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 July 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 Jibra'il al-Nasrani, Lady Moraig Drummond, and Amilia Mary Hartshorn, who are commenting for the first time this month, as well as Master John ap Wynne, Lady Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin, Lord Mikhail of Lubelska, Lady Ælfreda æt Æthelwealda, Alasdair Calum Montgomery, Anders Olafsson, Master Dmitrii Volkovich, and Doré van der Zee. I would also like to thank Lady Phebe Bonadeci, Lord Kevin Ambrjzwski, Lady Andra de Louvain, Lord Hieronymous von Trier, and Conchobar mac Gabhann for helping in the preparation of the letter.
1) Alan of Caerlaverock--New Name and Device
Or, a tower vert, a bordure gules semy of larks Or.
The client dated Alan to 1120 in Dictionary of the Middle Ages, 119. The spelling Alan is in Reaney & Wilson, s.n. Moll. {The spelling Alen on the LoI was a typo, but that spelling can also be found in Reaney & Wilson.} According to Turner, The Real King Arthur: A History of Post-Roman Brittania, 86, Caerlaverock is a fortress at the mouth of the River Nith which means "fort of the lark." It was the objective of the battle of Arfderydd, fought in 573 or 575.
{These arms do not conflict with Sheri Lynn of Emerson Lake, Or a tower vert. There is one difference for the bordure and one for the addition of the larks. If this doesn't make sense, it might help to remember that differences are supposed to be based on cadency--a change in a coat of arms to show relationship. It was common for a younger son to add a bordure to his father's arms, or to add charges to an existing bordure. However, we don't (as far as I know) have examples of people adding charged bordures. Thus, we can safely say that the addition of a charged bordure is two differences.}
2) Anna von Bremen--New Name
Anna is described as a common 16th-century name in Drosdowski, Duden, 36. Bremen is dated to the 16th century in Brüning and Schmidt, Niedersachsen und Bremen, 70.
3) Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin--Badge Resubmission
(Fieldless) An ermine statant purpure.
The client's name was registered in 11/97. Her previous badge was returned in 11/97 for redrawing. {We don't have any idea how you could tell a stoat purpure from an ermine purpure, since a stoat and an ermine are identical except for coloration.}
4) Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin--Change of Badge to Device
The client's badge Purpure, a bordure ermine was registered by Laurel in 7/98. She would like to use this armory as her device.
5) Bogdan din Brašov--New Name and Device
Argent, a bear's pawprint and a base vert.
According to Seton-Watson, A History of the Roumanians, Prince Bogdan I of Moldavia reigned from 1360 to 1364. Brasov is found on a map from ibid. entitled "The Roumanian Countries in the 14th and Early 15th Centuries."
Several commenters identified the pawprint as belonging to a grizzly bear, and asked whether a grizzly bear's pawprint could have been used in period heraldry. The use of pawprints in heraldry is an SCA invention, and so it seems unprofitable to split hairs about the type of bear whose pawprint is being depicted.
6) Deirdre Wydeville--New Name
There is no evidence that Deirdre, in that spelling, was used in period. However, Black dates Deredere to 1166, and so there is some evidence for it. Although Deirdre is a borderline name, it is still being registered by the CoA, and we expect that it will be in this case as well. However, a number of commenters felt that Deirdre should not be registered in the future. Wydeville is dated to the 14th century in Weir, The Princes in the Tower, 19, which says that it is a form of the family name of Edward IV's wife.
7) Despina din Brasov--New Name
According to Seton-Watson, Despina was the Serbian consort of Prince Basarab IV of Wallachia, who ruled from 1512-1521. Brasov is found on a map from ibid. entitled "The Roumanian Countries in the 14th and Early 15th Centuries."
{8) Dorinda Aethelwyn--New Name and Device
Or, on a bend dancetty between a sprig of poison ivy and a quill bendwise gules, a sword Or.
Dorinda is documented as the name of a character in the play Il Pastor Fido, written by Gian Battista Guarini in 1590. Æthelwyn is documented as the name of a 7th-century saint. Although there is no direct evidence for the existence of a surname based on this Old English name, there are enough modern English surnames based on Old English given names that Aethelwyn seems to be a plausible surname (although the form Ethelwin would be more likely for late period).
Many commenters said that the name should be returned since Dorinda is only found in fiction in period. On the other hand, one commenter pointed out that Jessica, a name found only in Shakespeare, was registered by Laurel in 7/97. In that registration Laurel wrote:
"The Rules for Submission state 'New name elements, whether invented by the submitter or borrowed from a literary source, may be used if they follow the rules for name formation from a linguistic tradition compatible with the domain of the Society and the name elements used.' (Rule II.3, Invented Names) Elizabethan English qualifies as a linguistic tradition compatible with the domain of the SCA. Shakespeare qualifies as a period author and The Merchant of Venice just fits into our time period (ignoring the 'gray' period from 1601 to 1650). The character in the play is human. Jessica may be 'modern' according to Withycombe, but it is an acceptable SCA given name according to our rules."
If we accept this precedent, then Dorinda would be a registerable name. However, the CoA has long distinguished between period history and period fiction. If we conclude that all names used by human characters in period drama can be registered, then Everyman would have to be considered a registerable Middle English name! The precedent of the CoA and common sense both lead me to conclude that names from fiction cannot be used indiscriminately. If we are reasonably sure that a name was invented by an author, we should not be registering it unless we have some evidence that fictional names were given to real people during the period in question.
A second issue is raised by the fact (not mentioned in the LoI) that Dorinda is a character in an Italian drama. Even if Dorinda could plausibly be registered as a period Italian name, there is no evidence that it was known in England in our period. Thus, it does not seem plausible to combine it with the English Aethelwyn.
The device is registerable as is, although a redesign would be preferable. The plant poison ivy existed before 1600, and while I would discourage people from using plants and animals from the New World, it is possible to register American flora and fauna in SCA arms.}
9) Euriant Alessandra Deri--New Name
Euriant is a Burgundian name found only in the 15th-century "Romance of Gerard de Nevers." It may be related to Euvrouin, which is found in Colm Dubh, An Index to the Names in the 1292 Census of Paris." Alessandra is dated to 1406 in León, Uppity Women of Medieval Times, 96. The client says that Deri can be dated to the 1500's, but did not provide documentation. Since we do not have access to standard sources, we are sending this on.
10) Fearann na Críche, Incipient Shire of--Group Device Resubmission
Per chevron inverted azure and vert, three oak branches conjoined in pall, in chief a laurel wreath argent.
The group's name was registered in 3/91. Commenters either loved or hated this device. There were questions about whether the line of division was identifiable, but there was enough supporting commentary that it seemed worthwhile to send it on. {The shape of the leaves should be sufficient to distinguish the branches as oak branches even though there are no acorns.}
11) Genevieve Rose de Glendalough--New Name and Device
Per bend sinister purpure and vert, three roses in bend sinister argent, barbed and seeded proper, and a catamount Or.
{This item was pended on the 8/97 LoAR.} Submitted as Geniveve Rose D'Glendalough, we contacted the client for permission to change the spelling of the name to a documentable form. The usual spelling Genevieve is found in Withycombe, 127-8. Rose is dated to 1316 in ibid., 258. Glendalough is documented from a modern map of 8th-century towns and monasteries in Ireland.
{12) Gleann Iaruinn, Canton of--Group Name and Device Resubmission
Per chevron inverted gules and sable, a chevron inverted between two laurel wreaths Or.
The group's original submission, Gleann Iarainn, was returned by Rouge Scarpe in 11/97. I have not yet received a copy of the 11/97 letter, and I do not want to comment on this (almost identical) submission until I see the original return.}
{13) Gwenhwyvar verch Owen ap Morgan--Device Resubmission
Argent, a chevron between three roses vert.
The client requested that this submission be withdrawn.}
14) Iames Alexander MacNauchtan--New Name
{Pended on the 7/97 LoAR.} Submitted as Iames Alexander MacNaughton. 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 did not allow changes on has not allowed any changes, but agreed to this modification.
15) James Cunningham--New Name
James is dated to c1240 in Withycombe, 171. Cunningham (with one n) is dated to 1233 in Black, 192.
{16) Johann Giovanni Deri--New Name
Johann is a standard German form of John. Giovanni is a standard Italian form of John. The client says that Deri can be dated to the 1500's, but did not provide documentation.
Although I could not find an explicit precedent saying that two forms of the same name could not be registered in the same name, it is hard to imagine a circumstance in which Johann Giovanni would have been used in period. Combined with the use of three languages, this name seems highly unlikely.
However, since either Johann Deri or Giovanni Deri would be registerable (assuming that we can find some evidence for Deri), I am going to pend this name rather than returning it outright, so that we can talk to the client.}
{17) John Quill of Reedsmouth for Oikos Nikephoron Mystikon--New Household Name and Badge
(Fieldless) A dagger argent, hilted sable, and a reed pen proper in saltire, in chief a lamp gules enflamed Or.
All names submitted to the CoA must be transliterated into the Latin alphabet. The client suggested the transliteration Oikos Nikeeforo Mystikon. I have provided the standard transliteration of the client's Greek, and added an n to Nikephoron, which is indicated by the client's documentation.
This name translates to House Victorious Secret, a reference to Victoria's Secret, the lingerie chain and catalog. The documentation includes the note "OK, so I like puns," so we can be sure that the reference is not an accident.
There is no question that the untranslated House Victorious Secret would be returned for obtrusive modernity (but not, as one commenter suggested, for violating a trademark). However, the Greek Oikos Nikephoron Mystikon is not obtrusively modern, especially since it appears that it could be translated as Nikephoros' Secret. (Nikephoros is a proper name as well as an adjective).
However, we have the problem that neither Victorious Secret nor Nicephorus' Secret makes much sense as the name of a group. Without some way to justify Nikephoron Mystikon, we will not be able to pass this name.
The badge has to be returned with the name, but it would be returned in any case because all the charges in a fieldless badge must touch each other.}
{18) Kenric Bjarnarson--New Badge
Vert, two pheons in pale conjoined at the base Or.
The client's name was registered 3/95. The badge was submitted as (Fieldless), on a napkin vert, two pheons in pale conjoined at the base Or. We could not find a napkin in the O&A. The charge could be blazoned as a lozenge ploye vert, but since a lozenge is a standard shape for heraldic display, this would no longer be a fieldless badge. However, the badge could be reblazoned as listed above, or even blazoned Vert vetu ploye argent, two pheons in pale conjoined at the base Or. We are pending this badge to find out what the client would like to do with it.}
19) Klaus Hartel von Ulm--Device Resubmission
Per chevron inverted gules and sable, three Maltese crosses argent and a massacre Or.
The client's name was registered 8/95. His previous device, Bendy pily gules and argent, three mullets of eight points one and two, was returned by Laurel in 8/95 for non-period style. {We don't think that the line of division is enhanced, as one commenter suggested.}
20) Meave de Clare--New Badge
(Fieldless) On a fleur-de-lys vert, a bee Or.
The client's name was registered 10/97.
{21) Olaf the Strong--New Badge
Per bend sable and gules, a bearded axe palewise argent.
The client's name was registered 3/95. Unfortunately, this device conflicts with the badge of Timmeke Haakonson of Nordheim, Per fess gules and sable, a double-bitted axe argent. There is one CD for the change in field, but none for the change in the type of axe.}
22) Ragnar Grasiða--Device Resubmission
Argent, a Bengal tiger rampant contourney sable striped argent, in chief three roses sable, barbed and seeded argent.
The client's name was registered 2/96. His previous device, Argent, a Bengal tiger rampant contourney sable striped argent, was returned in 2/96 for multiple conflicts. The large emblazon, unlike the small one, shows stripes on the tiger.
23) Ragnar of Birka--New Name and Device
Per bend sinister azure and Or, an owl close guardant argent and two double-bitted axes in saltire sable.
Ragnar is found in Geirr-Bassi, 14, and is dated to 865 in Arbman, The Vikings, 59. Birka is dated to 870 in ibid., 37. {We decided that the off-center crossing of the axes is artistic license that doesn't need to be blazoned, but we might be wrong. That's what Laurel is for.}
24) Tatiana Kalinkova--New Name
The client documents Tatiana from Withycombe, 275. It can also be found in Wickenden, 239. She documents Kalinkov from Hanks & Hodges, which is not an acceptable source for documentation. However, Kalinkov can also be documented as a patronymic derived from Kalinko, which is itself a plausible diminuitive of Kalina (found in ibid.)
Kalinkov means "son of Kalinko." We have changed the name to Kalinkova, which means "daughter of Kalinko."
25) Thea the Spinner--New Device
Per chevron inverted sable and gules, a moon in its plenitude and a spinning wheel argent.
The client's name was registered 11/94. {The client's depiction of a spinning wheel is taken directly from the PicDic.}
26) Ulrich von Landstuhl--New Name {and Device
Per chevron vert and azure, a wolf salient maintaining a halberd argent.}
Ulrich and Landstuhl are both dated to the early 16th century in the Encyclopedia Brittanica article "Sickingen, Franz von." Ulrich can also be found in Bahlow, 528.
{We must return the device for conflict with Johnathan Crusadene Whitewolf, Gules, ermined argent, a wolf rampant argent. There is only one CD for the change in the field tincture, and none for the addition of the halberd.}
27) Ysabel Natalia Osorio de León--New Name and Device.
Per chevron purpure and vert, two lions combatant Or and a chalice argent.
The client documents Ysabel from Dunn & Kelley, The Diario of Christopher Columbus's First Voyage to America, 62. It states that the ships flew a standard with an F and Y, for Fernando and Ysabel. She is using Natalia through the modern name allowance. Osorio is dated to 1492 in Fiske, The Discovery of America, 432 (and also on the Web page listing Columbus' crew, http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/colship.htm). León is a region in Spain.
Done the fifth day of September, being the feast of Saint Bertinus, anno societatis xxxiii.
Alan Fairfax, Rouge Scarpe
Alan Terlep
5401 S. Cornell
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 324-1366 (after 11am ET)