Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the February 2022 meetings, printed April 9, 2022
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Emma Laurel, Elisabetta Pelican, and Oddr Wreath, greetings.
Recently, we have had a number of names request authenticity for what we consider generic requests; these include 'Norse', 'English' and '16th Century'. When we consider an authenticity request, we expect enough specific details to answer the following question: were all of the elements in use at the same time and in the same place? This generally means a temporal gap of 50 years or less between all the elements, depending on the available data we have for the culture requested. Examples of good authenticity requests include "14th century England", "Old East Norse from Sweden" and "16th century Florentine". For more generic requests (such as 'Norse', 'English' and '16th Century'), we remind consulting heralds and submitters that this is what the "care most about" fields on the submissions forms are for. Authenticity requests should be reserved for situations where the submitter values authenticity to a specific time and place higher than they value the particular form of the name that they submitted.
Names may be still registered even if we cannot meet an authenticity request. Kingdoms are reminded that all authenticity requests must be summarized on the Letter of Intent, so that commenters have the maximum amount of time possible to determine whether a request can be met.
This month we considered the submission of Casa del Gatta d'Argento, wherein we discovered what appeared to be contradictory registrations and precedent surrounding the Italian household designator Casa. In 2013, Pelican made a ruling about this designator as follows:
Submitted as Casa del Melagrana, Italian household names derived from the names of charges (as described in Aryanhwy merch Catmael's "Names from an Early 16th C Census of Rome: Household Names") generally use the designator hostaria. There is a single example of casa with what might be a charge: casa del Confalone, which also appears as casa de la compagnia de lo Confalone. Given that it is a single example, which also appears in a different form, it is not sufficient to allow us to give the benefit of the doubt regarding the use of casa de heraldic charge as a pattern. Thus, we must change it to the documented hostaria de heraldic charge in order to register the name. As is standard, we are registering this in "name case" which capitalizes the letters of substantial elements of the name. [[Magdalena Lucia Ramberti. Household name Hostaria del Melagrana, 4/2013, A-Outlands]
Yet in October 2021, we registered Casa del Lilio without addressing the previous precedent or setting a new precedent. [Caterina Columbini and Adela de Castille. Household name Casa del Lilio, 10/2021 LoAR, A-Lochac] Though this submission documented Lilio as a heraldic charge, it also appears as a surname dated to 1552 in "Breve descrittione del mondo di Z. Lilio, tradotta per F. Baldelli. Con l'additione de'nomi moderni", found on Google Books at https://www.google.com/books/edition/Breve_descrittione_del_mondo_di_Z_Lilio/_QdmAAAAcAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0. Therefore, this submission may be interpreted as the family manor of an Italian family named Lilio.
The word casa means 'house' (Florio, s.v. casa [http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/florio/search/102l.html], Crusca s.v. casa [http://www.lessicografia.it/pagina.jsp?ediz=1&vol=0&pag=161&tipo=1]). Currently, we do not have evidence that this word was ever used during our period in the same way that Middle English 'hous' (MED, s.v. hous, n, 1b.(c). [https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/middle-english-dictionary/dictionary/MED21360/track?counter=15&search_id=13342628]) or Early Modern English 'house' (OED, s.v. house n.1 and int., 4.b. [https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/88886]) was. Households in the Italian language that use the word Casa are therefore referring to family homes and manors rather than common houses or inns. We will continue to register this household name designator with the pattern Casa de X, where X is an Italian surname or placename.
The Italian language does have two words that are equivalent to English tavern or inn. The first is hostaria/osteria (Florio, s.v. hostaria [http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/florio/search/246c.html], Crusca s.v. osteria [http://www.lessicografia.it/pagina.jsp?ediz=1&vol=0&pag=582&tipo=1]). This designator appears in a 16th century census of Rome to describe various taverns and inns in "Names from an Early 16th C Census of Rome: Household Names" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (https://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/italian/leohousehold.html). The second is taverna (Florio, s.v. taverna [http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/florio/search/569c.html], Crusca, s.v. taverna [http://www.lessicografia.it/pagina.jsp?ediz=1&vol=0&pag=874&tipo=1]). This word also appears as a designator in Aryanhwy's article and period dictionaries considered it equivalent to hostaria/osteria in a way that they do not consider casa. Therefore, as of this Cover Letter, we will register Italian household names based on inn-signs and taverns with either of the designators Hostaria/Osteria or Taverna. We will continue to prohibit the registration of this pattern using the designator Casa.
In exploring the question raised above of Italian households using patterns involving heraldic charges, Juliana Siren offered evidence of gonfaloni, which were neighborhoods best known in Florence and Siena. These gonfaloni frequently described themselves with names in the pattern 'heraldic charge + color word'. In his book Education and Society in Florentine Tuscany: Teachers, pupils and schools, c. 1250-1500, published in 2007 and found online at https://www.google.com/books/edition/Education_and_Society_in_Florentine_Tusc/KEYM7GXDWi8C?hl=en&gbpv=0, Robert Black includes citations of many gonfaloni, including: confalone del Lion Nero, ghonfalone del Bue Nero, gonfalone dello Leone Nero, Lion Rosso, Lion Bianco, ghonfalone Dragho Verde, and gonfalone Lion d'Oro.
In addition, Iago Boar shared further names of gonfaloni from 'The Priori of Florence', a 16th century Florentine armorial found online at https://teca.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/ImageViewer/servlet/ImageViewer?idr=BNCF00004585787. This data shows multiple gonfaloni that use the pattern de + heraldic charge: Scala (ladder), Nicchio (escallop), Ferza (lash), Ruote (wheels), Carro (cart), Vipera (serpent), Unicorno (unicorn), Chiave (keys), Drago (dragon) and Bue (ox).
Based on this evidence, as of this Cover Letter we will register the Italian household designator Confalone/Ghonfalone/Gonfalone with the patterns de + heraldic charge and de + heraldic charge + color word. We thank Juliana Siren and Iago Boar for their research and contributions.
We are updating SENA A5F1b to include the attested field division orly as a category of field divisions that is substantially different from all other field divisions. The insert/delete version of that section is:
b. Substantial Change of Direction of Division: A change in direction of the lines of partition creates a substantial change of partition. Most of the standard lines of division are substantially different. Any field division which differs only by the number of partitions in a single direction is not substantially different. The pairs per bend and bendy, per bend sinister and bendy sinister, per chevron and chevronelly, per fess and barry, and per pale and paly are not substantially different from the other half of their pair. Each of the above mentioned divisions is otherwise substantially different from all other divisions. Therefore, the pairs chevronelly and paly, per bend and per bend sinister, etc., are substantially different.
For example, Per pale argent and gules is substantially different from Per fess argent and gules and from Per chevron argent and gules. However, Per pale argent and gules is not substantially different from Paly argent and gules.
Per pall and per pall inverted are clear of all other divisions.
Quarterly and per saltire are substantially different from all two-part divisions and three-part divisions. They are also substantially different from all other four-part divisions (such as per pale and per chevron or per bend and per fess). The other four-part divisions are only substantially different from one another if they share no lines of division in common. All four-part divisions are substantially different from divisions that split the field evenly into more than four partitions.
For example, per pale and per chevron is substantially different from per fess and per bend sinister, as they have no lines of division in common.
Checky is substantially different from all other fields. While checky is substantially different from all other grid-like partitions (i.e., those formed by two sets of parallel lines, such as lozengy and barry-bendy); these other grid-like partitions are not substantially different from one another. This is because they all create a general impression of lozenges of some sort. These grid-like partitions are all substantially different from partitions that split the field into six or fewer partitions.
For example, Barry and per pale argent and vert is substantially different from Checky argent and vert, but is not clear of conflict under this rule from Bendy and per pale argent and vert.
Gyronny (of any number of pieces)
, party of six, and orly are substantially different from all other partitions. Other multiply parted divisions (bendy, barry, etc.), are discussed in the first paragraph of this section.andLines of division not mentioned here explicitly may be determined to be substantially different on a case by case basis.
As a reference, these categories are all substantially different from each other:
per pale, paly
per fess, barry
per bend, bendy
per bend sinister, bendy sinister
per chevron, chevronelly
per chevron inverted, chevronelly inverted
gyronny (any number of pieces)
per pall
per pall inverted
per saltire
quarterly
orly
other divisions into four equal parts
(may have substantial difference between themselves, if they share no lines in common, such as per pale and per chevron compared to per fess and per bend sinister)party of six
checky
lozengy and all other grid-like partitions (such as barry bendy and per pale and chevronelly)
This month we were presented with an armory submission using a New World bird, the cardinal, which was previously registered with a step from core practice as New World fauna.
According to SENA A2B2 plants and animals are registrable without a step from core practice provided they can be documented as known to period people. Historically, we have generally relied on period writings and illustrations as evidence, but for indigenous peoples that can be difficult to obtain. However, archeological evidence of plants and animals found in period settlements is also suitable for our needs, and submitters are encouraged to consult appropriate literature as needed.
For example, bones from a Northern Cardinal were found in a period New Mexican settlement as reported by Steven Emslie et. al. in "Two Prehistoric Puebloan Avifaunas From the Pecos Valley, Southeastern New Mexico" in the Journal of Ethnobiology 12(1): 83-115. The site where the bones were located dates from 1250-1325. As such, the use of the cardinal no longer carries a step from core practice.
We thank Juliana Siren for providing this information regarding the Northern Cardinal.
On March 12th, 2022, at An Tir's Kingdom Arts & Sciences and Rapier Championships in the Barony of Wastekeep, Their Majesties An Tir Sven and Raoukinn offered Marya Kargashina, Black Lion Principal Herald Emeritus, entrance into the Order of the Pelican; she accepted and was elevated on the spot.
On March 27, 2022, Their Majesties Leofric and Sabine, King and Queen of Lochac, did elevate Miriam bat Shimeon, event steward for KWHSS 2020, to the Order of the Pelican.
At the same event, Their Majesties Leofric and Sabine did also recognize ffride wlffsdotter, Morelle heraut Extraordinary, as a Baroness of their Court.
Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.
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.
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 February Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, February 13, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, February 5, 2021. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (05 Nov, 2021), Gleann Abhann (06 Nov, 2021), Meridies (06 Nov, 2021), Ęthelmearc (10 Nov, 2021), An Tir (11 Nov, 2021), Gleann Abhann (14 Nov, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (14 Nov, 2021), Middle (14 Nov, 2021), Middle (18 Nov, 2021), Ęthelmearc (23 Nov, 2021), Atlantia (23 Nov, 2021), East (23 Nov, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Nov, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Nov, 2021), Outlands (24 Nov, 2021), Lochac (25 Nov, 2021), Atenveldt (26 Nov, 2021), Ansteorra (27 Nov, 2021), Artemisia (27 Nov, 2021), Drachenwald (28 Nov, 2021), Northshield (28 Nov, 2021), Caid (29 Nov, 2021), West (29 Nov, 2021), Avacal (30 Nov, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (08 Jan, 2022) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, January 31, 2022.
The March Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, March 6, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, March 5, 2021. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Palimpsest Rules Letter (01 Dec, 2021), Meridies (02 Dec, 2021), Trimaris (07 Dec, 2021), Calontir (09 Dec, 2021), An Tir (10 Dec, 2021), Lochac LoItP (10 Dec, 2021), Artemisia (14 Dec, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (15 Dec, 2021), Atlantia (16 Dec, 2021), Caid (19 Dec, 2021), Ęthelmearc (21 Dec, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Dec, 2021), Middle (24 Dec, 2021), Lochac (27 Dec, 2021), East (28 Dec, 2021), Ansteorra (30 Dec, 2021), Atenveldt (30 Dec, 2021), Avacal (31 Dec, 2021), Drachenwald (31 Dec, 2021), Northshield (31 Dec, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (08 Feb, 2022) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, February 28, 2022.
The April Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, April 10, 2022 and the Wreath meeting held on Friday, April 2, 2021. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Gleann Abhann (03 Jan, 2022), Gleann Abhann (08 Jan, 2022), Calontir (09 Jan, 2022), Laurel LoPaD (09 Jan, 2022), An Tir (12 Jan, 2022), An Tir (12 Jan, 2022), West (14 Jan, 2022), Artemisia (15 Jan, 2022), Meridies (17 Jan, 2022), East (18 Jan, 2022), Ealdormere (24 Jan, 2022), Lochac (24 Jan, 2022), Middle (25 Jan, 2022), Outlands (29 Jan, 2022), Ęthelmearc (31 Jan, 2022), Atenveldt (31 Jan, 2022), Avacal (31 Jan, 2022), Caid (31 Jan, 2022), Drachenwald (31 Jan, 2022), Laurel LoPaD (14 Mar, 2022) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Thursday, March 31, 2022.
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,
Emma de Fetherstan
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at 2022-04-09T21:51:13