Greetings unto all who read these words from Lord Alan Fairfax, Rouge Scarpe Herald,
This is the Middle Kingdom Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Escutcheon's February 1998 Letter of Intent. 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.
I would like to thank Anders Olafsson, Volodymyr Blahuciak, Lady Ælfreda aet Æthelwealda, Lord Mikhail of Lubelska, Master John ap Wynne, Lady Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin , Lord Godwig Eadfirthing, Lord Musa ibn Ibrahim al-Athir, Lady Julia Argent, Master Dmitrii Volkovich, Doré van der Zee, Finduthal, Eirik Banna, and Morag nighean Dhuibhghiolla, for their commentary this month. I would also like to thank Lady Phebe Bonadeci, Lord Kevin Ambrjwski, and Conchobar mac Ghabann for helping in the preparation of the letter.
I will be camped with Grey Gargoyles at Pennsic and will be spending a significant amount of time at Herald's Point. It is always nice to put faces to names, so stop by--and, of course, stop by the Point. Consulting at War is the single best way to learn about practical SCA heraldry, and it provides an important service to the populace of the Known World. You need not be an expert to spend some time at the table. I hope to see you there!
{1) Angus James MacDonald--New Badge
=Argent, on a tower vert an anchor Or within a bordure purpure.
This badge conflicts with the badge of Ceridwen Dafydd, Argent, on a tower vert an equal-armed Celtic cross potent Or. There is one difference for the addition of the bordure. There is no difference for the change in type between an anchor and a Celtic cross because the tower is a complex charge. Changing the type of a tertiary charge counts as a difference when the tertiary is on a simple charge, but not when it is on a complex charge. (RfS X.4.j.ii) In a resubmission, the bordure should be made much thicker.}
2) Bronwen Torrens--New Name and Device
Per chevron inverted sable and vert, a chevron inverted between six mullets in pall inverted Or.
Bronwen is not a documentable medieval name, but it was ruled to be SCA-compatible by Laurel in the 6/96 cover letter. Torrens is dated to 1561 in Black, 775.
3) Clare Kidwelly--New Name
Clare is dated to 1379 in Withycombe, 67. Kidwellie (slightly different from the desired spelling) is dated to 1556 in Morgan & Morgan, 29.
4) Cünradus dictus Howenschilt--New Name {and Device
Or, three axes sable.}
Cünradus is found in Socin, 49. Howenschilt is found in Brechenmacher, I:666-667. {The term dictus, Latin for "called," is a standard term in medieval documents. The question was raised whether it was appropriate for a registered name, since it seems to indicate a nickname rather than a "real" name. It is not at all clear that medieval record-keepers saw a difference between a nickname and a "real" name, and I don't want to make assumptions based on our modern distinctions. Since we know that dictus was used in official records, it seems to me that it is, by definition, appropriate for registered names.
The device conflicts with Ulric of Ravensway, Or, a double-bitted bearded axe sable. There is only one CD for the number of charges.}
5) Cynemund of Caldrithig--New Name
The client documented Cynemund from Bede's Ecclesiastical History, III:15. Cynemund can also be found in Searle, 156. Caldrithig is a branch name registered in 1/96.
6) David O Kellahan--Device Resubmission
Per pale vert and sable, a wyvern between three dolmens argent.
The client's original device was returned by Laurel in 11/97. {The dolmen can be found in the PicDic under Architecture.}
7) David O Kellahan--Badge Resubmission
(Fieldless) A dolmen per pale vert and sable.
The client's original badge was returned by Laurel in 11/97.
8) Deirdre de Lacy of Meath--New Name and Device.
Gules, a Lacy knot argent between three roses Or.
The client documents Deirdre from Withycombe, 39 (1947 ed.) even though Withycombe says that the use of the name is "quite recent." As far as we know, there are no historical women named Deirdre. However, it has been registered often enough that we assume it can still be passed.
{The de Lacy family was given control of Meath in 1175, which raises the question of presumption. However, the form <family> of <place> only poses a problem in specific Scottish cases, where some combinations were used to identify the head of a clan. For non-Scottish names, this should not be a problem.
The Lacy knot is a standard heraldic charge. It was suggested that it may be presumptuous to use the Lacy knot with the family name Lacy, but we were not able to find a ruling to that effect. It was also suggested that the roses could be blazoned as kendal flowers. However, a Kendal flower has six lobes and so these are definitely roses.}
{9) Ealasaid Fahy a Glescu--New Name
The client provided no documentation for this name. Ealusaid can be found in a 15th-century Gaelic manuscript in the Scottish National Library, shelf-marked 72.1.1. Fahy can be found in Maclysaght, 102, as the English form of the Gaelic Ó Fathaigh. Glascu is listed as the Gaelic form of Glasgow in Hogan, Onomasticon Goedelicum.
Gaelic and English names cannot normally be registered in the same name. There is an exception for place-names, so that Fahy a Glascu is a reasonable construction. However, it is not possible to combine the English Fahy with the Gaelic Ealusaid.
The name Ealusaid Ó Fathaigh a Glascu is registerable, but the client has not allowed any changes. Thus we are going to pend this name until we contact the client.}
10) Frederich Holstein der Tollhase--New Name and Device.
{Per bend sinister azure and vert, a cow rampant ermine rising from flames proper.}
Frederich can be found in Bahlow, Mittlehochdeutsches Namenbuch, 149. The feminine Holsteinin is dated to 1382 in Brechenmacher, I:734. The form Tollhosse is dated to 1470 in ibid., I:324 and the modern spelling of Hase is dated to 1173 in ibid.
{The arms are blazoned as purpure but the laser-printed form definitely appears to be azure. We are pending these arms so that we can contact the client about the desired color. The cow is definitely a cow on the large emblazon.}
11) Gaston d'Aubrecicourt--Name Resubmission
The client's previous submission, Orengarde d'Aubrecicourt, was returned in 4/98 because Orengarde is a feminine name. According to Withycombe, 126, Gaston was introduced to France in the 13th century. Aubrecicourt can be found in Tuchman, A Distant Mirror, 166.
12) Geoffrey Storm--New Name and Device.
Azure, a lion rampant queue-forchy and on a chief argent three martlets contourny azure.
The client has asked for the spelling of his name to be corrected. Withycombe dates Geffrey to 1273, and we did not find any examples of Geoffrey that were definitely not standardized to the modern spelling. We leave it to the college to determine which spelling is most likely for his period. Storm is dated to 1206 in Reaney, 430.
13) Hróðgerisfjöðr, Canton of--New Group Device.
Sable, a heron volant, wings displayed and inverted, argent within a laurel wreath Or.
A petition of support is enclosed.
{14) Iames Alexander MacNaughton--New Name
The spelling Iames is dated to 1533 in Withycombe, 172. The spelling MacNaughton appears to be modern, from approximately 1800. Reaney & Wilson, 292, show MacNauchtane as a period form. The client has not allowed any changes, so we are pending this device while we attempt to contact him.}
15) Kateline atte Water--New Name
Kateline is dated to 1273 on Withycombe, 187. Atte Water is found in Reaney, 478.
{16) Keeldar MacLachlan--New Device
Argent, on a chevron enhanced between two acorns and a stag rampant argent, two thistles bendwise sinister and bendwise proper.
We were unable to find any evidence that the name was submitted, and so we are returning this device. Although the device is not great stylistically, it is registerable as is.}
17) Lettice Godfree--New Device
Azure, a compass star argent and a ford proper.
The client's name was registered 4/93. This device is clear of Nolendil of Trollingwood, Azure, a compass star argent and a base indented and enarched Or. There is one point of difference for the color of the base, and a second for the line of division. {It is also clear of the Barony of Rivenstar, Azure, a compass star argent. There is not a CVD (complete visual difference) between a compass star and a rivenstar, but there is a CD (clear difference) between them.}
18) Madeleine Valois--New Name and Device
Azure, a sun in its splendor Or, on a chief embattled argent three fleur-de-lys azure.
Madeleine and Valois are both found in Morlet, Dictionnaire Etymologique des Noms de Famille. Although Valois is the name of a French dynasty, it is also the name of a region in France. Since not all people named Valois were necessarily part of the royal family, it is not presumptuous in itself.
{The device is clear of Wendryn Townsend, Azure, a sun in glory Or. There is one CD for adding the chief and a second CD for adding the fleur-de-lys on the chief.}
19) Maria Louise von Lübeck--Device Resubmission
Azure, a lotus flower proper within a bordure argent.
The client's name was registered 9/89. The client's previous submission, Azure, a lotus flower proper, was returned by Laurel in 9/95. This submission is clear of Arabella Cleophea Winterhalter, Purpure, ermined Or, a lotus blossom in profile within a bordure argent. There is one difference for the change in tincture of the field and a second for the addition of the ermine spots. {Purpure, ermined Or is not a tincture, and so the ermine is considered to be equivalent to a semy. A lotus flower proper is argent, with leaves vert.}
20) Marie Boleyn--New Name
Boleyn is dated to 1524 in Reaney & Wilson, 72, under Boullin.
21) Niamh inghean Lachlainn--Name Resubmission
Submitted as Niamh nighean Lachlainn. The client documents Niamh with a letter from Mistress Tangwystl, who concludes that it is "quite plausible as a period feminine given name in early medieval Ireland." Tangwystl also suggested inghean, which the client changed to nighean under the impression that Tangwystl's spelling was a typo. Since it was not, we have changed it to the correct spelling. {nighean is a later form of inghean--don't ask me how late!) She documents Lachlainn from Macgregor, Feuds of the Clans, 20, which records that Lachlann Mór MacMhuraich was at the battle of Harlaw (fought in 1411). Lachlainn can also be found in Black, 410.
{22) Roger de Bar--New Device
Sable, on a chief gules five fleurs-de-lys Or.
The client's name was registered in 4/98. The device is color-on-color and must be returned.}
23) Sorcha Ó Meadhra--New Name
Sorcha is found in Ó Corrain & Maguire, 167. Ó Meadhra is found in MacLysaght, Surnames of Ireland, 159.
24) Windreach, College of--Group Name and Device Resubmission
Per pale purpure and Or, a dragonfly between four laurel wreaths counterchanged.
The group's original name, Wind's Reach, was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 8/97. Wind- is found in Smith, English Place-name Elements, II:268. The element -reach is in ibid., II:79. To support the construction they cite Windhill, meaning "windy hill," which is dated to 1208 in Ekwall, 522. According to these sources Reach means "strip of land" or "stretch of water," and the name Windreach meaning "windy strip of land" does seem plausible. A petition of support is enclosed.
The group's original device, Purpure, a chevron embattled, in base a laurel wreath and on a chief Or three dragonflies purpure, was also returned by Rouge Scarpe in 8/97.
25) Windreach, College of--Group Badge Resubmission
The group's previous badge, Purpure, a dragonfly within a bordure Or, was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 8/97. A petition of support is enclosed.
Done by my hand on July 9, anno societatis xxxiii, being the feast of Saint Everild.
Alan Fairfax, Rouge Scarpe
Alan Terlep
5401 S. Cornell
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 324-1366 (after 11am ET)