APPROVALS 1 3 August XXI (1986)

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE APPROVED:

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Alix Alven. Device. Per pale azure and Or, two trees eradicated counterchanged.

Averil du Bois d'Avignon. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Black Jack of Orney. Name and device. Gules, two bones in saltire argent be-tween in pale two wyverns passant to sinister Or and in fess two skulls affronty argent.

Cherie Ruadh MhicRath of Locksley. Device. Vert, on a tree eradicated argent a cat statant guardant gules.

DISCUSSION: This is technically only a minor point different from the arms of her lord, Ioseph of Locksley; and even with a letter of permission, we normally require at least a major point. [V.5] I am granting a specific exception in this case.

Christiana Sinclaire. Name only.

Dafydd MacFarlane. Name and device. Per pale gules and argent, a winged wolf volant bendwise counterchanged, a chief triangular Or.

Davan inn Spaki. Device. Sable, an owl displayed argent and in chief a staff fesswise Or, all within a bordure argent.

DISCUSSION: As I have noted recently (12 Jul 86, pp. 2­3), stooping is a head down position (read, "bird in a power dive"). The owl is simply displayed.

Eirianedd o Randir Mwyn. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: According to Batonvert, the initial consonant of the word following the Welsh preposition o mutates, so Rh becomes simply R. We have corrected the name accordingly.

Emerick Cowper from the Wall. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Emrys Bethoc (submitted as Emrys of Bethoc). Name and device. Argent, an otter rampant proper between in chief three mullets of four points gules and a base wavy azure, all within a bordure embattled gules. (Lutra lutra)

NOTE: Bethoc is a feminine given name, not a place name, so the preposition of is inappropriate. We have omitted it in order to register the device. He might want to consider adding a patronymic particle, such as mac.

Grimric the Obnoxious. Name and device. Per bend sinister, checky vert and argent, and argent, a bend sinister gules and in base an annulet vert.

NOTE: The period definition of obnoxious, according to the OED, carries the meaning of "submissive, obsequious, or deferential." The earliest citation given for the current meaning is 1675. The name is still acceptable ­ the attribute is certainly period ­ but you might want to advise the submitter.

Johnathan Crusadene Whitewolf. Name change (from Jonathan of Whitewolfe) and badge for the Brothers Crusadene. Argent, a long Maltese cross nowy pierced gules and therein a rose azure.

NOTE: Please make the circular center of the cross bigger, and enlarge the rose proportionally.

Justin du Roc. Badge. Per bend sinister azure and counter­ermine, a madu (Indian shield) with horns in pale argent.* (* "The Death Star has cleared the planet."

DISCUSSION: A madu is "An Indian parrying and thrusting weapon consisting of a pair of black buck horns fastened together with their points in opposite directions ... The hand is protected by a small circular shield of leather or iron." (Stone 423).

Ludwig Garen. Name only.

Meghan Kendra of Blackwood. Device. Per bend Or and gules, a natural panther salient sable between in bend sinister a mullet of four points elongated to base vert and another argent.

Roget du Callet. Device. Argent, on a fess gules two boar's heads erased argent, overall a boar's head erased sable.

Suzanne of Brignogan. Name only.

Törcsvári Sarolt. Name and device. Per bend sinister Or and sable, three poppies gules and a sheaf of three wheat stalks bendwise sinister Or, all within a bordure per bend sinister gules and Or.

Kingdom of Caid

Aldgytha of the Misty Glen. Name change (from Ealdgyth von Froschheim) and device. Purpure, a unicorn rampant argent, armed and crined Or, in base a thunderbolt argent, a bordure counter­compony Or and sable. NOTE: Her old device (Quarterly argent and purpure, a bend counter­compony Or and sable between a thunderbolt and a roundel argent) becomes a badge.

Aldgytha of the Misty Glen. Badge. Purpure, a thunderbolt argent, a bordure counter­compony Or and sable.

Aldgytha of the Misty Glen. Badge. Purpure, a winged heart argent, a bordure counter­compony Or and sable.

Allen of House Latimer. Name change (from Francis of Allynwoode).

Angela of Rosebury. Device change. Gules, a pale offset between in bend sinister two mascles argent. NOTE: Her present device is released.

DISCUSSION: The pale offset is a new charge. See the illustration in the margin.

Angelina Nicollette. Badge. A sea­lion and a bottle­nosed dolphin haurient respectant grasping each other's forelimbs argent.

Angharad of the Blue Rose. Badge. A rose within a triangle voided azure.

Angharad ferch Gareth. Name and device. Per bend sinister Or and gules, three escallops in bend sinister and a sea­horse erect counterchanged.

Ariel of Nordwache. Name and device. Per chevron argent and potent, two lances in chevron and a unicorn's head erased to sinister sable.

Ariel Truelove. Name only.

Arwen Mildthryth Dafydd. Device change. Azure, a mascle Or conjoined in cross with four lozenges argent. NOTE: Her old device is released.

Ascelyn Fraser Summerhawke. Name change (from Ascelyn Fraser of Summerhawk).

Bhalter de Fairment. Badge. On a gout vert a fleur­de­lis Or.

Bronwyn McKay Kellough. Name and device. Per bend sable and vert, three roses in bend argent.

Caid, Kingdom of. Title for Gold Forest Pursuivant.

Charles of Shepardswell. Badge. Per chevron vert and Or, a lion rampant maintaining a mullet counterchanged.

Chloe Aubre Duclair. Name only.

Eden Elisabeth McNab Summerhawke. Name change (from Eden of Summerhawk).

Egill von Stahl. Badge. Argent, a comet bendwise sinister inverted sable, bearded gules.

DISCUSSION: In light of both the prior registration of the Bayeux tapestry representation of Halley's comet to the Barony­March of the Debatable Lands and the considerable number of period depictions of comets presented by Crescent, I am withdrawing my objection to comets not represented exactly as shown in Parker. For purposes of SCA armory, a comet may generally be defined as "a star with a beard" ­­ a mullet or estoile, trailing plumes of vapor or fire. Concedo, Bruce.

The word comet comes from Greek (astÉr) komÉtÉs, "long­haired (star)". This is why its tail is known as a "beard".

Frank of Wales. Name and device. Or, an olive branch bendwise vert, fructed sable, between two fleurs­de­lis azure, each charged with a sword proper.

Friedrich Ethelred aus Schloss Trier. Badge. Or, a dexter arm embowed and armored, maintaining an axe, sable.

Garfield of Angar. Name and device. Per bend sable and Or, a bend between a mallet and a shamrock counterchanged.

DISCUSSION: Garfield is his mundane given name.

Gregory del Grifone Scarlàtto. Name and device. Per fess Or and sable, in chief a griffin passant reguardant, grasping in its dexter talon a sheaf of arrows inverted gules, and in base a saltire gules fimbriated Or.

Gyldenholt, Barony of. Name for Order of the Forêt d'Or.

Ifor Aberystwyth. Name only.

Ivar Krigsvin. Badge for Mercenary Guild. Gules, a talbot's head couped argent, collared sable, between three bezants one and two.

Jared Wolfe of Shadow Keep. Name and device. Per pale azure and Or, a castle sable and on a chief three caltrops all counterchanged.

DISCUSSION: Any artist worth his flake white will delineate the castle in Or where it passes over the blue part of the field.

Jeremy FitzMartin of Angoulême. Name & device. Per pale azure & argent, a lion rampant between in chief two fleurs­de­lis, all within a bordure all counterchanged.

Julia Gilyneta Ahearn. Name and device. Per pale azure and argent, a sea­horse erect within a bordure mullety all counterchanged.

Karl Tynken. Device. Barry azure and argent, on a pale endorsed gules three grenades Or.

Kendra Grey. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and vert, two batons sinister counterchanged.

Lambert de Sur. Device. Azure, on a fess cotised argent a fess gules, in chief four crosses formy argent.

Larissa Alwynn Clarewoode. Name & device. Or, an orle of violets purpure, barbed and seeded proper, overall a pale azure charged with a sword inverted proper.

NOTE: The flora should be drawn as violets, not purple roses. Please correct the emblazon.

Leona di Francesco. Device change. Azure, a tau cross sable, fimbriated, overall a lioness sejant, dexter forepaw raised, and in dexter base a cup, all Or. NOTE: Her old device is released.

Maeve Moorland. Name and device. Or, a horse passant to sinister between two crescents and an escallop inverted gules.

Maeve Moorland. Badge. Argent, a sea­horse naiant to sinister vert within a bordure embattled purpure.

Malcolm Andrew of White Heather. Name and device. Per chevron inverted azure and azure ermined Or, a chevron inverted argent and in chief a lion salient Or.

Margarette of Gyldenholt (submitted as Margarette de Burgh). Name and device. Sable, a natural leopard's face Or between two flaunches ermine and on a chief Or three fleurs­de­lys gules.

NOTE: The name conflicts with that of Margarete, Countess of Berg, wife of Gerhard VI von Jülich. We have used a holding name in order to register the device.

Matthew of Paisley. Name and device. Vert, a pall cotised Or between three cinquefoils argent.

Matti Turkulainen. Name and device. Argent, fretty sable, a pike naiant vert.

Morgan Arthur ap Llewellyn. Name and device. Vert, in pale a ram's head cabossed argent, armed Or, and three roses two and one, all within a bordure Or.

DISCUSSION: While some possibility of confusion exists between this name and that of Morgan ap Llewellan Peregrine, the two do not conflict.

Morganthe of Nordwache (submitted as Morganthe of the Shadows). Name and device. Azure, on a bend sinister between a mask of tragedy and a mask of comedy argent, a garden rosebud gules, slipped and leaved vert.

NOTE: Morganthe "of the Shadows" is too reminiscent of Morgan le Fay. Please choose another byname. We have used a holding name in order to register the device.

Nikolai Syekol. Name and device. Gules, on a bend sinister Or a merlin's head palewise erased proper, all within a bordure checky sable and argent.

Njal Grimmsson. Name and device. Gules, on a bend sinister sable, fimbriated and cotised, three crescents palewise Or.

Robert Herring. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Robert Milne Stabbings. Badge. Sable, in pale a wolf passant reguardant and a tree stump eradicated argent.

Selina of Sand Creek. Name only.

Sigrid Bjarnisdotter. Name only.

Takeda Tetsuzo. Name change (from Dennis of Gyldenholt).

Teodoro Bertrando di Falco. Name and device. Per pale Or and gules, on a bend nebuly between two falcons close, belled and jessed, three roundels all counterchanged.

Wilfried Rudiger Quellermann. Name and device. Barry wavy vert and argent, three gouttes de sang.

Wolf Dietrich von Hohenwald. Device change. Per pale Or and gules, a chevron between two wolf's heads erased respectant and a pine tree, all counterchanged. NOTE: His old device is released.

DISCUSSION: I have been treating the addition of a group of dissimilar secondary charges as sufficient difference from mundane arms. The general requirement has been that the underlying coats be very basic (an ordinary), that the dissimilarity be symmetrical (chief/base or dexter/sinister), and that it be marked (usually complete difference of charge).

Wulfstan Darroldson. Name only.

Yasmeen Bakhtar. Name only.

Kingdom of Trimaris

Alaric Valdemar Whitewolf. Name only.

Alasdair Francis MacDhomhnuill. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Allesandra Francesca Karina del Bochetto. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and azure, a bend sinister wavy counterchanged between a dolphin naiant bendwise sinister vert and another facing sinister and inverted, argent, on a chief vert three escallops Or.

Branwyn of Haven Isle. Name only.

Cedric Steinhauser. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

DISCUSSION: Davies (12) says: "It is often stated that when Sir Walter Scott gave a character in his novel 'Ivanhoe' the name of CEDRIC he made a mistake, intending the old Saxon name of CERDIC. As he was a native of Strathclyde, and the other 'Saxon' names in the book look strangely Celtic, it seems much more probable that Sir Walter merely simplified the spelling of CEDRYCH." Ced­ also occurs as a protheme in Anglo­Saxon, a variant of Caed- or Cead­, and ­ric is well attested, so Cedric is also a valid Anglo­Saxon name. [AG].

Christiana Storre. Name and device. Or, a sword bendwise sinister inverted gules between two bendlets sinister gemel sable, in dexter chief a lion's head erased and in sinister base a heart, both gules.

DISCUSSION: I've never looked into the question of which is "correct." but Society usage is to say bendwise sinister rather than bend sinisterwise. There may be a grammatical argument for the choice: the noun being modified is bend, not bendsinister (sinister also modifies bend), and the suffix ­wise should presumably be placed on the noun. It's like saying "fleurs­de­lis" (lily flowers) instead of "fleur­de­lises" (lilies flower?).

Deirdre Edana Gautarrsdottir. Name only.

Demetrius Sethero Eleom Potamo. Name only.

NOTE: According to Virgule, this is how the given name is spelled. The ­ous ending is "a butchered genitive."*

____________________

* CASSIUS: Did Cicero say anything? CASCA: Aye, he spoke Greek. CASSIUS: To what effect? CASCA: Nay, an I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face again: But those, that understood him, smiled at one another, and shook their heads: but, for mine own part, it was Greek to me.

Eldrydd Rhuddlan. Name and device. Per bend argent and vert, a manatee bendwise sinister embowed to sinister gules.

DISCUSSION: A manatee is a sirenian, or sea cow, a large aquatic mammal. For purposes of conflict, it looks like a seal.

Elemér Landshund. Name only.

DISCUSSION: The given name, quoth Star, is Magyar. "It's an old pagan name, and nobody knows the meaning of it."

Elspeth Trelawney MacNaughton of Lochawe. Device. Vert, on a saltire Or a tower gules, and on a chief Or three roses gules, barbed and seeded proper.

Erika Bjornsdottir. Name only.

Gillian von dem Walde (submitted as Gillian van Wald). Name only (see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: Van is Dutch, Wald German; the German for "of the forest" would be von "of" + dem "the" (masculine, dative case, singular) + Walde "forest" (dative singular). Von dem would be contracted in normal use to vom, although I'm told one does not do this in names.

Johann Götz Kauffman von Erfurt. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

NOTE: The normal modern spelling would be Kaufmann (one f, two ns). It means "salesman, merchant."

Malcolm Angus Gunn. Name and device. Vert, a tower pean between two eagles close addorsed Or, on a chief ermine, a sword fesswise gules.

NOTE: Please draw the ermine spots larger.

Michael von Anspach. Name only.

Michael Kennethson. Name only.

Mirga Kate. Name & device. Or, two chevronels between two daggers in chevron conjoined at the hilts and a natural panther rampant to sinister sable.

Moira Breanainn MacLochlainn. Name only.

Peregrine Springs, Canton of. Name and device. Argent, a falcon rising, wings elevated and displayed, gules, environed of a laurel wreath vert, a base wavy barry wavy of six azure and argent.

DISCUSSION: The base could be blazoned more compactly as "a ford proper."

Quentin Wrenguard ap Rhys. Badge. Azure, two rams' heads erased combattant Or.

Rurik Petrovitch Stoianov. Name only.

Serina Vigdis Ulfsdottir. Name and device. Sable, a wolf couchant regardant argent between in pale two decrescents Or, a bordure vair.

NOTE: We have substituted Old Norse Ulf for Anglo­Saxon Wulf, so the name and the patronymic suffix agree in language.

Seumas Moray. Name only.

Starhaven, Shire of. Name only (appeal).

DISCUSSION: It is my considered opinion that Starhaven and Starkhafn are too similar, even with a letter of permission. The two are alike enough in form to be confused, on paper if not in person.

This is a genuine problem. It took me months to unsnarl "Will the Wisp" and "Willow de Wisp" when both were on the Atenveldt Order of Precedence (a looooong time ago). Master Wilhelm mistook a submission from the Barony of the Sacred Stone as a name change for the Guardians of the Sacred Stone. And a bare six weeks ago, I confused Mynydd Seren with Mynydd Coron, and very nearly filed one of them out of existence.

Individually, I cannot sustain any of the grounds offered for the appeal. The College operates on a first­come, first­served basis, depending on when something was registered, not when it was first submitted. Other rules may be bent in hardship cases, but conflict between two SCA submissions is not one of them once something is registered, it is entitled to our full protection, no matter what the circumstances. Letters of permission are only sufficient when the question is one of protecting registrants' rights, not when there is a reasonable probability of confusion. Modern transit and communications (not to mention the exigencies of maintaining a large central registry, whether on paper or via computer) rule out the argument of geographical separation, except perhaps as a tie­breaker in borderline cases. It is not just that "this is our rule." I understand the purpose each rule serves, and know why it is important. I do not wish to set a precedent that will undermine any of them.

Nonetheless, I am moved to grant the appeal ­ not on account of any of the above grounds, but because of all of them, plus two others: the fact that Starkhafn extended permission without this being requested, and the fact that neither branch is, or can ever become, a principality or kingdom. To the best of my knowledge, the only adverse effect this is likely to have is that the records of the two groups may someday become confused. In light of the circumstances, I am willing, on behalf of the Laurel office, to assume this risk. I would like to suggest, however, that Starhaven (no k, v not f) seek to avoid this possibility by adding some kind of qualifier of their name. [I must confess to a certain temptation to record the names as "Starkhafn, Barony of (Caid)" and "Starhaven, Shire of (Trimaris)."] Treblerose's proposal of "Starhaven­by­the-Sea" has a lovely ring to it; might I offer this as a suggestion?

Note to Treblerose: the practice of registering names and armory separately is comparatively recent. Name­only submissions were authorized for the first time as a result of the discussions at the Great Conclave in 1979. It was another year or two before we started registering the name when the arms didn't pass, and holding names came in a year or two after that (although we discussed something along those lines at the Conclave). Now, would you please stop saying things like "I am not aware that Laurel has ever...". You make me feel old ...

Trudy Tudinsdottir (submitted as Lyndh Tudinsdottir). Name and device. Azure, a garden rose slipped and leaved argent within a mullet of four points voided, all within a bordure Or.

NOTE: Lyndh appears from the submitter's documentation to be a locative byname, not a given name. We have used her mundane name in order to register the device. She might want to consider Old German Lindi or Linda.

Tycho Fugger. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Wihtgar Silfrhar. Name only.

Kingdom of the West

Anne Cameron Nisbet. Name and device. Vert, a phoenix displayed argent, flames proper, within a bordure invected Or.

Anthony Ravenscroft. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Balin Drayloch. Name and device. Sable, on a bend sinister Or, six torteaux, all within a bordure Or.

Bartel Fitzneel. Name and device. Argent, a sheep rampant to sinister sable within a bordure gules.

Brice Armbruster. Device. Argent, a crossbow azure.

Catherine of Brackenborough. Name and device. Argent, a raven close and in chief three roses azure.

Clare of Belmont. Name and device. Argent, on a goblet within a double tressure gules, a rose argent barbed and seeded proper.

Darri Kveldulfsson. Badge. Sable, three natural reindeer's heads in pall, necks conjoined, within a bordure Or.

Eleonora Lucia Cavalla. Name and device. Per pale azure and Or, three unicorn's heads erased counterchanged.

Elfarch Myddfai. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Elizabeth of Dragonmoor. Name and device. Azure, a natural tiger couchant guardant Or, marked sable, and a sinister gore erminois.

Elspeth Cameron. Name and device. Gyronny sable and argent, a rose within an orle gules.

Garwulf Nightsbane. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Hiroshi Shizukana. Device. Argent, three arrows in pall, points to center, between as many annulets gules.

James Cameron. Device change. Gules, on a saltire between four thistles argent, a bear's head erased sable. NOTE: His old device is released.

Johanna Wendover. Device. Argent, on a fess invected azure between two trefoils slipped vert, a rainbow Or.

Kereina Talvi Tytar. Name change (from Kareah Talvi Tytar).

Katherine of Bristol. Badge. Argent, a bear rampant to sinister bendy sinister sable and Or.

Katherine of Bristol. Badge. A bear statant erect affronty, arms extended, vair.

Katrina Jonsdottir (submitted as Katinka Jonsdottir). Name and device. Per fess indented of three points sable and azure, a dance between three crescents and a lion dormant Or.

NOTE: Katinka is a second diminutive of the given name Ekaterina. We have substituted the first diminutive Katrina. We are advised that first diminutives of Russian given names generally existed independently of their root names.

Lachlan Bradoc (submitted as Lachlan Bradoc McCarrum). Name and device. Per pale gules and vert, a bear rampant guardant argent.

NOTE: According to Black, Carrum is a locative surname, so it wouldn't be used to form a patronymic. We have omitted the byname in order to register the device.

Mary Graham. Name and device. Argent, a thistle vert flowered gules within a bordure gules charged with hawk's bells Or.

Michael Summerisle. Name change (from Michail Dikevo Polya).

Miyoshi Suisei­ko. Device. Azure, two bars dancetty between in pale three comets fesswise, heads to sinister, Or.

Morgan ap Siarl. Device. Gules, a griffin segreant ermine maintaining in its dexter foreclaw a cross of four lozenges Or.

DISCUSSION: This submission was originally returned by Vesper for conflict with BRENLY, Gules a griffin segreant argent. (Papworth 981) The submitter has appealed this decision to Laurel. It is our opinion that Vesper was correct in returning the original submission. As drawn, the ermine spots were invisible against the interior details of the griffin; visually, there was less than a point of difference between Morgan's arms and those of Brenly.

Morgan has redrawn his submission, reducing the amount of detail in the griffin so the ermine spots stand out, and altering the proportions so the cross constitutes a more significant part of the design. (Unfortunately, the miniature emblazon was based on the earlier emblazon.) In this form (which we feel to be the "correct" depiction of the heraldic content of this device), the submission has met the objections that were originally raised, and may be accorded both the visual and the technical difference that are necessary to bring it clear of the cited conflict.

The addition of ermine spots to a field or charge constitutes a change in tincture ­ a major point of difference. Circumstances (such as the dimensions of the background, or the presence of details that detract from contrast) may cause less visual weight to be assigned, and hence reduce the point count. It must be borne in mind, however, that the addition of ermine spots is a recognizable heraldic change, not an artistic nuance, and is thus normally a standard unit (i.e., a point) of difference. It should also be noted that "held" charges ­ ones grasped by an animate charge ­ rarely contribute more than a weak minor point, or delta. This is sufficient against mundane, but not against registered SCA armory. The present submission is helped by the size, placement, and difference in tincture of the cross.

Nygell y Baedd Gwyllt. Device. Gyronny vert and gules, a boar statant guardant within a bordure Or.

Omatsu Yoshiaki. Name only.

Quentin Sablestar. Badge. Per saltire Or and argent, a mullet within an annulet sable.

Richard the Dark. Device (reblazon). Sable, on a chevron cotised between three star jasmine blossoms argent, three ogresses.

Siona of the Eagle's Nest. Device. Per pale argent and gules, a cross parted and fretted and interlaced with an annulet, all counterchanged, in bend sinister two eagles displayed heads to sinister argent and sable.

Susan of Coldwell. Name and device. Or, a roundel barry wavy argent and sable within a bordure wavy vert.

Tatiana Nikolaevna Tumanova. Change of device. Per pale vert and azure, in base four mullets in cross, an orle argent. NOTE: Her old device (Argent, on a pale endorsed vert, a unicorn's head couped at the shoulder Or, armed and crined argent) becomes a badge.

Vlasta Ulvaeus of the Wildhair. Release of badge. Per chevron inverted argent and azure, a sun sable and a pair of mail gauntlets argent.

* * * * * *

RETURNS 11 3 August XXI (1986)

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS ARE RETURNED:

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Averil du Bois d'Avignon. Device. Per bend sinister in pile abased argent and vert, in dexter issuant from pile point a violet purpure, slipped and leaved vert.

REASON: The line of division does not appear to be compatible with the medieval armorial style the College of Arms attempts to emulate. Please redesign. DISCUSSION: Elvin's Dictionary of Heraldry is not a good source. Many of the practices described and illustrated are extremely late, and by our standards, are poor heraldry. His terminology is confused, and some of the things he shows have never actually been used. The book is sometimes useful as a source for illustrations of charges described in other, more reliable works, but it cannot be trusted for anything else.

Eirianedd o Randir Mwyn. Device. Argent, in dexter a hawk rising wings addorsed and inverted sable and issuant from sinister three piles fesswise azure.

REASON: The design is attractive, but I am uncertain what term, if any, may be applied to the charges issuing from the sinister. Piles should go most or all the way across the field, leaving no room for other charges. (I've written on this at considerable length on previous submissions.) DISCUSSION: Three alternatives have been proposed, two of them requiring further research, and one a new emblazon. If the "piles" are redrawn so as to curve downward, they will become the German charge known as "wolves' teeth". (See The Art of Heraldry, Plate IX, figure 87, referenced in Chapter XII, page 62.) These have been registered previously in the SCA, and I know of no objections of period or usage that have been raised against them. The second possibility is to investigate the charge or division described in Woodward as émanche or émanché. The practice is Continental. I'd like to know a little more about the period and usage, if this information can be found. Or it might conceivably be looked upon as a sinister flank indented. (Not dancetty, as it has only one side.) In either case, it would represent a new practice, and so ought to be reviewed by the College before being registered.

Emerick Cowper from the Wall. Device. Gules, a sword inverted proper surmounted by a barrel palewise argent, banded sable.

REASON: The device conflicts with DARTHULA CATRIONA MAC MHURICH, Gules, a Scots claymore inverted proper debruised by a rose argent, barbed and seeded proper. (SCA).

Melinda Angelanne von Hohen Kester. Name change (from Melinda Angelanne von Hohen Staffen).

REASON: Hohen staffen is a compound placename ("hohen" means "high"; my paperback Langenscheidt's doesn't give "staffen"). Kester is a pet form of the given name Christopher. (Withycombe 65­66) The combination of the two is not correct. We would suggest she drop the von Hohen­Staffen altogether, or replace it with Kester.

Kingdom of Caid

Robert Herring. Device. Quarterly argent and gules, a roundel between in bend a lyre and a bow bendwise sinister, strung and with arrow nocked, sable and in bend sinister two sea­horses sejant Or.

REASON: The device is busy, and has a strong visual appearance of quartering, which we do not permit. Please simplify. (Note that the chief group ­ the charges in the four quarters ­ consists of three different types of charge.).

Thea O'Malley. Name only.

REASON: Thea appears to be a modern given name, a pet form of Dorothea. (Dunking & Gosling, p. 413) She might consider Dorothea (Withycombe 87­88), the saint's name Thei (Farmer 104, s.v. Day), or perhaps one of the forms of Alethea. (Withycombe 12­13) The latter is borderline, appearing in England in the first part of the 17th C., but I would be inclined to permit it.

Kingdom of Trimaris

Alasdair Francis MacDhomhnuill. Device. Azure, a chevron rompu argent between two Lochaber axes, blades inward, and a winged stag rampant Or.

REASON: The device conflicts with KENNEGRAE GILCHRIST, Azure, a chevron rompu between a cross moline and a dexter gauntlet clenched, all argent. (SCA) The maximum difference obtainable from changes to a single group of secondary charges is a major and a minor point.

DISCUSSION: The pattern "a chevron between three charges" (two in chief and one in base) is so common that, unless there is something else in the blazon that would render it ambiguous, there's no need to specify "in chief" and "in base." It is also unnecessary to repeat the tincture of the charges. Tinctures factor backward through the blazon, so the "Or" following the stag is understood to apply to the axes as well.

Anne of Hendon. Badge for Household of Hendon. Azure, a loris (tree sloth) argent pendant from a tree branch fesswise proper.

REASON: Wood proper is a dark color, and may not be placed on an azure (color) field. We would suggest making the tree branch a metal.

Cedric Steinhauser. Device. Sable, a bend sinister between a tower and an eagle's claw, and on a chief Or, an anvil between two smith's hammers palewise sable.

REASON: The device is too complex: of the seven charges, six are of different types. Simplify. DISCUSSION: The tincture "Or" following the chief is understood to apply to the bend sinister, the tower, and the eagle's claw. There is a point at which factoring of tinctures starts becoming a liability instead of an asset. It would not be unreasonable to blazon this "... an eagle's claw Or, and on a chief Or. This effectively separates the blazon into two pieces (the bend sinister and its accompanying charges, and the charged chief), and reassures the reader that, No, you didn't accidentally omit a tincture. It is not incorrect to repeat tinctures; it is merely customary to be brief whenever clarity allows it.

Dafydd Dercanraith. Name and device. Azure, a chevron cotised throughout Or between two enfields combattant and a sword palewise argent.

REASON: A chevron rompu is too complex to cotise. Please choose a simpler treatment for the charge.

Derc and anraith are Irish name elements, not Welsh, as the letter of intent implied, which misled the heralds who commented on the name. Please resubmit this, providing a little more documentation in the LoI. The following (taken from the submitter's source, pp. 30 and 32 of Ewen's History of British Surnames) should be sufficient:

­anraith occurs as the second element in the dithematic name Maolanraith 'chief of the storm"; and the descriptive surname Righdearph "of the red forearm" is glossed as derg "red" plus rig "forearm", alternatively rigdai "royal" plus derc "eye".

The submitter is presumably trying to form the descriptive "eye of the storm" in Irish Gaelic.

Elina Are Thrymsfostra. Name only.

REASON: We are familiar with Thrym only as the name of one of the Norse frost giants, and find the idea of being a giant's fosterling a bit excessive. Please choose another byname.

Gillian van Wald. Device. Plumetty gules and argent, a goose, wings elevated and addorsed, sable, holding in its beak a ring Or.

REASON: This conflicts with the Principality of CYNAGUA, Quarterly argent and Or, a swan rousant, wings elevated and addorsed, sable maintaining in its sinister foot a laurel wreath vert. (SCA) Visually, the only real difference is in the field. The two birds, as drawn, are indistinguishable.

Johann Götz Kauffman von Erfurt. Device. Per chevron inverted embattled enhanced argent and sable, in chief a double­headed eagle rising, wings displayed, gules, in base a goblet Or.

REASON: The triangular section drawn here isn't "per chevron inverted enhanced," it's halfway between chaussé and a chief triangular. Per chevron intersects the sides of the field, even if the line of partition is enhanced (raised) or abased (lowered). Please either draw the division correctly or make it a chief triangular. The bird is also in trian aspect (perspective), and needs to be redrawn in a more heraldic fashion.

Lon Warbeck MacMurray. Name and device. Argent, three piles in point sable and in base three mullets (2 and 1) pierced sable, on a chief invected azure, a Lockhaber axe fesswise reversed blade in chief argent.

REASON: As nearly as we can determine, Lon is a modern nickname for Alonzo or Lawrence. Batonvert has suggested Lonan (from Lon "blackbird") as the name of eight Irish saints. It is substantially the same as the submitted name, and it has the advantage of being consistent with the surname (MacMurray), which Alonzo, being Spanish, is not. I would suggest this instead.

Piles should extend most if not all the way to the base; properly drawn, there would not be enough room for a charge to fit between them and the base. If he can manage this without running into any conflicts, I would suggest removing the mullets, or perhaps placing them on the chief instead of the axe. DISCUSSION: The contrast between the chief and the piles is poor. It severely undercuts the line of partition; enough so that I would question how much difference the latter contributes, if any. It does meet our standard, however, and as I have discussed previously (22 Feb 86, pp. 3­4), that standard is fairly sound.

A case could be made for allowing the chief to be Or (unlike one pile, which may be fairly narrow, three piles must needs fill most of the chief), although this would not necessarily be an improvement. This suggests that a chief plus three piles is not an inherently "good" arrangement ­ meaning, it is difficult to devise a coat along these lines in which the charges remain distinct. This doesn't mean that the arrangement is "bad", simply that it is not...optimal; the best one could probably do would be to use a high­contrast color pair, such as red/black.

None of this is intended, by the way, as a criticism of the submission (except in the most literal meaning of the word). The question was brought up in the comments, and I'm feeling voluble ...

Ross Colin MacGregor. Name only.

REASON: Ross is a surname, and did not become a given name until comparatively recently. Please choose a given name (such as Colin).

Tycho Fugger. Device. Per bend sinister gules and sable, a bend sinister argent between an antelope rampant Or and an increscent argent.

REASON: Conflict with AQUEL OF DARKSTED WOOD, Per bend sinister gules and sable, the trunk and three branches of a blasted oak tree all couped counterchanged and fimbriated argent, overall a bend sinister argent. (SCA) All of the changes are to a group of secondary charges, which is worth at most a major and a minor point of difference. DISCUSSION: Society convention is that the charge is called a bend sinister, rather than a bendlet, when there is only one of them. (Diminutive names are reserved for the plural, or when the charge has otherwise been diminished in importance, such as by being enhanced.) This is just what it's called, not how it's drawn.

Wolfgarr der Airegar. Name and device. Sable, a mullet of five pheons, hafts conjoined, Or.

REASON: We were unable to find Airegar in any of the German dictionaries we consulted. Mine gives Krieger for warrior"; it this what the applicant wanted? (Star has also suggested Ehriger, which has the same pronunciation. He didn't offer a translation, and my dictionary doesn't list it. Ehr­ seems to mean "honor".). The device conflicts visually with the badge of ASTRA CHRISTIANA BENEDICT, On a muller, a cross crosslet. (SCA) In redesigning, watch out for DE PENSHORST, Sable a mullet Or. (Papworth 990) If these were drawn as five separate pheons, the difference would be more visible.

Kingdom of the West

Anthony Ravenscroft. Device. Azure, three fleas passant Or.

REASON: Fleas have been declared inappropriate for use in SCA heraldry. "Magnifications of tiny insects for use as charges on arms is out of period." (WvS, 30 Jul 82, p. 7) "In keeping with medieval practice, tiny insects may only be used for canting purposes in the SCA. In this particular case, the flea has such a negative association that it really is not appropriate for heraldic display." (WvS, 21 Apr 83, p. 6).

Brice Armbruster. Badge. A crossbow argent.

REASON: This conflicts with HEINRICH ARMBRUSTER, Gyronny of eight Or, gules, Or and azure, a crossbow proper. (SCA) There is a single point of difference, for the color of the crossbow. It also conflicts with THOMAS DOLAN ARBALISTER OF CAERLEON, Per pall vert, gules, and sable, a crossbow argent. (SCA, 7 Jul 86) Since this is a fieldless badge, there is no difference. Mundanely, the badge infringes upon KOREYWA, Gules a crossbow argent. (Rietstap) Virgule has noted that a change from argent to Or will not suffice, on account of BALISTE, Gules a crossbow Or, and VREEM, Azure a crossbow Or. (Rietstap).

Demian O'Boirne. Badge. Azure, in pale a plate and a seal displayed, head erect, tail sufflexed, argent.

REASON: This is not a standard heraldic position. It renders the charge unrecognizable, and recognition ­ lest we forget ­ is the raison d'etre of heraldry. DISCUSSION: Sufflexed, by the way, appears to be an SCA neologism. I was unable to find a source for it when I was editing Precedents.. I don't believe this qualifies as "standard heraldic language.".

Elfarch Myddfai. Device. Or, a leopard­headed bear with eagle's talons sejant erect to sinister gules.

REASON: It is our feeling that the manner in which this application was presented to the College of Arms was such that the submission, and the issues surrounding it, have not been properly addressed. We also question the distinctiveness of the charge. DISCUSSION: The letter of intent stated, "The monster is made up of parts of only three beasts, and is therefore 'legal'." 'While Master Bruce and I both seem to re-call the number three arising in a context that had bearing on chimerical creatures*, we have been unable to locate the pertinent ruling. We can certainly find no rule that states that a monster made up of parts of three or fewer creatures is necessarily legal.

We found two rulings that have bearing on the creation of new monsters. The first, dated 10 March 1981, outlined existing policy; it barred monsters created between 1601 and 1966, or ones created out of animals not commonly known to Europe in our period. The second, dated 12 May 1981, imposed a moratorium on out­of­period and made­up monsters:

We will allow people to petition the College of Arms for acceptance of a particular monster, on a case­by­case basis. Such proposed monsters may be made up or out of period monsters. The question will be whether the monster is in keeping with period practice and whether the College feels it would be a good idea to allow its use in the SCA.

On reflection, I find that I have little problem with monsters that are created" by the addition of wings or fish tails. Both patterns are pretty well established in mundane and SCA armory, and the resulting creatures tend to be fairly distinctive. I've seen instances of conjoined demi­beasts that stand out well ­Yosef Alaric's delightful half­camelopard, half­dragon (Grimflaed?) springs to mind. Unicorn's horns, on the other hand, contribute little to the beasts onto which they are grafted, and in at least one case (the "unicornate horse") they blur the distinctions between existing charges.

I do not find the charge in the present submission distinctive. This might be due in part to the drawing. I feel it has to do with the contributions of the head and forelimbs (from two different sources) in proportion to the body.

Mistress Eowyn, as an heraldic artist, questions the recognizability of the position ­ rampant would be terrifically recognizable; sejant erect is less so. (This does not take into consideration the likelihood that a bear­like monster rampant contourné would run into conflicts.) In any case, because of the lack of distinctiveness, I am reluctant to approve it.

Of the five comments recorded against this submission, two object to the creation of a new monster, one questions the "rule" cited in the LoI, one finds the monster "truly ugly", and one does not address the issue at all. If we treat the submission as a de facto petition for the charge, then the College of Arms may be said, with roughly equal accuracy, to feel the charge is not suitable.

I will leave it to Vesper's discretion to decide whether to return this coat to the applicant, with a recommendation that he seek a more distinctive charge, or to resubmit it in such a fashion that it may receive fair consideration by the College of Arms.

___________

*Ones made up of parts of other creatures, like the chim(a)era of Greek mythology.

Garwulf Nightsbane. Device. Sable, a chevron between two mallets set chevronwise and a mullet of four points elongated to base Or.

REASON: This conflicts with ROBERT MANSEL, Sable a chevron between three mullets Or. (FabHer #303).

Harold von Schwarzwald. Name and device. Azure, a ship's wheel between three triangles argent.

REASON: The name of the Black Forest, I am told, takes a definite article, so this should be von dem Schwarzwald or vom Schwarzwald. The submitter has disallowed changes to his name.

The ship's wheel turns out not to be a period charge. "Even as late as the Mayflower (1620), ships were steered by a tiller below the half­deck, which connected directly to the rudder. (See Pictorial History of American Ships, John and Alice Durant, Barnes & Co., New York; 1953.) This is corroborated by the OED, which cites the first use of 'wheel' in connection with steering a ship in 1750. (See Vol. X, p. 905, under steering.)" [BDOM] The common heraldic wheels are the Catherine­wheel, Cart­wheel, Water­wheel, and Mill­wheel. (Parker 619-620.).

Hester Lightwicke. Name and device. Argent, two ermine spots and a fleur-de­lys vert.

REASON FOR RETURN: The letter of intent misrepresented the documentation on this name; the citation in Withycombe (p. 107) for Hester/Esther being used "indifferently" is dated 1655, which is outside the 1600­1650 post­period "grey zone." The device conflicts with SEEUWBENS, Argent three fleurs­de­lis vert. (Rietstap)

Jon of Harriston. Device. Or, a pegasus rampant to sinister sable within a bordure compony argent and sable.

REASON: This conflicts visually (and perhaps technically) with the badge of DAMALES REDBEARD, Or, a pegasus volant to sinister, wings elevated and addorsed, within a bordure sable. (SCA, 9 Mar 86) There is a major point of difference for the bordure, but the change in position of the pegasus is at best a weak minor point, if that much. DISCUSSION: The difficulty here is that the position of a winged beast volant is ill defined. We can recall instances of bodies courant and springing, and would doubtless find others if we searched the files. Since body position has been left to the caprice of the artist, we see no alternative but to disallow this, except in the most extreme cases, as a source of difference.

It is our recommendation that, in the future, no winged beast be blazoned as "volant." "Passant, wings elevated and addorsed" (or whatever) ­­ with a stricture to the designers to place their beasts in suitably heraldic positions to begin with ­ would avoid such ambiguities in future coats.

Kathryn Blackhart. Device change. Or, a hart's head erased within a bordure embattled sable.

REASON: Conflict with HOLTZBERGER, Or a hart's head erased sable. (Rietstap).

Krysta of Starfall. Badge. Purpure, a scourge of three lashes ermine.

REASON: In light of past rulings barring (1) skinny charges counterchanged along the long axis, (2) vair cotises, and (3) ermine fimbriation, we feel that the handle and lashes of a scourge are too thin to display the characteristics of any of the heraldic furs. (The same is true, by analogy, of such a charge semy, fretty, etc.) If the intention really is to have a "fur­lined whip", might I suggest a more subtle pun: try making it sable.

DISCUSSION: The scourge is a documented heraldic charge, representing "the whip (by which name it may be blazoned) whereby certain saints and martyrs suffered, and which was self­inflicted by the flagellants." (Franklyn & Tanner, p. 295) As such, it is a religious implement, and may be found in the arms of Croyland Abbey. (Parker 345, s.v. knife) It may also be thought of as a farm implement (Shield and Crest, p. 213), and was the symbol of official rank in the Assyrian army. (Stone 545) It is my considered opinion that, in the absence of some additional allusion to reinforce its role as an instrument of slavery or torture (or a B&D symbol), the scourge or whip is an acceptable charge.

Sean O Miadhachain. Device. Argent, a Celtic harp proper and on a chief vert a castle between two penny whistles fesswise argent.

REASON: This conflicts with ANN ETHERIDGE OF SOMERSET, Argent, a harp proper, stringed sable, entwined about the pillar three thistles slipped and leaved proper. (SCA) The thistles contribute too little, visually, to bring the point­and­a­half for the charged chief up to a full two points. DISCUSSION: The penny whistles ought to be drawn in their most recognizable aspect, with the holes toward the viewer. (Since this conceals the mouthpieces, they will then become indistinguishable from flutes. Oh, well.).

Valgard Stonecleaver. Badge. Or, a scourge of three lashes counter­ermine.

REASON: See discussion under KRYSTA OF STARFALL, above.

Weland Fogeater of Yulewood. Name and device. Barry wavy argent and azure, a Sutton Hoo helmet affronty sable, detailed argent, on a chief azure, a sprig of holly between two owls close addorsed argent.

REASON: Weland or Wayland was "A wonderful and invisible smith of English legend...a supernatural smith and king of the elves." (Benét 1193) As a given name, we consider it to be "famous and unique" within the intent of RFS VI.4; it may not be used. The helmet does not appear to be a suitable heraldic charge, and the combination of magical and mythical references in the name and device is excessive. My advice to the submitter would be to pick one or two elements, and redesign around these. DISCUSSION: "Detailed" serves the same purpose in this blazon as "marked" does in the blazon of an animate charge­it indicates that a significant portion of the charge has been executed in a second tincture, without attempting to describe exactly what part has been colored.

The College has questioned whether the "Sutton Hoo helmet" is a suitable charge. Laurel has ruled on past occasions that specific artifacts should not be used as heraldic charges. At the Great Conclave in 1979, Lady Karina returned several instances of a piece of jewelry (I believe it was a Scythian stag), and Master Wilhelm instructed an applicant to redraw a charge "so that it is not an exact copy of the Oseburg vessel's figurehead." (24 Oct 79, p. 15) There may be enough counter­examples in SCA heraldry to override these rulings (I can't think of any offhand), but the objections to this particular submission were sufficient to warrant, at the very least, declining to register it until the issue has been resolved.

Finally, and most difficult to express, there is a question of the overall symbolic content of the name and device. The "pagan" helmet, the holly, the owls, "Yulewood", the questionable humanity of the epithet "Fogeater", and the name of Weland the Smith, all interconnect and combine in enough ways to make even me leery. As Kraken observed, "This is not heraldry, but some sort of personal symbolism that has no place in heraldic art."

Westermark, Barony of. Five badges (appeal). (Azure, gules, purpure, sable, vert), a "W" throughout argent and in base five plates in annulo, all within a bordure argent.

REASON: The design is still complex, this is still an abuse of privilege, and the extortion threat with which the submission concludes is an affront to the Society's ideals of chivalry and courtesy.