AN TIR

Arianna O'Rourke. Name and device. Per chevron gules and sable, in base a snake coiled erect Or.

The patronymic was submitted as Ó Ruairc, which in Irish is a masculine construction. Used with a feminine given name, it should either be feminized to ní Ruairc or ny(n) Ruairc, or anglicized to a gender-neutral form. Since the submitter has indicated that she desires the sound of the name, we've taken the latter course.

Sinech ingen Óengusa manaig meicc Senaig Ua Liatháin. Name.

Passed with honors.

The byname was submitted as Gdanska. We've amended it to the feminine form.

Aldric of Galway. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Alina Francesca de Navarre. Name and device. Argent, in fess a heart purpure between two garden roses gules, slipped and leaved vert, on a point pointed purpure a heart argent.

Arabella Moira of Heatherhill. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Arianna Caterina of Gray Castle. Name.

The given name was submitted as Aryanna, supposed to be a variant of the Italian form of the classical Ariadne. However, since Y isn't normally used in Italian, the variation doesn't appear to be reasonable; we've substituted the more usual Arianna.

Arn Hold, Barony of. Name change (from Arn Hold, Shire of) and name for the Order of the Coeur de l'Élan.

The name was submitted as Coeur d'Elan; we have amended the grammar and accentuation for the desired meaning "Heart of the Elk".

Some of the commenters objected to the use of the term moose in the name. Given that the baronial arms have a moose rampant (so blazoned), and given the OED's citation of moose within our 50-year "grey area" for documentation, we see no valid reason to deny them the term.

Arn Hold, Barony of. Name for the Order of the Walking Pell.

The OED cites pel as "a stake at which swordsmanship was practised in the 14th century": a post-quintain. Given the variation in spelling cited under peel "stake" (derived, like this, from the Latin palus), pell is not an unreasonable spelling. And faced with such period heraldic grotesqueries as winged fish, there's nothing unacceptably absurd about a walking post.
[The LOI's explanation of the purpose for the Order, by the way, illustrates the importance of correct punctuation. Admission to the Order is not for "newer fighters who get bruised a lot", as the LOI put it. Rather, admission is for "newer fighters, who get bruised a lot". The bruises are an observed condition, not a prerequisite for membership.]

Most of the commenters were skeptical about the name's intended meaning of "an arrow's flight away from Loch Salann". However, the phrase has a more plausible alternate meaning. Clark Hall & Merritt's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary cite flyte as a variant spelling of fleot, "water, sea, estuary, river"; while Ekwall, in his various works, cites the river name Arrow and the placename Arrowe (deriving the latter from a term meaning "shieling, hill pasture"). Either as an estuary of the river, or as a river by a hill pasture, the name seems reasonable -- though Arweflyte might have been a more authentic spelling.

Cadogan map Cado Blaidd. Name.

The name was submitted as Cadogan mac Cado an Cliuin, intended to be Irish Gaelic. Unfortunately, the cited source (Yonge's History of Christian Names) is notorious for its errors, and is no longer an acceptable name reference. Cadogan (Cadwgan) and Cado are Welsh; cliùin "wolf" appears to be Scots; mac can be Scots or Irish. The submitter has asked to retain the meaning of the epithet, not its sound; we've therefore taken the liberty of making the entire name Welsh. (We've kept the submitter's word order; however, you might inform him that by this construction his father Cado, not himself, is "the Wolf".) The submitter may change this at no charge.

Deirdre Gwenhwyfar of Man. Name.

The name was submitted as Deirdre Gwenhwyfar Avalon of Man. That name combined several anomalies: the unusual length for a medieval name, the mix of cultures, and the use of the mystic island of Avalon as a byname. (While Avallon is a documented French place, Avalon is the island of Arthurian legend; the two are not the same. In any case, using a French toponymic byname would have made this a four-culture name, in violation of Rule III.2.) The easiest solution was simply to delete Avalon, which we've done.

Bahlow's Deutches Namenlexicon gives instances (pp.120, 455) of Eysvogel, Eisvogel "ice bird" and Snewolf, Schneewolf "snow wolf" as period German bynames. Ice wolf would appear to be an equally acceptable byname -- and thus, an acceptable household name.

Possible conflict was cited with Elspeth of the Wood (SCA). We've ruled in the past that the addition of an adjective, even when coalesced with its noun, per Rule V.2 is insufficient difference between names (cf. William Fox vs. William [the] Silverfox); and that articles, conjunctions, etc., are usually too small to be worth anything. However, Rule V.4.b permits us to consider Elizabeth to be significantly different from Elspeth: the number of syllables, and their emphasis, have greatly changed. The two changes, translation and added adjective, are certainly sufficient to clear the name conflict.

The name was spelled Etienne Dupre (without accents) on the LOI, but the submitter's forms have the accented spelling. We've therefore restored the accents.

Grim Wall of the Whispering Plains. Name and device. Sable, two lozenges conjoined in fess, a bordure embattled Or.

Hans the Gentle. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Hastini Chandra. Device change. Or, an Indian elephant passant gules, winged sable.

Her previous device (Argent, an Indian elephant passant gules, winged sable) is released.

Hastini Chandra. Release of alternate persona name for Chala Gaja.

Hastini Chandra. Badge change. Purpure, eight elephants passant in annulo, trunks conjoined to tails, Or.

Her previous badge (Purpure, eight elephants passant in annulo, trunks conjoined to tails, argent) is released.

Wrynn is found in MacLysaght's Surnames of Ireland, 6th ed., p.303. It has nothing to do with Wren; rather, MacLysaght gives it as a variant of [O] Rinn.

Llywellyn MacLamont. Name correction (from Lleywellyn MacLamont) and badge. (fieldless) An arrow fesswise Or, dependent therefrom three acorns gules.

The acorns had been misblazoned on the LOI as Or. Had they been worth any difference, the badge would have been pended, to allow for commentary under the correct blazon. However, as drawn the acorns are essentially "maintained" charges, worth no heraldic difference; we can simply correct the blazon in that case.

Mikhail Andreyevich Putnikov. Device change. Or, a three-headed bird-winged hydra salient to sinister within a bordure embattled gules.

His previous device (Vert, a bend sinister between a bear passant and a lion rampant to sinister Or) is released.

The byname was submitted as La Blanc. We have changed the epithet to the feminine form, matching the article (which we've put into lower case).

The serpent was blazoned in the LOI as nowed in a Heneage knot. That wasn't strictly true -- at best, it would have been a Heneage knot fesswise -- and in any case, the exact form of a serpent's nowing is normally left to the license of the artist. We've done so here.

The given name was spelled Renee' on the LOI. The accent is correctly placed over the second E, as it is in the name René (of which Renée is a feminization). We've amended the spelling accordingly.

Robin of Rhovanion. Badge. Argent, four scarpes alternately gules and sable, on a chief sable a Saracenic pen box reversed argent.

Though blazoned on the LOI as Bendy sinister argent and alternately gules and sable..., the full emblazon showed an argent field with four scarpes. Even considered as a Bendy sinister field, however, this is compatible with European armory. A period example may be found in the arms of von Schreibersdorf, c.1600 (Siebmacher, plate 166): Bendy argent, gules and sable.

This was submitted under the name Hogar Hanson. Please instruct the submitter to draw the cinquefoil larger.

Symond Bayard le Gris. Name change (from Symond Bayard the Grey).

Wilhelm von München. Name and device. Azure, a chevron inverted ermine between an eagle displayed and two eagle's heads erased Or.

The toponymic was submitted as Munchen, without the necessary umlaut. We've reinserted the umlaut; Muenchen would also have been correct.

Please instruct the submitter to draw the comet's tail (called its beard in blazonry) larger henceforth.

ATLANTIA

Aaron Rebellinus. Name and device. Sable, in saltire five oak trees Or.

Nice armory!

Please instruct the submitter to draw the bend, and the roses thereon, larger.

We have no evidence that chipmunks were known to period Europeans: the OED's first citation of the word is dated 1842. However, that wasn't noted in the client's previous return, which likewise used chipmunks.

The given name was spelled Arianna on the LOI, but Ariane on the submission forms. Since either variant is acceptable -- and since the submitter's spelling is French, like the byname -- we've restored the submitter's spelling.
This is clear of Praed (Papworth 998): Azure, six mullets argent, three, two and one. Semy charges, by definition, are evenly strewn across the field. When the field is divided in half by a field partition (such as Per chevron), then half the semy charges are on each half of the field -- again, by definition. We thus count a CD for the tincture of the field, and a CD for the tincture of half the primary charge group.

Bledri ap Llew. Name.

Brigit of Mercia. Device. Vert, a sun between two flaunches Or, each charged with a mullet purpure.

Please introduce the submitter to a period rendition of a sun.

Etienne le Couteau des Roches. Name and device. Vert, a dagger proper between in chief two rocks, a bordure argent.

Gabrielle Gasparella. Name.

The name was submitted as Gabrièlle Gasparèlla, with accents. De Felice, the submitter's source for this name, routinely uses accents to show syllable stress; they are not part of the name per se. We've therefore deleted them here.

Heinrich Anselm. Name and device. Per pale sable and argent, a chevron potenty between two halberds bendwise sinister issuant from dexter, two halberds bendwise issuant from sinister, and a double-headed eagle counterchanged.

Though awkward of blazon, the design is rather striking. Please instruct the submitter to drawn the potenty line more boldly henceforth.

The embattled line tended to be lost in the details of the lantern, but enough of it was visible to be recognizable. However, the submitters should be instructed to use a simplified rendition of their lantern, for improved identifiability.

Misty Marsh by the Sea, Canton of the. Device. Azure, on a pale argent a garb of cattails proper, overall a laurel wreath Or.

Oddr Sygnski. Device. Gules, a drakkar sailing to sinister argent and a chief ermine.

Prydian Aurelia Emrys. Device. Purpure, a bend sinister between a demi-unicorn and a tree blasted and eradicated, a bordure Or.

The given name was spelled Pyrdian on the LOI, and Prydain on the submission forms. Neither is correct: the registered spelling of the name is as above.
In the full emblazon, both the secondary charges were very carefully kept separate from the bend and bordure; they were not issuant, as they appeared in the LOI's miniature emblazon.

Siobhán NicDhuinnshléibhe. Device. Vert, an owl affronty perched atop a branch fesswise argent, between three drop spindles inverted sable, threaded argent.

Trystan ap Morgan. Name.

CAID

Christopher of Silveroak. Device. Argent, a cross formy gules, on a chief sable three trefoils, each within and conjoined at the base to an annulet argent.

Conall Gillysaght. Device. Per fess gules and argent, a lion passant contourny Or and in pale three lances fesswise azure.

This had been pended from the April 93 meeting, to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.

The name was originally submitted in the above form, but was changed to Desle Godiva of Farnham on the LOI. The Caid College could document neither Deille or Godsend to period. As it turns out, Deille and Desle are both variants of the name of the saint normally called Deicolus; all of these ring changes on the saint's original name, the Irish Dichuill. (The Book of Saints, compiled at St. Augustine's Monastery, 5th ed.) As for Godsend, Lord Palimpsest has documented the forms of such "oath names" (e.g. Simon Helpusgod, 1296), and dated the phrase God send to at least 1470. We've therefore restored the submitter's original submission.

The patronymic was submitted as ni Uilliam, with the submitter requesting the correct Scots Gaelic form for "daughter of William". The particle ni being Irish, we've substituted the Scots equivalent, and declined Uilliam to the genitive case; if she wants an even purer form, she can resubmit using nighean Uilleim.

Merric of Stormgate. Badge reblazon. (fieldless) An owl's head cabossed argent, sustaining in its beak a candle fesswise azure lit at both ends proper.

When registered April 83, the candle was blazoned as maintained in the owl's beak. This was doubly incorrect: as maintained means "held in the hand", a bird's beak cannot maintain; and the candle is large enough to be worth difference, not a negligible "held" charge. The reblazon is a more accurate reflection of the emblazon.

CALONTIR

Alexander Kirkpatrick. Name and device. Per pale azure and argent, a pickax and a spade inverted in saltire counterchanged.

Amanda of Coldcastle. Name (see RETURNS for device).

David of Grimfells. Holding name (see RETURNS) and device. Sable, in bend a sun and a griffin rampant contourny, a chief embattled Or.

This was submitted under the name Ilya Yaroslavovich Kurakin.

Dorcas Whitecap. Device. Vert, a dolphin haurient contourny and on a chief wavy argent, three crescents vert.

Ekkehart von Wartstein. Name and device. Per pale sable and argent, a lion dormant Or, a chief embattled counterchanged.

Elwyn of Thornbury. Name (see PENDED for device).

Frederick Wilhelm von Kirchlengern. Name.

Gillian Esmond of Dragon's Ley. Device. Vert, two chevronels between two swans naiant respectant and a sun in splendor Or.

John Bromere. Device. Gules, on a chevron per pale argent and Or, cotised per pale Or and argent, between three lions passant guardant contourny Or, three hearts gules.

Luke Javan ap Llewelyn ap Rhys Gwynedd. Name.

Monica Eve le May. Name and device. Azure, on a bend between two estoiles Or, a unicorn passant purpure.

The byname was submitted as LeMay, coalesced. The documentation would support either le May or Lemay; we've substituted the former.
Against the arms of the Essenden & District Memorial Hospital (Azure, on a bend between a sun in splendour and an estoile of eight rays Or, a rod of Aesculapius gules), there's a CD for the type and tincture of the tertiary -- and, just as we grant a CD between a sun and a mullet (of 5 points), so do we grant a CD between a sun and an estoile (of 6 rays).

Sile Pwyllog. Name and device. Or, a trefoil within an annulet azure.

The byname was submitted as Pwyll, which is unique to the mythological character in the Mabinogion. We've substituted the adjective pwyllog, "prudent, thoughtful".
This is clear of the mon of Honda Tadakatsu, cited in the commentary (Hawley 5): Dark, a slip of three hollyhock leaves within an annulet light. The hollyhock slip more closely resembles a tree; we feel it's distinct enough from the heraldic trefoil to be worth a CD. That, and the CD for tincturelessness, brings it clear.

Tatiana Aleksandrovna. Name.

The name was submitted as Tatiana Aleksandrovna Odeskaya, with the latter byname meaning "of Odessa". Unfortunately, the city of Odessa did not receive that name until 1795, and so could not have produced that byname in period. We have therefore deleted it.

EAST

Alberto Accorsi. Device. Per bend sinister sable and Or, in pale two reindeer's antlers fesswise reversed, a bordure counterchanged.

The primary charges were blazoned on the LOI as stag's horns. The stag's horn or stag's attire -- singular, as opposed to the full rack of antlers -- is a period charge; the arms of the Duchy of Württemberg are the most famous example of its use. However, the stag's attire is usually drawn in a rather stylized manner, not at all like the charges in this submission. Instead, these charges are drawn like the antlers of the heraldic reindeer, which Parker (p.196) describes as having "double attires, one pair erect, the other pendent". Judging by the submitter's forms, that appears to have been his intent.

This had been pended from the March 93 meeting, to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.

Dafydd Baird. Device. Or, on a pale between two rose branches vert, flowered gules, a clarion argent.

As drawn, these are definitely branches with flowers, not roses with slips. Per the discussion on branches in the June LoAR cover letter, we have so blazoned them.

In the full-size emblazon, the bat-winged tower does indeed look like a (modified) tower, not like a bat.

Meridies, Kingdom of. Name for the Order of the Stella Rubra (see RETURNS for badge).

The order name was submitted as the Order of the Stella Ruber. Stella being a feminine Latin noun, it takes the feminine form of the adjective; we've corrected the grammar accordingly.

This had been pended from the March 93 meeting, to give the Meridean College a chance to forward the needed archive copy. That having now been received, this can be registered under a holding name (the originally submitted name, Brangwain Forrestier, was returned March 93).

Aelfgar Tawel ap Llewelyn. Name.

Angus Ulrich. Device. Vert, in chief an eagle displayed, facing sinister, and in base a saltire, overall an orle of chain Or.

This raised some question in the commentary as to whether the saltire could legitimately be "abased" (not issuant from the corners of the chief), as in this submission. Normally, the placement of a saltire is fixed by the points of the shield: the upper limbs issue from the corners of the chief, as would bends and bends sinister. However, using the 13th Century arms of FitzWalter (Or, a fess between two chevrons gules) as a model, we decided that a hypothetical Or, a fess between two saltires gules would be acceptable style -- which would therefore argue that a saltire need not automatically issue from the corners of the chief, but might move to chief or to base if the design dictated. We also decided that such movement should be noted in the blazon, either implicitly (as in our hypothetical example) or explicitly (as in this submission).

Balian de Brionne. Device change. Per pale argent and azure, three clarions counterchanged.

His current device (Azure, a tyger passant between in chief an arch of five mullets of eight points and in base a clarion argent) is released. This is a marked improvement.

Berwyn Aethelbryght of Ackley. Device. Purpure, three acorns Or within a bordure Or ermined purpure.

Bianca Valentina della Volpe da San Germano. Name and device. Ermine, a wolf sejant uluant contourny sable within a bordure rayonny gules.

Please instruct the submitter to use larger and bolder rayons henceforth.

Briana Galbraith MacCrimmon. Device. Argent semy of card-piques sable, a thistle proper within an orle sable.

The orle should be wider, the card-piques larger and fewer. Please instruct the submitter.

The placename was submitted as Mount Gürten, with an umlaut. The documentation does not spell Gurten with an umlaut; we have therefore deleted it.
Please instruct the submitter on the correct depictions of mountains.

This household name is assigned to his badge, Gules, a pomegranate Or seeded gules between three bees, all within a bordure Or.

Falcon's Quarry, Shire of. Name and device. Per bend sinister wavy azure, and argent masoned sable, a falcon striking contourny, wings displayed Or and a laurel wreath vert.

Grimkell Vikarsson of Brattahlid. Name.

Gwendoline Rosamond. Name.

The byname was submitted on the LOI as Rosamund, but the forms showed the above form. Since the documentation supports either spelling, we've restored that of the submitter.

Havenholde, March of. Device. Gyronny arrondi gules and argent, a tower sable, on a chief Or three laurel wreaths sable.

Isabella Oakwood. Name.

Ivar Gunnarsson. Device. Or, a drakkar sable between three suns gules, a bordure engrailed azure.

Please instruct the submitter to draw the suns larger.

Magnus von Bayern. Name.

Melisande d'Eyncourt. Name.

Merouda Pendray. Name.

Pádraig Mac Madigan. Device. Per pale argent and purpure, a lion rampant between in fess two crosses crosslet counterchanged.

Percival ap Gwilym Trefynwy. Name.

Peregrine the Illuminator. Name.

I agree with those commenters who noted it would be a kindness to explain to the submitter (if he doesn't already know) that the period term Illuminator would have had nothing to do with calligraphy. Evangelist might be the closest modern equivalent.

Reynard de Foch of Ravenglass. Device. Per saltire argent and sable, a fox rampant gules within a bordure gules mullety argent.

Robert of Bristol. Device. Or, a horse's head erased between three horseshoes inverted sable, all within a bordure gules.

This had been pended from the March 93 meeting, to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.

The patronymic was submitted as Gunnardóttir. The genitive form of the given name Gunni would be Gunna, not Gunnar. We've corrected the spelling of the name.

Xristina Viacheslavivna. Name and device. Azure, a swan naiant contourny, wings addorsed argent, between flaunches Or, in cross four water-lilies in profile counterchanged.

TRIMARIS

Darius the Elder. Name.

Duncan of Shadowwood. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Genevieve La Rousse. Badge for Château La Rousse. Argent, a hare sejant contourny gules within a bordure sable.

Though listed on the LOI as a personal badge, the submitter's forms gave it as a household badge. The household name was registered Aug 91.

The given name was spelled Katherina on the LOI, but Katharina on the forms. Since the latter is the more usual German version, we've restored the submitter's spelling.

The charge in chief was blazoned on the LOI as two hands conjoined in fess. This would have had two default hands -- i.e. apaumy -- rather than the clasped hands shown. According to Lord Crescent, the motif of two hands clasped has an heraldic name: a foi, used in French blazons and possibly some English canting arms (Parker 305).
Against the arms of Perry (Vert, a fess embattled between three pears Or), there's a CD for type of secondary and a CD for the complex line on the fess. The difference between a fess embattled (top edge only) and a fess counter-embattled (both edges) is as great as that between a fess embattled and a plain fess. That brings it clear, without the need to decide whether a foi is one charge or two......

Trimaris, Kingdom of. Name for the Order of the Heralds' Tressure of Trimaris.

Trimaris, Kingdom of. Name for the Order of the Mermaids' Pearl of Trimaris.

Trimaris, Kingdom of. Name for the Order of the Watchful Flame of Trimaris.

WEST

Aodh Magnusson. Device. Gyronny purpure and argent, each argent gyron charged with a cross couped vert, a bordure azure.

Arielle d'Arc. Name change (from Arielle of Amberwood ).

Hwmffre Hannerdewr. Badge. (fieldless) A tyger sejant vert.

Nice badge.

Another nice badge!

Kyne Hornbora. Name.

Mwynwenn ferch Maelsnectain. Name.

The submitter has documented a pattern of use involving Gaelic names with the Welsh patronymic particle ap. It's reasonable to extend this exception to Rule III.2.a to the feminine equivalent ferch.

Very nice.

Thorvald Haakonsson. Name.

THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS HAVE BEEN RETURNED:

AN TIR

Guljan Mahsati. Name.

While Gul- "rose" is well-documented as a prototheme in late-period Turkish feminine given names, no evidence was provided that -jan "soul, breath" is a valid period deuterotheme. (The citation of Jan from Hanks & Hodges' Dictionary of First Names is not dated.) We need some evidence of at least compatibility with period usage before we can register the name.

The name conflicts with Revelwood, a locale in Steven Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Revelwood is a fairly major site in Covenant's Land, according to its entry in The Atlas of The Land by Karen Wynn Fonstad; by our Administrative Guidelines, it is therefore important enough to protect.

Aldric of Galway. Device. Azure, a pall inverted embattled Or between three natural dolphins naiant in annulo argent.

As emblazoned, the pall is far too narrow, its embattlements too small. Medieval ordinaries were drawn with large, bold lines, the better to be seen from a distance. This must be returned for redrawing.

This conflicts with the device of Brian Angus McDonald (SCA): Azure, a stag passant maintaining a gonfannon and on a chief embattled argent, three roses azure. There's a CD for the field, but no difference for the maintained charge, or for changes to only the tincture of the tertiaries.

This conflicts with the arms of de Wolf (Woodward 228): Vert, a wolf sejant argent. There's a single CD, for fieldlessness.

This conflicts with the arms of Appleheim (Papworth 888): Gules, two apples in pale, stocks counterposed Or. We don't grant Substantial Difference between an apple and a pear -- there's at best a CD between the two fruits, and one could argue negligible difference. Either way, there's a single CD for type of charge: either for type of the primary charge group (if apples and pears are a CD apart), or for type of half the primary group (if they're negligibly different). Either way, it's a conflict.

The charges aren't particularly identifiable when conjoined in this manner. Specifically, the inverted flame, itself difficult to identify, has its Or outline mostly abutting the Or wings. We'd suggest deleting the flame, assuming no conflicts.

The majority of the commenters found the design offensive, with its overwhelming connotations of bondage and degradation (B&D). While each of the charges may, by itself, be acceptable -- scourges, for instance, were used as martyrs' symbols in period -- the overall effect is excessive. This must be returned, per Rule I.2.
Additionally, many found the semy of whips unidentifiable. Period armory used scourges, with several lashes, to increase recognition; as drawn here, the charges look more like the ends of shepherd's crooks. Both problems could be solved by deleting the semy altogether.

No evidence was presented to support Hogar as a valid given name. Since Hogar, Hoggar is a documented byname (meaning "swineherd"), we need hard evidence of its use as a given name in period before we can register it as such. We might have substituted Hagar, a documented Biblical name -- though feminine, it's been used by Society menfolks before now -- but the submitter disallowed minor corrections to his name. As he permitted a holding name to be formed, however, his armory was registered under the name Ron of Loch Salann.

The arrows are not in a blazonable heraldic posture. They aren't fretted "in cross", as blazoned on the LOI, but more like "in crosshatch" -- with two arrows fesswise and two bendwise sinister. Moreover, because the arrows are pointing in four different directions, the blazon required to describe it would be so complex as to clearly show the non-period style of the submission.
If he resubmits with a similar motif, please have him draw the acorn larger. You might also indicate whether his current device is to be released or retained as a badge.

This conflicts with the arms of Roger Wyville (Foster 211): Azure, three chevronels interlaced argent. There is a single CD, for the charge in chief.

The device does not appear to be correct medieval style. The use of the two gyronny divisions is visually confusing here, with the sinister division being the counterchange of the dexter division.
Moreover, the only examples we've seen of multiple gyronny divisions in one device involved marshalling. Were this considered a marshalled coat -- and the fact that the Campbell (Caimbeul) arms are Gyronny sable and Or suggests this was the submitter's intent -- it would be returnable on those grounds alone. It's true that a charged chief may, in most cases, remove the appearance of impalement; but simultaneously, the use of Campbell armory with the name Caimbeul reinforces that appearance. For either reason, this must be returned.

Anne of Carthew. Device. Azure, a goblet Or, on a chief argent three roses gules.

This technically conflicts with the arms of Lawrie, cited in the LOI (Papworth 676): Azure, a cup Or with four laurel branches issuant argent, the center ones orlewise, on a chief of the third a lion passant gules between two mullets of the first. The blazons of similar designs in Lawrie/Laurie armory convince us that the laurel branches are not "maintained" charges but significant secondary charges; their removal is worth a CD. However, we couldn't see giving the second needed CD for the changes to the tertiaries on the chief.
Between this submission and Lawrie, there have been changes to type of all three charges on the chief, and to tincture of two of them. Since Lawrie's armory is not simple, Rule X.4.j.ii doesn't apply; change of type alone of the tertiaries isn't worth a CD. Rule X.4.j.i states that "Generally, such changes must affect the whole group of [tertiary] charges to be considered visually significant." [Emphasis mine.] The word "generally" gives us some leeway, true, but the cases where that leeway can be exercised are few.
It has been ruled (LoAR cover letter of 16 Oct 90) that "in certain particularly simple cases, changes to type or number plus change of tincture of one-half of tertiary charge(s) will be sufficient difference for a CVD." The defining case closest to the current submission was that of Éibhleann O'Ceileachair, Sept 90: her submission of Azure, a demi-sun issuant from base Or, on a chief argent three shamrocks vert was deemed clear of the Barony of Aneala, Azure, a demi-sun issuant from chief Or, on a chief argent a laurel wreath vert between two swan's heads and necks erased respectant sable. That case, and the case of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme on the same LoAR, set the standard for "certain particularly simple cases": all the armories considered had at most a single charge beneath the chief. While the client's submission meets that standard, the arms of Lawrie do not; Lawrie has twisty branches, half of which form an orle. I therefore cannot consider this a simple case, and so cannot grant the needed CD for the tertiary changes.
To summarize: between this submission and the arms of Lawrie, there's a CD for the secondary charges (the laurel branches); but Lawrie's armory is too complex to allow us to get another CD for the changes to the tertiaries. This must be returned, with regrets.

Withdrawn by the Principal Herald.

(This was submitted as a badge for the Order of the Pinnacle of the Mountain.) Though blazoned as a mountain on the LOI, the charge issuant from base is actually a point pointed. Another blazon, one that better reflects the extremely modern style of this design, would be Sable, a bezant indented in base surmounted by a point pointed argent counterchanged sable, all between three passion nails one and two, heads to center Or. The exact geometric alignment, and the modern rendition of the "mountain", combine to make this unacceptably non-medieval style.

This conflict with the badge of the Barony of Carolingia (SCA): Vert chapé barry wavy azure and argent, a vixen sejant guardant contourny argent. There's a CD for fieldlessness, but none for the posture of the beast's head.

This conflicts with Hallweil (Papworth 1123): Or, a pair of wings elevated and conjoined sable; and with Derneford (Papworth 1123): Or, two wings conjoined sable. The spear is a significant charge, equal in visual weight to the wing; there is a single CD for changing it to a second wing.

Beatrice Celestine of Normandie. Device. Argent, a winged demi-boar displayed facing sinister sable, issuant from and grasping an open book gules.

This conflicts with Wulfred Haraldsson (SCA): Argent, in pale a wolf's head erased contourny sable and an open book gules. There's a CD for changing the type of charge in chief, but nothing for the conjoining of the charges.

Amanda of Coldcastle. Device. Sable, a gurges couped in base, a bordure Or.

It has previously been ruled (LoAR of Oct 90) that the gurges may not be couped: "Whirlpools or gurges are used as a single, throughout charge on a field." This must be returned; if she resubmits with a standard throughout gurges, this will be a striking device.

The charge in chief was blazoned simply as an annulet in the LOI. In fact, it is a ring of Celtic knotwork -- not even knots conjoined in annulo, but actual Celtic knotwork as found in the Book of Kells, with the plaits sable and the spaces between the plaits vert. As such, it is not period heraldic style: for one thing, it cannot be blazoned in a way that permits the emblazon to be reproduced. Celtic knotwork has been banned from Society armory for many years (v. the LoAR of 10 March 78). This must be returned.

Withdrawn by the Principal Herald.

The submitted name, in a slightly different form, was returned June 92 for incorrect grammar and possible intrusive modernity: "A number of commenters had problems with the resemblance of this name to that of UNCLE agent Ilya N. Kuryakin, and it is entirely possible that even were the name grammatically correct that it would have to be returned for being obtrusively modern and 'detrimental to the ... enjoyment of its [the Society's] participants' (RfS I.2) because of that intrusiveness." The resubmission has corrected the grammatical problems, but completely ignored the problem of modernity. Every problem discussed in a previous return must be addressed in a resubmission, and I am loathe to accept any submission where this isn't done. This is therefore returned, without consideration of the merits of the name.
For the record, I agree that the name is technically clear of the Other Man from UNCLE. Conflict is not really the issue here, strictly speaking. The previous return cited modernity: that this combination of given name and byname, by its association with a fictional high-tech spy, will inevitably remind a listener of the 20th Century. That is the issue that must be addressed in any subsequent resubmission.
The submitted armory has been registered under the holding name David of Grimfells.

The use of the throughout charge on the lozenge gives the appearance of an inescutcheon of pretense. This usage is disallowed, per Rule XI.4.

Under current precedent, fretty and a fret are artistic variants of the same charge. The submission therefore contains a single group of four primaries, of three different types: rose, gauntlet, and fretwork. This is disallowed per Rule VIII.1.a. Deleting the fretwork would remove the problem, assuming no conflicts.
It has been noted in the past (LoAR of July 92) that aversant clenched is probably the least identifiable posture for a hand or gauntlet. Please have her draw the fist with its thumb and fingers to the viewer when she resubmits, to promote recognition.

Genevieve de Mowbray of Lion's Rest. Badge appeal. (fieldless) A torch sable.

This badge had been returned on the LoAR of May 92 for conflict with the badge of the Barony of the Flaming Gryphon (SCA): Ermine, a torch sable enflamed proper. The submitter has appealed that return, arguing there should be a CD for fieldlessness and a CD for tincture of "half the charge" (the flame). As examples, she cites instances where changing half the tincture of a charge -- e.g. the tail of a sea-monster -- was ruled to be worth a CD.
Unfortunately, the submitter's examples do not prove her point. We certainly agree that the tincture of half the charge can be worth a CD; that was not at issue. The question was whether the flame of a torch constitutes half the charge, and this she has failed to demonstrate. The badge's previous return specifically ruled that "the flames [of the torch] do not 'constitute half the charge' as stated in the LOI, so changing their tincture does not count for the second CD." I agree with that ruling: as normally drawn, a torch's flame is a small fraction of the entire torch, not half. Indeed, the emblazon of Flaming Gryphon's badge (for their Order of the Flaming Brand) clearly shows a torch much longer than the flame is high. We suggest she write to the Barony for permission to conflict.

Blackwood, Shire of. Name.

The name was already registered on the LoAR of March 93.

There are two problems with the name, each sufficient for return. First, croraire is not the Irish for "crossroads". Apparently, it was a misreading of the documentation, which used a "Celtic" font with a long S: the correct term is crosaire. Second, were we to correct the spelling, this would conflict with the Barony of An Crosaire, in Trimaris.

(This was submitted as a badge for the Order of the Stella Rubra.) The charges considered media for heraldic display -- the delf, lozenge, cartouche, etc. -- when used in a fieldless badge may not be charged. This ruling has been in force since 1986, and is itself reason enough for return. In this case, the badge gives the appearance of a display (on a cartouche) of the arms of Harpden (Papworth 989), Argent, a mullet gules; so this must be returned for conflict as well.
As a side note: the cartouche was drawn in this submission with pointed ends, not the rounded ends normal for the charge. We've registered this variant form in the past, usually blazoned a cartouche with pointed ends; the technical term for the shape is mandorla, or amygdaline aureole. (Metford's Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend)

(This was submitted as a badge for the Order of the Bough of Meridies. Note that this is the registered form of the Order name.) This must be returned, for either of two reasons. First, the College does not register monograms, or any armory consisting solely of an alphanumeric symbol. (LoAR of Aug 84, p.5) Anyone has the right to use the letter M without regard to conflict; it can't be considered the private property of the Kingdom of Meridies.
Second, this conflicts with the badge of the British 6th AGRA (Military Ordinary #885): Sable, the symbol of the constellation Virgo argent. The difference between the Virgo glyph and the letter M isn't even worth a CD, let alone the Substantial Difference needed to clear the conflict here.

(This was submitted as a badge for the Order of the Velvet Owl.) This conflicts with the device of Serena Lucia of the Peacemakers (SCA): Gyronny vert and Or, a snowy owl's head erased affronty proper (Nyctea scandiaca). There's a CD for the field, but no more. It also conflicts with the badge of John the Rhymer (SCA): Azure, a falcon's head couped reversed argent. There's a CD for the posture of the head, but none for its type -- in large part because the cabossed/guardant posture forms such a large part of the definition of an owl's face.
Against the badge of Merric of Stormgate (An owl's head cabossed argent, sustaining in its beak a candle fesswise azure lit at both ends proper), there's a CD for fieldlessness and a CD for the candle; a comparison of the emblazons showed the candle to be a significant charge.

This conflicts with the Rivers Herald, who served the Woodville family (Earls Rivers) in the 15th Century. The title is on the list of heraldic titles from the 1987 Armorial, which Mistress Alisoun deemed to be protected. The addition of the adjective is insufficient difference, per Rule V.2.

Balian de Brionne. Badge. (fieldless) On a flame Or a salamander gules.

This is a technical conflict with the arms of William of Sark (SCA): Sable, a flame proper. There's a CD for fieldlessness. Since a flame proper is, on a dark field, equivalent to on a flame Or another gules, the only other change is to type of tertiary charge -- which on a complex primary is worth no difference, per Rule X.4.j.ii.
Possible conflict was also cited with the badge of Dundas (Fox-Davies' Heraldic Badges, p.96): (fieldless) A salamander proper. Technically speaking, the medieval heraldic salamander would have been a reptile with spurts of flame, or at most lying on a bed of flame; in any event, the reptile would have been the primary charge. Here, the flame is the primary charge, and the salamander a tertiary. We might still have called a visual conflict, all other things being equal, had we been able to ascentain the tincture of a salamander "proper". We still aren't sure what that might be, but it doesn't seem to have been gules: Franklyn & Tanner, for instance, state that the salamander is "Generally argent or Or, and occasionally vert." In any event, we can give the submitter the benefit of the doubt on this conflict -- as the other one cited renders it moot.

On the full-sized emblazon, the waves on the chief were not as bold as those on the miniature emblazon in the LOI. Indeed, the waves were so small as to be indistinguishable from a distance. This must be returned for redrawing.
When you instruct her how to draw the chief, you might also instruct her to draw her hawk with sleek feathers, and perhaps bells and jesses (so that it won't be reblazoned an eagle).

This conflicts with the arms of the Duke of Cassan, from Katherine Kurtz' Deryni series (Fabulous Heraldry #75): Azure, a lion dormant argent. There's a single CD, for adding the other two cats; we grant no difference between lions and cats, or between couchant and dormant.
This submission was an appeal of a return by the Midrealm College of Heralds, for the above conflict. The submitter argues that there should be a CD for posture as well as number, since the two added cats are not in their "default" posture -- by which is meant, we assume, not in the same posture as the original cat. I agree with Lord Dragon's analysis: the client evidently feels that the change from the Duke of Cassan's device to her submission is a two-step process (first we add two cats, then we change their posture). This is not the case. It's a single-step process: we've added two charges. They could have been two cats couchant [the whole in annulo] argent, or two cats rampant addorsed argent, or two bezants, or a widget ermine and a wadget checky Or and gules. The amount of difference gained remains the same: a single CD, for the added charges.
This policy has been in place since at least Master Wilhelm's tenure; it was enunciated by Master Baldwin, in his LoARs of 25 Aug 85, p.14, and 15 Sept 85, p.3; Mistress Alisoun and Master Da'ud both followed it. It is logically consistent with Laurel interpretations of the Rules to date. The policy has one strong advantage to commend it: it doesn't encourage our clients, through extra heraldic difference, to add charges at variance (by posture, type, tincture, whatever) from those of the base coat. Submissions get no more difference for such designs than for heraldically desirable designs, with all the charges identical. We may not be able to ban submissions with charges going every which way, but we certainly needn't reward them with extra CDs for the "every which way" part.
This is a valid conflict with the arms of the Duke of Cassan. It must be returned. The submitter might consider changing the tincture of the field.

A thane (or thegn) was a free retainer in pre-Conquest England, and in Scotland up to the 15th Century; the term denotes a member of territorial nobility corresponding to the Norman baron or knight. The title was one step below the eorl, and might be either earned or inherited. In the SCA, the term is used as the Old English equivalent of "baron", and is therefore reserved. Old English usage puts the title after the name: Ælfred cyning, Leofric eorl, Lyfing arcebisceop. The submitted name is thus exactly in the form that would have been used by a period thane. That fact, along with the Society use of the title, and its hereditary nature in period, outweighs the documented use of Thane, Thaine as a surname later in period. It must therefore be returned as presumptuous. (OED, under the entries for earl, king and thane; '93 E.Brit. , vol.11, p.672; Reaney DBS II, pp.112, 345)
A discussion of the questions regarding the use of titles (in period and in the Society) and the appearance of presumption may be found in the cover letter.

This must be returned for two reasons. First, the design consists of a single group of charges, all about equally dominant, of three different types. This is disallowed, per Rule VIII.1.a.
Second, this conflicts with the arms of Campbell of Hallyards (Lyon Ordinary I), Argent, a castle triple-towered sable; and of Castelpers (Rietstap), Argent, a castle sable. There is a CD for the addition of the charges in base, but we have granted no difference in the past between a bridge and a castle, considering both to be stonework surmounted by towers.

Like the device, this conflicts with the arms of Campbell of Hallyards (Lyon Ordinary I), Argent, a castle triple-towered sable; and of Castelpers (Rietstap), Argent, a castle sable. There is a CD for the addition of the charges in base, but we have granted no difference in the past between a bridge and a castle, considering both to be stonework surmounted by towers.
Should they resubmit with this motif, please persuade them to use honest heraldic arrowheads (pheons or broadarrows), as in their device.

This name had been pended from March 93 meeting, to give the Midrealm College a chance to document the Japanese given name Yashinobu. No documentation has been forthcoming, and it doesn't seem to have been formed from themes found in O'Neill's Japanese Names; it must therefore be returned.

Donal MacLaren. Device. Gules, a harp Or within an orle of mullets argent.

This conflicts with the arms of La Harpe (Woodward 384): Gules, a harp Or. There's a single CD, for the addition of the mullets.

Though blazoned as enflamed on the LOI, the anvil was emblazoned as having flaming fimbriation. Fimbriation of a complex charge, such as an anvil, is itself grounds for return; when the fimbriation itself has a complex line, the design becomes doubly unacceptable. See the cover letter of the June 93 LoAR for a description of period enflaming, and suggest it to the submitter.

Her previous submission, with a single bird, was returned Aug 86 for conflict with the Principality of Cynagua. Increasing the number of swans removes that conflict, but introduces another. This now conflicts with the arms of Folgnardby (Papworth 330): Argent, three swans rising sable. There's a single CD, for the field; the annulets, as "held" charges, contribute no difference.

Withdrawn by the Principal Herald.

Jay MacPhunn. Device. Checky azure and argent, three skulls vert.

The name Jay MacPhunn was returned on the LoAR of June 93. Normally, we'd register the device submission under a holding name. However, we could not legitimately form a holding name in this case. We usually form holding names from the submitter's mundane given name and his local SCA group; in special cases, we might borrow from the submitted name as well. But the original name was returned because Jay, the submitter's mundane given name, is intrusively modern. A holding name formed in the usual manner would have the same problem; indeed, all the alternate names suggested by the submitter had that problem. We could not form a holding name in this case -- and therefore cannot register the device.
Some of my staff thought it unfortunate that this device be returned on a technicality regarding the name, and urged me to form a holding name out of whole cloth: Jason of Havbjorn, for instance. I considered it, but decided not to set such a dangerous precedent. The College of Arms already has a reputation for arbitrarily changing people's names. I see no need to fuel that reputation by selecting a name for this client from thin air; that would be truly arbitrary. At least, when correcting people's grammar, we try to give them a name with their desired meaning; when forming a holding name, we either use elements from the submitted name (which we can therefore assume are acceptable to the client) or else the mundane name and SCA branch, following a procedure carefully defined beforehand. Choosing a name on a whim for this submitter would follow neither his preference nor our procedure; it would usurp his privilege to choose his own Society name. Even with the best of intentions -- to register his device -- I'm not willing to take that step.

This conflicts with the mon of Hirayama (Hawley 27): Dark, a cherry blossom light. There's a CD for tincturelessness, but no further difference for anything relating to tincture, including lines of division; and no difference between Hirayama's rendition of a cherry blossom (complete with five petals, barbing and seeding) and an honest heraldic rose.

ATENVELDT

Brendan mac Artuir ap Alan. Badge. Sable, on a fess between two shamshiri fesswise reversed argent, another sable.

The tincture of the tertiary shamshir was omitted from the LOI. This is pended to the Nov 93 meeting to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.

The tincture of the ferret was inadvertently omitted from the LOI, making it proper (i.e. brown) by default. This is pended to the Nov 93 meeting to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.

Elwyn of Thornbury. Device. Argent, a bend sinister indented sable between two increscents gules.

The miniature emblazon showed the bend to be dancetty; the full-sized emblazon showed the bend to be indented. We do grant difference between these two treatments. This is pended to the Nov 93 meeting to allow for commentary under the correct blazon.