
<Gavin> is found as a given name in Black (292), dated to 1477, 1577. <MkGow> is dated to 1473 (under "Macgow") in Black (505). The client cares most about sound.
{The device has several problems beyond being unaesthetic. There are contrast problems with the arrows; band has poor contrast against the field, and it would be better if the arrows were entirely argent. Additionally, the sheaf of arrows look like an augmentation. There are problems with the bird as well; see the precedent quoted s.n. Erinn (above). Finally, this conflicts with James MacChluarain, (reg. 1/73), "Sable, an owl argent." 9/92 Laurel precedent states that owls and eagles are considered to conflict. There is only one CD for the addition of the arrows.}
{*) Gonzalez de la Esperanza-New name & device
Gules, a lion rampant grasping a battle axe Or
<Gonzalez> is a patronymic surname formed from the root given name <Gonzalo>, found in Huff, "A Partial List of Leonese & Castilian Given Names 1050-1200," (http://www.panix.com/ ~mittle/names/diego/reilly.html) and Van Stone, "16th Century Spanish Men's Names," (http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~kvs/mnames.html).
If it was just a matter of changing the given name from <Gonzalez> to <Gonzalo>, I would do so, however there are problems with the surname as well. The submitter states "surname refers to name of village-also a common and widespread custom in Spain." However, no evidence was given and none could be found for <Esperanza> as the name of a city in Spain. Additionally, there are problems in the construction: Spanish did not use <de la> in locatives but, most commonly, <de>.
Given that there is no documentation for <Esperanza> and there are other problems with the name, we are returning this for further work.
The device is being returned for conflict with Norway, (reg. 12/94), "Gules, a lion rampant (sometimes crowned) Or sustaining a battleaxe argent," and Bulgaria, (reg. 12/94), "Gules, a lion rampant Or."
There are further problems in that this design is identical (minus an augmentation) to a design registered to the client modernly with the American College of Heraldry and the Augustan Society. Ruling is mixed and heated on whether or not people are allowed to register their modern arms in the Society, and, in general, this practice is frowned on. We suggest to the client that when he resubmits, he considers a different design.}
{*) Gonzalez de la Esperanza-New badge
[Fieldless] A lion rampant vert armed gules, grasping a battle axe Or, a cross formy gules within the upper part of the tail.
This is being returned for violating RfS VIII.5 - Fieldless Style: "Fieldless armory must form a self-contained design. A fieldless design must have all its elements conjoined, like the three feathers issuing from a crown used by the Heir Apparent to the throne of England."
The badge also has the some problems as the above device, in that it is registered to the client modernly.
10) Joshua Silverstone-New name & device
Gules, two wyverns combattant tails conjoined argent, a chief argent fretty gules
<Joshua> is found in "Jewish Naming Conventions in Angevin England," (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/ jewish.html) and is implicitly dated between 1070 and 1290. <Silverstone> is in Reaney, Origin of English Surnames (350) as a 14th century name from Northamptonshire. The client cares most about having an English 9th-13th century name (but has NOT requested an authentic name).
11) Leolin Gofar-Badge resubmission
[Fieldless] An escallop per pale azure and vert
12) Lettice Godfree-Device resubmission
Per pale argent and azure, a compass star and a base barry wavy counterchanged
The client's original submission, "Azure, a compass star argent and a ford proper," was returned by Laurel in 11/98 for conflict. This redesign removes the conflict.
13) Luisa Jardinera-New name {& device
Argent chape purpure, a bee rising proper}
<Luisa> is found in Van Stone, "16th Century Spanish Women's Names," (URL). <Jardinera> is Spanish for "gardener" according to the Cassell's Spanish/English Dictionary. She would like to be known as "Luisa the Gardener" and cares most about that meaning. She is interested in having an authentic 16th century Basque name.
A number of commenters mentioned the fact that <Luisa Jardinera> is ethnically Spanish, not Basque. However, not all Basque women had ethnically Basque names; in fact, many of them used common Spanish names used in the culture around them. Therefore, while <Luisa Jardinera> is not ethnically Basque, there is no reason why it could not have been used by a Basque woman.
{We are returning the device for conflict with Otto von Schwartzkatz, (reg. 2/92), "[Fieldless] A bumblebee volant bendwise wings addorsed proper." There is one CD for the field, but none for "rising" vs. "volant bendwise wings addorsed."}
13) Marjorie de ffeyrefeld-New name
<Marjorie> is in Withycombe (207) (s.n. "Margery") and dated to approximately the 12th century. The surname is in Reaney & Wilson (113) in this spelling (s.n. "Fairfield") and dated to 1331. The client would prefer that the surname not be capitalized (and it is not capitalized in Reaney & Wilson) but will allow it to be so. She cares most about sound and will NOT permit MAJOR changes.
14) Morwenna Llyn Lydaw-Device resubmission
Azure, a seahorse contourny ermine, a bordure Or
Name reg'd 5/99
The client's first submission (Or, on a hurt a horse's head couped argent) was returned by Laurel on 5/99 for conflict with Ekaterina Vladimirovna (Or, on a hurt a horse's head couped argent) and improper coloring. Rouge Scarpe returned her resubmission (Or, on a hurt a seahorse erect contourny ermine) on 1/00 for the same conflict. This is a new design.
15) Oweyn Hudson-New name & device
Per bend sinister argent and sable, a raven in dexter chief sable within a bordure dovetailed counterchanged
{This was pended on the 04/00 ILoAR}.
<Oweyn> is dated to 1273 in Withycombe, s.n. Owen. <Hudson> is a header in Reaney & Wilson and is also the client's mundane surname. The client is interested in a late 15th to early 16th century name.
16) Richard Kelly-New name & device
Argent, on a pale sable between two spears gules, a spear argent
<Richard> is dated to 1157 through Richard I (1157-1199) in the Webster's 7th Dictionary. It is also in James MacKay, William Wallace: Brave Heart (18). Wallace of Kelly is mentioned in Bain (284) and Kelly Castle was destroyed by Robert the Bruce in 1308, according to Scott, Robert the Bruce (11). No photocopies are included. The client would like to have an authentic 14th century Scottish name. He will NOT accept MAJOR changes.
Kelly is dated in Black (390) to 1373 as a surname.
{*) Seónaid Sinclair-New name & device
Or, on a bend sinister between a battle-axe and a battle-axe reversed gules, three grenades Or
<Seónaid> is found in Mittleman, "Some Scottish Gaelic Feminine Names" (http://www.panix.com/ ~mittle/names/arval/scotgaelfem/) as a header spelling (and this spelling is not documented). Sinclair is in Reaney & Wilson (411) as an undated header spelling. The client cares most about having a Scottish name and would like the name to be authentic.
<Seónaid> is a Gaelic name while <Sinclair> would only be found in an English or Scots name. Because the client said she was interested in a "Scottish" name, but didn't indicate whether she wanted a Scottish Gaelic or Scots name, we are pending the client to ask her, and discuss alternatives.
The device is registerable as is.
{*) Terry O'Maoileoin of Lyon House-New name & device
Vert ermined Or, a cross lionced Or, langued gules
<Terry> is found in Withycombe (264-5 - s.n. "Theodoric") dated 1273. It is found in Reaney & Wilson (442) as given and a surname in various spellings and dates (but not this spelling as a given name). <O'Maoileoin> is the pre-Anglicized version of Malone according to the client. His documentation includes: MacLysaght, Irish Families (220) which gives <Ó Maoileoin> as undated but notes that it never appears in this spelling with an English name. Grenham, Clans and Families of Ireland (149) gives <Ó Maoil Eoin> and is undated. O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees (635) gives <O'Maoil Eoin> and dates it to the 13th century. The client cares most about having an Irish name "of noble blood" and would like to have a name which is authentic for a 9th-14th century Irish nobleman. He will NOT permit MAJOR or MINOR changes.
There are numerous problems with name; he says he wants an Irish name, but there is no evidence that <Terry> or any variant of it was used in Ireland by Irish people. <O'Maoileoin> is an earlier form of <Malone>, but it is not a Gaelic form, rather an anglicized form. Additionally, no documentation was given and none was found for <of Lyon House>. Therefore, we are returning this name for further work.
The device is probably registerable, however, we have a few qualms about it. <Lionced> is indeed found in Brooke-Little (133), but there is no indication that this was a medieval practice or not. Additionally, the term is not found in the PicDic, and no other charges "lionced" have ever been registered; this would be the defining registration for the SCA. When resubmitting, we encourage the submitter to provide evidence that "lionced" was used in period, if he can.}
17) Tirnewydd, Marche of-New badge
Gules, a demi-sun Or issuant from a chevron inverted argent.
Name reg'd. 7/85
{This was originally on the 11/99 LoI, where it disappeared into ether. We are reviving it and sending it on, as no one found any problems with it in original commentary.}
18) William Blod-New name
Withycombe (293) has <William> as one of the most common names in period. <Blod> is found in Reaney & Wilson s.n. Blood, dated to 1256.
19) Yasamin al-Hadiyya-New name
{This was pended on the 5/00 ILoAR}.
<Yasmin> is documented in Schimmel (44). However, no documentation could be found that the client's spelling was used in period. Enclosed with the submission is a letter from Da'ud and one from Talan, both recommending that the central <a> be dropped as, according to Da'ud, "I have not been able to find that form anywhere." The byname al-Hadi is found in Dodge, Fihrist (II: 990) and dated to 785 and 910. al-Hadiyya, according to Da'ud, is the standardized feminization. No copies are enclosed but the sources are fairly standard. The client cares most about sound and would like to have an authentic Arabic name.
We pended the name to see if the client would be willing to remove the second <a>; removing the <a> from the name significantly changes the pronunciation of it, and this is more than a minor change. She responded that she would be willing if necessary to remove the <a>, but would prefer to have her name submitted with it, in hopes that documentation for this spelling could be found.
Done by my hand this 19th day of June, being the feast of Gervasius and Protasius,
Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Rouge Scarpe
Sara L. Friedemann
213 N. Paterson
Madison, WI 53703
sfriedemann@students.wisc.edu