This is the January 2004 Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon’s November 2003 Letter of Intent.

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. Commentary, rulings, etc. by Dragon are placed in small cap print.}. Thanks to Dugan MacLeod, Angelique Michele d' Herisson, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, Ælfreda æt Æthelwealda & Mikhail of Lubelska, Femke de Roas, and Master John ap Wynne for their commentary this month.} 

REMINDER: I have re-instated the office of Rouge Scarpe Herald to hand the processing of the External Letter of Intent and Kingdom LoAR. Please welcome Mistress Elena de Vexin and start sending your commentary to her as well. Her address is:

Joann Peek
306 Lively Lane
Burns Harbor, IN 46304-9748

One of the commenters asks, “…there are a number of Northshield submissions on this LoI.  Is there any time frame in mind for when such submissions sent to Escutcheon will be returned with instructions to send them to Keythong?  Or will the Midrealm keep accepting Northshield's submissions until we become a separate kingdom?”

Northshield is still part of the Middle Kingdom. Therefore any client from Northshield may feel free to submit through the Escutcheon-Rouge Scarpe route, until next October when they become a kingdom in their own right.

ON WITH THE SHOW!

1) Anne the Shy --(F) New Name and Acceptance of Transfer of Registered Device. Device Per pale wavy azure and argent two goblets counterchanged a chief wavy or ermined azure
(Brainerd, MN)

Anne - www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/reaneyAG.html

The Shy -- epthet, submitter is an introvert.

The submitter wishes to inherit the device of Sarah of Dun Or (mka Earleen Watson) name and device registered Sept 1992 in Caid. The submitter is the granddaughter. There is a will attached to the documentation. No copies of the device was submitted.

There seemed to have been a good deal of confusion by the submitter as far as the device. What was meant to occur is that Sarah of Dun Or is transferring her registered device to Anne the Shy. There is paperwork for this to occur in the packet.

Name Commentary

AE & M: From the Online OED, 2nd Ed.

"Shy ( adjective)
1.    a. Easily frightened or startled. Obs.

  c1000 Riming Poem 43 (Gr.) Nu min hreer is hreoh heowsium [read heofsium] sceoh nydbysum neah. a1225 Ancr. R. 242 Loke et e ne beon nout iliche e horse et is scheouh, & blenche uor one scheadewe... To scheowe heo beo mid alle et fleo uor ane peinture. c1440 Promp. Parv. 444/2 Schey, or skey, as hors, or stytyl. 1648 HEXHAM II. s.v. Schouw, Een Schouw paerdt, A Shye Horse, a Fearefull Horse.
...
4. Cautiously reserved; wary in speech or action. Obs.

  1603 SHAKES. Meas. for M. III. ii. 138 A shie fellow was the Duke. Ibid. V. i. 54 As shie, as graue..As Angelo. a1691 WOOD Life (O.H.S.) I. 152 He..found him very shie; but..he was very free afterwards in his communications."

Ary: The URL cited for the given name is Talan's "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/reaneyintro.html).  <Anne> is found in 1566, 1568, 1576, and 1592.  In fact, with the exception of <Anna> 1199 (likely a Latin from), and <Anne> 1327 as a metronymic, all the other examples of various forms of this name are from the 16th century.

R&W doesn't have bynames based on <Shy>, or <Quiet>.  I did find an interesting byname while looking up <Quiet>: <Simon Quayle> 1327 s.n. Quayle, "OFr <quaille> 'quail', noted for its supposed amorous dispotion and timidity."  This might be a good descriptive byname for a timid, shy person.  A scan through Jnsj also revealed nothing useful (though on flipping through I see that <Antichrist> (though not in this spelling) is a period byname!)

The OED online s.v. shy (adjective) dates the following forms:

1.    a. Easily frightened or startled. Obs.
c1000: <sceoh>
a1225: <scheouh>
c1440: <schey> or <skey>

The earliest citation of the word applying to a person is from 1600:

2. Easily frightened away; difficult of approach owing to timidity, caution, or distrust; timidly or cautiously averse to encountering or having to do with some specified person or thing; suspicious, distrustful. Const. of.    a. of persons.

1600 HAKLUYT Voy. III. 391 Certaine souldiers..caried away captiue certaine of the people of the countrey, which caused the rest of them to be so shey and fearefull.

4. Cautiously reserved; wary in speech or action. Obs. 1603 SHAKES. Meas. for M. III. ii. 138 A shie fellow was the Duke.

Given that this word was not applied to people until the end of our period (long after descriptive bynames had fallen out of use), there is no way that I can support <the Shy> as a medieval byname.

Femke: - <Anne> seems to be a fairly common name in late period England.   However, the byname seems very modern.  Perhaps someone with the OED can date the word, or provide an appropriate alternative with the same meaning.

Device Commentary:

Ary: I don't understand what is meant by "release of device".  If she's never had a registered name before, she can't have a registered device which she could be releasing.  Given the comments on the LoI, it seems like what's meant is "acceptance of transferral of device" is what is intended.  However, I believe that transferrals, like any other submission, require paperwork, so this may need to be pended or returned until the paperwork for the device can be obtained.

Femke: Device How can you have a device to release if you never had a registered name?  Or is this her Grandmothers device that she would like released, then registered to her?

2) Aonach na Naoi n-Duileach, Shire of -- Branch Name{and Device: Purpure, nine Soloman’s knots in cross per saltire argent, in fess point, a laurel wreath Or}
(Decatur, IL)
Petition included

Included in the documentation is a series of emails from his Excellence Baron Hamish MacLeod and the Ysende de Sigournais, the shire pursuivant on pronouncing the shire’s name. No where did I find any source material for documentation. So I am quoting his Excellence from the first email letter:

“The prefix word for nine is “n’oi n-” example: “n’oi n-Duilleach” would be “nine leaves” I would render “gathering of the nine expectations as: “Aonach na h-N’oi n-Duilean” in Irish or “Aonach na Naoi n-Duileach” in Scottish. …”

The group cares more for meaning “Gathering of the Nine Expectations” in Scottish 9^th - 12^th century.

Documentation for the device is also included:

http://thecoracle.tripod.com/vol01/02v102021.html

http://thecoracle.tripod.com/vol01/02/v102022.html

Based on the research of Master John we will send the name on to Laurel for consideration. However, we agree fully with the commenters that while the Soloman’s knot is very nice artwork, the documentation does not truly support its use in heraldry.

Name Commentary:

Ary: I can provide absolutely no support for this name as a reasonable Scottish Gaelic place name.  This should be returned for further work unless someone else can.

Femke: Im not going to pretend to know enough about Gaelic grammar to determine whether or not this is a reasonable contruction.  It does, however, seem like a tenuous concept for a place name.  Period place name construction seems to be mostly based on physical landmarks.  I could see something that translates as Gathering of the Nine Hills maybe but an expectation seems to be an abstract sort of thing for this type of name.

John¹: Aonach; see Dwelly (p.40-meaning #4-same spelling as client’s submission and should be acceptable); Watson (p.491); Darton (p.18-definition and no less than three Scottish places with this wording).

Na – ‘of’ – see any Gaelic dictionary or grammar book dealing with genitive forms.

Naoi – ‘nine’ – see Dwelly (pp.684-685); Renton-MacDonald (p.58)

n-Duileach: more properly, at least in Scottish Gaelic, “Duilean’ – see Dwelly (p.371).

Phonetic suggestion: Ee-noch nahn nayon jeelahn’

Device Commentary:

AE & M: The items provided as documentations (a) do not look like the knots in the armory, and (b) do not show that this was used in period, let alone period armory.  We've found a very nice picture of a Solomon's Knot at
http://www.votive-candle-holders.com/celtic_knots_symbols/celtic_knots_king_solomon_knot_divine.html
however, this says nothing for its suitability in SCA armory.

The blazon does not describe how the wreath encircles only the central knot.  A better blazon might be "Purpure, nine Solomon's Knots crosswise in saltire argent, the central one encircled by a laurel wreath Or."

Ary: The knots are rather small; I would prefer that they be drawn larger to fill all the available space.  Also, I'm not sure that the blazon accurately represents the emblazon.  Of greater importance, though, is the fact that Solomon's knots have never been registered before.  Before they can be registered,documentation that they are suitable SCA heraldic charges must be provided:

When providing documentation that this is a suitable SCA heraldic charge, the submitters should keep in mind the following precedent against knotwork in armory:

The first tripod page cited on the LoI gave me a 404 not found error. The intransigience of websites is one reason why it is absolutely crucial for a summary of the documentation to be given on LsoI - otherwise it's basically as if no documentation was given at all. The second page has a picture of the knot, but the picture of the knot does not look like what's in the armory; the ends of the pictures knot are square, not pointy.  Furthermore, this web page gives no evidence that this is a medieval artistic design.

Femke: I can find no evidence that a Solomons Knot  has ever been registered before.  The links provided are for a page on drawing celtic knotwork.  In point of fact, I found this in the precedents:  The "Solomon's knot" is not a standard heraldic charge and no documentation has been provided for its use. Several commentors noted that from the blazon many heraldic artists would depict the "Solomon's seal" which is quite a different thing. (LoAR 28 Feb 87, p. 19)  Given this, unless they can provide some documentation, I think both device and badge will have to be returned.

Canute: This arrangement is unblazonable and irreproducible from blazon, violating RfS VII.7.b.

The documentation for the Solomans knot is unacceptable.  It needs to be dated within period using the same using the same documentation criteria as names use.  It appears to be docimented as an artistic motif.  Period artistic motifs aren't necessarily acceptable in SCA heraldry per RfS VII.2.  The pointed ends in the submission do not match the square ends in the documentation.

{) Aonach na Naoi n-Duileach, Shire of Badge -- [Fieldless] A Solomon’s knot in cross argent
(Decatur, IL)

No petition is included but was in the same packet as the name and device submission.

Documentation is also included see above urls.}

No petition of support is needed for a shire’s badge. It’s nice, but not necessary. This badge will be returned for basically the same reasons as the device (since most of the commenters just duplicated their commentary for both entries).

Badge Commentary:

AE & M: The items provided as documentations (a) do not look like the knots in the armory, and (b) do not show that this was used in period, let alone period armory.  We've found a very nice picture of a Solomon's Knot at
http://www.votive-candle-holders.com/celtic_knots_symbols/celtic_knots_king_solomon_knot_divine.html
however, this says nothing for its suitability in SCA armory.

The blazon does not describe how the wreath encircles only the central knot.  A better blazon might be "Purpure, nine Solomon's Knots crosswise in saltire argent, the central one encircled by a laurel wreath Or."

Ary: Of greater importance, though, is the fact that Solomon's knots have never been registered before.  Before they can be registered, documentation that they are suitable SCA heraldic charges must be provided:

When providing documentation that this is a suitable SCA heraldic charge, the submitters should keep in mind the following precedent against knotwork in armory:

Canute: The documentation for the Solomans knot is unacceptable.  It needs to be dated within period using the same using the same documentation criteria as names use.  It appears to be docimented as an artistic motif.  Period artistic motifs aren't necessarily acceptable in SCA heraldry per RfS VII.2.  The pointed ends in the submission do not match the square ends in the documentation.

Eilonwen verch Gryffyn - February of 1996 (via the Middle): Per pale vert and sable, a Bowen knot crosswise argent.

Eilonwen verch Gryffyn - February of 1996 (via the Middle): (Fieldless) A Bowen knot crosswise argent.

Single CD for fieldless.  I doubt that there is enough visual difference for a CD between this submission and a Bowen cross.

Femke: Again, due to the precedent against registering Solomons Knots, this will have to be returned.

4) Bridget O’Brian -- (F) Name
(Shire of Dark Dark River, IL)

Bridget - “History of Christian Names,” by Charlotte E. Yonge

“The New American Dictionary of Baby Names,” by Dunkling and Gosling

O’Brian - “Clans and Families of Ireland,” by John Grenham

“Irish Names and Surname,” by Rev. Patrick Woulfe

(Esct Note: I wished she had used better source material.)

Name Commentary:

Ary: This is a fine anglicized form of <Brighid inghean u Bhriain>.  My "16th Century Gloucestershire Names" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/late16.html) has <Bridgett> three times and <Bridget> once.  Woulfe s.n. Briain unfortunately doesn't give any period citations of the anglicized form, but seeing as <Brian> shows up in English in this spelling as early as 1199-1219, according to Withycombe s.n. Brian, I can't imagine that < Briain> wouldn't be anglicized <O Brian> or <O'Brian>.

Femke: While the documentation provided by the submitter is all from poor sources, shes managed to pick a nice name anyway.  It would seem logical to me as an anglicanized version of <Brighid ingean ui Briain>.

John: Bridget: see Attwater (pp.74-75); Butler (pp.88-91); Green (pp.50-51); Norman (p. 219) lists name as popular in Ireland between 5BD-1175AD; both an Irish and Swedish saint, and a Celtic godess to book. Various spellings, of course.

O’Brian: see Quinn (p.48); MacLysaght (p27); Grehan (p37); O’Corrain/Maguire (pp.35-36, pp. 36-37 for “Brigit”); Norman (p.230) lists O’Brian/O’brien as common in Ireland in 1014-1170)

5) Eva van Olebroek -- (F) Name and Device -- Per bend sinister vert and argent ermined in bend two horses passant to sinister, all counterchanged
(Rimsholt, MI)

Eva - “15^th Century Dutch Names” by Aryanhwy merch Catmael

http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch15.html

“Dutch Names in Latin Contexts, 1542” by Aryanhwy

http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/latin-dutch.html

Oldebroek: 2websites in Dutch

op internet, gemeentelijke informatic http://www.wwd.nl/oldebroek/htm_gem.htm

This seems to be a summary of the history listed in another website:

Inventarisvan het archief van het richerambt Colebrook (Inventory of the archives of the director’s office of Oldebroek) http://www.hpveluwe.nl/InventarisRichterambt.html

Two maps: http://odur.let.rug.nl/%7Emaps/jorimur/images/colom10.jpg

http://odur.let.rug.nl/%7Emaps/jorimur

Name Commentary:

Ary Please summarize the documentation the client provides, or, if they include a summary of the docs, please include that.  Commenters should not be required to look up every website that is referenced in submission; the relevant information should be on the LoI.

The first website appears to date <Oldebroek> (note spelling) to the 14th century, as does the second.  What pretty maps!  Unfortunately, I can't tell just from the pictures if these maps are dated at all, nor is it clear in the second site which of the maps listed <Oldebroek> is supposedly on.

None of these sites provides evidence for the submitted spelling. Unless such evidence can be found, I recommend changing this to the documented <Oldebroek>.

Femke: In addition to the sites listed, <Eva> is also found in Vlaamse Vrouwenaamen, O. Leys.  The byname is intended as a locative based on the city of Oldebroek.  The websites listed are a history of the town, for which I believe she provided a partial translation.  In summary, the town is listed under several names early in period Hollander-Broek(1323), Audenbruck(1378) [and] Hollanderbroek(1383). The map and homepage for the map do not list the date.  However, the mapmaker, Johannes Janssonius, made most of his other maps between 1630 and 1655.  She prefers the spelling <Oldebroek> if possible.

Device Commentary:

Canute: Per bend sinister vert and argent ermined counterchanged, two horses passant to sinister counterchanged argent and vert.

... two charges on a divided field are placed on opposite sides of a line of division by default ...
LoAR 02/2003 Matheus of Coppertree A-THELMEARC

The ermine spots are too small to be identified.
Clear
Redraw

Femke: This seems to be clear of conflict to me

6) Femke de Roas -- (F) Name and Device --Argent ermined azure, per bend three roses proper, a bordure wavy azure
(Rimsholt, MI)

Femke -- The Fries spelling of the Dutch name of “Femmetje”

The submitter sent 9 pages of documentation on Femke.

The name “Femmetje” appears as the baptismal name of one infant, and as the name of a witness in two additional records. Obtained from Olive Tree.com as referred in the Medieval Names Archive: http://www.altlaw.com/edball/dutchbap.htm

http://www.meertens.knaw/indexe.html Dutch FirstNamesBank

Esct Note: Submitter also included email from Talan posted to the MK-Heralds List. I’m not sure if I should post it or not. Talan does quote Stark as a reference. Also email from Dr. Karel F. Gildemacher, Frisian Academy stated that “Femke is a allophonic form of Famke diminutive of <faam> “little girl, like Froukje “little woman.” “

Stark, Franz, “Kasemen der Germane, (1967), Germany, pp 172-173, 68 “Feme im Patronymicum Femin a. 1428 and Ffemmo a 1331. Fries. … Femmo aus Feddmo … Frauke f. bei Seger, Frouke f. a. 1447

De Roas -- the rose http://ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch15surnames.html

Http://dictioaries.travlang.com/Frisian/English/dict.cgi?query=rose&max=50

Name Comentary:

Femke: I didnt intend to comment on my own submission, but I will sum up.  I submitted the evidence for <Femmetje> as a Dutch name used in period.  The Meertens data is simply analysis of the names <Femke> and <Femmetje> as sharing the root <Femme>.  The former is listed as masculine or feminine and considered to have originated in the modern provinces of Friesland and Gronigen.  <Famke> is listed as strictly feminie, and Fries in origin.  I had discussed with Talan which spelling would be more appropriate for a Fries name, and included the pages from Stark that he suggested. 
These give several examples of names base on the same root of <Femme> in period, though all masculine.  They also include several examples of the diminutive <-ke> - both feminine and masculine.  For the byname, I submitted Aryanhwys article as a list of examples of Dutch descriptive by-names, including <de Witt>, the white, and <de Roode>, the red.  <de Roas> is submitted as the Fries spelling of the rose, or the pink.  Granted, this is modern Fries, since I couldnt find any sources on Old Frisian.

Ary: It is important to provide the dates that the documentation gives. At the Olive Tree link, <Femmetje> is dated to a 1643 baptism; this puts it at almost the end of the gray area.  There is another baptism in 1647 and 1650.

You should certainly provide summaries of all the relevant documentation.  Can you summarize what Talan said about the name?  If the client provides a summary of the docs (which Femke tells me she did), then it's incredibly useful to give the summary on the LoI.  You can never have too much information.

I was unable to find <de Roas> in my website as cited.  The closest I could find is <Ros>, dated to 1478-81. The other website for the byname gives a 404 not found.  Without a summary for commenters to comment on, it cannot be used as documentation.  I therefore recommend that the byname be changed to the documented <Ros>, unless other evidence for <de Roas> can be found.

Device Commentary:

Canute: Argent ermined azure, three roses in bend proper, a bordure wavy azure

Clear

Ary: Blazon-fu: "Argent ermined azure, _in_ bend three roses proper, a bordure wavy azure."  No conflicts found.

7) Geillis MacAlpin (F) Name
(Hawkland Moor, MI)

Geillis -- St Gabriel Academy Report 313 -- “This is a medieval Scottish name which was used by both men and women. We found the spellings “Gelleys” and “Gelis” (both women) from the 16^th century. In Flemish: Ghilla 1245, Geila 1240, Geyla 1240, Geyla 1240, Ghela 1240; French: Gile, Gille, Gilete, Gileite, Gilon (all from 1292) http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi/313.txt

Gelis - “Names of women mentioned in the Perth Guildry Book” by Aryanhwy merch Catmael http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/perth.html

MacAlpin -- Scottish Surnames http://www.dwalker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/page144.htm

Name search on the O&A: Aidan MacAlpin (named registered August 1988)

Name Commentary:

John: Geillis: I don’t find this particular spelling, but the client has submitted some fine primary sources; other variants can be found: Norman (p.120 ‘Gillis’ as a male name 1093-1286); p.129 ‘Gillies’; p.135 ‘Giles’ as a female name)

MacAlpin: Kenneth MacAlpin, was, of course, the first king of a united nation of Picts and Scots. See Ashley (pp.383-384); Black (pp.451-452).

Ary: Wow, a genealogy cite that gives dates! The cite for <MacAlpin> days the surname to Perthshire, 13th century.  Black s.n. MacAlpin gives specific forms: <MacAlpyne> c1260, <Macalpin> c1285, <mac Alpy> 1284, 1290, <Macalpy> 1295, <Macalpyne> 1395, <Makcalpy> 1405, <McAlpy> 1457, <Malcalpyn> 1475, <Makcalpy> 1507, <M'Calpy> 1526, 1528.

There are others.  Given this wide range of forms, <MacAlpin> is unsurprising.

I'm not sure why <Aidan MacAlpin> was mentioned on the LoI. <Geillis> and <Aidan> are significantly different from each other, so this is not a conflict.  Past registrations cannot be appealed to for evidence of current registerability, so this isn't documentation either. 

Femke: Name the documentation seems to be in order.  The website actually dates <MacAplin> to the 13th century.  Though Ill leave it to someone with a copy of Black to comment on the spelling.

8) Geoffrey of Wigmore - (M) Name
(Caledonia, MI )

Geoffrey --“Male Given Names” http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/men.html

Wigmore -- English Placename found in list by Sir Frederic Badger http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/badger.placenames.html#w

Name Commentary:

Femke: If Im not mistaken, I believe there is a pended device from the Sept. IloI that should go with this.  And again, Ill leave it to someone with better sources than mine to comment on spellings.

Ary: - Again, please summarize the documentation and provide full citations of the sources.  <Geoffrey> is dated to 1417 in Julian Goodwyn's "Brass Enscription Index" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/brasses/).  The URL for Badger's article is incorrect on the LoI.  The correct URL is http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/badger/placenames.html, and the article is "A Collection of 613 English Borough Names for Use in Locative Bynames."  A note at the beginning of the list says:

<Wigmore> is given a first date of 1086.  Without evidence that <Wigmore> is anything but a modern form, this names be returned. However, Ekwall has s.n. Wigmore <Wig(h)emore> DB, <Wiggemora>
1165, and <Uggemore> c1140.  <Geoffrey of Uggemore> is fine.

9) Katerin ferch Gwenllian --(F) Badge-- Per bend sinister nebuly azure and sable, in bend a Norse sun cross argent and double rose argent and azure
(Brooklyn, OH)
Name was submitted 15 Aug, 2003

(Esct. Note: I wasn’t too sure about this one. So I’m sending it on.)

Badge Commentary:

AE & M: From the precedents of Dame Elsbeth Ann Roth as Laurel Queen of Arms:
"Norse sun crosses are allowed, if not encouraged, because by their alternate blazon, a cross within and conjoined to an annulet, they fit a pattern of combined charges that we have registered for many years, and are at most one step from period practice. [dwin of Skye, 03/01, A-Caid]"

Canute: Per bend sinister nebuly azure and sable, a Norse sun cross argent and double rose argent and azure
Clear

Femke: This seems clear of conflict. 
However, the azure and sable field with a complex line of division seems to have a contrast problem, at least on my screen.

Ary: RE: Escutcheon's note.  In the past, Escutcheon has only had the power to return submissions that have incorrect paperwork.  Has this policy changed? Her name was on the 15Aug03 ILoI, which ILoAR has not yet been published.  The badge is unlike period style, but does not violate any SCA rules, and so should be sent forward.

{) Michael Of The Peaks -- (M) Device -- Potent sable and or, a rams head cabossed jessant-de-lys gules, on a chief indented a mountain of two peaks couped argent.}
(Brainer, MN)
Name was registered in August of 1992 in Caid.

Device Commentary:

AE & M: The complex line of division, combined with the complex field is not readily identifiable, especially since the indenting is much too small.

THE PRECEDENTS OF MASTER DA'UD IBN AUDA
Laurel King of Arms for the Society for Creative Anachronism
Decisions from the first year of his second tenure; covering the period November 1993 through June 1994.

"[Returning Gules, a chevron embattled potent between two reremice displayed and a tyger rampant Or.] The embattled line of division of the chevron is so badly broken up by the fur that while one can tell readily that "something" is going on there, it takes a little time to determine just exactly what. The complex line of division is simply not "readily identifiable", and ready identification is one of the hallmarks of period style heraldry. [5/94, p.21]"

"As a general rule, for a complex line of division to be sufficiently "big and bold", along a fess line this most frequently means three "bumps"; along a pale or bend line perhaps as many as five. [12a/93, p.17]"

Canute: - Potent sable and or, a rams head cabossed jessant-de-lys gules, on a chief indented a mountain of two peaks couped argent.

The indenting is too small to be identifiable.  The indents are mostly Or along  the line of the chief, which means that they lack contrast against the argent muontains.  Because of these factors, the indenting definitely violates RfS VII.7.a.

The sable, Or, argent, azure, gules, ram's head, fleur-de-lys, chief and mountains combine to give this a complexity count of nine.  This violates RfS VIII.1.

Clear - Return

Femke: This is really complex, with five tinctures, four charges, a complex line of division, and a fur as the field.  This would be much better on a plain field.  Also, the indented line of division is drawn too small.

Ary: There's some typos in the blazon: "Potent sable and _O_r, a ra_m's_ head cabossed jessant-de-lys gules, on a chief indented _azure_ a mountain of two peaks argent."  This has far too many indentations and should be returned for redrawing with about a fifth as many.  With five tinctures (sable, Or, gules, argent, azure), and four charges (head, fleur, chief, mountain), plus a complex field, this is on the borderline of the rule of thumb complexity limit.  If this is returned for redrawing, the submitter may want to consider simpler arms that are more in keeping with period style.

11) Ötwin Glantz -- (M) Device Resubmission: Per fess argent and gules, a latin cross sable and a gorgon’s head, cabossed argent.

The name was accepted by Rouge Scarpe June ‘03 and sent on to Laurel but the original device: Per fess argent and gules, a Latin cross sable and a Gorgon’s head cabossed argent, a bordure vert semé of oak leaves Or. Was returned at the same time.

Device Commentary:

Canute: Per fess argent and gules, a latin cross sable and a gorgons head argent
The cross should be a bit larger.
Clear

Femke: Deletion of the bordure seems to have cleared the problem that Rogue Scarpe returned the original device for: "The device is being returned for re-drawing. The oak leaves as drawn are NOT Or-they are a mix of argent and vert. There is also the complexity issue to consider. The device would be much better if the client were to simplify it upon resubmission."  It also remains clear of conflict.

Ary: His previous submission was returned for redrawing: "The device is being returned for re-drawing. The oak leaves as drawn are NOT Or-they are a mix of argent and vert. There is also the complexity issue to consider. The device would be much better if the client were to simplify it upon resubmission."
This redesign is much simpler and removes the previous problems.

XX) Sarah of Dun Or – Release and Transfer of Device

The client wishes to release and transfer her registered device, Per pale wavy azure and argent two goblets counterchanged a chief wavy or ermined azure, (reg. Sept 92) to Anne the Shy (see #1 above).

12) Thorfinn the Hunter -- (M) Name and Device -- Per pall argent, azure and vert between a fish anda stag’s head erased argent.
(Baxter, MN)

Thorfinn from Thorfinn Karlsfni (The Columbia Enclopedia, sxth ed. 2001)

The Hunter -- epithet for one who hunts

The client cares for meaning (Hunter).

Reblazoned as: Per pall argent, azure, and vert, a fish and a stags head erased argent

 Name Commentary:

 Femke: The given name <Thorfinn>, is found in Geirr Bassi Haraldssons The Old Norse Name, beginning with the letter thorn and ending with an r - <Thorfinnr>.  I couldnt find any evidence of a Norse byname meaning the Hunter.  Perhaps an Old English version?

Ary: <Thorfinn> is an anglicized form of the Old Norse <orfinnr>, which is in Geirr Bassi.  R&W s.n. Hunter have <Huntere> c1220, <la Hunter> 1312.  There is a weirdness for mixing English and Old Norse per the 01/2002 LoAR.  Since this is the only problem, this is registerable.

AE & M: Name:  From the Online OED, 2nd Ed.

"Hunter

1. A man who hunts.    a. One engaged in the chase of wild animals; a huntsman.

  c1250 Gen. & Ex. 1481 Esau wilde man huntere, And Iacob tame man tiliere. c1386 CHAUCER Knt.'s T. 780 The hunters in the regne of Trace. c1420 Anturs of Arth. v, The hunteres thay haulen, by hurstes and by hoes. 1486 Bk. St. Albans Eiijb, The hunter shall rewarde hem then with the hede. 1590 SPENSER F.Q. II. iii. 21 A goodly Ladie clad in hunters weed. 1692 LUTTRELL Brief Rel. (1857) II. 639 Last Satturday 9 highwaymen mett and robb'd 7 hunters, near Ingerstone, in Essex. 1735 SOMERVILLE Chase I. 37 When Nimrod bold, That mighty Hunter, first made War on Beasts. 1865 LUBBOCK Preh. Times xvi. (1869) 581 In a population which lives on the produce of the chase, each hunter requires on an average 50,000 acres."

Device Commentary:

Canute: Per pall argent, azure and vert, a fish and a stags head erased argent
Contrast forces the arrangement.
This is a bit unbalanced.
Clear

Ary: "Between" is not correct here.  This is just "Per pall argent, azure and vert, a fish and a stag's head erased argent." 

Femke: Device The blazon should be Per pall argent, azure, and vert, a fish and a stags head erased argent.  It is clear of conflict.  However, the fish should probably be drawn a little larger.

Done by my hand this 28th day of January, 2004

Rory mac Feidhlimidh, OP
Dragon Principal Herald
820 E Monroe St.
Bloomington, IL 61701

herald@midrealm.org

^{1 Master John’s Bibliography (he kindly provided copies of all the sources he cited in his commentary):}

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