This is the September 2004 Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon’s July 2004 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. Commentary, rulings, etc. by Rouge Scarpe are placed in small cap print. Thanks to Canute, Mikhail and AElfreda, Femke (M&A), the SW Ohio Commenting Consortium (Ohio), John ap Wynne, Aryanhwy (Ary), and Master Talan Gwynek for this month’s commentary.

{1) Andelcrag, Barony of, "La Ricompensa Della Farfalla" - New Badge - Purpure, three monarch butterflies displayed proper within a bordure Or.}

"La Ricompensa Della Farfalla" (or Award of the Butterfly) for the Barony of Andelcrag.

A petition is included by the Barony's officers.

Commentary

Canute - There is a weirdness for the new world monarch butterfly. Clear.

M&A - We were unable to determine if this New World butterfly was ever described in period, but since it winters in Mexico in large numbers it is likely to have been seen and described by the Spanish. From: “Butterflies of Northern Mexico”

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/mx/92.htm "At the Mexico wintering sites, butterflies roost in trees and form huge aggregations that may have millions of individuals." However, since it is effectively orange, which is considered a color, this badge must be returned for insufficient contrast. From the Precedents of Francois la Flamme: "It is also important to note that the Crayola-marker orange used to tincture this charge classes as a color rather than a metal. It thus cannot be used as a charge on a purple chief. [Randall Carrick, 10/01, R-Outlands]. "

Femke - Other commenters have already noted the potential contrast problem between the orange butterflies and the purpure field.

Ohio - We had questions of contrast in view of the proper colouration on the butterflies. At a distance the sable component did not contrast sufficiently with the purpure field. We would recommend altering the charge tincture to Or, as tenne is not a useable option. Otherwise, another butterfly could be specified as proper to achieve the same effect. Design wise it seems workable. Recommend return for contrast. The question of the specification of Monarch Butterflies came up, and it seems very plausible that these would be known in period despite being a New World species, due to their migration to Mexico and other areas of Spanish occupation. We think, anyway.

Ary - Because monarch butterflies are predominantly orange and black (both of which are colors), placing them on a color field is not allowable by RfS VIII.2.b.i. If the butterflies were redrawn as Or, this problem would be removed.

This is clear of Liùsadh ni Nheill (reg. 11/1984 via the West), "Purpure, two papillions in pale Or," by adding the bordure (X.4.b) and changing the number of butterflies (X.4.f). I found nothing else close.

Talan - Missing space before bordure. [Fixed] It's going to be a judgement call whether the butterflies have adequate contrast with the field. I'm inclined to be a little lenient in the case of award insignia, but it really would be better if they were gold.

I've a suspicion that it really means 'the butterfly's reward'.

Return for RfS VIII.2.b.i contrast problems

2) Bartholomew McMullins - New Name and {Device - Argent, a triquitria vert}

[Bartholomew]-- one of the 12 apostles mentioned in the gospel list (Matthew 10:13; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14) www.newadvent.org/cathen/02313.htm

[McMullins] -- http://www.clanmacmullins.org/spelling.htm
Mullin's is client's mother's maiden name

Client wants 13th-14th century Irish/Scottish name

Name Commentary

John – Bartholomew: see Reany-Wilson (pg. 30); Withycombe (pg. 43); Norman (pg. 35) lists this as a very popular name between 1154 – 1399

McMullins: see Reany-Wilson (pg. 316); Black (pp. 543-544) under MacMillan.

Femke - While Biblical names have been ruled acceptable, the documentation provided for the byname is entirely insufficient. But we can do better: Withycombe says: “It is not found in use in England before the Conquest, but it was very common from the 12th C onwards. The cult of Saint Bartholomew was popular (there are 165 church dedications to him in England) and his relics were widely diffused. …In Ireland Bartholomew is used as an equivalent of the Irish Portholan.” Now, since Parthalón is dated to 1390 in Mari Elspeth nic Bryan’s “Index of Names in the Irish Annals,” http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Parthalan.shtml, this name could be justified as an Anglicanized form of Parthalón Mac Maolain, which would be better spelled Bartholomew MacMullen. The Maolain byname is discussed in MacLysaght’s “The Surnames of Ireland, and was found in both Ireland and Scotland.

Ohio - The given URL for the surname is non-functional.  Bartholomew was found in Withycombe including the variant portholan, and in the anglicised spelling in Woolfe. Mullins was found in MacLysacht. The name is probably reasonable. Recommend return for improper charge.

Talan > [McMullins] -- http://www.clanmacmullins.org/spelling.htm

No such URL exists. My best guess is that it's supposed to be <http://www.clanmacmillan.org/Spellings.htm>. It's pretty worthless as documentation anyway, since the spellings aren't dated and represent two different Gaelic patronymics.

> Mullin's is client's mother's maiden name

Her maiden name is Mullin’s, with an apostrophe? It seems unlikely. In any case, her maiden name is irrelevant unless two conditions are both met: (1) her maiden name is McMullins, and (2) the Legal Name Allowance extends to mothers' maiden names. The ILoI does not support (1), and if (2) is true, that's something new since my time.

Device Commentary

Canute - This isn't a triquerta. It is unblazonable and irreproducible from blazon. Return for violating RfS VII.7

M&A - We agree that this charge is not identifiable.

Femke - This is not a standard knot, and therefore must be returned.

Ohio- We're not sure what this charge is, but it is not anything like the triquetra (assuming that's what was intended) that we could find in any standard reference. It could be overlying an annulet, but that still doesn't explain those "flaps" in the wings. They look a bit like a cardiac semilunar valve, but we doubt that's an acceptable charge, either. Recommend return for improper charge.

Ary - This is not a standardly drawn triquetra (note spelling), and the submitted blazon does not mention the fact that it is in fact overall an annulet. I do not know of a way to blazon this variant drawing of the triquetra, and the argents parts of it on the argent field have poor contrast, which is not registerable (VIII.2.b.i).

This conflicts with John the Dragon Protector (reg. 02/1980 via Atenveldt), "Argent, an annulet vert, enflamed without proper." There is one CD for adding the overall triquetra (X.4.c), but none for removing the enflaming, per precedent:

"Conflict ... no difference ... for removing the small tufts of flame. [Piera da Ferrara, 04/03, R-Atlantia]"

Talan - 'Triquitria'? Is this meant to be triquetra? The charge isn't one: a triquetra lacks the circular arcs and the 'labiae minorae' in the lobes. It isn't anything that I've ever seen before. The colored emblazon is worse: the 'labiae minorae' seem to be the same tincture as the field.

Name passed to Laurel

Device returned for conflict and non-identifiable charge. Client will also be advised to not color the field in a silver/gray color but to leave it white.

3) Brjánn inn rammi – {Device Resubmission - Vert, on a Wing conjoined in lure argent, a torch enflamed proper}

Name registered June 2003

The clients previous submission - Chevronelly vert and Or, a Thor’s hammer argent. was returned by Rouge Scarpe, Feb '03 for conflict.

Commentary

Canute - Vert, a torch sable winged argent enflamed gules fimbriated Or. Talan covered the problems quite nicely. Return for multiple style problems

M&A - Suggested blazon: Vert, two wings conjoined in lure argent charged

with a torch sable enflammed gules fimbriated Or. From the Precedents of Francois la Flamme: "Flames are too complex in shape to be fimbriated. Flames proper are drawn correctly using alternating tongues of Or and gules flame, rather than gules fimbriated Or." We suggest return for incorrect flames.

Femke - Device – clear

Ohio - Possible reblazon " Vert, on wings conjoined in lure argent a torch enflamed" The torch isn't entirely "on" the wings, and "bearing" isn't appropriate. We question whether this is a blazonable position. Possibly fixable with a redraw. Remanded to superior judgement.

Ary - This needs a reblazon. You cannot have just one wing conjoined in lure (what's it conjoined with?) This is "two wings conjoined in lure", or more simply "a vol". The torch is not on the wings, since part of it lies on the field. It is thus "overall".

The enflaming is drawn improperly: "Flames are too complex in shape to be fimbriated. Flames proper are drawn correctly using alternating tongues of Or and gules flame, rather than gules fimbriated Or (which, in earlier days of SCA heraldry, had been considered a correct form of proper flames). See the Cover Letter for the April 1995 LoAR for more discussion on proper flames. [Giovanna da Ferrara, 12/01, R-Meridies]"

This must be returned for redrawing. I found no conflicts.

Talan - There is no such thing as a wing conjoined in lure; it takes two to conjoin them. The torch is sable, the flames are gules fimbriated or, not proper. The depiction of flames proper as flames or fimbriated gules and gules fimbriated or has been grounds for return for many years. An example is the 6/2000 return of Usama al-Rashid's coat, submitted through Meridies as Argent, a brazier sable enflamed proper between in cross four decrescents gules:

Finally, the torch enflamed is neither on the wings, as it is blazoned – in particular, the flames lie entirely on the field – nor overall, and I see no acceptable way to blazon the actual relationship. This will have to be returned for multiple stylistic problems.

Return for redraw and funds. It was over a year since the original return.

4) Christian Blood - Device Resubmission - Azure, an axe within a bordure argent.

Blazon changed to: Azure, a double-bitted axe within a bordure argent.

Name sent to Laurel May 2004

Device was returned in May 2004 to be redrawn by Rouge Scarpe. "It needs better identifiability and larger bordure. I do not believe there is a conflict."

Commentary

Canute - Note that under current precedent, there is no difference for changing the tincture of the hafts of the axes: "[A woodaxe reversed argent] Conflict with... a battle axe Or, headed argent, the edge to sinister... In each case there is... nothing for the change in tincture of the handle only." (LoAR June 1992 p.18). [Sefferey of Wessex, 02/02, A-Meridies] Precedents - François, under Axe

Olaf of Forgotten Sea - October of 1992 (via Calontir):

Azure, a double-bitted axe argent, the haft of wood proper entwined by an asp Or, a bordure Or ermined azure.

Single CD for secondary tincture. No CD for tincture of haft or the effectively maintained asp.

Eric Lee - December of 1996 (via Ansteorra):

Azure, seven double-bitted axes in annulo a bordure argent.

Single CD number of primaries. At least one of the seven in annulo is certainly within the range described as palewise. Take away the other six and the sole remaining axe moves to the center of the field. There is no CD for orientation, arrangement or placement. Everything except the number of primanies is forced by the change in number.

I do not believe that there isn't a conflict.

Femke - Much better! But does the fact that the axe is double-bitted need to be specified in the blazon? [Yes, as there are different types of axes]

Ohio - The rsubmission appears to have redressed the earlier fault. Recommend pass.

Ary - I found no conflict.

Talan - Axes are single-bladed by default, so the blazon will have to be modified. In a pinch this one could be blazoned simply a double-bitted axe, but that suggests a rather different overall shape. Its shape is just a little different from the prototype labrys in the PicDic, but this axe is still probably best described as a labrys: Azure, a labrys within a bordure argent.

I am passing this to Laurel for a determination on whether or not there is a conflict. Many of the Senior Heralds agree that there is no conflict so we shall let the experts of the CoA decide. While I see what Talan is referring to I am still going to blazon this as a double bitted axe as this tends to look a bit like both of them. Again, let the experts decide.

5) Cú Chonnacht Ó Tighernáin - Device Resubmission - Bendy sinister vert and erminois.

Name registered October 2003

The original device was returned by Laurel in October 2003 for conflict. The client had submitted a permission to conflict with the original submission but it wasn't signed. He has resubmitted the same device with a signed permission to conflict with Brenna the Disinherited (Bendy sinister of four vert, argent, purpure and argent).

Commentary

Rouge Scarpe – Very nice device!!

Canute - The ermine spots should be a bit larger.
Jhone de Wodecote - August of 2003 (via Ealdormere): Lozengy vert and erminois.

Clear by RfS X.4.a.ii.(a)

Brenna the Disinherited - July of 1988 (via An Tir):Bendy sinister of four vert, argent, purpure and argent.
Single CD for tincture, permission to conflict.

Femke - Device – Clear.

Ohio - Interesting device. Pain to check. recommend pass.

Ary - Kudos to the submitter both for getting the letter of permission to conflict straightened out and redrawing the ermine spots in a period fashion. This looks good to go.

Talan - It's a poor choice of greens: too dark. This is not reason for return, but he ought to be told.

Pass to Laurel

6) David de Clermont - New Name and Device - Gryonny argent and sable, a cross formy gules within a bordure counterchanged.

NOTE: These are not new submissions but changes. The clients registered name Ian Roy Gordon was registered in April 1996 along with the device Azure, a sword proper and on a chief embattled argent three crosses formy gules. I have contacted the client and he wishes to release the current device if this one should pass.

[David] -- "An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris" http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/paris.html

[Clermont] -- "City of France, site of the Council of Clermont, 1095" (Encyclopedia Brittainica, etc.)

Client will *not* accept a holding name. Also, he wants a 12th century Norman/French name.

Name Commentary

Femke - Not sure if this is a normalized spelling for Clermont, but otherwise OK.

Ohio - Name seems good. Clermont was also the town in "Kelly's Heroes", so we recommend pass with two thumbs up.

Talan - Typo: Britannica

The Paris data are almost a century later than he wants; let's see what we can do about that. Morlet II:39b has David 1032x64, 1040, as well as numerous examples of David in the 10th c. 12th c. citations are pretty thin on the ground in the usual sources, but Léopold Delisle, ed., Rouleaux des Morts du IXe au XVe Siècle (Paris: Libraire de la Société de l'Histoire de France, 1871), reprinted in 1968 by the Johnson Reprint Corporation, New York, does contain several rouleaux des mort from the 12th c. The one for Mathilde, daughter of William the Conqueror and abbess of la Trinité de Caen, is dated to 1113; among the people to be prayed for are David prior at the abbey of Saint-Michel en l'Erm (p. 237) and David monach[us] at the abbey of Saint-Maur des Fossés (p. 251). The one for Vital, abbot of Savigny, dated to 1122, mentions a David at the abbey of Saint-Évroul (p. 325). All in all, it seems clear that the name was in continuous use right through his period.

The encyclopedia article merely establishes that the city existed; it says nothing about appropriate forms of the name. Dauzat & Rostaing s.n. Clermont note quite a few places so named, but, as is to be expected, most of the early citations are Latinized (e.g., de Claromonte 1110, de Claro Monte 1125); they do have the Old French form Claremunt 1254 for the one in the department of Landes.

Reaney & Wilson s.n. Claremont are actually more helpful, noting a byname de Clermunt 1185 for a member of a family of French origin; the Anglo-Norman here is consistent with Continental usage.

Note that the vowel of the second syllable is u even in the 1254 citation; this is pretty typical of the period, so if he really wants a 12th c. name, I'd make the very minor change to David de Clermunt.

Device Commentary

Rouge Scarpe – Very nice device!

Canute - Marke von Mainz - July of 1991 (via Ansteorra): Gyronny argent and sable, a cross moline and a bordure gules.
CD type of cross, CD tincture of bordure.

Raffe Pencestre - July of 1992 (via Calontir): Gyronny argent and sable, three crosses formy within a bordure counterchanged.
CDs for the number and tincture of the primaries.

Clear

Femke - This will come down to whether or not there is a CD for cross Moline vs. Cross Formy: Marke von Mainz The following device associated with this name was registered in July of 1991 (via Ansteorra): Gyronny argent and sable, a cross moline and a bordure gules.

Ohio - Nice device.

Ary - Bordures are allowed to be counterchanged over gyronny fields: "Bordures may be counterchanged over a gyronny field. We have many period examples of bordures compony, which are almost the same in appearance as bordures gyronny. Because the bordure counterchanged has large enough pieces to maintain its identifiability, and it looks like a common multiply divided period bordure, it may be accepted without explicit documentation of a bordure counterchanged on a gyronny field. [Wulfgar Neumann, 03/02, P-Outlands]"

This is close to Marke von Mainz (reg. 07/1991 via Ansteorra), "Gyronny argent and sable, a cross moline and a bordure gules." There is one CD for the tincture of the field, and there should be another one for a cross moline vs. a cross formy.

Talan - Typo: Gyronny

Name will be changed to David de Clermunt and passed to Laurel.

Device passed to Laurel.

7) Drakelaw, Shire of - Resubmission Name and Device - Sable, on a pale argent a dragon's head couped countourney sable between in chief two laurel wreaths argent.

Blazon changed to: Sable, on a pale between in chief two laurel wreaths argent a dragon's head couped contourny sable.

The original submissions were "Black Dragon, Shire of" returned Oct. 2000 for lack of documentation and the device: "Sable, on a pale argent, a dragon's head couped sable, overall a laurel wreath counterchanged." was returned with the name.

[Drakelaw] -- Reaney & Wilson under [Drakeley, Drakelow] . c. Robert Drakelows 1397 Test Eborac. From Drakelo (Db), Drakelow in Wolverley (Wo), or Dragley (La)."

[Drake], [Drakes], [Drakers] -- According Reaney & Wilson "... OF dragon was used in ME of a battle-standard as well as of a serpent or water-monster. The surname is clearly sometimes a nickname and is also metonymic for Draker "standard-bearer": Godman the Drakere 1260 AssC ..."

[Law], [Lawes], [Laws]: -- Reaney & Wilson: c. John de la Law '1208 Cur "... OE hlaw "hill, burial-mound"; which became Low in the south but Law in the North."

Petition is included.

Name Commentary

Ohio - The name construction seems plausible but we question the applicability of the presented documentation. The documentation seems to support the construction of a personal name, not a place name. There is very likely useful documentation available, but we don't have it. Recommend pass provisionally - better documentation from someone better at onamastics than us. Or reject, and make them do it. They just got a new pursuivant so he needs something to do.

Talan - There are several typos in this supposed quotation. It should read:

Drakeley, Drakely: Robert Drakelowe 1397 TestEbor. From Drakelow (Db), Drakelow in Wolverley (Wo), or Dragley (La).
The byname cited is de la Law'; the apostrophy is misplaced above.

The name is basically fine, but the documentation is nearly useless; I'd ignore it and start from scratch. Ekwall s.n. Drakelow, referring to the one in Derbyshire, has the citations (æt) Dracan hlawen 942, Drachelawe DB, and Drakelawe 1175. A.H. Smith, English Place-Name Elements s.v. hlâw 'a hill, a mound', confirms that this normally becomes law in the North Country (as noted above in Reaney & Wilson s.n. Law). (One of the defining features of the Northern dialects is retention of OE /a:/ when other dialects shifted it to ME /O:/.)

Ekwall s.nn. Mutlow, Spellow, names that also contain OE hlâw, offers the forms Motlowe 1354 and Spellowe 1306, respectively, and we may note that the 1397 byname Drakelowe offered by Reaney & Wilson s.n. Drakeley also retains the final -e. Watts has neither of these, but s.n. Drakelow he has Drakelow(e) 1310x1330; presumably the source spells the name both with and without the final -e. Reaney & Wilson s.n. Mutlow have the byname de Motelowe 1359; s.n. Harlow, de Herlaue 1121x1148, 1205, de Harlow 1327. Watts s.n. Cushat Law has Cousthotelaw ca.1200 in a 14th c. copy and Cowshotlaw 1536.

In short, Drakelawe is actually attested, and the evidence suggests that at least into the 14th c. the final -e was more commonly preserved than lost; we do have a couple of 14th c. examples without it, however, not to mention the 1536 Cowshotlaw, so the submitted form should also be acceptable, if perhaps a bit less medieval. I've used evidence from both -low(e) and -law(e) forms because the latter are harder to find. It doesn't really matter, because the question of final -e is the same in both cases. Indeed, it was generally lost earlier in the North, where modern -law forms are most likely, than elsewhere: Samuel Moore & Albert H. Marckwardt, Historical Outlines of English Sounds and Inflections (Ann Arbor: George Wahr Publishing Co., 1964), Ch. 7).

Device Commentary

Canute – Clear

M&A - Although the wreaths are rather open at the top, they are well-rounded. They might be acceptable to Laurel.

Femke - My question is, are we clear of this? I presume that when the RfS says that laurel wreaths are invisible for purposes of conflict, it means that they are not counted as part of a charge group if both devices being compared have them. Otherwise, they are. So we should have 1 CD for the luarel wreaths, and another for changing the type and tincture of the charge on the pale.

Pwyll pen Tyrhon Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in January of 1973:

Sable, on a pale argent a decrescent gules.

Ohio - reblazon "Sable, on a pale between two laurel wreaths in chief argent a dragon's head couped contourny sable." Device looks good, especially for group arms. Recommend pass provisionally pending reblazon.

Ary - The blazon needs some reordering: "Sable, on a pale between in chief two laurel wreaths argent, a dragon's head couped contourny sable."

The wreaths need to be redrawn:

"... the laurel wreath is not drawn correctly. "A properly drawn laurel wreath should not have sufficient room between its tips to place another charge. [Darkstone, College of, 02/00, R-Middle]" [Uma, Shire of, 10/01, R-Drachenwald]"

"It must also be returned for stylistic reasons. Laurel wreaths must, by long standing precedent, be drawn in a circular, or mostly circular, shape...[Fiodnach Eoghan, Shire of, 11/01, R-Trimaris]"

This is clear of Blackmoor Keep, Shire of (reg. 11/1994 via Meridies), "Sable, on a pale between in chief two fleurs-de-lys argent, a laurel wreath vert and a tower sable," one CD for the changes to the tertiaries (X.4.j.i (or .ii)), and one for changing the type of secondaries (X.4.e).

Talan - Typo: contourny

Normally one mentions secondary charges before tertiary charges. Corrected blazon: Sable, on a pale between in chief two laurel wreaths argent a dragon's head couped contourny sable.

Name and Device passed to Laurel. Note: the Laurel wreaths are round.

8) Eginolf von Basel - New Name and {Device - Per bendy azure and gules, a wolf's head ululant, erased and sinister Or, maintaining an egg in its mouth argent, on a chief Or three eagles displayed gules.}

Blazon changed to: Bendy azure and gules, a wolf's head erased contourny ululant Or maintaining in its mouth an egg argent and on a chief Or three eagles displayed gules.

[Eginolf] -- http://s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germ13.htm "... mentioned twice in 1200-1250 archive of Marburg."

[von] -- of

[Basel] -- Client provided a map of Germany dated 1138-1254
The Holy Roman Empire under Hohenstaufen

Client wants 10th -12th century Germanic name

Name Commentary

Ohio - The referenced URL for the name is bogus, but we assume Talan will be all over that since it's his. Recommend return with a stern warning.

Talan - > [Eginolf] -- http://s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germ13.htm

"... mentioned twice in 1200-1250 archive of Marburg."

There is no such URL; it should be <http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/germ13/>. There is nothing like the passage above in quotation marks; Marburg is simply one of the cities in which the book that was my source was printed. The names are in fact from documents of the monastery at Arnsburg. Eginolf appears only once; the second citation is for the variant Einolfus.

> [von] -- of

> [Basel] -- Client provided a map of Germany dated1138-1254 The Holy Roman Empire under Hohenstaufen

I doubt that very much; most likely the submitter provided a modern map showing Germany in the period 1138-1254.

> Client wants 10th-12th century Germanic name

The best source, then, is Socin, which is based primarily on names from the region around Basel, though he does occasionally go a bit further afield. Socin (13f) has the following citations for the forename: Egnolfus 1102, Egnolfus de Lantsperg 1212, Egenolf Ku[e]cheli 1298, Egenolf 1299 = Egnolf 1300. (The name was confused at an early date with Egilolf, and most of these people also appear as some variant of that name; e.g., Egnolfus 1102 is also in record as Egilolfus 1106.)

In his period it's hard to find German locative bynames that aren't Latinized. Socin's earliest examples of bynames meaning 'of Basel' are D. miles de Basilea 1166x1179 and domina Elisabet de Basilea 1164x1176 (p. 252). His earliest German-language examples are Cu[o]nrat von Basel 1286 and Cu[o]nrat von Basil 1298 (pp. 311, 637); here u[o] stands for a u with an o directly above it. The earliest available German-language examples of any kind are of the ethnic, non-prepositional type: Hugo et Wernherus dicti Basler milites 1253 (p. 303) and Berchtold Baselär 1219 (Brechenmacher s.n. Basel(er)).

On p. 246 Socin does have a few examples of German prepositional locatives from the submitter's period, specifically from 1063x1077, including Etich von Waltbach, Diemar von Tureheim, and Ebo von Miminhusin.

The city's name is from Roman Basilea; the earliest documentary mention is from 374 CE (e.g., <http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel> and <http://www.basel.ch/index.php?lang=de&ctool_page_id=00000016>).

Putting all of the pieces together, we see that Egnolfus de Basilea would be an excellent Latinized 12th c. name. A German form is a bit more problematic; the obvious choices would make it Egnolf von Basil, but Brechenmacher's Baselär 1219 suggests that von Basel might well be reasonable in the late 12th c., and Eginolf 1200x1250 from Arnsburg is reasonable support for a late 12th c. Eginolf, albeit from a good 100 miles or more to the northeast of Basel. The submitted form is very likely within the range of normal variation ca.1200.

Device Commentary

Canute - Bendy gules and azure, a wolf's head erased ululant to sinister Or maintaining an egg in its mouth argent on a chief Or three eagles gules.

There is a weirdness for the non-period SCA compatible ululant posture. The bendy gules and azure violates RfS VIII.2. The maintained egg is unidentifiable. All of the charges need to be larger. Return for multiple style problems.

M&A - The field has too many pieces to be bi-colored. Also, the "stripes" are of uneven width. We suggest return for style problems.

Femke - While I find no conflicts, the egg is so tiny as to be unidentifiable. The wolf also gave me some trouble. This may need to be returned for a redraw on these grounds.

Ohio - Reblazon to "Bendy azure and gules, a wolf's head ululant erased contourny Or maintaining in it's mouth an egg argent and on a chief Or three eagles displayed gules." Eewww. Aside from the obvious issues with artistic presentation the wolf's head is much too small and not clearly identifiable, and the egg is virtually invisible. Poor design lacking good overall contrast and very high complexity.

Ary - This is just "Bendy", not "per bendy". A few other minor corrections need to be made to the blazon, making this "Bendy azure and gules, a wolf's head erased ululant contourny Or maintaining in its mouth an egg argent, on a chief Or three eagles displayed gules."

The field has unacceptable contrast per VIII.b.iv, and must be returned.

I also note this precedent: "[wolf's heads erased ululant] This seems a good time to remind the College that the blazon term ululant, indicating that the animal has its head up and is howling, is not a period blazon term: "While we allow wolves and foxes to be ululant, the head posture is an SCA invention. It is possible that had the head posture been introduced today we would not allow it. Allowing ululant wolves is a step beyond period practice; allowing anything but canines to use the position is two steps beyond period practice and therefore grounds for return" (LoAR December 2000). [W{u"}lfer Drachenhand, 02/02, A-AEthelmearc]"

I agree with other commenters that the egg is too small to be identifiable. Because of the style issues, I have not conflict checked these arms.

Talan - Corrected blazon: Bendy azure and gules, a wolf's head erased contourny ululant or maintaining in its mouth an egg argent and on a chief or three eagles displayed gules.

The egg is nearly invisible. Erased actually means 'torn out by the roots'; this is a very poor depiction. The outermost traits of the bendy field are much wider than the others. None of these is fatal, but the violation of RfS VIII.2.b.iv is: the field is multiply divided, and the tinctures do not have good contrast under the rules. Since it has to be returned, the submitter should be informed of the artistic shortcomings as well.

Name passed to Laurel

Device returned for violations of RfS VIII.2.b.iv. Client will be informed of stylistic problems as well.

9) Khalil ibn Yusuf al-Balansi - Device Resubmission - Per fess indented argent and azure, in saltire two quill pens vert and an open scroll fesswise argent.

Blazon changed to: Per fess indented argent and azure, two quill pens in saltire vert and an open scroll fesswise argent.

Submitter’s name was on the March 2004 XLoI to Laurel.

The original submission was returned by Rouge Scarpe in March 2004 for the following reason: “The Device is being returned for re-drawing….the scroll needs to be either palewise or obviously bendwise, not the pseudo-trian way that it is drawn”

The redraw address that problem.

Commentary

Canute – Clear

Femke - Device – Clear.

Ohio - We like it! Don't see why it was originally returned. Recommend pass.

Ary - I found no conflicts with these arms.

Talan – (Re: Escutcheon finding no reason for return) That blazon was incorrect. The only difference between that coat and this one is the orientation of the scroll: on the 12/2003 ILoI it was palewise, while on this one it's fesswise.

Passed to Laurel

10) Khalil ibn Yusuf al-Balansi - Badge Resubmission - Azure, on an open scroll fesswise argent in saltire two quill pens vert

Blazon changed to: Azure, on an open scroll fesswise argent, two quill pens in saltire vert.

(Esct. Note: I couldn't find a reason that it was returned by Rouge Scarpe. The original blazon was Azure, on an open scroll argent in saltire two quill pens vert. )

Returned by Rouge Scarpe March 2004 for the following reason: “Again, the scroll is halfway between palewise and bendwise. We are returning this submission (along with the noted potential conflicts) so the client can decide which direction he wants the scroll to sit.”

Again, this corrects the problem.

Commentary

Canute – Clear

M&A - Possible conflict with Yale University (registered in December of 1994): Azure, an open book argent charged with Hebrew letters sable. There is one CD for the changes to the tertiaries. However, there does not appear to be a definite precedent as to whether or not there is a CD between scrolls and books. We are not sure about visual differences between them when they are both open, i.e. when they are both more or less a long rectangle.

Femke - Clear. I think last time we ran afoul of this: Euphemia of the Willows Either the name or the following device associated it (or both) were registered in January of 1973: Azure, a blank parchment palewise proper, crossed by a pen reversed Or, quilled sable.

Ary - This may conflict with Yale University (reg. 12/1994 via Laurel), "Azure, an open book argent charged with Hebrew letters sable." There is one CD for the changes to the tertiaries (X.4.j.i or .ii). Precedent is silent on whether there is a CD between an open scroll and a book. The closest I found was:

"The use of two similar but non-identical charges in a group has been cause for return many times in the past. A scroll is one kind of book and a book is another." (LoAR 7/91 p.24).

This rule, aka the sword and dagger rule, applies to charges that are blazoned differently but do not get a CD from each other (e.g. compass stars and suns, swords and daggers, etc.). This leads me to believe that there is _not_ a CD for type, and thus this would be a conflict. However, given the uncertainty, this should be forwarded to Laurel with a request for a ruling.

Talan – (Re: Escutcheon’s commentary on finding no ruling for the return) Again, the scroll was palewise on the 12/2003 ILoI.

From MK Heralds:

Talan: Unless one is looking for ways to create conflicts, there is no reason to assume such a connection between a style rule and a conflict rule. The inference is especially dubious with such a questionable instance of the sword-and-dagger rule. (The notion that scrolls and books are similar charges is absurd.)

Ary: This was not an assumption. It was based on a statement made by one of the soveriegns or ex-sovereigns of arms at Known World two weekends ago - that what counts for the 'sword and dagger' rule are charges that are blazonably distinct but are not granted a CD from each other

Talan: If it was one of the old ones, then there's no reason not to challenge the notion now, and if it was one of the new ones, then the idea should be fought from the start, because it's sheer conflict-mongering. In the case of this particular coat it should also be pointed out in the LoI that even if such a policy is followed, Da’ud’s decision that scrolls and books fall under the sword-and-dagger rule was unreasonable.

In any case, there's a recent precedent that strongly implies that there is no conflict:

Open and closed books are clearly more similar than books and scrolls; if there's a CD between the former, there should certainly be one between the latter.

Ary: It was my understanding that the ruling was made based primarily on the period use of these charges, and not so much on visual difference. Thus, unless a similar argument can be made about the period usage of scrolls (which I have no idea about), I don't consider this precedent to say anything one way or another on the topic at hand.

Talan: Of course it does. It was based on the observation that books used in a given coat are consistently open or consistently closed and hence not used interchangeably. Do you really imagine that books and scrolls were used interchangeably?

Ary: Read what I said: I have no idea about the period usage of scrolls. When I have no knowledge, I prefer not to make assumptions. In armorial matters, I've been proved wrong enough to be VERY conservative in my efforts, and to always point out things that could possibly be problems, and note when I have no idea one way or the other beyond what the precedents say.

It is better to note a marginally possible conflict on the LoI than it is to say nothing at all - it makes the submissions herald look good, it allows commenters to expressly discuss the situation, and it makes the issue known to Wreath. None of these are bad things, and I will continue to point out arms where I am unsure if a conflict exists, and why. I do not see this as "searching for a conflict".

Passed to Laurel

11) Konrad Mailander - Resubmission Houshold {Badge - Per bend gules and sable, a bear{d} passant bendwish sinister Or}

The original submission "Per bend gules and sable, a bear passant bendwise Or" was returned Jun 'O3 for conflict.

The badge is to be registered to Konrad Mailander for his household "Haus Mailaner" which was registered by Laurel Oct 2003.

Commentary

Canute - [A bear passant bendwise sable] Conflict with the City of Berlin, Argent, a bear rampant sable. There is one CD for the change of field. Rampant animals often have a bendwise body posture, so rampant may often look much like passant bendwise. There seems to be no period pattern of use of passant bendwise animals other than those animals which lay on a bend. Therefore this bear cannot be given difference for posture from a bear rampant. [Tirloch of Tallaght, 10/01, R-Atlantia] Precedents - François, under POSTURE

Atalaya la Sanadora - April of 1997 (via Trimaris): Sable, a bear salient to sinister Or.

Single CD for field. Any conflict that applies to rampant will also apply to salient.

M&A - Conflict with Atalaya la Sanadora (badge registered in April of 1997 ) Sable, a bear salient to sinister Or. There is one CD for the field. Previous precedent has not given a CD between rampant and passant bendwise, nor between rampant and salient. Thus, we conclude that there is no CD between the passant bendwise contourny of Konrad's submission and the salient to sinister of Atalaya's badge.

From the precedents of Master François: "[A bear passant bendwise sable] Conflict with the City of Berlin, Argent, a bear rampant sable. There is one CD for the change of field. Rampant animals often have a bendwise body posture, so rampant may often look much like passant bendwise. There seems to be no period pattern of use of passant bendwise animals other than those animals which lay on a bend. Therefore this bear cannot be given difference for posture from a bear rampant. [Tirloch of Tallaght, 10/01, R-Atlantia]"

Also from Master François: "A dragon contourny is rampant to sinister, so again, there is no difference between rampant to sinister and salient contourny. [Erich von Drachenholz, 08/03, R-Caid]", and, "It is important to note that there is no consistent period distinction between rampant and salient for beasts or monsters. Heraldic treatises and dictionaries define these terms as generally upright postures (with the body ranging from palewise to bendwise), but the treatises are not in agreement on other specifics of the definitions of these postures, such as whether the beast's legs are together or apart."

Femke - Clear of conflict. The bear is rather difficult to identify as such.

Ohio - If Konrad grew either a beard or a bear I would expect either to be better fed. If it is sinister beard it must come from the "evil universe" where everyone has a beard or goatee. The badge itself seems alright. Judgement call on whether to return for redraw.

Ary - Typo: "bendwise". I found no conflict with this redesign.

Talan - A beard passant bendwish sinister sounds very intriguing, but this is a boring old bear passant bendwise sinister. (It actually looks more like an enfeebled old bear vainly attempting to manage rampant contourny, but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.)

Return for conflict with Atalaya la Sanadora per the precedents of Francois.

12) Marchers Keep - New Name and Device -Per Pale gules and argent, a castle within between three laurel wreaths counterchanged.

[Marcher] -- ""A History of Wales," by John Davies. "By the early years of the reign of Henry I (1100-1135), the boundary between the territories of the Marcher Lords and the territories which would remain under Welsh rule..."

[Keep] -- "The Medieval Castle" by Philip Warner, p 75. "The keep had walls twelve feet thick and projected like a ship's prow."

A Petition of support is included.

Name Commentary

Femke - The documentation provided seems inadequate to prove that either word was actually used in period, and I don’t have access to the OED. I will freely admit that I’m not good with name conflict, but what about this item: Bastion de la Frontière, Shire of The following device associated with this name was registered in September of 1988 (via Ansteorra): Which seems to have the same meaning? [This is not a problem: translations don’t conflict unless they’re also very similar in sound.]

Talan – The OED dates keep in the relevant sense to ante 1586, which is really too late for a convincing period place-name, but Reaney & Wilson s.n. Keep note Thomas ate Kepe 1327 and Robert de Kepe 1332. I have never found any evidence that the word was actually used in a period place-name, but it did exist as early as the first half of the 14^th century, and it has long been considered acceptable. The OED s.n. marcher has the quotation It is a frontier, and a Marchier Towne of this Shyre 1570-6; the plural is seen in Lordes Marchers 1535-6. At that time the plural and the possessive are normally spelled the same, so Marchers Keep is certainly a possible 16^th century spelling. However, the 1570-6 citation and my experience of English place-names in general suggest that Marcher Keep is actually a likelier form.

Device Commentary

Canute - Per pale gules and argent, a castle between three laurel wreaths counterchanged

Clear

Ohio - Nice device, esp for a group, and even the name isn't too twinkie. Would be nice if the wreaths were drawn bigger, but they work as is. Recommend pass.

Ary - "Pale" should not be capitalized, and there is an extra comma after "wreaths". These are lovely arms. They are clear of Gerard Casteleyn (reg. 09/1996 via the Outlands), "Per pale gules and argent, a castle within a bordure embattled all counterchanged," with a CD for changing the type of secondaries (X.4.e) and one for changing the number of secondaries (X.4.f).

Pended until client can provide correct number of copies

13) Marie la Fauconniere - New Name and Device - Azure, semy of hawks bells argent, a falcon erect

Blazon changed to: Azure semy of hawks bells, a falcon argent.

[Marie] --" French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles," p. 2
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/crusades/crusades.html

"French names from Paris, 1421, 1423, & 1438," p 9 & 10
www.ellipsis.cx/`liana/names/paris1423surnames.html

[la Fauconniere] -- --" French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles," p. 1 notes the existence of occupational bynames
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/crusades/crusades.html

"French names from Paris, 1421, 1423, & 1438," p 25 shows a very similar occupational byname, [le Faulconnier] appearing in 1421. Client prefers a feminization of the name.
http://www.ellipsis.cx/`liana/names/paris1423.html

Client will not accept major changes and cares most about meaning – Marie the Falconer or Marie of the falcons.

Name Commentary

Femke - Documentation seems adequate. I’m not familiar enough with French to guess whether the spelling is correct or not.

Ohio - Assuming the French feminization is correct the name seems pretty straightforward.

Device Commentary

Canute - Azure semy of hawks bells, a falcon argent
... there is another CD for changing the type of bird from an owl close to a falcon close. [Falco de Jablonec, 06/02, A-Drachenwald] Precedents - François, under BIRD -- Falcon and Hawk

Antonia d'Alessandria - December of 2003 (via Atenveldt): Azure, an owl close, maintaining in its talons a tuft of wool pendant therefrom a drop spindle argent.

CD bells, CD type of bird Clear

M&A - Suggested blazon: Azure, semy of hawk's bells, a falcon argent

Femke - There may be a conflict: Falco de Jablonec The following device associated with this name was registered in June of 2002 (via Drachenwald): Azure semy of apples Or, a falcon argent belled and jessed Or. I don’t think the bells and jesses count for difference, being such a small portion of the charge.

Ohio - Device as well. Recommend pass.

Ary - Reblazon: "Azure semy of hawk's bells, a falcon argent." ('Erect' is not a bird position, and falcons are close by default, so the posture does not need to be blazoned). Lovely arms! This is clear of Falco de Jablonec (reg. 06/2002 via Drachenwald), "Azure semy of apples Or, a falcon argent belled and jessed Or," with one CD for the type of secondaires (X.4.e), and one for the tincture (X.4.d).

name and device passed to Laurel

14) Mellilah al-Zarqah - Name and {device -Per fess argent and azure, in chief two crescents azure and in base on crescent argent}

Note: This is a Name Change and new device. If the new name is accepted the client wishes to use her previously registered name – Melisande d’Eyncourt as an alternate name.

Blazon changed to: Per fess argent and azure, three crescents counterchanged.

[Mellilah] -- "A List of Arabic Women's names" by Da'ud ibn Auda http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/arabicwomen.html
http://www.tamazgha.org/ismawen.htm [Mellila] "white/blanche"

[al-Zaqah] -- "Period Names and Naming Practices" by Da'ud ibn Auda http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/arabic-naming2.html
under feminine cognomens: " al-Zarqa [the blue-eyed]"

Name Commentary

Talan – The cognomen in Da’ud’s ‘Period Names and Naming Practices’ is al-Zarqa’ (note the apostrophe at the end, which represents a glottal stop); I can find no support for the submitter’s al-Zaqah. Mellilah is questionable. First, it does not appear in the list of feminine isms in the current version of ‘Period Names and Naming Practices’, which so far as I know supersedes Da’ud’s earlier work. Secondly, the site at <http://www.tamazgha.org/ismawen.htm> is a compilation of Amazigh (Berber) names by the Amazigh Cultural Association in America; some of these are Arabic or of Arabic origin, but Mellila is not identified as such, though the site indicates that it is related to Tuareg Tamallat and Kabyle Tamellalt. Tamazight and Kabyle, the main languages of the modern Berbers, belong to the Berber branch of the Afroasiatic family and are therefore only distantly related to Arabic, which belongs to the Semitic branch of that family, so the name’s appearance in this list is at best very weak evidence in its favor. [Note from RS: The surname was on the ILoI as al-Zaqah, which was a typo. The paperwork listed the name as al-Zarqah.]

Device Commentary

Canute - Per fess argent and azure, three crescents counterchanged

Rosalynd of Thornabe on Tees - April of 1994 (via the Middle): Per fess argent and azure, two birds respectant and a crescent counterchanged.

Single CD for type of half of primary group. Return for conflict

M&A - Conflict with Rosalynd of Thornabe on Tees (badge registered in April of 1994): Per fess argent and azure, two birds respectant and a crescent counterchanged. One CD for changing the birds in chief to crescents.

Femke - Per fess argent and azure, three crescents counterchanged. Clear.

Ary - The blazon can be simplified: "Per fess argent and azure, three crescents counterchanged." This conflicts with Rosalynd of Thornabe on Tees (reg. 04/1994 via the Middle), "Per fess argent and azure, two birds respectant and a crescent counterchanged." There is one CD for changing half the type of the primary charge group (X.4.e).

Name passed to Laurel

Device returned for conflict

15) Shamus Blackhart the Smith - Resubmission Name and Device - Argent, a heart and an anvil in pale within a bordure sable.
Blazon changed to: Argent, in pale a heart and an anvil, a bordure sable.

The name is being returned for a lack of documentation for Shammus. The Device must be returned with the name This is the same device as before.

The original return was June 2003 for lack of name documentation. The device was returned with the name.

[Shamus] -- Withycombe, p 266.

[Black] -- Reaney & Wilson, p 46

[Hart] -- Reaney & Wilson, p 219

Name Commentary

Femke - While Shamus is indeed documented in Withycomb as stated, commentary from the original submission implies that this spelling is modern. Master Talan suggested at that time that Shemus might be more appropriate. Commentary at that time also did not find any reasonable evidence for Blackhart, though Master Talan at that time suggested Evilheart might be an alternative with a similar meaning to that intended by the submittor. I’ve not found any new evidence to support the submittor’s spellings.

Ohio - Withycombe specifies that Shamus is the phonetic rendering of Seamas or Seamus. We question the registerability of a phonetic rendering. We might allow an exception for orcas. Recommend return for undocumentable name, or change submitted name to a period spelling.

Device Commentary

Canute - Akitsuki Yoshimitsu - November of 1988 (via Calontir): Argent, in pale a crescent inverted and a maple leaf within a bordure sable.

Eric of Bronzehelm - February of 1999 (via Artemisia): Argent, in pale a mullet of eight points and an eagle displayed, a bordure sable.

Single CDs for types of primaries. None of these qualify for RfS X.2.

Return for multiple conflicts.

M&A - Previous submission was April 15, 2003, with name returned in June 2003 (device returned along with the name). Device conflicts with Akitsuki Yoshimitsu (registered in November of 1988): Argent, in pale a crescent inverted and a maple leaf within a bordure sable, and Eric of Bronzehelm (registered in February of 1999): Argent, in pale a mullet of eight points and an eagle displayed, a bordure sable. There is one CD for changes to the primary charges, but since this is not simple armory (due to each device having 3 types of charges on the field) this does not count as Substantially Different Charges.

Femke - No conflicts noted. The closest I found was: Simkin Colfox

The following badge associated with this name was registered in February of 1997 (via Atlantia):

Argent, in pale a trefoil vert and an anvil within a bordure embattled sable. One CD for changing the type and tincture of 50% of the charge group, one for a plain bordure vs and embattled one.

Ohio - reblazon "Argent, in pale a heart and an anvil, a bordure sable".

Ary - Reblazon: "Argent, in pale a heart and an anvil within a bordure sable." I found no conflicts.

Name returned for proper lack of documentation.

Device returned with name.

16) Westmere, Canton of -- Device Resubmission -- Azure, a trident palewise, overall a laurel leaf, argent, and on a chief argent, two paw prints sable.

The device was returned for redrawing by Rouge Scarpe May, '03.

Note from RS: It was returned in May 2004

Commentary

Canute - The redraw doesn't address the irreproducibility from blazon of the arrangement of the charges. The laurel wreath doesn't evenly overlie the trident. It only overlies the head of the trident.

M&A - Possible blazon: Azure, a trident, its head encircled by a laurel wreath, on a chief argent two paw prints sable.

Femke - No conflicts noted.

Ohio - We question the relative positions of the trident and the wreath. The wreath isn't really overall, and doesn't really "surmount" the trident, only part of it. The basic design elements seem workable but the spatial relationships are not, in our opinion, blazonable. Any attempt to parse out a blazon that would account for the relationship would be extremely cumbersome if possible at all. Recommend return for re-design, perhaps with more explicit explanation of the issue. The last time apparently they didn't get it.

Ary - Was a petition of support included? This is not a laurel _leaf_, it is a laurel _wreath_. A number of the commas and tinctures can be removed: "Azure, a trident palewise overall a laurel wreath on a chief argent two paw prints sable." I found no conflicts.

Talan - Corrected blazon: Azure, a trident palewise surmounted by and its tines within a laurel wreath and on a chief argent two paw prints sable.

The geometric relationship between the trident and the wreath is problematic. The relationship has to be blazoned: this is not what I would draw from the blazon a trident surmounted by a wreath. On the other hand, the blazon is awkward, and surmounted gives a very inaccurate impression of the actual relationship. (As a general principle, there ought to be a significant and immediately obvious visual difference between A surmounts B and B surmounts A; in this case the coat would barely change if the trident surmounted the wreath.)

> The device was returned for redrawing by Rouge Scarpe May, '03.

No, it was returned just this past May, 2004.

I was going to pend this submission to await the petition of support, but instead I will return it for yet another redraw. This time the client shall have very explicit instructions on how and where to draw the laurel wreath.

17) William Kilmaron (M) - New Name

Note from RS: This is a Name Change.

His previous name, Kazmer Edvard, was registered April 1996.

[Kilmaron] - "The Surnames of Scotland," George F. Black, p 398

There is no documention for William (William is found in Withycombe, p. 293. It was introduced into England by the Normans in the 11^th century and was one of the most common men’s name from the 16^th – 19^th centuries.)

The client will not accept major changes and wants a name for 15th century Scotland.

Commentary

John – Client’s sources are just fine.

Femke - Kilmaron looks like an anglicized version of a Gaelic name – I don’t have Black and it’s not in McLyslaght. Withycombe has William in various forms from 1067. Uilliam can be found in OC&M as a borrowing of the Old German Willahelm, introduced to Ireland by the Normans. It would seem that William Kilmaron would be a reasonable name for a late period lowland Scot.

Ohio - After vigourous debate and in-depth research the consensus is that we can accept William as a plausible period name.

Passed to Laurel

In Service,

Mistress Elena de Vexin

Rouge Scarpe Herald