Please advise the submitter to drawer deeper embattlements on the bordure and draw the nesselblatt more nessellblattlich; that is, with fewer and more pronounced serrations on the sides. The arms of the Counts von Holstein (as seen in the Armorial de Gelre, c.1395, f. 97v) are the classic example of the charge. These arms can also be seen on f. 35v in the Armorial Bellenville.
This title is not in conflict with any of the various Loyola Universities or Colleges. The word Loyall has only two syllables while Loyola has three, the stress in the first word is on the first syllable, while the stress on the second is on the second syllable. Finally, the second vowel sound each work is different.
This is clear of Simon MacLeod, (Fieldless) A castle sable charged on the dexter tower with a lion's head erased and on the sinister tower with a unicorn's head couped respectant Or. There is a CD for changes to the field and another for the arrangement of the tertiary charges (from in fess to in pale). The placement of the tertiary charges is not forced.
The charge in base was blazoned on the LoI as sea-python. There is no discernible fish tail so it is not a sea-monster and the creature has feathered wings, not batwings, so it is not a pithon. Thus this is simply a winged serpent. Please advise the submitter to draw the secondary charges larger.
The submitter requested an authentic 14th C German name, but allowed no changes. The placename Altenstein was documented as a standard modern spelling of a place that existed in period. To be registerable, it must be demonstrated that this spelling is consistent with period forms. In this case, the name can be constructed using elements found in the 14th and 15th C. For the protheme Alten- (meaning "old"), Brechenmacher, Etymologisches Woerterbuch der deutschen Familiennamen, s.n. Altenberg(er) has Wolf zun Altenberg 1424, s.n. Altenburg(er), Matheus der Altenburger 1389, and s.n. Altenried, Hans Altenried 1425. For the deuterotheme -stein (meaning "stone"), Brechenmacher s.n. Beilstein has Joh. Beilstein 1466, and s.n. Bilstein, Hennemanus Bilstein 1296. So, the form Altenstein should be consistent with 13th-14th C forms of this name.
Submitted as Tangwystl verch Glyn ap Daffydd, no documentation was submitted and none found to support the spelling Daffydd as a variant of Dafydd. This spelling variant was ruled unregisterable in 2001 for this reason:
Submitted as Daffydd Whitacre, no documentation was provided and none could be found that Daffydd is a reasonable variant of the Welsh Dafydd. We have changed the spelling to a documented form. [LoAR 10/2001, Ansteorra-A]
We have changed the name to Tangwystl verch Glyn ap Dafydd to match the documentation and in order to register it.
While a chevron embattled is embattled only on the upper edge, it is unclear which edge is embattled with a chevron inverted embattled. The fact that the chevron inverted is embattled only on the upper edge should be specified. Please advise the submitter to draw the line of division so that the field is more evenly divided.
Her previous device, Per chevron inverted vert and purpure, a chevron inverted embattled-counterembattled Or between a harp argent and a spaniel statant Or, is released
Registered in June 1987 with the blazon Argent, a sirin harpy statant guardant to sinister proper within a bordure engrailed purpure, this is being reblazoned to more accurately represent the sirin harpy's tinctures. The Pictorial Dictionary defines a sirin harpy as "a benign creature from Russian legend, with the body of a partridge; its proper coloration is brownish grey, with the human parts pink." The plumage of the sirin harpy in this badge isn't really brownish-grey; it is a mixture of brown, grey and purple with none predominating. As this cannot be properly blazoned, Morsulus is asked to note the tinctures with the O&A entry.
The badge form indicates that this is a jointly held badge but does not indicate a co-owner. The form also indicates that the badge is to be associated with Rogue Haven; however, that household name is not registered. We have registered this as a personal badge.
Registered in August 1982 to Clea de Húnedoara with the blazon Or, a sirin harpy statant guardant to sinister proper within a bordure engrailed vert, this was transferred to Marta in June 1987. It is being reblazoned to more accurately represent the sirin harpy's tinctures. The Pictorial Dictionary defines a sirin harpy as "a benign creature from Russian legend, with the body of a partridge; its proper coloration is brownish grey, with the human parts pink." The plumage of the sirin harpy in this badge isn't brownish-grey; it is a mixture of brown and sable with neither predominating. As this cannot be properly blazoned, Morsulus is asked to note the tinctures with the O&A entry.
The submitter requested an authentic 16th C Spanish name. This is a lovely Spanish name for that century.
The mini-emblazon did not show a sun in splendor, while the emblazons sent to Laurel did. However, as this is purely an artistic detail it is not a cause for pending the device.
The submitter requested authenticity for Irish language/culture. This is a very reasonable 11th C Irish name.
Originally submitted as Bryan Fayre, the name was changed to Brian Fayre at kingdom to match the available documentation. However, this is an English name, and spelling variants showing i to y switches and vice versa are common. In addition, Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Index of Names in the Lay Subsidy Roll of London 1541", shows three examples of Bryan. We have changed the name back to the originally submitted form.
Submitted as Fionnuala MacNaulty, as submitted, the name has two problems. First, the spelling Fionnuala is a modern Irish spelling; because it is not found before 1600 or in the gray area, it is not registerable. However, the spelling Fionnghuala is found in several 14th C entries of the Annals of the Four Masters. Second, we have found no period examples of the name MacNaulty or of the Irish form of this name, which is, according to MacLysaght, Irish Names, mac Conallta. Without either an example in period of even the underlying form, an Anglicization of such a name is not registerable. However, Woulfe, s.n. mac Conallta, refers to another name, mac an Ultaig, for which he gives nearly identical Anglicized forms. The Annals of Loch Cé, an Irish annal chronicling the 12th-16th C, shows an individual with the byname Mac an Ulltaigh, in 1281. The normalized Early Modern Irish feminine form of this name would be inghean an Ultaigh. We have changed this name to Fionnghuala inghean an Ultaigh in order to register it.
Submitted under the name Gaius Brutus.
Nice 13th C French name!
This badge does not conflict with Rhiannon ui Neill, (Fieldless) A decrescent azure. While X.4.d is most often interpreted as requiring half the charge to change tincture in a single-charge design, the wording of the rule states that "changing the division of any group of charges placed directly on the field is one clear difference." While much more than half the charge is azure, this is a properly constructed per pale line of division. Therefore there is a CD for fieldlessness and there is a CD for the change of the line of division, from no division to per pale, and thus these two pieces of armory are clear.
Both parts of this name were documented from non-English language sources, but no translations were provided. If you are going to use non-English language sources as documentation cited on an LoI, you must provide the College with a translation of the relevant parts of the documentation. It doesn't have to be a good translation, but you do have to make the attempt. Had the commenters not found alternative documentation for this name, we would have been forced to return it.
Nice armory!
Submitted as Osric Saxon, as originally documented, the name is two steps from period practice. First, it mixes an Old English given name with the Middle English byname. Second, the latest date we have for the name Osric is 882, while the earliest we have for any form of Saxon is de Saxton and de Sexton in 1208. The commenters found no examples of the spelling Saxon as a byname prior to the late 16th C. Therefore, there is a more than 300 year gap between the dates of the name elements. However, Shakespeare's Hamlet has a character named Osric. Since Hamlet is believed to have been performed in 1600, we will give the submitter the benefit of the doubt that this might possibly have been used as a literary name. However, we have no examples of the placename spelled without the t before the late 17th C. Therefore, we have changed the name to Osric Saxton in order to register it. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, s.n. Saxton, has a Robertus de Saxton in 1379, so there is no penalty for temporal disparity with this name.
Submitted as Ryce Vaghan, the submitter requested authenticity for 1300s Welsh. The spelling Ryce is dated to the late 16th C as an alternative spelling for Reeice (Rhys). Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn, "A Simple Guide to Constructing 13th C Welsh Names" gives a list of names found just before the beginning of the 14th C; it lists Reys, Reis, and Res as spellings of Rhys from the desired time period. We have changed his name to Reys Vaghan to fulfill his request for authenticity.
The submitter indicated that, if the name had to be changed, he was most interested in the sound. We note that, although the English pronunciations of these variant forms is likely to be quite different, the Welsh pronunciations of these names are all more or less identical. We note that the originally submitted form, Ryce Vaghan, is registerable; it is just not appropriate for the submitter's requested time period.
Originally submitted as Ronan Ó Tigernaig, the name was changed to Rónán Ó Tighernaigh at kingdom to match the documentation and correct the grammar of the patronymic. However, the correction introduced a new problem. The patronymic Tighernaigh is proposed as the genitive of Tighernach. In the changed form, the spelling of the base form is incorrect. The Early Modern Irish form of this name is Tighearnach, while the Middle Irish form is Tigernach. This would make the appropriate patronymic form either Ó Thighearnaigh or hua Thigernaig; this latter form is temporally consistent with the Middle Irish given name. We have changed the name to Rónán hua Thigernaig in order to register it.
Current precedent on conjoined knots states:
[two Wake knots conjoined in pale] A Wake knot, as per the PicDic, is fesswise by default. Two Wake knots in pale would be arranged like these. However there is no guarantee that the loose ends would tie up as neatly as in this badge. It is as likely that the loose ends would stick out and the round parts would be conjoined.
The fact that the loose ends do connect up with each other in an unbroken interlace could imply that this is "knotwork". On the other hand, the knots maintain their identifiability as Wake knots, which are themselves a standard heraldic knot. The conjunction may not be the only way to conjoin the knots, but it is an acceptable way to do so.
A pertinent precedent on the topic is in the LoAR of November 1994, for the Middle Kingdom's Order of the Cavendish Knot, [Fieldless] Four Cavendish knots conjoined in cross vert:
There was much commentary on the issue of whether the charge runs afoul of our long-standing ban on knotwork; the consensus here seems to be similar to that of several years ago when we were considering three Wake knots conjoined in pall: "The question is whether the conjunction of the knots diminishes their identifiability to the point where they should not be allowed. In this case, the answer seems to be 'no'. Note, however, that this would not be the case were the knots not of themselves clearly defined period heraldic charges, were the knot itself complex or requiring modification in shape to produce the conjunction (as would be the case with a Lacy knot) or were the numbers so increased ... as to diminish the size seriously." (Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane, LoAR of 26 November 1989, p. 9)
It should be noted, however, that this badge is probably pushing right to the limits of the allowance; an increase of number would probably begin to reduce the identifiability of the separate knots.
This conjunction of knots is a weirdness, but as there is only one such weirdness, it is registerable. [Nottinghill Coill, Barony of, 08/01, A-Atlantia]
Conjoined knots are, in fact, found in period, in the arms of die Zyganer (Siebmacher, pl.73) which we would blazon as: Azure, three Cavendish knots conjoined in pall inverted Or. Die Karwinsker, plate 76, has the identical arms, and the crest makes obvious what type of knots are used. Given the period examples, and the fact that the Wake knots in this submission retain their identifiability, they are registerable.
Several commenters wondered if this would conflict with the symbol of the Red Crescent (a sister organization of the Red Cross). It does not; the Red Crescent actually uses a decrescent, not a crescent.
Submitted as Siobhan ingen Chathasaigh, both the given name and the patronymic are Early Modern Irish. However, the particle, ingen, is Middle Irish. Middle Irish and Early Modern Irish are considered two different languages for purposes of RfS III.1.a Linguistic Consistency, and therefore may not be used together in a single name phrase. We have changed the name to Siobhan inghean Chathasaigh in order to register it.
Submitted as Alan Burylson, the byname was intended as a spelling variant of a patronymic form of Burrell or a variant on the placename Burelston. However, no documentation was submitted and none found to suggest that Burrell is ever found with a y as the second vowel. Reaney and Wilson, s.n. Burrel say that the name Burrel is usually a descriptive name, but is sometimes found as a personal name. They cite a Johannes filius Borelli in 1205 and a Burellus de Rathesnese in 1274. Given these citations, Burellson is an expected English form. We have changed the name to Alan Burellson to match period examples of the name Burell and in order to register it.
Submitted as Cadlae O'Erne, as submitted, the name has several problems. First, the byname combines the Anglicized patronymic marker O' with the Gaelic Erne. Second, the name Erne is feminine. However, precedent only allows registration of metronymic bynames with fully Early Modern Irish names; the given name here is Middle Irish. The name Erne may also be legendary and unique. According to poem 85 of The Metrical Dindshenchas, which describes the legendary origins of various Irish placenames, Erne was drowned in the lake, hence its name. This poem says "To her [Erne] belonged to judge of them, the trinkets of Medb, famed for combats, her comb, her casket unsurpassed, with her fillet of red gold...." We have found no other examples of this name, so we must assume it is unique to this legendary individual. Barring evidence that Erne is not a unique legendary name, it is not registerable as a given name or as part of a matronymic byname. However, the lake named after Erne, Loch h-Erne is well attested in the Irish Annals. The poem in The Metrical Dindshenchas comes from the Book of Lienster recension, is in Middle Irish, and dates to around the mid 12th C. Therefore, a byname based on the placename Loch h-Erne should be registerable with an Old or Middle Irish given name. The poem has "ainm locha Erne adbail" (the name of vast Loch Erne), which shows the placename in the appropriate genitive case. We have changed this name to Cadlae Locha Erne (Cadlae of Loch Erne) in order to register it.
No documentation was submitted for the byname O'Erne, beyond a statement that the submitter thought it meant "of/from/by the lake". The Administrative Handbook clearly states:
d. Summary of Supporting Evidence - A summary of all supporting evidence provided for the submission must be included on the letter of intent. Such evidence includes documentation, permissions to conflict, proofs for entitlement, statements of support for transferred items, and evidence for support in the case of branch submissions. In the case of resubmissions or appeals, a history of previous submissions to the College of Arms, including the dates and grounds for previous returns must be included. Where possible, the letter should include specific references (including page numbers) to all supporting documentation. Omission of this documentation may make registration impossible.
This generally means that if a name element does not come with supporting documentation, the kingdom College of Heralds is expected to supply such documentation before accepting the submission and passing it up to Laurel for registration. Failure to do so may, as the Administrative Handbook notes, result in an item being returned. In this case, the commenters provided appropriate documentation, so we were able to register this name. Had they not done so, we would have been forced to return it.
Submitted as Catarina da Verona, as submitted, the name is an aural conflict with the registered name Caitlin di Berrona. However, if the byname is changed from the true locative, da Verona, to an ethnic form, Veronese, the conflict is cleared. Britannica Online (search.eb.com) has an article on one Paolo Veronese who is "one of the major painters of the 16th C Venetian school..." We have changed the name to Catarina_Veronese in order to register it.
Nice 15th C Italian name!
Submitted as Éadaoin inghean Cionaodh, the patronymic is in the nominative form rather than the required genitive. An Annals of the Four Masters entry for 1127 reflects the correct genitive form as Cionaodha. In addition, because this is a feminine name, the patronymic needs to be lenited. We have changed the name to Éadaoin inghean Chionaodha to correct the grammar.
Permission to conflict is granted for any non-identical armory.
Submitted as Gryphonsmark, Canton of, this was documented as a constructed placename of the form [family name]s + [toponymic element]. However, no documentation was submitted and none found showing that Gryphon was a reasonable spelling for the name Griffin in period. Griffin, on the other hand, is found in Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames, s.n. Griffin, dated to 1197. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames s.n. Griffin, has Griffin at the time of Edward III. As the submitters have specifically accepted a change to Griffinsmark, Canton of, we have made this change in order to register it.
Please advise the submitters that the fess should have an additional wave. It should also be drawn somewhat thinner so that griffin is clearly on the field rather than the fess.
The documentation on this name was not adequately summarized; only the source and page number were included. Even with a book titled Name Construction in Medieval Japan (the cited documentation in this case), you must include what the source has to say about the name. It should also be noted that, despite the title, this book does include some (appropriately noted) modern names and elements. In this case, it was important to note that Hasegawa is a historical surname dated to 1516, and that Arihiro is a historical given name dating to the mid 14th C. Such lack of summarization is sufficient cause in and of itself for return. Had the appropriate information not been provided in commentary, we would have been forced to return this name.
Submitted as Elena Noel de Montbéliard, the submitter requested authenticity for 13th-15th C. The given name is documented as Occitan, the locative as French, and the surname is found in both languages. Although the two cultures had a very large amount of contact, we have no evidence to suggest that names mixing forms from the two languages are authentic. Instead, we would expect either a fully French or fully Occitan form of the name. Elena Noel is an appropriate Occitan form; Noel is found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Occitan Names from Saint Flour, France, 1380-1385". However, we do not have an Occitan form for the locative. Therefore, to make this name authentic without dropping any of the elements, we need to make it fully French. This makes sense logically as well, since Montbeliard is in eastern France near the northern border of Switzerland, rather than in the south where Occitan is spoken. Helene, a French form of Elena is found Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "Late Period French Feminine Names" (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/latefrench.html) dating to 1509; it should also be a reasonable late 15th C form for this name. Noel is found as a French surname in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, "French Surnames from Paris, 1421, 1423 & 1438". The source used to document the locative, Arval Benicoeur, "French Names from Two Thirteenth Century Chronicles", notes "Warning: These are modern spellings of the names." This means that Montbéliard is a modern spelling for a place that existed in period. Documentary forms suggest that Montbeliart or Montbelliart are appropriate forms for her desired period. Joinville, Livre des saintes paroles et des bons faiz nostre roy saint Looys, written in the mid 13th C, has the form Montbeliart. This spelling is also found in Froissart, who in his Chronicles in the late 14th C speaks of le comte de Montbliart. Charles Estienne, La guide des chemins de France, published in 1552 has the spelling Montbelliart. Given this, Montbeliart seems a reasonable 15th C form. We have changed the name to Helene Noel de Montbeliart, a reasonable late 15th C French form for this name, to comply with her request for authenticity.
Her old name, Elena vom Schwarzwald, is retained as an alternate name.
Submitted as Hildegaard of Hamlin, no documentation was submitted and none found to support the spelling Hildegaard. The submitted documentation, Bahlow/Gentry, German Names, s.n. Hildegard, shows no forms of this name with a double a in the deuterotheme. There was some question whether the spelling Hamlin was English or German. Hamlin appears to be a fairly common English spelling for the German town of Hameln. This name, therefore, mixes English and German, which is a step from period practice. We have changed the name to Hildegard of Hamlin to match the documentation and in order to register it. If the submitter is interested in a fully German form of this name, we suggest Hildegard von Hameln.
Her previous device, Per bend Or and azure, a bend cotised counterchanged between a sword inverted sable and a rose argent, barbed and seeded proper, is released.
Originally registered December 1975 with the blazon Per pale sable and vert, a snowy owl (Nyctea scandiace) affrontee proper perched on a sword fesswise reversed this was reblazoned as Per pale sable and vert, a snowy owl, perched on a sword fesswise reversed, all proper [Nyctea scandiaca] in November 1988. The owl is affronty, a fact that was lost in the first reblazon, and the sword is sustained.
This is a lovely 13th C English name!
Please advise the submitters that there should be more raguly repeats in the line of division.
The Shire's previous arms, Vert, on a chevron ermine three fir trees palewise couped vert, in base a laurel wreath argent, are retained as ancient arms.
The summary of the documentation for the given name stated merely that the name appeared on a certain page of Ó Corrain and Maguire, Irish Names. This is not an adequate summary. This work gives forms from various periods, including explicitly modern forms, and includes legendary and occasionally non-human names. This is why it is important to explain what the source says about the name -- it's the explanation that's important, not just that the name appeared in the source. Had the College not supplied the missing information, we would have been forced to return this name.
Submitted as Splendora Sextri, as submitted this name is two steps from period practice. First, it mixes a Latin version of a name found in England with an Italian placename. Second, there is a more than 300 year gap between the date for the given name and the date for the byname. This has long been considered a step from period practice. Palimpsest notes that this place appears as Siestri in Dante's The Divine Comedy, which was published in the early part of the 14th C. We have changed the name to Splendora Siestri in order to register it. The name still mixes a Latinate English given name with an Italian byname; this is one step from period practice.
The badge is to be associated with her new alternate name.
There was some question whether the spelling Cologne was registerable, since it is the modern English spelling of the German placename Köln. In fact, Cologne is also a Middle English spelling for this place; it is found in The right plesaunt and goodly historie of the foure sonnes of Aymon translated by William Caxton around 1489. This is a reasonable 15th C English form of the German name Maria Köln. The name Marie is dated to 1441 in Paston letters and papers of the fifteenth century, Part I, ed Norman Davis; Margaret Paston's will leaves a bequest to Marie Tendall.
Her previous device, Per chevron purpure and vert, two reremice and a horse's head couped argent, is released.
Blazoned on the LoI as a raven, the bird has no raven-like features nor features of any other identifiable bird. We have thus blazoned it as a generic bird. A generic bird displayed is a step from period practice. A masthead knot, which is not used in heraldry outside the SCA, was last registered in August 1977. Pending evidence that the masthead, or jury mast, knot was known in period, its use as a heraldic charge is hereby disallowed in future registrations.
There is a more than 300 year gap between the dates for the given name and the byname; this is one step from period practice.
This device does not conflict with Guillaume, le Chien Blanc, Sable a Samoyed dog counter-statant proper and a chief argent. There is a CD for changes to the field. As spots are not part of the definition of a hyena, there is a second CD for adding the roundels.
A hyena is a dog-like creature with a ridge of hair and a lion-like tail. Hyenas were known in period and are found in period heraldic tracts; Bossewell's Workes of Armorie, 1572, f. 49: "Beareth Argente, an Hien saliant Sable, and one Escaloppe sinistre d'Azure. Thys is a cruell beaste, in quantitie like unto the wolfe: & he is called Hyena of Hyando, for yt hee reyseth to hys praye with open mouth and voyce, and in his necke is heare, as in the necke of an horsse, and upon al the length of hys ridge also." While not biologically a canine, in SCA heraldry a hyena is classed as a canine and will conflict with all other canines.
Submitted as Robert mac Alastair, the submitter requested a name authentic for Scottish language/culture and accepted minor changes only. It was unclear from the documentation whether the submitter believed that Alastair was a Scottish Gaelic spelling or an Anglicized spelling. It is, according to Black, The Surnames of Scotland, s.n. Alastair, an Anglicized spelling based on the pronunciation of the Gaelic Alasdair. We have no examples of mac Alastair in Scots; the form with the space between the patronymic marker and the name is generally found in Gaelic spellings but not in Scots spellings. However, Black, The Surnames of Scotland s.n. MacAlastair shows a very similar Makallastair in 1576. We have changed the name to Robert Makallastair to fulfill his request for authenticity.
Concerning Japanese wisteria sprigs: Most of the examples in period mon have the large leaf in chief with the sprig of blossoms hanging to base, while the SCA default for other heraldic sprigs and branches is the opposite. There has been a single prior registration of a Japanese wisteria sprig; registered to Shoichi Nakanichi is Sable, in fess a Japanese wisteria sprig leaved palewise with two blossoms and another inverted argent. Shoichi's armory uses the SCA default. We will continue to use the SCA standard as the default orientation for Japanese wisteria sprigs (the leaf in base when in the default orientation).
Submitted as Szöke Erzsébet, both Nebuly and Eastern Crown point out that Erzsébet is a modern spelling of this name. The name was documented from Nebuly's article "Hungarian Feminine Names"; he notes:
The LoI claims that the spelling of the submitted spelling of the given name Erszébet is dated to 1562, 1596, 1602 in my article on Hungarian Feminine Names ... The spelling cited to those dates is actually Ersebet.
Eastern Crown adds further information on this:
The use of 'zs' for the sound of 's' as in 'measure' is post-period, dating from no earlier than the late 1600s; earlier, this sound was usually written as 's'.
We have changed the name to Szöke Ersébet to match the documentation.
Eastern Crown noted:
The motif of "per fess, the bottom portion per pile inverted throughout" can be seen in several period Hungarian grants, dating from 1558, 1600, and 1601. (The last is a variation on the first: the recipient's name is identical, and both grants have a pelican above and three fleurs-de-lys below, but there are some tincture differences--including an argent pelican on Or in the later device.) See http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/mol_cimer/1/c7, http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/mol_cimer/1/13c, and http://www.arcanum.hu/mol/lpext.dll/mol_cimer/1/13e.
We note that purpure appears to be vanishingly rare in Hungarian armory, thus this cannot be termed typical Hungarian armory -- but it is registerable. We have chosen to blazon the field as Per fess Or and per chevron throughout purpure and Or to avoid confusion over whether or not the pile inverted was complete.
There was some question whether this was a properly constructed Japanese name; the summary on the LoI merely mentioned that each theme used to form a particular element was found in a particular work. This is particularly disturbing, since the client submitted paperwork that did a thorough and excellent job of documenting the name. The client noted that the name followed the pattern [surname]+[yobina]+[nanori]. He also included documentation that the surname Takayama is found prior to 1600 and that each theme in the yobina and nanori are likewise found in names prior to 1600. None of this was included in the summary. In this case, the commenters did not provide the missing information, although members of the Pelican staff did. I am loathe to return such a well documented name because the summary was inadequate, but we note that an inadequate summary may be reason in and of itself for returning a name.
The LoI blazoned the primary charge as a Japanese cedar tree. This is not a period heraldic charge in the domain of the Society and, without evidence of its use, would be unregisterable. However, it can be reblazoned as a rose leaf and registered as such.
This device submission is representative of a common problem with checky fields and charges - the emblazons on the submitted forms do not match. The chief on one copy is checky Or and vert (which matches the blazon on the LoI) and on the other copy it is vert and Or (which matches the blazon on the form). While there is no heraldic difference between these, in the past Laurel has often enforced the blazonable difference between them.
We have excellent examples of roughly contemporary rolls, from the late 14th through late 15th centuries; Armorial Bellenville, Armorial Gelre, the Grand Armorial Equestre de la Toison d'Or, and the Scots Roll. These rolls are available in editions providing photographs of the extant rolls (three in color and one in black and white), so we can be certain of the order of these checky tinctures. These four rolls all include Scots armory using blue and white checky fesses. Various Stewarts bear this fess on an Or field, and various Lindsays bear it on a gules field. So, these rolls are not only contemporary, but provide the arms of closely related members of the same families.
The first two of these rolls show all the blue and white checky fesses in the roll as checky azure and argent, the second two show all these fesses with the tinctures reversed, checky argent and azure. It thus appears that the order of the checky depends on the artist's preference. It does not seem to depend either on the particular family represented, or on the question of whether the fess is on a metal or a color field.
It seems reasonable to extrapolate from checky fesses to other uses of checky. In some other checky elements, such as chevrons, it is difficult to determine which is the "first" tincture. This is not ambiguous in a checky fess. We thus explicitly rule at this time that checky fields and charges may be drawn with either tincture in the dexter chief corner (the position that has determined the first tincture blazoned). In this case we have retained the blazon that appeared on the submission form.
Our thanks to Black Stag for providing this research.
Submitted as ValdríkR_Danski, the name is a transliteration of runic characters. However, by precedent, we do not register such transliterations:
It's true that transliterations of runic inscriptions are often quite different from the usual forms of the same words and names when they are written in Roman letters. The most common Scandinavian runic alphabets had fewer letters than the Roman alphabet, and as a result several runes can represent more than one letter or combination of letters. For example, a single rune was used for o and u. But when a word was written in the Roman alphabet, the distinction between the two was maintained; we do not find simple transliterations from the runic futhark to the Roman alphabet. Thus, for example, the name Gormr, when written in Roman letters, is written Gormr, even though the runic version is generally transliterated kurmR.
We record a Roman alphabet version of registered names; when necessary, we transliterate. In the case of Arabic names, say, transliteration is necessary, though we may use either ours or some mediæval version. But in the case of Old Norse names, transliteration is unnecessary, because there was already a standard way to write these names in the Roman alphabet. Therefore we will follow period usage and write Old Norse names as they would have been written in the Roman alphabet. Of course, just as Demetrios, Vasilii, and Haroun are welcome to write their names in Greek, Cyrillic, and Arabic script, respectively, Steinólfr and Ingrír may surely write theirs in runes; but for documentary purposes we will use only the Roman alphabet forms. [Cover Letter, December 1995]
According to other examples of standard Old Norse forms of names ending in the rune transliterated R found in the source used to document this name, Gunnvör silfrahár's translation of "Nordiskt runnamnslexicon," the standard Roman alphabet transliteration for this character is r. As the source also notes that the name derives from the Old Norse verb valda, we believe the standard Roman alphabet transliteration of this name would be Valdríkr. While Danski is a runic transliteration, it is also the standard spelling of this name in Roman letters. There is also a grammar issue with the byname that must be resolved. Danski is the weak adjectival form of the adjective danskr "Danish". Weak adjectival forms usually accompany a definite article, so the appropriate form here is inn Danski. We note also that the is no need to render this byname in all lowercase:
"Therefore, we are upholding the current policy of requiring descriptive bynames in Old Norse to be registered in lowercase. The exceptions to this policy are (1) pre-pended descriptive bynames and (2) descriptive bynames based on proper nouns." [October 2002 Cover Letter]
We have changed the name to Valdríkr inn Danski to standardize the transliteration and correct the grammar.
This device is one step from period practice; prior precedent holds that any bird displayed - other than an eagle - is one step from period practice.
Per precedent (q.v. George Anne, 05/2002), a dragonfly inverted is one step from period practice. This badge is for local bards.
This is the defining instance of a graver, a handheld engraving tool. A period depiction of a graver can be seen in a painting of St. Eligius at his work by Niclaus Maneul, 1515 (John Cherry's Medieval Crafts: a Book of Days, p.50). A graver is negligibly different from an awl, and as with an awl, the orientation must be explicitly blazoned.
When this blanket permission to conflict was accepted in June 2005, the alternate name was noted as Aryanhwy Prytyddes merch Catmael Caermyrdin instead of actual registered form, Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin.
While the waves of the bordure could be drawn deeper, this emblazon addresses the original return from July 2004, "Please advise the submitter that if a wavy bordure is used on a resubmission, the waves should be drawn a bit more boldly. (An extra wave or two might help in this regard.)" The waves are a bit more bold and more waves have been added.
The submitter requested a name authentic to 16th C Brabant but accepted minor changes only. The given name Amelia is a period Latin form for a name that appears as Amelye in Holland in period. The form Amelia does not appear in Dutch language sources until after 1650, our gray area. The name is registerable as submitted but not authentic. However, if the client is interested in an authentic 16th C Dutch name, we suggest Amelye van Hemessen. We note that while the preposition is found occasionally in period documents with the first letter capitalized, in most cases the preposition is written in all lowercase.
Submitted as Kárron of Pinewood, the submitter accepted only minor changes. The name Kárron was proposed as a diminutive on the Old Norse name Kárr based on a pattern in Old French names of forming diminutives by adding -on to a name. However, a naming pattern found in French names cannot be applied to an Old Norse name; it must be demonstrated that Old Norse diminutives were formed using the same pattern. No documentation was submitted and none found to suggest that diminutives in Old Norse were formed by adding -on to the end of a name. Therefore, Kárron is not registerable, since it does not follow a pattern found for constructing Old Norse names. The submitter indicated that if Kárron was not registerable, he would accept the Welsh name Caron instead. We have changed the name to Caron of Pinewood in order to register it.
Submitted as Eíthne Rúadnat, the submitter requested an authentic Irish name. As submitted, this name contains two given names and no bynames. No documentation was submitted and none found for the use of unmarked metronymics in Gaelic. Therefore, this name cannot consist of a given name and an unmarked metronymic. We cannot mark the matronymic and register the name in this case, because the given name is Middle Irish. We cannot change it to an Early Modern Irish form, appropriate for use with a metronymic because we have no examples of the name Eithne in Early Modern Irish, and no reason to believe that the name was still in use in a period appropriate for Early Modern Irish. By precedent:
Upon further review, the few examples of matronymics in Gaelic that are currently known are in Irish Gaelic and date from after 1200. Therefore, barring examples that such constructions were used in Old Irish or Middle Irish, matronymics are only registrable for Early Modern Irish Gaelic (after 1200). [Ceara ingen uí Líadnáin, October 2001]
However, there is a descriptive byname, Ruad "red", that is similar in sound and appearance. The Dictionary of the Irish Language, s.n. Ruad, notes that the word is often found in sobriquets and placenames. We have changed the name to Eíthne Ruad in order to register it.
The question remains, though, is this an authentic Irish name? Well, it consists of fully Middle Irish parts. However, we have no examples of women's names in Gaelic for women who are not saints that are formed entirely of a given name and a descriptive byname. In all cases, the names included a patronymic of some sort. Therefore, since this name does not include a patronymic, it is not authentic. If the submitter is interested in an authentic Irish name, we suggest adding a Middle Irish patronymic.
Submitted as Karl in kristna, in kristna is the feminine form for this byname. Old Norse grammar requires that adjectives agree in gender with their subject. We have changed the name to Karl inn kristni to correct the grammar.
Please instruct the submitter that the ends of the cross should be more prominent.
This is clear of Diego Mundoz's badges, (Fieldless) On an escallop inverted purpure, a crescent argent and (Fieldless) On an escallop inverted purpure, a torch argent enflamed proper. In each case there is a CD for fieldlessness and another for the type and placement of the tertiary charge.
Submitted as Rose Bailie Marsh of Glen Noble, no documentation was submitted and none found to suggest that either English or Scots names using three bynames were found in period. One of the byname elements must go to make this name registerable; we note that a combination of the given name with any two of the bynames is registerable as an English name. Because of Glen Noble is documented as a Scots constructed placename, and the rest of the name is indisputably English, we have dropped this element and registered the name as Rose Bailie Marsh.
The shamrock is divided down the center, with a slight curve in the per pale division as it follows the curve of the shamrock's slip. This is an acceptable variation of per pale for charges such as this.
His previous device, Azure, a chevron enhanced gules fimbriated Or, in base on a bezant a cross formy fitchy sable, a bordure rayonny Or, is released.
Included with this submission was a letter from the submitter withdrawing a badge from consideration at the kingdom level due to a conflict with the Shire of Eikdal. Please inform him that the Shire of Eikdal's arms were released in October 2005.
The second page of the accompanying petition was invalid as it contained neither the blazon nor the emblazon of the submitted device; however, sufficient support was shown for the device on the first page of the petition that it can be registered.
Submitted as Ailleann inghean Faelain, the byname mixes the Early Modern Gaelic inghean with a Middle Irish patronymic. In addition, the lenition of the patronymic needs to be shown. We have changed the name to Ailleann ingen Fhaelain to correct the grammar and in order to register it.
Blazoned on the LoI as an orle of crosses, the crosses do not form an orle, which would be evenly distributed about the edge of the shield. Nor can these simply be blazoned as six crosses three, two, and one, as that would not have the large gap between the crosses in chief and those in base. The emblazon shows three crosses above the lion and three mostly below the lion, thus the blazon between six crosses. If the submitter actually wants an orle, she will need to evenly distribute the crosses about the lion or add two more crosses.
His previous device, Per pale sable and Or, a cross formy throughout counterchanged, is now his badge. His previous badge, Or, a chevron gules overall a legless wyvern displayed contourny, tail nowed sable, is now his device.
Please advise the submitter that the chevron should be drawn steeper and the tassels larger.
This name mixes Gaelic and Anglicized Gaelic; this is one step from period practice.
Submitted as Tomas Moreno dela Cruz, the submitter requested an authentic 16th C Spanish name. All the main elements of this name are documented to the 16th C; however, the documentation shows the preposition/article combination as de la. We have changed the name to Tomas Moreno de la Cruz to match the documentation and fulfill his request for authenticity.
This is the defining instance of a paternoster. It is an oval of even sized beads with a cross pendant at the bottom. The cross is essentially a maintained charge, thus a paternoster will not receive a CD from a necklace. The documentation presented supports this style of paternoster or a paternoster with two sizes of beads - small beads with larger beads at intervals. There is no heraldic difference for the size of the beads.
Submitted as Dubheasa inghean Flann, the submitter requested an authentic Irish name. Although Dubheasa is a plausible spelling variant of a name listed as Dubh Easa in Ó Corrain and Maguire, Irish Names s.n. Dubh Easa, and found in the Annals of the Four Masters as Duibheasa, at this time we have no recorded examples of this particular variation. While it is registerable, a documented form is preferable in authentic names. The patronymic is in the nominative case rather than the required genitive case. In addition, Gaelic grammar requires that the patronymic be lenited. We have changed the name to Duibheasa inghean Fhlainn in order to register it and correct the grammar. The name is one that might reasonably have been found in the 14th C. Annála Connacht, has a riain h. Flainn in 1341.
The spelling Dubheasa was cited as appearing on the website titled "Irish Ancient Names" (http://ahd.exis.net/monaghan/urush-names-naming.htm), although the spellings found on this page are actually Dubhdeasa and Dudeasa. The site cites a source for the names listed there (barely--it gives the author's name); the ultimate source is O'Hart, Irish Pedigrees. O'Hart contains names both pre- and post-1600, but this webpage gives no indication that this is the case. Nor does the webpage list any dates for the names that appear there. As such, the "Irish Ancient Names" website is not appropriate for use as documentation for purposes of registration.
There is a more than 300 year gap between the dates given for the surname and the given name. This is one step from period practice.
Submitted as Godric von Appenzell, as documented, this name combines Frankish and Middle High German. In August, 2002, such combinations were ruled unregisterable:
[Lothar von Koln] The Frankish and Middle High German languages were not in use at the same time. Therefore, just as in the case of Old Norse and Scots, since the two languages in question would not have been used at the same time, these two languages are not registerable in a single name. [An Tir, August, 2002]
However, Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, s.n. Godric, notes the form Godrich in 1273. English and German combinations are registerable, but a step from period practice. Withycombe also notes that Godric "seems to be a specifically Old English name, without any corresponding Old German form"; no documentation was submitted and none found to suggest that the name was ever part of the Middle German naming pool. We have changed the name to Godrich von Appelzell in order to register it.
The submitter requested a name authentic for 14-15th C Alpine Germany. Because we have no evidence that Godric was ever part of the High German naming pool, we are unable to fulfill his request. However, if he is interested in a German God- name appropriate for his period, there are several names he might want to consider. The name Goetfrid or Götfrid appears in archives from Regensberg in 1348 (Fontes Civitatis Ratisponensis, http://bhgw20.kfunigraz.ac.at/index.htm); the forms Gotz and Götz are found in the same archive in 1387. Since Regensberg is in southwestern Bavaria, these examples should be reasonable choices for both his place and time. In particular, we would recommend Goetfrid Appenzeller as an excellent 14th C German name.
His old name, Athelgar Gabelbart, is released.
Apparently registered in January 1973 with the blazon Azure, a harpy displayed grasping in her dexter talon a human skull, all proper, a proper has not previously been defined for a harpy. A harpy proper, like a centaur proper, has Caucasian human parts. When not specified, the plumage is brown. Janet's harpy has argent feathers and therefore is not proper. While SCA blazon does not generally repeat tinctures, in this case we have deliberately repeated the argent in order to clarify the blazon.
- Explicit littera accipendorum -
This device is returned for conflict with Barbara Wrona, Per saltire azure and sable. There is a single CD for changing half the tincture of the field. The submitter has permission to conflict with Gwenlian Catharne, Per saltire sable and azure. This does not conflict with Rivka Vladimirovna Rivkina, Per pall Or, vert and sable. Situations where one or both fields are not explicitly listed in X.4.a.ii.a are determined on a case by case basis, as noted in the April 2006 LoAR - while per pall is not mentioned in this rule, we here rule that per saltire is substantially different from per pall, which means that these two do not conflict.
This device is returned for a redraw as the sexfoils are neither seeded nor pierced; instead, the roundels overlie the petals of the sexfoils. This was not apparent on the mini-emblazon included with the LoI. Please advise the submitter to draw both the sexfoils and annulets somewhat larger. Also, the annulets should be thicker in order to avoid the appearance of thin-line heraldry.
This device is returned for non-period style. No evidence was presented, nor were we able to find any, that cotising with chains is a period heraldic practice. There are period examples of saltires of chains and escarbuncles of chains, thus cotises of chain are a step from period practice. This has a complexity count of eight, with four types of charges and four tinctures. With the inversion of only one of the swords in the sheaf of swords, the complexity count and cotises of chain push this over the boundary of acceptable style. This is returned under RfS VIII, "All elements of a piece of armory must be arranged into a design that is compatible with period armorial style, as is required by General Principle 1b of these rules." Fixing any one of these problems - by removing the chains, reducing the complexity count, or having all of the swords either inverted or not inverted - would allow this armory to be registered (barring other style problems or conflict).
This device is returned for conflict with Serlo of Litchfield, Gyronny gules and Or, a vulture close sable. There is a single CD for changes to the field. Precedent states "Until such time as it can be demonstrated that there is 'some visual difference' between a vulture and a raven when used in heraldry, no difference will be given between these charges. [Brand Björnsson, 11/02, R-Meridies]". There is thus not a CD for changing the primary charge.
This does not conflict with Dafydd Wallraven, Per fess argent and purpure masoned argent, in chief a raven close sable. There is a CD for changes to the field. As Dafydd's raven is not forced to chief, there is another CD for arrangement.
None.
This badge conflicts with Talanque, Azure, a horned demon's head erased Or. A letter of permission was received from Rowen Lynn of Woodvine as the executor of Talanque's estate in the modern world; however, proof that she is actually the executor was not included. This was pended to allow receipt of that proof; it has not been received so the badge must be returned.
This device is returned for conflict with Rhiannon the Gentle, Azure, on a chevron inverted between three fleurs-de-lys one and two argent, two sprigs of thyme azure, as only one of three secondary charges has been changed. As it is not the bottommost of three charges arranged two and one, there is not a CD for the change. That leaves a single CD for changes to the tertiary charges.
This name does not follow a pattern found in Roman naming practices. It contains a praenomen, Gaius, and a cognomen, Brutus, but it does not contain the necessary nomen. No documentation was submitted and none found to suggest that Roman names were formed using the pattern [praenomen] + [cognomen]. Because this name is a Roman name, but does not follow a known Roman naming pattern, it must be returned.
His device was registered under his registered name, Gaius Grattius Brutus.
This device is returned for conflict with Ireland (important non-SCA arms), Azure, a harp Or stringed argent. This is a single group of primary charges, so there is a single CD for changing the number of charges. We apologize to the submitter for missing this conflict previously.
This name is has several problems. First, O'Larkin is a standard modern spelling for this name from MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland. For standard modern spellings to be registerable, they must be shown to be consistent with period spellings. However, Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames s.n. Ó Lorcáin, lists O Lurkaine and O Lorkan as late 16th C Anglicized forms of this name. Neither of them show the initial vowel anglicizing as an a. Even if we switched the byname to one of these spellings, though, this name would be two steps from period practice. First, it mixes English and Gaelic. Second, the name Áedán is Middle Gaelic, which fell out of use around 1200. The earliest dated form of the Anglicized bynames is from the late 16th C. This means there is a second step for temporal disparity. As the submitter will not accept major changes, we cannot change the language of either name element to make the name registerable.
If the submitter is interested in a fully Middle Irish name, consistent with the submitted spelling of the given name, we suggest Áedán hua Lorcain.
This device is returned for violating RfS VII.7.a, which states "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance". As emblazoned, no one at the Wreath meeting could identify the lion's head without being told what it was.
This device is returned for a redraw of the semy of trefoils. Thirty trefoils is too many to place on a chief: drawn so small they become unrecognizable. We'd suggest about two-thirds of them should be removed, leaving seven to ten trefoils. This will allow the trefoils to be drawn larger, which will aid in their identifiability.
This device is returned for violating RfS VIII.1.a (Armorial Simplicity - Tincture and Charge Limit, known as "slot machine heraldry"). The standing balance, swords, and arrows are all in the same charge group; having three or more types of charges in the same group is not allowed. This does not conflict with Alric Wytyngton, Azure, a pall between three trefoils Or. There is a CD for changing the type of secondary charges and another for changing the number.
This device is returned for redraw, in particular, the trimount needs to be drawn smaller. As emblazoned, the trimount appears to be invected and part of a per pall field rather than a charge on a field. Please advise the submitter to consider a base or a mount rather than a trimount in order to avoid the appearance of a per pall invected field.
This name combines what must be considered an Early Welsh name with Middle English; such combinations are not registerable:
This name mixes an Early Welsh given name (which is pre 9th C) with Middle English (which doesn't exist until at least the 11th C), two languages that did not exist either simultaneously or consecutively. If two languages have no temporal point of contact, it is logically impossible that names could exist that combine elements from each language. We apply an identical litmus test to cross-cultural names; if there is no evidence of contact between the two cultures, we do not allow names that mix the languages of these two cultures. Given these principles, combinations of Early Welsh and Middle English are not registerable. If the byname Lyonesse could be documented in Old English, or the given name Taliesin in Old Welsh (10th-11th C) or later, then the name would be registerable. [Tailiesin of Lyonesse, June 2005]
The name Dylan is a semi-legendary name that was found once dated to 395 in an early Welsh genealogy. Dunkling and Gosling, s.n. Dylan, say that this is a name from Welsh mythology used as a given name only in modern times. While Dylan may very well be the modern Welsh form of this name, we must treat it as if it were Early Welsh, since we have no dated examples of the name later than the 395 date in the genealogy. The byname the Scot is Middle English, dated in Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames to 1295.
This badge conflicts with Catherine of Oakden, Or, four oak leaves conjoined in saltire stems to center vert. Precedent states:
[Returning Per bend azure and sable, on a bend wavy between two oak-leaves argent three holly-leaves azure.] Prior Laurel precedent (December 1993 LoAR, p. 12) does not grant a CD between oak leaves and holly leaves. As a consequence this is being returned for the use of two different but heraldically similar charges on a single device. [4/94, p.18]
Thus there is only the CD for fieldlessness, and this must be returned.
This device is returned for conflict with Aithbric an Ardain Dhuibh, Vert, a Celtic cross within a bordure Or. There is a single CD for changing the type of secondary charge. Moreover, the torque bears little resemblance to the torque generally used in heraldry and is probably not registerable as depicted. On resubmission the horses' heads should be smaller and rounder.
This device is returned for redraw as the point pointed is halfway between a point pointed and a per chevron field division. It must therefore be returned under RfS VII.7.a., which requires "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance." Drawn as per chevron engrailed this should be acceptable. Precedent states:
[A chief triangular embattled] With very rare exceptions (e.g. in combination with enarched lines), the use of two or more complex lines on the same charge is confusing, and unattested in period armory. (Wavy raguly? Embattled rayonny? I think not.) In this case, the chief could be either embattled or triangular --- but not both. (Johann Götz Kauffman von Erfurt, December, 1992, pg. 20).
A point pointed is would fall under the same constraints as a chief triangular, thus drawn as a point pointed engrailed this would be returned for using two complex lines of division.
The patronymic phrase mixes the Early Modern Irish patronymic marker inghean uí with the Middle Irish Suibne. Such combinations are considered to be two different languages for purposes of RfS III.1.a Linguistic Consistency, and are, therefore, not registerable. Furthermore, Gaelic grammar requires that the patronymic starting with s in a feminine name must be lenited; in Middle Irish the lenition was typically shown with a punctum delens (which is transcribed in Roman alphabet as h) and with either the h or the punctum delens in Early Modern Irish. The Early Modern Irish version of the patronymic is Suibhne and a fully Early Modern Irish version of this name would be Meadhbh inghean uí Shuibhne. We would make this change, but the submitter will accept no changes. Therefore, we are forced to return it.
This device is returned for redraw. The pale is almost, but not quite, lozengy. Please advise the submitter to make the lozenges throughout in the palewise direction (in addition to the fesswise direction) or not throughout in the fesswise direction.
This badge is returned for conflict with Owen Seys, Gules, in fess a card pique and a crescent argent, with a single CD for changing half the primary charges. It also conflicts with Gro Torstensdotter, Gules, three crescents argent, with a single CD for the number of crescents. In both Meredydd's and Gro's armory two of the crescents are in fess, thus there is not a CD for arrangement.
This badge is returned for conflict with Edwin Bersark, Gules, a roundel so drawn as to represent a round shield battered in long and honourable service, argent, and with Erryk Blackwolf, Per bend sinister sable and gules, a plate. In each case there is a CD for fieldlessness, but there is no difference between a plate (that is, a roundel argent) and a woman's breast proper. The goutes count for naught.
On the question of whether a woman's breast proper distilling goutes argent is a registerable charge, no commenter claimed it was either offensive or unblazonable. It is unquestionably period: the LoI cited Dennys' Heraldic Imagination and the arms of Dodge, Barry of six or and sable, on a Pale gules a Woman's Breast distilling drops of milk proper. Brachet notes that Guillim's Display of Heraldrie (p.256) dates the Dodge arms to 34 Edward I (i.e. 1306) with a slightly different blazon.
No documented was submitted and none found to suggest that the byname al-Ali is formed according to known Arabic naming patterns. The given name 'Al{i-}, which is sometimes written Ali would be appropriate with as patronymic; bint Ali would be the expected form. However, we have no examples of this name used as part of a descriptive construction. In fact, it is likely that such a construction would be presumptuous: the name Ali is apparently a derivative of one of the names of Allah, meaning "the exalted". We would change the name to Azizah bint Ali, but this would significantly change the sound, appearance, and meaning of the name. As the submitter will not accept major changes, we are forced to return this name.
This badge is returned for multiple conflicts. This conflicts with Antonia d'Alessandria, Azure, an owl close, maintaining in its talons a tuft of wool pendant therefrom a drop spindle argent and with Cormac Jacobo de Vega, Per fess sable and checky sable and argent, in chief an owl close guardant maintaining a chess rook in its dexter upraised talon argent and with James MacChluarain, Sable, an owl argent. In each case there is a CD for fieldlessness. There is not a CD for adding or changing maintained charges, nor for the forced move to chief in Cormac's device. This does not conflict with Lars Vilhjalmsson, Per pale sable and vert, a snowy owl affronty perched on and sustaining a sword fesswise reversed, all proper, which has been reblazoned elsewhere on this letter to indicate that the sword is sustained.
This device is returned for conflict with Jessica Llyrindi of Northmarch, Gyronny sable and gules, a phoenix Or, issuant from flames proper. There is a CD for changes to the field. However, in both cases the phoenix is primarily Or, thus there is not a CD between them. The resemblance is enhanced due to the rayonny line of division in this submission, which makes the flames appear to be Or and gules. Please advise the submitter that due to the way the rayonny line of division and the flames overlap and become confused, the combination may not be registerable.
This device is returned for lack of forms. If forms had been received, this would have been returned for conflict with Juliana de l'Eglantier, Purpure, on a pale endorsed Or three crosses of Calatrava purpure. There is a CD for changes to the tertiary charges. As a pale cotised is the same as a pale endorsed, there is no other difference between these.
None.
This device is returned for violating RfS VII.7.a, which states "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance". The cross is not identifiable due to the nature of the counterchanging. In addition, current precedent indicates:
"The only time we permit a charge to be counterchanged over another is when they are both ordinaries. (Shire of Crystal Crags, 12/98 p. 13)" While a delf is simple, it is not an ordinary. Moreover, a delf ploye is not a simple delf. [Tarvin, Shire of, 08/01, R-Atlantia]
A cross formy, or any non-ordinary cross used as a charge, is not an ordinary and thus cannot be counterchanged over an ordinary such as a pile inverted. A similar design that might be registerable (barring conflict) is Per chevron argent and gules, a cross formy counterchanged. We note that using a per chevron throughout field may hinder the identifiability of the cross sufficiently to prohibit registration.
This device is returned for lack of blazonability of the dragon's posture. RfS VII.7.b (Reconstruction Requirement) requires that "Any element used in Society armory must be describable in standard heraldic terms so that a competent heraldic artist can reproduce the armory solely from the blazon. Elements that cannot be described in such a way that the depiction of the armory will remain consistent may not be used, even if they are identifiable design motifs that were used before 1600." While Oriental dragons may be used in Society armory, they must be depicted in European heraldic postures, not as depicted in Chinese art.
This device is returned for conflict with Eadwine be Bocce Sele, Or, a beech tree eradicated proper and on a chief azure a pair of gauntlets clasped Or and argent. There is no difference between an oak tree and a beech tree, leaving a single CD for changes to the tertiary charges.
None.
Conflict with Stephen de Blois, King of England from 1135-54. The names are nearly identical in sound and appearance.
This device is returned for redraw due to cumulative problems. The sword is halfway between palewise and bendwise sinister and has a slight curve. It should be drawn clearly as a straight sword or clearly as a curved sword; it also needs to be in a blazonable orientation. The chalice is not centered in the dexter half of the shield, but isn't quite high enough to be blazoned as in chief. If this design is resubmitted, the chalice should be drawn larger and should either be clearly centered or clearly in chief.
No petition accompanied this submission. Any change to a territory's arms must be accompanied by a valid petition. As the wording of the Administrative Handbook is not as clear as it could be, we pended this to allow receipt of the paperwork. As the petition has not been received, the augmentation must be returned.
This device is returned for a redraw of the harp frame. With its weirdly bent arms and lack of a soundbox, it is unrecognizable as an unstrung harp. On resubmission, the harp frame should be drawn as a standard harp (minus its strings).
This device is returned for redraw. The bend sinister is considerably too small; as the primary charge in the device, it should be drawn accordingly. We haven't registered single diminutives of ordinaries, either by blazon or emblazon, for decades. We recommend making the bend sinister wider, at least one fifth as wide as the shield.
Croyslett Herald is recorded as the title of a herald in direct service to a sovereign. Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue its protection.
Derby Herald is recorded as the title of a herald in direct service to a sovereign. Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue protecting this title.
Desirous Pursuivant is recorded as the title of a herald in direct service to a sovereign. Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue protection of this title.
It is reasonable to assume that this is the herald to Jean Jacques Dessalines, Emperor of Haiti from 1804-1806. We protect the titles of other heralds in direct service to sovereigns; it is reasonable to also protect this one.
Eagle Pursuivant is recorded as the title of a herald in direct service to a sovereign. Therefore, it seems reasonable to continue protection of this title.
This heraldic title is one of the examples of real-world titles listed in the Rules for Submission. As an example familiar to generations within the Society, we feel it is worthy of continued protection.
This appears to be an alternate form of a title of a King of Arms. As such, it is important enough to warrant continued protection.
As the title of a King of Arms, this title should remain protected.
None.
None.
- Explicit littera renuntiationum -
The shire is scheduled to be elevated to baronial status in December. This requires that they have registered arms. Normally this device would have been returned as the shire registered four badges in February 2006, the limit for a shire. However, all that would accomplish is to delay the shire's advancement to barony. After consultation with the Society Seneschal, this device is pended to allow the Board of Directors to make their decision regarding the shire's elevation, or for the shire to release a badge.
This was item 3 on the Trimaris letter of January 31, 2006.
- Explicit -
Created at 2006-08-12T00:54:06