FEBRUARY XXIII (1989)
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:
KINGDOM OF ANSTEORRA
Alaric Greythorn of Glen Mor. Change of name from Glynn Gyrfalcon de Greythorn.
The name was submitted as Alaric Greythorn of Glen Mhor. As the English form of the noun is used the lenition of the adjective is not appropriate.
Albert George of Landstuhl. Name only.
Aodh Connachta. Name only.
Arianne Anastasia Balfour. Name only.
The citation in Withycombe for the first given name (p. 31) does not actually document this form of the name from period, as the letter of intent implied. However, it has previously been accepted as "SCA compatible".
Beregaria of the Wode. Device. Per saltire argent and gules, a brown bear statant erect to sinister proper between in fess two spears palewise sable, hafted Or.
Cedric Raedwulfing se Fithelere. Device. Per fess azure and argent, on a pale engrailed between in chief two violins palewise, in base a violin palewise, all counterchanged.
Several commentors noted that the violin itself appears to be an out-of-period development, although the fiddle was common in period. However, the submittor provided documentation, both from his own research and from Munrow's Instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance for the use of the violin in the sixteenth century, including citations for the instrument as far afield as Scotland where Mary Queen of Scots was serenaded by them as early as 1561.
Cú Dub MacArtuir. Device. Per chevron enhanced sable and Or, a wolf rampant to sinister reguardant sable and in chief two decrescents Or.
Desirée de Cambrai. Device. Azure, semy-de-lis argent, a cross argent, semy-de-lis azure and a chief argent.
Gillian Tremaine. Name and device. Azure, two chevronels braced Or and in chief a phoenix argent, rising from flames of fire proper.
Ask the submittor to draw the phoenix bigger. Please.
Wulf Beornsson. Device. Or, a sprig of three poison ivy leaves inverted vert within a bordure sable.
[Editorial Note: The Laurel staff devoutly hopes that a floral badge will not be forthcoming (itch, twitch) and wishes to remind the submittor that there is some doubt whether Calamine lotion is a period charge. . .]
KINGDOM OF ATENVELDT
Aislynn Ulfbearn. Name and device. Or, a pale and on a chief gules, three tankards, lidded with boar's heads, Or.
Samal Kaan Uxmalil. Badge. Argent, nine rats tergiant in annulo, tails to center and fretted at the tips, sable.
As previously noted, heralds can count to ten.
Sentinel's Keep, Shire of. Name and device. Azure, a crane in its vigilance argent, within a laurel wreath, a chief embattled Or.
Siegfried of the Black Glade. Reblazon of device. Quarterly purpure and sable, an eagle's wing chevronwise inverted Or maintaining in chief a sword fesswise reversed proper.
This was registered in September, 1984, the tincture of the wing was omitted from the blazon.
KINGDOM OF ATLANTIA
Tir-y-Don, Barony of. Badge for Order of the Orca. Per fess wavy argent and azure, in saltire a trident and a sword Or, overall an orca naiant to sinister proper.
This had been pended from the November meeting due to an error in tincture on the letter of intent.
KINGDOM OF CAID
Alicia Kyra Avelin. Name and device. Counter-vairy argent and purpure, a unicorn's head, couped and sinister-facing, within an orle Or.
Please ask the submittor to draw the orle more boldly than it was on the letter of intent where it was narrower than most Society fimbriation.
Catrin Rhiannon d'Arc. Device. Per pale azure and sable, in pale a bar and a rose palewise, slipped and leaved, argent.
Cassandra al-Dabaran. Name only.
Catharine Wyndford. Spelling correction.
When the name was registered in December, 1988, the intermediate vowel was erroneously made an "e": "Catherine".
Cesarina da Napoli. Name and device. Quarterly argent and vert, in bend two brown horses salient proper.
The sixteenth-century Caesarina mentioned in the passage of Yonge cited by Crescent on the letter of intent alludes to one Caesarina Grimaldi who would presumably be associated with Monaco or Genoa, rather than Naples.
Christian de la Croix. Blazon correction. Per pale sable and argent, a wolf rampant to sinister, maintaining a sword bendwise sinister, on a chief three fleurs-de-lys, all counterchanged.
When the device was registered in December, 1988, the tinctures of the field were eaten by the word processor.
Christopher Leyland D'Eyncourt. Name and device. Azure, a fess dancetty Or within a bordure indented Or, semy of hurts.
The evidence of Reaney (Dictionary of British Surnames, p. 100), which is rather better for actual orthography than that of Bardsley, who is more interested in etymology, does not support the capitalized form for the companion of William the Conqueror mentioned in the letter of intent (he apparently was Walter "de Aincurt"). However, as Reaney also cites one Oliver "Deyncourt" from 1243, this spelling seems reasonable.
David Gerland de la Croupe. Blazon correction. Argent, on a bend sinister below a cross crosslet fitchy azure in dexter chief, in chief a lion's gambe palewise erased Or.
When this was registered in December, 1988, the precise form of the gambe was omitted under the presumption that a gambe erased would be understood. This does not appear to have been a correct assumption.
Deirdre Roswythe Dunwyn. Blazon change. Per pall inverted arrondy Or, sable and gules, in fess two shamrocks slipped counterchanged and in base a crescent Or.
When this was registered in December, 1988, the plants were blazoned as "trefoils". Crescent informs us that the lady desires these to be blazoned as shamrocks to suit her persona, since there is no real difference between the two from the point of view of "differencing", we see no reason why we should not accommodate the lady.
Donald Cathchern. Name only.
Donn son of Fergus. Name and device. Vert, a flame proper, on a chief enarched Or, a spear reversed, fracted in chevron, sable, hafted proper.
While the form of the name is awkward to English ears, it is in fact an exact translation of the Irish form Donn mac Fherghuis. The device would be improved by less proper and a more distinctive line of division on the chief, but it is "legal".
Joseph Decatur. Name and device. Or, a raven between two flaunches gules, each charged with a human skull argent.
Elsdon Smith, cited in the letter of intent, is generally an unreliable source since he almost totally lacks a sense of synchronicity. As the burden of proof of period usage lies on the submittor and the earliest citation of the surname provided by any commentor came from the late eighteenth century, the name initially looked extremely problematical.
However, an examination of Reaney's Dictionary of British Surnames (p. 67) provided support for the name. Although the English name "Cater" and its variant forms (e.g., "le Chatur", "le Katur", "le Catour") were derived from the occupation of provisions buyer (and this may also have been the primary source for the French form of the name), it also appears to have been a geographical surname from the period town of Cator in Devon. Given the orthographic variants for the occupational surname, this seems reasonable as a late form for the geographical designator "de Cator" (which is documented in a Latinate form "de Cadatrea" as early as 1167).
Khalid ibn Haroun al-Aqrab. Name only.
Leif Haraldsen. Device. Gules, a pale and a fess fretted with a mascle argent, on a chief counter-ermine two roses Or.
Note that under the current rules (AR1d) the counter-ermine chief is legal.
Manus le Dragonier. Device. Or, on a pale azure, a unicorn's head, erased and sinister-facing, Or, armed and crined argent, all within a bordure counterchanged.
While the arming and crining of the tertiary would not contribute to difference, we felt it should be included since it appears to be of importance to the submittor and its tincture would not generally be depicted by a heraldic artist without some guidance. On the other hand the "tongue lolling gules" which was also on the submittor's blazon, is a default colouration and appeared unnecessary.
Marina Foscari. Blazon correction. Quarterly sable and gules a cross between in bend two gondola prows reversed, all within a bordure argent.
When this was registered in December, 1988, the fact that the prows were reversed was omitted.
Matthew de Wolfe. Name and device. Per bend sinister embattled argent and sable, in bend two wolves rampant combattant counterchanged.
Michael O'George. Change of name from Barnabas MacPeregrine and badge. Sable, in pale a lion's head cabossed Or and a pair of wings conjoined argent, all within a bordure Or.
Mikhail of the Khazars. Name only.
Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler. Spelling correction.
When this was registered in December, 1988, the given name was incorrectly spelled with two "l"'s.
Sapphira of Wittenberg. Name only.
Thomas Speir. Device. Purpure, an onion domed tower Or, issuant from a cloud argent, on a chief enarched Or, an amphisbaena statant gules.
Uilliam of Reisling. Name only.
As Crescent has noted, the discussions in all the "standard" books on Irish personal names discuss modern practise for the diminutive form "Liam". As such, it is inadmissible under the current rules unless clear evidence can be shown for its separate formal use in period. This can easily be done for a number of English diminutives of William, but we have been unable to do so for the Irish. The discussion in O Corrain and Maguire (Gaelic Personal Names, p. 175) suggest that the usual period diminutive usage in Ireland was not "Liam" but rather "Uillecc".
Wulfric Grimbeald. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, in fess two wolf's heads cabossed within a bordure counterchanged.
Zenobia Naphtali. Change of device. Per chevron Or and sable, three griffin's heads, erased and sinister-facing, counterchanged.
KINGDOM OF CALONTIR
Alexander Xavier. Name and device. Per pale argent and azure, a wolf's head jessant-de-lis within a bordure counterchanged.
Ana la Sinestra. Name and device. Argent, a dragon's head, erased and sinister-facing, within a bordure embattled vert, charged with three roses argent.
The submittor should be aware that "sinistra" used here as a substantive applying to a person does not appear to mean "left-handed" in Spanish. Used as an adjective, it means "wicked" or "disastrous". As a feminine noun, it can mean "the left hand", but is not apparently used as a transferred epithet. The spanish sources in the Laurel library show that "zurda" would appear be the proper adjective for a left-handed person.
Anastasia Elisabeth Fairfax. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Elena de Vexin. Name and device. Per chevron purpure and Or, a mullet of eight points between three fleurs-de-lis counterchanged.
The name was submitted as Elena du Vexin. As the Vexin Valley does not appear to be one of the limited number of geographic names which use an article with the preposition in French, we have modified the prepositional form.
Erich von Wulfenstein. Name only.
The submission was omitted from the January letter of acceptances and returns. As evidence has been presented that Middle Low German, like Old English, used the "u-grade" of the noun, the place name is feasible, even though modern German would demand an "o-grade". However, the submittor should be aware that the place name means "Stone of wolves", not "wolfstone".
Finola O'Clery. Device. Argent, a cock statant azure within a bordure gules charged with three fountains.
This was previously returned in a design which used a bordure semy of fountains, which was contrary to an existing ban on charges semy which were of multiple tinctures. While Crescent is correct in stating that this submission does not remedy the difficulty with the identifiability of the fountains completely, it was our feeling that the technical problem had been resolved and that, since there was less visual confusion present, the fountains were more likely to be identified despite their small size.
Geffrei Almeric Peregrine. Device. Azure, on a pile raguly Or, a falcon close reguardant gules, all within a bordure counterchanged.
Please tell the submittor to draw the bordure a lot wider!
Herbrand Levorson. Device. Per pale and per chevron argent and counter-ermine, in bend a sword palewise and an axe palewise gules.
Istvan Kostka. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
This was accidentally dropped from the January letter of acceptance and return.
John the Lost. Device. Bendy gules and argent, a Turk's head affronty couped proper impaled upon a spearhead couped sable.
Juelda of Salisbury. Name only.
"Juelda" is stated to be the submittor's mundane given name.
Kezia von Holzenhaus. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Although the word for a wooden house in German is "Holzhaus", the name is designed to be a place name. As such, this form, which would mean "House of Trees", is acceptable.
Krystyan Elsabeth von Gutberg. Device. Vert, a chevron rompu argent, ermined vert, between two stags salient respectant and two deer antlers argent.
Llywelyn Lorell of Salisbury. Change of name from Kevin of Shadowdale.
Maksymiliana Agata Michalska. Badge for House Fierce. Or, three bendlets enhanced within a bordure sable.
Patrick Cei MacBrian. Name and device. Azure, a sword palewise inverted and on a chief enarched argent, three trefoils slipped azure.
Several commentors questioned the spelling of "Cei". This is the standard Welsh form of the name that was anglicised in the Arthurian legends as "Kay".
Randwulf Griffin of Inch Galbraith. Name and device. Sable, a griffin salient to sinister argent within a bordure argent, semy of crosses formy fitchy sable.
Raonull Modar. Badge. Azure, on a hide argent, a rose azure.
Note that a hide has previously been registered in the Society in the arms of Vuong Manh, sometime Kraken Herald of Atlantia ("Gules, on a hide Or a roundel enflamed and departed as a t'ai ch'i vert.")
Raonull Modar. Badge for House Leatherwolf. Azure, on a hide fesswise reversed argent, a wolf courant to sinister azure.
Soren der Weiss. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Tamarra Neizvyéstnyja of Archangel. Name and device. Azure, an angel affronty argent within a bordure invected argent, semy of estoiles azure.
The name was submitted as Tamarra Neizvyestnovna of Archangel. The second element of the name is a descriptive byname "the Unknown", not really a patronymic so that the addition of "-ovna" is not appropriate. We have substituted a feminine form of the documented byname from the submittor's documentation.
Tatiana Nikonovna Besprozvannyja. Name only.
The name was submitted as Tatiana Nikonovna Besprozvannyj. As the adjective must agree with the feminine given name just as much as the patronymic does, we have emended it to the feminine form.
KINGDOM OF THE EAST
Aelfric of Purbeck. Change of name from holding name of Cedric of Drachensheim.
Alena Oakwood of Nottingham. Device. Quarterly Or and purpure, a cross counterchanged between in bend two daisies purpure, seeded Or, slipped vert.
Alexander Székele. Name and device. Or, a pall inverted vert between three cauldrons sable.
Alexandra the Black Sheep. Name only.
The name was submitted as Alexandra the Blacksheep. Period English usage does not generally contract an adjective-noun phrase of this sort into one word so we have divided it into its component parts.
Anastasia Katherine aus Speyer. Name only.
Andrew Abingdon. Name only.
Arianwen Ravengarre. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Arnulf Adler. Badge. An eagle displayed Or, grasping in its talons the blades of two swords in chevron inverted, hilts to base, proper, its wings surmounted by the blades of two swords in chevron, hilts to chief, proper.
While technically legal, this badge's reliance on a complex arrangement of the secondary charges, particularly given the poor contrast of the swords with the underlying wings, is extremely unfortunate.
Black Rose, March of the. Device. Argent, a Maltese cross between four roses, each environed of a laurel wreath sable.
This had previously been returned for conflict with Dorothea of Caer Myrddin ("Argent, a cross paty sable."). Dorothea has now granted permission to confllict.
Brendan Olthursson. Device. Purpure, an ermine sejant erect and two scarpes enhanced ermine.
Brigantia had blazoned the scarpes as "in canton" to guarantee that a heraldic artist would "blazon them higher on the field than two scarpes enhanced". As scarpes enhanced are by definition already in canton, this is not feasible.
Cathlin Sommerfield. Name and device. Argent, a dolphin haurient and on a chief invected azure, three suns argent.
Cedric MacShannachan. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Constance Beauchamp. Name and device. Barry wavy and per pale azure and argent, a bordure vert.
Cormac MacKenna. Device. Per pale and per fess embattled Or and sable, in bend two swords vert and in bend sinister two estoiles of eight points argent.
Under the current rules, the embattling of the line per fess protects this device from the restriction on quartering, although some commentors familiar with Continental heraldry have noted that using a complex line of division on the horizontal line of partition of a quartered display of arms is quite common (as indeed is the use of a cross overall).
David Steill Campbell. Name only.
Dylan ap Maelgwn. Name only.
The use of the given name Dylan by a presumably human individual (Dylan Draws of Nanconwy) was documented by a geneology from Bartrum. As such Welsh geneologies, like those of the Romans, frequently include divine or legendary individuals, particularly in their earlier generations, they must be used with great care. For instance, the geneology cited by Brigantia shows "Llyr Marini" [Llyr of the Sea] as an uncle of Maelgwyn Gwynedd and brother-in-law of the cited Dylan. While this circumstance and the translation of the name of the cited individual ("Dylan the Strong of the Conway Stream") disturbed some of the Laurel staff, the consensus of commentary in the College was in support of the given name.
Elfenbach, Shire of. Device. Per chevron vert, semy of fir trees eradicated argent, and argent, in base a fir tree eradicated vert, all within a laurel wreath counterchanged.
Elizabeth Chelsea. Name and device. Per fess Or and purpure, on a pale counterchanged between in chief two closed books, spines to sinister, palewise purpure, in base a closed book palewise, spine to sinister, purpure.
Emrys Hawkwind. Device. Sable, a bend cotised between two chess rooks, all within a bordure embattled Or.
Fiona MacNeill. Device. Purpure, on a chevron between three threaded drop spindles Or, three dogwood flowers gules, seeded Or, leaved vert.
Flintheath, Shire of. Name only.
The forms for this submission note that this group is based on RAF Lakenheath (of whose mess Laurel has very fond memories). As this is in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric flint quarries known as Grime's Graves and the nearby town of Brandon still has its quota of flint-knappers, this is an excellent choice of descriptive geographic name. [Irrelevant comment: Laurel has an archaeologist friend who claims that flint working is the real oldest profession. . .]
Genevieve Aelfwynn the Firebrand. Name and device. Gules, on a bend sable, fimbriated, between two grenades, a torch Or, on a chief argent, three pheons sable.
Genevieve Charbonneau. Name and device. Per bend sinister rayonny Or and pean, in dexter chief an opinicus segreant to sinister sable.
The name was submitted as Genevieve Charboneau. In his letter of intent, Brigantia implied that this form actually appeared in Reaney's Dictionary of British Surnames. The actual statement is that the name is derived from the Old French "carbon, charbon 'charcoal', probably an affectionate diminutive for one with a swarthy complexion or hair black as coal, the essential characteristic of charcoal". As it happens, all the derivatives and diminutives of "charbon" double the terminal "n", so we have corrected the orthography as the submittor's forms permitted.
Gudrun the Wanderer. Name only.
Gwydion Rhys ap Rhianwen. Name only.
The submittor has provided documentation from period legal documents that one Gwydion Bola (which means something like Gwydion the Fat, according to Brachet) was beadle of the English County of Carmarthen in the early fourteenth century. Brachet has added further citations from period sources in support of the use of Gwydion by humans in period. It is the consensus of the College that the case is more than adequately proved and the name Gwydion may be used in the Society so long as there is no other reference to the Gwydion of Welsh legend. [Possibly irrelevant historical note: This is undoubtedly the fruit of a long research project on the part of the submittor. As a high school student and brilliant computer hacker, the submittor was technical advisor to Laurel on her computer when she was chronicler of the East nearly eight years ago. Asked unofficially for advice on the acceptability of his name, he was placed under geas to document the name as used by one or more humans from historical sources. As herald of his local group --- the underground filk hit Gwydion the Day-Glo Herald was written in his honour to commemorate his taste for "fop garb" --- he started to do so. Due to such non-essential activities as college and employement, his Society participation and research have been intermittent, but ultimately successful!)
Hilal al-Dubb. Name and device. Azure, crescenty, a bear rampant Or maintaining a scimitar bendwise Or.
Kazimir Petrovich Pomeshanov. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Leonard the Younger. Reblazon of device. Gules, on the head of a Mjollnir inverted gules, fimbriated, a mascle knot of six corners.
The Mjollnir was previously blazoned as argent pierced which gave a completely false impression of the charge (classic "thin line heraldry"!).
Marwick, Canton of. Name and device. Per fess embattled counter-ermine and argent, in base a laurel wreath gules.
Michael Amadan Fitzgerald. Name only.
Perhaps the submittor should be informed that the term "amadan" generally refers rather specifically to one who is a simpleton (i.e., mentally retarded) rather than merely to one who is a fool.
Morwenna Durward. Device. Purpure, on a bend sinister between two mushrooms argent, two harps palewise azure.
Polderslot, Shire of. Name and device. Per bend sinister azure and vert, on a bend sinister bretessy Or, three towers palewise vert, overall a laurel wreath argent.
As the forms indicate that the mundane identity for this group is "Kingdom of the Netherlands", the name, which refers to land retrieved from the sea by the Dutch dike system, is most appropriate.
Rabenstein, Shire of. Name only.
Randall of Elfenbach. Name only.
Richenda de Cameron. Device. Azure, semy of thistles, slipped and leaved, a bear's paw print argent.
Rowena of Swanwic. Name only.
Rufus Thorhall. Name and device. Argent, a bear statant erect affronty between in fess two double-bitted axes palewise sable.
Signi Bjornsdottir. Change of name from Signy Bjarnardottir.
In the October, 1988, letter of acceptances and returns, Laurel stated "we would dearly like to see some clear period documentation for the genitive form of "Bjorns", but have not thus far been presented with any." Brigantia has responded to this challenge, with the aid of William de Corbie of the Barony of Nordmark (mundanely Sweden) in providing period examples from Sveriges Medeltida Personnama (col. 318326, 343346). This compilation of period personal names from Swedish sources contains dates for each documented form. This tome documents such period genitive forms as "Biornar", "Biorns", and "Byorns", showing the precise sort of alternations of form for which Laurel had asked ("Biorns" is shown as early as 1360). The feminine patronymic form is demonstrated from the fourteenth century as well ("Marghet Bjornsdotter" from 1368, "Cecilia Biornsdoter" from 1377, etc.).
Tiberius Erikson. Device. Argent, a tau cross vert, its upright between two mullets in fess, all within a bordure gules.
Torrin the Wonderer. Name and device. Per pale gules and azure, a sword palewise between two wings displayed, all within a bordure Or.
Torrin the Wanderer. Badge. Or, on a tower per pale gules and azure, a compass star Or.
Vielburgen, Shire of. Badge. Per chevron vert and argent, two towers argent and a double-headed eagle displayed sable.
KINGDOM OF MERIDIES
Bjarni Anders. Name only.
Ceredwin of Lagerdamm. Name and device. Per pale Or and azure, a Lacy knot counterchanged.
The name was submitted as Withany Ceredwin of Lagerdamm. Pennon made a valiant attempt to support this as a coined word by taking "with" from names such as "Roswitha", "Aelswitha" and "Withburga" and adding "ny" as a suffix to form the name. Unfortunately, this does not follow the Old English form required by the name element "with" and appears more as an expanded form of the common noun "withy" (referring to a willow withe). We have dropped that portion of the name to register the remainder of the name and the device.
Einar Myrunarson. Name only.
The name was submitted as Einar Myrunson, but the appropriate form of the metronymic appears to be the form used above.
Evayne Addenbrook. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
The name "Evaine" is not "made-up", either by the submittor or by Katherine Kurtz! In one version of the Arthurian tradition, Evaine was the sister of Elaine and the wife of King Bors (hence the mother of Lionel and Bors who were cousins of Lancelot).
Gabriella Francesca Qlejja de Warre. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
As "Gabriella" and "Francesca" are both Italian, this does not exceed the current language limit.
Gwyneth Greentree. Name only.
Jean Pierre Duquesne. Name and device. Quarterly azure and azure, ermined, on a cross floretty engrailed between in bend two leopard's heads jessant-de-lis Or, a cross floretty azure.
This device pushes close to the limits of acceptability from the point of view of complexity and presumption, but falls just this side of disaster.
Leah of the Lillies. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Patricia le Wyneter. Name only.
The name was submitted as Patris le Wyneter, with the note that "Patris" was the mediaeval name of Paderborn. There are several problems with this. First, the actual name was "Patris Brunna" as Lymphad herself notes in the letter of intent. Secondly, Paderborn is a place, not an individual. Thirdly, as used in "Patris Brunna" and other formations, "patris" is the genitive singular of "pater", the Latin word for "father". As such, it may not be used as a given name unless documentation can be provided for its use as such in period. This cannot be provided. The Latin "Patricius", as in the name of St. Patrick, is documented and it is reasonable to pull the feminine form of this, even though no documented example has been provided prior to the eighteenth century. (Note that this is also presumably the submittor's actual mundane name, since her forms show her name as "Pat".)
Phoenix Glade, Shire of. Name only (see RETURNS for device and badge).
Rhiannon Rose O'Muray. Name and device. Per bend sinister gules and sable, a bend between a garden rose bendwise, slipped and leaved, and a sheaf of three arrows, all within a bordure Or.
Small Grey Bear, Shire of. Device. Azure, a bear argent within a laurel wreath Or, all between three compass stars argent.
Wyn Caradoc of Anglesey. Name only.
Although "wyn" is an element in Welsh names, this does not mean that it can stand alone! However, Brachet has been able to offer several instances of the period use of "Wyn" as a given name on its own from Morgan and Morgan.
KINGDOM OF THE OUTLANDS
Amarantha Randolph. Device. Gules, a batwinged horse passant argent, scaly sable, unguled, crined and winged argent.
Darcy Randolph. Device. Sable, a batwinged wolf sejant affronty between three mullets argent.
Gerwyn y Teigr. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
Kezia die Näherin. Name and device. Gules, a monster rampant composed of the body and head of a lion, from its back issuing the head of a goat, tailed of a serpent, and on a chief Or, three caltraps azure.
The name appeared on the letter of intent as Ketzia die Näherin, but the forms showed the equally acceptable form showed above.
Mael Marden. Change from holding name of Mael of the Outlands.
Magdalena Asmarit di Venezia. Name and device. Gyronny argent and azure, a purse Or within an orle of roundels alternately azure and Or, each charged with a cross couped of the field.
The name was submitted as Migdalyam Asmarit di Venezia. White Stag noted that the first two components of the name were in Amharic (the Semitic language of the court of Abysinnia in period and familiar to those who have studied Coptic religious texts). The epithet is certainly properly formed to indicate a woman from Asmara in northern Ethopia. However, the given name, which is said to be an amalgam of the Amharic transliteration of forms for "Mary" and "Magdalene" provides more difficulties. Laurel's familiarity with Amharic naming practise is less than thorough, having been derived from assisting some years back in a translation project dealing with collation of manuscripts with common Byzantine Greek/Amharic elements, but she can recall no such example of a "smashed" name from the Amharic sources. While names often suffered some interesting mutations, particularly where originally Semitic names reached the Copts by way of Greek sources, they usually retained their own identities and did not merge with other names, as in this example. As the submittor indicated that she would accept the documented Italian given name "Magdalena", this seemed the wisest course, pending more detailed documentation of Amharic naming practise.
Maximillian Mühleisen. Name and device. Per pale gules and argent, a U-form axle bracket sable.
As White Stag has indicated, this is a simple and elegant charge. The modifier has been added solely to avoid confusion with the O-form of axel bracket or ring which Laurel is firmly informed by her staff did exist in period.
Morwyn MacDonald of Strathclyde. Name and device. Per bend argent and azure, an oak tree eradicated environed in chief of five mullets of four points in demi-annulo, all within a bordure counterchanged.
Noírín O Donnabhaín. Name and device. Per bend sable and argent, on a bend between two wolf's heads couped, three Celtic crosses, all counterchanged.
Oda av Hálogaland. Name and device. Counter-ermine, a panther passant reguardant to sinister argent, semy of roundels randomly purpure, vert, gules and azure, incensed proper.
The name was submitted as Odan av Hálogaland. The nearest documented form we could find was that used above, the nearest nominative form with a terminal "n" was "Oudon" from voin Feilitzen's Pre-Conquest Personal Names from Domesday Book, p. 170. None of the exemplars we could find with a terminal "n" used an "a" sound in the final consonant. (Now if only the Laurel Office had a copy of Sveriges Medeltida Personnama . . .)
Suzanna Jewell. Change of name from Suzanna of the House of Jewels.
Thora of the Outlands. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Argent, a chevron cotised azure between two crosses crosslet fitchy and a cross crosslet fitchy inverted sable, all within a bordure azure.
The submission was made under the name Tara av Asgardur.
Torcail Gilleghaolain. Name only.
Wulfgar Brandbeorn. Change of name from Wulfgar Fyrbeorn and change of device. Azure, a winged torch argent, enflamed proper, within a bordure argent.
KINGDOM OF TRIMARIS
Aaron Breck Gordon. Device. Sable, in pale a ducal coronet and a griffin segreant Or, maintaining two swords proper, all within an orle of chain Or.
The submittor is both a Duke and a knight so may use the reserved charges.
Adiva the Berber. Name and device. Sable, on a fess wavy between three sinister batwings argent, a horse couchant reguardant gules.
Alysia Gabrielle de Fougeres. Name only.
The name was submitted as Alysia Gabrielle du Fougeres. The articular form of the preposition has been dropped before the place name.
Brendan of Connacht. Name and device. Per chevron purpure, semy of roses argent, and sable, in base an eagle's wing conjoined to a hand holding a sword bendwise sinister argent.
The name was submitted as Brendon of Connacht. As the submittor allowed changes, we have substituted the documented form of the given name. No permission to conflict with Siegfried of the Black Glade was necessary: there is a difference of field, a difference of position/posture in the primary charge (Siegfried's fills the whole field and the sword is fesswise reversed) and a difference of tincture, since Siegfried's wing is Or. (See the reblazon in this letter under Atenveldt.)
Brenna MacGrioghair. Name and device. Or, three ermine spots in pale between on two flaunches sable, two seahorses addorsed argent.
The name was submitted as Brenna Cathlin MacGrioghair. The second given name has been dropped to avoid confusion with the registered name of Caitlin MacGregor.
Catherine Elizabeth Anne Somerton. Name only.
Christopher of Hendon. Name only.
Morgan Alana Morcheartaigh. Badge. Per fess azure and sable, an auburn-haired mermaid proper, tailed argent, maintaining in her dexter hand a plate and in her sinister a sword bendwise sinister proper.
This had been pended from the November meeting due to an error in the blazon of the tinctures on the letter of intent.
Patricia of Wyvernwood. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Lozengy ermine and sable, an owl statant guardant to sinister, wings displayed, on a chief gules, five annulets fretted in fess Or.
The submission was made under the name of Ynesse of Caer Brugh.
Philippe de Montchamp. Name only.
The name was submitted as Philippe de Montchamps. As this is the plural form which does not have the meaning he wishes, we have dropped the final "s".
Raedwulf Hrothgaresun. Name and device. Per pale Or and sable, a cross formy counterchanged, on a chief dovetailed azure, a sword fesswise reversed argent, enflamed proper.
The name was submitted as Raedwulf Hrothgareson. Although there may be some grammatical problems with this form, we consider it to be "grandfathered" from its registration in 1984 for his Society and mundane brother Eadric Hrothgaresun.
Richard l'Arrogant. Name only (see RETURNS for device).
The name was submitted as Richard le Arrogant. The article is elided before an initial vowel.
Sean Owein MacGrioghair. Name only.
KINGDOM OF THE WEST
Aneala, Barony of. Name for Hearthtroop of Aneala.
Aneala, Barony of. Name for Order of the Demi-Sun of Aneala.
Angelica of Bohemia. Device. Argent, Per bend argent and bendy purpure and argent, in chief a dragon courant bendwise purpure.
Irreverent comment from Laurel staff: "Wish my dragon did that well on hills!"
Anita Beaumaris. Holding name and device. Azure, a fess invected between five natural seahorses two, two and one, argent. Check on name.
The submission was made under the name of Auryn Beaumaris, which had previously been returned.
Arielle of Golden Rivers. Holding name and device. Sable, on a bend wavy between two garden rosebuds bendwise, slipped and leaved, Or, a rosebud gules, slipped and leaved vert.
The device was submitted under the name of Arielle of Amberwood, which had previously been returned.
Beornoth of Filey. Device. Argent, a horned helmet affronty, within a bordure sable.
Cathasach of Rocktown. Name only.
Clare Fitzwilliam. Change of name from Clare of Belmont and change of device. Gules, three roses in fess between two bars engrailed argent, each charged with a barrulet gules.
David de Saxby. Blazon correction. Gyronny argent and azure, a monster statant consisting of the body and head of a lion, issuant from its back a goat's head guardant, tailed of a serpent, Or within a bordure counterchanged.
When this was registered in December, 1988, this was rather disastrously misblazoned. Our thanks to Crux Australis for pointing out the error.
David Matthias von Teufelberg. Change of name from David of Teufelberg.
Donn Magrath. Device. Or, a bend sinister cotised vert, overall a fleam within a bordure sable.
This submission had been pended from the November meeting to allow discussion on the issue of whether the fleam should be a charge reserved to those with medical credentials. The balance of opinion seems to be that, while the fleam is a particularly appropriate charge for those with a medical background, it is not so closely associated with medics that it should be reserved.
Donn Magrath. Badge. Or, a fleam within a bordure sable.
This gentle's badge had been pended from the November meeting for the same reason as his device, i.e., discussion of the use of the fleam in Society heraldry.
Edmund of Golden Rivers. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Per chevron azure and purpure, two annulets Or and a griffin segreant to sinister maintaining a hammer palewise argent.
The submission was made under the name of Edmund Rohan.
Eirik Ulfhednar. Name and device. Per pale sable and argent, in pale two wolves passant to sinister counterchanged.
Elizabeth of Hawk's Haven. Holding name and device (see PENDING for name). Argent, in saltire two roses, slipped and leaved, azure and a chief purpure.
The submission was made under the name of Elizabeth of the Blue Rose.
Frimund Blithdene. Change of name from Selemaer Goodwine.
Greid of the Wastes. Change of name from Greid o' the Wastes.
Hector MacDougall. Name and device. Per saltire Or and azure, in pale two thistles, slipped and leaved, and in fess two wolf's heads, erased and sinister-facing, all counterchanged.
Ingolf of Clontarf. Name and device. Per bend purpure and sable, a bat-winged jackal rampant Or.
Kateline Deveraux Simpson. Name and device. Azure, a seahorse erect and a chief Or.
Kira Leonovna Zemnodushina. Name and device. Vert, a dragon segreant to sinister within a double tressure Or.
She has permission to conflict with both John ap Griffin ("Vert, a griffin segreant to sinister Or.") and Robert Kinslayer ("Vert, a stag's head cabossed within a double tressure Or.").
Malcolm MacRuairidh of Blackoak. Change of name from Malcolm MacLaine of Dunvegan.
Peter du Gant Noir. Badge. On a cross formy per pale Or and gules, a goblet sable.
Torin of Norwood. Name and device. Per chevron inverted dovetailed argent and counter-ermine, in chief a cross clechy vert.
Yorick of Bidston Hill. Name and device. Or, a polecat-ferret passant proper, on a chief rayonny gules, two crescents argent.
Zaina of the Roses. Name and device. Per bend sinister dovetailed argent and azure,
a rose bendwise sinister, slipped and leaved, counterchanged purpure and argent.
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE RETURNED
KINGDOM OF ANSTEORRA
Amos MacAlpin. Device. Per bend sinister vert and azure, on a tankard argent, two halberds in saltire sable.
This submission had previously been returned for conflict with Pia Dragonslayer ("Azure, on a tow-handled mug per pale Or and argent, a dragon segreant vert bearing a sword sable."). Star argues that a minor can be derived from the tincture of the field and the tincture of the mug and there is no disagreement on this point. He also argues that a minor can be derived from the difference between a one-handled and two-handled mug. We cannot agree as this is the sort of artistic difference that frequently is not even blazoned. Finally and most critically, Star argues that a major point should be derived from the changes to the tertiaries. Since the mug is not an ordinary, DR10 requires changes of type, tincture and number for this to be even considered for a major point of difference. As the tertiary in Pia's device is partially sable, these three changes are not present. Even if we were willing to grant that the changes of tincture of field and charge equate to a full major point of difference, there would be technical conflict problems. Moreover, since the changes to both sets of tinctures are of the lowest possible contrast with the green fading into the blue and the gold into the silver, the visual similarity between the two devices is particularly striking.
Catherine Marie Elisabeth d'Evreux. Device. Vert, a peacock in his pride and on a chief Or, three roses proper.
This is technically in conflict with Elspeth Trelawny MacNaughton of Lochawe ("Vert, on a saltire Or a tower gules and on a chief Or, three roses gules, barbed and seeded proper."): as the primary charge is itself charged only a major point of difference may be derived from the change in type and the addition of the tertiary charge adds only a minor point. In point of fact, the addition of identically charged chiefs to both devices gives the appearance not of direct cadency but common membership in an order, household or fraternal organization (the mundane analogue for this would be the use of a chief bearing the arms or badge of a martial order).
Donal Ian MacGregor. Change of name from Ian of Shadowlands.
As noted by several commentors, the name now not only has problems with the Ian MacGregors for which the name was originally returned, but with the addition of Donal now also with the father of the (in)famous Rob Roy who also bore that name.
Jusric Allison. Name only.
Despite Star's valiant attempts, we could not find any examples where a Latin initial element such as this coalesced with the Germanic "-ric" in this manner. Moreover, the submittor seems to have misinterpreted the statements in Yonge (p. 192) to believe that the noun "ius" was the actual source for names such as "Justin" when in fact the names were derived from the perfect passive participle of the verb derived from "ius" so that the compound form, if it was permissible, would have been "Justric". Perhaps Star could interest the submittor in a similar documented name such as "Gaiseric" (name of a fifth century leader of the Vandals and Alans).
KINGDOM OF ATENVELDT
Renate Gabrielle Granvogl von Ramsau. Change of name from Renate Gabrielle Grossvogel von Ramsau.
The submittor has appealed the modification of her surname to documented German forms, providing copies of her birth certificate and baptismal certificate (both issued in Munich) to demonstrate that her mother's maiden name was in fact "Granvogl". Under our current rules, this is not in itself adequate documentation since the form would seem to combine German and Italian forms and has not been documented in period. Crescent has provided a very interesting suggestion, based on the fact that a family by the name of "Grauvogl" was ennobled in Bavaria in the late eighteenth century, that the actual name form was in fact "Grauvogl" which would mean "grey bird". As the "n" and "u" in the old German printed script were (and are) commonly confused by American clerical staff when they appeared in names, this seems to be a likely possibility. Perhaps Aten could consult with the lady on this.
KINGDOM OF CAID
Johannes von Bern. Badge. A bear passant Or, breathing flames of fire proper, atop a capital J sable.
The issue of whether the capital "J" existed in period is to some extent a side issue, as this design and the "jaywalking" bear depends completely on the heraldic artist reconstructing this particular form of the letter with a crossbar large enough to bear the weight of the beast. That cannot reasonably be predicted even if the restriction to period forms be lifted. Just as a point of information, however, a number of period manuscript regularly used the "long" form of the letter "i". It was most frequently used in an initial position in several hands (presumably for aesthetic reasons) and well before the end of our period had become the common form for names beginning with the consonantal form. Thus in fifteenth century Italian manuscripts, what we would readily identify as a capital "J" is regularly used for names like Johannes and Jacobus. Moreover, some of the commonest humanist hands even had a horizontal bar at the top of the character, although this seldom, if ever, was carried to the right of the perpendicular line in most fifteenth hands. It should be noted that it was this practise that carried over into early printed material which eventually "set" the distinction between the use of "I" and "J" to represent differing qualities of sound.
Morgan Tryggvisson. Device. Gules, three wolf's teeth issuant fesswise from sinister and in dexter chief a hammer palewise inverted argent.
Conflict with von Tettau ("Gules, three wolf's teeth argent.") cited by Kraken and, although without the name of its owner, by Hund.
Naevehjem, Shire of. Device. Quarterly argent, ermined gules, and sable, in bend sinister two annulets Or, at the honour point a laurel wreath gules, surmounting the lower annulet.
While we do not penalize gentles for their artistic insufficiencies, we can only judge the relative position of charges, etc. from the emblazon they submit. On the submitted emblazon, the laurel wreath is not much larger than on the original returned submission (as Brachet put it a "token micro-enlargement"). Moreover, it is not truly "overall" since it does not evenly overlie the charges on the field. This would be much better if they put the wreaths in the ermine portions of the field (using a more complex line of division to avoid the appearance of marshalling). Failing that, a laurel wreath that is truly overall and large enough to be readily identifiable at a distance despite the poor contrast with part of the field would be acceptable.
Naevehjem, Shire of. Badge for Naevehjem Militia Elite Guard. On a plate within an annulet Or, an ermine spot gules.
Visually in conflict with the Order of the Crystal of the Salt Wastes of the Barony of Loch Salann ("Sable, a plate within a bordure Or."). As noted by several commentors, the use of an annulet in fieldless badges is directly analogous (and often replaces) the use of both the orle and the bordure in fielded badges.
KINGDOM OF CALONTIR
Anastasia Elisabeth Fairfax. Device. Argent, a violet within a bordure purpure charged with four decrescents argent.
This is clear of Kateryne of Hindscroft ("Argent, a violet purpure within an orle of hearts azure.") since the number, type and tincture of secondary charge differs (for a major and minor) and the tertiaries add the necessary additional minor. The instincts of those who called this conflict were correct, however, since both these devices are in conflict with and appear to be cadet arms of those of Alyanora of Vinca ("Argent, a periwinkle proper."). Unfortunately, when the present Laurel passed Kateryne's arms at her very first meeting, noone called the conflict and the Laurel files were still in transit from California. . .
Carmella Belfiore di Firenze. Name only.
This was accidentally dropped from the printed copy of the January letter of acceptance and return through a buffering problem. The given name "Carmela", like several other names derived from the Virgin, is geographical in origin. While it is a common name in the Spanish-speaking world today, so are "Lourdes", "Loretta" and a number of out-of-period names derived from place names associated with the Virgin. While Mount Carmel is indeed a location in the Holy Land and the Carmelite nuns did exist in period, the use of the name appears to date to the modern period (to the late nineteenth century according to Dunkling and Gosling, New American Dictionary of First Names, p. 62).
Ceallaigh of Castle Lost. Name and device. Or, chausse ploye purpure, a rose purpure and two daggers inverted in chevron Or.
This was accidentally dropped from the printed copy of the January letter of acceptance and return through a buffering problem. The submitted form of the given name is the genitive form (the nominative would be "Ceallach"). Unfortunately, the submittor allowed no changes whatsoever to the name so that the whole submission had to be returned. While counseling the submittor on a resubmission, it might be advisable to point out that the charges chausse here is really something of a solecism.
Christopher Amber. Device. Per pale sable and Or, in bend two mullets counterchanged, on a chief gules, issuant from the line of division a sea-serpent ondoyant Or.
We had to agree with White Stag that the truncated sea serpent issuant from the line of division of the chief is not really period style. Added to the relatively unbalanced arrangement of the mullets on either side of the divided field, the chief itself with its "moving" charge adds an undesirable degree of complexity and lack of balance to the design.
Elisabeth de Rossignol. Badge. A hawk's lure Or.
Conflict with Fowler ("Quarterly azure and Or, in the first quarter a hawk's lure and line of the second.", as cited in Papworth, p. 973). Since the badge is fieldless, no difference can be derived from the tincture of the field or the derivative position of the charge on the field.
Istvan Kostka. Device. Per bend bendy azure and Or and argent, on a bend sinister gules, three llamas statant fesswise to sinister argent.
This was accidentally dropped from the January letter of acceptance and return. Conflict with Susanna Marie of Palermo ("Per bend sinister pean and ermine, on a bend sinister gules, three quatrefoils argent.").
Katharine Attryde. Device. Vert, on a bend sinister Or, three lions heads palewise caboshed sable.
This was accidentally dropped from the printed copy of the January letter of acceptance and return through a buffering problem. Conflict with Cruser the Ranger ("Vert, on a bend sinister Or a star of David between two mullets of six points gules.").
Kezia von Holzenhaus. Device. Per saltire azure and counter-ermine, in pale two fir trees couped argent.
Conflict with Susan of Winterwood ("Counter-ermine, a pine tree couped argent."): there is a major for the number of the trees and a minor for the low contrast field, but the change in position is derivative and cannot be held to carry this clear.
Soren der Weiss. Device. Per pale azure and argent, two griffins segreant addorsed counterchanged.
Conflict with Eirikr Dreddoelski ("Per pale gules and argent, two dragons segreant addorsed counterchanged."): no more than a single major point can be derived for the type of monster and a minor for the difference in field.
Tatiana Nikonovna Besprozvannyja. Device. Or, on a pile wavy per pale gules and azure, a Siberian tiger passant reguardant argent, striped sable.
Conflict with Freydis Saemundardottir ("Or, on a pile wavy azure, a mermaid maintaining a pearl argent."): there is a minor point for the tincture of the pile and another minor for the difference in type of tertiary (the stripes provide negigible difference).
KINGDOM OF THE EAST
Arianwen Ravengarre. Device. Argent, a delf voided and interlaced with another delf, voided and set saltirewise, vert.
This is indeed a conflict with the fieldless badge of Thorvald Rodericksson ("A mullet of eight points concave voided and interlaced Or."): the complexity of the voided and interlaced charges diminishes the visual impact of the concavity to negligible status. As several commentors noted, rendering ordinaries in a slightly concave manner was a standard artistic variant in mediaeval heraldry so that the the proposed device could legitimately be depicted in the mediaeval manner with concave lines without a differing blazon.
Arwen Evaine ferch Rhys of Gwynedd. Badge for League of Freebooters. Sable, three boots argent.
Conflict with the arms of Elis ("Sable, three legs couped at the thigh argent.", as cited in Papworth, p. 964).
Cedric MacShannachan. Device. Bendy Or and gules, a winged unicorn salient, wings elevated and addorsed, argent.
Conflict with Arianwen of Urquart ("Vert, a horned pegasus salient argent, armed and ungules gules."). It also conflicts visually with the badge of Margharita di San Gimignano ("Per bend gules and ermine, a winged unicorn rampant, wings addorsed, argent, armed, crined, ungules and chased, Or."). The poor contrast virtually eradicates any visual difference to be derived from the cumulative tincture change in the details and the difference in position of the hooves (the latter lie entirely on the ermine field and are nearly invisible).
Dragonship Haven, Barony of. Badge for Order of the Yale. A yale passant hurty.
Conflict with the arms of Buggins ("Azure, an antelope passant argent, attired, tufted and unguled sable.", cited in Papworth, p. 57). The yale as depicted here and in several period manuscripts differs from the heraldic antelope chiefly in the orientation of the horns. (Compare, for example, the depictions of the antelope supporter of Edward, Duke of Buckingham, from a period manuscript and the yale from the Garter stall plate of John Beaufort, both shown in Dennys, Heraldic Imagination, pp. 148 and 165.) Even when taken together with the addition of the tertiary charges and the extremely minor changes to the tincture of horns, hooves, etc., the cumulative effect is not visually equivalent to a major point of difference.
Emrys Hawkwind. Badge. Sable, a chess knight within an annulet indented on the outer edge Or.
Although the tinctures were incorrectly stated on the letter of intent, Silver Trumpet correctly noted that this is visually a conflict with Kourost Bernard of the East Woods ("Sable, a sun eclipsed Or.").
Helen of Dianasgrove. Device. Sable, an Irish wolfhound and a stag rampant combattant and on a chief argent, a vine sable, leaved argent.
As Diana is the Roman equivalent of Artemis, goddess of the hunt, several commentors found the charges used here excessively reminiscent of the tale of Actaeon, who was turned into a stag by Artemis after he had come upon her bathing in her sacred grove and who was then torn apart by his own hunting dogs. This is a very popular motif in both Greek and Roman art.
Kazimir Petrovich Pomeshanov. Device. Sable, on a bend between two suns eclipsed argent, three crescents sable.
Conflict with Ewen the Mad Wanderer ("Sable, a bend sinister between a Celtic cross and a unicorn's head reversed, all argent.") and Peregrine Ignatius Dominic Augustine Doran ("Sable, a bend sinister between a Latin cross and a Greek Orthodox cross, all argent."). Technically the conflict with Meryk Haraldsen ("Sable, on a bend sinister cotised argent, three rams' heads erased palewise to sinister sable.") cited by Crescent is removed under the current rules by the partial change in tincture of the secondary charges.
Richard Wymarc. Device. Counter-ermine, a shakefork gules.
Conflict with Michael Gerard Curtememoire ("Potenty argent and sable, a pall gules.") as well as the badge of Robert of Windkeep ("A pall couped, nowy triangular, gules,charged with a triangle of the tincture of the field.).
KINGDOM OF MERIDIES
Ernst der Dunkelwolf. Device. Barry indented Or and argent, a cross patty within a bordure sable.
The field multiply parted of two metals is not permitted under AR2a. Additionally, even were the field a "legal" division of Or and argent, this would conflict with both Dorothea of Caer Myrddin ("Argent, a cross paty sable.") and Alexander Barkov ("Or, a cross lozenged within a bordure sable."): neither device has more than a major and minor point of difference from Ernst's proposed device.
Evayne Addenbrook. Device. Azures, three pallets and three barrulets, fretted in sinister base, argent, in dexter chief in pale three roses in chevron argent, barbed and seeded proper, and a goblet Or.
This device is not period style. The overall arrangement of the charges is extremely unbalanced, with the focus of the primary charge abased to the sinister base and the remaining charges consequently diminished so in size as to appear like an excentric canton of augmentation. In point of fact, the roses are so diminished in size that they are nearly unidentifiable.
Fiona Mairi MacQuarrie. Device. Azure, on a pale argent, in saltire, a rosebud and a rosebud inverted, azure, both slipped and leaved vert, overall an orle of leaves counterchanged.
The leaves of the rosebuds were misblazoned on the letter of intent as argent. It seems inappropriate to pend this, however, since it would have to be returned in any case. Not only is the placement of the orle of leaves visually confusing and poor style, but it does not serve to clear this from Cormacc na Connacht ("Azure, on a pale argent, a sword inverted gules.") since the conjoined rosebuds are essentially a single charge.
Gabriella Francesca Qlejja de Warre. Device. Sable, a Maltese cross chequy sable and argent, fimbriated argent, within a bordure chequy argent and sable.
At the height of the "independent heraldic jurisdiction" frou-dou, Laurel can recall telling a would-be submittor who wished to appropriate the insignia of the Knights of Malta, that if the Society only protected a dozen mundane insignia, that would be one of them. We see no reason to change our view now and feel that the original insignia of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (better known as the knights of Malta) should be rendered the protection offered sovereign states for they certainly functioned as a sovereign entity for a significant part of their history, ruling first Rhodes and then Malta as de facto sovereign states. This being so, the addition of the bordure and the cross chequy placed on an argent cross is not sufficient to difference the proposed device. This device is, it should be noted, even more imprudent used with a Maltese surname like "Qlejja".
Laura Lynn of Lonsdale. Device. Or, in pale a pile paly wavy azure and argent, charged with a goblet, and a demi-sun issuant from base gules.
This device had been returned by Pennon on the grounds that the demi-sun beneath the pile was not period style and contravened previous Laurel rulings. This was appealed to Laurel. With near unanimity the College of Arms supported Pennon's original return.
Leah of the Lillies. Device. Per fess wavy azure and vert, a fess wavy between a swan naiant and three lilies, one and two, argent.
Conflict with Dimitri Mosheloff ("Per fess azure and vert, a fess wavy argent between a plate charged with a compass star gules and an argonaut shell argent.")
Lee Fribrand. Name only.
While we sympathise with the submittor's desire to have his surname as part of his name, Lee is a surname in both English and Chinese (since the surname precedes the given name in Chinese, the submittor's examples only support this). Moreover, there is some doubt as to the legitimacy of the name "Fribrand". Certainly, the documentation provided, which compounds it from two languages, places it in contravention of the rules of our rules on linguistic consistency.
Levanah ha-Perusha Mechafesh shel Or. Name and device. Per pall inverted azure, sable and Or, in fess a sun in splendour argent and a moon in its complement Or, in base a mullet of eight points azure.
There is evidence for the given name as a Biblical name (although it was masculine in the Bible, not feminine). However, the remainder of the name is not formed following mediaeval Jewish naming practise and, given its meaning ("hermit, seeker of light") caused serious twitches for many members of the College. The device does fall under the heading of "slot machine heraldry" which has been banned since 1985: three different types of charge in three different tinctures on a field divided per pall inverted is almost a textbook example of the genre.
Phoenix Glade, Shire of. Device. Gules, on sun within a laurel wreath argent, a demi-eagle displayed sable.
On the letter of intent the primary charge was blazoned as "an estoile rayonny", but what is depicted is a poorly drawn sun. An estoile by definition has wavy rays and normally has six of these unless another number is specified. Also the tertiary charge is not a phoenix, since the flames of fire which distinguish a phoenix from a demi-eagle are lacking. In any case, this conflicts with Conroy der Rote ("Gules, on a sun argent a falcon's leg couped a-la-quise proper.")
Phoenix Glade, Shire of. Badge. Gules, on an sun argent, a demi-eagle displayed sable.
See the blazon comments on their device above. This badge also conflicts with Conroy der Rote ("Gules, on a sun argent a falcon's leg couped a-la-quise proper.") and with the mundane arms of Richmond as well ("Gules, a sun in its glory argent.").
KINGDOM OF THE MIDDLE
Catherine of Anjou. Name only.
This was pended from the September meeting for further comment on the issue of restricted royal names. At the time the submission was pended it was noted that the prohibition on the use of such names in personal names was still in force and in the past had specifically been held to include forms such as "l'angevin" which is directly equivalent to "of Anjou". At the same time, in the past names associated with royal houses in modern times have been permitted, where there was no other reference to a member of the dynasty in question in the armoury or the remainder of the name. At that time, it was noted as well that there was no doubt that the house of Anjou was a significant dynasty nor that the name was used for prominent females in the line.
General comment favoured continuation of the restriction on royal names with their being a wide range of opinion on precisely where the dividing line should fall. Some felt that the restriction should be sweeping ("the Lochac twitch"). Others felt that it should be limited to the actual contemporary names of ruling houses (which would allow a number of names which are closely bound to royal dynasties in modern historical works). A substantial number of those who commented felt that the current "middle-of-the-road" approach was the most appropriate.
In the case of this submittor, however, the issue becomes moot since commentary during the period when it was pended has revealed the existence of a prominent Catherine in the line of Anjou who was not noted at the time when the submission was originally considered. Our apologies to the submittor for the delay caused by this oversight.
KINGDOM OF THE OUTLANDS
Gerwyn y Teigr. Device. Sable, an axe bendwise sinister Or, on a dexter point argent, a wolf's head, erased and sinister-facing, sable.
As Crescent has noted, White Stag's use of the arms of Hawkins as a period example of a charged point is invalid since both the point and the lion which was adduced as the charge are Or, making it obvious that the lion stands atop the point. Even were this not the case, however, the example would not address the issue of balance in this device for the default point in base is centered and contributes to the balance of the design rather than unbalancing it, as does this point. As Habicht, Crescent and others have pointed out, the dexter point was cited in at least one Tudor armorial work as an abatement for boasting of a valiant act which was never performed, but there is no evidence that this was ever so used nor that such a point would have been charged or depicted in any tincture other than tenne. As has been frequently stated in the past, the Society is attempting to emulate the best style of heraldry in our period, not decadent "book only" heraldry, and the best period style clearly was static and balanced. Granted that certain other unbalancing charges (most notably the charged gore) crept into Society heraldry in the past, we see no reason to allow the inherently unbalanced charged dexter (or sinister) point.
John of Blackwood. Badge. An Oak tree, fructed and eradicated, quarterly Or and sable.
Conflict with Ioseph of Locksley, the Rhymer ("Vert, a tree eradicated argent.") and Loren Goldwood ("Per fess argent and azure, a tree eradicated Or, leaved vert."). Since this is a fieldless badge, the only difference that can be derived here is from the tincture of the charge, which is at most a major point of difference.
Katya Leonovna Belokonev. Change of name from Katerina Katya Leonovna Cherkasska.
Although White Stag's confidence in the speed with which the current ban on diminutives would be withdrawn was laudable, it was (alas!) misplaced. Additionally, although documentation was provided from Unbegaun (Russian Surnames, p. 188189) for "konev" as an epithetic surname and for "belo" as an initial element in nicknames derived from the characteristics of pigeons (!!!), the two are not shown together. While we would be more than willing to stretch a point on this, the byname would also have to be feminine, like the patronymic to agree with the feminine given name. As the submittor emphatically disallowed changes to the name (a very large "NO"), we felt unable to correct the name to change the bynames.
Tara av Asgardur. Name only.
In the course of his eloquent defence of this name, White Stag has immeasurably broadened the College's knowledge of Buddhist and Hindu religious practise. However, the arguments from Indian religion only add more problems to an already problematic given name, perceived as a geographic entity, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, and as a modern given name derived directly or indirectly (i.e., through Gone With the Wind) from that place. White Stag's attempts to show it as a theophoric name, derived from the usage of "tara" as both the name of and the descriptor of a class of divinities (several of the pieces of documentation xeroxed and attached to the submission refer to these as "goddesses"). The citations of inscriptions and other material designed to demonstrate use of "Tara" as a human name are somewhat difficult to use, since much of the key material is in untranslated Sanskrit. One such inscription refers to the king Harjara and his "Mahadevi" Tara. Now "maha" generally means "great" in compounds (e.g., "maharajah" or "maharani") and "devi" is cognate with "deus" and apparently has the same meaning so that this would seem to mean "great god". As many royal geneologies in India, like those in Rome and Wales, included divinities, this is less than perfect documentation. Another citation indicates that one Tara was the daughter of the great ruler "Dharmasetu" "of the lunar race". Other exemplars refer to inscriptions on images of "Tara" (which have previously been demonstrated to be common protective goddess images).
At the same time, a couple of commentors pointed to a suggestion in O Corrain and Maguire (Gaelic Personal Names, p. 170) that "Tara" could be used as an anglicized form of "Temair". This is clearly a backformation from the derivation of the place name from the divine "Temair". Like many other "divinity names" in Irish (e.g., "Brigit" and "Mor"), "Temair" was adopted in Christian usage and the name appears in use for the wife of an historical High King in the seventh century. This does not, however, mean that the backformation is acceptable.
The key question in considering this name was perception. As has been noted before (e.g., with name elements such as "Duke", "Khan", etc.), it is the perception that ultimately governs whether presumption exists, not the intent of the submittor. White Stag may be correct in stating that noone in the Outlands found any problem with the name Tara. The fact that she has been "Queen Tara" twice may or may not have something to do with that. A perception that her mundane name might be "Tara" might also exist. (Half a dozen heraldic bureaucrats queried by Laurel staff indicated that they had assumed her mundane name was Tara until the formal submission was made). However, the fact remains that the name is primarily associated with the geographical seat of the High Kings at Tara (reserved from use as a geographical location because of the implication of presumption), with an out-of-period geographical location and now, as a result of White Stag's impressive scholarship, with Indian divinities.
The overall impression of presumption is only strengthened by the use of the place name "Asgardur". Whether or not this actual village existed in period, the immediate impression the part of a member of the populace who hears this name, whether they are into Marvel Comics or the Eddas, is that she is claiming an origin in the abode of the Norse gods. The combination of the two elements, each of which create problems of presumption, enhances not ameliorates the impression of hubris.
KINGDOM OF TRIMARIS
Aaron Breck Gordon. Badge for House Dun Tyr. Sable, an arch between two towers argent, charged on the arch with an increscent sable, all between in pale a griffin segreant Or, maintaining two swords proper, and a dragon dormant to sinister Or.
There was a virtually unanimous opinion among the commentors that this is too complex for a badge. As no intended meaning was given for the name, it is difficult to tell whether it would be acceptable. If the name is meant to mean "House Dun-coloured Clothing", the forms are correct and there is no conflict, but the name does not make a great deal of sense. If it is meant to be Welsh, the vowels are not quite right and the components would have to be switched in position which would bring it into conflict with the Barony of Tir-y-Don. . . If it is meant to be Gaelic, "Dun" would mean "hill" but it is not clear what the second component would mean unless they really want "tur" (="tower") for something like "Tower Hill".
Richard le Arrogant. Name and device. Gules, in pale two annulets fretted in fess and a tower Or.
Conflict with the arms of the Kingdom of Castile ("Gules, a tower triple-towered Or.", cited in Papworth, p. 365) and Castell ("Gules, three towers Or.", ibid., p. 70). It is uncomfortably close to Sole ("Gules, a tower Or.") as well since it relies on the particular scale of the charges for difference.
Ynesse of Caer Brugh. Name only.
No documentation was provided for the name other than that it was made up on the basis of a word from a period Welsh dictionary meaning "soon". As many commentors noted, if something is a common noun, it cannot be a made-up name and the nearest form we could find for this was "Ynys" (="island"). The Spanish form of "Agnes" ("Iñez") might be close enough for her, although it is not Welsh. Alternatively, she might prefer "Annest" which sounds similar to the submitted form and is the documented name of a daughter of a twelfth-century king of Gwynedd (Gruffudd, p. 10). ALthough Brugh can be documented as an English name (="Borough"), it should be in Welsh to be used with "Caer" and we could not find this form (or determine what the submittor desired, since no desired meaning was indicated).
KINGDOM OF THE WEST
Cordelia Tosere. Device. Chevronelly azure and argent, an annulet purpure. Check on name.
Unfortunately, this is technically in conflict with the British 29th Independent Brigade Group ("An annulet argent.") as cited by Silver Trumpet.
Edmund Rohan. Name only.
This was a very difficult decision for us since most of the Laurel staff shares Vesper's prejudice towards "real" period surnames like "de Rohan". In this case, however, we were compelled to agree with those who felt that the primary identification of this surname in Society circles would be with the Rohirrim. That being so, the assonance and orthographic similarity between Eomund and Edmund simply seemed too great for this to be completely clear, even if one ignores the presence of the annulets on the device. Changing the given name to a more distinct form (e.g., Edward, which is the submittor's mundane middle name) might be the best way to avoid the problem.
Isle of the Blue Mists, Shire of. Name only.
Unfortunately, Crescent is correct in stating that this is technically in conflict with the name of the Barony of the Isles in Caid. Perhaps they would be willing to grant permission as one Pacific island group to another?
THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSION IS PENDED:
KINGDOM OF THE WEST
Elizabeth of the Blue Rose. Name only.
As this submission involves matters of substance slated to be decided at the March meeting, this name is pended until that time.
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