Copyright © 1997 Society
for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
3 Las Palomas
Orinda CA 94563
9 June XII (1977)
Karina of the Far West, Laurel Queen of
Arms,
to the Heralds of the four Kingdoms,
Greetings.
The following consist entirely of rejections.
RETURNS
FOR THE KINGDOM OF ATENVELDT:
Cathal MacEdan.
Conflicts with Anne Dudley (who compliments him on his good taste).
Try a divided field (other than per pale).
Steven of Shadowkeep.
Conflicts with Sherborn, Argent a pelican in piety vert.
FOR THE KINGDOM OF THE WEST:
Cassandra of Khiva.
Conflicts with Sheryl of Thespis.
Ceantyre, Province.
Judging from the material presented, the ship in the application
has far too tall a mast and sail to be considered a knorr. Also
I question the propriety of arms containing a sail painted with
what appears to be a complete coat. Why not just use the design
on the sail and forget the ship?
Chenon of Grey Oaks.
It looks good, but we need genus and species of grey oakmy
books do not give this. Someone at Fresno State can probably
identify it exactly for you.
Dreiburgen, Barony.
badge. Conflicts with several people in Papworth, and looks too
much like a typical Atenveldt office. Why do you need a badge?
Baronial officers are entitled to wear the arms as heralds do,
aren't they?
Erkenbrand of the Flaming Sword.
Conflicts with Carroll, Sable a sword erect argent between
two lions rampant combattant Or. Alter the field. What genus
of catamountain do you want? Los Gatos could have
been named for Felis concolor (mountain lion) or Lynx
rufus (bay lynx).
Gereg Blaidllwyd o Rhyddhowld.
Conflicts with Allix, Swaffham, Ellick.
On the name, the Meridies Herald comments as follows: "Blaid
wolf, fem. noun. Llwyd 0
holy, brown, gray, adj. Agglutinates ok, meaning: graybrownholy
wolf. O means of. Great, so far, but he blew the rest of it.
Rhydd free, lose, liberal, adj. Rhyddhool laxative,
is the closest to Rhyddhowld, honest! Howld means the hold of
a ship (ceudadd llong ship's cavity). Hold, as
in keep or tenure is Gafael. Ergo, Freehold Gafaelrhydd."
Gwenafara the Dragonmaker.
badge. The drawing is not the creature meant by "dragon,"
nor any other recognized heraldic creature. As blazoned it conflicts
with Akataro Minimoto.
James Cameron.
Conflicts with Chapoin, Per bend sinister argent and sable.
I would rather you didn't use bear pawprints, either singular
or plural (lest they conflict with Countess Esther). What about
a bear's head couped?
Jessica Firestar.
Conflicts with Cartwright. Also, a comet can't be a gurges.
Kalvan von Anderenheim.
Names conflicts with Kalvan of Otherwhen, a fictional character.
Melanie of the Coll.
Too much of a landscape. Use a pile reversed with a roundel
sable if you like, but not "shaped like a cave mouth."
Better yet, start over.
Sigelgaita the Silvertongued.
The cup and serpent are a symbol of pharmacy. As to the name,
if you don't know what language it's in, how do you know the meaning?
Vala of Colfre'.
Vala is a name used by both William Blake and Tolkien (not to
mention Philip Jose' Farmer, who was copying Blake) for divine
or angelic beings. I don't know of any medieval humans named
Vala. The letter V is not used in Welsh. I understand Vala is
the lady's mundane given name but it doesn't make it acceptable
for the Society, any more than one can use his mundane arms.
I hope to follow this letter shortly with
one containing acceptances, as soon as Lord Calavan had checked
them against current English and Scottish registrations.
I remain at your service,
(Laurel Seal) Karina of the Far West
O.L., Pel., Baroness
Laurel Queen of Arms
KFW:dcm
cc: Steward
Clarion