Unto the members of the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive do Dame Elsbeth Anne Roth, Laurel Queen of Arms, and Master Pietari Pentipoika, Pelican King of Arms, send greetings.
The November Laurel meeting was held Saturday, November 18, 2000 and considered the following letters of intent: Lochac (January 1) (mailed to the College in July), Atlantia (June 17) (redated to July 11 based on postmark), Lochac (June 18) (redated to July 11 based on postmark), East (June 30) (redated to July 6 based on postmark), Atenveldt (July 1), West (July 8), Æthelmearc (July 10), Middle (July 12), Lochac (July 16), Atlantia (July 20), Caid (July 24), Drachenwald (July 24), An Tir (July 31), Ansteorra (July 31), and Meridies (July 31). The Pelican meeting was held Saturday, December 2, 2000.
The December Laurel was held Sunday, December 10, 2000 and considered the following letters of intent: Atenveldt (August 1), Caid (August 1), Æthelmearc (August 6), Drachenwald (August 9), Artemisia (August 13), Atlantia (August 13), Nebuly Letter of Intent to Protect (August 16), Middle (August 20), Lochac (August 23), Atlantia (August 25), An Tir (August 29), Atlantia (August 29), Meridies (August 30), and Ansteorra (August 31). The Pelican meeting was held Sunday, December 17, 2000.
The January Laurel meeting was held Sunday, January 14, 2001, and considered the following letters of intent: Outlands (July 29) (delayed due to lack of paperwork), Outlands (August 30) (redated to September 6 based on postmark), Middle (September 10), Caid (September 17), Atlantia (September 20), Drachenwald (September 25), Trimaris (September 28), An Tir (September 29), Ansteorra (September 30), and Meridies (September 30). The January Pelican meeting was held Sunday, January 21, 2001.
The February Laurel meeting was held Saturday, February 10, 2001, and considered the following letters of intent: Atenveldt (September 1) (redated to October based on postmark), Atlantia (October 19), Drachenwald (October 19), Outlands (October 19), Middle (October 25), An Tir (October 30), Artemisia (October 31), and Meridies (October 31). Pelican's meeting was held Sunday, February 18, 2001. The Meridies letter of intent was considered at a Laurel road show held at Estrella wars February 18. The Atenveldt letter of intent will be considered at a Laurel road show held at Æthelmearc Academy February 24.
The March Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 10, 2001, and will consider the following letters of intent: Atenveldt (October 1) (delayed due to lack of paperwork), East (October 22) (delayed due to lack of paperwork), Atenveldt (November 1), Caid (November 10), Caid (November 15), West (November 15), Middle (November 18), Trimaris (November 28), An Tir (November 30), and Meridies (November 30). Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than February 28, 2001.
The April Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2001, and will consider the following letters of intent: Drachenwald (November 16) (redated to December 28 based on postmark), Atlantia (November 25) (redated to December 28 based on postmark), Atenveldt (December 1), Caid (December 6), Æthelmearc (December 16), Drachenwald (December 18), Lochac (December 18), Middle (December 19), Atlantia (December 21), Outlands (December 27), An Tir (December 30), and Ansteorra (December 31). The Pelican meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 8. A Laurel road show is scheduled for Sunday, April 29, 2001, in An Tir. Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than February 28, 2001. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than March 31, 2001.
The May Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, 2001 (which affects the dates of commentary — see below), and will consider the following letters of intent: Artemisia (December 31) (redated to January 2 by kingdom), Atenveldt (January 1), West (January 15), Atlantia (January 21), Lochac (January 21), Middle (January 23), Drachenwald (January 27), Trimaris (January 28), An Tir (January 29), Meridies (January 30), and Ansteorra (January 31). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than March 31, 2001. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than April 28, 2001.
The June Laurel meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 16, 2001, and will consider the letters of intent from February. A Laurel road show is scheduled for Sunday, June 3, 2001, at the Knowne World Heraldic Symposium in Northshield.
Not all letters of intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this cover letter. The date of mailing of the LoI, date of receipt of the Laurel packet, or other factors may delay consideration of certain letters of intent. Additionally, some letters of intent received may not have been scheduled because the administrative requirements (receipt of the forms packet, receipt of the necessary fees, etc.) have not yet been met.
REMINDER: Until the packet containing the paperwork is received, the letter may not be scheduled.
For one of the submissions this month (Dyfed MacDonald, Caid) the question was raised if difference should be granted between a greyhound's head and a wolf's head? Past precedent is clear: canines are only insignificantly different. Recently a similar, although not as longstanding, precedent (that "raptors are raptors") was overruled based on rule X.4.e. This standard in this rule is that when comparing two charges both of which were used in period heraldry, we consider them significantly different if they were "considered to be separate" in period.
A quick survey of the evidence suggests that wolves and greyhounds were considered separate charges in period. Brault, Early Blazon, distinguishes greyhounds, kennets, mastiffs, and wolves (the last are seen only as heads, while the first three are seen with whole bodies). Legh (1587) describes three canines: the greyhound, the talbot, and the wolf, with the wolf separated from the dogs.
One complicating issue is the question of what makes a charge identifiable. Batonvert has provided commentary suggesting that historically, dogs are largely identifiable as such because they have collars, whereas wolves do not. This is true of other creatures as well: monkeys and hawks in particular are identifiable because of their collaring and hooding respectively. However, the College has never required these attributes for registration.
Therefore, we are asking the College to submit their views. Should difference be given between a greyhound and a wolf? Between a greyhound's head and a wolf's head? As Dyfed MacDonald's badge is pended waiting for commentary, primary commentary is due by April 31, 2001, and responses by May 31, 2001.
Send roster changes, roster corrections, to Lord Symond Bayard le Gris, Bruce R. Nevins, 2527 E. 3rd St., Tucson, AZ, 85716-4114, (520) 795-6000, (520) 795-0158 (fax), bnevins@nexiliscom.com. College of Arms members can also request a copy of the current roster from Symond. Send all other administrative requests or payments to Laurel.
For subscriptions to the paper copy of the LoAR, please contact Symond, above. The cost for an LoAR subscription is $25.00 a year. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc. – College of Arms." For subscriptions to the electronic copy of the LoAR, please contact Laurel at herald@sca.org. The electronic copy is available free of charge.
Until then, I remain
In service,
Elsbeth Anne Roth
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at 2001-02-28T11:11:42