To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Juliana Laurel, Alys Pelican, Cormac outgoing-Wreath, and Oddr incoming-Wreath, greetings.

* From Laurel: LoPaD item: Registration Limit

In the December 2019 Cover Letter we called for a discussion of increasing the registration limit for individual submitters from six to ten items. There was a great deal of feedback; we agree with those who feel that this would improve our customer service with minimal problems, given that some people are at the registration limit, but not many.

The text of the relevant part of the Administrative Handbook will now read (insert/delete version):

Individuals may register no more than six ten names and six ten pieces of armory. Any submission by an individual which would otherwise exceed this limit must be accompanied by a release of one or more items already registered to that individual to accommodate the new item[s]. Neither heraldic titles nor augmentations count as items for this purpose, though the arms to which the augmentation is added do.

* From Laurel: Sign Herald Deputy Applications Sought

In order to encourage and promote the use and equality of Sign/Silent Heraldry at all courts and events in which the entire populace attends, and to assist the sign/silent heralds in their dealings with the Crown, the Silent Heraldry Deputy of Laurel Sovereign of Arms coordinates efforts and communication throughout the SCA. Sign/Silent Heralds in the Society are heralds who express auditory information into visual and/or tactile information used by deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

This deputy is tasked with the following duties, plus other such tasks as assigned by Laurel:

• Working with Kingdoms to improve the organization of sign heraldry and its integration with other court and event heralds.

• Working with Kingdoms and Laurel to improve education regarding sign heraldry, both for sign heralds themselves and the general populace.

• Acting as a resource for sign herald programs.

• Preparing quarterly reports to Laurel on the status of such programs.

Please email your resume (SCA and modern if appropriate) as well as a short description of your experience related to this job to Laurel at [email protected]. The application period ends on October 31, 2020.

* Commendations to Commenters

From Pelican: This month I would like to thank Lyonet de Covenham, Sans Merci Herald, for her invaluable help dealing with the issues surrounding European names and possible associations with the Nazi regime. Both her informed and clear-headed commentary in OSCAR and her private contributions (and willingness to answer my never-ending e-mail questions) have been essential to our efforts to deal with these delicate and complex issues.

From Wreath: I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude to several people who have consistently provided advice and opinion which have served to strengthen my decisions. In no particular order: Alisoun Metron Ariston, Bruce Batonvert, Jeanne-Marie Noir Licorne. Without them, this office would have no memory -- whether my own or that of the College of Arms -- and though we may from time to time change our minds, it is a good thing to consider what we change from when we feel a need to change to.

In addition, to Iago Coquille, my appreciation as well as that of others. He is an armorial-browsing machine, and I look forward to his commentary each month.

* From Pelican: Venetian Equivalent Titles

In her March 27, 2020 Letter, Palimpsest proposed a series of equivalent titles in the Venetian dialect, based on research work done by Signor Giovanni Loredan of Calontir. Although they were uncapitalized on the Letter of Intent, these titles have been capitalized to be consistent with our treatment of titles in the Society. We hereby accept the following as official alternate titles and direct Palimpsest to update the List of Alternate Titles (under both the Italian language groups) accordingly.

• Nobel for Award or Grant of Arms (gender-neutral)

• Dona for Award or Grant of Arms (female)

• Madona for Award or Grant of Arms (female)

• Misier for Award or Grant of Arms (male)

• Signor for Award or Grant of Arms (male)

• Barom for Barony (male)

• Chavalier for Knight (male)

• Maistro for Other Peerage Order (male)

• Vischonte for Viscounty (male)

• Principesa for Coronet (female)

• Prinzipe for Coronet (female)

• Principo for Coronet (male)

• Chontesa for County (female)

• Chonte for County (male)

• Conte for County (male)

• Duchesa for Duchy (female)

• Ducha for Duchy (male)

• Raina for Crown (female)

• Re for Crown (male)

The proposed alternate title Doxie is not accepted because of its similarity to an English slang term for a prostitute.

We thank Signor Giovanni for his hard work and contributions.

* From Pelican: Catriona and Heather

This month, commenters provided evidence that the FamilySearch Historical Records showing Catriona and Heather as English given names were, in fact, mistaken transcriptions. Apart from the single FamilySearch record, we were unable to find any evidence of Catriona as a period given name. Therefore, this month is the last in which that name can be registered until we find other evidence supporting it. Fortunately, Heather continues to be registerable because it is also a 16th century English surname that can be used as a given name.

I will be asking Codex to modify my article "Something Rich and Strange: 'Undocumentable' Names From The IGI Parish Records" accordingly.

* From Pelican: Award and Order

In the past few months we have received several submissions that mistakenly assumed that the standards and precedents governing order names do not apply when the designator Award is used. This is not the case. "Order name" is a catch-call term for any name that is used for an order or award given out by Society nobles (Crowns, Coronets, Barons or Baronesses, etc.). The specific designator used for an order name does not affect the rules that govern that name or how must be constructed. Thus, a submission for Award of X is governed by the same rules and precedents as a submission for Order of X.

* From Wreath: Continuing the Transition and Division of Labor

As is customary, when we break in a new Sovereign of Arms, we do it gently by splitting the workload. This month, the decisions were split as follows:

For the month of June, Cormac wrote the decisions for the Kingdoms of Æthelmearc, An Tir, Ansteorra, Artemisia, and Atenveldt, while Oddr handled the remainder of this month's letters.

* From Wreath: Claims of Marshalling - Order of Operations (Part 2)

Last month's Cover Letter gave instructions on how to use SENA A6F to determine whether a piece of armory was presumptive due to the appearance of marshalling. This month, we had another instance where commenters brought up the possibility of marshalling, which provides a fine example of how to use this section of SENA: The device submission of Savaric of Sussex, Quarterly gules and vairy argent and sable, a cross between in bend two crosses flory Or.

A6F1 clears armory of the appearance of marshalling. However, the field is neither plain nor divided with a field other than per pale or quarterly (a) and does not have a complex line of division (b). And while it does have a single charge over the entire field (c) crosses are explicitly called out in the rule as not exempting from the appearance of marshalling.

A6F2 returns armory that is unambiguously marshalling. However, it has no charges that terminate in the end of a section (a), no subdivided sections (b), no multiple types of primary charges (c), and no multiple charges in a given section (d).

A6F3 determines, in order, whether the armory is marshalling if the previous sections didn't rule one way or the other. And A6F3a states that "When each section of the design appears to be an independent coat of arms, it creates the unmistakable appearance of marshalling. A section of the design does not appear to be an independent coat of arms if it is a plain tincture, including a fur, which we do not protect as arms." The vairy argent and sable portions of the field are uncharged, and therefore qualify under this rule. Therefore, this device does not appear to make any claim of marshalling.

* From Incoming-Wreath: Ask Me (Almost) Anything

In the interest of reducing the mystery around being a Sovereign of Arms, and given the global pandemic and the proliferation of online events, I wish to announce my general availability to fill in holes in your schedules. If you have a slot open, and wish to have it filled by an AM(A)A session with me, just send me an email and we can chat about the schedule. Obviously, I'm not going to be available during my Wreath meetings (see the schedule on OSCAR, with meetings generally running from 0800-1200 Pacific Time), but I can usually spare an hour or two at times otherwise. This isn't limited to Kingdom-level events such as symposia.

Additionally, at some point I'm hoping to host a periodic hangout. Stay tuned for details when I get around to them.

* From Outgoing-Wreath: One Last Time

June marks my last month of decisions as Wreath King of Arms. With a grateful heart and a firm commitment to continue in the pursuit of the art and science of heraldry, I take my leave and pass the baton to my successor, Oddr.

Though it's been a challenging three years, I still cherish the privilege of serving in this role. But before I'm consigned to the mansions of rest, I have some acknowledgements I'd like to make. No man is an island, and I could not have gotten through my term without the help of several people.

First off, I'm indebted to Andrewe Regnard Blanc, who as Laurel trusted me with the position of Wreath, and to Juliana Laurel, who trusted me to keep it. Many thanks to my counterpart, Alys Pelican, and to Emma Temperaunce, who along with Juliana served as a primary sounding board for decisions, edits, and frustrations, and provided invaluable guidance to keep me on track. Thank you all.

Thanks also to my emotional support heralds, including Mary Pilgrim, Konstantia Greek Fire, Ryan Skunk, Kameshima Shark, Wu Blackthorne, and Ariana Crescent, for listening to me as I worked through the more challenging episodes of my tenure. Without your support I would surely have gone mad.

I would also like to thank the Proofreading team who always make their genius and experience available to the Sovereigns, including Jeanne Marie Noir Licorne, Bruce Batonvert, Alisoun Metron Ariston, Herveus Morsulus, and Lillia Crampette. Your edits made sure I kept my decisions coherent and measured.

Finally, I would like to thank Seraphina Ragged Staff, for taking care of innumerable little details and making my duties ten times easier. I literally could not have done my job without you doing yours.

Though I would love to take on Baldwin of Erebor's "No-Count of Arms" title upon my retirement, I recognize that the Wreath and Pelican roles are subordinate to the position of Laurel, and thus should not presume. To that end, I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

- C. Mor, Beare Discount of Arms

* From Laurel: Thanks and Congratulations!

I want to take the time to thank Cormac for his years of service as Wreath. I've known him and enjoyed working with him for a long time; he remains one of my favorite people. Normally, I'd in this moment grant him a personal heraldic title and the rank of herald extraordinary -- while extraordinary means "outside of the ordinary" (that is, not in a standard heraldic job), he certainly is extraordinary as well. But Cormac's great good works have long since been recognized in that way. So I just want to congratulate him and tell him that I look forward to see what he does next (and to seeing him so that I can hug him in person).

* Society Pages

Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.

* Send What to Whom

Letters of Intent, Comment, Response, Correction, et cetera are to be posted to the OSCAR online system. No paper copies need be sent. All submission forms plus documentation, including petitions, must be posted to the OSCAR online system. While black-and-white emblazons must be included in the Letter of Intent, only colored armory forms need to be posted in the forms area.

Cheques or money orders for submissions, payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms" are to be sent to Trent Le Clair, 928 Frazier Dr, Walla Walla WA 99362

Send roster changes and corrections to Laurel. College of Arms members may also request a copy of the current roster from Laurel.

For a paper copy of a LoAR, please contact Laurel, at the address above. The cost for one LoAR is $3. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms". The electronic copy of the LoAR is available free of charge. To subscribe to the mailings of the electronic copy, please see the bottom of http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.

For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.

* Scheduling

Items listed below in square brackets have not been scheduled yet. For information about future scheduling, please review the status table located on the Web at http://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.

The June Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, June 7, 2020 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, June 6, 2020. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Palimpsest Rules Letter (03 Mar, 2020), Avacal (04 Mar, 2020), Gleann Abhann (04 Mar, 2020), Calontir (06 Mar, 2020), An Tir (10 Mar, 2020), Laurel LoPaD (23 Mar, 2020), Outlands (23 Mar, 2020), Æthelmearc (24 Mar, 2020), Ansteorra (24 Mar, 2020), Caid (24 Mar, 2020), Ealdormere (24 Mar, 2020), Northshield (26 Mar, 2020), Atlantia (27 Mar, 2020), Palimpsest Other Letter (27 Mar, 2020), Artemisia (29 Mar, 2020), Avacal (29 Mar, 2020), Atenveldt (30 Mar, 2020), East (30 Mar, 2020), Drachenwald (31 Mar, 2020), West (31 Mar, 2020), and Laurel LoPaD (24 Apr, 2020) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Sunday, May 31, 2020.

The July Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, July 19, 2020 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, July 18, 2020. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Meridies (01 Apr, 2020), Calontir (04 Apr, 2020), Lochac (06 Apr, 2020), An Tir (09 Apr, 2020), Caid (19 Apr, 2020), Æthelmearc (22 Apr, 2020), Atlantia (22 Apr, 2020), Ealdormere (24 Apr, 2020), Laurel LoPaD (25 Apr, 2020), Artemisia (28 Apr, 2020), Northshield (28 Apr, 2020), Ansteorra (30 Apr, 2020), Atenveldt (30 Apr, 2020), Drachenwald (30 Apr, 2020), East (30 Apr, 2020), Gleann Abhann (30 Apr, 2020), Outlands (30 Apr, 2020), and Laurel LoPaD (20 May, 2020) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

The August Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, August 9, 2020 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday August 8, 2020. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Middle (02 May, 2020), Calontir (05 May, 2020), An Tir (10 May, 2020), Laurel (18 May, 2020), Laurel LoPaD (19 May, 2020), Palimpsest Rules Letter (19 May, 2020), Ealdormere (24 May, 2020), Atenveldt (25 May, 2020), Northshield (26 May, 2020), Artemisia (29 May, 2020), Caid (29 May, 2020), Ansteorra (30 May, 2020), West (30 May, 2020), Æthelmearc (31 May, 2020), Avacal (31 May, 2020), Drachenwald (31 May, 2020), East (31 May, 2020), and Lochac (31 May, 2020). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Friday, July 31, 2020.

Not all letters of intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this cover letter. The date of posting 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, et cetera) have not yet been met.

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

Pray know that I remain,

In service,

Juliana de Luna
Laurel Queen of Arms

Created at 2020-08-26T19:48:12