Laurel Letter of Pends and Discussion (LoPaD): November 27 2004

To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from François Laurel King of Arms, Evan Wreath, and Margaret Pelican, greetings.

This letter contains the issues raised in the June 2004 LoAR for CoA discussion. The text in this letter is copied verbatim from that LoAR; it is provided here for convenience. As with a November LoI, these matters are currently scheduled for the Laurel meetings in March 2005. Original commentary must be in the College's hands no later than 31 January 2005. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than 28 February 2004.

1. Brannat Dub. Device change. Azure, on a pale and chief (or "chief-pale") between two mullets argent, in pall a rose gules between three ravens sable.

   This was submitted on the Letter of Intent as Azure, on the crossbar of a tau cross throughout between two mullets argent, a rose gules between three ravens sable. However, the primary charge used here is not a tau cross throughout. That term was used in the blazon of the submitter's previously registered device, on which there is a significant amount of field showing above the top of the cross. What we have here instead is what Spanish heralds call a jefe-palo (literally "chief-pale"), which is found as a unitary charge in most parts of Southern Europe.

   There was general agreement that we should register this if we can blazon it. The usual technique of "on a pale <stuff> and on a chief <otherstuff>" doesn't quite work here, as the rose overlies the junction of the chief and pale. This arrangement of primary and tertiary charges has not been registered before, and we are in search of a best practice for blazoning this device.

   Research showed that almost every heraldic language has a specific term for the chief-and-pale combination charge except English and Dutch. We are therefore pending this item to get the input of the College on how best to blazon it.

   The rose and ravens are of comparable size, so assuming that the chief-and-pale combination is a unitary charge, there is only one tertiary charge group on it. We have arranged the blazon accordingly.

   The form was filled out incorrectly, claiming this device as new when it is actually a change. Because the change is being pended, the submitter will be contacted to determine the desired disposition of her previously registered device: Azure, on the crossbar of a tau cross throughout between two mullets argent, three ravens sable.

   (This was item 9 on the East's LoI of February 29, 2004.)

Pray know that I remain

In service

François la Flamme
Laurel Principal King of Arms

Created at 2004-12-07T23:50:58