Middle
Kingdom - Internal Letter of Acceptances & Returns – March 2003
This is the March 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, John ap Wynne, Danr Bjornsson, Moraig Anne Drummond, Pendar
the Bard, Thorvald Redhair, Gwenhwyvar Nocturnal, Percival ap Gwylim
Trefynwy, Rory
mac Feidhlimidh, Dugan MacLeod, Angelique Michele du Herrisson, Ælfreda
æt Æthelwealda, Mikhail of Lubelska, and Jaelle of Armida for their
commentary this month.}
I want you to make my name
authentic! At the Middle Kingdom’s heraldic symposium this month,
we got on a discussion of clients who submit TSCA (or obviously non-period)
names but request assistance in making their name authentic (there are
a few examples in this LoI) and one of the attendees, Lord Dahrien Cordell,
drafted up the proper reply letter to the client which I felt I would
share with you in the spirit of the upcoming observation of April 1st:
“Our
crack team of time-travelling heraldic onomastic agents will be promptly
dispatched to twelfth century Ireland to find and bribe a desperate
peasant woman (near a parish which is known today to keep complete and
accurate birth records) to name her soon-to-be-child “Bùffy the Vampire
Slayer Ó Claire,” with a healthy cow and two gold coins. An extra fee
(one sheep or three egg-laying hens) will be assessed if the name is
to be given to a boy-child. Modern documentation will now support your
choice of name.”
1) Æsa the Fierce.
New Name and Device. Vert, a wagon within an annulet argent.
Æsa
is found in Haraldsson (17). The Random House Unabridged Dictionary
of the English Language (2nd ed) under “Fierce” gives
“1250, ME fiers < AF fers, OF
fiers.” Alternately, Haraldsson (22) has “greypr” as a Norse
byname meaning “gripper, fierce, and cruel” and we can claim Lingua
Anglica allowance per Bruce’s precedent on 1/93: “Eric the Red, Philip
the Good, Charles the fat, all are translations of the period names,
not the period names themselves. SCA names are permitted a similar
translation: a simple epithet, documented as a period form, may be
translated into English. (We prefer to register the untranslated form,
but I concede that such rigor doesn’t always serve our clients’ best
interests.)”
She
cares most about sound, and will NOT allow MAJOR changes. She will
NOT allow the creation of a holding name for the associated device.
While
the client indicated on her forms that she wishes a name authentic for
9th century Norway, she was asked directly if her byname
should be translated into Old Norse. She replied: “Let’s stick with
Aesa the Fierce, English version. Simple and to the point. If that’s
ok.” As her consulting pursuivant explains: “Apparently she didn’t
understand what she was asking for, when she checked the ‘make my name
authentic’ block. That’s my fault. Hopefully, this will clear that up.”
We thus ask the College to disregard the instruction to make her name
authentic.
{To
all: The forms actually indicate that the name was submitted as “AESA
The Fierce.” Since we only started registering names with an Æ as a
single letter about six or seven years ago – you will find the Ae, AE,
and ae spellings being used interchangeably throughout the Armorial
and the original documents.}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
<{AE}sa> is in Geirr Bassi, where {AE} is the capital A-E ligature.
Geirr Bassi gives <greypr> as a byname meaning 'gripper, fierce,
cruel.' <{AE}sa greypr> is a fine 9th C Norse name.
Moraig: We feel that since
the client states she wants a authentic name for 9th Century
Norway and since the last part of this name is in english which does
not match what she states she wants this name would have to be returned.
Also, Geirr Bassi does not have Aesa but he does have Asa. There is
no listing for a byname in norse names of the fierce. The client needs
some advice.
Danr: There was a question
about the submission <AEsa the Fierce>, as to what the submitter
intended and whether would would prefer an Old Norse translation of
the byname.
I
asked the submitter and she replied:
>Let's stick with Aesa the
Fierce, English version. Simple and to the point.
>If that's ok.
Apparently
she didn't understand what she was asking for, when she checked the
"make my name authentic" block. That's my fault. Hopefully,
this will clear that up.
Rory: With no documentation
at all and limited changes allowed, it is tempting to send it back to
the client for the required documentation. However:
Fierce - 1250, ME fiers < AF
fers, OF fiers (Random House Unabridged Dictionary of
the English Language, 2nd Ed.)
Aesa - not in Geirr Bassi, although Æsa is there, p. 17. Does this constitute
a major or minor change to the name?
Device Commentary
Thorvald: We suggest reblazoning
to Vert, a wagon within an annulet argent. The wagon, being the primary
charge should come before the secondary annulet.
Knut: Vert, a wagon within
and issuant by the yolk from the dexter of an annulet argent.
The
yolk is touching the annulet. The term conjoined implies touching in
at least two places. Simply saying within implies no connection.
Eleanor
d'Autun - September of 1988 (via Calontir): Vert, a fret couped within
an annulet argent. Æthelwulf Cynricson of Stonegrave - January of 1998
(via Atlantia): Vert, a stag rampant within an annulet argent. If the
annulets are co-primary, X2 doesn't apply. Single CDs for changing the
type of the central charges.
Vert,
a wagon argent looks clear.
Aryanhwy: This could be blazoned
either as on the LoI, or "Vert, a wagon within an annulet argent."
Because the two are of similar visual weight, this has more the feel
of a device with two groups primaries, rather than a primary
annulet and a secondary wagon
or a primary wagon and a secondary annulet, so I'm not sure which blazon
is more correct. I found no conflicts.
Moraig: We found Eleanor d'Autu
-Vert, a fret couped within an annulet argent registered 9/88 and feel
this is a conflict since we only see one point of difference. We note
that the hitch of the wagon appears to be overlapping the annulet and
we know of a return in the past for that reason.
Rory: Device Reblazon to "Vert,
a wagon within an annulet argent".
Pendar: The wagon is the primary
charge here. It is not co-primary with the annulet, which is considered
the secondary charge group. (as in Jehanne le feu du Christ. Name and
device. Gules, a fireball within an annulet Or. The device conflicts
with Christian du Glaive, Gules, a grenade Or, enflamed proper, within
a bordure rayonny Or. There is one CD for changing the type of _secondary
charge_ from a bordure rayonny to an annulet..." (LoAR 6/02) emphasis
mine.) So Blazon-fu: Vert, a wagon within an annulet argent. No conflicts
found through 11/02.
2) Andrew Bend.
New Name. {and Device. Sable, a bend argent.}
Andrew
is found in O’Brien, “Masculine Given Names in Chesham, 1538-1600/1”
(http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/chesham/chesham-masculine.html). Bend is found in Laning, “Faire
Names for English Folk: Late Sixteenth Century English Names” (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/surnames.html). The client cares most about language/culture
and specifically states that he will accept any changes.
{The
device is being returned for multiple conflicts. These include the
following: Jay d' Argent (Sable, a bend argent between a wyvern erect
Or and a salamander counter-statant gules, enflamed Or) [reg’d 8/80];
Egill köttr Einarsson (Sable, a bend between a roundel and a domestic
cat sejant contourny argent) [reg’d 12/96]; and Olwen Kyffin (Sable,
a bend between a unicorn and three fleurs-de-lys argent) [reg’d 11/00].
In each case, there is only one difference for removing the secondary
charges.
One
of our commentators did, however, suggest that you might consider looking
at a bendy field as a potentially registerable variant, as in “Bendy
argent and sable.”}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
I'm assuming he's interested in English culture. The given name is explicitly
dated to 1579 in the cited article. This is a lovely Elizabethan name.
Moraig: No comment about the
name.
Device Commentary
Thorvald: Beautiful armory
and nice cant. However, the bend is not drawn correctly. The bottom
edge goes to the dexter chief corner. Hopefully, this will not be enough
to return it, but the client should be educated.
Knut: Adler des Berges - January
of 1973: Sable, a bendlet between an eagle displayed, wings inverted
and voided,
and three mountain peaks chased
and snow-capped, argent. Egill köttr Einarsson - December of 1996 (via
Ansteorra): Sable, a bend between a roundel and a domestic cat sejant
contourny argent. Estienne des Estoiles - January of 1973: Sable, a
bendlet enhanced argent between in chief three estoiles with four greater
rays and center Or and four lesser rays argent, and in base an astrolabe
Or. Jay d' Argent - August of 1980 (via the West): Sable, a bend argent
between a wyvern erect Or and a salamander counter-statant gules, enflamed
Or. Kraus des Berges - November of 1980 (via Atenveldt): Sable, a bendlet
between a ram's head affronté couped at the shoulders
and three mountain peaks chased
and snow-capped argent. Löwe des Berges - November of 1980 (via Atenveldt):
Sable, a bendlet between a
lion rampant and three mountain peaks conjoined chased and snow-capped
argent. Olwen Kyffin - November of 2000 (via An Tir): Sable, a bend
between a unicorn and three fleurs-de-lys argent. Single CDs for adding
secondary groups.
Siegfried
von Hoflichskeit - January of 1973: Sable, on a bend argent a mullet
of four points elongated to base gyronny Or and sable. Single CD for
tertiary group.
Return
for multiple conflicts
Aryanhwy: Unfortunately, the
device has a number of conflicts:
*
Jay d' Argent, (reg. 08/80 via the West), "Sable, a bend argent
between a wyvern erect Or and a salamander counter-statant gules, enflamed
Or."
*
Egill köttr Einarsson (reg. 12/96 via Ansteorra), "Sable, a bend
between a roundel and a domestic cat sejant contourny argent."
*
Olwen Kyffin, (reg. 11/00 via An Tir), "Sable, a bend between a
unicorn and three fleurs-de-lys argent."
There is only one CD against
each of these, for removing the secondary charges. However, if he's
interested in keeping this motif and the lovely cant, then may I recommend
"Bendy argent and sable" or "Bendy sable and argent"?
These are clear of the three other registered devices that are field
only with bendy fields:
*
Walraven van Nijmegen, (reg. 11/98 via the West), "Bendy Or and
gules."
*
Alain of Litteldale, 9reg. 06/00 via Atlantia), "Bendy and per
bend sinister sable and Or."
*
Sofonisba Alberti, (reg. 12/97 via the West), "Bendy and per pale
sable and argent."
The first is clear by RfS X.4.ii.b
and the second two by RfS X.4.ii.a.
Moraig: No conflicts found
for the device
Rory: Wow - very clever cant,
very simple device! However……
Consider: "Sable, a bend between a roundel & a domestic cat
sejant contourny argent" [D-Egill kottr Einarsson, Dec 96]. (among
several other conflicts). Only 1CD for the removal of the secondary
charges.
Pendar: Conflicts with Jay
d' Argent (8/80 West): Sable, a bend argent between a wyvern erect
Or and a salamander counter-statant gules, enflamed Or. And Olwen
Kyffin (11/00 An Tir): Sable, a bend between a unicorn and three fleurs-de-lys
argent. In both cases there is only 1 CD for removing the secondary
charge group.
Please
note that there does not appear to be a registration of simply (field),
a bend argent. So all he has to do is change at least half the tincture
of his field and have it conflict checked against various tinctures
of single bends and bend argents that have either a secondary or tertiary
charge group.
Ælfreda: Conflict with Jay
d' Argent (reg 8/80) "Sable, a bend argent between a wyvern erect
Or and a salamander counter-statant gules, enflamed Or", with Egill
köttr Einarsson (reg 12/96) "Sable, a bend between a roundel and
a domestic cat sejant contourny argent" and with Olwen Kyffin (reg
11/00) "Sable, a bend between a unicorn and three fleurs-de-lys
argent." In each case there is one CD for addition of the secondary
charge group.
Conflict
with Siegfried von Hoflichskeit (reg 1/73) "Sable, on a bend argent
a mullet of four points elongated to base gyronny Or and sable."
with one CD for the addition of the tertiary.
If
there is no heraldic difference between an ordinary and its diminutive,
conflict with Löwe des Berges (reg 11/80) "Sable, a bendlet between
a lion rampant and three mountain peaks conjoined chased and snow-capped
argent", with Kraus des Berges (reg 11/80) "Sable, a bendlet
between a ram's head affronté couped at the shoulders and three mountain
peaks chased and snow-capped argent" and with Adler des Berges
(reg 1/73) "Sable, a bendlet between an eagle displayed, wings
inverted and voided, and three mountain peaks chased and snow-capped,
argent." Again, only one CD for the addition of the secondary charge
group.
3) Balian de Brionne.
Change of Registered Device. Azure, three clarions argent.
{Name
reg’d 6/85}
If
the device is registered, the client would like to have his current
device (Per pale argent and azure, three clarions counterchanged) [reg’d
7/93] RELEASED.
In
an attached missive from the client: “I desire to change my arms from
Per pale argent and azure, three clarions counterchanged (7/93)
to Azure, three clarions argent, for obvious reasons. When I
registered the current device, I assumed that there was conflict with
Per chevron azure and argent, three clarions counterchanged (Robin
Clarian, 6/84) because of X.4.d. As I was investigating the question
of finding the registrant to seek permission to conflict, Brigantia
was kind enough to let me know that he was not sure there was a conflict.
He appears to be correct and I cite the following two precedents:
“After
much thought and discussion, it has been decided, for purposes of X.4.d,
e and h of the Rules of Submission, that the bottommost of three charges,
either on the field alone or arroundan ordinary, is defined as one-half
of the group…multiple changes to the basemost of three charges under
this definition will be granted a maximum of one CVD.” (CL 9/6/90 p.2).
(Daud 1)
“The
subtext of Rfs X.4.d is revised in part to update the example given
therein (“Or, three bulls’ heads gules” differs from “Or, two bulls’
heads sable and another gules”, but not from “Or, two bulls’ heads gules
and another sable”) to reflect precedent set in the September 6, 1990
Cover Letter to the effect that tincture, type, and posture changes
to the basemost of three charges arranged two and one are worth a CD,
though at most one CD can be obtained even for multiple changes to this
charge. As a consequence, and following Palimpsests’ wording, such an
example is revised to read:
“Or,
in pale three bulls’ heads gules differs from
Or, in pale a bull’s head gules between two more sable, but not
from Or, in pale a bull’s head sable between two more gules.
[12b/93c] (Daud 2.1)
“I
therefore urge the College to consider that there are two clear differences
between the proposed arms and those of Robin Clarian: one for the field
and one for the change in tincture to at least half (in this instance
the bottommost of three charges) of the charges.” Client wishes to
release his current device if this passes and also, to release his badge,
(Fieldless) On a rose azure a bee Or.”
The
Middle Kingdom supports his interpretation of precedent and believes
this device is clear of Robin’s.
Device Commentary
Thorvald: We support that
the proposed device is clear of the one cited in the IloI, with one
point for the field, and another for change of tincture to two of the
charges.
Knut: Rhiannon Christian -
April of 1987 (via Atlantia): Azure, a lute palewise affronty between
in chief two clarions argent. Clear by X.2 if these clarions are secondary.
Aryanhwy: This is clear of
the cited arms of Robin, for the reasons stated. When there are three
charges in the primary charge group, one counts as "half"
for the purposes of X.4.d.
Moraig: No conflicts found
Pendar: The reasoning is sound.
No conflicts found through 11/02.
4) Balian de Brionne.
Release of Registered Badge. (Fieldless) On a rose azure a bee Or.
{Name
reg’d 6/85}
The
badge in question was registered on 7/93.
{Escutcheon:
this item did not appear on the LoI but should have.}
5) Brise Sanguin.
New Name and Device. Gules, a fleur-de-lys argent within a bordure
argent goutty de sang.
Brise
is a female given name listed (under “Brise la bèle”) in Catledge, “An
Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris” (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html). Sanguin appears in Friedemann,
“French Names from Paris, 1423” (http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~sfriedemann/names/paris1423surnames.htm) and also in Friedemann, “French
Names from Paris, 1438” (http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~sfriedemann/names/paris1438surnames.htm).
Client
cares most about sound and “does not require the name to be authentic.
As to culture, she desires to maintain at least some vague cultural
connection to France in general and Normandy in particular.” The client
will NOT allow MAJOR changes.
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
This is a fine name.
Moraig: No comment on name.
Device Commentary
Knut: Clear
Aryanhwy: I found no conflicts
with the arms.
Moraig: No conflicts found
for the device
Pendar: Close, but clear of
Meraud Wallace (8/98 Atlantia): Purpure, a fleur-de-lys, a bordure
argent. 1 CD for changes to the field. 1 CD for the tertiaries.
6)
Cecilia Fiametta Delcanto.
New Name and Device. Gules, a squirrel argent between three bezants.
Cecilia is found in Withycombe (60) as a header spelling and was the
name of a saint, martyred c177. It is found in England by the time
of the Norman Conquest. De Felice,
Nomi (103) has the name as well (“Cecilia martire a Roma nel
III secolo, patrona, per tradizione popolare, della musica e dei musicisti.”).
Fiametta is found in Drake, “Italian Renaissance Names” (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/italian.html) and dated c14th-15th century. Delcanto
is found in “Florentine Renaissance Resources:Online Catasto of 1427”
at http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/catasto/overview.html.
{To
all: the device was blazoned incorrectly, the squirrel is argent, but
appears to be OK.}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
<Cecilia> is a header in Withycombe 3rd ed. She does
not discuss Italian usage. <Cicilia> is in Rhian Lyth's "Italian
Renaissance Women's Names" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/rhian/italian.html). <Cecilia> is found in the
introduction of Talan and Arval's "Fourteenth Century Venetian
Personal Names" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/venice14/), but this is taken from aLatin record,
and may not represent the underlying Italian form. Arval says of the
Latinization in the source for these names: "The Latinization
in these documents varies: light for names without obvious standard
Latin equivalents, more complete for common names like <Johannes>.
I'm not sure where <Cecilia> falls in that spectum."
Given
that the short forms <Celia> and <Cilia> are found in "Feminine
Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/catasto/), <Cecilia> is probably a fine
Italian form; the documented <Cicilia> is a better choice.
An
easier source to cite for the byname is Ferrante LaVolpe's "Italian
Names from Florance, 1427" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/ferrante/catasto/). <Delcanto> is found in the
Tratte once.
Moraig: No comment on the
name
Device Commentary
Knut: Gules, a squirrel sejant
erect between three bezants. The squirrel isn't maintaining the default
acorn. Clear
Aryanhwy: Using the short form
"bezant" makes it so that the squirrel has no tincture. Better,
"Gules, a squirrel between three roundels Or." This redesign
looks clear.
Moraig: We are assuming that
the squirrel is Or but the returned device suggests it may have been
argent. Either way we could not find any conflicts
Pendar: Although bezants are
gold by default, squirrels are not. Blazon-fu: Gules, a squirrel Or
between three bezants. or Gules, a squirrel between three roundels
Or. No conflicts found through 11/02.
Ælfreda: A tincture may be
missing from this blazon. As it reads, the implication is that the squirrel
is Or, the same tincture as the bezants. Escutcheon's comments state
that only the field and roundels changed tincture from the previous
submission, in which the squirrel was argent.
If
the squirrel is argent, there may be conflict with Síthmaith ingen Uidir
(reg 6/97) "Gules, a squirrel statant erect argent sustaining an
arrow inverted and a bordure rayonny Or." There is one CD for changing
the roundels to a bordure, but are unsure if a second could be achieved
via a number change (3 roundels vs 1 bordure).
We
echo Knut's comments from the September 2002 Internal LoAR, that since
the default position of a squirrel includes a maintained acorn, this
charge must be explicitly blazoned as "sejant erect".
"GLOSSARY
OF TERMS As Used By The College of Arms of the Society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc.
Table 4 Conventional S.C.A.
Default Postures Squirrel: Sejant erect maintaining an acorn in its
forepaws"
7) Cúil Choluim, Shire of.
New Group Device. Purpure, on a chevron between three columbines
Or, three laurel wreathes vert.
{Name
reg’d 8/02}
The
columbines may look a bit unusual to commentators used to the depiction
in the Pic Dic, but these appear to be more likely to be period, according
to Parker (129).
Device Commentary
Thorvald: We thought the secondary
charges were some type of bean plants. They look nothing like the columbines
shown in the PicDic.
Aryanhwy: Their name was registered
08/02.
Moraig: No conflicts found
Pendar: No conflicts found
through 11/02
8)
Douglas of Ravenslake. New Name. {and Device.
Quarterly gules and vert, a bull statant Or.}
Douglas
is the client’s modern name. Withycombe (88) notes that the name does
not become common until the late 16th century, which should
still be good enough for us. The Riding of Ravenslake is an SCA branch,
whose name was registered 3/91.
{The
device is being returned for conflict with Michael of Shattered Crystal
(Gules, a bull passant guardant Or) [reg’d 9/99]. There is no difference
between statant and guardant postures and only one CD for the change
of field.}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
This is not a holding name. Only Laurel can create holding names, and
though the pattern <modern given name> + <SCA branch> is
fairly common among some Laurel Sovereigns for forming holding names,
this pattern is not restricted to that. The term 'holding name' is an
administrative label which is used when a submitter's name is returned
but his armory is registered. Holding names can be upgraded for free
(within a year of return of the orignal name submission), but this is
just a new name submission; if he ever wishes to submit a different
name, it will be a name change, and he'll have to pay the appropriate
fees. Did the client provide proof (photocopy of driver's license, etc.)
that this is his modern name? The Riding of Ravenslake was registered
03/91 via the Middle.
Moraig: No comment on the
name
Rory: The client is NOT creating
a holding name, and he knows this (he is my lady wife's man-at-arms,
and we have discussed this registration with him). He is legitimately
submitting Douglas of Ravenslake as his name, along with this device.
If at a future time he wishes to register (the currently undocumented)
name that he is using regularly, he knows he will have to submit and
pay for a name change.
Device Commentary
Aryanhwy: I found no conflicts
with the device.
Thorvald: Since we cannot
send up holding names, we will have to send this as the name registration.
The difference is that when the client finally decides what name he
wants, he will have to submit a name change, not a resubmission.
Knut: The per fess line is slightly abased.
Michael
of Shattered Crystal - September of 1999 (via the Middle): Gules, a
bull passant guardant Or. Single CD for field
Return
for conflict
Moraig: We found “Gules, a
bull passant guardant Or” that was registered in 9/99 to Michael of
Shattered Crystal. There is only one difference for the change.
Pendar: Conflict with Michael
of Shattered Crystal (9/99 Middle): Gules, a bull passant guardant
Or. No CD's are given between the postures of statant and passant.
There is nothing for making the bull guardant. So that leaves only 1
CD for changes to the field.
Ælfreda: We find conflict
with Michael of Shattered Crystal (reg 9/99) "Gules, a bull passant
guardant Or" with one CD for the field. There is no CD between
passant and statant.
There
may also be a conflict with Fenwick of Gloster (reg 6/76) "Vert,
a water buffalo [Bubalus bubalis] passant proper." Although it
is on a vert field, photos we have seen of water buffalo show a dark
gray or brown creature. For example: http://members.aol.com/zoonet/pictures/waterbuffalo.jpg
{*) Elynor Grey.
New Name and Device. Quarterly purpure and vert, a lion dormant
erminois.
{The
name is being returned for conflict with the already registered name
of Eleanor of Gray [reg’d 3/01 via Trimaris].
{The
device is being returned because the name is being returned, but otherwise
appears to be free of any problems.}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
Unfortunately, this conflicts with <Eleanor of Gray>, reg. 03/01
via Trimaris. RfS V.1.ii says "In general the addition or deletion
of prepositions and articles is not significant."
Moraig: No comment on the
name
Rory: Consider Eleanor of Grey
(reg. March, 2001, Trimarias). By RfS V.1, these names are not significantly
different in sound. The addition of “of” is not enough to clear the
current submission.
Device Commentary
Thorvald: The emblazon is
missing the ermine spots on the lion.
Knut: Clear
Aryanhwy: The device looks
clear of conflict.
Moraig: No conflicts found.
Pendar: I see no ermine spots
on that lion. Return for a redraw. No conflicts found through 11/02.
9) Gavin the Healer.
New Name and Device. Quarterly argent and Or, a feather per bend
azure, a bordure embattled gules.
Withycombe
(127) states that Gavin is one of the French versions of Gawain and
was used in the Middle Ages. She notes that Gavinus, Gavienus, Gavin
and Goin can be found in E Forstmann’s
Altdeutsches Namenbuch, the earliest being in the 7th
Century. She also notes Gavin being found dated to 1604 in the County
of Yorks in the Yorks Recusants (a list of Roman Catholics). The word
“healer” is dated to 1175 in the Random House Unabridged Dictionary
of the English Language (2nd Ed). The
OED says:
healer
1
1. One who heals (wounds, diseases, the sick, etc.); a leach, doctor;
also, one who heals spiritual
infirmities;
in early use, Saviour = prec.
c1175
Lamb. Hom. 83 ef he hefde on his moder ibroken hire meidenhad, ne mihte
nawiht brekere bon icloped helere. c1275 Passion Lord 115 in Old Eng.
Misc. 40 He com to e Gywes..And chepte heom to sullen, vre helare. c1440
HYLTON Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) I. xliv, This name Jhesu is nout
elles for to saye upon englisshe but heler. 1611 BIBLE Isa. iii. 7,
I will not be a healer. ..."
We could not directly document
“the Healer” as a period byname, but note period equivalents like “Fisicien”
(Physick) and “Leche” (Leach) in Reaney and Wilson. We therefore believe
that this name meets the standards of a TSCA name.
The
client will NOT accept MAJOR changes and is interested in having an
authentic Celtic name of an undesignated period. We are not certain
how this wish can be granted without making major changes and so have
chosen to ignore the request.
The
bordure is definitely in need of feeding but we believe it can be registered
with proper instructions send back to the client to draw a bolder bordure.
{The
device was pended last month for lack of a registered name. Since that
name has been provided, we have unpended the armory and are ruling on
it this month.}
Name
Commentary
Aryanhwy:
Withycombe (3rd ed) s.n. Gawain dates <Gavin> in England to 1604;
this spelling is also noted as being French. Virtually all earlier forms
of the given name in England used <w> rather than <v>. The
following are from "Concerning the Names Gavin, Gawaine, Gavan,
and Gabhainn," by Arval Benicoeur (http://www.medievalscotland.org/problem/names/gavin.shtml): Walwein (1169); Wawanus (1208);
Wawayn (1255); Gawyne (1273, 1279); Wawwayne (1315); Gawynus (1332);
Gawyn (1379); Gawin (1530); Gaven (1631).
I
couldn't find any evidence that <the Healer> would be an appropriate
byname, but there are a lot of other authentic alternatives: R&W
s.n. Leach from the OE <l{{ae}-}ce>, 'leech, physician,' has <Leche>
c1250 and <le Leche> 1279. Julian Goodwyn's index of surnames
from pre-1600 brass inscriptions (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/brasses/) has <Leeche> dated to 1530.
<Leech> is also found in Christian de Holacombe's "Faire
Names for English Folk: Late Sixteenth Century English Names" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/christian/fairnames/) and dated to 1605 in "Surnames
in Durham and Northumberland, 1521-1615" (http://www.yucs.org/~jules/names/parish/surnames.html) by Julie Stampnitzky.
R&W
s.n. Physick has <John le Fisicien> 1269.
R&W
s.n. Pothecary has <Richard Ipotecar'> 1297.
Fransson's
_Middle English Surnames of Occupation 1100-1350_ (these citations courtesy
of Mistress Tangwystyl - if photocopies are needed, let me know and
I'll see if she can make them) has Leche (leech); Lecher (leecher);
Fisicien; Surgen; Barber; (various terms for blood-letter) Blodleter,
Bledere, Ventoser, Soukere; (those who treat animals) Mareschal; Smerer,
Shepsmerer, Greser
Thuresson's
"Middle English Occupational Terms" (also courtesty of Tangwystyl)
has Surgener, Surgeour, Bloder (blood-letter), Tuthdragher (tooth-drawer).
Spitelman
The
OED online s.n. Healer(1) has <helere> c1175, <helare> c1275,
<heler> c1440, and <healer> 1611, all referring to "One
who heals (wounds, diseases, the sick, etc.); a leach, doctor; also,
one who heals spiritual infirmities; in early use, Saviour = prec."
Probably
the most similar in connotation to <Healer> is either <Leech>
or <Fisicien>. However, by the time that the spelling <Gavin>
is in use in England, bynames had long since become inherited surnames,
and were no longer descriptive. <Gavin Leech> is a fine 16th C
name, but it wouldn't have the connotation that he probably wants. <Gawyne
le Leche> or <Gawyne le Fisicien> would be a lovely earlier
period name with the desired meaning.
Rory: Healer - dated to 1175,
Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, 2nd
Ed. We assume the device (submitted last month) was returned by Rouge
Scarpe for lack of a name.
Ælfreda: From the Online OED:
"healer 1
1. One who heals (wounds,
diseases, the sick, etc.); a leach, doctor; also, one who heals spiritual
infirmities; in early use, Saviour = prec.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 83 ef he hefde
on his moder ibroken hire meidenhad, ne mihte nawiht brekere bon icloped
helere. c1275 Passion Lord 115 in Old Eng. Misc. 40 He com to e Gywes..And
chepte heom to sullen, vre helare. c1440 HYLTON Scala Perf. (W. de W.
1494) I. xliv, This name Jhesu is nout elles for to saye upon englisshe
but heler. 1611 BIBLE Isa. iii. 7, I will not be a healer. ..."
Device Commentary
Ary: The bordure is too narrow
and needs to be drawn larger with more pronounced embattlements. No
conflicts found.
Knut: The bordure needs to
be thicker.
Clear.
Return for redraw.
Rory: Bordure could be drawn
bolder, with more depth to the embattlements
{*)
Irial Féasruadh ó hIarnáin. Change of Registered Device.
Lozengy Or and argent, a bear salient gules.
{Name
reg’d 11/00}
{This
is being returned for two separate but equally fatal problems:
First
of all, it violates the rules of contrast. The
Rules for Submission VIII.2.b.iv says “Elements evenly divided
into multiple parts of two different tinctures must have good contrast
between their parts. For example, checky argent and gules is acceptable,
but checky azure and gules is not.” Similarly, lozengy argent and gules
is acceptable, but lozengy argent and Or is not.
The
other problem is that this design conflicts with Brichnicht of Briarwood
(Per bend ermine and counter-ermine, a bear rampant gules) [reg’d 10/92].
There is only one difference – for the change of field.}
{Rory:
yes, the fact that this is actually a change of registered device was
omitted from the IloI}
Device Commentary
Thorvald: The bear looks more
like a wolf, except for the tail. We thought it was a wolf with a poorly
drawn tail before we read the blazon.
Knut: RfS VIII.2.b.iv - Elements
evenly divided into multiple parts of two different tinctures must have
good contrast between their parts. For example, checky argent and gules
is acceptable, but checky azure and gules is not.
Or and argent do not have good
contrast.
Brichnicht
of Briarwood - October of 1992 (via An Tir): Per bend ermine and counter-ermine,
a bear rampant gules. Single CD for field.
Return
for violating RfS VIII.2.b.iv and conflict.
Aryanhwy: This must be returned
for breaking the rule of contrast. RfS VIII.2.b.iv says "Elements
evenly divided into multiple parts of two different tinctures must have
good contrast between their parts. For example, checky argent and gules
is acceptable, but checky azure and gules is not." By parity, lozengy
argent and gules is acceptable, but lozengy argent and Or is not. In
any case, it also conflicts with Brichnicht of Briarwood, (reg. 10/92
via An Tir), "Per bend ermine and counter-ermine, a bear rampant
gules," with one CD for the field.
Moraig: We state that since
this is two metals lozengy that this must be returned because it violates
Rfs VIII.2.b.iv because this field is divided into more than four parts.
Rory: The client's current
device, "Ermine, three bendlets sinister enhanced azure and in
base a sun in splendor gules eclipsed Or", was registered 11/00
via the West. Since there is no mention of it on the Letter of Intent,
it is assumed that this device will be released upon registration of
the new submission.
However, RfS VIII.2.b.iv: Contrast Requirements: "Elements evenly
divided into multiple tinctures must have good contrast between the
parts." There is not good contrast between the Or and argent in
the field. This submission should be returned.
Pendar: Conflicts with Brichnicht
of Briarwood (10/92 An Tir): Per bend ermine and counter-ermine, a bear
rampant gules. Nothing for salient vs. rampant, leaving only 1 CD for
changs to the field.
Ælfreda: The client's previous
device "Ermine, three bendlets sinister enhanced azure and in base
a sun in splendor gules eclipsed Or." was registered 11/00, via
the West.
This
device must be returned for violation of RfS 2.b.iv. "Elements
evenly divided into multiple parts of two different tinctures must have
good contrast between their parts."
10) Isabella Beatrice de
la Rosa. New Device. Per chevron vert and gules a chevron
between two roses and a swan naiant argent
{Name
submitted on 2/03 MK LoI}
Device Commentary
Knut: Clear.
Aryanhwy: Her name was on the
12/02 Northshield LoI. It will be ruled on by Rouge Scarpe in 02/03.
This is clear of Rhiannon Llygad Flaidd, (reg 02/00 via Atenveldt),
"Per chevron gules and vert, a chevron throughout argent between
two roses slipped and leaved and a wolf's head erased Or," with
one CD for changing the tincture of the secondaries and one for changing
half their type.
Rory: The name was submitted
on the 12/02 Northshield ILoI. (Keythong - this information would be
useful to put on the ILoI).
{*)
Mailse of Glencoe. New Name.
{The
name is being returned for two minor problems (either of which would
not be sufficient in themselves to prompt the return. The first issue
is that the entry in Woulfe is undated and the second that Mailse is
a pet form of Maire – itself a rare name in period. This raises suspicions
about its registerability. Given the College’s current sensitiveness
towards the registration of names, we would prefer to have more iron-clad
documentation before sending it forward.}
Name
Commentary
John:
Mailse: See Coghlan (48); lists “Mailsi; means “Margery” or “Molly.”
Todd (pp.56-57) has “Mailli” and “Melli”, which the client may consider
suitable variants. Todd also lists “Maoliosa”, or “Melissa”. I suggest
the client looks at these.
Glencoe:
a famous glen in Scottish history, notably where dwelt the MacDonald
clan and their allies. See any Scottish history book.
Aryanhwy: The client's previous
submission, <Malise of Glencoe>, was returned by Rouge Scarpe
in _January_, not June, 2002. <Máilse> is under the heading <Máille>
in Woulfe, who says that this is "a pet form of <Máire>."
Woulfe is like Gruffudd; when there are no dates, one can pretty well
assume that the name is modern. Mari's index of feminine names in the
Annals (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/) lists eleven people named <Máire>
between 1396 and 1601. <Glencoe> is not in Black.
Stop
the presses!!! Black s.n. Murray dates a <Malise>, earl of Strathern,
to c. 1258-71, and Black s.n. Malise confirms that this is a given name,
and not a byname. If the lady doesn't care about the gender of her name,
perhaps this can be pended to let her know that her original submission,
<Malise of Glencoe>, is probably registerable as a masculine name
(I say probably because better docs for <Glencoe> would be appreciated).
Moraig: No comment
Rory: If there is no evidence
of a previous submission by the client, this should be treated as a
new submission, including the appropriate fees. Can Escutcheon and/or
Rouge Scarpe go through the files around 6/02 comparing mundane names
for the original submission?
11) Michael McCay.
New Device. Per chevron throughout vert and argent,a rapier sable
and in chief two falcons addorsed regardant argent.
{Name
reg’d 12/01}
Device Commentary
Thorvald: The blazoning of
the body orientation should come before the head orientation. Therefore,
we recommend reblazoning to Per chevron throughout vert and argent,
two falcons addorsed regardant argent and a rapier sable.
Knut: Per chevron throughout
vert and argent, a rapier sable and in chief two falcons regardant addorsed
argent. Since it is about twice the height of the falcons, the sword
appears to be a sole primary charge. Clear, including piles.
Aryanhwy: No conflicts found.
Moraig: We think that this
is a pile inverted throughout. The birds should be blazoned adorsed
reguardant since the position of the bird should be mentioned before
stating where they are looking.
Pendar: If the sword was in
base and about the same size as the birds, like it would be with a regular
per chevron line of divsion, I could see this blazon making sense, but
as it is drawn the sword is definitely the primary charge and the birds
are secondaries in chief.
Blazon-fu:
Per chevron throughout vert and argent, a rapier sable and in chief
two falcons addorsed regardant argent. Since the birds share a tincture
with the argent part of the field, they have no choice but to be in
chief, so that part of the blazon could probably be dropped. I'd leave
it in for the sake of clarification. No conflicts found through 11/02.
12) Nikolai of Trakai.
New Badge. (Fieldless) a doubled cross vert
{Name
reg’d 9/93}
This
badge is to be co-owned with Tatiana of Varena (reg’d 9/93). Documentation
for the double cross is enclosed from the
Encyclopedia Lituanica II: 99 which dates to symbol to 1388 in
the seal of King Jogaila.
{This
badge was pended last month because a badge can only be co-owned by
two individuals.}
Badge Commentary
Ary: His name was registered
09/93 via the Middle. This is a badge resubmission. His previous submission,
"[Fieldless] A doubled cross sable fimbriated argent" was
returned by Rouge Scarpe on the 01/01 LoAR, for conflict.
Knut: Clear
Rory: Name was registered
September 1993.
13) Sol Tizona. New
Device. Sable, on a fess cotissed argent a sun sable.
{Name
submitted on 10/02 MK LoI}
Device Commentary
Knut: Clear.
Aryanhwy: Her name was forwarded
to Laurel on the 10/02 Midrealm ELoI. I found no conflicts with the
device.
Rory: This name was submitted
on the 8/02 Northshield ILoI (Keythong - again, this information would
be very useful to put on the ILoI so we know that there is either a
registered name or name in progress for the device).
14) Zacarias el Silento.
New Device. Purpure, a bend sinister argent, overall three mullets
of six points voided and interlaced bendwise sinister Or.
{Name
submitted on 11/02 MK LoI}
We
are unhappy with the width of the bend sinister and feel that it is
really a single scarpe (which we would not register). We originally
returned it under the suspicion that the bend could not be drawn sufficiently
wide enough given the overlapping mullets on it, but the client appealed
our return and in discussion with a number of other heralds, it became
clear that the CoA’s position on the registerability of a device like
this was less than clear. We are therefore sending it up with a request
that Laurel explicitly rule on the registerability of thin ordinaries
in instances where the artistic design “forces” them to be thinner than
we might normally register.
{This
was actually returned on the 2/03 MK ILoAR, but the client appealed
our decision and given the uncertaintly of the registerability of the
device, we decided to kick this up to Laurel. We honestly expect it
to be returned but the client insisted that he wanted the precedent
to be clarified.}
Done
by my hand this 24th day of March,
Paul
Wickenden of Thanet, Rouge Scarpe
Paul
W Goldschmidt
3071
Cimarron Trail
Madison
WI 53719
goldschp@mailbag.com
-->Disclaimer: This page is not officially sanctioned by the SCA,
Inc., the Middle Kingdom, or the MK College of Heralds. It is a private
project of the Escutcheon Herald (Angharad Rhos Tewdwr of Pembroke) and the Rouge Scarpe Herald (Paul Wickenden of Thanet) who
have based the information published here on publicly-available
documentation.