APPROVALS 20
October XX (1985)
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:
Kingdom of Atenveldt
Amber Grimalkin. Name and device. Per bend vert and Or,
a domestic cat sejant affronty argent and a rowan sprig and blossom
proper. (Sorbus aucuparia)
Atenveldt, Kingdom of. Order of the Hawk's Lure (name only).
DISCUSSION: This does not conflict with the Order of the Hawk's
Bell.
Briallen Owena o Caerphilly. Device (correction). Or,
a dragon segreant azure, grasping in its dexter forepaw a dagger
inverted, within a bordure nebuly sable. [August 1983)
Ceridwen the Confused. Name only.
Cori Wrightswife (submitted as Coriander Wrightswife). Name and device. Vert, a dragon segreant coward argent, flaming proper, between two mullets and a point pointed Or.
NOTE: Under the most recent specific ruling, plant names may be
used as female given names on a casebycase basis.
"The basic criterion will be whether the College feels a
specific plant name is reasonably consistent with period usage,
even though it wasn't actually used in period." (WvS, 22
Apr 84, p. 4) In the present case, the reaction of the College
was almost universally negative. We have used the submitter's
mundane given name as a holding name, in order to register the
device. She might want to consider ' Corisande, a name
from medieval romance. (Withycombe 74) Flames "proper"
are red, outlined with gold, when drawn on a color field. Please
correct the emblazon.
Darlene Monet (submitted as Janine Monet). Name and device. Per pale argent and vert, two oak leaves in chevron inverted counterchanged, fructed in base proper.
NOTE: Dunkling and Gosling (p. 203) say that Janine is "probably
a phonetic form of French Jeannine ... regularly used since
the 1930s." Dauzat (p. 343) says that Jeannine was originally
a matronymic, later becoming a given name in its own right. It
appears that the name is modern. The closest alternative I have
been able to find is Janina, a name we have registered twice.
("Janina is the feminine form of the Polish ... masculine
name Jan," said Brigantia on the latter occasion.) It may
be quibbling to allow one and not the other; I don't know if an
exchange of e for a is reasonable. (I am certainly
willing to entertain a knowledgeable appeal of these grounds.)
In the meantime, I have used her mundane given name (which appears
to be even more certainly modern than Janine) as a holding
name, in order to register the device.
Eirikr Sigurdharson. Name and device. Per chevron gules
and Or, three phoenixes counterchanged.
Elanor Dreamweaver. Name and device. Per fess sable and
Or, a mullet of eight points pierced counterchanged, in base a
garden rosebud fesswise reversed gules, slipped and leaved vert,
a chief embattled Or.
Eldrik Dudley. Name and device. Or, a dragon's head couped
vert within an orle of crescents sable.
Fionn Creagh. Device. Vert, a unicorn's horn inverted
purpure, fimbriated Or, on a chief argent three roundels vert.
Gwyneth of Markland. Name and device. Gules, a dragon
inverted palewise embowed counterembowed, wings addorsed,
Or between two flaunches argent.
Haakon Haukarson. Badge. A winged Ringerike wolf passant
to sinister, wings elevated and addorsed, sable.
Helena de Argentoune. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Hrothgar se AEthele. Name only.
Jora the Scryer. Name only.
Kiera Morkstjarna. Name only.
Leif Ivarson. Name and device. Per chevron argent, semy
of aspen leaves, and vert, a chevron per chevron vert and argent,
in base a sheaf of three arrows inverted argent.
Lourana Moonwind. Name and device. Gules, a decrescent moon within an orle of mullets Or.
DISCUSSION: Master Wilhelm specifically allowed crescent moons with faces. "An increscent moon is an increscent with a face and is in period as it was used in statuary in our period." (14 Apr 80, p. 2; in Prec III:53; see also 22 Jan 80, p.4) I am more of Mistress Karina's opinion: "Victorian whimsy strikes again. We do not use crescent moons with faces." (29 Oct 76, p. 7; in Prec II:27; see also 30 Jun 79, pp. 6970)
While I do not object to using period art as a source for heraldic motifs, I feel this must done with caution, and never as the deciding argument. This would legitimize trian aspect, wavycrested, and a number of other pieces of heraldic baggage we can easily do without. Greater weight needs to be given to the criterion presented in RFS IX.7: "in the view of the College, its use [should be] consistent with period heraldic style and practice."
Having said my piece, I should note that the charge has specifically
been permitted, and only one other member of the College twitched;
so I do not feel justified in returning the submission. (It would
not break my heart, however, were we to decline to countenance
such things [pun intended] in the future.)
Maeve Lindsey the Woodwife (submitted as Woodswife). Name and device. Per chevron purpure and Or, in base a roundel purpure.
NOTE: Woodswife appears to be a correctlyformed parallel to woodsman (cf. Goodman, Goodwife). Unfortunately, woodsman appears to be out of period the earliest citation in the OED is dated 1688. I have substituted woodwife, formed on the example of woodman, which is demonstrably period. (Woodsman and woodman are fairly close in meaning.) She may change this if she wishes.
DISCUSSION: Although the terms "wood men," "wood
women, " and "wood folk" are sometimes used in
connection with certain of the Little People, I find the suggestion
to be a mild one, particularly given the several wellestablished
human meanings of woodman. In the absence of other allusions,
I cannot justify returning the name on these grounds.
Maeve Lindsey the Woodwife. Badge for the House of the
Dark Moon Bear. Per chevron sable and argent, a bear passant
and a roundel counterchanged.
Miriel d'Estoile. Name and device. Per bend argent and
azure, a compassstar azure and in bend a feather argent
and a fretted zither Or.
Peregrine Gwalchmei. Name change (from Peregrine of the Wilds).
DISCUSSION: Gwalchmal appears to have been used in period as a
given name. Gruffudd (p. 48) lists one Gwalchmai ap Meilyr, poet
from Anglesey, fl. 1130-1180.
Raymond the Quiet. Badge for House Sternedell. Vert,
on a chief indented argent three compassstars vert.
Reanna de Loire. Name only.
Richard of Greenwood. Name only.
Rosamund de Chastemont. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
DISCUSSION: In French, the adjective normally follows the noun,
so 'chaste mountain' would presumably be Montchaste. (Chaste
is French as well as English there is no need to justify
this as a hybrid.) Brigantia has noted, however, that the Old
French word for 'castle' was chastel, and feels the place name
"could easily be derived from the Old French form Chastelmont."
Rowan O'Harrell. Name and device. Argent, a rowan tree eradicated gules, in chief two crescents within a bordure sable.
DISCUSSION: A quick check of the files turned up six previous
instances of Rowan as a given name. Dunkling & Gosling (p.
370) and Patrick Woulfe (Irish Names for Children, p. 34)
equate it with Irish Ruadhin, a saint who died c. 584.
(Farmer 349)
Sorcha of Sherwood. Device. Purpure, semydelys, a chevron and in base a swan naiant argent.
DISCUSSION: It is not necessary to blazon the chevron as enhanced.
What is drawn here is perfectly correct for a coat consisting
of a chevron and a charge in base.
Sybylle of alBarran (submitted as Sybylle Starwalker). Name and device. Per fess azure and Or, a mullet of eight points pierced counterchanged, in base an increscent azure, a chief embattled Or.
NOTE: I'm afraid that Starwalker is too evocative of nonhuman
abilities and non-period technology. Please choose another byname.
We have used a holding name in order to register the device.
Unser Hafen, Shire of (submitted as Uns Haven). Name only.
NOTE: According to various comments on the name, uns is 'us', not 'our' and the German for 'haven' is Hafen, not Haven. We have corrected the name accordingly.
DISCUSSION: Since Helm 'home' is distinct from Hafen 'harbor,
port, haven', and given the clear difference in pronunciation,
I feel this is clear of Master Wilhelm's household, Unserheim.
He did not register any objections.
Wendy of Southern Pass (submitted as Shylarra de Jilbear). Name and device. Per bend sinister wavy vert and sable, a mullet of ten points Or and a plate.
NOTE: Shylarra neither looks nor sounds like a given name,
and Jilbear does not appear to be a plausible phonetic spelling
of Gilbert. We have used a holding name in order to register
the device.
William of alBarran (submitted as William LaVallier). Name and device. Or, an arrow inverted and surmounted in chief by a bow fesswise, between in fess two sheaves of arrows inverted sable.
NOTE: The surname submitted appears to be grammatically incorrect.
No one in the College could find a French common noun vallier
to go with the definite article la, and the submitter did
not give any indication of what he had in mind. He might want
to consider de la Valligre (surname of Louis XIV's mistress:
NCE 1541; Dauzat 585), or de Vatlier (a town in Central
France, suggested by Obelisk). I also found the word lavalligre
'Windsor tie', which may be out of period. (Dubois I 415) We have
used the name of his local branch to form a holding name, in order
to register the device.
William the Navigator. Name only.
Wybke vom Drachenfeld. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and barry engrailed argent and azure, a bend sinister, in chief a tower purpure.
NOTE: Obelisk says that Wiebke and Wybke would not be pronounced
the same in German apparently, y would have the same sound
as e in this case. (I also note that her mundane name is
spelled Wibke on the forms.) She may want to change the spelling.
Please advise her of this.
Kingdom of Atlantia
Aelfrida Greumach. Badge. A mullet of eight alternating
straight and wavy rays quarterly argent and purpure.
Atlantia, University of. Device (correction). Or, an apple slipped and leaved within a wreath of apple blossoms slipped and leaved, proper, on a chief azure a pallet wavy endorsed argent. [January 1981]
NOTE: This is incorrectly listed in the Armorial as a badge.
Atlantia, University of. Badge. Or, an apple slipped
and leaved within a wreath of apple blossoms slipped and leaved
proper. [January 1981]
Brianna MacPherson. Name and device. Per chevron inverted
argent and purpure, a candle in a candleholder counterchanged,
enflamed gules between in chief two roses purpure slipped and
leaved vert.
Cydllan Downs, Canton of. Badge. Per pale argent and
gules, a tower and a bordure indented counterchanged.
Dovana Delane. Name only. [July 1983]
Dovana Delane. Device. Per pale argent and gules, a sword
sable between a unicorn and a dragon combattant counterchanged.
Fiona Lachtna. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Hidden Mountain, Barony of. Award of the Sable Mountain
(name only).
Hidden Mountain, Barony of. Ordo Defensorum Montis (name
only).
Hidden Mountain, Barony of. Ordo Spiritis Montis (name only).
NOTE: On the advice of Virgule and our resident Latinist, we have
corrected spiritus (which is in the nominative case) to
spiritis (the ablative).
Jeremea Gerber. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Malcolm MacRobert. Name and device. Per chevron sable and Or, a lion rampant to sinister vert maintaining a great axe Or, a bordure counterchanged.
NOTE: The contrast between the charge and field could be improved
by raising the line of partition a bit further, so more of the
charge lies on the gold half.
Nottinghill Coill, Barony of. Coill's Champions (name
only).
Melinda of the Silent Rose. Name and device. Quarterly
gules and argent, a garb and on a bordure Or three roses gules.
Morgana O'Ruaidhri. Name only.
NOTE: According to Brigantia, "The usual Gaelic spelling
is 'Ruaidhri'."
Paulette of Falcon Cree. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Stanford of Sheffield. Name correction (from Stanford
of the Forge). [January 1971]
Kingdom of Caid
Alexandra Claverleigh. Name and device. Per fess vert
and Or, a garden rosebud, slipped and leaved, within a bordure
counterchanged.
Angelina Nicolette. Badge. Gules, in pale three bottlenosed dolphins embowed proper within a bordure embattled argent.
NOTE: Her old badge (Sable, a unicorn's head couped chased charged
upon the neck with a Celtic cross chased argent) is released.
Angels, Barony of the. Badge. Gules, a lyre Or within
two wings conjoined argent.
Angels, Barony of the. Badge. Gules, an alembic flask Or within two wings conjoined inverted argent.
DISCUSSION: The orientation of the wings is in accordance with
the defaults outlined in the Laurel cover letter of 8 June 1985.
Aurelia of Ashton. Name and device. Azure fretty argent,
on an open book Or a damask rosebud bendwise sinister, slipped
and leaved, proper. (Rosa damascena)
Ceinwen Haele Cynwyth. Badge. Per bend Or and gules,
semy of gouttes counterchanged, a unicorn passant, head lowered,
sable.
Cynric Norwood of Caernarvon. Name and device. Gules,
an eagle displayed perched upon a sword fesswise and on a chief
embattled Or a mullet between a decrescent and an increscent purpure.
Gershom ibn Zabara. Name change (from Gershom ibn Zabar);
see RETURNS for device.
Musa ibn Ibrahim alAthir. Name and device. Per
saltire purpure and argent, in pale two seagulls volant, wings
addorsed, and in fess two towers counterchanged.
Noel Raphael (submitted as Noel de Raphael). Name only.
NOTE: Raphael is a given name, not (to the best of our knowledge) a place name, so the preposition de 'of' is incorrect.
DISCUSSION: During my researches several years ago (either as
Aten or during my tenure as Green Staff), I seem to recall running
across a statement that de was used as a patronymic particle
in some of the lowland countries. Unfortunately, I have been
unable to locate my source. Eldon Smith (A Treasury of Name
Lore, pp. 171172) lists de in his table of "patronymical
name elements" for both French and Italian, but he neither
explains nor supports these, and in the absence of corroborative
detail, I'm inclined to be suspicious. Still, it might be a lead
worth pursuing.
Kingdom of Calontir
Gavin Valbairn of Deeside. Device (correction). Azure,
on a saltire engrailed argent between in pale two hunting
horns bells to sinister Or and in fess two hearts argent, a heart
purpure. [September 1985]
Kingdom of the East
Alanric of Gloucester. Name and device. Per bend sable
and gules, a bend doublebevilled between an increscent
and a demisun in splendour issuant from base, all Or.
Alix d'Amiens. Name and device. Vert, a chevron engrailed
ermine between two crescents and a leopard's head caboshed argent.
Annan na Beanntan. Name and device. Per pale wavy argent and vert, a pile throughout issuant from base between two sinister hands couped apaumy, all counterchanged.
NOTE: Please make the pile narrower.
Anne of Hatfield. Badge for the Keepers of Athena's Thimble.
Azure, semy of billets fesswise argent, a thimble Or.
Antonio of Iron Bog (submitted as Antonio Pisano). Name and device. Per chevron inverted sable and Or, a mermaid affronty maintaining in her dexter hand a sword bendwise sinister and in her sinister hand a goblet, all counterchanged.
NOTE: Antonio Pisano (also known as Vittore Pisano
and Pisanello) was an "Italian medalist, painter and
draftsman of the early Renaissance (NCE 2156) and "one of
the leading artists of his age." (EB XVII:1108) I'm not sure
if this constitutes "wellknown," but the fact
that he appears in both the New Columbia and the Britannica seems
indicative. We have used a holding name in order to register
the device.
Aralyn Ermintrude of the Falling Waters. Name only.
Armand de Crecy. Name only.
Aubrey Lowell. Name and device. Or, an eagle displayed and dismembered wings
inverted vert within an orle of gouttes de sang.
Barak Hasdrubal. Name change (from Barak Elandris Hasdrubal)
and device. Sable, on a sun argent a squid bendwise with tentacles
in chief gules, all within a bordure embattled Or.
Barthel aus Pennswald. Haus Calainar des Pennswalds (addition of designation to registered badge). Per bend sinister gules and sable, a sword inverted bendwise sinister argent between two stags trippant Or. [badge approved March 1985]
DISCUSSION: His argument for the derivation of Calainar from Hebrew
roots appears plausible. It is at least equal in weight to the
suggested Elvish derivation; and since the original return was
more a matter of caution than a solid objection, he is entitled
to the benefit of the doubt.
Beatrix Elizabeth de Lara. Badge. Per pall inverted azure,
sable and argent, in base a Catherine wheel sable.
Bedawyr of Avaricum. Name and device. Quarterly sable
and gules, a dexter arm, armoured, couped and embowed fesswise
and on a chief argent three gouttes de poix.
Brianna Vivina O'Choda. Name only.
Catherine Berylia of the Silver Whistle. Device. Azure,
two scarpes Or, overall a flute palewise argent entwined of an
ivy vine, all within a bordure Or.
Christopher Darras. Name and device. Argent, semy of
estoiles azure, a pale between two pegasi combattant sable.
Cynwyl MacDaire of Land's End. Name only.
Daniel Ironhand. Name only.
Deirdre Erinna of Skye. Name change (from Damaris Marguerite Woodruffs) and change of device. Per chevron inverted purpure and vert, a chevron inverted Or between a decrescent argent and two oak leaves conjoined at the stem in chevron Or, in chief three mullets in chevron argent.
NOTE: Her old device is released.
Deonna von Aachen. Name only.
Dragonship Haven, Barony of. Badge for the Dragonship
Haven Irregulars. Per fess argent and azure, a yale rampant counterchanged
within a bordure compony argent and azure.
Eirik Gunnarson. Name and device. Sable, a phoenix sinisterfacing and issuant from base and on a chief argent, a Maltese cross between two battleaxes addorsed gules.
NOTE: According to Bassi, the Old Norse form of the patronymic
would be Gunnarsson: the terminal rr in Gunnarr becomes
,rs in the genitive. This seems a reasonable anglicization.
Eirik Rodbjorn. Device. Or, a grizzly bear salient gules,
maintaining a mullet within a bordure azure.
Elwynne Rowenna of Wentworth. Name only.
Ferall von Halstern. Name only.
Gabriella Maddelena Pisano. Badge. Argent, on a pile
purpure, a houndstooth burnisher argent.
George Aeulfson (submitted as Hrymgnar Aeulfson). Name and device. Argent, a wolf's head erased, holding in its jaws a sword palewise inverted sable, all within a bordure vert.
NOTE: At the risk of overreacting, Hrymgnar appears to follow the pattern of the names borne by giants or monsters in Norse mythology. The applicant might want to consider Hyrningr, Hysingr, Hrymundr, or perhaps Granmarr. (Bassi 10, 12) We have substituted his mundane given name as a holding name, in order to register the device.
DISCUSSION: I have blazoned the wolf as ' holding the sword
in its jaws, rather than maintaining it. The literal meaning
of maintain (I've never found an heraldic definition) is
'to hold in the hand'.
Giovanni d'Avila. Name only (see PENDING for device).
Igraine Torr de Valere. Badge. Lozengy purpure and argent, a horse's head erased Or.
DISCUSSION: Virgule has asked if this conflicts with the Count
of LAUENBORG (Gules, a horse's head Or), which is marshalled by
the Queen of Denmark, since this makes it "royal arms."
My feeling is that the additional difference we may require from
royal arms is meant to be applied as an exception, against the
most recognizable such coats, not as an absolute standard. I
don't see any problem in this case.
Jennara of Outremer. Name and device. Gules, perched
upon a garden rose bendwise sinister argent, slipped and leaved
proper, a dormouse dormant to sinister Or.
Juls Siwaldsen. Name change (from Juls Siwardsen) and
device. Per chevron sable and Or, two spearheads points to chief
and a raven volant within a bordure dovetailed, all counterchanged.
Justin Lymner. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Kerry MacGryphon (submitted as Gwydion MacGryphon). Name and device. Or, a serpent glissant in chevron sable, between two oak trees eradicated vert and a griffin segreant azure.
NOTE: Gwydion may not be used as a given name in the Society. We have substituted his mundane given name, in order to register the device.
DISCUSSION: To quote Batonvert,
A line must be drawn somewhere between acceptable and unacceptable use of unique and/or mythical names. Most of the names we have accepted have been used by humans Ceridwen, for example, is not uncommon in Wales today, and Myrddin is a period name. Gwydion is one of the most important Welsh gods, and his name does not seem to have come into general use.
See the cover letter for a discussion of prior usage as grounds
for approving a name.
Lorenzo Dragone della Grotta. Name only.
Margita z Opinice. Device. Gules, fretty Or, on a bend argent three millrinds
palewise gules.
NOTE: Very nice.
Maria Alessandra delle Tre Torri Alte. Name only.
Maximilian der Sperling. Device. Per pall inverted sable,
argent and gules, in fess two compassstars counterchanged
and in base a European tree sparrow displayed Or. (Passer montanus)
Michael FitzRoderick the Moor. Name and device. Per pale
sable and gules, a chevron between three caltraps Or, all within
a bordure compony sable and argent, each sable section charged
with a decrescent Or.
Micheal Mor O'Faolain. Device. Vert, two wolves couchant guardant and on a tun Or, a Thor's hammer inverted gules.
DISCUSSION: Against the arms of STANHOPE ("Vert, three wolves passant Or") I count three minor points one for replacing the charge in base (fairly large), one for adding a tertiary charge (arguable, but in accordance with the Rules), and one for the position of the foxes' heads (in the Rules, though disputed by some). The visual effect is of a major change in base and a minor one in chief.
As I noted on the submission of GAVIN VALBAIRN OF DEESIDE (15 Sep 85, p. 4), I am not certain one should be able to obtain "sufficient difference" by totting up nothing but minor points. "Since there is some question, however, and since the potential conflict is with a mundane rather than an SCA coat, I am giving the submitter the benefit of the doubt." I am applying the same standard here.
Treblerose said in his letter of comment that "I remember
a Laurel ruling that a mjolnir (Thor's hammer) must be borne handle
up, since only the god bears it head up." I believe this
is a misreading of the ruling. "Even on stones, the hammer
is placed haftup as a decorative element, and headup
only when held in Thor's hand." (KFW, 29 Oct 76, p. 3; in
Prec II:19) I believe Karina's intent was to establish the default
orientation of the charge on the basis of historical use as a
decorative element, not to proscribe one of its possible positions.
Olaus Simone Silvano. Device. Sable, a cross formy fitchy
argent and on a chief embattled ermine, an acorn gules.
Ostgardr, Crown Province of. Badge for the Armorer's Guild
of Ostgardr. Gules, a bend Or between a hammer bendwise and a
bickern (anvil) argent.
Quintavia, Shire of. Name change (from Bryn Canol) and change of device. Per fess indented of three points vert and argent, on a pale between in base two laurel wreaths, in chief a laurel wreath, all counterchanged.
NOTE: This is very nice. Their old arms are released.
Rachel Nam Beanntan. Device (see RETURNS for name change).
Per pale argent and sable, semy of crescents, within a bordure
charged with three mullets of eight points, all counterchanged.
Robert Whitcome of Brandywine. Device. Per pale Or and
sable, upon a sun, a roundel, all counterchanged, all within an
orle gules.
Robyn of Deira. Device. Per bend sinister gules and vert,
a bend sinister sable, fimbriated, overall a stag passant Or.
Saint Pyr's Well, Canton of. Name and device. Azure, a roofed well argent, between its posts a goblet Or, all within a laurel wreath argent.
NOTE: What a lovely name for a branch!
Sarra Elisabeth Graeham of Birnham. Name only.
Shauna of Carrick Point (submitted as Carrick's Point). Name and device. Per chevron vert and sable, in pale a flute fesswise argent and a raven volant, wings elevated and addorsed, sable.
NOTE: Carrick (as in Carrickfergus) seems to derive from the Irish for 'rock'. Since it is not a personal name, I do not see how it can have a possessive form.
SCA convention appears to be that a flute or recorder is drawn
with the holes deadon, rather than in profile. I couldn't
find any specific rulings on this, but this is certainly the more
recognizable position, and all the examples we found in the files
were rendered this way. Please ask the submitter to correct the
emblazon.
Sirhan al Siani. Name only.
Siubhan ni Coinneach. Name and device. Lozengy azure
and argent, a dragon volant within a bordure embattled Or.
Taurandir the Hunter. Change of device. Per pale and per chevron gules and argent, in pale two wings in lure and a fox's mask all counterchanged.
NOTE: His old device is released.
Thomas Othasson von Burg Schwertlilie. Name and device.
Gules, on a tower argent, an iris azure, slipped and leaved vert,
all within a bordure embattled argent.
Urho Waltterinen. Device. Sable, on a pall inverted argent a chevron rompu sable.
NOTE: Clever design.
Walram von Laufenberg. Badge. On a sinister wing argent,
a mullet of six points gules.
Kingdom of the Middle
Middle Kingdom. Aegis Herald (name only).
Middle Kingdom. Buckler Herald (name only).
Middle Kingdom. Escutcheon Herald (name only).
Middle Kingdom. Targe Herald (name only).
Kingdom of the West
Adelhardt Werner. Name and device. Per pale purpure and
Or, a doublebitted axe counterchanged.
Aharon Rodriguez d'Aguilar. Name only.
Alison von Markheim. Change of device. Argent, on a pall engrailed sable, seven mullets argent.
NOTE: Her old device is released.
Alison von Markheim. Badge. Counterermine, an escallop
inverted Or.
Alysaundra ferch Llewelyn. Name and device. Per bend
vert and argent, a lion dormant within an annulet counterchanged.
Armanna Goldenwood. Device. Per chevron Or and sable,
two crosses crosslet fitchy sable and a rose argent seeded gules.
Borderwinds, Canton of. Name and device. Or, in bend
sinister three trees blasted and eradicated and embowed to dexter,
within on a bordure sable a laurel wreath Or.
Bryon Greyfox. Name and device. Quarterly argent and
sable, a fox's mask counterchanged, on a chief Or, three foxes'
pawprints sable.
Cassandre von Markheim. Name and device. Per saltire
ermine and vert, a pomegranate gules, slipped and leaved vert,
a bordure gules.
Ceridwen MacAoudhegain. Badge. A triquetra environed
of a pair of hames tied at the top and bottom gules.
Colwin of Oakwood. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Damon Cragdweller. Name change (from Craig of Westermark).
Daniel de Hales. Name and device. Per bend sinister raguly argent and azure, a lute fesswise, neck to sinister, proper, and three arrows, two in saltire debruised by another fesswise, argent.
DISCUSSION: The addition of the monosyllable de is considered
(grudgingly, by some) sufficient to difference this from his mundane
name, Daniel Hales.
Douglass Gerard. Name and device. Per fess embattled argent and vert, in chief a lion passant guardant gules holding a Latin cross sable.
DISCUSSION: It is necessary to specify that the lion is in chief;
it could equally well be overall.
Eric Lyon of St. Michael's. Name and device. Azure, a
Celtic cross and on a chief argent, a lion statant azure.
Erik Ravenclaw. Name only.
Gwyneth of Hillhaven. Name only.
Gwynfor Lwyd. Name and device. Azure, a bar gemel couped and pointed at both ends argent between two frets couped and a chess pawn Or.
DISCUSSION: According to A Grammar of Middle Welsh, lenition occurs after a personal name, so the mutation of the initial ll in the adjective llwyd 'dark grey' to a single l is correct. (D. Simon Evans. Grammar of Middle Welsh, pages 14 and 19. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1976.)
Gemel means 'coupled, paired, twin'; it is derived from Latin gemellus 'twin'. (Webster's Second) Two bars are thus "a bar gemel," four bars are "two bars gemels," and so forth.
Fitched is an anglicized derivative of the French verb ficher 'to stick, drive' as in "to stick [or drive] in"); the English dictionaries translate it as 'to fix' (as in "to fix in the ground"). It means that something (specifically, a cross) has been "pointed at its lower extremity." Parker mentions crosses "fitchee of all four" and with ends "double fitched" and "treble fitched" but he attributes these scornfully to "theoretical" heraldic writers, and doubts there are any examples.
Woodward (p. 123) says that "the pale (with its diminutives) is sometimes found pointed (aiguis?, or fitch?) at its lower end." (Aiguish means 'whetted, sharpened; pointed': Dubois I 20) Julian Franklyn (Shield and Crest, pp. 8090) mentions a cross "fitchy of all four," then states that the usage "is misleading as far as the origin and meaning of the term is concerned."
My feeling is that the term should probably be used only when
the foot of something is pointed, and have therefore substituted
pointed at both ends for fitchy in the above blazon. I'm
not sure how legitimate this usage is stylistically, but don't
feel I can make a strong enough case for returning it.
Heather MacTeague. Name and device. Quarterly gules and argent, four maces counterchanged within a bordure sable.
DISCUSSION: See the cover letter for more than you ever wanted
to know about maces.
Isabeau of Guildemar. Name and device. Counterermine, on a point pointed argent, a hawk's foot and sinister wing elevated conjoined gules.
DISCUSSION: According to Julian Franklyn, "point pointed,
or pointinpoint, is created by dropping two concave
lines from the fesspoint to the edges of the shield level
with nombril point." (Shield and Crest, p. 289)
James of Southern Shores (submitted as Miyake Oishi). Name and device (mon). Sable, five lozenges, points to center, and a bordure argent.
NOTE: According to Monsho, Miyake and Oishi are both surnames. The applicant needs to add a given name. We have substituted a holding name, in order to register the device.
DISCUSSION: Against MALACHI DELACOT ("Per bend sinister gules
and sable, four lozenges conjoined in cross within and conjoined
to an annulet Or"), I count a minor point for tincture [IX.10],
a major for type of secondary charge, a minor for number of primary
charges [XIII.4], and an additional minor for the difference created
by the conjoining. The major point for bordure vs. annulet is
arguable, but it seems consistent with a "Western European"
view of the two coats. It can also be argued that Malachi's "cross"
is different enough from Oishi's "mullet" to warrant
a major point for arrangement and number. [XIII.6] The net count
appears to be a major and two minors.
Johanna Wendover. Name only.
Kallessa Panthers. Name and device. Argent, a chevron
vert between two panther's faces and a unicorn's head erased sable.
Kathleen O'Donnelly. Name only.
Klement St. Christoph. Name only.
Krystyana of Dragon Run. Name and device. Per fess sable
and argent, a garden rose slipped and leaved fesswise reversed
and a cat sejant counterchanged.
Mari Sol of Viana. Device. Purpure, a winged mermaid
displayed, arms outstretched, hair flammant, Or.
Oertha, Principality of. Seal for Stellanordica Herald. Two straight trumpets in saltire, bells in chief, surmounted by a compass star enhanced and elongated to base.
DISCUSSION: The compass star is enhanced relative to the trumpets
(the only available landmark). This alters the outline enough
to provide the required point of difference from PAUL OF SUNRIVER.
Patrick Devlin. Name and device. Azure, a sealion
erect Or between two flaunches argent, each charged with a compass
star azure.
Ruben ben Yosef the Khazar. Badge. Azure, in fess three
Stars of David Or.
Sillan Gareth. Name and device. Gules, a lion statant
between three pine trees all within an orle Or.
Suzanne l'Ecuyere. Device. Sable, on a demicompassstar of sixteen rays between three fleursdelys argent, a horse's head couped sable.
DISCUSSION: The stylistic objections to her previous submission
appear to have been cumulative, rather than individual. She has
met the College about halfway. The result, while still questionable,
is probably marginally acceptable. This could be improved by
replacing the demicompass star with a more recognizable
charge (preferably one whose points did not have to be enumerated).
Thomas Edmund of Ruislip. Change of device. Per chevron azure and Or, two swallows migrant in chevron and a sun counterchanged.
NOTE: His old device is released.
Thorfinn Hrolfsson. Badge. A demilion issuant from the lower half of a fleurde-lys azure, maintaining a "thorn" rune sable.
DISCUSSION: This combination isn't quite as recognizable as I
would like. It is distinctive, though, and there is precedent
for things flowing into or terminating in fleursdelys.
This seems reasonable for a badge. (Obelisk says that the rune
depicted in the emblazon is actually a wynn, not a thorn
"the angular portion needs to be moved down to the
center of the stick part.)
Torleif Nachtjgger. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
West Kingdom. Latimer Herald (name only).
West Kingdom. Notere Pursuivant (name only).
Wolfram Schaffner. Name and device. Sable, a mullet of
eight points Or, on a chief argent, a bat displayed gules.
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE RETURNED:
Kingdom of Atenveldt
Helena de Argentoune. Device. Per chevron gules and sable, a winged stag salient to sinister, wings elevated and addorsed, argent.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with JAMIE MACRAE: Purpure, a winged stag rampant to sinister. (SCA) There is a point of difference for tincture of field, and at best a minor point (if that much) between salient and rampant.
DISCUSSION: The wings are more elevated and addorsed than
erect; for an example of the latter, see Parker, p. 626.
Irminsul the Improbable. Augmentation of Arms. Or, a Tau cross throughout between two billets and in chief two roundels, all within a bordure azure.
REASON FOR RETURN: This is not suitable for use as an augmentation.
The design is complex and nonheraldic. Please redesign.
DISCUSSION: An augmentation is "a mark added to an existing coat of arms to commemorate some notable achievement." (An Heraldic Alphabet, p. 40) The form of the augmentation and its location on the arms must be specified. The fact that Mistress Irminsul uses this design as a maker's mark makes it even less suitable: arms may be borne with or without an augmentation, but the augmentation should not be used separately from the arms.
An augmentation ought to be suggestive of the reason it was given. Michael the Black, for example, bears the symbol of the University of Ithra, which he founded; and Robert of Dunharrow, the arms of the Exchequer of the West, which office he held for ten years.
A number of the heralds commenting on the submission perceived
that it is actually made up of the submitter's initials (iTi).
Letters of the alphabet may not be used in devices, and hence
may also not be used in augmentations. In addition, this is a
monogram, and monograms have specifically been disallowed. (WvS,
26 May 83, p. 15) [If she wishes a personal reference, Treblerose
has suggested an ermine zule". A zule is an heraldic chessrook.].
Kathryn of Iveragh. Badge for the House of the Fervent Kip (#2). Or, a passion nail gules within a bordure rayonny azure.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts visually with WENDRYN TOWNSEND (Azure, a sun in glory Or), among others. (When rendered on a roundel, as is normal for a badge, the bordure rayonny turns this into "Azure, on a sun Or a passion nail gules.") She might want to consider another kind of bordure.
DISCUSSION: The designation "House of the Fervent Kip"
was registered in March 1978.
Knut the Inflammable. Badge. Or, a reindeer displayed gardant proper, and in base a fig leaf vert all within a bordure sable.
REASON FOR RETURN: The "reindeer" shown in the emblazon is a product of Hallmark Cards, Inc., and (as a glance at the tag will demonstrate) Hallmark considers it to be protected by copyright. The design as a whole is questionable, and not in particularly good taste. Please redesign.
DISCUSSION: A similar instance of a recognizable commercial product arose at the Great Conclave in 1979, when two or three people submitted identical coats depicting a piece of jewelry that was popular at the time. Mistress Karina ruled, "We all recognize that beautiful piece of jewelry; there are people making a living out of selling reproductions of it; in some senses it is copyright and in others it is in the public domain, and you cannot register it." I feel the same principle of inappropriateness (even without respect to the question of copyright) applies in the present instance.
It should also be noted that there is an heraldic reindeer, distinguished from the stag "by double attires, one pair erect, the other pendent." (Parker 196)
Several of the commenting heralds objected to the term displayed
being applied to a quadruped. Unfortunately, there is specific
precedent for this. In July of 1980, Master Wilhelm ruled that,
"Since the references disagree and we have used displayed
in the past in the SCA, I have decided to continue the use of
the term for all animals. By default an animal displayed is affronty
with all limbs extended radially outwards, with the head turned
to dexter." (This was the famous case of "the seven
vert ewes displayed.") I am willing to reconsider this ruling,
but given its nature, I feel this is something that should be
subject to both research and comment by the College.
Lorene of Lircadia. Name only.
REASON FOR RETURN: 'Lorene appears to be modern. Dunkling
and Gosling say it is a variant of Laureen, a "diminutive
of Laura in use since the 1940s." (p. 243) She might want
to consider one of the many period forms of Laura: Withycombe
(p. 191) gives Laurencia, Lauretta, Laura, Lora,
Loretta, and Lore; and Dunkling and Gosling add
Lauricia, Laurina, and Laurentia from classical times.
Rosamund de Chastemont. Device. Per chevron azure and Or, a tower argent masoned sable and in saltire a desert rose gules and a lilac argent, both slipped and leaved vert.
REASON FOR RETURN: The argent blossom on the Or field violates
the rule of contrast. In addition, although the flowers have
not actually been blazoned as proper, we feel this combination
is excessive. It could be improved by drawing the plants more
distinctly, so the eye sees something more definite than "a
bun ' ch of wildflowers," and (better still) by using the
same kind of flower, in the same tinctures.
Sendri O'Harrell. Name only.
REASON FOR RETURN: Sendri turns out to be an obsolete form of
sundry. (OED 452) Since it has been identified as a "common
word" (RFS VII.1), it may not be used as a "madeup"
name.
Shindea de Jilbear. Name and device. Vert goutty d'eau, a dragon in decrescent, wings elevated and addorsed.
REASON FOR RETURN: Shindea neither looks nor sounds like a given
name, and Jilbear does not appear to be a plausible phonetic spelling
of Gilbert. The dragon is not in an heraldic position. Please
choose another name, and redesign.
Kingdom of Atlantia
Barry McFadyen. Device. Barry gules and argent, three trees vert.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts, alas, with BROSS: Argent, three trees vert. (Papworth 1118) There is a single point of difference, for the field, which is not sufficient between an SCA device and mundane arms.
DISCUSSION: "Barry is conventionally of six, as are paly,
bendy, and the like, unless otherwise specified in the blazon"(HB,
20 Sep 71, p. 4)
Fiona Lachtna. Device. Vert, an estoile gyronny of twelve Or and argent, and on a chief indented ermine, three fleurdelis issuant from the line of division Or.
REASON FOR RETURN: There is insufficient contrast between the Or and argent parts of the estoile, and between the gold fleursdelys and the ermine chief. According to the Rules for Submissions (IX.4), "A field or charge that is divided into more than two pieces (except for ... gyronny of six, and gyronny of eight) may not consist of all colors or all metals"; and RFS IX.5 states that "you cannot place ... Or on ermine."
DISCUSSION: The blazon was submitted as "a chief dancetty
ermine, each point terminating in a fleurdelis Or,"
on the example of PLOWDEN: Azure, a fess dancette', the two upper
points flory (terminating in fleursdelis) Or. (Woodward
124)This suggests that the fleursdelis are on the
field, since the points are normally thought to point to base.
Under the circumstances, I feel it is clearer to state that the
charges are on the chief. The chief is a singlesided ordinary,
and so is said to be indented, not dancetty. See
the discussion in the Laurel cover letter of 28 August 1985.
An estoile has six points by default.
Jeremea Gerber. Device. Argent, a fess between two drawknives with blades to center azure.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with BYRKIN (Papworth) and BILRIED (Rietstap), "Argent a fess azure," among others. There is a single point of difference, for adding the pair of drawknives.
DISCUSSION: The secondary charges were submitted as "tanner's
knives," which drew a couple of objections. There are numerous
examples of "occupational" knives in heraldry, so the
term is correctly formed, but the tanner's knife is not among
the ones listed in my references. I feel the charge is reasonable,
however, and have blazoned it as a drawknife
a generic name that may be found (usually with a picture) in many
dictionaries.
Nottinghill Coill, Barony of. Order of the Coill's Tripaliare (name only).
REASON FOR RETURN: Virgule and Brigantia both say that the Latin
word ' trepaliare, cited as the root, is the infinitive
form of a verb, not a noun. The literal meaning is "Order
of the Coill's To Travail," which is grammatically incorrect.
Melinda of the Silent Rose. Badge. A rose gules charged with three stalks of wheat as in a garb Or.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with the badge of Lancaster
and with ROSENBERG: Argent, a rose gules seeded Or. (WoodOrd 74)
Paulette of Falcon Cree. Device. Argent, a lioness couchant to sinister sable, gorged Or, a bordure sable.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with MOSHE PANTERA DEL FUEGO
NEGRO: Argent, a natural panther salient incensed of flame, all
within a bordure sable. (SCA) There is a major point for the position
of the beast, but the difference between a natural panther and
a lioness is negligible.
Kingdom of Caid
Evah de Yuste. Badge. Or, a cluster of grapes purpure, slipped and leaved vert.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with DRUYF: Or, a bunch of grapes
proper. (Rietstap)
Evron Beaumaris the Gallowglass. Device. Per chevron Or and gules, two suns and a dragon dormant, head and tail curved to base, wings addorsed, counterchanged.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with EDEN OF LION'S GUARD: Per
chevron Or and gules, in base a griffin dormant Or. (August 1985)
There is a major point for the addition of the suns, but we do
not feel there is enough visual difference between the charges
in base to make up a second full point.
Gershom ibn Zabara. Device. Gules, a Jewish hat argent.
REASON FOR RETURN: Conflict with KIM: Gules, a Jew's hat argent corded vert. (Rietstap) There also turn out to be a number of representations of a "Jew's hat," which makes it doubtful that the emblazon could be reconstructed from the blazon, and a couple of the heralds questioned the recognizability of the charge.
If a form can be found that at least appears to be a hat, I would
be willing to reconsider; like Baron Alfgar, I rather like the
idea.
Kingdom of the East
Arwen Evaine ferch Rhys of Gwynedd. Badge for the League of Freebooters.* Sable,
two thighbones crossed in saltire argent, within a bordure argent, semy of cat's pawprints gules.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with NEWTON: Sable, two shinbones in saltire argent. (Papworth 340) The paw prints are enough like ermine spots in appearance that I can see no alternative to treating this as equivalent to "argent, ermined gules."
* The heralds at the meeting asked, is the prerequisite for membership
that one be an orphan? ("With catlike tread, upon
our prey we steal ...)
Gwyddon Alexander MacGregor of Settmour. Device. Azure, a sword Or between in fess two comets palewise and in chief a decrescent argent.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with TAMARA FITZGLOUCESTRE OF
THE WHITE BOAR: Azure, a sword Or entwined of a rose argent slipped
and leaved proper between in fess two boars combattant argent.
(SCA) Replacing the boars with the comets is a major point of
difference (for type of a group of charges). Replacing the rose
with the decrescent would normally be a minor point (for making
"a major change to a minor element of the design");
since this is the second change in category type of charge,
it is demoted. I don't see any way of bringing this up to a second
major point.
Justin Lymner. Device. Erminois, a dragon rampant within a bordure azure, charged with three fleursdelys Or.
REASON FOR RETURN: A bordure of France (ancient or modern) may not be used in SCA heraldry. We would suggest he make the fleursdelys argent, instead of Or.
DISCUSSION: The commenting heralds were divided on this question. The arguments boil down to (1) "All the instances we could find of bordures being used to show relationship to the French crown used 'France Ancient'," against (2) "If we proscribe a bordure of France Ancient, we should proscribe France Modern as well; the same issue of pretentiousness applies."
Although I dislike proscribing charges, I find myself leaning toward the second argument. The bordures are similar enough in appearance and meaning to create a problem if we allow one and not the other.
Crescent expressed the opinion at the meeting, and I agree, that
France Ancient is an exceptional case. Our restriction of "Azure,
semydelys Or" should not be used as a basis for
a general ban on other combinations (Brittany, Cornwall, etc.).
The underlying principle may be the same, but I think the degree
of recognizability is different, and it is this, not the principle
itself, that justifies the ban on France Ancient.
Rachel Nam Beanntan. Name change (to Rhea).
REASON FOR RETURN: The documentation submitted does not clearly demonstrate that Rhea was used by humans in the Middle Ages.
SYNOPSIS: The submitter appealed this to the Brigantia office,
submitting as documentation an entry from The Dialects of Ancient
Gaul by Joshua Whatmough. On the basis of her experience
in philology, Mistress Alisoun concluded that the information
in the volume was not reliable. The submitter then exercised
her right to appeal this to the College of Arms. The College
concurs with Lady Brigantia's judgement in the matter.
Richard Tyler of Swiftwater. Device. Per chevron inverted wavy Or and azure, a fess and in chief three roses gules.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with DEVEROX: Ermine, a fess and in chief three roses gules. (Papworth 715) There is a major point of difference for the field. It also infringes upon BITTERLY: Or, a fess gules and in chief three cinquefoils of the second. (Papworth 714)
DISCUSSION: There are actually two kinds of change being made
to the field here: a change in tincture, from Or and azure (or
just plain Or) to ermine; and the addition of a line of division.
It is possible to obtain more than one point of difference for
field only when a change in tincture or partition is accompanied
by the addition or deletion of a field treatment or semy. (RFS
XIII.A.I.g) I seem vaguely to recall that Master Wilhelm considered
the ermine spots to be a semy in this instance, but I could not
find anything to support this. I have taken the conservative
tack here, and treated ermine as a tincture. I believe this is
how it would be treated mundanely.
Kingdom of the West
Colwin of Oakwood. Device. Per bend argent and Or, a bend gules, overall a mace sable.
REASON FOR RETURN: I'm afraid this does, in fact, conflict with THOPIAS WOLFGAME VON LAUER: Argent, a bend gules enfiled of an annulet sable. (SCA) The point andahalf rule was intended to apply to cases where there is a dominant primary charge, such as single primary charge plus a charged chief. Here, there is a major point for replacing the annulet with the mace, and a minor point for the difference of half the field.
DISCUSSION: See the cover letter for various observations on maces.
Edwin von Elsass. Device (appeal). Per fess argent and azure, three round buckles counterchanged.
REASON FOR RETURN: Conflict with WHISELFORD: Per fess azure and argent, three annulets counterchanged. (Papworth 5)
SYNOPSIS: This submission was originally returned in December 1984. Vesper appealed this ruling, citing Rules XIII.A.I.c and XIII.A.2.c. I returned the appeal in May 1985, with an abbreviated account of my interpretations of the cited rules, the rules I used to derive the "spirit of the law," and the visual weighing I had used to corroborate this. Vesper has appealed the ruling again, insisting that it represents a change in the rules, and offering an observation on this class of conflict.
DISCUSSION: As I noted in my previous return, the rules do not clearly address the question of how much difference this sort of counterchange contributes. I am of the opinion that the present question was not considered at the time the rules were drafted; this may be the first time it has been addressed. In any case, I attempted to derive the "spirit of the law" by looking for analogies in other parts of the Rules.
XIII.A.I.c "Two fields that have the same partition but differ in the tincture of each section differ by one major point." There is an implicit assumption here (reinforced by the examples given) that different tinctures are being used. In the other cases I was able to find of a partial change in tincture (XIII.B.l.c and XIII.B.7), the commonality brought on by retaining one of the original tinctures reduced the value of the change from a major to a minor point.
XIII.A.2.c "Counterchanging the field and charges counts as one major point." The sole example given is of a light charge on a dark field versus a dark charge on a light field. I believe this is the intuitive application of counterchanging to difference, and that the example limits the meaning of the term. Vesper's argument assumes that the term is unqualified, and that the rule may therefore be applied more broadly.
Within the context of difference, I have come up with the following possible applications of counterchanging:
1) "Azure, a bend Or" is the total counterchange of "Or, a bend azure." This is the type of counterchange used in the example for XIII.A.2.c. It counts as one major point. (The terms total and partial counterchange are taken from Shield and Crest, pp. 316 and 319320.) [Tincture of field is changed; tincture of charge derives from field; no change in outline.)
2) "Per pale azure and Or, a bend counterchanged" is a partial counterchange of "Azure, a bend Or." This type of counterchange is addressed in XIII.A.2.d, where it is referred to as "counterchanging by a line of partition" (a more useful description than "partial"). It counts as one major point against SCA and important mundane armory, and as sufficient difference against all other mundane coats. [Tincture and division of field are changed; tincture and division of charge derive from field; change in outline.]
3) "Per pale azure and Or, a bend counterchanged argent and gules" is also a (partial?) counterchange of "Azure, a bend Or." This type of counterchange is not directly addressed in the rules. I haven't given it much thought, but could argue for a major and a minor point (or possibly two major points). [Tincture and division of field are changed; tincture of charge is changed; division of charge derives from field; change in outline.]
4) "Per pale azure and Or, a bend counterchanged" is a (rotational?) counterchange of "Per pale Or and azure, a bend counterchanged." This is the case at hand. [Tincture of field is rearranged; tincture of charge derives from field; no change in outline.]
Without qualification, an exchange of tinctures across the line of partition may be considered a degenerate case of both XIII.A.I.c and XIII.A.2.c. I feel the examples provide this qualification. Vesper's argument that the discussion is somehow separable from the rest of the rules is inadmissible. As a study of the Rules for Submissions will show, the discussion serves at different times to justify a rule, to limit it, to offer examples of its use, and occasionally to present additional rules. (My experience has been that the "rules" of SCA heraldry actually reside in four places: the text of the Rules, the discussion of the Rules, rulings on individual submissions, and patterns of use. Without all four of these, no one can hope to understand SCA heraldry fully. This is one of the things that makes our system of heraldry so complicated.)
I have been allowing only a minor point of difference for reversing the colors of a divided field. (The earliest example I could find was BJORN RHYS: 28 Sep 84, pp. 1617.) I believe Vesper is correct in saying that this is not explicitly stated in the Rules, although it follows by analogy from XIII.B.l.bd, and in light of the restriction implicit in XIII.A.l.c. (I think I picked it up from one of Master Wilhelm's point counts.) This policy also played a part in the decision.
The preceding discussion is actually somewhat misleading, in that it implies that the original conflict call was made technically (on the basis of a point count). The call was actually part visual and part technical, with each being used to corroborate the other.
I consider the interchange of tinctures to be less memorable, visually, than the more conventional forms of counterchange. I can generally remember whether a coat is light on dark, or vice versa; but I have a devil of a time remembering left/right or upper/lower. I know, for example, that Loch Salann's arms are party per bend, that the laurel wreath is bendwise, and that the colors are black and white, but I'm not absolutely sure how they're arranged. In the list above, I've noted the areas of change that each type of counterchanging brings about. Visually, I rank this type of counterchange (#4) between a simple interchange of tinctures of the field (which I have been counting as a minor point) and the first type of counterchange (#l). I would be willing to allow a strong minor point, but not a major.
The West's argument on light/dark patterning is interesting, but I think all it really does is demonstrate the amount of weight we give to changes in color, as opposed to changes in outline. (I seem to recall Master Wilhelm saying, a number of years ago, that the British College doesn't consider color at all, since arms are so often used without tincture.) This doesn't invalidate the observation; but it argues more strongly for a change in the way we count difference than it has bearing on the present submission.
As for the "new class of conflicts" that Vesper says my ruling opens up, I would like to point out that when researching "Per fess argent and gules, in pale two roundels counterchanged," he would have found "Per fess gules and argent, in pale two roses counterchanged" the same way he would have found "Per fess argent and gules, in pale two roses counterchanged." I do not see how one can only be found serendipitously or by accident until there is a major revision to the Ordinary" and the other reached by more rational or less iconoclastic procedures. If there is a problem here, it lies in having to look under rose for a conflict with roundel, not with the way the coat has been divided and colored.
ANALYSIS: The College was divided on the issue. About as many people thought there was visual conflict as felt there was visual difference, and roughly half recognized that the Rules are capable of more than one interpretation. Going back over previous comments, I find the division remains about equal.
There seems to be an undercurrent that people wish the two did not conflict. I attribute this to the fact that both coats are fairly simple, and one of them .'Ls mundane. If this is the way the College would like to go, I can see two possibilities:
1) We could reduce the amount of difference required between SCA and mundane coats, either across the board or for certain "simple" cases.
2) We could allow a major point of difference between the buckles and the annulets, on the assumption that a [mundane] herald could tell the difference, especially since these are the only charges to be considered.
Mind you, these are being offered as observations, not proposals. While neither is wholly unreasonable, both are likely to be controversial, and hence fraught with peril. (At least one of the comments on the appeal questioned allowing even a minor point for the buckles ... )
CONCLUSION: I find nothing to convince me that my initial ruling
was incorrect, or that my interpretation represents a change in
the rules.
Kevin O'Fiodhabhra. Badge. An hourglass Or.
REASON FOR RETURN: Since there is no field, this conflicts with
MARCELIS: Gules, an hourglass Or. (Rietstap)
Merewyn della Fiore. Name and device. Per pale Or and sable, three lilies, stems conjoined, and in base two elm leaves, stems in saltire, counterchanged.
REASON FOR RETURN: Quoth Brigantia, fiore is a masculine noun;
thus 'of the flower' would be del Fiore, and 'of the flowers'
would be degli Fiori. The applicant has asked that we
make no changes in her name without consulting her. The device
appears acceptable.
Richard Blackbury. Badge (appeal). A tricorporate fox gules, marked proper. (Vulpes vulpes)
REASON FOR RETURN: Conflict with THORFINN HROLFSSON: Gyronny of six argent and azure, a tricorporate lion gules. (SCA)
SYNOPSIS: This submission was originally returned in June 1985. I noted at the time that the rejection was based on the assumption that "since the badge may be displayed on any field, the field contributes no difference. Batonvert feels there is an unspecified assumption that the background of a fieldless badge is undivided. If this is true, then there may be an additional point for the division of the field in Thorfinn's arms. The rules are ambiguous on this point, and I have been unable to find any specific rulings to clarify things."
Vesper's appeal stated that "in considering fieldless badges, and conflicts against fieldless badges, we have always assumed that the badge would be displayed on a 'plain' field, and that dividing the field would add a point of difference. The boundary between the two tinctures of a divided field, which remains even when all color is removed from the field, provides a difference in a line drawing of the device or badge ... Please note that many recent fieldless badges would have been in conflict with devices if we had applied the rule in the same manner as was done here, and that several devices have passed recently which would have conflicted with fieldless badges had we not regarded the addition of the line on the field as a full point. We strongly think that our interpretation on the display of fieldless badges should be established as the official interpretation ... so that we do not, by passing fieldless badges, prevent people from registering good simple heraldry."
DISCUSSION: The commenting heralds were split down the middle on this issue. Brigantia and Batonvert, who supported the appeal, noted that Vesper's argument follows from RFS XI.7, which requires that unconnected charges on a fieldless badge all be of the same class of tincture. "If it were assumed that divided fields were feasible with fieldless badges, this requirement would not be sensible."
This isn't strictly true the requirement could stem from an assumption that making the charges the same class of tincture provides better intrinsic contrast, or creates simpler and more "badgelike" badges. The reason given in the discussion of XI.7 may be nothing more than an attempt to offer a concrete justification for an abstract concept. An examination of the wording of the Rules will, I believe, demonstrate the credibility of this hypothesis.
The heralds who opposed the appeal felt either that there was too little difference between the charges or that there was nothing to prevent a fieldless badge from being displayed on a divided field. The latter argument is probably best expressed in the following comment by Silver Trumpet:
Period usage of badges permitted them to be displayed on whatever field served best. Thus the swan badge of the De Bohuns could be displayed on a sable field, as it was in a stainedglass window in Westminster Abbey, or it could be displayed on a party field of sable and gules, as it was in the standard of Sir Henry de Stafford (heir to the De Bohuns; c. 1475). (See Boutell's Heraldry; I'm using the 1966 edition, p. 166 and Plate XVII.)*
The fact that a badge could be displayed on a standard, which was parted per fess of the livery colors, as well as on a plain field, says to me that it could be displayed on any field, plain, party, or fur. Since it may be displayed on any field, a badge gains no difference for the field. The holder of a fieldless badge may certainly put it on a party field; he ought to have no fear of conflicting with fielded armory.
Display on a standard is a legitimate use for an SCA badge. I'm afraid that the West's subsequent argument that "it should be the business of the College to educate the populace in the correct usage of these badges" does not sufficiently answer this objection.
ANALYSIS: I feel that both points of view are valid; and when taken in the abstract, they are about equal in weight. I don't see a clear theoretical solution. On practical grounds, I think the key issues are the legitimate use of fieldless badges, and the question of conflict between devices and badges.
Silver Trumpet's argument shows that, in mundane armory, a fieldless badge could be displayed on either a plain or a divided field. The same is presumably true of the SCA. We could, if we wished, specifically protect the perfess division (the field of display used in a standard), or require that the field be registered; but this would only make the Rules more complex, and it would work against our efforts to encourage people to use badges "in the period fashion." I also have strong doubts about the enforceability of this kind of rule.
The motivation here is to try to make it possible for a fieldless badge (Richard's) to be similar to an SCA device (Thorfinn's) in other words, to reduce the difference requirement between them. I think this is a desirable goal, but creating an artificial field difference is not the right way to go about it. It adds complexity to the Rules, rather than reducing it; and it allows a legallydisplayed badge to "conflict" (as we currently view conflict) with properlyused arms.
I think the only workable approach is to set fieldless badges aside from all other armory, to be judged by different standards. Our chief concern would be whether a fieldless badge conflicts with another. It has been suggested, for example, that fieldless badges not be considered to conflict at all with nonfieldless armory, or that the overall point count be lower, or that there be only "whole" units of difference (no bandying with fractions). All of these, however, would require a change in attitude on the part of the heralds our perception of what "conflicts" which we would, in turn, have to communicate to the populace. Any other approach would be a halfmeasure, and I do not think it would work.
CONCLUSION: Since a fieldless badge may legitimately be displayed on a divided field, the field contributes no difference. If this generates unreasonable conflicts, then we need to rethink our definition of conflict between regular and fieldless armory.
* p. 167 and Plate XXVII in the 1973 edition; see the index under
Bohun/badge and standard.
Stuart of Lindley. Badge. Or, a cross potent set saltirewise azure.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts visually with DE BROGLIE: Or, a saltire ancrie azure. (Woodward, Pl. XV)
DISCUSSION: Rotational conflict applies only against SCA armory or "important mundane or fictional arms (such as national or royal arms or flags)" (RFS XII.7), so there is no conflict with "Or, a cross potent azure." (Virgule has noted that the latter are the attributed arms of St. Amarand.)
Actually, there is some question as to whether the rotation rule ought to apply to mundane armory at all:
In talking with Mr. BrookeLittle, I discovered that mundane heralds consider rotation to be a significant difference. Therefore the rotation rule shall not apply between SCA submissions and mundane arms/badges, but instead only between SCA submissions. We have to worry about it because of the use of round shields on the field and the painting of the submissions on objects that can be rotated. (WvS, 26 May 83, p. 4)
I can't find any indication that this ruling was reversed, but
it wasn't incorporated into the August 1984 edition of the Rules.
Was this an oversight, or was it intentional?.
Torleif Nachtjgger. Device. Per pale sable and argent, a mullet of six points between in fess two comets, heads to base, counterchanged.
REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts visually with ELRIC OF EREHWON:
Per pale sable and argent, in base a mullet between in pile two
lightning flashed counterchanged. (SCA)
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE PENDING:
Kingdom of the East
Giovanni d'Avila. Device. Azure, a chevron Or, in base a tree eradicated; a chief embattled argent.
PENDING: The chevron was blazoned as azure in the letter of intent.
Sternwulf von Drakenwijk. Name and device. Purpure, six wolves passant guardant in annulo argent.
PENDING: This submission has been carried over to the November
letter.
Wladislaw Poleski. Name only.
PENDING: The name appears to conflict with several kings and grand dukes of Poland, all named Wladyslaw.
We have held in the past that one may not use the given name of a monarch together with the name of the place he ruled Henry of England, for example, conflicts with Henry I through Henry VIII. The literal meaning of Poleski is supposed to be 'the Pole' or 'from Poland'. Should this, too, be considered a conflict? I took a straw poll at the Laurel meeting of "perceived conflict", with the following results:
Henry of England conflict
Henry England borderline
Henry the Englishman no conflict?
Henry English no conflict
Of the four combinations we considered, only one was perceived as a definite conflict. This argues for a more liberal policy on the matter. The problem is, what kind of reasonable distinction can be made? The addition of a preposition or definite article? Does this criterion work in all languages? Is it too hairsplitting to be practical?
I am not particularly bothered by the name, and in general, I think the SCA and the College of Arms would be better served by looking for conflict in fewer, rather than more, places. If possible, I would prefer to find a more objective criterion.
Several courses of action suggest themselves:
1) We could stop considering "[common given name] of [country]" to be a conflict. Of course, the first time someone submits "Arthur of Britain", we will start having second thoughts.
2) We could invoke this kind of conflict only in certain special cases. This is in line with the Board's criterion of "clear conflicts with names actually used by wellknown people," but it leaves us with the problem of defining "wellknown."
3) We could consider only "use forms." This is good in theory, but I wonder how practical it is. What are the useforms for grand dukes of Poland?
4) We could decide that it is easier to ban all such forms than to have to fuss with borderline cases.
This issue will be addressed again at the February meeting.
Kingdom of the West
Lochac, Region of. Seal for Crux Australis Herald. On a roundel, on a pale between four mullets, two and two, two straight trumpets palewise in fess, bells to base and chief.
PENDING: This submission has been carried over to the November
letter.