October 2001 Letter of Acceptances and Returns

Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms

15910 Val Verde Drive
Houston TX, 77083-4921
713-918-2947
herald@sca.org

For the October 2001 meetings, printed 22 December 2001

To all the College of Arms from François Laurel, Zenobia Wreath, and Mari Pelican, health and good friendship.

NOTE: due to an early February meeting, comments on comments for October 2001 Letters of Intent are due one week earlier than normal: Thursday, January 24, 2002.

The October meetings were held Saturday, October 13, 2001, and considered the following Letters of Intent: Drachenwald (May 14) and Atlantia (May 20) (both delayed due to late receipt of paperwork), Atenveldt (June 1), Æthelmearc (labeled at the top "January 27", redated to June 10), Ansteorra (June 14), Artemisia (June 14), Drachenwald (June 14), Middle (June 14), Atlantia (June 16), Lochac (June 17), Outlands (June 21), An Tir (June 27), Trimaris (June 28), and Meridies (June 30).

The November meetings were held on Saturday, November 10, 2001 (Pelican), and Sunday, November 11, 2001 (Wreath), and considered these Letters of Intent dated in July 2001: Atenveldt (July 1), Trimaris (July 7), Middle (July 7), Artemisia (July 7), Caid (July 10), East (July 13), Æthelmearc (July 15), Lochac (July 16), Atlantia (July 17), Calontir (July 18), Ansteorra (July 18), An Tir (July 27), West (July 29), Outlands (July 30), and Meridies (July 31). For administrative reasons, Drachenwald (July 19) was postponed one month.

The December meetings were held Saturday, December 8, 2001 (Wreath) and Saturday, December 15, 2001 (Pelican), and considered these Letters of Intent dated in July and August 2001: Drachenwald (July 19, which was postponed for administrative reasons), Atenveldt (August 1), Caid (August 9), Middle (August 5), East (August 15), Atlantia (August 16, 25, and 27), Lochac (August 18), Ansteorra (August 25), Drachenwald (August 26), Artemisia (August 28), An Tir (August 29), Meridies (August 31), and Ealdormere (August).

The January meetings are scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 2002, and will consider these Letters of Intent dated in September 2001: Atenveldt (September 1), Middle (September 9), Ansteorra (September 16), Atlantia (September 17), Drachenwald (September 17), West (September 17), Lochac (September 18), Caid (September 22), An Tir (September 27), Outlands (September 28), and Meridies (September 30). For administrative reasons, the Trimaris (September 28) LoI is not yet scheduled, but it will likely be considered. Calontir (September 28) was postmarked October 2, so it will be postponed until the February meeting. Original commentary on these LoIs must have been in the College's hands no later than November 30, 2001. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than December 31, 2001.

The February meetings are scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2002. They will consider the "brown proper" issue and five pended items, all from the August 2001 LoAR. They will also consider these Letters of Intent dated in October 2001: Calontir (September 28, postponed due to postmark), Atenveldt (October 1), Middle (October 12), Æthelmearc (October 15), Outlands (October 17), Ansteorra (October 20), Caid (October 20), Lochac (October 20), Drachenwald (October 21), An Tir (October 26), Calontir (October 30), Meridies (October 31). For administrative reasons, the Atlantia (October 22) letter is not yet scheduled. Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than December 30, 2001. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than JANUARY 24, 2002.

The March meetings are scheduled for Saturday, March 16, 2002 (Wreath, with a March 24 road show at the An Tir Heraldic Symposium) and Saturday, March 23, 2002 (Pelican, plus an earlier road show at Gulf Wars on a date to be determined). They will consider these Letters of Intent dated in November 2001: Atenveldt (November 1), Caid (November 2), Lochac (November 15), Drachenwald (November 16), Æthelmearc (November 17), Outlands (November 17), West (November 23), and Meridies (November 30). For administrative reasons, the following letters are not yet scheduled: Middle (November 9), Ansteorra (November 15), Atlantia (November 16), and An Tir (November 29). Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than January 31, 2002. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than February 28, 2002.

The April meetings are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2002, and will consider the Letters of Intent dated in December 2001, including the Laurel LoI for "Wreath Sovereign of Arms". They will also consider the Laurel items from the September LoAR, as listed on the September Letter of Pends and Discussion: the Gaelic and Anglicized Particles issue, and three pended items. Original commentary on these LoIs must be in the College's hands no later than February 28, 2002. Responses and rebuttals to commentary must be in the College's hands no later than March 31, 2002.

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 all administrative requirements are met, the letter may not be scheduled.

From Wreath: Presumption Due to Name and Armory Combination

This month's submissions for Kieran Hunter and Brienus Holebroc raised questions concerning name and armory presumption. Rules for Submission XI states, "Armory may not claim status or powers the submitter does not possess, as is required by General Principle 3b of these rules. This section defines categories of presumptuous armorial claims." RfS XI.2 states: "Charge and Name Combination. Armory that asserts a strong claim of identity in the context of the submitter's name is considered presumptuous".

In both this month's submissions, the question was: is there a presumptuously strong claim of identity, implying status or powers the submitter does not possess, when the submitter's name and device resembles the name and device of a real-world armiger whose arms are not protected by the SCA?

In the vast majority of cases, an SCA Alan Smith could bear the exact same arms as a real-world, but unprotected, Alan Smith. This is true even if the real-world armiger is found in a standard heraldic source such as Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorials, Burke's Peerage or Fox-Davies' A Complete Guide to Heraldry. In order for there to be presumption, it must be demonstrated that a significant number of SCA members would find that the name and arms combination claimed "status or powers the submitter does not possess". In some cases, a significant number of SCA members will recognize, and find presumptuous, a combination of real-world name and arms, even if the use of the name or arms alone would be innocuous. Such possible cases of presumption will have to be determined, as they have been so far in the College of Arms, on a case by case basis.

Note that if a real-world coat of arms is not considered important enough to protect in the SCA, a CD will certainly suffice to remove any problem of presumption due to the combination of name and armory.

In Kieran Hunter's submission, it was ruled that there is presumption in a case where the arms have no difference from that of a Scottish Clan Chief, and the surname of the submitter matches the Clan Chief's surname. While either the name or arms could be registered alone, the combination implies a status that the submitter does not possess, and is presumptuous. As stated above, one CD will remove the presumption due to name and arms combination.

From Wreath: Visual Conflicts: We're Looking Out (or, at least, Up) for You

There have been a substantial number of possible visual conflicts called since August 2001. My staff and I have duly looked at each emblazon, and it has been an interesting romp through the binders, the CDs, and the occasional hurried scan and email of a JPG from Filing Central in Austin (thanks, Pelican!) During our first two months, I made certain that each visual check was duly discussed in the LoAR. After looking at the length of the LoARs, the visual checks will only be reported if they appear to be important to discuss. I'll still look at all of them, have no fear.

From Wreath: Request for Citing Items from the Armorial and Ordinary and Cover Letters

When quoting from the Armorial and Ordinary, please cite the date of the armory as well as the name and blazon. The Wreath files are organized in three different places, based on date: the 1985 and before CD archives, the 1986-1993 CD archives, and the binders. We can save valuable time in the meeting if the registration date is on the citation. My staff and I thank you for your consideration.

Also, when citing cover letters, please cite the LoAR with which the cover letter is associated, as well as the date of the cover letter. It helps find the cover letter in the archives somewhat faster. Thanks again!

Send What to Whom

For all Letters of Intent, Comment, Response, Correction, &c, send one paper copy to each of Laurel PKoA and Wreath QoA at their mailing addresses as shown on the College of Arms Mailing List.

Send Laurel office copies of all submissions-related electronic files to submissions@sca.org . This includes electronic copies of LoIs, LoCs, LoRs, &c.

Send roster changes and 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.

For subscriptions to the paper copy of the LoAR, please contact Symond, above. The cost for an LoAR subscription is $25 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.

For all administrative matters, or for questions about whom to send to, please contact Laurel Principal King of Arms, whose contact information heads this letter.