THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:
Kingdom of Atenveldt
Aedred the FarTraveled. Device. Per bend sinister dovetailed azure and ermine, in bend a lantern lit Or and a bat displayed sable.
NOTE: Please remove the nimbus from around
the lantern. It obscures the charge completely. Society convention
(in the arms of ARTHUR OF LOCKEHAVEN and LOREN MACCHLURAIN) has
been to render the light from a lantern as "three straight
rays emitted from each side.".
Arn Hold, Shire of.
Device. Purpure, a moose rampant to sinister gardant Or, in dexter
chief a laurel wreath argent.
Aurora of the Blackwoods.
Name only.
Azuria, Shire of.
Badge for Cooks' Guild. Azure mullety, a cauldron argent and
issuant from base a flaming mountain, all within a bordure Or.
Denise MacMathain (submitted as An Clar MacMhathain de Nice). Name and device. Argent, semy of decrescents vert, a spider tergiant sable charged with a mullet argent.
NOTE: None of the people commenting on this
submission were able to confirm that An Clar is a variant
of the given name Clara. It appears to translate literally
as 'the table', which is unlikely for a given name; I'll need
to see the documentation itself (and probably obtain opinions
from Batonvert and Brigantia) before I can accept it. I have
used the lady's mundane given name in order to register the device.
(The byname de Nice is perfectly acceptable, by the way,
and will be restored at her request; it has been omitted because
I could not in good conscience stick someone with the holding
name of "Denise de Nice.").
Gwynaeth Angharad of Glamorgan (submitted as Gwynaeth Angharad o Glamorgan). Name and badge. Vert, a cobra coiled erect affronty within an orle wavy Or.
NOTE: In general, a place name should agree
in language with the preposition it follows. (The obvious exception
is the preposition of English being the lingua
franca of the Society and a strong case can be made
for allowing similar liberties with AngloNorman de.)
In the present case, Glamorgan is the English name of the
place, and so should not be used with the Welsh preposition o.
If she wishes the Welsh placename, it would be o Forgannwg
(which is the preposition o followed by the mutated form
of Morgannwg).
Lyn of Whitewolfe. Name change (from Louellen of Whitewolfe); see RETURNS for device.
DISCUSSION: Lyn may be out of period, but this hasn't actually been demonstrated, and there are a couple on the books already. Since it is her mundane usename, I am inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Mairghread Raoghnailt MhicRath ni Labhruinn. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
NOTE: On the advice of Brigantia, we have
corrected n'Labhriunn to ni Labhruinn. She states
that the patronymic particle ni (nic would also
be correct) should not be shortened to n' before the initial
consonant here. (Neither Brigantia nor Batonvert commented on
the reversal of i and the u in Labhruinn, although
both used this form, which is the one cited in Black (p. 534).
I assume this is indicative of the change in case from nominative
to genitive ... or perhaps a typo in Clans and Tartans of Scotland?).
Maureen Fionn Lochlannach (submitted as Maureen Fionn Lochlainneach). Name only (see RETURNS for device).
NOTE: Batonvert and Brigantia both noted
that the Scots Gaelic adjective meaning 'Norse, Danish, Scandinavian'
is Lochlannach. We have amended the byname accordingly.
Moire of Tir Ysgithr (submitted as Moire McTaggart). Name and device. Azure, a seaunicorn erect to sinister and on a chief argent a natural dolphin embowed to sinister azure.
NOTE: The name infringes on that of Moira
MacTaggert, a recurring character in Marvel Comics' The
XMen. We have substituted the name of her SCA branch
in order to register the device.
Richard of the Fens.
Name only.
Thorold Bjornssen.
Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Kingdom of Atlantia
Atlantia, Kingdom of.
Bright Leaf Herald (name only).
Atlantia, Kingdom of. Osprey Herald (name only).
DISCUSSION: Brigantia has asked if this
conflicts with the "default name" for the pursuivant
of the Shire of the Osprey in Meridies. My feeling is that heraldic
titles conflict with names of kingdoms, principalities, and orders,
but not with baronies, provinces, subsidiary branches, or households.
I am open to argument on both sides, and invite further discussion
should the question arise again.
Brynna of Aelfstanbury.
Device. Or, a pall between a raven statant close sable and two
torches gules.
DISCUSSION: Recent practice has been to
permit a major and a minor point of difference for an ordinary
surrounded by a group of two distinct kinds of secondary charges,
which brings this clear of RUPPELIN ("Or, a pairle sable").
Cathanar, College of.
Change of status (from Shire to College); see RETURNS for device.
Christopher Storm of Kintail. Name only.
Imran Yosuf le Scorpioun. Name correction (from Imran Yusuf le Scorpion); see RETURNS for device.
DISCUSSION: The form Imran Yusuf le Scorpion, to which the applicant's name was changed in the LoAR of 30 Jul 82, was the spelling used on both the information and picture sheets for the badge submission that was processed at the July 1982 Laurel meeting. I am certain Master Wilhelm believed he was doing what the applicant wanted when he altered the name.
De is the French word for 'of'. It is used without an article to indicate that someone comes from a specific place: Jean de Paris ("John of [the city of] Paris"), Etienne de Provence ("Steven of [the region of] Provence"), etc. Scorpion is a common noun, describing a thing, and not a placename, so it requires an article.
The two most likely forms of this name are
Imran Yosuf le Scorpioun ("Imran Yosuf the Scorpion")
and Imran Yosuf du Scorpioun ("Imran Yosuf of
the Scorpion"). The first form is a nickname, implying one
or more of the attributes of the arachnid (perhaps that he is
a deadly desert fighter); the second associates him with the symbol
of the scorpion, such as an heraldic badge. Imran de Scorpioun
means "Imran of Scorpion," and is no more correct than
to say, in English, "John of Door" or "Alexander
of Book."
Imran Yosuf le Scorpioun.
Badge for House Illuminar. Sable, on a cross between four decrescents
Or, five swans naiant sable.
Patriche del Lupo. Name and device. Per pale angled reversed argent and purpure, two wolf hooks palewise in fess counterchanged.
NOTE: I have treated Patriche as
madeup. The wolf hooks should be in the same orientation.
Please correct the emblazon. DISCUSSION: Wolfhook
is the Continental term for the charge known to British heralds
as a crampon or crampiron. (Shield and
Crest, p. 250) I have some doubts about its advisability
none of the standard sources lists the term but there were
no objections from the College, and the pun is obvious.
Kingdom of Caid
Alix Concordia von Altstein. Name correction (from Alix Concordia von Alterstein).
NOTE: Appeal sustained.
Angela of Rosebury.
Name change (from Charissa Lynell of Rosebury).
Caid, Kingdom of.
Badge for the Office of Avant Courier. Azure, a hand bell bendwise
sinister argent.
Cei Myghchaell Wellinton.
Name change (from Cei of the Iron Rings); see RETURNS for badge.
Daven Echern. Name and device. Azure, on a plate a horse salient to sinister sable, in base a spiral trumpet Or, all within a bordure embattled argent.
NOTE: Please make the trumpet larger.
Duncan of Greyfeather.
Name and device. Purpure, two feathers in saltire argent, in
chief a German flute fesswise affronty Or, all within a bordure
argent.
Karl of Berg Rheinstein. Name and device. Per bend argent and vert, a cross paty sable and in saltire a lute affronty and a sword Or.
NOTE: According to Obelisk, Rheinstein is
a Burg ('castle'), not a Berg ('mountain'). Is
this what the applicant had in mind?.
Kristin Alfhildr of Trondheim.
Correction of blazon. Or, semydelis sable, a unicorn
counterforcené and on a chief azure three Jelling
beasts nowed, erect and reversed, Or.
Kylan Javan MacRoy.
Device. Argent, a battle axe palewise between two flaunches
azure, each charged with a unicorn's head couped respectant argent.
Margare of the Silver Dragonfly.
Device (correction). Vert, a gore sinister sable fimbriated,
in pale two dragonflies volant bendwise, the lower reversed, argent.
Wilihelm Heimirich von Donnerkeil.
Badge for Rotheric FitzLovell. Checky argent and azure, a bend
Or and overall a wolf rampant gules.
Wilihelm Heimirich von Donnerkeil.
Release of badge for Rhydderch of the Far Reaches. Per pale
gules and sable, a chevron rompu inverted, and in chief a pheon
Or.
Kingdom of Calontir
Aldgyth atte Apelyard.
Name only.
Dómhnull mac Rath.
Name and device. Or masoned azure, on a pile indented counterermine
a mullet argent.*
____________________________
* "For the love of God, Montresor!"
Gabriel ap Morgan ap Hywel.
Name and device. Per bend azure and vert, on a bend engrailed
argent between six mullets of six points Or a fox's head erased
gules.
Guillaume of Faireskye.
Name only (see RETURNS for device and badge).
Hywela Frech ferch Wyddel (submitted as Hywela Brych ferch Wyddel). Name only.
NOTE: Brych is the masculine adjective
for 'freckled'; the feminine form is brech, which mutates
to frech following a given name.
Jadwiga Marina Majewska (submitted as Jadwiga Marina Majewski). Name only.
NOTE: The feminine form of Majewksi
is Majewska.
Jocelyn de Biers (submitted as Jocelyn du Biers). Name only (see RETURNS for device).
NOTE: French du 'of the [masculine
singular]' does not appear to be correct here. We have substituted
de, which is a more likely form. (Reaney DBS 60, under
Byars; see also Reaney OES 231 and Bardsley 91).
Kathryn McLain of Faire Haven.
Device. Argent, a bend dancetty purpure between a thistle proper
and a horse's head couped to sinister azure.
Lawrence Taillefer the Leach. Name and device. Per bend raguly gules and argent, three bones bendwise in bend sinister and a fleam counterchanged.
DISCUSSION: The fleam is not a restricted
charge.
Megan O'Reilly (submitted as Megan ni Reilly). Name only.
NOTE: Reilly is apparently not a
given name, so ni Reilly is incorrect. We have amended
this to O'Reilly, the form she originally submitted. DISCUSSION:
There are some twenty Megans, Meghans, and Meggans
already registered. As with Fiona and Corwin, I
consider the name to be so much a part of SCA culture as to be
acceptable, even if it is a recent coinage.
Richard Byron of Beaumaris.
Name and device. Per chevron nebuly gules and Or, two martlets
respectant Or and a bear passant sable.
Richard Randolf.
Badge for Randwulf Raedwulfing (correction). Vert, a wolf passant
between in pale two fracted spears fesswise reversed argent.
Kingdom of the East
Annora Coffyn.
Name only.
Catherine de Carcassonne.
Device. Argent, on a lozenge throughout gules a unicorn dormant
Or, in sinister chief a fleurdelys azure.
Christopher of Saint Michaels.
Name and device. Sable, a Maltese cross within a double tressure
embattled on its outer edges Or.
Eleanor FitzWilliam.
Name only.
Ellisif of the Debatable Lands (submitted as Ellisif Flakkingskvinne). Name and device. Azure, a bicapitate wivern displayed and in base a chevron inverted argent.
NOTE: The byname Flakkingskvinne
was returned for additional documentation in the LoAR of 16 Dec
84. We have substituted her SCA branch name in order to register
the device.
Friedrich vander Delft.
Release of badge (correction). Or, on a delf barry wavy of ten,
argent and azure, a sun Or. NOTE: Tumbletingered fypist
...
Geoffrey Fitz Galen.
Device. Ermine, on a saltire raguly between in pale two sheaves
of three arrows gules, five griffins' heads erased Or, collared
sable.
Griffin's Keep.
Device (correction). Vert, a griffin segreant and on a chief
embattled Or a laurel wreath vert.
Gwilym o'r Tair Afon. Release of name.
NOTE: This name was approved in October
1984, at which time it was altered from its submitted form to
correct an alleged grammatical error. We later discovered that
the applicant had specifically asked that we not make any changes
to his name. The name is hereby withdrawn, at the applicant's
request, with our sincere (and embarrassed) apologies for the
oversight.
Gwynna Emrys. Device. Per chevron throughout vert and argent, in base a dragon sejant erect azure within a bordure counterchanged.
DISCUSSION: The addition of throughout
to the blazon is arguable: it suggests that the field division
crosses over the bordure in chief as well as in base. I finally
concluded that both are probably legitimate interpretations of
the blazon, and that it was better to specify that the division
made contact with the bordure.
Gyth of the Danelaw.
Name and device. Azure, a recurved bow bendwise sinister, fully
drawn with an arrow bendwise inverted, within a bordure Or, semy
of garbs gules.
Ile du Dragon Dormant, Shire of. Device. Purpure, a chevron argent between in chief a laurel wreath between two fleursdelys in fess and in base a dragon dormant, wings elevated and addorsed, Or.
DISCUSSION: This is one of the cases where
it is better to specify in chief and in base, to
help the reader find his bearings.
James Burnside.
Name only.
Kunegunda Henschel von Schattenberg.
Name correction (from Kunegunda Henschel von Schattenburg).
Maria de la Flor. Name only.
DISCUSSION: Virgule has a good point
"Mariaofthisorthat is a common Spanish
form of referring to various 'manifestations' of the Blessed Virgin
- often treated as though they were practically separate people."
I have no desire to be overly sensitive (one can find religious
symbolism in almost anything), but she should probably be careful
about the charges she chooses for her device.
Miles of Armagh.
Device. Sable, a scorpion tergiant displayed Or and in chief
a battle axe fesswise reversed argent.
Pawel Aleksander od Zerania.
Name only.
Peter the Barbarian (submitted as Retep the Barbarian). Name and device. Argent, a cross couped quarterpierced environed of a dragon inverted in annulo, sable.
NOTE: We have held previously (in the case
of CIRE GREYMOOR) that "Spelling a name backwards is not
a valid method for creating a new name." (WvS, 19 Aug 83,
p. 15) The applicant went to considerable effort to try to document
the construction as dithematic. A compound or dithematic name
is composed of a first element (the protheme) and a second
element (the deuterotheme) drawn from the body of word
stems (themes) used to form names in a given language.
To document a name as dithematic, you need to show that it is
constructed from a known protheme and a known deuterotheme (or
plausible variants thereof) for a specific culture. Unfortunately,
the sources the submitter used were for words in the main-stream
language, not name elements, and they were for a number of different
languages. We have substituted his mundane given name in order
to register the device.
Ragnvald Joransson Ek.
Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Shoshonnah Jehanne ferch Emrys.
Name only.
Taliesin ap Gwythur.
Name and device. Sable, a chevron indented argent between two
griffins combattant and a castle doubletowered Or.
Theodora di Lupita.
Name correction (from Theodora de Lupita).
William de Corbie.
Device. Gules, a bend sable, fimbriated, between two crosses
crosslet fitchy argent.
Kingdom of Meridies
Aldrich Atwater. Device. Azure, chapé-ployé argent, a label of three points, a unicorn's head couped sable, and an oak tree eradicated above in base three shamrocks two and one Or.
DISCUSSION: I am inclined to agree with
Batonvert, that we should not permit unrestricted use of the label
as a charge. Master Wilhelm specifically allowed the practice
in October 1979, but our perception and attitudes about cadency
have changed since that time, and we may want to reconsider.
Any comments?
Ammalynne Starchild Haraldsdottir.
Badge for Haraldstad. Argent, a tree blasted and eradicated
sable within a bordure indented azure mullety argent.
Benjamin Xanthus Ruthendale (submitted as Drake Xanthus Ruthendale). Name and device. Per saltire vert and sable, a pithon erect nowed, wings displayed, between in cross four crescents argent.
NOTE: Drake is a surname derived
from Old English draca 'dragon', and is not related to
the given name Drogo, which comes from different roots.
(Reaney DBS 107; Withycombe 89) We have used the applicant's mundane
name as a holding name. DISCUSSION: "A Jaculus is a winged,
leaping snake." (IoL, 31 Mar 75, p. 1; in Prec I 34) We have
since adopted the term pithon to describe a winged snake.
(The i spelling is used to help distinguish the heraldic monster
from the reptile of the same name, which we call a natural
python.).
Border Vale Keep, Shire of. Name and badge. Vert, two swords in saltire Or surmounted by a stone tower, the top enflamed, proper.
NOTE: Flames "proper" on a colored
field are red on the inside and gold on the outside. Please correct
the emblazon. DISCUSSION: Stone charges proper are gray
by default. (Rules IX.3).
Brynja of Byrrhyll.
Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Elspeth of Harilow. Badge. A heartsease proper. (Viola tricolor).
DISCUSSION: According to the Fieldbook
of Natural History, Violaceae is the family to which
the pansy belongs; the genus is viola. (p. 253).
Elspeth of Harilow.
Badge for Household Les Belles Femmes du Masque. On a heart
Or, another gules.
Guillermo el Alacrán de Castilla.
Name and device. Argent, a pall inverted cotised gules between
a lion passant to sinister, a scorpion tergiant fesswise, and
a morion helm sable.
Hagen of Vinland.
Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Hildegarde die Blonde.
Name and device. Quarterly, barry gules and argent, and vert,
a cross cleché throughout Or.
Marcus MacDonald.
Name and device. Per pale sable and gules, three arrows inverted
palewise in fess and on a chief argent, a shepherd's crook reversed
sable.
Morgan Blackhart.
Name and device. Argent escallopy azure, a hart rampant to sinister
sable within a bordure gyronny azure and gules.
Oriana Winterborne.
Name and device. Or, on a cross vert five pegasi rampant Or
within a bordure vert.
Tegan Blackheart.
Name and device. Or, on a lozenge within an orle of crosses
cleché sable, a seahorse erect argent.
Valda Ranulfsdottir. Name and device. Per fess embattled argent and sable, a pennant flying to sinister vert and a fox's head erased argent.
NOTE: According to Batonvert, the feminine of Valdi is probably Valdis, although this is acceptable. The Old Norse form of the name would be Valdis Runolfsdottir.
Kingdom of the Middle
Awilda Haeulfdan.
Device. Per pale gules and sable, three compass stars in bend
sinister Or.
Dafydd Bretnach an Duan Breatunn. Device. Sable, mullety argent, on a fountain a sea horse naiant Or.
NOTE: He has obtained a letter of permission
to conflict with ELEANOR OF ALNWICK.
Joan of Gryphonscrag.
Badge for House Gryphonscrag. Per chevron sable and vert, in
pale a male gryphon's head erased Or and a flame proper.
Johanna of Dendermonde. Badge for Consortium Balneorum. Azure goutty d'eau, in saltire a recorder and a lute in profile proper.
NOTE: She has obtained a letter of permission
from YOSEF ALARIC.
Kingdom of the West
Alric of Castleburg. Badge. Sable, a pair of barnacles inverted Or.
DISCUSSION: Parker and BrookeLittle
both say that this charge is generally referred to as a "pair
of barnacles" (like a "pair of scissors," I guess).
Aoiffa of the Emerald Vale.
Name and device. Argent, a castle within a bordure vert semy
of cartouches argent.
DISCUSSION: According to Roger F. Pye, "If there were six or [fewer] charges the number was normally specified; if more than six they were considered to be semy." (A return to first principles: III Semy. Coat of Arms VII(53): 206208.) This is especially true of charges on a bordure, which do not fall conveniently into the simple patterns that make it possible to discern the total number of charges at a glance.
On the example of the Rous Roll, this could
also be blazoned as "a bordure charged with cartouches.".
Cecilia of Lindley.
Device. Argent, a sun sable eclipsed Or, on a chief embattled
azure, three roses argent.
Donnan the Truehearted.
Name only.
Erik of Oakstream.
Name and device. Purpure, a tree eradicated and in base three
bars wavy argent.
Firiel of the Green Wood.
Name only.
Hans the Horrible. Name and device. Per fess indented azure and gules, in chief a sword and a hammer inverted in saltire argent, the sword hilted Or, in base a standing balance Or.
Hans the Horrible.
Badge. Azure, in saltire a sword and a hammer inverted argent,
the sword hilted Or, in chief a compass star argent.
Marcus Lupus Allemanus Argentatus. Name and device. Per chevron argent and vert, two hearts gules and a wolf sejant, dexter forepaw raised, sinister forepaw upon the chain of a collar in base argent.
NOTE: According to Brigantia, in late Latin
the tribal name would probably follow, rather than precede, the
epithet "argentatus.".
Morgan ap Siarl.
Name and badge. Azure, a falcon striking to sinister argent,
a base wavy Or.
Morwenna of Oystermouth.
Name and device. Purpure, a flute fesswise Or.
Myrddyn Brandeall. Name and device. Argent, a chevron embattled gules between three towers sable.
NOTE: Classic heraldry. Batonvert has noted
that the byname may not be correct. She would have expected Deallbrand
'proudsword', with the adjective preceding the noun, which
is normal AngloSaxon word order.
Reynardine of Lochac.
Device. Vert, a fox's mask Or, a bordure wavy ermine.
Rodrigo de los Lobos.
Name only.
Stewart of the High Waste.
Device. Sable, a pine tree eradicated within an orle Or.
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE RETURNED:
Kingdom of Atenveldt
Adelicia sans Coeur of Gloucester. Badge. Or, a swan naiant sable charged with a voided heart Or.
NOTE: This conflicts with badge of WEST
AUSTRALIA, "Or, a swan naiant sable.".
Cherie Ruadh MhicRath of Locksley. Device. Gyronny arrondi reversed, purpure semy of daisies proper, and azure, a cat to sinister gardant argent, lying upon its back and playing with a [pink] flamingo feather proper. (Phoenicopterus ruber).
NOTE: The cat is not in a recognizable heraldic
position, and it was the consensus of the College of Arms that
the overall effect of the device is also not heraldic. The color
of a flamingo's feathers is apparently dependent on its diet,
so there really is no "proper" color. In addition,
if the feather is an important enough charge to warrant an involved
blazon, then it is also important enough to be subject to the
rule of contrast. Please redesign.
Elric of Moray. Device. Sable, three lozenges in chevron enhanced argent, overall a flamberge sword inverted argent, hilt fimbriated sable, all within a bordure argent.
NOTE: Even though the hilt of the sword
is fimbriated, it does not show up well enough against the lozenges
behind it. In addition, the lozenges are difficult to recognize
in the emblazon, and their arrangement is not really reconstructible
from the blazon. The overall effect is of an oddlyhilted
sword, in which case it can be argued that this is only one point
different from the SWORD OF CALONTIR: "Sable, a cross of
Calatrava elongated to base so as to form a sword inverted, within
a bordure argent." (SCA) Please redesign.
Ioseph of Locksley, the Rhymer. Badge. A cat rampant gardant argent, vested of a hat sable, a cape gules, and a pair of boots sable turned gules, and grasping in its sinister forepaw a swepthilt rapier argent, hilted sable.
NOTE: This submission was previously returned in April 1983 for conflict with COTTON ("Vert, a lion rampant gardant argent"), and because "The Cavalier style is out of period, as is Puss in Boots himself." The appeal documents the individual articles of clothing as being in period, and the LoI notes that (1) there is precedent for animals dressed as humans in heraldry, and (2) although Charles Perrault's book of fairy stories is out of period, he was retelling folk tales that may well have been in period.
First of all, nothing in the appeal addressed the question of conflict. Removing the field (which was vert in the original submission) does not remove the conflict; in fact, it introduces possible conflicts with several other mundane coats. I agree with Batonvert that the original call was borderline (technically, there is less than a point; visually there may be a full point), but it was valid, and the heralds commenting on this question supported the original call.
Of greater importance, however, is the fact
that the badge is recognizable as Puss in Boots. While there
is precedent for badges of this sort (one of Master Ioseph's other
badges is a representation of the Town Musicians of Bremen), I
cannot recall any other instances, and the College of Arms has
a fairly ancient tradition of disallowing strong literary and
historical allusions. This badge may be construed as an infringement
on the character of Puss in Boots, or as a proprietary claim thereto,
either of which makes it inappropriate. Please redesign.
Lyn of Whitewolfe. Device. Gules, a pile wavy issuant from dexter base between in bend two roundels argent, each charged with a rose gules, barbed and seeded proper.
NOTE: The device conflicts with CUILLEAN
LODBROG HOUNDSTOOTH, "Per bend sinister sable and gules,
a bend sinister argent between two roses counterchanged, barbed,
seeded, and fimbriated argent." (SCA) There is a major point
of difference for replacing the ordinary, and a minor point for
the tincture of half the field, but the changes in the secondary
charges do not have enough visual weight to bring this up to two
full points.
Mairghread Raoghnailt MhicRath ni Labhruinn. Device. Gyronny of four from dexter chief azure and argent, in dexter a Latin cross conjoined with a saltire couped gules charged with a sprig of fir club moss argent, a bordure sable.
NOTE: There are a number of problems with this device, each fairly small if considered by itself; but taken together, they go far enough outside the bounds of both mundane and SCA heraldry to make this unacceptable.
The chief difficulty is the charge on the cross. I do not know if the problem lies with the emblazon or the choice of the charge itself, but the fir club moss is completely unrecognizable. The two club mosses shown in the Fieldbook of Natural History, Shining Club Moss (Lycopodium lucid-ulum) and Common Club Moss (L. clavatum), are visually dissimilar. The former looks kind of like a fuzzy, droopy pall, and is not, in my opinion, a suitable heraldic charge. The latter at least looks like a plant, so it's obviously a sprig of something not "good" heraldry, but it's probably within the confines of SCA practice. I don't know how either of these compares with fir club moss. The other problems are the unusual cross, its offcenter placement, and the nonstandard field division.
At the least, I would suggest moving the
cross into the center of the field and enlarging it to take advantage
of the available space. This should make it possible to draw
a recognizable sprig. The design could be improved further by
picking a recognizable variety of cross, and by replacing the
sprig with something more common.
Maureen Fionn Lochlannach (submitted as Maureen Fionn Lochlainneach). Device. Gyronny arrondi counterermine and azure, an iceberg argent.
NOTE: Most of the heralds commenting on
this submission found the "iceberg" unrecognizable.
An heraldic iceberg would probably be a mountain couped argent,
with only the part above the waterline showing. (It was also pointed
out that 90% of an iceberg is underwater, although I imagine this
bit of knowledge is modern.) Please choose a more recognizable
charge.
Murdoc of Armagh. Device. Per bend ermine and azure, a seadog rampant to sinister, tailed as a dog, grasping a quill Or.
NOTE: This conflicts, alas, with SCELLANUS
OF SKYE, "Azure, a sea dog rampant to sinister and issuant
from canton a quartersun Or." (SCA) There is a major
point for the field (plain tincture to divided metal and color),
and a minor for the removal of the sun.
Thorold Bjornssen. Device. Or, a gurges gules within a bordure embattled sable.
NOTE: The device conflicts with THOMAN SHADAN
SECARIUS, "Or, a gurges gules, overall a dagger inverted
sable." (SCA) DISCUSSION: SCA precedent notwithstanding,
a gurges is a charge until proven otherwise.
Kingdom of Atlantia
Cathanar, College of. Device. Per chevron argent and gules, in chief a compass star and a spear fesswise in pale sable, the spear maintained in dexter by a sinister gauntlet sable and in sinister by a dragon's jamb erased vert, and in base a swan naiant argent environed of a laurel wreath Or.
NOTE: This has six different charges and
five tinctures, which is far too complex, especially for the arms
of an SCA branch. Please simplify.
Imran Yosuf le Scorpioun. Device. Gules, a swan naiant displayed affronty, neck embowed to dexter argent within an orle of escallops Or.
NOTE: This is enough like a pelican vulning
itself (a charge reserved to the Order of the Pelican) to make
us very uncomfortable. Please choose another position for the
swan.
Roget du Callet. Device. Per fess gules and argent, a boar's head erased sable between in chief two boar's heads erased argent.
NOTE: This conflicts with the US 30TH INFANTRY
REGIMENT, "A boar's head erased sable armed and langued gules."
(MilOrd #747) There is a major point of difference for the additional
group of boar's heads, but because the military badge is fieldless,
there is no difference for the field. It is also stylistically
questionable: it appears to be an incorrect drawing of "Per
fess gules and argent, two boar's heads erased argent and another
sable."
Kingdom of Caid
Aidan Davidson of Invernahaven. Name change (from Aidan Davidson).
NOTE: This was approved as Aidan Davidson in January, with the remainder of the name being placed in PENDING, to allow the College more time to comment on the Scottish nameform "(surname) of (place)." The additional interval has not produced sufficient factual grounds for me to reverse the present policy, so I going to let it stand. Invernahaven is the principal seat of the Davidsons, so the combination Davidson of Invernahaven is reserved.
Should anyone in the College find himself
with sufficient time and materials, I would like to suggest a
research paper on the subject, perhaps for one of the symposia.
Crescent's request for background information on the original
ruling is not unreasonable.
Cei Myghchaell Wellinton. Badge. A fool displayed guardant, clad in motley, proper.
NOTE: There is no "proper" color
for motley. I would suggest making the fool's garb lozengy
of a color and a metal, which is a reasonable heraldic approximation
of motley.
Kingdom of Calontir
Ceithlenn nic Rauri. Name and device. Per chevron azure and gules, two mullets argent and a comet palewise Or.
NOTE: Is this "variant" of the Irish Gaelic name Caitlin based on a specific example, or is it made up? According to Batonvert, the spelling does not correspond to any reasonable pronunciation. (Brigantia hypothesizes a backformation from the anglicized form Cathleen.) Both recommend she use Caitlin. The Scots Gaelic patronymic (after suitable linguistic gyrations) would be either ni Rhuairidh or ni Rhuadhri.
The device conflicts with DEPORODH OF RANNOCH,
"Per chevron abased azure and argent, two mullets argent,
and in base a birch leaf erect proper." (SCA) There is a
minor point for changing the tincture of half the field, and a
major point for replacing the leaf with a comet. Please note
that an heraldic comet has a definite tail (known as its "beard");
see the illustration in the margin.
Gawain of Mistbridge. Badge for House Mistbridge. A wagon gules.
NOTE: This conflicts with the badge of JASPER
GREENSMITH OF THE SEAGIRT GLEN, "A cart, issuant therefrom
a dragon's head, wings and tail gules." (SCA).
Guillaume of Faireskye. Device. Azure, a mullet of eight points Or within an orle of mullets argent.
NOTE: The device and badge (below) both
conflict with PAUL OF SUNRIVER, "Azure, a compass star Or."
(SCA).
Guillaume of Faireskye. Badge for House Faireskye. Azure, on a mullet of eight points Or, a mullet azure.
NOTE: This also conflicts with PAUL OF SUNRIVER.
(see note on device).
Jocelyn de Biers. Device. Per bend argent and azure, a bear rampant sable and a mullet of eight points Or.
NOTE: This conflicts with WILHELM KARLSSON,
"Per bend argent and azure, a brown bear passant bendwise
proper and in saltire a doublebitted battleaxe and a hammer
Or." (SCA) Visually, the only difference is in the charges
in base.
Peadrus Ocie. Device. Or, a sun gules between two killer whales haurient respectant proper. (Orcinus orca).
NOTE: This conflicts with HAYS, "Or,
a sun gules" (Papworth 1100), and with DAVID OF WHALESHAVEN,
"Or, two orcas haurient respectant proper and in chief a
compass star azure." (SCA) DISCUSSION: It is generally a
good idea to note the tinctures of "proper" charges
in the letter of intent. Killer whales proper are black with white
markings (say the habitués of Sea World and Marineland).
Kingdom of the East
Fiona of Clan Maxwell. Device. Sable, two scarpes Or between three mullets of eight points and a sun argent.
NOTE: This conflicts with CASSANDRA O'SHEA,
"Sable, two scarpes Or between a dove close to sinister and
a unicorn rampant argent." (5 Jan 85) DISCUSSION: This item
is from Brigantia's letter of 13 March, the remainder of which
consisted entirely of corrections. It would normally have gone
into PENDING, to allow time for people to comment on the new device,
but one of the people on my staff caught the conflict at the meeting,
and we couldn't see holding it up.
Igraine Torr de Valere. Device (appeal). Per chevron vert and lozengy purpure and argent, in chief a horse couchant Or, crined sable.
NOTE: This submission was returned in February for conflict with THEODOSIA ARCADIANA, "Per chevron abased sable and purpure, a unicorn dormant argent." The point count was as follows: major point for tincture of field; major point for primary charge, demoted to minor because this was the second tincture change; minor point for difference between unicorn and horse, demoted because this was the second change to the same charge; minor point for difference between couchant and dormant, demoted because this was the third change to the charge; no difference for position of line of division (the shift in Theodosia's device is only slightly more than would ordinarily be done to accommodate a sole charge in chief); no difference for location of charge (which in both cases is above the line of division). The result was one major point, one minor, and two deltas. This made it a borderline call. The visual similarity is fairly strong, and the differences between a horse and a unicorn are hard to spot when the latter is dormant, so I elected to take the conservative route and returned Igraine's device for conflict.
Reviewing the decision in light of Brigantia's
arguments, I find myself arriving at the same point count as I
did originally. Since this still makes it a borderline call,
I feel the correct course of action is to uphold my original ruling.
I do apologize, however, for not including the point count with
the original return.
Nordmark, Shire of. Name and device. Per pale sable and azure, a chevron argent and overall a laurel wreath Or.
NOTE: The name conflicts, alas, with that
of House Northmark, registered to ALDRIC OF THE NORTHMARK in August
1984. The device appears acceptable.
Peter the Barbarian (submitted as Retep the Barbarian). Badge. A cross couped and quarterlypierced sable.
NOTE: This conflicts with DOROTHEA OF CAERMYRDDIN,
"Argent, a cross patty sable." (SCA) There is a major
point of difference for the type of cross. I am also inclined
to agree with Brigantia's judgement, and consider this less than
a point different from DAKENFIELD, "Argent, a cross quarterpierced
sable." (Papworth 606).
Ragnvald Joransson Ek. Device. Gules, on a lozenge throughout palewise argent, an acorn slipped and leaved vert.
NOTE: This conflicts with the COUNTS VON GRAVENECK, "Gules, a lozenge ar-gent." (Woodward 182) There are minor points for the change in the lozenge and the addition of the tertiary charge. We also feel it is too close, visually, to TANYA OF THE OAK, "Argent, a sprouting acorn slipped and singly leaved proper within a bordure gules." (SCA).
Kingdom of Meridies
Brynja of Byrrhyll. Device. Azure, three geese naiant in pall, heads to center, argent.
NOTE: This conflicts with BRUYELLES, "Azure,
three geese argent." (Rietstap). There is a major point for
the position of the charges. It is also too close to SHERYL OF
THESPIS, "Azure, a swan naiant argent crowned Or." (SCA)
There is a major point for the number of charges, and minor for
the removal of the crown.
Dearborne Grayson. Name and device. Or, on a pale between two swords inverted sable, three suns in splendor Or.
NOTE: Dearborne is a known place
name (as in Dearborn, Michigan; borne means 'stream'),
and so cannot be used as a given name unless a specific example
can be found in period. Batonvert has suggested Der(e)bern(e)
as a more likely derivative of Deorbeorn. The device conflicts
with EMEREN-TIANA ROSE, "Or, on a pale between two chains
palewise sable, a rose slipped and leaved Or." (SCA) [type
of secondaries, type and number of tertiaries].
Elspeth of Harilow. Device. Vert, on a pale Or a unicorn's head erased sable, overall a chaplet with four heartsease proper, the leaves counterchanged. (Viola tricolor)
NOTE: The heralds commenting on this submission
still found the chaplet of pansies too similar to a chaplet of
roses. Both flowers are basically round (or round with lobes);
and since there is no set tincture for regional roses, the pansy's
coloring doesn't make it distinctive. If you are not a countess,
it is best to avoid wreaths or chaplets of flowers altogether.
Graeghafoc Scrobesbyrigscires. Name and device. Sable, a mullet of four points within and conjoined to an annulet Or charged with five pellets, between in pale two bars nowy couped and in fess two Gotlandic bird motifs respectant all within an orle of pheons, points inward, argent.
NOTE: The name and device were both returned by Laurel in February 1983. The submitter has appealed this decision. The applicant has provided an example of hafoc, havoc 'hawk' as a deuterotheme, but there is as yet no evidence that graeg 'gray' was ever used as a name element. We normally require that dithematic names be made up of known elements. Our experience has been that given names are drawn from a smaller subset of the language than bynames; the "adjective + noun" and "tincture + animal" models mentioned in the appeal are too sweeping. We would suggest he adopt a known AngloSaxon given name or construct one from documented elements, and use Graeghafoc or Scrobesbyrigscires as his byname. (See also PETER THE BARBARIAN, above.) It is true that most AngloSaxons had only one name. It is also true that if two people with the same given name lived in the same area, they would have acquired distinguishing bynames. Because of the size of the SCA (which covers considerably more territory than did the average AngloSaxon community), we must assume that there will eventually be someone else with the same given name; we provide for this by obtaining bynames in advance, before the need arises. (It is not enough to distinguish only the later ones. Owain could apply equally well to anyone with that name; but within our purview, there will be only one Owain the Stout.).
As for the device, I'm afraid the submitter has missed the point entirely. The essence of heraldry is not the manner in which shields are constructed, it is the designs people place on their shields (flags, seals, etc.) to identify the bearer. An AngloSaxon warrior might well have carried a shield that looked like this, but I have difficulty believing that some foe of his, his eyes traversing the advancing line of doughty menatarms, would pause and mutter under his breath:
"Well, look at that! A boss and two birds and a couple of reinforcing bars inside a whole bunch of rim clips! Why there's only one man in all the Danelaw has a shield like that! I'd know him anywhere!".
This is too complex for heraldry, in his
period or in ours. Please choose one or two elements the
Gotlandic birds have potential and try something simpler.
Hagen of Vinland. Device. Or, a doubleheaded eagle displayed and on a chief sable, a castle between two swords Or within a bordure overall counterchanged.
NOTE: Although there is technically enough
difference between this device and the arms of the Holy Roman
Emperor ("Or, a doubleheaded eagle displayed sable"),
the visual connection is inescapable, particularly since all the
changes are made on the periphery. In addition, the charges on
the chief do not leave enough room for an overlapping border.
Please choose another design.
Meridies, Kingdom of. Badge for the Ninth Company of Meridian Archers. Per pale sable and argent, three mullets in pale and nine arrows fesswise points to sinister, all counterchanged.
NOTE: The badge appears to be two impaled
coats, which is not allowed. (Rules IX.9) Nine arrows is too
many to count (more than six of anything is semy), and
the design is not such that it can be clearly blazoned without
counting them. Please simplify.
Warrick of Standen. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, a Latin cross fourché between in base two doves displayed counterchanged.
NOTE: The sources cited do not support the
argument that Warrick is a given name. Reaney (DBS 372)
treats it as distinct from Warwick, but he still considers
it to be a surname, as does Black. (p. 802) The device conflicts
with the AUGUSTINE HOSPITAL OF ST. MARY LE GRAND, "Per pale
argent and sable, a cross moline counterchanged." (Papworth
617) There is a major point for the addition of the doves, but
the cross depicted here is too similar to a cross moline to contribute
any additional difference.
Kingdom of the West
Alysaundra merch Llewelyn. Name and device. Per bend vert and argent, a lion dormant within an annulet counterchanged.
NOTE: According to persons far better versed
in Welsh than I, merch always mutates to ferch following
a given name. If I understand correctly, this means that it will
always mutate when it is used in a name. The applicant has specifically
requested that we make no changes in her name without consulting
her. The device appears acceptable.
John Theophilus. Device. Azure, a cross, and on a chief argent, three hearts gules.
NOTE: This conflicts with GREECE, "Azure,
a cross argent." National arms require a minimum of two major
points of difference. (Not to mention the fact that the applicant
has a Greek byname ...).
Klee St. Cristoph Aelfwine. Name only.
NOTE: We are familiar with Klee as
a surname only (Paul Klee, 18791940, Swiss painter: NCE
1487). Is there any documentation for the statement that it is
a Dutch variant of Nicklaus?.
Marc du Chaineau. Name change (from Marc of Esfenn).
NOTE: This name was returned in November 1984 under Rule VII.3, which states, "A member's Society name may not be identical to his/her mundane name." (The submitter's mundane name is Mark Duchaineau.) Vesper has appealed this decision, saying, "His SCA name uses the French rather than the English form of Mark, and returns to an earlier spelling of the surname. We feel that this is sufficiently different, since all that is required is 'not identical'. (Would Maire O Fiodhabbra be considered to be the same name as Mary O'Furey? This is the same sort of change.)".
The question boils down to, what constitutes "identity?" The standard I applied in judging the original submission was: Has there been a significant change in spelling or pronunciation? In this case, the answer was no.
In my March 2nd cover letter, I proposed dropping Rule VII.3 altogether, on the theory that we were attempting to legislate something that was basically a matter of personal taste. The responses I have received so far (from nonheralds as well as heralds) have supported the rule. The operative principle is the need to distance the mundane individual from his or her persona, and is thought by some to be almost as fundamental as the need to wear suitable garb.
If our intention is to create a rule for the sake of form only one that imposes no actual restrictions then the criterion proposed by Vesper ("not strictly identical") is sufficient. If we intend to enforce the "spirit of the law," then we ought to require a stronger degree of difference. Both points of view are valid.
The comments on this submission were more
or less evenly divided. In light of the responses I have received
to my proposal to drop Rule VII.3, and given the underlying reason
that has been advanced, I believe we need to require slightly
more than a simple difference in form. I am there-fore advancing
the standard mentioned above (significant change in spelling or
pronunciation) as a working definition. The minimum change (the
one regarded as a loophole by liberals and conservatives alike)
is probably the addition or removal of a single syllable (e.g.,
John Smith to John the Smith). A change between
de and du (assuming the result is grammatically
correct) would also be sufficient. Any comments?.
PENDING
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSION IS PENDING:
Kingdom of Calontir
Susannah Griffon. Badge for House Pommes de Bois d'Arc. Vert, a strung bow palewise to sinister within a bordure engrailed Or.
NOTE: Given the strong connections between
this badge and the arms of the Shire of Bois d'Arc, we feel a
letter of permission would be in order.