AETHELMEARC

 

Angelique Aubuchon. Device change. Per bend sinister gules and sable, two hearts and a chief argent.

Her former device Per bend sinister gules and argent, two hearts counterchanged, a chief argent., is hereby released.

 

Angus MacBain. Device. Azure, a stag’s head couped affronty Or, a bordure embattled argent.

 

Christable Ivory. Name.

 

Debatable Lands, Barony-Marche of the. Badge. Sable, a comet fesswise argent, a bordure embattled Or.

This form of the comet is grandfathered to the submitter.

 

Eibhlin nic Dhómhnuill. Name and device. Or, a pallet gules between two pallets vert.

 

Johanna MacAnna. Device. Vert, in pale three annulets interlaced one and two Or and in chevron two double-pointed knitting needles argent.

The question was raised as to whether double pointed knitting needles are period. Irena Turnau's History of Knitting Before Mass Production, shows double-pointed knitting needles being used in period.

 

Kenelm MacKenna. Name.

 

 

AN TIR

 

Conchobar Mac Muirchertaig. Device. Argent, a dog sejant erect maintaining a torch gules and a crane in its vigilance contourny azure.

 

Dana Charthair Saibhin. Device. Or, a dragon rampant purpure maintaining a wooden harp proper, on a bordure vert three Celtic crosses Or.

 

Elena de Maisnilwarin. Device. Per bend sinister vert and purpure, a bend sinister between a unicorn’s head erased and a rose slipped and leaved bendwise sinister argent.

 

Érennach ingen Chormaic. Device. Per chevron inverted argent and azure, a rose and two wolves rampant reguardant addorsed one and two, a bordure counterchanged.

 

Gideon de Noirville. Device. Argent, a bend sinister vert, overall a griffin contourny sable.

He has permission to conflict with Charles the Traveller’s Argent, a bend sinister vert, overall a drakkar sable, its sail paly gules and argent.

Heilyn de Highwater. Name and device. Per pale azure and argent, a chief goutty counterchanged.

 

Heilyn de Highwater. Badge. (Fieldless) A goutte per pale azure and argent.

 

Madrone, Barony of. Badge for the Order of the Red Branch. (Fieldless) A madrone tree branch bendwise gules leaved vert.

 

Rory Woulfe of Kildare. Badge. (Fieldless) A wolf’s head erased contourny vert.

 

Sárnat ingen Chormeicc. Name change from Sarra Fairfax.

Her former name Sarra Fairfax is hereby released.

 

Sonnet Manon. Name.

 

William Percival. Device. Gules, a griffin segreant Or, a bordure compony Or and sable semy of roses Or.

 

 

ANSTEORRA

 

Almaith ingen Chormaic. Name.

 

Gerard le Wise. Name.

 

Padric O Mullan. Device. Gyronny of sixteen gules and Or, a Celtic cross azure.

The question was raised regarding whether gyronny of sixteen is period, and whether it can be used in the SCA. Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials, cites an instance from the 12th century, and Martin Schrot's Wappenbuch, a German heraldic treatise shows a 16th century example. Additionally, the LoI mentions a 13th century example. Given this, we will register Gyronny of sixteen in simple cases, but nothing more, barring period evidence.

 

Phoebe Saint Michael. Name change from Caitlin Decourcey Corbet.

Her former name Caitlin Decourcey Corbet is hereby released.

 

 

ARTEMISIA

 

Avelyn ingen Uilliam. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Submitted as Avelyn Uilliam, Gaelic does not use unmarked patronymics. Therefore, we have changed this to the documented form.

 

Gweneth ferch Morgan. Name and device. Argent, a dragon passant purpure, a demi-sun issuant from base, and on a chief embattled sable three mullets argent.

No acceptable documentation was presented for Gweneth. However, since Morgan and Morgan's Welsh Surnames has Gwineth dated to 1577 and Gwentt dated to 1629, Gweneth is a reasonable period form.

 

 

ATENVELDT

 

Aurochsford, Shire of. Device. Argent, a bend wavy azure surmounted by a bull's head cabossed gules, ringed and chained sable, in sinister chief a laurel wreath vert.

 

Erin of Atenveldt. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Azure, a chevron rompu ermine between two triquetras argent and a rapier proper.

The armory was submitted under the name Erin Amazonia the Tall.

 

Gretchen Gwynhwyfar. Device. Gyronny ermine and gules, a swan naiant contourny, wings elevated and addorsed Or.

 

Hastini Chandra. Augmentation. Or, an Indian elephant passant gules, winged sable, for an augmentation, on an escutcheon azure, a sun in glory and a bordure Or.

 

James of Atenveldt. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Or, on a pile inverted azure between two wooden barrels fesswise proper a rapier argent, on a chief embattled azure three quail argent.

The armory was submitted under the name James Oakencask the Just.

 

Mathias von Leuwenberg. Name and device. Per pale azure and gules, two lions combattant Or within an orle of Maltese crosses argent.

Submitted as Mathias von Levenburg, no documentation was presented for Levenburg as a period name. Since the submitter is most concerned about the sound of the name we have substituted a period place name, dated to 1312 in Brechenmacher's Etmologisches Wörterbuch der Deutschen Familiennamen, which is pronounced quite similarly.

 

Robert of Tir Ysgithr. Holding name and device. Gules, on a lozenge Or, a raven displayed sable, in chief a sea-serpent ondoyant Or.

The armory was submitted under the name Skerri Langdrakkar Valthjofrson.

 

 

DRACHENWALD

 

Elisabeth Susi. Name and device. Per pale azure and argent, a wolf passant guardant counterchanged.

 

Hedvig Kettuin. Badge. Per bend vert and argent, issuant from the line of division two trefoils counterchanged.

 

Mikael Carhu. Name (see RETURNS for device).

 

Saarennon Katariina. Name (see PENDS for device).

 

 

EALDORMERE

 

Brand the Black. Augmentation. Checky sable and Or, a seawolf rampant argent, as an augmentation on a canton gules a trillium flower argent.

 

Ealdormere, Kingdom of. Badge for the Queen. (Fieldless) A trillium flower argent crowned Or.

 

Erick of Longacres. Badge. (Fieldless) A spider web couped sable.

 

Felis de la Roca. Name (see RETURNS for device).

The documentation on the LoI stated "The documentation for the name is provided by the Academy of Saint Gabriel quoting Morlet, Chambers, Dubh and Dauzat (some of these are on the Appendix H list, but others are not and no additional documentation is enclosed)". This is not adequate documentation for an LoI. As the Administrative Handbook states "A summary of all supporting evidence provided for the submission must be included on the letter of intent." This is so the entire College, not just Laurel, can evaluate it. While we are accepting it this time, it is with a warning that in the future the Laurel office may not be so forgiving.

 

Gareth Hunt. Name.

 

Judhael de Cornouailles. Name and device. Argent, a chevron gules cotised, in base a porcupine statant sable.

Note: porcupines are a period European mammal.

 

Morgane Warrick of Leicester. Name.

 

 

EAST

 

Angharad Albanes. Name.

The documentation on the LoI stated "Albanes" meaning 'the Scot' (Tangwystl; see attached)." This is not adequate documentation for an LoI. As the Administrative Handbook states "A summary of all supporting evidence provided for the submission must be included on the letter of intent." This is so the entire College, not just Laurel, can evaluate it. While we are accepting it this time, it is with a warning that in the future the Laurel office may not be so forgiving.

 

Brendan O'Farrell. Name and device. Per pale vert and Or, two lions combattant counterchanged, on a chief gules, three pairs of needles in saltire Or.

 

Cerdic the Bull. Name and device. Or, a bull's head cabbossed sable, on a chief wavy vert three bezants and on a base wavy vert a bezant.

 

Ciarnait inghean Bhroin. Name

 

Dafydd Ó Nuallain. Name and device. Per fess azure and vert, in fess two pheons conjoined at the points, a bordure Or.

Submitted as Daffyd Ó Nuallain, Dafydd was misspelled. We have corrected this.

 

Dwane Shinnock. Device. Per chevron vert and purpure, a chevron between three pheons inverted Or.

Please instruct the submitter to draw the charges larger.

 

East, Kingdom of. Order name for Order of the Tyger of the East Kingdom

 

East, Kingdom of. Transfer of herald title to Steffen ap Kenydd of Silverwing. Firebrand Herald.

 

Faoiltighearna inghean mhic Ghuaire. Device. Quarterly azure and vert, a wolf's head argent jessant-de-lys Or.

 

Faoiltighearna inghean mhic Ghuaire. Badge. (Fieldless) A wolf's head argent, jessant-de-lys Or.

 

James Jacob Talbot. Name (see RETURNS for device).

 

Julian le Scot. Name and device. Azure crusilly argent, in pale two horses courant Or.

 

Kwellend-Njal Kolskeggsson. Reblazon of badge. (Fieldless) A net Or.

We have reblazoned his badge to better reflect the emblazon, as the submitter desires.

 

Madog Tellier. Device. Vert, a talbot rampant and on a chief Or two broadarrows vert.

 

Marcus Tullius Calvus Cambrensis. Device. Or, a dance sable.

Mari Anna deLacey. Name and device. Argent, three hearts sable enflamed to chief gules.

 

Maria Pagani. Device. Purpure, an escarbuncle Or, a bordure Or semy-de-lys purpure.

 

Matthew Law of Aberdeen. Name and device. Vert, a double-bitted axe argent, a Bourchier knot interlaced about the shaft Or.

 

Pagan Graeme. Name.

 

Paola da Nicosia. Name.

 

Roland de Poitier. Name.

 

Solomon Gerdawr. Name.

 

Steffen ap Kenydd of Silverwing. Acceptance of transfer of heraldic title from East, Kingdom of. Firebrand Herald.

When we ruled that individuals could own their heraldic titles, we said in a cover letter of April 1997:

" After much thought we have decided to allow heraldic titles to be transferred to individual heralds under the following conditions:

1. The title must have been granted to the individual herald by the crown of the kingdom and the principal herald of the kingdom (except in cases where the Principal Herald is receiving a personal title for himself), or by the Laurel Sovereign, as a personal title for the herald.

2. The transfer must appear on a letter of intent, and follow all the requirements of any transfer.

3. The title will be counted as a name, when seeing how many registered items the person has."

This submission did not fulfill these requirements. It was not properly placed on the LoI as a transfer from the East kingdom, nor was any documentation or supporting evidence included to show that this was a personal title granted to Steffen.

Luckily for the submitter, Metron Ariston has provided documentation that Firebrand was a personal title given to Steffen (she was the Brigantia Principal Herald who granted it and, in fact, Laurel were present when the title was granted).

Her documentation does not cover the other administrative requirements, but since it appears on an Eastern Letter of Intent, we are willing, this time, to accept that as willingness for the East Kingdom to transfer it. However, the East should not count on such leniency from the Laurel Office in the future. Therefore, as we are unwilling to penalize the submitter for items that are out of his control we are registering this.

 

Wolfgang Stern von Rappenwil. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and vert, a fasces between in chief three roses gules, and a mullet argent.

 

 

LOCHAC

 

Ulfrikr inn Hrafn. Name.

 

William the Black. Name.

 

 

MERIDIES

 

Basilia de Warren. Device. Azure, a pall inverted ermine between three trillium flowers argent.

 

Ernán Ó Conaíll. Name and device. Azure, a fret argent and on a chief Or a stag’s attires sable.

 

Finnguala ingen Dauíd. Name change from Finngula nic Dauíd and device change. Per bend sinister wavy argent and sable, a thistle bendwise and an increscent bendwise counterchanged.

Her former name Finngula nic Dauíd and her former device Per bend sinister wavy Or and azure, a thistle bendwise and an increscent bendwise sinister, both counterchanged. are hereby released.

 

Morfydd ferch Bronwen. Name (see RETURNS for device).

 

Thomas de Burne. Device. Argent, a boar rampant azure, collared and chained Or, and on a chief azure three anchors Or.

 

 

MIDDLE

 

Böjei Timür. Name.

Good docs!

 

Brandr þorfinnsson.Device change. Quarterly azure and gules, a lion rampant guardant and a bordure Or.

This had been released on the LoAR of April, 1999 when a badge was sent up as a device change, not as a new badge. Since the submitter contacts us immediately upon his notifcation of the release, we are regerstering this to him, and making what was registered to him as his device a badge.

 

Brandr þorfinnsson. Badge. Per pale sable and gules, in pale a thors hammer inverted and a thors hammer argent.

This was registered on the LoAR of April, 1999 as his device, and former device was released. This was not what the submitter wished, and he notified us immediately upon receiving notice of registertration. Tehrefore, we are correcting the situation, and correcting this registration to a badge as teh submitter wished.

 

Catalana della Quercia. Name and device. Per pale sable and gules, three oak leaves argent.

The LoI stated "della Quercia is dated to 1374 from Encarta Online (http://encarta.msn.com)." This is not adequate documentation for an LoI. Evidence that it was used as a name is required. As the Administrative Handbook states "A summary of all supporting evidence provided for the submission must be included on the letter of intent." This is so the entire College, not just Laurel, can evaluate it. While we are accepting it this time, it is with a warning that in the future the Laurel office may not be so forgiving.

 

Cathal Macdoyl. Name.

 

Ceridwen du Bois du nord. Name and device. Argent, a popinjay close affronty, head to dexter, on a chief vert three shamrocks argent.

Note: the byname du Bois du nord is grandfathered to the submitter.

 

Conchobar mac Gabhann. Device. Vert, a bend sinister between six acorns argent.

 

Emma de Lyons. Name and device. Azure, on a chevron between two lions rampant guardant and a crescent argent, three fleurs-de-lys azure.

 

Gabriela Maria dei Clementini. Badge. Azure, a domestic cat statant contourny between three estoiles two and one argent and a chief wavy paly Or and vert.

 

Oriana Felstead. Name.

 

Seamus of Loch Ness. Name and device. Per pale embattled azure and argent, a dragon segreant and a unicorn rampant contourny counterchanged.

Found on the LoI as Seumas of Loch Ness, it was submitted as Seamus of Loch Ness, and changed in kingdom. Since Seamus is the common Anglicized form, we have returned this to the originally submitted form.

 

THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN RETURNED FOR FURTHER WORK:

 

AETHELMEARC

 

Baldric of Blackwater. Device. Ermine, a horse passant contourny reguardant sable enflamed proper.

This is being returned for a redraw. The flames are not issuant from the horse, as they should be with a correct enflaming, but rather outlining the horse, hanging in midair.

 

 

AN TIR

 

None!

 

 

ANSTEORRA

 

None!

 

 

ARTEMISIA

 

Avelyn Mac Uilliam. Device. Vert, on a pale between in chief two increscents Or a willow tree proper.

This conflicts with Morina Magrath Vert, on a pale endorsed Or, a redwood tree proper. There is nothing for the difference between the trees, leaving the only a CD one for type of secondaries, but nothing for the increscents being in chief, since in chief is a meaningless concept for endorses.

 

Kerri Stirling of Mayfaire. Name and device. Quarterly gules and sable, four fleurs-de-lys in cross, points outward, argent.

No documentation was presented, and none could be found for Mayfaire as a period place. Without such documentation the name cannot be registered. We would have dropped it in order to register the rest of the name, but the submitter did not allow major changes, and dropping an element such as Mayfaire is a major change. Therefore, we are returning it.

The armory conflicts with Alienor Beatrice Lucrezia Azure, four fleurs-de-lys in cross bases to center argent. There is only the one CD for the field.

 

 

ATENVELDT

 

Erin Amazonia the Tall. Name.

Submitted as Erin Amazonia the Tall, it is too far from period practice to be registered in the submitted form. Erin is the submitter's legal name, and while registerable under the legal name allowance, is not a period name. The documentation for Amazonia comes from Uppity Women of Ancient Times by Vicki Leon, which while amusing to read, is not noted for its scholarship, and therefore is not a reliable source. The name as submitted combines a modern name (registerable under the legal name allowance) a possible Roman given name and an English descriptive. We would have dropped Amazonia in order to register the rest of the name, but the submitter would not take major changes, and dropping Amazonia would be a major change. Therefore, we are returning it.

The armory was registered under the holding name Erin of Atenveldt.

 

James Oakencask the Just. Name

No documentation was presented for Oakencask. Since the Oxford English Dictionary first dates the term cask to the middle of the 16th century, and there are period descriptive names for barrelmakers, such as Tunn/Tunnewrytte, we find Oakencask highly unlikely. We would have dropped Oakencask in order to register the rest of the name, but the submitter would not take major changes, and dropping Oakencask would be a major change. Therefore, we are returning it.

The armory was registered under the holding name James of Atenveldt.

 

Skerri Langdrakkar Valthjofrson. Name.

There are several problems with this name. The first and most serious is the given name. No documentation was provided for Skerri as a given name in period. The noun skerry appears as a common noun in several contexts in the OED. The first is as a small bo<t. The second, which is particularly associated with the Orkneys, refers to an isolated rock or series of rocks and derives from Old Norse sker, whose plural is the closest form we can find to the submitted form. The others are for the most part out of period. Therefore, barring documentation, Skerri may not be used as a given name. As for Langdrakkar, apart from the details of grammar and tautological meaning, the normal usage would be to make the individual to be of the nature of a longship, which does not make sense. Finally, the correct patronymic for Valthjofr would be Valthjofsson.

The armory was registered under the holding name Robert of Tir Ysgithr.

 

 

DRACHENWALD

 

Aarnimetsä, Barony of. Order name for Aarnimetsän akatemia.

This is being returned for not following our patterns for order name. The name means, in Finnish, Academy of Aarnimetsä, Aarnimetsä being the name of the barony. However as it says in RfS 2.b.ii "Some examples are: the Order of Saint Michael, the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, the Brethren of the Sword, the Order of the Garter, La Toison d'Or (the Order of the Golden Fleece), the Order of the Golden Rose, the Order of the Star, the Order of the Swan, La Orden de la Jara (the Knights of the Tankard), the Order of Lilies." Academy of Aarnimetsä does not follow any of the exemplars. Furthermore, they would not take changes, and all order and awards must contain a designator. RfS 2.b states "Branch names, names of orders and awards, heraldic titles, and household names must consist of a designator that identifies the type of entity and at least one descriptive element. Common designators are Shire, Barony, Guild, House, Order of the, and Herald. "

Finally, we feel that it is probably too generic to register.

 

Aarnimetsä, Barony of. Order name for Aarnimetsän kaarti.

This is being returned for not following our patterns for order name. The name means, in Finnish, Guard of Aarnimetsä, Aarnimetsä being the name of the barony. However as it says in RfS 2.b.ii "Some examples are: the Order of Saint Michael, the Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, the Brethren of the Sword, the Order of the Garter, La Toison d'Or (the Order of the Golden Fleece), the Order of the Golden Rose, the Order of the Star, the Order of the Swan, La Orden de la Jara (the Knights of the Tankard), the Order of Lilies." Academy of Aarnimetsä does not follow any of the exemplars. Furthermore, they would not take changes, and all order and awards must contain a designator. RfS 2.b states "Branch names, names of orders and awards, heraldic titles, and household names must consist of a designator that identifies the type of entity and at least one descriptive element. Common designators are Shire, Barony, Guild, House, Order of the, and Herald. "

Finally, we feel that it is probably too generic to register.

 

Mikael Carhu. Device. Vert, a base urdy Or.

This conflicts with the protected flag of Libya Vert. The base is a peripheral secondary charge, like a chief or bordure, it cannot be a primary charge, so its addition is not sufficient under X.1. to generate enough difference for registration.

 

 

EALDORMERE

 

Ealdormere, Kingdom of. Badge for the king. (Fieldless) A wolf's head argent crowned Or.

This conflicts with Wulfstan of Lucerne Per chevron argent and sable, in base a wolf's head erased argent., Talanque Sable, a horned wolf's head erased argent., and William of Houghton Sable a grey wolf's head erased proper. In each case there is just the one CD for fieldlessness, with nothing for the maintained crown, and against Wulfstan nothing for location against a fieldless badge.

 

Ealdormere, Kingdom of. Arms for the Prince. Gules, a trillium within a laurel wreath and surmounted by a crown argent, overall a label of three points Or

Since Master Baldwin of Erebor was Laurel, we do not allow arms for a prince to have a laurel wreath; laurel wreaths are reserved to official SCA branches only.

 

Felis de la Roca. Device. Azure, on a lozenge Or a tower azure.

This conflicts with Jervaise de Guienne, Azure on a lozenge throughout Or, a mascle azure. There is one CD for the change of the tertiary charge.

 

 

EAST

 

Francesco Gaetano Greco de Foresta Orientale. Badge. Per chevron gules and vert, a San Damiano cross argent.

This is being returned for several reasons.

First, no documentation was presented for this being a period cross. Absent such documentation the charge is not registerable. Second, this is being returned for unidentifability. This is a San Damiano crucifix with the body removed. However, once the body is taken off the cross, it becomes difficult to identify. Guesses as to what the charge was included a syringe and a jackhammer. Finally, this conflicts with Switzerland Gules, a cross couped argent., with a CD for the field, but nothing for the difference in the crosses.

 

James Jacob Talbot. Device. Argent, two talbots sejant reguardant respectant gules.

This conflicts with Sigrun Magnusdottir Argent, a red fox sejant to sinister reguardant proper. We give no difference between a dog and a fox, so there is only one CD for the addition of the second dog.

 

Panther Vale, Shire of. Name and device. Vert chaussé Or, in pale a panther passant incensed Or, spotted of various tinctures and a laurel wreath Or.

The LoI presented no documentation for the name. The college could find vale used in English place names, albeit rarely, but no documentation could be found for Panther in English place names. Barring documentation this name must be returned.

We do not form holding names for groups, so the name must be returned. However, even if the name was registerable we would return the device as it conflicts with Alanna of Caer Du Pard Or, on a pile throughout vert, a tower Or, on the battlements a snow-leopard couchant reguardant proper. While we blazon them differently, we give no difference between chaussé and a charged pile. Therefore there is one CD for the difference to the charges on the pile.

Thomas de Castellan. Transfer of heraldic title. Treblerose Herald

When we ruled that individuals could own their heraldic titles, we said in a cover letter:

"After much thought we have decided to allow heraldic titles to be transferred to individual heralds under the following conditions:

1. The title must have been granted to the individual herald by the crown of the kingdom and the principal herald of the kingdom (except in cases where the Principal Herald is receiving a personal title for himself), or by the Laurel Sovereign, as a personal title for the herald.

2. The transfer must appear on a letter of intent, and follow all the requirements of any transfer.

3. The title will be counted as a name, when seeing how many registered items the person has."

This submission did not fulfill these requirements. It was not properly placed on the LoI as a transfer from the East kingdom, nor was any documentation included showing that this was a personal title given to Thomas. More importantly, this was NOT a creation for the individual nor has it been peculiarly associated with him. This is a very old Eastern title (one of the oldest) and was revived for the use of Arval Benicoeur when he became a commenting herald in the 1980’s. Through the better part of the 1980’s it was associated particularly with Arval (for good or ill!!). Just as Eastern titles such as Brigantia, Eastern Crown or Blue Tyger, may not be transferred to an individual, neither may this.

 

 

LOCHAC

 

Kassandra Gatto Ammiratore. Name.

According to the LoI "Gatto Ammiratore is , we hope, Italian for Cat lover/admirer." Unfortunately, the LoI was wrong. It is not clear that the name would mean anything, but if it did, it would mean An admirer who was a cat. Furthermore, the LoI did not provide any documentation for a name of that form being used as a period byname. Therefore, we are returning this for incorrect construction and lack of documentation.

 

 

MERIDIES

 

Morfydd ferch Bronwen. Device. Quarterly purpure and argent, a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy argent.

This conflicts with Estrid Ketilsdottir Quarterly vert and argent ermined vert, in bend two Thespian masks argent., with one CD for the change in the field.

 

 

MIDDLE

 

Aíne inghean Cillín. Badge. (Fieldless) A heart Or.

This conflicts with Karl von Schattenburg (Fieldless) A seeblatt Or. We give no difference between a heart and a seeblatt, leaving the only difference the one for fieldlessness.

Additionally, the heart shape was used to display armory, making this the equivalent of Or, and we do not register plain tinctured fields.

 

Aurich Greim. Name and device. Sable, on a chevron argent, three vols gules.

While Aurich is found in Bahlow's Deutsches Nameslexikon, it is as a place name, not a given name, leaving the submitter with no given name. Since a given name is required, we are returning it for lack of a given name.

The device conflicts with Rafaella d’Allemtego Sable, on a chevron throughout argent an escallop vert. There is only one CD for the cumulative total changes to the tertiaries.

 

The following items are pended to the October, 1999 Laurel meeting.

 

 

DRACHENWALD

 

Saarennon Katariina. Device. Azure, three garbs and a base dovetailed Or.

This conflicts with the arms of the Comyn Earls of Buchan (in Scotland): Azure three garbs Or. Said arms obviously conflict with Katariina’s, with one CD for the base. This is being pended to allow the College time to discuss whether or not we wish to protect these arms.

According to Clarion:

These arms are fairly well known in their own right in Scottish heraldry due to their inclusion in many well known coats of arms, and also belonged to persons who are found in the Encyclopedia Britannica. I don't see them as a 100% "must protect" case, but as a "perhaps really should protect" case. Here’s the evidence for Laurel and the College of Arms to consider:

The evidence here is taken both from the article headed John Comyn in the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, and from the article A Century of Comyn Arms by Bruce McAndrews (Double Tressure #6, 1984.) The Encyclopedia Britannica article, while headed by (one of the many people of the name) John Comyn, is really an article on the entire Comyn family in the 13th c., when they were very politically important in the era of Robert the Bruce. The time period discussed in the McAndrews article is the same 13th c. period discussed in the Encyclopedia Britannica article.

The McAndrews article discusses the arms of various branches of the Comyn family, cited from 13th c. rolls of arms, with the sources given in the text in their standard abbreviations as can be found in sources such as the DBA. These coats are related to the genealogy of the Comyns. This allows us to compare the arms with the persons mentioned in the Comyn article in the Encyclopedia Britannica.

McAndrews begins his article by noting that the quartering of the Comyn Earldom of Buchan (Azure three garbs Or) is found in many Scots arms (postdating the 13th c.) This includes arms of those who had claim at some time to the Earldom of Buchan (Stewarts, Setons, Van Borssele, Douglases and Erskines), in families claiming relationship such as the Mures and the Guthries, and of course, that cadenced versions are found in various families of Cumming (the more usual modern spelling of the surname.)

This assertion is easily supported by looking at the period Scots arms in David Lindsay of the Mount’s Roll or later arms in the Lyon Ordinary. These arms stay affiliated with the Buchan Earldom from the 13th c. on.

The Encyclopedia Britannica article discusses a number of Comyns, many of whose arms are found in the McAndrews article. It is not clear to me what arms were borne by the John Comyn d. c. 1300 (the header Comyn in the Britannica Article.) Some Comyns bearing the Buchan arms who are found in both the Britannica article and the McAndrews article are the John Comyn Earl of Buchan d. c. 1313 and Alexander Comyn Earl of Buchan and Constable of Scotland (d. 1289), as well as other persons mentioned as Earls of Buchan.

The Encyclopedia article also mentions John "The Red" Comyn (d. 1306), but it is to be noted that he differenced his arms by making the field gules (makes a bit of sense...) While the Encyclopedia says that this John Comyn may well have been the most notable of the lot involved in the politics of the 13th c., his arms are not nearly so well known in their own right. The gules-fielded variant did not, like the Buchan arms, make it into so much later armory as quarterings. In fact, they are not found in any of the 14th-16th c. rolls used in Electrum’s and my Scots research, while the Buchan arms are found in multiple coats (many of which were mentioned by McAndrews.)"

 

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