APPROVALS 1 9 June XX (1985)

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:

Kingdom of Ansteorra

Adrienne Diana Rainier. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Bonwicke, Shire of. Device. Per pale Or and gules, a pale indented counterchanged, overall a laurel wreath vert.

NOTE: Very nice.

Boris of Woodland. Device. Azure, a horse rampant to sinister between in chief a label throughout argent and in base a scimitar fracted in chevron inverted Or.

DISCUSSION: If we allow only one point for type of primary charge, this differs from OZYMANDIAS THE SUPERFLUOUS ("Azure, a statue of a boot erased below the knee argent, masoned sable, resting on a bar and in chief a label of three points, both argent") by a major point for replacing the "statue of a boot" with a horse, and a minor point for replacing the bar argent with a sword Or.

Each coat consists of a dominant primary between a pair of unlike but obviously secondary charges. The primary charges are completely different, and there is no visual conflict between the two coats. Under the point-and­half rule, there is an additional minor point for the replacement of the primary charge, which the change to the charge in base raises to two points.

See ISADORA DE ALBA, below, for discussion of the term forcené. We have reblazoned the horse as rampant.

Brendan of Adderskeep. Name and device. Vert, a dagger bendwise sinister inverted within a bordure nebuly argent.

Bronwyn Morgana MacPherson. Name only.

Claire de St. Giles. Device. Ermine, in pale three lozenges gules between two flaunches pean.

Deborah Cadell (submitted as Rhiannon Cadell). Name and device. Azure, on an escallop inverted argent a unicornate seahorse erect to sinister azure, all within a bordure engrailed argent.

NOTE: The name of the Welsh goddess Rhiannon should not be used in conjunction with horses or birds, both of which are strongly associated with her in legend. Batonvert has noted that the allusion is strengthened here by the use or a seahorse: in Welsh mythology, Rhiannon married the sea­god Manawydan mac Llyr. We have substituted the submitter's mundane given name in order to register the device.

Dinaris the Wanderer. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Edward Anselm Bruinwood. Name change (from Anselm Bruinwood).

Elspeth Etain (submitted as Elspeth Etain of Caer Dathyl). Name and device. Per bend sinister engrailed azure and argent, a butterfly argent and a griffin segreant sable.

NOTE: Caer Dathyl, the home of the godlike wizard Math in the Welsh Mabinogi, is not the sort of place from which ordinary mortals would be expected to hail. We have omitted it in order to register the device.

Emrys Shaunnon. Device. Vert, a chevron cotised between three bees volant en arrière Or.

NOTE: Very nice.

Halfdan Halfdanarson. Name and device. Or, on a tankard azure a falcon volant Or, in base three bars wavy azure.

Isadora de Alba. Name and device. Per pale argent and Or, a horse salient azure, on a chief triangular sable an increscent argent between two mullets of eight points Or.

DISCUSSION: Forcené means 'wild, mad, frantic, furious'. The authorities agree that it is applied to horses, but disagree on the exact position ­ some say it is equivalent to rampant, others salient; the modern definition appears to be "rearing up on his hind legs, like a restless charger, but with both hooves firmly on the ground." The term is ambiguous, and should not be used. We have substituted salient in the above blazon.

James of Leicestershire. Name and device. Per pale azure and argent, four lions counter­passant regardant in pale counterchanged.

NOTE: Classic heraldry. Our compliments to the consulting herald (himself).

Joanna Montgomery. Device. Per chevron azure and Or, two rabbits combattant argent and a thistle proper.

Katharine of the Mountains. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Michael vom Donau. Name only.

DISCUSSION: Lady Rosemary Petsley tells us that one would normally use vom in conversational German, and von dem in a name. We have nothing to back this up, though.

Samuel Carrillo. Name and device. Per chevron Or and sable, two mullets of six points gules and another fimbriated Or.

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Anthony of Hags Head (submitted as Tritain of Hags Head). Name and device. Azure, a chimera passant argent between three mullets Or.

NOTE: The derivation given for the given name (Latin and Greek tri­ 'three' plus Irish táin [as in Táin Bó Cuailnge]) really isn't plausible. To document a name as dithematic, you need to show that it is constructed from elements that were used to form given names in a specific culture. We have substituted the submitter's mundane name in order to resister the device.

DISCUSSION: This would normally conflict with HELLIAR, "Azure, a chevron argent between three mullets Or." (Papworth 460) The only difference is the type of primary charge. Both devices consist of a single primary between a small number of identical secondaries, and the primary charges are completely different. Under the point­and­a­half rule, the change in type of primary charge is worth an additional minor point, which is enough to bring this clear of the mundane conflict.

Arian Rowan of Featherfin. Badge. Gules, a winged sea­wolf, tailed as a fish, erect argent.

Arianna Windhaven. Name and device. Per pale argent and vert, two unicorn's heads conjoined at the necks respectant, horns crossed, counterchanged.

Arlena of Kärnastadir. Name and device. Gules, on a bend sinister argent between three Norway Maple leaves two and one Or, three lynx's pawprints bendwise sable. (Acer plantanoides).

Arwen Southernwood. Name and device. Per bend Or and gules, three arrows in pale fesswise points to dexter and a drum counterchanged.

Clea de Hunedoara. Badge for Gildiya Sirinov (addition of designation to registered badge). Or, a sirin harpy statant gardant to sinister proper within a bordure engrailed vert.

NOTE: We have managed finally to verify the transliteration/grammar of the household name.

Dorothy de Womwell (submitted as Courtney de Womwell). Name and device. Argent, upon an open book argent leathered between in cross four cinquefoils a quill bendwise purpure.

NOTE: Courtney is a surname (from the place name Courtenay); it apparently did not come into use as a given name until modern times. (Reaney DBS 86; Withycombe 75) We have used her mundane given name in order to register the device.

Fëamîr Bek. Name correction (from Fëamîir).

Haniya bat Baruch. Name change (from Anne Douglas of the Seven Stars) and device change. Argent mullety azure, a horseshoe sable.

DISCUSSION: By default, a horseshoe opens downward.

Haniya bat Baruch. Badge (change from device and reblazon). Purpure, mullety Or, a horseshoe argent. [approved December 1982].

Jacques le Forgeron. Name change (from Aleon Veinard) and device. Gyronny gules and sable, a horse salient to sinister atop a single­horned anvil reversed argent.

Kameyama Kengoro. Device/mon. Azure, a Japanese tortoise tergiant, its tail spread as a pair of wings displayed, and in chief a mountain of three peaks chased argent.

Kawagi Ishiyama Sazanami Shirasuna (submitted as Kawagi Ishiyama Sazanami­no­kami Shirasuna). Name only.

NOTE: Master Wilhelm ruled, in January 1981, that the suffix ­no­kani is to be treated as a title, and so not registered as part of a name.

Leonie de Civronnay. Badge. Vert, on a pile throughout cotised Or, an ocotillo vert, flowered gules.

Mark the Immoral. Name change (from Mark of Atenveldt); appeal.

Naomi von den Katzenjammer. Name change (from Naomi von den Katzen).

Patrick the Lost. Device. Quarterly sable and gules, a mushroom couped argent between in pale a compass star of alternately straight and wavy rays and a dragon passant Or.

Raylene of the Whispering Woods. Name only.

Sean MacAhrt uiBriain. Name and device. Per fess sable and Or, on a pale between four Celtic crosses, two Celtic crosses, all counterchanged.

Thorvald of Dragonsfjord. Name and device. Per bend embattled sable and gules, in bend sinister two swords crossed in saltire and a death's head argent.

Vavirenc Vlasok. Name and device. Quarterly argent and sable, a long cross throughout rules between in bend two crosses of Cerdaña purpure.

Kingdom of Caid

Adrian Buchanon. Badge. Azure, a tower within a bordure wavy argent.

DISCUSSION: This submission was deferred from the March meeting, to allow time for the College to comment on the potential conflict with DELATOWRE, "Azure, a tower argent." Rule XII.12 states that "The addition of a single standard mark of cadency is not sufficient difference between an SCA badge and mundane or fictional arms." Bordures were used as marks of cadency in the Middle Ages, and are still used for that purpose in modern­day Scotland.

The majority of the people commenting on this submission felt that it should not be considered a conflict with DELATOWRE.

I also asked the College to comment on the desired scope of Rule XII.19, since the expression "standard marks of cadency" is not particularly well defined. Based on the responses, I am interpreting Rule XII.12 to mean the standard English brisures (label, crescent, mullet, martlet, annulet, fleur­de­lis, rose, cross moline, octofoil), plain (uncharged and unmodified) chiefs, and plain bordures.

Alinor of Marionwood. Device. Purpure, in pale a linden tree and a crescent and on a chief Or a goblet between two mullets of four points purpure.

Amartine du Bon Coeur. Name and device. Per saltire argent and azure, four ballpeen hammers in cross, handles to center, counterchanged.

Ambros Celidonis. Badge. Per pale vert and argent, a goblet counterchanged between in fess a bowl Or flamment proper and a chasing hammer inverted sable.

Bronwyn the Scot. Name and device. Argent, a brown bear rampant proper atop a base embattled sable, masoned argent, and on a chief azure three crosses crosslet argent.

Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme. Badge for Mistholme. A dragon couchant azure, winged sable, maintaining between its forefeet a mullet Or.

Caid, Kingdom of. Badge for Office of the Chancellor. Azure, a fasces within a bordure embattled argent.

DISCUSSION: I can't see banning the fasces solely on account of its use by the Fascists in Italy. The swastika is a special case, notable for the extreme likelihood that Goodman Jack will recognize and react strongly to it, and should not be used as a general precedent for disallowing charges on account of "guilt by association.".

Cassandra O'Shea. Badge for Haus Reitpferde. Quarterly argent and rules, a knight armed cap­à­pie mounted upon a horse passant sable.

Catarina della Zimarra. Name and device. Or, in pale a mullet inverted and a crescent sable and on a chief gules three cinquefoils Or.

Ealdgyth von Froschheim. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Erik Volstagg. Device. Or, on a saltire indented between four mullets azure a sword and a double­bitted axe in saltire Or.

NOTE: The indentations on the bend should be fewer and deeper.

Friedrich Ethelred aus Schloss Trier. Name correction (from Fredrich).

NOTE: The given name was actually spelled Freidrich on the submission form. The ei spelling would cause the name to be pronounced "FRY­drich", which is not correct. We assume that what the applicant wishes is the German form of Frederick (which is spelled ie and pronounced "FREE­drich") and have corrected the name accordingly.

Gawaine ap Owen. Name only.

Illtyd Llynllydaw the Scot. Name and device. Per pale argent and azure, a compass rose and on a chief three crosses crosslet all counterchanged.

NOTE: The specific form of an SCA compass rose was defined in July 1981, in the arms of ALEXANDRE SUR LA MER. While a certain amount of variation is possible, the basic shape ­ a multi­pointed star inscribed within an annulet, with the addition of a North mark ­ should be preserved. The applicant has said he will redraw this in an acceptable form.

Isabella Flora Turpin. Name change (from Isabell Turpin).

Ivan the Capable. Name and device. Per bend sinister sable and gules, on a bend sinister wavy between a horse's head couped to sinister and a battle­axe, blade to sinister, Or four caltraps palewise alternately sable and gules.

Josselyn ferch Rhys (submitted as Josselyn Eirelav ferch Rhys). Name and device. Argent, four Emperor penguins statant affronty, 1, 2 and 1, proper all within a bordure azure.

NOTE: The College has held previously that "Spelling a name backwards is not a valid method for creating a new name." (WvS, 19 Aug 83, p. 15) We have dropped Eirelav (which is "Valerie" spelled backwards) in order to register the device.

Lara de Voya. Name and device. Azure, semy of escallops inverted Or, a rabbit couchant argent.

Liam Gryffyn MacCeallaig. Name and device. Per pale sable and argent, a griffin segreant gules within an orle of rabbits salient counterchanged.

Madeleine Aurore des Milles Roses. Device. Or, semy of pink garden roses proper, on a pall gules a fox's mask Or. (Rosa ruca).

Sebastian Blackwood. Change of device. Per saltire argent and ermine, a saltire cotised purpure. NOTE: His old arms ("Per bend sinister sable and purpure, on a bend sinister argent three dragons segreant palewise vert") are released.

Sebastian Blackwood. Badge. A saltire cotised couped purpure. NOTE: His old badge ("Ermine, a saltire cotised purpure between four dragons rampant vert") is released.

Talric of Sangborn. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Thorvald Wulfaersson. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Kingdom of Calontir

Andrew Lyon of Wolvenwood. Device. Azure, on a fess engrailed Or between two lion's heads erased addorsed and an acorn argent, a bar azure. NOTE: We have received a corrected emblazon for this device.

Dafydd Gwynfardd. Name only.

Edward Cire of Greymoor. Name change (from Eric Greymoor).

Eoin Scott na Daingniche. Name and device. Gyronny argent and sable, a tyger rampant erminois incensed gules within a bordure counterchanged.

DISCUSSION: This differs from STEPHAN SCHMIDT ("Gyronny argent and sable, a unicorn's head couped at the shoulders gules within a bordure counter-changed") by a point­and­a­half for type of primary charge, and a minor point (demoted because it is the second change to the same charge) for tincture. This may be borderline, because of the distinctiveness of the background, but there is sufficient visual difference.

Erich Hlodowechssun fon Hocheichhallu. Name correction (from Hocheichhalu). [approved October 1984].

Lawrence Taillefer the Leech. Name correction (from Leach). [approved April 1985].

Ruth of Oakseed Manor. Name and device. Azure, a chevron throughout argent and in base an acorn inverted Or between in fess two billets argent.

William Vatavia. Name change (from William Bohun of Vatavia).

Kingdom of the East

Dragonship Haven, Barony of. Order of the Hawk's Bell. Badge. Azure, a hawk's bell within a bordure embattled argent.

DISCUSSION: This submission was held over from the March meeting so I could solicit comments on the technical conflict with SARADWEN ARIANDALEN, "Azure, a triquetra within a bordure embattled argent." The responses were positive enough to justify extending the point­and­a­half rule to cover modified bordures, not just charged ones, even without the generalization of the rule outlined in the cover letter.

Runolfr Audsson. Device. Per chevron sable and gules, papelonnè argent, in chief a wolf courant to sinister argent.

Kingdom of the Middle

Aelfhaelen Dracasid. Device. Argent, chapé­ployé azure, in chief two chalices argent issuant of wildflowers Or and in base a chalice issuant of wildflowers azure.

DISCUSSION: Pale noted in his LoI that "Though there is a question of the propriety of using a charged chape, the 3 February, 1985, decision to admit charged flaunches would seem to make this a valid usage." I fail to see the connection. My 3 Feb 85 ruling cited specific 15th­century examples of charged flaunches, and challenged the unsupported claim that charged flaunches are out of period. It made no statement, express or implied, concerning any other heraldic practice. The only usage information I have been able to find regarding chapé is from Woodward (pp. 83­90), who states that "These [chapé, chaussé, and mantelé] are 'partitions' not 'charges;' but they differ from other parted­fields in this respect, that any charges which appear on the field are confined to it; and do not usually extend beyond its unmantled, or unshod, portion." This supports Brigantia's argument that charged chapé is a solecism, but it also suggests that this was sometimes done, Woodward having qualified his statement with "usually."

Going back over past Laurel rulings, I've found one instance in which a semy was not permitted to overlie an entire chapé field, but I can't find any evidence that charged chapé has ever been disallowed. The Ordinary also contains more than a dozen examples of chapé and chaussé being used as a tripartite field division. This may be a practice we should discourage (on grounds of style, if not usage), but I can find no evidence that it is illegal.

I would, however, welcome any additional information on chapé and its cousins. I'm familiar only with the material in Woodward and Parker.

Alen Elegil. Badge. Two holly leaves stems in saltire vert.

NOTE: The household name (House Holin) conflicts with Hollin, the Westron name for the Elven realm of Eregion, in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Angharad of Nankivel. Name and device. Per bend argent and gules, four hearts in cross conjoined at the points counterchanged and in base a horseshoe inverted Or.

DISCUSSION: By default, a horseshoe opens downward.

Balian de Brionne. Name only.

Benito de Sicilia. Name and device. Per chevron azure and argent, two suns Or and a Maltese cross gules.

Dafydd Bretnach an Dùn Breatunn. Device. Sable, mullety argent, on a fountain a sea horse naiant Or.

NOTE: This was taken care of in the LoAR of 14 Apr 85, p. 8.

Dieter des Schwarzen Eichkatchens. Device (appeal). Per pale gules and argent, a squirrel sejant erect sable maintaining a sword inverted argent.

DISCUSSION: This was returned for conflict with ORM THE DEFIANT, "Per pale gules and argent, a unicorn­headed lion salient grasping in both forepaws the blade of a sword inverted, counterchanged." (SCA) Mistress Graidhne has appealed this decision on the basis of complete difference of charge. The Rules for Submissions (XII.4) do not allow complete difference of charge between two quadrupeds, so there is a point for type of charge, and a point for tincture. The second change demotes, yielding a major and a minor point. Both beasts are grasping the same sword in the same position, and the positions of the beasts are nearly identical. (Orm's monster is very nearly statant erect.) A case could be made for considering the two submissions to conflict visually ­- held side-by­side, the similarity is apparent. For the most part, however, these are single­charge arms; and the charges are different, even if they're not completely different. Under the revised point­and­a­half rule, this differs from ORM THE DEFIANT by a point and a half for type of primary charge, and a minor point (demoted from a major) for tincture.

Dulcinea Maria von Mühlberg y Aguilar. Name and device. Per saltire azure and argent, in pale two eagles displayed Or, and in fess two seahorses erect addorsed azure.

DISCUSSION: According to Elsdon Smith, "In the last two centuries the custom arose of a child taking as a surname the father's surname plus the surname of the mother joined by y (and) or, occasionally, by a hyphen. The father's surname comes first." (A Treasury of Name Lore, page 214) This suggests that the practice is out of period, though it doesn't prove it. In actual practice, I suspect that the German surname would have been at least partially assimilated: "von Mühlbert y Aguilar" is pretty jarring.

Elizabeth d'Arcy of Lincoln. Name only (appeal),

DISCUSSION: "In the case of a name conflict, the addition of a second name ... is normally sufficient, unless the person involved is famous, in which case the same combination of given name and surname cannot be used." (WvS, 12 Nov 83, p. 7) While the earlier circumstances do not exactly parallel the present ones, the ruling does support the idea of a distinguishing byname, and the character in Pride and Prejudice appears to have been known as Elizabeth Bennett, not Elizabeth Darcy. This should be sufficient difference.

Emeric Wendel. Badge. Sable, an ounce's head erased to sinister argent, spotted sable, within a bordure potenty Or.

Eirik Dweorgaex. Name and device. Argent, two bendlets sinister azure, overall a winged unicornate mouse maintaining a double bitted axe sable and in base a mullet of four points azure.

Gareth Tancred Wilfirth. Name and device. Azure, crusilly Or, a lion and a lamb couchant respectant argent and on a chief Or three horned owls azure.

Gerald Goodwine. Name only.

Glaspar MacNiall. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Graidhne ni Ruaidh (submitted as Graidhne ni Ruadh). Name change (from Graidhne ni Mhaire Ruadh) and badge. A dragon rampant to sinister gules maintaining a straight trumpet Or.

NOTE: On the advice of Brigantia and Batonvert, we have substituted the genitive form of Ruadh, which is Ruaidh. DISCUSSION: Single straight trumpets are not, to the best of my knowledge, a restricted charge.

Gustavus Seevogel. Name only.

Johanna of Dendermonde. Badge for Consortium Balneorum. Azure goutty d'eau, in saltire a recorder and a lute in profile Or. NOTE: This was taken care of in the LoAR of 14 Apr 85, p. 8.

Myrddin Llygoden. Device (appeal). Per chevron azure and argent, two trees eradicated argent and a brown house mouse courant proper.

DISCUSSION: This was returned for visual, not technical conflict, so the point count is irrelevant. I also noted that a mouse's fur may be either brown or gray, so there is no default tincture for a "mouse proper," which question was glossed over in the appeal. The conflict has been taken care of by a letter of permission from the CANTON OF FALCON'S AYRIE, and we have added a color designation and common name (Mus musculus, the common house mouse).

Oengus mac Con Glinne. Name change (from Oengus mac Chuinn as a' Ghleann).

NOTE: Appeal sustained.

Welfengau, Shire of. Name only (appeal).

DISCUSSION: I am not convinced that it is a good idea to permit the use of a recognizable dynastic name in the name of an SCA branch. It may set a precedent we will have difficulty living with (Tudorville? Hapsburghalle?); and this would seem to legitimize an SCA name such as HEINRICH VON WELFFINGAU, which others may consider a claim to membership in a royal or dynastic house. On the other hand, the branch is located in Guelph, Ontario, and this ought to count for something: RFS VIII.3­4 indicate a tendency to be sympathetic to mundanely appropriate branch names. Most of the heralds commenting on this submission found the appeal convincing, and I am deferring to their judgement.

Kingdom of the West

Algernon Blacksword. Device (appeal). Or, three swords sable, a bordure sable bezanty.

DISCUSSION: This was returned for conflict with CEDRIC THE DARK, "Or, a swan naiant sable within a bordure sable bezanty." (SCA) Vesper has appealed this decision, citing a point count that is at variance with the way he and I normally count such things.

Each coat consists of a dominant primary charge (or group of identical primaries) plus a complex secondary charge (the modified bordure). The primary charges are completely different, one of the coats contains a single primary charge, and there is no visual conflict. Under the revised point­and­a­half rule, there is a major plus a minor point for type of primary charge, and an additional major (demoted to a minor) for difference in number. These add to yield the necessary two points.

Alina Mika Kobyakovna. Name and device. Argent, a decrescent sable enclosing a candle gules enflamed proper.

Bahita of Abu Simbel. Name change (from Bahita of Tarnmist).

Bryony of the Bees. Name and device. Per fess embattled argent and vert, three bees passant gardant counterchanged.

DISCUSSION: Bryony is a plant. "On a case­by­case basis we will allow the use of plant names as female given names. 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. 3) There are, at this point, two registered instances of Briony and one of Briany; and there were no strong objections in the letters of comment.

According to Julian Franklyn, "These busy insects [bees] are in the displayed attitude whenever they appear, and the full term to describe them is volant en arrière: this may be shortened to volant; that they are flying away from the spectator being understood." (Shield and Crest, p. 132) Most of the flying insects registered in the SCA are seen from behind; they have been blazoned variously as volant, migrant, tergiant, and displayed (with variations). We found three examples of bees shown in profile ­ one "volant bendwise wings addorsed," one "statant bendwise," and one "statant close." We have blazoned this device on the model of the last two examples.

Catharine de Hawkhead. Name correction (from Catherine).

Edwinna of Hawk's Bluff. Device. Azure, three spinning wheels with the spindles to dexter argent.

DISCUSSION: Vesper's LoI noted, "We feel that these should not be blazoned as 'reversed' because the 'business end' of a spinning wheel is the spindle, not the wheel." When the default orientation isn't obvious or well­established (as is the case, for example, with arrows fesswise), I prefer to be specific. [The wool wheel in the arms of Eloise of Roed (for which no orientation is specified) is shown with the spindle to the sinister.].

Everett of Seven Jays. Name and device. Per bend sinister purpure and argent, a griffin segreant to sinister and a boar rampant counterchanged.

Hélène Dupres de Bretagne. Name and device. Per chevron azure and argent, two pegasi combattant and a harp counterchanged.

NOTE: We have corrected the accents on the given name.

John the Benevolent. Name and device. Azure, in pale a roundel, three gouttes two and one, and a base engrailed Or.

Johne O'Cuain. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Karen Stevenson. Name and device. Per bend azure and argent, three torches palewise in bend sinister counterchanged.

Katriona of Glenkirk. Name and device. Per bend argent and azure, an Arabian lamp and an anchor fouled of its chain counterchanged.

Laurent Honoré Sourdevaux. Device. Argent, a gore sinister and a maltese cross fitchy sable.

Micheil Blair Moonsong. Name and device. Sable mulletty Or, a plate, and on a chief triangular Or, a sun gules.

Nikolaj Valosatov. Name and device. Per chevron sable and argent, three mullets in chevron argent and a double­bitted axe sable.

Orm Olesson. Name and device. Or, in pale a wolf's head to sinister erased sable and a tree eradicated vert.

Robb le Rogue of Fairmont Highlands. Name and device. Quarterly gules and Or, a cross between in bend sinister two eagles displayed sable.

William of Owlswood. Change of device. Tierced per pall argent, vert, and sable, in base two owls close guardant respectant argent. NOTE: His old device ("Tierced per pall argent, sable, and vert, in base two owls close guardant respectant argent") becomes a badge.

Yuri of Novgorod. Change of device. Argent, a dexter gore and a horse's head couped azure.

NOTE: His old device ("Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a horse's head couped sable and an open scroll Or") is released.

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE RETURNED:

Kingdom of Ansteorra

Adrienne Diana Rainier. Device. Sable, a cat's head caboshed argent between in cross four lozenges ermine.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with FANDRAL SILVERFOX, "Sable, a fox's mask argent." (SCA) There is a major point for the addition of the lozenges (a group of secondary charges), and a minor for the difference between a cat's face and a fox's mask.

Brigitta Olavsdatter. Name only.

REASON FOR RETURN: This is uncomfortably close to the registered name of BRIGIT OLESDOTTIR OF LOCH REE. I would suggest she add a distinguishing place­name, so one name does not appear to be a shortened form of the other.

Caitlin ingen Chuimbrech. Name only.

REASON FOR RETURN: We would like to see some documentation for Chuimbrech. Brigantia, working from Thurneysen's Grammar of Old Irish and Strachan's Old Irish Paradigms, arrived at chuimrig as the likely derivative of comrig, but she can find no evidence for the verbal noun ever being used to indicate a "captive" (the translation given in the letter of intent), let alone being used as a given name (since it follows a patronymic particle). If the applicant wishes the Old Irish for "daughter of the captive," Mistress Alisoun suggests ingen chimbedo, from cimbid 'captive or prisoner'.

Dinaris the Wanderer. Device. Azure, on a pile argent between two lightning flashes Or a double­bitted axe gules.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with ALINA DE MONTAGUE, "Azure, on a pile argent between two fleurs­de­lys Or, a sprig of holly vert, fructed gules." (SCA) There is a major point for type of secondary charges, and a minor point for type (and partial change in tincture) of the tertiary charge. This also infringes upon PASCQUAL CABAIZRUVIAS DE LA VARA, "Gules, on a pile throughout argent between two lightning flashes Or, a mushroom gules." (SCA) There is a major point for field tincture, and a minor for type of tertiary. (Given the medieval definition of a pile, I consider the difference between a pile and a pile throughout to be negligible.) The device also uses a modern lightning flash. "The modern lightning flash, with its bevilled lines, is prohibited as being out of period." (WvS, 19 Aug 83, p. 6)

DISCUSSION: Asterisk has suggested that the lightning flashes in this coat should be acceptable under the grandfather clause, because the original submission (which was returned by Laurel in November 1981) was made before these charges were banned. The grandfather clause is the doctrine that protects something that has already been registered from a subsequent change in the rules; it is sometimes extended to new submissions from the same person or from close relatives of the original applicant. (In its current manifestation, the grandfather clause derives from article IV.C.4 of the Corpora, and is echoed in article V.6 of the Rules for Submissions.) The applicant does not have a registered submission containing old­style lightning flashes, so the grandfather clause does not apply.

The term is also used in RFS XV, to describe the grace period (sometimes referred to as the "statute of limitations") for resubmissions. "Submissions that are returned for certain reasons and which are resubmitted with all stated reasons properly rectified within one year shall be exempt from any Rule changes adopted after the return ... on a grandfather clause basis." More than a year has passed since the return took place, so the grace period does not apply either. He might want to consider one of the currently­accepted representations of lightning: the so­called "lightning bolt," or (better still) an heraldic thunderbolt.

Ellisena de Bayonne. Device. Per saltire argent and azure, a sea­dragon erect vert and in dexter a cross crosslet fleury concave argent.

REASON FOR RETURN: The device is unbalanced, and we are unhappy with the cross, which is visually complex and difficult to reconstruct from the blazon. We would suggest she choose a simpler variety of cross, and add a second cross to balance the first.

Glas mac Carraig. Name only.

REASON FOR RETURN: Carraig 'crag, rocky outcropping' is not a given name, and so would not be used with the patronymic particle mac 'son of'. Batonvert has suggested de Carraig or O Carraigh as possible alternatives.

Katharine of the Mountains. Device. Vert, a long cross throughout Or, overall a Catherine's wheel counterchanged.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with ADAMS, "Vert, a cross Or." (Papworth 621) There is single point of difference for the addition of the wheel; the change from cross to long cross is heraldically insignificant. It also conflicts visually with PADRAIGHCINE OHURTHILE, "Vert, on a cross nowy Or a shamrock vert." (SCA) The effect is of replacing one complex roundel with another. This is probably worth more than a major point, but it is less than the required two points.

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Anthony of Hags Head (submitted as Tritain of Hags Head). Badge. Per pall rayonny argent, erminois, and azure, in fess a Tau cross azure and a mullet Or, and in chief a dragon's head to sinister azure issuant from the top of a tower sable.

REASON FOR RETURN: This is much too busy, especially for a badge, and the "top of a tower" is uncomfortably reminiscent of an SCA county coronet. Please redesign.

Kingdom of Caid

Aldred von Lechsend aus Froschheim. Badge. Quarterly Or and argent, two chains joined in saltire throughout sable.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with COGNACCINI DE MONTALTO, "Or, two chains in saltire sable." (Rietstap) There is a minor point for the difference in field.

Ealdgyth von Froschheim. Device. Quarterly purpure and argent, nine roundels, 1, 2, 3, 2, and 1, counterchanged.

REASON FOR RETURN: According to 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.) Semy should cover a defined area. I know of no way to blazon this configuration without enumerating the charges (which is incorrect) or resorting to barbarisms like "in lozenge." Please choose a more standard arrangement.

Talric of Sangborn. Device. Argent goutty­de­sang, on a fess azure a cubit arm palewise maintaining a sword fesswise reversed and a cubit arm palewise inverted maintaining a sword fesswise argent.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with TIMOTHY STONEWALL, "Argent ermined gules, a fess sable masoned argent." (SCA) There is a major point of difference for the tincture of the fess and a minor point for the charges; the difference between red gouttes and red ermine spots is insufficient.

Thorvald Wulfaersson. Device. Argent, a raven displayed, head to sinister, within a serpent in annulo reguardant, head to base, sable, the head and tail bound together with a cord gules.

REASON FOR RETURN: This is close enough to HAAKON REDBEARD ("Argent, a raven displayed with wings inverted proper, on its breast an inverted tau cross Or") to make us extremely nervous. There is a major point for the addition of the serpent, but I am not convinced that the changes to the raven (position of head and wings, and removal of the Tau cross ­ which is not inverted in the emblazon in the files) add up to a full second point.

Kingdom of Calontir

Axed Root, Canton of. Device. Or, an oak tree fesswise crown to sinister proper surmounted by a double­bitted axe sable and in chief a boar's head couped and a laurel wreath vert.

REASON FOR RETURN: The device is busy. There are four unrelated charges, each in a different tincture; and the laurel wreath, which is supposed to be a prominent part of the design, is almost lost. Please redesign.

Kingdom of the Middle

Alen Elegil. Badge. Or, a holly leaf vert.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with BETTY, "Or, a betony leaf proper." (Papworth 960) The difference in shape between a betony leaf and a holly leaf is at best a minor point.

Ben Dunfirth, Canton of. Device (appeal). Per chevron Or and barry wavy azure and argent, two towers sable and a laurel wreath vert.

REASON FOR RETURN: Conflict with DRAGAN VOLKOV, "Per chevron Or and argent, two towers sable, each charged with a sword inverted argent, and an enfield passant to sinister guardant proper." (SCA) I count a major point of difference for replacing the enfield with a laurel wreath, a minor point for changing half the field, and another minor for removing the swords from the towers. Most of the changes are concentrated in the lower half of the field. The laurel wreath has poor contrast against the blue part of the base, which reduces its visual weight. And the swords on the towers might easily be taken for loopholes, which reduces their importance as well.

DISCUSSION: The potential conflict was noted on the original submission by Vesper, Laurel Emeritus, and Brigantia; and on the appeal by Brigantia, Virgule, Vesper, and Crescent. (Brigantia noted on both occasions that the call was borderline. Laurel Emeritus supported the appeal.) It boils down to a judgement call on minor points of difference. This is the same conclusion I reached when I first considered the submission. I am therefore upholding my original ruling.

Edward FitzRanulf. Device. Quarterly Or and gules, four crosses couped counterchanged.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with the arms of WALES, "Quarterly Or and gules, four lions passant gardant counterchanged." The discussion on the complete­difference­of­charge rule (RFS XII.4) states, "any use of more than three charges cannot invoke complete difference due to the visual importance of the arrangement." There is thus a single point of difference, for type of charge, since the tincture of the field and the tincture and placement of the charges are the same.

DISCUSSION: This submission was deferred from the March meeting, to allow time for the commenting heralds to consider whether this conflict was reasonable. It appears from the responses that there is not enough support in the College of Arms for a change to the complete­difference­of­charge rule.

Freond Steorra, Shire of. Name and device (appeal). Argent, a dove azure within a laurel wreath vert, between three mullets of six points azure.

REASON FOR RETURN: "A name conflicts with another name if it looks or sounds enough like the other name to cause confusion." (RFS VI.4) "Fray­ond stay­or­uh" is close enough aurally to "On­stay­or­uh" to cause confusion, and Ansteorra, being a kingdom, merits a certain amount of extra protection.

DISCUSSION: On the potential conflict with GWYNETH FITZ­ROLF ("Argent, a rampion stalk proper between three mullets azure"), it should be noted that Gwyneth's plant is palewise (not wreath­shaped) and sports several prominent blossoms. The emblazon in the files is a black­and­white photocopy, so I can't be completely sure of the colors, but my notes indicate that rampion flowers are either blue or white (presumably blue, since the field is argent). This, together with the other changes, should be sufficient.

Glaspar MacNiall. Device. Or, a winged lion statant to sinister gules.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with METLAGE, "Or, a winged lion gules." (Rietstap) There is a single point of difference, for the position of the lion.

Stuart Osric de Becquet. Device (appeal). Per pale argent and gules, two boars combattant counterchanged.

REASON FOR RETURN: Conflict with BISHTON, "Per pale argent and gules, two lions combattant counterchanged." (Papworth 149)

DISCUSSION: The "new simplistic rule" referred to by Mistress Graidhne in her appeal is to be found in the discussion on complete difference of charge. (RFS XII.4) "Complete difference means that the charges are quite different in outline, so that their shapes can be seen to be different from far away. A horse statant is not completely different from any other four­legged animal statant, as the basic shape is the same, but it is completely different from a cross or a pale. The degree of difference of appearance required is greater for the cases with two or three charges than for just one, as the same arrangement does add extra similarity." Since boars and lions are both four­legged animals, complete difference of charge does not apply.

The revised point­and­a­half rule doesn't apply either, since neither of the coats contains a single dominant primary charge. The sense of overall difference (which is what the point­and­a­half rule is supposed to recognize) is missing.

Kingdom of the West

Beast Valley, Canton of. Name only.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with Beast Valley, a location "south of Wintertop, north of the Haunted Lands, and east of the Grazelands" in the game RuneQuest.

Johne O'Cuain. Device. Vert, six rustres Or.

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with LISTON and HEWICKE, "Vert, six bezants." (Papworth 1053) There is a single point of difference, for type: complete difference does not apply when there are more than three charges. (See the discussion for EDWARD FITZRANULF, above.).

Richard Blackbury. Badge. A tricorporate fox gules, marked proper. (Vulpes vulpes)

REASON FOR RETURN: This conflicts with THORFINN HROLFSSON, "Gyronny of six argent and azure, a tricorporate lion gules." (SCA) We count less than a major point of difference between the two tricorporate beasts. [The preceding count is 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. This ruling is based on the more conservative interpretation.]

DISCUSSION: This was submitted as a "fox proper," with no genus and species, common name, or coloration specified. I assume it is intended to be the common red fox (Vulpes vulpes). "There is great color variation among them, but the tail is always tipped with white, and the legs, feet, and tips of the ears are always black. The rest of the coat is commonly reddish; black, silver, and cross (reddish, with a dark, cross­shaped region on back and shoulders) are among the variations which may appear in any red fox litter." (NCE 991).