APPROVALS 5/87

KINGDOM OF ANSTEORRA

Alanna of Ravenwood and Sean de Carew. Blazon correction for joint badge. Per bend sinister argent, fretty sable, and sable, in bend a raven volant to sinister and a lightning flash bendwise sinister surmounted by a turtle tergiant palewise argent.

The orientation of the bird was omitted when this was registered in December, 1986.

Claryce Orfevre. Device. Per chevron inverted azure and purpure, a chevron inverted Or between a unicorn's head argent, horned and maned, and a phoenix Or.

This was pended from the January meeting for further comment due to incorrect blazon on the letter of intent.

Kasilda Kubasek. Blazon correction. Per saltire argent and gules, in pale a cup gules and a castle sable, masoned argent, between in fess two natural leopard's heads erased respectant argent, spotted sable.

Crescent has pointed out that the designation of the head as those of natural leopards (as opposed to the heraldic type) was omitted when this was registered in February, 1987.

Kayla Estelle Lemee. Designation correction. Per chevron azure and Or, in chief two mullets between a decrescent and an increscent Or and in base a Maltese cross sable.

This armoury was passed in the January, 1987, letter under a holding name of Stella of Steppes because the letter of intent provided no documentation for the name it was submitted under (Cayla Estelle Lemee) and we could not find a file indicating that it had been registered. In fact, the name had been registered with the spelling noted above in the previous month, but the filing system and our memories broke down. (Our collective faces are very red!).

Layla of Shadowoods. Device. Per pale argent and sable, a bar dancetty enhanced between an estoille of eight points and a unicorn, and a seahorse combattant, all counterchanged.

This corrects a paperwork error made on the part of Mistress Aureliane's predecessor as Star. It was erroneously indicated that the submittor's device should be replaced by the badge below, which was designated a device. This was not the case. Since no armoury in conflict has been registered since the erroneous release in December, 1986, we felt it was justifiable to rectify the error without compelling the submittor to go through the entire resubmission process.

Layla of Shadowoods. Badge. Per pale argent and purpure, a chevron cotised counterchanged.

This was erroneously designated a device in December, 1986. This rectifies the error.

Miguel Francisco de la Vega. Blazon correction. Per bend potenty argent and sable, a cross patoncy Or, overall a griffin segreant vert.

Crescent has pointed out that typographical carelessness omitted the critical final letter of the line division on the February, 1987, letter.

Susan of Bryn Gwlad. Blazon correction. Per bend sinister argent and azure, a wyvern statant, wings addorsed, azure and in bend sinister three casks palewise Or.

Crescent has persuaded me that it is necessary to specify the position of the casks in order to avoid confusion.

KINGDOM OF AN TIR

Alexander of Douglasshire. Name and device. Per bend vert and argent, two swords counterchanged.

An Tir, Kingdom of. Badge for College of Pages. Quarterly Or and argent, a closed book gules from its page issuant to base a lion's tail forked and nowed azure.

This was pended at the January meeting.

Bogdan Il'ich Volknoi. Per chevron flory at the top sable and Or, in base three ermine spots, one and two, gules.

Since he apparently wants specifically three ermine spots, it would not be appropriate to modify the lower portion of the field to semy (which is by definition sans nombre.

Brian McGee. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and gules, a bend sinister countercompony Or and azure between a phoenix rising gules and a gauntletted fist maintaining a sword palewise argent.

Catherine of Adiantum. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Gyronny sable and vert, a maple leaf bendwise argent, veined vert.

The name was submitted under the name Lindrael a Ceilerionn.

Erika Francesca Pacchioni. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Felicia of the True Layne. Name and device. Per pale Or and gules, two lions combattant and in chief a tower counterchanged.

Ferrand Amelius Ironblade. Name and device. Azure, on a bend sinister gules, fimbriated, two daggers points to center Or, overall a sword inverted argent.

Fredrich Warin de Barnard. Name only.

Galen Redmane. Name only. The name was submitted as Gaelan Redmane.

As no support could be adduced for the improbably spelling variant of the documented period name Galen and the submittor's paperwork allowed modifications to the name, we have substituted the more normal form of the name.

Galeina Berengaria von Lothringen. Name and device. Vert, a massacre and in chief two bars dancetty argent.

Garra the Ravenswood. Change of name from Garrathe of Ravenswood.

Godwine of Brynewudu. Name only.

The name was submitted as Godwine of Brynaswudu. Evidence from several Anglo-Saxon sources indicated that the proper form for the place name should be "Brynewudu". As the submittor specifically allowed grammatical and spelling changes, the name has been modified accordingly.

Gwendolyn of Fitzalan. Device. Or, upon a lozenge azure between in chief two forget-me-nots azure, seeded Or, a unicorn's head couped argent.

Henry Flory. Name only.

Jacyntha Elizabeth Argentarius. Name and device. Purpure, a heart voided between four mullets in cross and four hearts in saltire argent.

Note that this pushes at the limits of acceptable style. If the single tincture of the charges did not tie the whole together so well, it would probably slip over the edge.

Jean Louis de Chambertin. Name and device. Gules, a tricorporate mermaid Or.

The name was submitted as Jean-Louis de Chambertin. As evidence for the hyphenation of Jean-Louis de Chambertin. As evidence for the hyphenation of Jean-Louis in period is lacking, we have dropped the hyphen.

Katrine de St. Brieuc. Name only.

Laurus Mercator. Device. Argent, semy of laurel leaves bendwise sinister inverted vert, a leather moneybag proper and a chief triangular azure, bezanty.

This is almost overly complex, but is legal.

Lee of the Lowlands. Name only.

Leif Olafsson. Name and device. Per chevron inverted sable and azure, a pall Or, overall an eagle's head erased argent.

Lucinda of Rivers Bend. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Azure, goutty d'eau, a dove close passant reguardant, dexter wing elevated argent, maintaining in sinister talon a dagger proper.

This was submitted under the name of Sylvanna Moonsinger.

Maria Berengaria von Lothringen. Name and device. Argent, chausse wavy azure, platy, a borage plant vert, flowered azure.

Mary Elizabeth Beekman. Name and device. Argent, a pithon erect wings addorsed and inverted within a bordure vert.

Micheal mac Tomas. Name and device. Azure, a hippogriff segreant within an annulet rayonny on the outer edge Or and in chief two quill pens inverted in chevron argent.

Please request the submittor to draw the rayonny correctly, with all the rays equal in size and evenly curved.

Micheal mac Tomas. Badge. Azure, a hippogriff segreant within a bordure rayonny Or.

Myrtle Holt, Shire of. Device. Azure, a myrtle tree eradicated within a laurel wreath argent, all within a bordure compony sable and argent.

Otho of Berwick. Device. Per saltire sable and argent, a compass star within a bordure counterchanged.

While this is reminiscent of Edmund Verney ("Per saltire argent and sable, four mullets and a bordure all counterchanged."), this is clear, since the changes are all to the primary charge(s). There is a major point for the number of charges, a minor for the derived change in position, at least another minor for the derived change in tincture. Since by tradition the Society has considered a compass star to differ by at least a strong minor from a mullet, this is well clear.

Payne of Wood's Rising. Name and device. Per pale gules and sable a bat guardant, wings inverted and displayed, Or and on a chief triangular argent three annulets interlaced, two and one, sable.

Payne is a given name as early as 1249 (Withycombe, p. 237). It is also his mundane name.

Phaedra Grauschwan. Name only.

Reigar von Rostock. Device. Azure, two swords in saltire surmounted by a sword inverted Or, each blade surmounted at the tip by a wolf's head cabossed argent.

Ricardo de Alaedo. Device. Or, three mullets of four points sable and a gore sinister vert.

Richeldis de Haute Saone. Name and device. Vert, an inverted triangle of rope interlaced with three annulets argent.

Robert Buran. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Per pale azure and erminois, a chevron rompu counterchanged.

The submission was made under the name Chagatai Buran.

Silverthorne, Shire of. Device. Azure, chape argent, a sword inverted proper within a wreath of brambles argent and in chief two laurel wreaths vert.

Although a charged chape or chausse is a solecism in mundane heraldry, this has been done often enough in Society heraldry that it would probably be pedantic to quibble over the usage here. Please ask them to draw the wreath of bramble more boldly and identifiably.

Tygar of Skagen. Name and device. Ermine, a fleam fesswise to sinister azure within a bordure gyronny Or and sable.

Val Ryan. Name and device. Sable, in chief an eagle migrant to base bearing in its beak a sword fesswise reversed argent.

As Geirr Bassi cites the occurrence of the given name "Valr" in Old Norse sources, the anglicized form seems reasonable (Parallel to Sigmund from Sigmundr, Olaf from Olafr, etc.).

Wisedom's Keep, College of. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Wulfgar Ironwolf. Device. Or, a wolf's head cabossed sable within an orle gules.

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Aldwin Yale of York. Name and device. Gules, a staff palewise Or between two doves volant respectant in chevron argent.

Anleifr Raedwulfson. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Brendan ap Morgan. Name and device. Per bend raguly vert and argent, in pale three roundels counterchanged.

Caesaria Almy. Name only.

The given name is documented by Reaney (p. 61) as existing in the thirteenth century. The precise quotation is "Caesaria, sister of the wife of William de la Rode 13th Rams (Hu)". For those who requested a translation of Reaney's code this means that the citation is from the thirteenth century (no more precise date being available from the manuscript source), that the source is the Cartularium monasterii de Rameseia, as published in the Rolls Series, and that the citation is from Huntingdonshire. Reaney's abbreviations for courses are well documented in the front of the volume and are in themselves an excellent bibliography of name sources available to the researcher who would work with original source material.

Elanora Valentina Beota. Blazon Correction. Azure, on a pile ploye argent, a hummingbird rising, wings elevated and addorsed, vert.

The tincture of the pile was omitted when this was registered in January, 1987.

Elean Blemare of Sherwood. Name and device. Argent, three dolphins embowed in annulo clockwise within a bordure wavy azure.

Elizabeth of Canterbury. Name only.

Elsibeth Merryweather. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Malkin Alladrson. Name and device. Argent, semy of swords inverted sable, a brooklime blossom azure within a bordure wavy vert.

Note that, although a diminutive, numerous period sources show Malkin well-established as an independent form.

Marguerite des Baux. Name only.

Michieal Dammary the Mischievous. Name and device. Argent, ermined azure, a winged unicorn rampant gules within a bordure wavy azure.

The name was submitted as Michieal Damaree the Mischievous. The form of the given name is the submittor's mundane name. However, for the form "Damaree", which was stated to be Basque, no documentation was given. Therefore, we have substituted a period spelling given by Reaney for the family name derived from the town of Daumeray in France. Note that the pronunciation of the two names would be virtually identical.

Mihail Rautacios din Pest. Name change from Myghal mab Siarl an Gernow.

One Thousand Eyes, Shire of. Device. Or, a peacock in his pride, head to sinister, within a laurel wreath azure.

Phillip de Dampirre. Name only.

Rachel Ashton. Device. Or, three irises purpure, cupped vert. This was pended for further comment at the January meeting.

Richildis de Dampierre. Name and device. Argent, a dolphin haurient gules within a bordure azure charged with three escallops Or.

Richildis, widow of Hermann of Hainault, married Baldwin, son of the Count of Flanders of 1051.

Simon Arundel. Name and device. Argent, a bear rampant sable, on a chief embattled azure three mullets of six points Or.

Kingdom of Atlantia

Andrew the Bastard. Name only.

Anton Tremayne. Name and device. Chequy argent and sable, on a chief embattled Or, three crosses bottonny gules.

Please ask the submittor to draw the embattling properly. On the emblazon sheet it was drawn so that the battlements replaced the Or portions of the row of chequy immediately below the primary line of division of the chief. The battlements should be twice as large in order to make clear the identity of the line of division. If this is done, the major point for the complex line of division is present and carried the device clear of all conflicts cited.

Bjorn Thorburn. Name and device. Quarterly vert and azure, on a cross nowy argent a bear's head erased sable.

Caroline Forbes of Oxfordshire. Name only (see (RETURNS for device and badge).

Caterina Leonora di Forz d'Agro. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

The name was submitted as Caterina Leonora de Forza d'Agro. As the preposition is French and the name otherwise is Italian, we have modified this to the Italian form as her paperwork permitted.

Catriona Fergusson. Name only.

Jaelle of Armida. Badge. Gules, a snail guardant within a bordure wavy argent.

Kormakr Thordarson of Jorvik. Name and device. Gyronny of eight from dexter chief vert and argent, in pale a mullet gules and a demi-sun issuant from base gules.

Thordarson is the properly formed patronymic from Thordr, which is cited by Geirr Bassi (p. 16, immediately following Thorarr).

Morgan Wolfsinger. Device. Sable, a wolf sejant coward ululant to sinister within a bordure wavy argent.

Phillipe Sinistre. Badge. Per bend sinister gules and vert, four jeweled chalices in cross Or.

Rhydderch the Hunter. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Vert, on an annulet Or, seven torteaux and on a chief dovetailed Or, a slip of oak fesswise, leaved and fructed, proper.

The submission was made under the name Rhydderch Heliwr Since the problem with the name was one of sound, we have used the English translation of his desired epithet.

Timothy of Nordheim. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Kingdom of Caid

Ceinwen Haele Cynwyth. Release of Household name and badge. Quarterly gules and Or, a sun counterchanged eclipsed sable.

This was omitted from the March, 1987, letter.

Tezar of Aeolis. Spelling correction.

When the name was registered on the March, 1987, the preposition was erroneously given as "de", the form previously submitted. The gentle wishes to use the "lingua franca".

Kingdom of Calontir

Andrew Ward. Name only.

While this name undoubtedly violates the spirit of the law requiring a modification of the mundane name, it clearly adheres to its letter.

Lorraine von Eulennest. Name and device. Per saltire vert and purpure, a great horned owl affronty Or.

Her mundane given name is Lorraine.

Luciana di Ridolfi. Name and device. Per pale Or and gules, a fleur-de-lys counterchanged and on a chief sable, two harpies statant respectant,wings elevated and addorsed, Or.

Meghan Elphinstone. Name only.

Myra Naedlsang. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Robert of Ruda. Name only.

The name was submitted as Robert of Rud, with Rud identified as a placename from Norway. No such place could be found by the commentors. However, since there is a town in Sweden named Ruda, we have modified his name slightly as his paperwork allowed.

Svein Njalsson. Device. Azure, a wolf passant reguardant between three crosses moline Or.

Ternon de Caerleon. Name and device. Gyronny of six palewise vert and erminois, in pall three dexter arms, flexed and conjoined at the shoulder, each hand grasping a dagger, argent.

Thyri Flamehair. Name only.

According to Geirr Bassi, the given name appears in the Heimskringla.

Kingdom of the East

Alasdair MacDhonnchaid. Name only (see RETURNS For device).

Amber Surrey. Name only.

The given name Amber was allowed by Master Wilhelm in April, 1984, and has been registered several times since.

Anna Georgievna of Kiev. Name and device. Vert, a doubly-curved drinking horn argent, garnished, within a bordure Or.

The name was submitted as Anna Georgevna of Kiev. As the proper patronymic appears to be derived from the Russian name "Georgiy", the "i" glide must be added before the "e" sound.

Aurora Ilfetafether of Steorrawudu. Name only.

Catharine Montague. Name only.

Caw ap Rhys. Device. Or, two ravens close respectant sable between three torques gules.

Cynara of the Later Hours. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, an hourglass and a chief dovetailed gules.

East Kingdom. Badge for the Order of the Tyger's Cub. Or, a tyger sejant azure, its forepaws resting on a torteau.

The difference between a tyger and its cub may safely be left to artistic license.

Galatea de Aragon. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Jehan le Batard. Name and device. Per saltire sable and Or, in fess two mullets of six points fesswise azure.

The name was submitted as Jehan Lebatarde. The byname has been modified to match the usual period (and modern) French orthography.

Larissa the Shrew. Device. Or, a cross gules, fretty Or, and overall a shrew rampant reguardant sable.

Lawrence Thornguard. Name and device. Sable, a saltire between two lions sejant respectant Or, an overall a sword inverted, blade enflamed, proper.

Maeve ni Siurtain. Name only.

The name was submitted as Maeve ni Siurtain Temena. Since "Temena", which was stated to be Gaelic for "darker grey", could not be documented, it has been dropped in order to register the base name.

Meghan the Pitiful. Name an device. Per fess purpure and argent, two horses passant respectant argent and a triple-headed thistle vert, flowered purpure, all within a bordure counter-compony purpure and argent.

This approaches the limits of visual complexity. This would be improved with a simpler bordure which did not leave islands of argent in purpure and vice versa.

Merewynn Heoruswithdohtor. Name and device. Per chevron throughout sable and argent, an oak tree couped proper and in chief two pairs of swords in saltire argent.

The name was submitted as Merewynn Heoruswithdoghter. As the usual Anglo-Saxon feminine patronymic ending was "dohtor" (as in Aelfwine Gyrthesdohtor), we have modified the spelling as the submitter desired.

Mor ni Dhonnchaidh. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Morien ap Rhys of Cardiff. Name and device. Azure, a chevron raguly throughout argent between two mullets of six points Or and a unicorn statant argent, armed and crined Or.

The name was submitted as Morien ap Rhys of Caerdyf. We assumed that the town referred to in his documentation was Cardiff (in Welsh, Caerdydd), capital of Wales. Since he has elected to use the English preposition, we have substituted the English spelling of the place name.

Ottar Eriksson. Name and device. Per chevron wavy argent, estoilly vert, and vert, in base a rabbit sejant guardant, armed with a stag's attire, argent.

We were severely tempted to blazon the beastie as a "jackalope", but realize that not heraldic artists read the comics . . .

Reya nam Beanntan. Change of name from Rachel nam Beanntan.

This seems a reasonable feminine form of the name which Mulch in Arnsburger Personenname: Untersuchungen zum Namenmaterial aus Arnsburger Urkunden von 13. - 16. Jahrhundert (p. 86) cited from Latin sources dating from 1228 on as "Reye", "Reyo", etc. He also cites this form from 1313, although in this case it is used as a last name.

Rhys Pwyll ap Maelgwyn. Change of device. Per pale argent and vert, three bars lozengy counterchanged.

His previous device is released: "Azure, a dragon involved widdershins, head in base, vorant of its tail and impaled of a sword inverted argent, hilted Or, quillioned sable, all within a bordure embattled argent.".

Rowena ni Dhonnchaidh. Name and device. Vert, a unicorn couchant to sinister and in canton a snowflake argent.

From Thelin von Kallenbach ("Vert, a domestic cat salient and in canton a snowflake argent."), there is a major point for type of primary charge and another for its posture (couchant to sinister versus salient).

Sadira bint Wassouf. Name and device. Per chevron inverted sable and gules, a chevron inverted Or between a thistle argent and a flame of five tongues Or.

Please ask the submittor to draw the field division properly with the chevron intersecting the sides of field.

Seumas O'Dale. Name only.

The name was submitted as Hamish O'Dale. The evidence from Withycombe (p.144) is that the form Hamish is a nineteenth-century phonetic form from the Gaelic Seumas. (Withycombe notes "use of this pseudo-Gaelic form is to be discourage."). We have therefore modified the name to the Gaelic original. MacLysaght (Surnames of Ireland, p. 73) indicates that Dale is "Can be a name of the agnomen type, dall [blind],occasionally found with the prefix Mac . . ." If it can be prefixed by the patronymic particle Mac, it can be prefixed by the more generalized particle "O".

Simonetta d'Alfassi. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Thomas d'Amberville. Name only (see RETURNS for device).

Ygraine of Kellswood. Name only.

Kingdom of Meridies

Annora Maria Teresa Rossini. Device. Argent, a chevon dovetailed azure between two swallows volant in chevron respectant and a lily of the valley purpure, slipped and leaved vert.

This was pended from the January meeting for further comment. Note that both birds and the flower are purpure.

Marion du Rouge. Reblazon. Gules, on a pale between in chief two doves migrant palewise argent, in base a dove migrant palewise gules.

In view of the confusion created by the original blazon ("Gules, a pale argent, three doves migrant palewise counterchanged."), which left even experienced heralds confused as to the position of the birds, it seemed necessary to be more specific, though less elegant, in blazon.

Kingdom of the Middle

Germaine Silverbird of Staghurst. Blazon correction. Per bend sable and vert, a lark volant argent carrying in its talons a tankard fesswise distilling a goutte Or.

The tincture of the tankard was omitted when this was registered in June, 1984.

Duncan of Blackrock. Blazon correction. Per fess and per bend sinister argent and vert, two pellets in bend.

When this was registered in February, 1987, the word processor burped on a deletion and created the tautological "pellet sable".

Emrys ap Gwyn. Blazon correction. Argent, a tower sable issuant from a base wavy barry wavy azure and argent, a chief gules.

The partition line was omitted from the blazon when this was registered in February, 1987.

Kingdom of the West

Annora de Montfort of Shadowood. Change of name from Annora of Shadowood and badge. Vert, an orle of gouttes d'eau.

Aurelia d'Aquitaine. Name and device. Quarterly sable and argent, in bend two hearts argent.

Briana Ailie of Shadowskeep. Name only.

Since Reaney shows various surnames in variants of "alli" or "alleye" (p. 6), the "Ailie" seems reasonable.

Cairistiona nic Cailean. Name only (see RETURNS For device).

Caitlin nic Leod. Name and device. Per bend argent and Or, an oak twig fesswise, dependant therefrom a single leaf and an acorn, all purpure.

Dermid Ross. Name only.

Duncan Morgan. Name only.

Etienne Xavier Bondurant de Blacquemoor. Change of name from Myrddin Blacquemoor.

The name was submitted as Etienne Xavier Bondurant du Blacqumoor. Since he wishes Blacqumoor to be a place name, we have dropped the article from the preposition.

Johann Heinrich Michael Siemon von Wenigerode. Blazon correction. Azure, in chief four chevronels inverted and braced and in base three chevronels braced, overall six estoiles of eight points Or, pierced gules, the lowermost within the center chevronel.

At the time that this was passed in a postscript to the November, 1977 letter it was not made clear that the chevronels in chief were inverted (although this might be considered implicit in the blazon).

John of Skye. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and Or, a dragon's head issuant from base gules, a chief indented azure.

Please request the submittor to draw the charges in better proportion, i.e., the chief wide and the head smaller. This would have a much less "modern" appearance if the head were not issuant from base.

John Paul Blacklore. Name and device. Per pale argent and Or, a cup sable between in cross four roses gules, all within an orle sable.

The name was submitted as John-Paul Blacklore. As the use of hyphens in this manner period sources (as opposed to their modern translations), the hyphen was dropped. The byname did create a number of twitches in the College, but seems reasonable in view of Reaney's citation of variants of the family name "Blackler" (from a place in Devon). The variants shown on P. 36 include Blackaller, Blacklawe, Blacklar, etc.

Laughlan MacAlister. Name and device. Or, a chevron gules between two galleys, sails furled, sable, pennoned gules, and an eagle displayed sable, all within a bordure gules.

Lorenzo di Nebbia Argentea. Badge. Gules, in cross four cartouches voided and interlaced with a mascle concave, all argent.

This collection of charges is completely different visually from the badge of Eilis ni Roibeard O'Boirne ("A quatrefoil knot."). Latimer's badge is actually considerably closer visually to the badge of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme ("Two trefoil knots braced.").

Maredudd Goch ap Llywelyn ap Cadwallon Gwythernion. Name and device. Per pale and per chevron gules and Or, in chief two urchins statant erect respectant, each wearing a Norman helm and carrying a kite shield and a broken spear, counterchanged.

Nerissa Meraud de la Fontaine. Change of name from Kafyre bind Assad.

The name was submitted as Nerissa Neraud dela Fontaine. In all period sources we could find, the preposition and article of the surname remained separated, so we have modified the orthography as the paperwork allowed. (Note that "fontaine" is a feminine noun so the article should be "la".).

River Haven, Baron of. Order of the Pierced Anvil. Name only.

River Haven, Barony of. Order of the Bridged Towers. Name only (see RETURNS for badge).

Selemaer Goodwine. Name and device. Sable, fretty Or, on flames of fire proper a salamander statant gules.

Crescent has argued that the fretty should not be considered to be neutral since the medieval fretty was frequently drawn with narrow lathes. Without considering the wider question at this time, we felt a fretty must be considered in the same context as a field ermined. In the case of the fretty, even when drawn with very narrow lathes, a greater proportion of the field is covered than is the case for a field ermined. If a field sable, ermined Or (ie., pean) specifically is permitted to be surmounted by a charge gules, it would seem unjust to deny the same license to a field sable, fretty Or.

William MacFie. Name only.

Returns - 5/87

An Tir

Anastasia Aleksandrovna. Name only.

Although the father of the famous twentieth-century Alexandra, daughter of the last Romanov tsar, was in fact named Nicholas, her mother's name was alexandra and her grandfather's name was Alexander. While there is evidence that the "-ovna" ending is only used with the father's name (i.e., metronymics or general ancestral names are not commonly used in Russian),the general use of metronymics in the Society in contexts used in Russian), the general use of metronymics in the Society in contexts where the mundane world might not use them would seem to justify the extreme nervousness this name induced in many of the members of the College of Arms.

An Tir, Kingdom of. Title for Imprimatur Pursuivant.

While modern slang usage has tended to broaden the usage, the Latin term "Imprimatur" (i.e., "let it be printed.") is associated far too strictly with the episcopal power of censorship for us to be comfortable with its use in the Society. Even today, books of a religious nature published with the approval of the Roman Catholic authorities will have a "Nihil Obstat" and an "Imprimatur" and failure to obtain such approval for theological teachings can result in ecclesiastical sanctions. Neither the specifically religious overtones of the term nor the hint of censorship seem appropriate for a Society heraldic title.

Chagatai Buran. Name only.

By the submittor's own documentation the given name was that of one of the sons of Genghis Khan. Such names, e.g. Genghis, Temujin, etc., have in the past been returned as unique names failing documentation to demonstrate their more general use in Mongolian society. No such documentation has been provided.

Eileen Falconer. Device. Argent, in pale a falcon's footprint and a hawk's bell sable, a chief arched azure.

It was the consensus of the commenting heralds that the bird's footprint was not an identifiable charge.

Erika Francesca Pacchioni. Device. Vert, a bend sinister argent between two sea lions rampant to sinister, the first maintaining three arrows, the second an ankh Or.

Conflict with Tav-Alandil ("Vert, a bend sinister argent between a hawk close and a lightning bolt, both Or.") and Dail y Eiliwriad o Cwm Cwy Dwr ("Vert, a scarpe argent between an oak leaf and a castle of three stepped towers Or.").

Jauhara bint al Gammar. Name and device. Counter-ermine, on a bend argent three fleurs-de-lys palewise purpure.

The commentors could not document the form of the patronymic used here and found its stated meaning ("daughter of the Moon") to be disturbing. Were evidence available for the use of "Gammar" as an Arabic given name or epithet, the name would be more acceptable. As Brachet noted, the device conflicts with Andrea des Champs de Batailles ("Azure, on a bend argent a unicorn's head palewise couped sable between two cinquefoils purpure."): there is a major point for the field, but the change in type and partial change of tincutre of the tertiary charges in not tantamount to a major point of difference here.

Lindrael a Ceilerionn. Name only.

The given name appears to be incorrectly formed in terms of Sindarin naming practice. While the eloquent discussion of the name from the letter of intent might justify "Lindariel" as a formation, the presence and position of vowels in Sindarin has significance and therefore the modifications to the name here, which might occur in Germanic languages, would not happen in Sindarin. Further, there was a considerable feeling in the College that the name "Lindariel" does in fact mean "maiden of the Sea Elves", since the suffix "ar" appears to denote an entire race (thus "Lindar" = "the singing people") and therefore is a claim to non-human origin. The early Irish verb "celebraim" (warble) is clearly the source of such Tolkienic Elven names as Celeborn and Celebrian and this is somewhat troubling. In any case, the form desired would seem to be something closer to the modern Gaelic "ceileriche" ("warbler").

Moric of Corc. Name and device. Or, fretty gules, a Norse ship's figurehead sable.

While Brachet has been able to document Moric as a Bohemian form of Mauritius (not as an Anglo-Saxon form), no documentation was provided for the spelling of "Corc". Moreover, several commentors immediately noted that this sounded remarkably like "Mork of Ork", a distinctly non-human persona. Although documentation was provided for the form of the primary charge's being a legitimate one for Viking figureheads, it is by n means the only form of Viking figurehead. Therefore, the charge could not be reconstructed by a competent heraldic artist from the blazon and may not be used for Society heraldry.

Sylvanna Moonsinger. Name only.

Note that the epithet is not made-up, as the letter indicated, but appears in several of Andre Norton's books as the term for a group of non-humans with specific psychic powers, among which are the ability to shapechange into "lower" animate forms. In a Society as sensitized to fantasy fiction as outs, this epithet will inevitably be interpreted as a claim to non-human powers, especially when taken in conjunction with the name of an ancient wood goddess (Silvana).

Wisdom's Keep, College of. Device. Per fess indented argent and vert, a Great Horned Owl proper, in chief two fountains, fimbriated azure, all within a laurel wreath counterchanged.

Fountains really should not be fimbriated. As they should not be placed on either an azure or argent field, they especially should not be fimbriated in azure on an argent field. Moreover, the peculiar position of the laurel wreath is something of a solecism (the precedent set by the arms of Calontir notwithstanding).

Kingdom of Atenveldt

Anleifr Raedwulfson. Device. Paly of six ermine and vert, on a chief sable two axes in saltire argent.

Schwarzdrachen is correct in noting that this is in conflict with the mundane arms of Savory ("Paly of six argent and vert, a chief sable.", as cited in Papworth, p. 559). There is a minor point for the addition of the ermine spots to a portion of the field, but the addition of the tertiaries here cannot really be said to create an additional full point of difference. Not only are the axes on the periphery of the field, but are in a position which is tradition in mundane heraldry for marks of cadency added to fields to which a chief has been already added in previous generations. The visual echo between the proposed device and that of Savory when sketched out is too strong for them to be entirely clear (note that both share paly of six in the same basic tinctures with a sable chief).

Damien of Briarwood. Device. Per bend sable and gules, two salamanders conjoined in annulo counterchanged, enflamed Or.

Aten appealed the return of a similar device (the field tinctures were reversed) in September, 1986. While the modification of the field tinctures does clear the visual conflict cited at that time, the question of the acceptability of the collocation of charges here is not so easily resolved. Aten quite properly noted that salamanders are normally enflamed so that his would be an anomaly for Society heraldry. In asserting that using flames would not be an anomaly for Society heraldry. In asserting that using flames for a salamander should not be interpreted as fimbriation, however, several erroneous analogies are made. As a phoenix is not enflamed, but is a bird rising from flames, it is not a parallel situation. The citation of the badge for the Order of the Salamander registered to the Barony of Bhakail ("Gules, a salamander tergiant displayed bendwise sinister sable, enflamed Or.") as proof that salamanders tergiant can be enflamed is valid, but neglects the unusual posture of the salamanders in Damien's device and the reality of the Bhakail badge. In the latter case a single beastie in a relatively standard position is placed on large goutte of flame (almost a cartouche rayonny bendwise sinister): both beast and flames are clearly identifiable. In this case, the recognizability of the salamanders is materially diminished by the unusual posture and the visual confusion created by the counterchanging. Moreover, the proportion of flame to beast is much diminished (and must be in order to maintain the central "island" of the field). The reason for the ban on "excessive fimbriation" is not merely a desire to be "more authentic" but a realization that fimbriating complex charges makes them more difficult to identify. Indeed, in this case the visual effect to several people who viewed this was of an eccentric annulet enflamed, not two animate objects biting each other's tails enflamed. More than one person, looking at the emblazon felt that this was in conflict with Hida Korin ("Sable, an annulet gules enflamed within and without between three mullets of four points Or.").

Daphne of Ered Isen. Device. Sable, a sword inverted surmounted by a retort fesswise gules, fimbriated Or, distilling from the retort a goutte d'Or, on a label Or a coronet sable between two roses gules.

The label charged with two different charges in two tinctures is just too complex. Since her original submission, which had a label gules fimbriated Or, was returned with the suggestion that a plain label would be acceptable, we would feel bound to permit this cadency from her father's device, which would undoubtedly be considered overly complex itself by "modern" Society standards.

Elsibeth Merryweather. Device. Argent, on a chevron sable enarched between three red squirrels sejant to sinister proper, three acorns Or (Sciurus vulgaris).

Brachet is quite correct in commenting that the "enarching" here is merely one of the standard period methods of depicting a normal chevron and therefore there is insufficient difference from the mundane arms of Akaster ("Argent on a chevron sable, three acorns Or.", as cited in Papworth, p. 485). Note that the tincture of the red squirrels proper is in fact brown, not gules. Note also that the tincture of the chevron was omitted from the letter of intent and would normally have been pended, but a majority of the commentors deduced the tinctures from the mundane conflicts cited and, since a conflict does in fact exist, it seems pointless to penalize the submittor by further delay merely on a point of protocol.

Samal Kaan Uxalil. Addition of designation of Angelique de Beauvallet to previously registered badge. Argent, an iris within a bordure engrailed purpure.

No documentation was provided for the family name and the only instance which anyone could adduce of its use was from a twentieth century novel (Georgette Heyer's Beauvallet). When dealing with the Regency era Miss Heyer was often delightfully accurate as to names, slang and fashions, but her earlier non-Regency books often lacked the same level of research. In this case, the name is not really correct grammatically for either the meaning "beautiful valley" or "handsome manservant". The nearest place name in spelling or sound to this was the English place "Beauvale" (in Nottinghamshire), but the submittor specifically forbade any changes, however, minor to the name.

Kingdom of Atlantia.

Caroline Forbes of Oxfordshire. Device. Per bend sinister wavy azure and argent, an open book argent and a boar's head couped sable

Conflict with Alycia of Hound's Hall ("Per bend sinister embowed counterembowed azure and argent, a domestic cat's head cabossed argent and a talbot's head erased sable."). The modification of the lines of division here is worth no more than a minor point of difference and, given the variations in depiction of "wavy" in the Society, a weak one at that.

Caroline Forbes of Oxfordshire. Badge. Azure, on an open book, a boar's head couped gules.

Conflict with Yale University ("Azure, an open book argent charged with Hebrew letters sable."). So famous are the arms of Yale (thousands of people who have never seen New Haven wear Yale tee shirts!) that this must be considered a clear conflict.

Caterina Leonora di Forza d'Agro. Device. Vert, a woven, round bottomed basket with handle Or.

There is a clear visual conflict here with Adayand Amiatai ("Vert, a bezant eclipsed by a decrescent vert voided Or."). In appearance both devices have a partially voided bezant on a vert field.

Hadi the Aspiring. Device. Per chevron inverted argent and Or, in chief a boar courant sable.

As courant is only a minor point of difference from passant (Determination of Difference, p. 2, under posture), this is in conflict with Brytean ("Argent, a boar passant sable." cited in Papworth, p. 57) Gilpin ("Or, a boar passant sable.", p. 58), etc. Note that his name was previously returned in February, 1987.

Rhydderch Heliwr. Name only.

The name is far too close in sound to the Welsh prince Rhydderch Hael who appears in the Arthurian matter as well as in historical sources. It is also in conflict with the Barony of Rhyddrch Hael. whose name was passed some years ago.

Timothy of Nordheim. Device. Ermine, on a pale sable, a double-bitted axe argent.

Conflict with Bywater ("Ermine, a pale sable."). It is also perilously close to Arianell merch Iestin of Carmarthen ("Ermine, a pallet sable, overall a dexter hand appaumy erased Or, charged with an estoile of eight points sable.") and Lin the Baker ("Argent, on a pale sable a garb Or.").

Kingdom of Calontir

Myra Naedlsang. Device. Per bend sinister engrailed purpure and vert, a skylark volant to sinister argent, holding in its beak a nettle branch Or.

Crescent is correct in indicating that this technically falls afoul of the definition of a "simple case" i which fields may be of two colours yet use a complex line of division. This is particularly unfortunate as this may be well be the exception that proves the rule, although the engrailing on the emblazon was too small. (Irreverent comment from Laurel staff: Do you know the meaning of reduction ad absurdum, boys and girls?).

Kingdom of the East

Alasdair MacDhonnchaid. Device. Argent, a thistle, slipped and leaved, proper, on a chief a demi-sum issuant from the line of division Or, all within a bordure counter-company vert and argent.

There are several problems with the device. First of all, a bordure should not surmount a chief in this manner. Secondly, the bordure countercompony of vert and argent adds an unacceptable level of complexity to the device since the vert potions of the bordure fade into the azure and the argent fades into the argent of the field, leaving an effect of isolated rectangles of tincture. Unfortunately, simplifying the device by merely removing the bordure would not resolve the difficulty since it would then conflict with Sandilans ("Argent, a thistle vert, flowered gules, on a chief azure an imperial crown Or.", as cited in Papworth, p. 860).

Brianna Vivina O'Choda. Device. Chevronelly Or and purpure, on a chief Or, two panthers statant reguardant addorsed and incensed sable.

AR2d indicated that "neutral tinctures may be used with any metal, color, or fur, except either of the component tinctures. While it is stated that the component tinctures may be used in simple cases, the underlying stricture is that a simple case only exists where the identity of the overlying charge is clearly identifiable. This is not the case with the Or chief placed on the field which is largely Or at the point where it intercepts with the chief. The appearance of the device, when coloured, is of "Or, two chevrons purpure and in chief two panthers sable." with two peculiar bendoid objects issuant from the sides of the shield above and parallel to the sides of the upper chevron.

Galatea de Aragon. Device. Argent, on a pale between two lions combattant azure, two pomegranates, slipped and leaved, argent.

Conflict with Melisande Marsetoile ("Argent, on a pale between two mullet of eight points elongated to base azure, another argent.").

Geofrey Soulspeeder. Device. Or, chappe ploye counter-ermine, two cups Or and another azure.

Conflict with Aelfhaelen Dracasid ("Argent, chape ploye azure in chief two chalices argent issuant of wildflowers and in base a chalice issuant of wildflowers azure.)".

Isabeau de Bordeaux. Device. Argent, a cross quarter-pierced between five roses azure.

Conflict with Ayesha de Warwick ("Argent, a cross quarter-pierced between five blue violets slipped and leaved proper.").

Karl Rasmussen of Tvede. Device. Or, a saltire sable, between three frogs tergiant gules in chief Viking longship.

Conflict with Rodney of El Dorado ("Or, on a saltire sable a unicorn forcene Or, crined, unguled, langued, armed and orbed gules.").

Milhim ibn Rashid Brox Sukir al Sahara. Argent, a dromedary passant proper and on a chief wavy azure two falcons striking respectant argent (camelus dromedarius).

The name was stated to be Arabic for William, son of Richard Brox, Hawk of the Desert. The predominant language of the name is clearly Arabic. Even though the submittor's mundane name is William Brox, it would be necessary to show that these elements could reasonably be fitted into this name in the forms used. No evidence could be provided for Milhim or Brox as period (or modern) Arabic names. Rashid does not mean Richard and its use as a given name (as opposed to an epithet, as in Haroun al-Rashid) seems to be modern. Hawk would seem to be "al-Saqr" which is distinctly different in sound in Arabic from the form provided and al-Sahara refers specifically to the Sahara as opposed to a desert in general. The device conflicts with Rami ibn Asad men Damashk ("Argent, in pale a strung bow fesswise and a Bactrian camel statant proper.").

Mor ni Dhonnchaidh. Name and device. Argent, a thistle with three heads, stalked and leaved vert, flowered purpure, within a bordure counter-company purpure and argent.

The would seem to be a conflict with the arms of Spear "(Argent, a thistle with three heads stalked nd leaved vert, flowered gules."). As noted below, under Cairistiona nic Cailean, the thistle arrangement is distinctive enough to negate any minor visual difference derived from the change in the tincture of the flowers, the more so since thistle flowered gules and purpure tend to be used interchangeably in Scots heraldry.

Simonetta d'Alfassi. Device. Azure, on a pale between two lozenges in bend argent, a lozenge azure.

Since DR10 specifically limits the cases where a tertiary charge may derive a major point of difference from two changes to the device to those devices which involve only a field and a charged ordinary, this must be considered to conflict technically with Cormcacc na Connacht ("Azure, on a pale argent, a sword inverted gules."). It is also extremely close in visual effect to the badge of Klement St. Christoph ("Azure, a pale argent, in fess three trefoils counterchanged."), the more so since the counterchanged charges in both cases are card piques.

Sirillian Amber Tallin. Name and device. Azure, estoilly, three chevronels inverted and braced Or.

The given name was stated on the letter of intent to be an orthographic variant of Cyril. This is not the case. The nearest name variants all seem to be non-registerable names from the Tolkienic languages (e.g. Silmarillion). If the sound of the name is paramount and the submittor does mind a cross-gender name, she might consider an Irish name such as Sillan or the Welsh Seiriol. The emblazon on the device does not match the blazon: the estoilles are only on the lower portion of the field. As there is some cause to believe that this is the specific intent of the submittor, the submission as a whole must be returned for verification. At the same time it might be suggested to the submittor that "per fess azure and azure, estoilly Or" would be something of a solecism. Placing a finite number of estoiles in base would be far better style.

Thomas d'Amberville. Device. Azure, a stag's attire and on a chief Or, three roses sable, barbed argent.

Unfortunately, Treble Clef is correct in calling a technical conflict with Duncan of Chisholme ("Azure, a sauvage Or, on a chief Or three roses sable, barbed and seeded gules."). DR7 may be held to apply to the primary charge, since the case of a chief charged with identical tertiaries is specifically cited as a potential maximum point for complexity, thus yielding a major and minor point of difference from the type of major charge. However, under DoD D6, minor changes to tertiary charges are specifically considered to be negligible from the point of creation of difference. Therefore, the partial change in the tincture of the roses from seeded sable, barbed argent to seeded and barbed gules is negligible

Kingdom of the Middle

Hayashi Wolfshadow. Device. Sable, on a pale between two wolves sejant ululant argent, another sable.

When this was returned in February, 1987 a pagination "ate" the cause for return. There was a conflict with Katharine of Northhall ("Sable, a pale between two open books argent.") and Michael the Lucky of Lancaster ("Sable, on a pale between two mullets of eight points elongated to base argent, a sword inverted gules.").

Kingdom of the West

Cairistiona nic Cailean. Device. Argent, a triple-headed thistle proper and a chief azure.

This would seem to be a clear visual conflict with the arms of Spear cited in the letter of intent: "Argent, a thistle with three heads stalked and leaved vert, flowered gules." so unusual is the tricapitate thistle that the arrangement overrides any minor difference added by changing the tincture of part of the thistle to purpure. Note also that this change of tincture is severely weakened because of the small portion of the plant affected and the indifference with which heads gules and heads purpure are interchanged in Scots heraldry (in this context many period Scotsmen seem not to have perceived any difference between the two tinctures.).

River Haven, Barony of. Order of the Bridged Towers. Badge. Per fess argent and azure, two towers conjoined by a doubly-arched bridge Or.

The identifying upper portions of the towered bridge fade into the argent portion of the field to such an extent that the charge becomes unidentifiable at any distance.


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