THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED:

* ÆTHELMEARC acceptances (to returns)

* Aaliz de Gant. Name and device. Per pale argent and azure, a cross flory between four fleurs-de-lys counterchanged.

Nice 13th century Parisian name!

* Ælric Ravenshaw. Release of badge. Quarterly azure and argent, on a roundel sable a bird's leg argent.

* Alfonso de Santo Domingo. Name and device. Gules, a lion's head erased argent within a bordure Or semy of castles gules.

Nice late 15th century Spanish name!

Nice armory!

* Celesta Vianello and John Finar of the Salt Bluff. Joint badge. (Fieldless) A compass star elongated to base per pale gules and Or.

Previous precedent, from the October 2013 Cover Letter, declared mullets elongated palewise to be unregisterable:

We had two submissions this month that featured a mullet elongated palewise. We have no evidence that such artistic treatment of a mullet was ever done in period armory at all, and we grant no difference between a mullet and a mullet elongated palewise.

However, we do have period evidence of mullets elongated to base (i.e., only the basemost ray is stretched out), but those appear to be a variant of a comet, not normal mullet. An example of such a comet can be seen in the 16th century Italian armorial Insignia Nobilium Patavinorum, BSB Cod.icon. 275, on f.65r (found at http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001422/image_137).

Therefore, as we would like to avoid confusion between comets and mullets, mullets elongated pale wise will no longer be registerable after the April 2014 decision meetings.

Per that precedent, mullets elongated to base are considered to be a variant of comets, and will be blazoned as comets. However, these variants are constructed from mullets, and not compass stars. Baring period evidence of compass stars elongated to base, that charge will not be registerable after the March 2015 decision meeting.

* Ciarán mac Alaxandair. Device. Vert, a chevron indented argent between three cranes rising Or.

* Constantina Sylvia. Name and device. Azure, a bird Or perched atop a branch issuant from dexter and on a chief argent four musical notes azure.

Submitted as Constantinia Sylvia, commenters were unable to find evidence of the spelling Constantinia. We have changed the given name to Constantina in order to register this name. The name can be supported both as a Roman name and in England, where Sylvia/Silvia is a plausible inherited surname derived from an unmarked matronym.

The submitter may wish to know that Green Staff constructed the Greek name Constantiniana as a feminine form of the masculine name Konstantianos.

* Elen Woderose. Name and device. Azure, a lotus blossom in profile beneath five compass stars in chevron, an orle argent.

There is a step from period practice for the use of compass stars.

* Elizabeta da Venezia. Name and device. Or, a domestic cat sejant and on a chief embattled sable three roses Or.

* Eoin Mac Cogadháin. Name and device. Vert, an anvil and on a chief argent three ravens sable.

* Hannah Stonhard. Name and device. Azure, a bend embattled between two herons maintaining swords Or.

Please advise the submitter to draw deeper embattlements.

* Judith Krähe vom Schwarzwald. Name and device. Vert, a tree blasted and eradicated and on a chief argent three swords palewise sable.

* Lucia Augur. Name.

Nice late 16th century English name!

* Maryam Jules. Name change from Julitta de Moulins and device change. Per saltire sable and argent, a compass rose counterchanged Or and sable.

The submitter's previous name, Julitta de Moulins, is retained as an alternate name.

Her old device, Per pall ermine, sable and gules, in fess an owl close affronty and an increscent moon argent, is released.

* Noelle de Feuer. Name and device. Argent, a crescent vert within a bordure rayonny gules.

Submitted as Noella de Feuer, Noella was documented as a place name, not as a given name. Therefore, we have changed the name to Noelle de Feuer.

* Otilia von Passaw. Name and device. Purpure, three mascles conjoined in pall Or.

Submitted as Otilia Von Passaw, we have changed the preposition to von to use typical capitalization.

* Simon Peregrine. Name and device. Argent, a winged monkey rampant and a bordure gules.

Nice 13th century English name!

* Sophia Lilje. Name.

Nice 13th century German name!

* Sumayya al Ghaziyya. Badge. (Fieldless) In pall three crescents conjoined at the tips purpure.

* Sylvan Glen, Shire of. Badge for Cooks Guild of Sylvan Glen. Gules, an apple between four spoons argent.

Cooks Guild of Sylvan Glen is a generic identifier.

* Vera Ivanovna Tolstikova. Name and device. Per bend sinister purpure and argent, a hedgehog rampant and a sheaf of arrows inverted counterchanged.

* Verena Wittkopf. Name.

* Zinoviia Ivanova. Name.

(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)


* AN TIR acceptances (to returns)

* Aldrich Fletcher. Device. Per pale argent and sable, a bow with arrow nocked and a wolf sejant contourny counterchanged, a chief indented vert.

* Ariel de Courtenay and Eduardo Francesco Maria Lucrezia. Joint badge. Purpure, in fess two curule chairs Or.

* Arthur of the Green Arrow. Name and device. Ermine, two arrows in saltire vert and on a chief embattled sable three mullets of eight points argent.

* Eoin Makenze. Name.

This name combines an Anglicized Irish or Gaelic given name and Scots byname. Either is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Fionnghuala Ruadh inghean Toirdhealbhaigh. Name and device. Or, a strawberry proper and on a chief gules three triangles Or.

Nice 15th century Irish Gaelic name!

* Fionnghuala Ruadh inghean Toirdhealbhaigh. Badge. Argent, a pile inverted gules issuant from a base wavy azure.

* Guy Grímsson. Device change. Argent, a Latin cross formy within a bordure vert charged with an orle of chain argent.

His old device, Argent, a Latin cross formy vert and on a chief enarched azure a hammer reversed Or, is released.

The submitter is a knight and thus entitled to use an orle of chain on his arms.

* Hadice bint Osman. Name.

Nice 16th century Turkish name!

* Isemay Makenze. Name.

* James Elwic. Name change from Elric Norþman.

As i/y switches are common in English, Elwic is a plausible spelling of the attested Elwyc (Watts, s.n. Elwick), dated to 1242.

The submitter's previous name, Elric Norþman, is released.

* Lionsdale, Shire of. Badge. (Fieldless) On a cross formy quadrate sable a tower Or.

* Ophelia of Fern Glen. Name.

Ophelia is registerable as a late period English name [Ophelia le Fayre, June 2014, A-Atenveldt].

In commentary, Siren constructed Fern Glen as an English compound place name, where Fern is a surname and Glen is a place name. Therefore, Fern Glen is a manorial name following the pattern family name added before a place name.

* Ophelia of Fern Glen. Household Name House of Fern Glen and badge. Vert, in pale a phoenix argent issuant from a drinking horn Or.

In commentary, Siren constructed Fern Glen as an English compound place name, where Fern is a surname and Glen is a place name. Therefore, Fern Glen is a manorial name following the pattern family name added before a place name. As such place names can be found as inherited surnames, this household name can be registered using the House of surname pattern.

* Osric Fletcher. Name.

Osric was documented in the Letter of Intent as an Anglo-Saxon given name. It is also found in the Middle English Dictionary as a late 13th century name.

* Roger Gridley. Name.

Both elements are dated to 1563, making this an excellent 16th century English name!

* Rowyn Arden the Bard. Device. Per saltire azure and purpure, a rowan tree eradicated argent between two harps Or.

* Tassi Hestamaðr. Name (see RETURNS for device).

* Vigdís Oddsdóttir. Name and device. Purpure, on a pale wavy argent three natural sea-tortoises vert.

(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)


* ANSTEORRA acceptances (to returns) (to pends)

* Amanda du Val. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Submitted as Amanda Duval, the submitter requested the byname of her legal father, du Val, if it could be documented. In commentary, Magnus von Lübeck was able to document the preferred spelling to the 13th and 14th centuries. Therefore, we are able to register it without relying on the grandfather clause.

* Andreius Vil'nia. Name and device. Vert, a cock rising and on a chief argent three grenades proper.

* Astríðr Kolbiarnardóttir. Name and device. Per saltire purpure and Or, in pale a padlock and a strawberry Or.

The submitter requested authenticity for 9th-11th century Viking. This request was not summarized in the Letter of Intent. Luckily for the submitter, Siren was able to address the authenticity during the Pelican decision meeting, so we did not need to pend this name. The name is authentic for 9th-10th century Iceland, so meets the submitter's request.

* Bella Francesca de Flores. Name.

* Finnvarðr Snæbiarnarson. Name (see RETURNS for device).

The submitter requested authenticity for 9th-11th century Viking. This request was not summarized in the Letter of Intent. Luckily for the submitter, Siren was able to address the authenticity during the Pelican decision meeting, so we did not need to pend this name. The name is authentic for 9th-10th century Iceland, so meets the submitter's request.

* Francesca Anastasia Vitelli. Name.

* Godfrey de Brokele. Name and device. Vert, on a bear's paw erased Or a tree vert, a bordure Or.

Nice 14th century English name!

Please advise the submitter to draw the erasing with fewer and more pronounced indents.

* Juan Gabriel Ramirez Mondragon. Name.

* Konrad vom Platz. Device. Gules, on a grenade Or a mullet of five greater and five lesser points sable, a bordure Or.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a mullet of five greater and five lesser points.

* Oliver Cacheluve. Device. Sable, a bend between a cross patonce and a sheaf of arrows Or.

* Paitin Todd. Name (see PENDS for device).

* Peregrin Michel. Name and device. Sable, a falcon striking Or and a tierce erminois.

Submitted as Pérégrin Michel, the name was changed in kingdom with the submitter's permission to match the documentation they could find.

In internal commentary on the original name, Blue Tyger documented Peregrin Michel as an entirely English name. The submitter requested this name instead. We have made this change.

There is a step from period practice for a tierce used with another charge on the field.

* Simha bint Yusuf. Name and device. Vert, a wolf dormant argent and a chief argent estencely azure.

In the Pelican decision meeting, Green Staff noted that this name can be constructed as a Hebrew or Persian name that has been recorded in Arabic.

* Sofia Patrekieva. Name (see RETURNS for device).

* Ulff der Dunre. Name and device. Per fess embattled argent and sable, a wolf passant gules and a clenched gauntlet argent.

This name combines a Norwegian given name and German byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Villana Palazolo. Name and device. Per chevron azure and argent, two zebras passant contourny and a peacock in its pride proper.

There is a step from period practice for the use of zebras.

* Yrsa Haraldsdottir. Name.

* Ysmiralda Dagon. Name and device. Vert, a dagger inverted and on a chief argent three hearts purpure.

Submitted as Esmerelda Dagon , kingdom changed the byname to Ysmiralda Dagonet with the submitter's permission to try to make the name wholly French. However, Ysmiralda is an Italian given name, not French.

In commentary, Blue Tyger documented Dagon as a German byname. The submitter requested that we restore the byname to Dagon. We have made this change.

This name combines an Italian given name and a German byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns) (to Ansteorra pends)


* ARTEMISIA acceptances (to returns)

* Gryphon's Lair, Barony of. Badge. Per chevron inverted azure and argent, in chief a griffin's head couped contourny Or.

* Innocent Villain. Name.

* Nathaniel Willoughby of Blackacre. Name and device. Azure, in pale three hedgehogs statant argent.

Blackacre was documented in the Letter of Intent as a constructed place name. In commentary, Blue Tyger was able to document the spelling Blakacre, dated to 1501. The Black- spelling is plausible for the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and can be found in bynames derived from place names at this time (see Bardsley, s.nn. Blackburn, Blackett, and Blackham).

Nice device!

* Praxilla Taurina. Name and badge (see RETURNS for device and badge). (Fieldless) A seeblatt inverted vair.

Although documented on the Letter of Intent as a feminine form of the Greek Tauros, Metron Ariston noted in commentary that Taurina is not the correct genitive (possessive) form of this element in Greek. However, she was also able to redocument the submitted Taurina as a Roman cognomen. A wholly Greek form of this name is Praxilla Taurinou.

This name combines a Greek given name and Roman (Latin) cognomen. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

Although the black and white and color emblazons had slightly different outlines there was no blazonable difference and thus we are chosing to not return this submission administratively.

* Rebecca Waite. Name.

Nice English name for around 1550!

* Ulrich von Grimme. Name and device. Per pale argent and sable, a double-headed eagle and in chief three Maltese crosses counterchanged.

* Visna Gyldir. Name.

Visna was documented from Saxo's Grammaticus, a history of Denmark written in Latin in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Names from the source may or may not be names of ordinary humans. As Visna was the name of a human woman who took part in a battle, and not a mythological character, we are able to register this name.

(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)


* ATENVELDT acceptances (to returns)

* Aindíles Cáel mac Máedóic. Name and device. Argent, a chevron cotised azure between three stag's heads erased proper.

Máedóic is the genitive (possessive) form of Máedóc, which is the name of several Irish saints.

Nice device!

* Angus Macairt. Name and device. Per chevron azure and vert, on a chevron argent a polypus sable, a bordure argent.

Submitted as Angus Macaird, the patronym was constructed using the patronymic particle Mac ("son of") with the place name Aird. Place names cannot be used to create MacX-style bynames. Therefore, we have changed the byname to Macairt in order to register this name.

* Cathaoir Ruadh. Name and device. Argent, surmounting a fess sable between three crescents an enfield gules.

* Emma Makeblise. Badge. Paly argent and vert, a ladybug proper and a chief Or.

* Gabriella le Fevre. Name and device. Vert, a pine tree couped and on a chief embattled argent three thistles proper.

This name combines an Italian or Spanish given name with a French byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Iosif Volkov. Device. Paly gules and argent, on a pile cotised azure a lightning bolt palewise Or.

His old device, Per bend sinister embattled azure and argent, a shooting star Or and a double-bitted axe argent, both bendwise sinister, is retained as a badge.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a lightning bolt not as part of a thunderbolt.

* Mikel Draco Aurelius. Name and device. Azure, a sea-serpent erect Or and in sinister chief a mullet argent.

This device is not in conflict with that of Bedivere de Byron: Azure, a serpent entwined around a trident palewise Or. By precedent there is no difference between a serpent and a sea-serpent:

[Argent, a serpent erect contourny, a chief gules] This conflicts with Robert de la Tor-Fraisse, Argent, a sea-serpent haurient reguardant gules. There is only one CD for the addition of the chief. An examination of the emblazon shows that Conall's sea-serpent is in essentially the same posture as Robert's. [Conall Ruadh Mag Fhionnain, 07/99, R-Atlantia]

However there is at least a DC for removing the trident and a DC for adding the secondary mullet.

* Revina Colquhoun. Name.

* Sorcha inghen Chon Mhara. Badge. Argent, a sea-hedgehog gules maintaining a drop-spindle sable, a bordure gules.

* Thorfinn Thorfinsson the Lucky. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Thorfinn is a simplified transliteration of the given name Þorfinn, found in Lind, s.n. Þorfinnr. In addition, forms such as the 15th century Thorfinnzs (which appears to be a genitive/possessive form) and the 13th century Thorfinnus/Thorfinus are found in the same entry. Therefore, the spellings of both the given name and patronym are plausible.

The byname the Lucky is the lingua Anglica form of the Old Norse inn heppni.

The submitter may wish to know that a wholly Old Norse form of this name is Þórfinnr inn heppni Þórfinnsson or Þórfinnr Þórfinsson ins heppna, where the latter uses the genitive, or possessive, form of the descriptive byname. In commentary, Siren presented examples to show that descriptive bynames occasionally followed the patronym. It is ambiguous whether such a byname refers to the bearer or the bearer's father.

* Zoe of Alexandria. Device. Lozengy argent and sable, a phoenix gules and a chief sable.

Nice device!

(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)


* ATLANTIA acceptances (to returns)

* Bi{o,}rn Eldiárnsson. Device. Vert, a bear rampant sable within a bordure embattled argent.

This design was well documented as an Individually Attested Pattern in Italian armory. The submitter and commenters provided more than sufficient evidence of a sable animate charge on a vert field, high contrast bordures in combination with low contrast primary charges and complex lines of division. Enough examples of the various elements in various combination were provided to establish a pattern for this design to be registerable.

* David FitzMartin. Badge. Argent, a horse passant azure and a bordure vert.

* Dýrfinna Freviðardóttir. Device. Per pale Or and gules, a tree blasted and eradicated counterchanged.

Her old device, Azure, a tree blasted and eradicated in canton a mullet all between flaunches argent is retained as a badge.

Nice device!

* Mikhail Korsakov. Name.

* Morgaine Ferguson. Name and device. Argent, a winged catamount sejant within an annulet of ivy, on a chief vert three triquetras argent.

* Nuala Ine Crayne. Name and device. Vert, a dragon and on a chief argent three triquetras each interlaced with an annulet vert.

This name combines a Gaelic given name and Manx byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Patrick of Kells. Device. Checky vert and argent, on a chief sable three Maltese crosses argent.

His old device, Or, a seawolf sable and a base vert is retained as a badge.

Nice device!

(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)


* CAID acceptances (to returns)

* Angus le Todde Mac Donnell. Badge. Purpure platy, a bear rampant argent.

* Fu Ching Lan. Badge. Purpure, a besom inverted between four domestic cats two and two sejant respectant argent.

* Isles, Shire of the. Badge. (Fieldless) A tower gules winged Or.

* Mael Anfaid MacLeoid. Device. Vert, three otters statant in annulo and on a point pointed argent three annulets interlaced vert.

There is a step from period practice for the use of charges in annulo not in their default palewise orientation.

* Séamus Ó Maoilruanaidh. Name.

This name is clear of the registered Séamus Ó Maoil Riain due to the changes in sound and appearance in the byname. One syllable has been changed (ru- vs. Ri-), and another (-aidh) has been added.

Nice Gaelic name for the 15th and 16th centuries!

* Vitasha Ivanova doch'. Badge. Per pale Or and gules, a chalice within a bordure counterchanged.

Nice badge!

* William Ulfsson. Name (see RETURNS for device).

William is the submitter's legal given name. However, both the given name and byname can be found in Diplomatarium Norvegicum, dated to the 16th century. Therefore, the submitter need not rely on the legal name allowance.

(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns)


* CALONTIR acceptances (to returns) (to pends)

* Adelaide Sarsfield. Name and device. Per chevron argent and azure, two fleurs-de-lys sable and a martlet argent.

The sources cited in the Letter of Intent to document the byname, Sarsfield, use normalized, or modernized, forms of the names. The submitted spelling is found in Latin dated to 1516-7 (Chartularies of St Mary's Abbey, Dublin; http://books.google.com/books?id=R_w-CZ0eXnYC, p. 14), so we are able to register this name.

* Aelia Basina. Name change from Ho'elun Checheg.

Submitted as Aelia Basina of Veii, the submitter requested authenticity for 6th-7th century Roman. Aelia and Basina were documented as Byzantine names. We do not have evidence of double given names for that culture. However, these elements can be interpreted as a Late classical Roman name. In commentary, Green Staff documented several Roman names with Aelia as a first element, although most of the women who used this pattern were empresses. In order to make the name authentic, however, the lingua Anglica of Veii should be dropped. We have made this change with the submitter's permission in order to register this name.

The submitter's previous name, Ho'elun Checheg, is released.

* Biby ferch Llewelyn of Camelford. Name and device. Sable, a coney rampant contourny argent within a bordure per pale gules and Or semy of Bowen knots crosswise counterchanged.

This name combines an English given name and locative with a Welsh patronymic byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Caoimhin McKee. Heraldic Title Sanglier Rouge Herald.

* Cesare di Lodovico Malefici. Device. Bendy wavy argent and sable.

Nice device!

* Ffelix Æskelsson. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Submitted as F{oe}linx Æskelsson, the submitter requested a given name that sounded like "Felix". Goutte d'Eau documented the name Ffelix to 16th century Norway (Diplomatarium Norvegicum). Æskelsson can also be documented as a 14th and 15th century byname in the same source, making this a wholly Norwegian name.

If the submitter had not agreed to this change, the name F{oe}linx is a genitive (possessive) form, not the required nominative form. The nominative forms would be F{oe}lins and F{oe}linss.

* Halldóra Guðrøðardóttir. Name (see RETURNS for device).

* Isibél inghean Dáire. Name.

Submitted as Isibél ingen Dáire, the name appeared on the Letter of Intent as Isibél inghen Dáire. This form contained a misspelling of the particle ingen/inghean ("daughter of"). The submitter confirmed that she preferred the Early Modern Irish byname inghean Dáire. We have made this correction in order to register the name.

* Ormar Svensson. Name.

Submitted as Ormarr Svensson, the submitter expressed a preference for the form Ormar Svensson. In commentary, Goutte d'Eau documented both elements to Norway in 1384-1394 (in Diplomatarium Norvegicum). Therefore, we are happy to make this change to meet the submitter's wishes.

* Uesugi Katsumoto. Name.

* Wulfhere of Eofeshamme. Name.

The submitter requested authenticity for 8th to 10th century Anglo-Saxon. The given name Wulfhere is dated to the 9th and 11th centuries, and the byname of Eofeshamme is dated to the 11th century. The name may be authentic for the desired time period, but we cannot be certain.

(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)


* DRACHENWALD acceptances (to returns)

* Eplaheimr, Shire of. Device. Vert, an apple Or within a laurel wreath argent.

(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)


* EALDORMERE acceptances (to returns)

* Alexander Gladstone. Name.

Both the given name and byname are found in 1594, making this an excellent late period English name!

* Dietrich von Sachsen. Badge. Per pale Or and ermine, a lion and in chief three crosses potent sable.

* Song Zidie. Name (see RETURNS for device).

(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns)


* EAST acceptances (to returns)

* Æsa Sturludottir. Name and device. Sable, three suns Or eclipsed gules.

Nice device!

* An Dubhaigeainn, Barony of. Order Name Order of Sylvanus.

* Archers Ford, Shire of. Branch name and device. Azure, a fess checky Or and gules between two sheaves of arrows and a laurel wreath Or.

Archers Ford follows the pattern of compound place names, where Archers is a family name and Ford is a place name.

The Shire has a letter of permission to conflict with the household House of Archers Ford. The question was raised if this branch name could be registered, as it is identical except for the designator, even with permission to conflict. NPN.3.E of SENA states:

Any change to the sound and appearance of the designator is sufficient to allow the registration of a non-personal name with a letter of permission to conflict, except when both items are branches, orders or awards, or heraldic titles or when one item is an order or award and the other is a heraldic title. This is because designators for branches and heraldic titles may change over time, we consider the designators for orders, awards, and honors to be equivalent, and we allow branches to register heraldic titles formed from their registered order and award names. However, household and affiliation designators do not change over time and are considered an integral part of the name.

As the conflict is between a household name and branch name, we are able to accept the letter of permission to conflict and register this branch name.

The Shire has a letter of permission to conflict with the badge of the House of Archers Ford, registered to Alexander Makcristyne, Azure, a fess checky Or and gules between two sheaves of arrows and an axe Or.

* Cróebnat Fholtchaín. Name and device. Argent, a chevron per chevron sable and vert between two crows sable and a tree eradicated proper.

* Elizabeth of Arundel. Name and device. Azure, a fox sejant contourny Or and on a chief ermine three apples gules.

Nice name for 12th-13th century England!

* Estefania del Bosque. Name.

Nice late 16th century Spanish name!

* Everard de l'Est. Device. Vert, a sword inverted winged argent and an orle ermine.

Please advise the submitter to draw the orle a slightly larger so that there is more room for the ermine spots.

* Genovefa Clerica. Name and device. Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a sea-horse counterchanged.

* Giomar Alicia de Valencia. Name and device. Argent, on a pale azure between four fleurs-de-lys sable three cinquefoils argent.

Submitted as Giomar Alicia Marquez de Valencia, Marquez is the Spanish form of the title Marquis, found in period names such as don Andrez Hurtado de Mendoza, marquez de Cañete (in CORDE). This submission appears to follow the same pattern and is presumptuous under PN.4.B of SENA. The submitter has allowed a change to Giomar Alicia de Valencia in order to remove the appearance of a claim to rank. We have made this change.

* Grímólfr Skúlason. Household Name Spak-Hrafns hús.

After the Pelican decision meeting, Orle noted that hús is a rare place name element in Old Norse, and that the form Spakrafnshús is a plausible documentary form based in examples in Oluf Rygh's "Norwegian Farm Names" (http://www.dokpro.uio.no/rygh_ng/rygh_form.html). The submitted form is also registerable as submitted, but is less authentic.

* Gunnmarr Úlfsson. Name.

* Kára Grímsdóttir. Name.

* Leifr Skáldason. Name and device. Vert, an open book and on a chief argent an axe gules.

* Mæva Refsdóttir. Name and device. Per pale vert and Or, two foxes combatant counterchanged and on a chief indented sable three tankards argent.

Please advise the submitter to draw the chief with fewer and larger indentations.

* Magnus Thorfinnsson. Name.

Thorfinn is a simplified transliteration of the given name Þorfinn, found in Lind, s.n. Þorfinnr. In addition, forms such as the 15th century Thorfinnzs (which appears to be a genitive/possessive form) and the 13th century Thorfinnus/Thorfinus are found in the same entry. Therefore, the spelling of the patronym is plausible.

* Maria Elena Reynosa. Name.

Nice Spanish name for around 1570!

* Marion MacKinnon. Badge. (Fieldless) In saltire a feather argent and a key wards to base sable.

* Marjorie Parmentar. Device. Vert, in saltire two needles threaded argent and on a chief invected Or three crosses bottony vert.

* Meave Squirel le Taverner. Name.

This name combines an Anglicized Irish given name and English bynames. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Muirenn Bán. Name.

Nice 9th century Gaelic name!

* Nemania filia Huweli. Name and device. Per pale vert and sable, a greyhound sejant affronty head to sinister argent between in chief two oak leaves Or.

Please advise the submitter to draw the head turned more clearly to sinister.

* Oissíne Cú mac Ciarmaicc. Name and device. Argent, a fess raguly bretessed azure between a lymphad sable and a wolf statant gules.

* Osmond de Berwic. Household Name House de Berwic.

* Osmond de Berwic and Mariot de Berwic. Joint badge for House de Berwic. Per pale wavy gules and Or, a bear salient Or and a tower azure.

* Raffaella Mascolo. Alternate Name Joysy Divill.

* Raffaella Mascolo. Badge. (Fieldless) A crescent gules conjoined in base to and sustaining a fishhook sable.

* Remy le Bastard. Name.

* Robin atte Longewode. Name and device. Or, a fess sable between six martlets vert.

Nice device!

* Sewolt Belßner. Name.

Both elements are dated to 1497 in the same source, making this an excellent late 15th century German name!

* Sitt al-Gharb ha-niqret Khazariyya. Device. Quarterly argent and purpure, a winged monkey segreant Or and on a chief embattled sable three crescents Or.

Please instruct the submitter that the quarterly line should divide the visible area of the field, not including the part where the chief is, into four equal parts. This means the per fess division needs to move down a little.

* Violet Hughes. Name.

Nice 16th century English name!

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Blanket permission to conflict with badge. (Fieldless) A sheaf of straight trumpets Or.

Yehuda grants permission to conflict for all armory that is at least one countable step (DC) from his registered badge.

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Blanket permission to conflict with alternate name Leone di Moise.

Yehuda allows registration of a name that is not identical to his alternate name.

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Blanket permission to conflict with badge. Per bend sinister sable and argent, a spur rowel Or and two smith's hammers in saltire proper.

Yehuda grants permission to conflict for all armory that is at least one countable step (DC) from his registered badge.

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Blanket permission to conflict with device. Per bend sinister sable and argent, two lions counterchanged.

Yehuda grants permission to conflict for all armory that is at least one countable step (DC) from his registered device.

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Blanket permission to conflict with name.

Yehuda allows registration of a name that is not identical to his registered name.

* Yehuda ben Moshe. Heraldic will.

Upon his death, Yehuda's names and armory will be transferred to Caitilin inghean mhic Ruadhain. If Caitilin is unable or unwilling to accept the transfer, or predeceases Yehuda, the names and armory will be transferred to Kenneth the Red. If Kenneth is unable to accept the items for similar reasons, they will pass instead to Brigantia Principal Herald.

(to East acceptances) (to East returns)


* LOCHAC acceptances (to returns)

* Vienna Maria della Rosa. Name.

This name was pended on the March 2014 Letter of Acceptances and Returns to allow commenters to discuss an authenticity request for 16th century Italian.

Vienna and Maria were documented in the Letter of Intent to 16th century Venice. In commentary, Siren was able to document della Rosa to Pisa (also in northern Italy) in 1556. Therefore, all parts of the name are found in 16th century Italy, but from areas that used different dialects, so we do not know if the name as a whole is authentic or not. However, it is registerable as submitted.

(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)


* MERIDIES acceptances (to returns)

* Aldís Álarsdóttir. Name and device. Lozengy gules and argent, in pale two Lacy knots sable.

This name is not in conflict with the registered Valdisa Álarsdóttir. A syllable has been added to the given name, so this name is clear under PN.3.C.2 of SENA.

* Angus MacGowan of Loch Canmor. Name and device. Argent, a brown bear's head cabossed proper within a bordure vert.

Submissions heralds are reminded to include the batch numbers for elements documented using FamilySearch Historical Records. Acceptable batches can be found in Domhnall na Moicheirghe and Juliana de Luna's article, "Using FamilySearch Historical Records" (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/familysearch.html).

* David Duckworth. Name and device. Per saltire purpure and sable, a tun argent.

Both elements are dated to 1572, making this an excellent late-16th century name!

* Gwydion ap Lewelyn and Rhiannon verch Edenevet. Joint badge. (Fieldless) On the crown of a tree proper issuant from a dragon couchant Or, a dove rising argent.

* Juliana Harper. Name and device (see RETURNS for badges). Per pale vert and sable, a dragonfly and on a bordure Or an ivy vine vert.

* Owen of Depedale. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Depedale is the registered name of an SCA branch.

* Sarah Duckworth. Name and device. Lozengy purpure and argent, a bordure sable.

Both elements are dated to 1572, making this an excellent late-16th century name!

* Þýri Agviðardóttir. Name.

Submitted as Þýri Agviðsdóttir, the patronym Agviðsdóttir was not correctly formed. The correct genitive (possessive) form of Agviðr is Agviðar- (see Geirr Bassi). Therefore, we have changed the byname to Þýri Agviðardóttir in order to register the name.

* Ulf der Jaeger. Name and device. Argent, a wolf's head erased sable and a sinister tierce bendy sable and Or.

This name combines a Danish or Norwegian given name and German byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

There is a step from period practice for using a tierce with another charge.

* William Brewer. Device. Per fess Or and vert goutty d'Or, a garb vert.

* William Brewer. Badge. (Fieldless) A garb vert.

Nice badge!

* Xanthe Yfantes. Device. Argent, in pale three woolpacks sable between two flaunches purpure.

Please advise the submitter to add some internal detailing so that the woolpacks are easier to identify.

(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns)


* MIDDLE acceptances (to returns)

* Caterina de Radeclive. Name.

Submitted as Caterina de Radclive, the submitter indicated that the intended spelling of the byname was de Radeclive. We have made this correction.

Nice 13th century English name!

* Cecil Dupont. Device. Sable, a polypus argent and a chief nebuly Or.

Please advise the submitter to draw the tentacles more clearly in base. Although two tentacles extend above the midsection of the polypus none of them reaches the top of the head of the creature and thus the orientation is unambiguous.

(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)


* NORTHSHIELD acceptances (to returns)

* Beatrice Domenici della Campana. Alternate Name Beatrice Bell.

* Ceara an Einigh. Device. Azure, on a chevron between two wolves statant respectant and a swan naiant argent, three oak sprigs fructed azure.

* Ragnarr jafnkollr. Name.

The submitter requested authenticity for 9th-10th century Norwegian. Both elements are found in records from Iceland at this time, but we don't know if they were also used in Norway.

(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)


* OUTLANDS acceptances (to returns)

* Abigail MacNaught. Name.

* Adelaisa Bernois. Badge. (Fieldless) A lily within and conjoined to an annulet Or.

* Alamanda de la Roca. Device. Per chevron azure and argent, two mullets of eight points Or and a salamander passant regardant sable enflamed proper.

Although not needed, Alamanda has permission to conflict with the device of Benito de Sicilia, Per chevron azure and argent, two suns Or and a Maltese cross gules.

* Antoine de Vallier. Name and device. Per bend sinister argent and gules, a lion's head erased sable and a fleur-de-lys Or.

Please advise the submitter to draw the erasing with fewer and bigger jags.

* Arngerdr Hergeirsdottir. Name.

The submitter may wish to know that the form Arngerðr Hergeirsdottir is also registerable. If she prefers this form, she can submit a Request for Reconsideration.

* Conall Óg mac Dabhídh. Alternate Name Date Chotaro Motohisa and badge. Gules, in pale a valknut and a trimount couped within an orle argent.

The submitter requested authenticity for Japanese. Chotaro is a modern Japanese surname, but was constructed as a yobina from period elements. By definition, constructed elements are not authentic, although the pattern used may be consistent with medieval practice.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a valknut.

* Ellisif Hergeirsdottir. Name.

* Friderich von Aigle. Name and device. Per bend argent and azure, a cross formy sable and three triquetrae argent.

Submitted as Friderich von Aigel, the Letter of Intent stated that the feminized surname Aigels justified the marked locative von Aigel. Commenters were unable to confirm that the modified surname was related to the place name Aigle, documented by Orle in the commentary. We have therefore changed the name to Friderich von Aigle in order to register the name.

* Gianni Sangermano. Name.

Sangermano is the submitter's legal surname.

The submitter may wish to know that a period form of his name is Gianni da (or di) San Germano.

* Heinric of Nahrun Kabirun. Holding name and device (see RETURNS for name). Per pale argent and sable, a Latin cross formy fimbriated and a bordure embattled counterchanged.

Submitted under the name Heinric von Drachenhöle.

* Josefina de Luna. Device. Sable, a catamount passant contourny argent and a chief argent mullety azure.

* Kateryn Blair. Name.

Nice 16th century Scots name!

* Olek Juste. Name.

Submitted as Olack Just , the name was changed in kingdom to Olek Justsson in order to match the documentation they could find. After the Pelican decision meeting, Metron Ariston documented Juste as a Danish surname dated to 1632 (FamilySearch Historical Records). The submitter requested this byname instead, and we have made this change.

The submitter originally requested authenticity for "Danish, 1500s". The authenticity request was not noted on the Letter of Intent. However, we have enough information to address this request without pending the name. As the name combines Russian and Scandinavian elements in the same name, and the byname was only documented to the 17th century, the name does not meet the submitter's request for authenticity.

This name combines a Russian given name and Danish byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Slaine inghean Mhuireadhaigh. Name.

The submitter requested authenticity for 12th to 14th century Scottish-Gaelic. As documented, this is an authentic Irish Gaelic name for the 13th century, but we do not know if the elements were used in Scotland at this time.

* Sven Juste. Name and device. Argent, a bull statant contourny gules within an chaplet of thorns sable.

Submitted as Sven Just , the name was changed in kingdom to Sven Justsson is order to match the documentation that they could find. After the Pelican decision meeting, Metron Ariston documented Juste as a Danish surname dated to 1632 (FamilySearch Historical Records). The submitter requested this byname instead, and we have made this change.

The submitter originally requested authenticity for 1500s Denmark. Sven is found in 15th century Denmark, as is the given name Jost (Diplomatarium Danicum, which contains data through 1450. However, commenters were unable to find evidence to support unmarked patronyms during the desired time period. A 15th century form like Sven Jostsson would meet the submitter's request for authenticity.

* Þorey Skarp. Name.

In commentary, Hund documented Þorey to after 1400 (in Lind Dopnamn), making it compatible with the 16th century Skarp.

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of the Guardians of the Portcullis of Unser Hafen.

The barony has the following order names already registered: Order of the Keepers of the Portcullis and Order of the Builders of the Portcullis. As one may guard a portcullis in the same way that one may keep or build a portcullis, this order name follows the same pattern and is grandfathered to the submitter.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. Luckily for the submitter, Siren was able to document the word guardians to period during commentary.

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of the Rivet and badge. (Fieldless) On a chainless portcullis Or, a rivet sable.

Submitted as Order of the Iron Rivet, the use of Iron or other metals has not been found in order names in period. We have dropped this element in order to register the name.

We note that the pattern metal + charge can be used with household names following an inn-sign name pattern. Therefore, something like Company of the Iron Rivet would be registerable using such a pattern.

Rivets are a period artifact, and thus are a plausible heraldic charge that can be used as the basis of an order name.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. Luckily for the submitter, Blue Tyger was able to document the word rivet to period.

No documentation was provided for that depiction of rivet as a period artefact or in armory. This depiction matches previously registered depictions and so we are registering this one. However, since research provided no examples of rivets in heraldry, any submitter wishing to register this charge after the March 2015 Laurel meeting must provide documentation that it is, in fact, a period charge or a period artefact suitable for a constructed charge.

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of Gratitude of Unser Hafen and badge. (Fieldless) On a chainless portcullis vert a heart Or.

Submitted as Order of the Nobles' Gratitude of Unser Hafen, and appearing on the Letter of Intent without the apostophe, this name does not follow a period pattern of order names. We have dropped the Nobles in order to register this name as Order of Gratitude of Unser Hafen, which follows a pattern of naming orders after virtues.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. Luckily for the submitter, gratitude is dated to the 15th century (Middle English Dictionary).

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of the Stones and badge. (Fieldless) On a chainless portcullis vert a fountain.

Submitted as Order of the Skipping Stones, this name does not follow the pattern of period order names. We have no evidence of abstract adjectives like skipping in period. This element was justified in the Letter of Intent using Meradudd Cethin's article, "Project Ordensnamen". This article has been superseded by newer research, like Juliana de Luna's article "Medieval Secular Order Names" (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/order/new/). As a result, we are unable to register the name as submitted.

We have dropped Skipping and registered the name as Order of the Stones.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. We note that stones is dated from at least the 14th century (Middle English Dictionary).

* Wilhelm Reissen. Device. Vert, three paw prints and on a chief Or in pale two arrows fesswise vert.

There is a step from period practice for the use of pawprints.

* Ysabeau de La Rochelle. Device. Quarterly gules and lozengy purpure and Or, an urchin argent and a bordure Or.

(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)


* TRIMARIS acceptances (to returns)

* Alicia Bagshaw of Wormhill. Name and device. Argent, a phoenix between three roses, a bordure gules.

* Asbjorn Hrothgeirsson. Name change from holding name Asbjorn of Suðrholt.

Submitted as Asbjorn Hrothgarson, the byname combined Anglo-Saxon and Middle English in the same name phrase, which violates SENA PN.1.B.1. The name was changed in kingdom to Asbjorn Hrothgeirsson, using a byname constructed from a simplified form of the Old Norse Hróðgeirr. This language change was a major change, which the submitter did not allow. Due to a changeover in the office of kingdom submissions herald, the name was pended on the March 2014 Letter of Acceptances and Returns to allow kingdom time to consult with the submitter and obtain the necessary permission to modify the name. The submitter approved this change, and we are able to register this name.

* Eryvan mac Owen. Name and device. Argent, a tree eradicated vert and on a chief azure three estoiles argent.

Submitted as Eryran mac Owen, the given name Eryran was not supported by the documentation. We have changed this element to the attested Eryvan with the submitter's permission.

The submission form stated that the desired sound of the byname was "Mc Ewen". We note that the byname mac Owen will not have the same pronunciation. However, MacEwin or Mac Ewin, which is closer to the desired sound, would be registerable, based on the documentation found in the Letter of Intent.

Nice device!

* Katarine Niclaus. Device. Per saltire purpure and azure, on a saltire argent four arrows inverted sable.

* Morgan O Quine. Name change from holding name Morgan of Loch Gryffyn.

Submitted as Morgan O'Cuinn, the byname combined Anglicized Irish and Gaelic in the same name phrase, which violates SENA PN.1.B.1. We would fix it to the entirely Gaelic Ó Cuinn or O Cuinn (omitting the accents), or an entirely Anglicized Irish form, but either would be a major change, which the submitter did not allow. Due to a changeover in the office of kingdom submissions herald, the name was pended on the March 2014 Letter of Acceptances and Returns to allow kingdom time to consult with the submitter and obtain the necessary permission to modify the name.

The submitter requested a change to Morgan O Quine. We have made this change in order to register the name.

This combines a Welsh given name and Anglicized Irish byname. This is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA.

* Tristan Drax. Device. Argent, in fess a decrescent and an increscent, a base embattled sable.

(to Trimaris acceptances) (to Trimaris returns)


* WEST acceptances (to returns) (to pends)

* Aimeric de Fois. Name and device. Sable, in bend sinister a plate between two billets argent.

Nice 13th century Occitan name!

* Aine Redmond. Name (see RETURNS for badge).

Redmond is the submitter's legal surname. As it is also found in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the submitter need not rely on the legal name allowance.

* Aoife Clarscheouch. Name and device. Argent, six harps reversed purpure.

The submitter originally requested authenticity for 10th-15th century Irish and/or Scottish, but dropped this request after commentary had ended.

The combination of Gaelic and Scots is acceptable under Appendix C of SENA.

* Finna k{o,}ttr Goðormsdóttir. Device. Per pale wavy sable and argent, a nude woman and a cat sejant counterchanged, on a chief vert three pawprints argent.

There is a step from period practice for the use of pawprints.

* Katelinen van Walravenshyde. Name (see PENDS for device).

Submitted as Katelinen Van Walraversijde, and appearing on the Letter of Intent as Katelinen van Walraversijde, the submitter requested authenticity for "12th-16th century Flemish".

Commenters were unable to support the submitted spelling Walraversijde, which could only be documented as a modern spelling. In commentary, Siren documented the spellings Wilravenshyde, Wilravenside, Walravenshyde, and Wilravens Yde, dated within the 14th-15th centuries. We have changed the byname to Walravenshyde, as it is the closest to what was submitted. Both elements can be dated to the mid- to late 15th century, meeting the submitter's request.

The submitter may also wish to know that we could register Katelinen of Walraversijde, which uses the lingua Anglica form of the place name.

* Marie of the Meadow. Reblazon of device. Or, a rose gules and in chief two ladybugs proper.

Blazoned when registered in February of 1971 as Or, a rose gules barbed, slipped, leaved and seeded, in chief two ladybird beetles proper, the term currently used to register these insects is "ladybugs".

* Michael of Fox Wood. Name and device. Vert, a sheaf of arrows Or and on a chief argent a fox courant contourny proper.

Submitted as Michael of Fox Wood, the name was changed in kingdom to Michael of Foxwood in order to match the documentation that they could find. In commentary, Siren was able to construct the submitted form as a compound placename (where a family name precedes a generic toponym), so we are able to restore this name to the submitted form.

* Minamoto Shintaro Masashige. Name.

* Nikolai Iastrebov. Name (see RETURNS for device).

Nice mid-16th century Russian name!

* Rebecca Redarrow. Name and device. Or, a broadarrow gules, a chief enarched vert.

Siren and Blue Tyger were able to construct the byname Redarrow as an inherited surname derived from an inn-sign name like atte Redarrow.

(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)


- Explicit littera accipiendorum -


THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN RETURNED FOR FURTHER WORK:

* ÆTHELMEARC returns (to acceptances)

* Margarita de Siena. Badge. (Fieldless) On a fleur-de-lys per pale sable and argent a roundel gules surrounded by and conjoined to six roundels in annulo counterchanged.

This device is returned for having two tertiary groups.

Blazoned as a sexfoil, the charges on the fleur are a very specific arrangement of roundels. Per precedent:

[ Returning Per bend sinister argent and azure, an octofoil within eight octofoils in annulo counterchanged.] This submission was blazoned on the Letter of Intent as Per bend sinister argent and azure all semy of octofoils counterchanged. The blazon term semy refers to a group of charges strewn evenly on the field. Such strewing is not always done with geometrical precision, especially when there are other charges on the field around which to strew the charges. Still, a correctly drawn semy group of charges appears to be evenly strewn about the field. The overall effect of this submission is not that of evenly strewn charges, but charges in a specific arrangement. We have therefore restored the blazon from the previous submission, which had an identical emblazon. We also uphold the previous reason for return: "Size is not the only thing that determines a primary charge. We were unable to devise a way to describe arrangement of the charges in a way that did not imply that they were a primary charge surrounded by a secondary group. Such arrangements cannot use the same type of charge" (LoAR of September 2000). [Yin Mei Li, April 2002, R-Artemisia]

Here we have a similar case of two groups of roundels on the primary fleur.

* Perote Campbell. Badge. (Fieldless) On a hedgehog sejant erect affronty Or a thistle slipped and leaved proper.

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C2 which states "Elements must be drawn to be identifiable." Commenters could not identify the main charge as a hedgehog.

Additionally, the posture of the hedgehog is not blazonable as none of the limbs are visible and the head appears to be in trian aspect.

(to Æthelmearc acceptances) (to Æthelmearc returns)


* AN TIR returns (to acceptances)

* Madrun Gwehyddes. Badge. Per pale argent and sable, a bee counterchanged between three weaver's knots gules.

This device is returned for insufficient contrast between a secondary charge and the field.

Per SENA A.3.B.4:

a. Placement of Charges: Charges must have good contrast with the background on which they are placed. Primary, secondary, and overall charge groups are considered to be placed on the field and must have good contrast with it.

Here the weaver's knot on the sable portion of the field has insufficient contrast.

Additionally, the weaver's knot does not appear to have ever been documented as a period charge or artefact. As such, it is not be registerable without documentation that it meets our standards for an attested charge.

* Tassi Hestamaðr. Device. Vert, a sea-horse argent and a bordure Or semy of columbines azure.

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C2 which states " Elements must be drawn to be identifiable. The columbines are not identifiable due to their lack of internal detailing.

The fact that their orientation change around the bordure so that they remain facing the center is causing problems with identifiability. Charges on a bordure in period heraldry either follow the curve of the bordure or are palewise. On resubmission the submitter should document this pattern of orientations if she wishes to use it.

(to An Tir acceptances) (to An Tir returns)


* ANSTEORRA returns (to acceptances) (to pends)

* Amanda du Val. Device. Per pale checky sable and Or and purpure, a butterfly counterchanged.

This device is returned for insufficient contrast. Both the field and the charge are 75% color.

The October 2000 Cover Letter explained after a review of period armorials:

While there were not enough examples to make a conclusive decision solely from them, particularly as several examples are cadenced version of more standard arms, it is notable that most of examples the three-quarters dark field or charge was combined with metal. There were two examples combining three-quarters light fields with light ordinaries. These examples were found in late-period German armory, which has more examples than most other sources of cases violating the standard rules of contrast; furthermore the low contrast charge was an ordinary in both cases.

These examples are not sufficient to draw conclusions about period practice. However, they do not refute the most obvious interpretation of the rules: that a charge or field that is primarily (that is, at least two thirds) a metal should be considered equivalent to a metal and a charge or field that is primarily a color should be considered equivalent to a color. This means that Randwulf's device is color-on-color and must be returned.

Note that this holds even though each half has arguably acceptable contrast.

Nothing has been presented to invalidate this argument, or offer counter-examples from period armory. It remains as true now as then: the field is 75% color, 25% metal -- and the same is true of the charge. Taken as a whole, therefore, we have a dark charge on a dark field, which gives us insufficient contrast.

* Anastasiia Dmitrieva Sokolova. Device (see PENDS for name). Per chevron vert and argent, two swords in chevron Or and a falcon rising wings displayed sable.

This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states "A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures." The charges here are not in a unified arrangement, as the swords must be blazoned separately from the falcon in order to adequately describe their positioning.

* Finnvarðr Snæbiarnarson. Device. Quarterly argent and vert, in bend sinister a quiver bendwise sinister filled with arrows and a boar's head couped argent.

This device is returned for presumption, for having the appearance of marshalling.

SENA section A.6.F.2.c states When different sections of the field contain different types of charges, it creates the appearance of marshalling.

This is the situation for this submission. The existence of two uncharged argent quarters does not cancel the fact that the two charged quarters appear to be independent displays of armory.

* Myfanwy ferch Eifion. Badge. (Fieldless) A mushroom gules cap marked argent.

This badge is returned for conflict with the device of Johanna von Griffenhurst: Vert, an amanita muscaria mushroom couped proper. An Amanita muscaria has a red cap marked with white, a white underside and a white foot. The cap represents more than half of the mushroom and thus there is only one DC for the fieldless design.

* Nerak la Tisserande. Badge. Azure semy of lozenges argent, in pale an annulet and in pile inverted three keys wards to base Or.

This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states "A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures." The charges here are not in a unified arrangement, as the keys must be blazoned separately from the annulet in order to adequately describe their position and orientation.

* Sofia Patrekieva. Device. Or, a raven rising sable maintaining in its claws a gem ring argent, on a chief gules a sun Or.

This is returned for non-period style. Blazoned on the LoI as a gem, the charge attached to the ring is actually a brilliant cut gemstone. Precedent says:

The device is returned for non-period style. Blazoned on the LoI as a set cut gemstone, the charge in base appears rather to be a brilliant cut gemstone. Our rules (RfS VII.3) allow artifacts known in the period and domain of the Society to be registered as armorial elements provided they are depicted in their period forms. The brilliant cut, being developed in the 17th Century, is post-period and not registerable.

The other problem is that the gemstone is in profile. Batonvert noted: "However, be it known that my sole example in period heraldry of a gemstone used as an independent charge (i.e., not attached to a ring or other piece of jewelry), in the civic arms of Beihlstein (Siebmacher 226), shows the gem from above, not in profile. A set gem would be likewise seen from above. Neither in its natural setting (as it were) nor in heraldry would a gemstone be seen in profile. Granted that we've registered gemstones in profile once before (in the arms of Theresa Yolanda Cabeza de Vaca, April 2005), it remains a poor practice, and I see no reason to perpetuate it." Theresa's device was blazoned Argent, two chevronels braced and on a chief rayonny sable three faceted gemstones in profile argent. However, she also submitted documentation showing that style of gem cut (with a flat top, or table, with eight supplementary facets) was developed in 1380. No such documentation has been adduced here.

A non-period cut for a gemstone is not registerable. Depicting a gemstone in profile is a step from period practice. [Taran MacThamhais, Feb 2007, R-Northshield]

This submission has the same problem, and is therefore returned for the same reason.

(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns) (to Ansteorra pends)


* ARTEMISIA returns (to acceptances)

* Praxilla Taurina. Device. Or, a winged pig courant vair.

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C2 which states "Elements must be drawn to be identifiable." The vair tincture of the charge masks all internal details and the outline alone is not sufficient to allow the charge to be identifiable.

* Praxilla Taurina. Badge. (Fieldless) A harpy vair.

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C2 which states "Elements must be drawn to be identifiable." The vair tincture of the charge masks all internal details and the outline alone is not sufficient to allow the charge to be identifiable.

(to Artemisia acceptances) (to Artemisia returns)


* ATENVELDT returns (to acceptances)

* Rosamund Sanburne. Badge. Checky argent and azure, a squirrel sejant erect maintaining a threaded needle inverted Or.

This badge is returned for conflict with the badge of Alasdair MacEogan, (Fieldless) A squirrel sejant erect Or. There is a DC for the field but the maintained needle doesn't count for a difference.

* Thorfinn Thorfinsson the Lucky. Device. Per chevron gules mullety argent and azure, a chevron Or and in base a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy in bend argent.

This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2c, Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states "A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures." The masks here are not in a unified arrangement, as, even if together they are in bend their orientation needs to be blazoned separately.

Additionally, none of them is clearly palewise or bendwise/bendwise sinister and that lack of clear orientation is also a cause for return.

(to Atenveldt acceptances) (to Atenveldt returns)


* ATLANTIA returns (to acceptances)

None.

(to Atlantia acceptances) (to Atlantia returns)


* CAID returns (to acceptances)

* William Ulfsson. Device. Vert, a triskelion of wolves' heads Or.

This device is returned for conflict with the device of Kendra Sloane of Penmarch: Vert, three horse's heads conjoined in triskele Or.

While the heads in William's device and those in Kendra's device are rotating in opposite directions, we do not blazon this or give difference for it. This is because period examples of triskelions are drawn both ways. This leaves only the difference between the types of heads. While wolves' heads and horses' heads as freestanding charges would have more than a DC between them, triskelions of different items have only a DC between them. Thus, there is only one DC between the two devices.

(to Caid acceptances) (to Caid returns)


* CALONTIR returns (to acceptances) (to pends)

* Ffelix Æskelsson. Device. Per fess sable and argent, an increscent Or and a penguin sable bellied argent beaked and footed Or maintaining a sword bendwise sable.

This device is returned for lack of contrast.

Per precedent:

Unfortunately, just as a black orca with a white belly can't be put on an argent field (v. Rowan Seer, March 2000), so too a black auk with a white belly can't be put on an argent field.

Here we have a similar case where the belly of the penguin disappears for sharing the tincture of the field.

Although the July 2010 cover letter, discussing about fox proper on an argent background, concluded "The precedent, therefore, is overturned. As long as the charge maintains its identifiability, minor details, even minor details which are identifying characteristics, may have no contrast with the underlying tinctures." we have here a different situation, as it's about half the charge that disappears against the argent field and thus the identifiability is not maintained.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a penguin.

* Halldóra Guðrøðardóttir. Device. Or, a cameleopard couchant regardant argent spotted brown and a sinister gore gules.

This device is returned for multiple issues, each sufficient to justify a return.

This depiction of the posture renders the camelopard unidentifiable, with the neck so close to the back that the separation disappears.

This device is also returned for contrast and tincture issues.

Blazoned as proper, an older precedent regarding the proper tincture of camelopards states:

A cameleopard, or giraffe, proper is Or marked brown/tan; as such, it lacks sufficient contrast against the argent field. (Trust me on this one; I have a relatively recent photograph taken while on one of those "drive-through" safari-type animal reserves, in which a very curious giraffe's fills up most of the windscreen. Quite dramatic, it was! [Pushy beggar, too. Wouldn't move out of the roadway until we bribed it with some of the feed pellets they sell you at the entrance.] [Ceridwen Alianora McInnes, 06/1995, Atenveldt-r]

Although there is currently no defined proper tinctures for a camelopard in the Glossary of terms, if we follow this precedent, this charge would not be actually proper. Instead, the camelopard is argent marked brown, which presents two issues:

- it cannot be blazoned as marked brown, as brown is not a heraldic tincture.

- it lacks contrast with the field. We treat markings as details that don't change the underlying tincture, so the charge is argent, on an Or field.

Per the May 2014 cover letter, the use of gores with other charges is a step from period practice.

* Rodrigo Hernández of Vatavia. Device. Argent, on a chevron purpure three dragonflies palewise Or.

This device was registered last month. It appears to have been sent up identically in two consecutive months.

(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)


* DRACHENWALD returns (to acceptances)

None.

(to Drachenwald acceptances) (to Drachenwald returns)


* EALDORMERE returns (to acceptances)

* Song Zidie. device. Argent, a polypus within an orle sable.

This submission is returned for redraw. By precedent

The tentacles of a polypus should be to base, not both to base and to chief, as we grant difference for tentacles to base, as with a polypus, versus tentacles to chief, as with a calamarie. [James Bacon, 12/12, R-West]

Here half of the tentacles are above the midsection with the upper ones extending higher than the top of the cephalopod's head.

(to Ealdormere acceptances) (to Ealdormere returns)


* EAST returns (to acceptances)

* Vettorio Antonello. Device. Per pale sable and bendy sinister Or and gules, a raven counterchanged.

This device is returned for insufficient contrast. Both the field and the charge are 75% color.

The October 2000 Cover Letter explained after a review of period armorials:

While there were not enough examples to make a conclusive decision solely from them, particularly as several examples are cadenced version of more standard arms, it is notable that most of examples the three-quarters dark field or charge was combined with metal. There were two examples combining three-quarters light fields with light ordinaries. These examples were found in late-period German armory, which has more examples than most other sources of cases violating the standard rules of contrast; furthermore the low contrast charge was an ordinary in both cases.

These examples are not sufficient to draw conclusions about period practice. However, they do not refute the most obvious interpretation of the rules: that a charge or field that is primarily (that is, at least two thirds) a metal should be considered equivalent to a metal and a charge or field that is primarily a color should be considered equivalent to a color. This means that Randwulf's device is color-on-color and must be returned.

Note that this holds even though each half has arguably acceptable contrast.

Nothing has been presented to invalidate this argument, or offer counter-examples from period armory. It remains as true now as then: the field is 75% color, 25% metal -- and the same is true of the charge. Taken as a whole, therefore, we have a dark charge on a dark field, which gives us insufficient contrast.

(to East acceptances) (to East returns)


* LOCHAC returns (to acceptances)

None.

(to Lochac acceptances) (to Lochac returns)


* MERIDIES returns (to acceptances)

* Juliana Harper. Badge. (Fieldless) An ivy leaf argent.

This badge is returned for conflict with the badge of Canada: (Tinctureless) A maple leaf. There is only one DC for the difference between tinctureless and argent, but there is no DC for the difference between a maple and an ivy leaf. By precedent:

Maple leaves do not appear to have been used in period heraldry. As such, we must fall back on a visual determination of whether or not we grant difference. Since there are many and varied depictions of maple leaves, as seen in the original submission of this device, some of which are nearly indistinguishable from ivy leaves, we will not grant difference between them. [Queniva fitz Reginald, 08-2010 Drachenwald-R]

* Juliana Harper. Badge. Per fess vert and sable, an ivy leaf Or.

This badge is returned for conflict with the badge of Canada: (Tinctureless) A maple leaf. There is only one DC for the difference between tinctureless and tinctured, but there is no DC for the difference between a maple and an ivy leaf. By precedent:

Maple leaves do not appear to have been used in period heraldry. As such, we must fall back on a visual determination of whether or not we grant difference. Since there are many and varied depictions of maple leaves, as seen in the original submission of this device, some of which are nearly indistinguishable from ivy leaves, we will not grant difference between them. [Queniva fitz Reginald, 08-2010 Drachenwald-R]

* Owen of Depedale. Device. Azure semy of Greek letters "pi", a rabbit rampant maintaining an hourglass argent.

This device is returned for multiple issues.

The emblazon on the Letter of Intent in OSCAR is significantly different from the emblazon on the form in the uploaded packet, which has long been a cause for administrative return.

Additionally, the depiction present in OSCAR has several issues: commenters had problems identifying the strewn Greek letter "pi" and the hourglass is depicted as transparent, which has been forbidden by long-standing precedent:

Transparent charges are not in-period heraldry. Hourglasses were borne in solid tinctures. [Jasper Greensmith of the Sea-Girt Glen, R-11/1982]

We note that the initial submission had none of the issues that the redraw presents.

(to Meridies acceptances) (to Meridies returns)


* MIDDLE returns (to acceptances)

None.

(to Middle acceptances) (to Middle returns)


* NORTHSHIELD returns (to acceptances)

None.

(to Northshield acceptances) (to Northshield returns)


* OUTLANDS returns (to acceptances)

* Heinric von Drachenhöle. Name.

The preposition von is only used without the definite article for town and city names, not for locations named after geologic features like forests and valleys. Drachenhöle appears to be named after a cave, not a town, and is a feminine noun, so the appropriate prepositional phrase would be von der ("of the") or bei der/vor der ("near or in front of"). We would change the byname to von der Drachenhöle, but this would be a major change, which the submitter does not allow. Therefore, we are forced to return this name.

In communication with kingdom, the submitter expressed a desire for a "noble name". We note that the use of von to denote nobility is not found in our period. In period, it means nothing more than "of" or "from", and anyone may register this element.

His device has been registered under the holding name Heinric of Nahrun Kabirun.

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of the Minstrels of Unser Hafen.

This order name sounds like a description: people who are minstrels in Unser Hafen. Therefore, this order name is too generic to be registered and must be returned.

This order name is also returned because it does not fit a period pattern of order names. The article cited in the Letter of Intent included a category for orders named after occupations. However, a reexamination of the evidence shows that there is not a pattern of just any occupation being used in such order names. The first example, the fool, appears to be based on a heraldic charge. The second, the Grail-Templars, is a religious order. As minstrels are not a religious order and do not wear distinctive dress that would make them a plausible heraldic charge, this submission does not fit those patterns.

As the term Minstrels does not have the same type of meaning as Builders or Keepers, this name cannot be registered using the grandfather clause.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. We note that minstrels is dated to 1535 (Oxford English Dictionary).

* Unser Hafen, Barony of. Order Name Order of the Riders of the Portcullis of Unser Hafen.

This order name does not follow a period pattern of order names. We do not have a pattern of X of the heraldic charge, where X is a group of people. Without evidence of this pattern in period, this order name cannot be registered.

This order name does not follow the pattern of the barony's other registered order names such as Order of the Keepers of the Portcullis and Order of the Builders of the Portcullis. One may guard/keep a portcullis, and one may certainly build a portcullis, but riding one is not something that someone would normally do. Therefore, the barony cannot rely on the grandfather clause and we must return this name.

Submissions heralds are reminded to provide documentation to support the elements within order names, not just the patterns used. We note that riders is dated from at least the 14th century (Middle English Dictionary).

(to Outlands acceptances) (to Outlands returns)


* TRIMARIS returns (to acceptances)

* Mira dei Medici. Device. Purpure, a chevron inverted between a decrescent between two mullets of four points, and a fleur-de-lys argent.

This device is returned for violating SENA A3D2a, for having "slot machine" armory, more than two types of charge in the same group.

A device submission effectively identical to this one was returned in November 2012, when her name was registered, with the following comments:

This device is returned for violating the ban on so-called "slot-machine heraldry", SENA A3D2a, for having more than two types of charges in the same group. Here, the crescent, fleur-de-lys, and mullets are all secondary charges in the same group. Simply drawing the mullets smaller does not make them a separate secondary group.

This device was also considered under the Rules for Submissions, as this item was originally scheduled to be considered on the October LoAR when those rules were still in effect. However, as the ban on "slot-machine heraldry" also existed under the Rules for Submission, this device is not registerable."

We have here three types of charges in the secondary group surrounding the chevron inverted: fleur-de-lys, decrescent and mullets.

(to Trimaris acceptances) (to Trimaris returns)


* WEST returns (to acceptances) (to pends)

* Aine Redmond and David of the Wode. Joint badge. (Fieldless) A triangle inverted voided interlaced with a triquetra Or.

This badge is returned for conflict with Israel ibn Jacob, Paly wavy of twelve sable and argent, a star of David Or. The voided and interlaced charges here are visually equivalent to a star of David which leaves only one DC for the change from fielded to fieldless design.

* Aodhán Ó Ceallaigh. Device. Per pale azure and sable semy of shamrocks argent, a pale wavy Or and in dexter two lions in pale argent.

This device is returned for administrative issues. The Administrative Handbook states in section IC.C.1. that "All submissions must be on the forms currently approved by Laurel."

Here the shape of the escutcheon has been significantly altered from the approved form.

* Asa Utheresdohter. Name and device. Per pale azure and gules, a pair of wings conjoined displayed argent.

Submitted as Æsa Uthersdottir, the byname combined the Middle English Uthers- (from the literary name Uther) with the Old Norse -dottir in the same name phrase. This violates PN.1.B.1 of SENA, which requires that, "A registerable name phrase must follow the rules of grammar and structure for a single time and place. It may not mix languages unless that mixing of languages within a name phrase is attested as a period practice".

The submitter authorized a change to a wholly Middle English byname. In commentary, Siren constructed Utheresdohter as a plausible 12th century form. We have changed the byname to this form with the submitter's permission.

Unfortunately, this change created a new problem. According to Appendix C of SENA, English and Scandinavian can only be combined prior to 1100. Therefore, the Old Norse Æsa cannot be combined with the Middle English Utheresdohter. Ase is an Anglo-Saxon feminine given name dated to the 10th or 11th century, and could be combined with a Middle English byname. Alternatively, the English feminine given name Asa is dated to 1576 (FamilySearch Historical Records) and is also compatible. We would change it to one of these forms in order to register the name, but changing the language is a major change, which the submitter does not allow. As we cannot fix the name, we are forced to return it.

This device is returned for conflicts with both the device of Steffan ap Cenydd of Silverwing, (Fieldless) A pair of wings conjoined in lure argent, and that of Francois le Féroce, Per chevron vert and argent, in chief two wings addorsed argent. In both cases, there is only one DC for the field. We do not grant a difference between conjoined and not conjoined charges. There is no DC for the change of orientation of the wings, nor for the forced change of position of the wings in Francois' arms.

* Jon FitzRolf, called the Lean. Badge. (Fieldless) A bezant surmounted by two arrows inverted bendwise, two arrows inverted bendwise sinister and an arrow palewise inverted, all fretted, vert.

This badge is returned for lack of documentation for the arrangement used.

Neither the submitter nor the commenters provided period evidence of overall charges combining bendwise, bendwise sinister, and palewise orientations. SENA A.3.D.2.c states "A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures." Thus, to be registerable, this arrangement of charge groups would need to be documented.

* Nikolai Iastrebov. Device. Per chevron azure and vert, three bezants and a hawk volant bendwise Or.

This device is returned for a redraw, for violating the guidelines set forth on the May 2011 Cover Letter for a properly drawn per chevron field division; the field division here is too low. Please see that Cover Letter for further discussion and details of how to properly draw per chevron lines of division.

On redraw, the submitter should make sure that the bird is drawn clearly either bendwise or palewise.

* Ragnall MacCormac. Device. Per chevron vert and sable a chevron engrailed between an increscent, a decrescent and a pawprint argent.

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C3 which states "Elements must be drawn at an appropriate size for their role in an armorial submission." The chevron here is drawn far too thin to be an acceptable primary charge when surrounded by secondary charges.

Additionally, this device does not follow the guidelines set forth on the May 2011 Cover Letter for a properly drawn per chevron field division; the field division here is too low. Please see that Cover Letter for further discussion and details of how to properly draw per chevron lines of division.

There is a step from period practice for the use of a pawprint.

(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)


- Explicit littera renuntiationum -


THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN PENDED UNTIL THE JANUARY 2015 LAUREL MEETING (OR AS NOTED):

* ANSTEORRA pends (to acceptances) (to returns)

* Anastasiia Dmitrieva Sokolova. Name.

The submitter requested authenticity for 15th century Russian. This request was not summarized in the Letter of Intent, and was not addressed in commentary. Therefore, we are pending the name in order to allow commenters to consider this request.

This was item 2 on the Ansteorra letter of August 12, 2014

* Paitin Todd. Device. Azure, on a cross of Toulouse five musical notes Or.

This device submission is pended for more research to find whether there is period evidence of such a framing of charges by voided crosses.

This was item 14 on the Ansteorra letter of May 31, 2014

(to Ansteorra acceptances) (to Ansteorra returns) (to Ansteorra pends)


* CALONTIR pends (to acceptances) (to returns)

* Deidra de Warenne. Name change from holding name Deidra of Bonwicke.

Submitted as Deidra de Warenne of Childentune, the second byname (of Childentune) had been added to clear a potential conflict with the registered Deirdre the Warrener. Under SENA, however, Deidra de Warenne does not in fact conflict with Deirdre the Warrener. Kingdom confirmed with the submitter that she preferred the name without the second byname. We have made this change with her permission.

The Letter of Intent stated that Deidra is grandfathered to the submitter. However, the submitter's previous name is a holding name, and thus, Deidra is not eligible for the grandfather clause. As this was not noticed until after the Pelican decision meeting, we are pending the name to allow commenters time to either document the given name Deidra or allow the submitter to provide documentation of her legal name.

This was item 6 on the Calontir letter of May 13, 2014

(to Calontir acceptances) (to Calontir returns) (to Calontir pends)


* WEST pends (to acceptances) (to returns)

* Katelinen van Walravenshyde. Device. Argent, three fish in annulo vert.

This submission is pended administratively for further comment as the required black and white emblazon was not provided in OSCAR.

There is a step from period practice for the use of charges in annulo not in their default palewise orientation.

This was item 8 on the West letter of May 31, 2014

(to West acceptances) (to West returns) (to West pends)


- Explicit -


Created at 2014-10-13T01:09:55