Middle
Kingdom - Internal Letter of Acceptances & Returns – January 2003
This is the January 2003 Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon and Keythong’s November Letters. Unless otherwise noted, all clients will accept changes. {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 Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Knut, Berwyn, Emma Randall, John Kane of Kent, Konrad Mailander, Roberd mac Cormaic, Thorvald Redhair, Ælfreda æt Æthelwealda, Mikhail of Lubelska, John ap Wynne, Richenda de Jardin, Gevehard von Baden, Percival ap Gwylim Trefanwy, and Jaelle of Armida for their commentary this month.}
1) Aidan Mac Dowell. New Name and Device. Or, a sinister hand apalmy sable, in chief three latin crosses azure.
Ary:
This name combines both Gaelic and anglicized elements. Since the client
desires either one or the other, appropriate changes should be made.
<Aidan> is an anglicized form of Gaelic <Áedán>; this early
name was the name of two 6th and 7th century saints, according
to OCM s.n. Áedán. The post c1200 form of the name would be <Aodhán>,
but there is no evidence that the name remained in use after the 10th
C or so. Thus, if he would like a Gaelic form of the name, an earlier
spelling of the byname would be more appropriate: <mac Dubgaill>.
OCM s.n. Dubgall say that "this name occurs only in the north of
Ireland and is especially common among the MacSweeneys and O Boyles
in the later middle ages." A fully anglicized form using <Aidan>
as the given name would have <MacDowell> as the byname; MacLysaght
s.n. Mac Dowell gives this as the anglicized form of <mac Dubhghaill>,
and says "this is the Irish form of the name of the Scottish family
of MacDugall." Since <Aidan> is only found in Ireland, not
Scotland, the anglicized Irish form is more appropriate.
Richenda: Hanks and Hodges is on the Laurel “Do not use” list. Arval’s Problem Names Article states:
Aidan is a modern English spelling of the early medieval Gaelic name Áedán. It was relatively common in early medieval Ireland, and was the name of at least two 6th and 7th century saints. In the late Middle Ages, the saint's name was spelled Aodhán, but the name appears to have dropped out of common use after the 10th century or so. Its modern popularity dates to a revival in the 19th or 20th century. [Withycombe; OCM; Woulfe; CE; Annals]
John: many period Irish & Scottish sources for this name; see Norman (114, 120, 129), listing it as one of the most common names in Scotland between 893-1542; also Norman (220, 228), listing the name as one of the most common in Ireland between 3 BC-1175 AD & 1175-1536. See also Conway (26); Zaczek (60); Todd (77); O’Corrain/Maguire (13-14). Note that there are many spelling variations, all perfectly acceptable, from which to choose. To mention just a few: Aodhan, Aodhaigh, Aodhfin, Aodhfionn (all Irish); also Aodhagan, Aedan.
MacDhughaill: see Whyte (166-167);
Dorward (209-210); Grimble (152-153), Black (487-488); Todd (107, 178);
Conway (175)
Emma: In addition to the documentation provided by the submitter, Black, Surnames of Scotland, pg. 487, lists under the hading MacDoual, "MacDhughaill (backleaning accent over the u), 'son of Dougal. The claim of the Macdowells of Galloway to be descended from the ancient native lords of Galloway can hneither be disproved nor can it be satisfactorily established. ..." As usual, Black continues at length, but it would appear from this source that this Gaelic spelling can be traced to as early as 1306, in a charter by William, lord of Douglas.
Konrad: My Irish/Scottish materials are loaned out right now. I have researched Aidan before though and know I found better sources. With a quick search I found:
St. Aidan of Lindisfarne --
An Irish monk who had studied under St. Senan, at Iniscathay (Scattery
Island). He is placed as Bishop of Clogher by Ware and Lynch, but he
resigned that see and became a monk at Iona about 630. His virtues,
however, shone so resplendantly that he was selected (635) as first
Bishop of Lindisfarne, and in time became apostle of Northumbria. St.
Bede is lavish in praise of the episcopal rule of St. Aidan, and of
his Irish co-workers in the ministry. Oswald, king of Northumbria, who
had studied in Ireland, was a firm friend of St. Aidan, and did all
he could for the Irish missioners until his sad death at Maserfield
near Oswestry, 5 August, 642. St. Aidan died at Bamborough on the last
day of August, 651, and his remains were borne to Lindisfarne. Bede
tells us that "he was a pontiff inspired with a passionate love
of virtue, but at the same time full of a surpassing mildness and gentleness."
His feast is celebrated 31 August. From: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01233d.htm and a number of other similar sources
come up with a search.
Knut: Or, a sinister hand apalmy sable, in chief three latin crosses azure
Richenda: This appears to be
clear.
Thorvald: The crosses are
Latin crosses.
Emma: Or, a sinister hand apalmy sable and in chief three crosses azure. Reblazon: Or, a sinister hand apalmy sable and in chief three Latin crosses azure. Crosses should always be specified as to type. It could be argued that Latin crosses are the default, but a more precise blazon removes any doubt if the emblazon is not available and the curious are not aware of the default.
Consider: Jawhar ibn Akmal registered in February of 2002 (via Calontir): Or, a sinister hand and on a chief sable three decrescents Or. X.2 simple does not apply.
Konrad: No conflict found.
2) Alfred Brekewall. New Name and Device. Per fess argent and azure, a hammer inverted to chief gules, a two towered gate Or.
3) Anne Geoffreys of Warwick. New Badge. (Fieldless) Three tiger’s jambs conjoined in triskillion argent marked sable, maintaining a harp reversed azure stringed sable.
Knut: (Fieldless) a triskelion of natural tiger jambs argent, each maintaining a harp azure
Gevehard: No conflicts with
this badge found.
Ary: Her name was registered
02/00 via the Middle. Given the visual weight of the harps vs. the limbs,
I would blazon these as "sustained" and not "maintained."
Roberd: The closest I could find was : (Fieldless) Three lion's forelegs embowed conjoined in triskelion sable, each maintaining a sword proper, registered to one Thorin Njalsson (5/1984 AnTi). Clear on tinctures alone.
Ælfreda: Client's name was
registered in February of 2000 (via the Middle).
4) Bárekr inn silfri. New Name and Device. Sable, a bear paw print, on a chief argent, three torteaux.
Richenda: I believe the descriptive
byname would not be capitalized.
Emma: Barekr is found in Geirr Bassi on page 8, col. 1 as specified. Silfri is a legitimate Norse nickname and is on page 27 as indicated. However, Old Norse naming traditions would always have "inn" meaning "the" when using a nickname in place of a patronymic or locative. Therefore, the name would correctly be given as Barekr inn silfri. It should also be noted that in Old Norse nicknames were not capitalized.
Ary: This new submission looks
clear.
Richenda: This appears to be
clear.
Emma: Sable, a bear paw print and on a chief argent three torteaux.
complex line and 1 CD for change in type and tincture of charges on the chief.
or other suitable charge that
is accompanied by only a single unchargted group of identical cahrges
lying entirely on the field is a simple case." Per ii. of this
section, "...substantially changing the type of all of a group
of identical charges placed entirely on other charges in one clear difference."
Therefore: 1 CD for change of primary charge (plate to bear paw print)
and 1 CD for change of type of charge on chief (trees to torteaux).
Konrad: No conflict found.
{*) Dawid Hrouda. New Name and Device. Azure, on a bend sinister embattled argent a bonacon passant to sinister gules, a bordure wavy Or
Gevehard:
No comments on name seems fine to me
Ary: Admin Handbook III.A.9
says "No name will be registered to a submitter if it is identical
to a name used by the submitter for purposes of identification outside
of a Society context...A small change in the name is sufficient for
registration, such as the addition of a syllable or a spelling change
that changes the pronunciation. However, a change to spelling without
a change in pronunciation is not sufficient. For example, Alan Miller
could not register the name Alan Miller or Allan Miller." I do
not believe that the change from <David> to <Dawid> changes
the pronunciation enough to make this sufficiently different from his
modern name.
Roberd: As has been pointed
out, the Admin Handbook lists the injunction against the registration
of a name where the sound is the same as the one used by the registrant
for identification purposes outside the Society. (III.A.9) The passage
indicates that the purpose of this is to "help preserve a distinction"
between the person's identity and their persona, a position I agree
with personally as well as my support as a herald. I have to recommend
this be returned.
Knut: Azure, on a bend sinister bretessed argent a bull passant to sinister gules, a bordure wavy Or
Gevehard: device found no
conflict without 3 SD's.
Ary: The waves on the bordure
are far too shallow; this needs to be redrawn. The bend is also "bretressed"
since the embattlements appear on both sides of the charge.
Berwyn: Wilhelm's Precidents state : "The bonacon was considered too offensive by a significant fraction of the College and is therefore not allowed for use in the SCA. WVS [21] [LoAR 21 Jul 80], p. 12"
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/comment/12rbonnacon.hti )
Roberd: The device is clear
(Good Gods! but there are a *lot* of devices with bends sinister!) The
bonacon, if I remember correctly, was a charge that might have been
used to indicate a successful rear-guard action.
Ælfreda: As drawn, we cannot
tell if the bend is betressed or embattled counter embattled. It is
not simply embattled.
{*) David Mastlic hearmlaes. New Name.
Gevehard:
with no documentation or references this I feel has to be returned.
Ary: Withycombe s.n. David
dates the name to as early as 1086, thus it would be appropriate Anglo-Saxon
name. There is nothing like either of the surnames in Reaney & Wilson
or in Jonsjo's _Middle English Personal Bynames_.
Roberd: I'm a little puzzled by the lack of documentation. Was the submitter not made aware that documentation was a requirement? Or was he told that someone else would provide it?
Ælfreda: From: Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, online version
Mostly, adv. 1. For the most part; in the main. 1594 CAREW Huarte's Exam. Wits 42 Mostly he made complements of verses very well composed. 1627 W. SCLATER Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 42 Our Religion is mostly talke and discourse.
Harmless, a. ... 3. Free
from guilt; innocent. arch. 1297 R. GLOUC. (1724) 509 Harmles me him
nom, & mid hors to drou, & sue anhunge him. 13.. E.E. Allit.
P. A. 675 e ryt-wys man schal se hys face, e harmlez hael schal com
hym tylle. 1529 MORE Dyaloge IV. Wks. 279/1 To the helpe and defence
of his good and harmelesse neyghbour, against ye malice and crueltie
of ye wrong doer. 1594 1st Pt. Contention vi. 24 In Pomphret Castle
harmelesse Richard was shamefully murthered. 1627-77 FELTHAM Resolves
I. xxix. 50 How happy..those things live, that follow harmless Nature?
1863 MRS. C. CLARKE Shaks. Char. v. 134 Up to the very last scene, she
bears him harmless of all suspicion.
5) Donald Deyell. New Name.
Ary: This name is insufficiently documented on the LoI. It is not enough to cite books and page numbers; dates and spellings *must* also be included. Escutcheon, *please*, if such things are listed on the submission forms, put them in the LoI! It's also really helpful to list the header words instead of the page numbers, since Deyell is found under Dalyell, which may not be expected. R&W s.n. Dalywell give <de Dalyhel> 1288, and also say "also spelled <Deyell>," but they give no date for this spelling. Black s.n. Dalyell gives more dated forms: Daliel 1259; de Dalyhel 1288; de Dalielle 1296; Dalzelle 1390; Dalyhell 1392; Daleyhell, Daleyhelle 1397; Dalyelle 1415; Dalzel 1504; Dalliell 1511; Dan3haell 1518; Day3ill 1590
Richenda: No comment
Emma: We would like to see
dates accompanying the documentation, even if the references are "no
copy required". No conflicts were found in the Armorial for this
name.
6) Elena inghean Ronáin. New Device. Per fess engrailed argent and sable, a sprig of cherries in chief proper.
Knut: Per fess engrailed argent and sable, in chief a sprig of three cherries proper
Ary: The cherry sprig is in
chief. The closest registered device I can find is Rachel Ravenlock,
(reg. 10/95 via Atenveldt), "Per fess sable and argent, in pale
a plate and a sprig of cherries gules slipped and leaved vert all within
a bordure counterchanged." CD for swapping the field tinctures,
CD for engrailing, CD for bordure, CD for plate...this is clear.
Richenda: This appears to be
clear.
Thorvald: We would suggest
that the words in chief be added to the blazon, since the charge could
lie across the line of division.
Ælfreda: We are unsure if this
is a forced move to chief or not. If it is, possible conflict with Angus
le Todde Mac Donnell (reg 11/99) "Per bend sinister engrailed argent
and azure, a sprig of three cherries proper", with one CD for changing
the field.
Emma: Per fess engrailed argent and sable, a sprig of cherries proper. Reblazon: Per fess engrailed argent and sable, in chief a sprig of cherries proper.
Konrad: No conflict found.
7) Henry Best. New Badge. (Fieldless) Two jester’s baubles in saltire Or, vested azure and gules.
Knut: (Fieldless) Two jester’s baubles in saltire Or, vested azure marked gules
Ary: I'm not sure if the fact
that one is a comedy jester and the other a tragedy jester should be
blazoned. No conflicts found.
Richenda: This appears to be
clear.
Konrad: I was not sure what to conflict check this charge against. I guessed staff and found the following possible conflict. It had one difference for the fieldless, the questions is do jester’s baubles conflict with palmer's staves.
{*) James le Hauke of Sterling. Change of Registered Device. Per saltire azure and sable, within a bordure counterchanged a hawk striking contourny argent.
Knut:
The color bordure is on a color field. Clear against any legal bordure
except plain argent or lozengy argent and vert. Return for violation
of RfS VIII.2.b
Ary: Blazon-fu: "Per saltire azure and sable, a hawk striking contourny argent within a bordure counterchanged."
The bordure is color on color;
this must be returned.
Richenda: Some style comments:
The hawk needs some detailing. Right now this hawk is just a silhouette.
In addition, the shape of the head is more falcon-like than hawk-like.
This appears to be clear of conflict.
Thorvald: The blazon is a
little backwards here. It should read Per saltire azure and sable, a
hawk striking contourny argent within a border conterchanged. However,
the border is color on color.
Ælfreda: The bordure in this device is color on color, and thus must be returned.
CONTRAST
[Argent, a wyvern erect sable winged and bellied azure within a bordure per saltire counter-ermine and azure] This acceptance overturns the precedent dated April, 1992, which banned bordures per saltire of low contrast. While this is unattested in period heraldry, it is consistent with the types of extrapolation which SCA heraldry routinely makes. As such, it is a "weirdness", not a returnable offense. [Melyssande Dunn, 07/99, A-An Tir] "
For the client's reference
when redesigning, please make note of the device of Vladimir Neupokoev
(reg 9/97) "Per bend sinister sable and azure, a hawk stooping
to sinister argent."
Konrad: The bordure is color
on color.
8) Kimotsuki Yorimoto Takeo. New Name
Gevehard:
No comments this culture is not very well known to me.
Roberd: No comment; I have
no Japanese naming resources available.
8) Nonna the Midwife. New Device. Per bend sinister vert and azure, in bend sinister throughout a trident argent between two carp embowed in annulo Or.
Knut:
Once again, single weirdness for tergiant fishies. Clear.
Ary: I still really don't
like the posture of these fish; I know nothing like it in period armory.
However,I'm not sure there's much we can do other than send it forward
and let Wreath decide.
Richenda: This appears to be
clear of conflict. Please ensure that lines of division are visible
on minis.
Konrad: No conflict found
9) Nonna the Midwife for House Njalsson. New Badge. Or, a pitcher reversed vert, a bordure gules.
Knut: Or, an ewer reversed vert, a bordure gules. Although the line drawing shows an orle instead of a bordure, the color version has a properly done bordure.
Ary: This is a generic pitcher
and should be reblazoned as such.
Richenda: This appears to be
clear of conflict.
Thorvald: Our dictionary tells
us that a baluster is a post for holding up a hand rail. Is there another
definition appropriate to the charge we are not familiar with?
Ælfreda: Our concern is with how this submission compares with the submitted device of Hroar Njalsson, co-owner of this badge, "Or a pitcher vert, a bordure gules" (see August 2002 MK LoAR).
"From: The Precedents of Jaelle of Armida
[registering A ram's head erased argent armed Or collared gules.] She has a letter of permission to conflict with... A ram's head erased argent armed Or collared sable.... The administrative handbook simply requires non-identity. Given the blazon for Catherine's badge, one would never draw John's badge and vice-versa (Catherine Lacy de la Roche, 12/97 p. 4)"
Konrad: No conflict found.
Looked in EWER AND PITCHER
10) Onóra Refsdóttir. New Name. {and Device. Sable, on a fess argent, a fox passant proper}
Gevehard:
No problems with name, for name Onora is already registered twice and
Refskegg and Refsheim are also registered so the resulting combination
seems logical.
Ary: Though the root of <Honoria>
is pre-7th C., <Onóra> was not introduced into Ireland
until the 12th century. The spelling <Onara> is found in 1383,
in the Annals of Four Masters (http://www.ucc.ie/celt/online/G100005D/). The client should be aware that
while there is evidence of Norse/Gaelic cultural mixing, this was *never*
reflected linguistically in the names. A name would be either all Gaelic
or all Norse, never a combination. Geirr Bassi have <Arnóra>,
which is a reasonable equivalent for <Onóra>, making <Arnóra
Refsdóttir> a fine Norse name. I'm not sure how <Ref> would
have been adopted into Gaelic; OCM has nothing similar enough for me
to want to recommend it. Though if she's worried about sound, going
with an all-Gaelic name might not be the best choice, as it would probably
sound significantly different from what she's submitted.
Knut: Sable, on a fess argent, a fox passant gules marked sable and argent.
Gevehard: No problems with
device
Ary: This conflicts with Tahira
of Carolingia, (reg. 06/00 via the East), "Sable, on a fess argent
an Arabic pen-box azure," with one CD for changing the type and
tincture of the tertiary charge.
Roberd: Conflict with Tahira
of Carolingia (6/2000 East) Sable, on a fess argent an Arabic pen-box
azure. According to RfS X.4.j.i, changes to charges on charges yield
at most only one CD, in this case the only one.
Ælfreda: From the precedents during the tenure of Master François la Flamme as Laurel Principal King of Arms "There is no CD for the difference between passant and courant, per the August 2001 LoAR. [Elspeth Colquhoun, 09/01, R-Caid]"
11) Sarra Bossard. Change of Registered Device. Per pale Or and vert fretty counterchanged, a rabbit sejant erect contourny sable.
Ary: Cute rabbit. Device looks
clear.
Richenda: This is not fretty.
The pieces of fretty should be 90 degrees off one another. The fretty
is enough of a problem that I think this should be returned for redraw.
Otherwise, this appears to be free of conflict.
Konrad: No conflict found
12) Stonecroft, Shire of. New Branch Name. { and Device. Argent, masoned sable, a mallet and feather in saltire gules, on a chief argent three laurel wreathes vert.}
Ary:
For completeness's sake, I'm copying the documentation I provided last
time here: "Mills has a number of place names with [Ston-] or
[Stone-] as their initial element, including: <Staundune> 1062,
s.n. Stondon; <Standon de Marcy> 1238, s.n. Stondon; <Standone>
1086, s.n. Stondon; <Stanenges> c1130, s.n. Stonehenge; <Stanhus>
1086, s.n. Stonehouse; <Stanlei> 1086, s.n. Stoneleigh; <Stanlegh>
1260, s.n. Stonely; <Stonham> c1040, s.n. Stonham; <Stanham>
1086, s.n. Stonham. S.n. Croft, Mills says "usually from OE [croft]
'a small enclosed field,'" examples include <Croft> 1086.
There is also <Cropton> 8th C s.n. Crofton, and <Croftona>
12th C s.n. Crofton (the second one). So I guess <Stancrof> would
actually be a pretty reasonable DB-era place name, meaning "small
enclosed stony field." <Stoncroft> is also possible, but
a little less likely given the spelling distributions. I can't support
the spelling [Stone-]."
Richenda: No comment
Knut: Draw the primary charges larger.
Ary: As noted by Escutcheon,
the chief is color and color and must be returned
Richenda: I agree with Escutcheon
that the device must be returned for color on color. This appears to
be free of conflict no matter what color chief they decide to use.
Thorvald: We have to agree
with Escutcheon on this one. Argent chief on argent masoned sable field
is still metal on metal, even though it is still the same metal.
13) Yamina bint Habib. New Name and Device. Or, six crescents two, two, and two gules.
Richenda: While the article
documenting the surname claims that the names in the lists are period,
there is no date data given for them. However, Juliana de Luna dates
al-Habib to from around 700 AD until around 1200 AD.
Ary: Lovely device, too. Looks
clear.
Richenda: Nice Spanish armory!!
This appears to be free of conflict.
Konrad: Happy to say; No conflict
found