Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
601 S Washington #137
Stillwater, OK 74074
+1 405 428 3662
laurel@heraldry.sca.org
For the March 2017 meetings, printed May 22, 2017
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Emma Laurel, Alys Pelican, and Brunissende outgoing-Wreath and Cormac incoming-Wreath, greetings.
Items listed below in square brackets have not been scheduled yet. For information about future scheduling, please review the status table located on the Web at http://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.
The March Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, March 12, 2017 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, March 12, 2017 and Sunday, March 19, 2017. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Atenveldt (30 Nov, 2016) (pushed due to packet upload late), Gleann Abhann (01 Dec, 2016), Æthelmearc (05 Dec, 2016), Palimpsest Rules Letter (11 Dec, 2016), Æthelmearc (18 Dec, 2016), Atenveldt (25 Dec, 2016), Artemisia (26 Dec, 2016), Ealdormere (26 Dec, 2016), Atlantia (27 Dec, 2016), Northshield (27 Dec, 2016), Northshield (28 Dec, 2016), Outlands (28 Dec, 2016), Atlantia (30 Dec, 2016), An Tir (31 Dec, 2016), Avacal (31 Dec, 2016), Caid (31 Dec, 2016), Drachenwald (31 Dec, 2016), East (31 Dec, 2016), Lochac (31 Dec, 2016), and Meridies (31 Dec, 2016).  All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Tuesday, February 28, 2017.
The April Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, April 9, 2017 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, April 16, 2017 and Sunday, April 23, 2017. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (02 Jan, 2017), Laurel LoPaD (09 Jan, 2017), West (13 Jan, 2017), West (14 Jan, 2017), Outlands (23 Jan, 2017), Atenveldt (26 Jan, 2017), Ealdormere (29 Jan, 2017), Artemisia (30 Jan, 2017), Laurel LoPaD (30 Jan, 2017), An Tir (31 Jan, 2017), Ansteorra (31 Jan, 2017), Atlantia (31 Jan, 2017), Avacal (31 Jan, 2017), Caid (31 Jan, 2017), Calontir (31 Jan, 2017), Drachenwald (31 Jan, 2017), East (31 Jan, 2017), Lochac (31 Jan, 2017), Meridies (31 Jan, 2017), Northshield (31 Jan, 2017), and Trimaris (31 Jan, 2017).  All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Friday, March 31, 2017.
The May Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, May 21, 2017 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, May 14, 2017 and Sunday, May 21, 2017. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Middle (30 Jan, 2017) (pushed due lack of packet), Gleann Abhann (01 Feb, 2017), Palimpsest Rules Letter (19 Feb, 2017), Outlands (23 Feb, 2017), Ealdormere (25 Feb, 2017), Æthelmearc (27 Feb, 2017), Artemisia (27 Feb, 2017), An Tir (28 Feb, 2017), Atlantia (28 Feb, 2017), Avacal (28 Feb, 2017), Calontir (28 Feb, 2017), Drachenwald (28 Feb, 2017), East (28 Feb, 2017), Gleann Abhann (28 Feb, 2017), Lochac (28 Feb, 2017), Meridies (28 Feb, 2017), and Northshield (28 Feb, 2017).  All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Sunday, April 30, 2017.
The June Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, June 11, 2017 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, June 18, 2017, and the Laurel Roadshow on Sunday, June 24, 2017 at KWHSS. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Laurel LoPaD (11 Mar, 2017), Palimpsest Rules Letter (12 Mar, 2017), Æthelmearc (13 Mar, 2017), Caid (20 Mar, 2017), Atenveldt (25 Mar, 2017), Artemisia (27 Mar, 2017), Ealdormere (27 Mar, 2017), Lochac (28 Mar, 2017), Atlantia (29 Mar, 2017), Laurel LoPaD (29 Mar, 2017), An Tir (31 Mar, 2017), Ansteorra (31 Mar, 2017), Avacal (31 Mar, 2017), Calontir (31 Mar, 2017), Drachenwald (31 Mar, 2017), East (31 Mar, 2017), Meridies (31 Mar, 2017), Middle (31 Mar, 2017), Northshield (31 Mar, 2017), Outlands (31 Mar, 2017), and Trimaris (31 Mar, 2017).  All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should be entered into OSCAR by Wednesday, May 31, 2017.
Not all letters of intent may be considered when they are originally scheduled on this cover letter. The date of posting of the LoI, date of receipt of the Laurel packet, or other factors may delay consideration of certain letters of intent. Additionally, some letters of intent received may not have been scheduled because the administrative requirements (receipt of the forms packet, receipt of the necessary fees, et cetera) have not yet been met.
REMINDER: Until all administrative requirements are met, the letter may not be scheduled.
From Wreath(s): The transition continues
This month, the decisions were split as follows:
Cormac Mor made the armory decisions for the kingdoms of Æthelmearc, Atlantia, Calontir, Drachenwald, Ealdormere, East, Gleann Abhann, Meridies, Middle, and Northshield.
Brunissende Dragonette made the armory decisions for the kingdoms of An Tir, Ansteorra, Artemisia, Atenveldt, Avacal, Caid, Lochac, Outlands, Trimaris, and West.
From Incoming Wreath: Crossing the Line for Primary Charge Groups
In the last couple of LoARs, devices were returned for blurring the distinction between primary and secondary charge groups. This seems to be a source of confusion for many in the CoA, so here are some illustrated examples.
Generally, dissimilar charges are co-primary if they:
	1.	Are placed directly on the field
	2.	Are of similar size and visual weight
	3.	Share the central space of the field with the rest of the charge group.
And dissimilar charges are primary and secondary if:
	1.	They are placed directly on the field
	2.	Are of notably dissimilar size and visual weight
	3.	Are positioned so that the primary charge is in the center of the design and the secondary charge is not.
On all of the armory submission forms, there are tick marks that show the fess-line, pale-line, and bend-lines. When deciding whether dissimilar charges share the central space, these are go-to tools for quick evaluation. If the charges are co-primary, then generally either they all cross the same major line of division, or none of them do.
In figures 1-4, we see clearly designated charge groups. Figure 1 has three charges of roughly equal visual weight on opposite sides of the fess line, making them co-primary. Figure 2 has the sword filling all of the space available to it, crossing the fess line with the annulets shifted to chief, making the sword clearly the sole primary charge. Figure 3 has the annulets and sword equally expanded to fill available space, and all three charges cross the fess line, making them co-primary. Figure 4 has large annulets in the middle of the field, crossing the fess line, while a diminished sword is pushed to base, making the annulets clearly co-primary.

When secondary charges flank a primary charge, crossing the fess line, they can still be considered secondary when they are of noticeably different size from the primary charge, as we see in figure 5.
With the exception of figure 1, all images thus far have worked to fill the available space with the primary charge(s), then use the remaining charges as necessary to fill the remaining space, ensuring that the secondary charges are noticeably smaller than the primary charges. This is indicative of good period style; generally, when heraldic artists follow this pattern, placing first any charge which would affect the layout of lines of division (e.g. a chief), then the line of division (if any), then the primary charge(s), then secondary charge(s), always utilizing the appropriate amount of space for the charge, the clarity of charge groups is maintained.
What we have seen recently have been charges directly on the field, of similar visual weight, but where the layout of the charges and the use of space have combined to cause confusion between charge groups. As both recent returned devices used two animate charges combatant in chief and an inanimate charge in base, we will use as a theoretical example, "Argent, two lions combatant and a tower gules." In figure 6, all of the charges are the same height, they all cross the fess line, and they all appropriately fill the space allotted to them, making the design clearly co-primary. However, in figure 7, despite the charges still being the same height, the lions are more centrally located than the tower, and their hindpaws cross the fessline, while the tower does not. This blurs the distinction between figure 6, where the charges are co-primary, and figure 8, where the lions are clearly primary and the tower clearly secondary, due both to their placement on the field and size relative to each other. As such, figure 7 would be returned, with instructions to the submitter to more clearly distinguish their intent.
From Palimpsest: Changes to SENA
Effective as of the publication date of this letter, we are making the following changes to SENA in order to reflect current name precedents. These proposed changes appeared on the October 2016 and December 2016 Palimpsest Letters.
Change to SENA GP.3.A Temporal Definition
Old Text
We allow elements and patterns from before the Middle Ages, but require them to be from cultures that were known to medieval and Renaissance Europeans. Therefore, classical Greek and Roman names are registerable, but names from Pharaonic Egypt are not.
New Text
We allowregister elements and patterns from before the Middle Ages, but require them to be from cultures that were known to medieval and Renaissance Europeans. Therefore, classical Greek and Roman names are registerable, but names from Pharaonic Egyptrecorded only in Egyptian hieroglyphs are not.
Change to SENA PN.2.B Name Phrase Requirements
Old Text
Each name phrase must be grammatically correct for its position in a name. In some languages, spelling changes are used to indicate aspects of relationships in bynames. Some languages capitalize some bynames, but consistently use lower case for others.
For example, because of the way Gaelic grammar works, the byname mac Fearchair 'son of Fearchar' must be changed to mhic Fhearchair when it occurs after another byname of the form mac X (i.e., when your father was the son of Fearchar). So, the son of Donnchadh mac Fearchair would be Fionn mac Donnchaidh mhic Fhearchair. For example, most Norse descriptive bynames are consistently in lower case. Thus, Halla the skald would be Halla skaldkona, not Halla Skaldkona.
New Text
Each name phrase must be grammatically correct for its position in a name. In some languages, spelling changes are used to indicate aspects of relationships in bynames. Some languages capitalize some bynames, but consistently use lower case for others.
For example, because of the way Gaelic grammar works, the byname mac Fearchair 'son of Fearchar' must be changed to mhic Fhearchair when it occurs after another byname of the form mac X (i.e., when your father was the son of Fearchar). So, the son of Donnchadh mac Fearchair would be Fionn mac Donnchaidh mhic Fhearchair. For example, most Norse descriptive bynames are consistently in lower case. Thus, Halla the skald would be Halla skaldkona, not Halla Skaldkona.
Capitalization should be consistent with the language of the name phrase. Some patterns for capitalization in important European languages can be found in Appendix A.
For example, we have evidence (reflected in Appendix A) showing Dutch locative markers entirely in lowercase. Thus, Frederick van der Vaerden may be registered without specific evidence for this capitalization pattern, whereas Frederick van Der Vaerden would require specific evidence for van Der.
Change to SENA PN.3.C Standards for Identity Conflict
Old Text
C. Standards for Identity Conflict: To be clear of identity conflict, two names must be substantially different in both sound and appearance. Because conflict is a modern concept, we consider matters such as meaning, language, etymological origin, etc. to be irrelevant for conflict. Only sound and appearance are considered for difference. Thus, the Latinized form of a name may be clear of conflict with the vernacular form. While we do not go out of our way to consider variant pronunciations, we do consider important period and modern pronunciations of name elements.
To be substantially different, a pair of names must be different in sound and appearance under the standards laid out below. Names may be different in sound under one standard and appearance under another standard. Names are compared as complete items, so that Lisa Betta Gonzaga conflicts with Lisabetta Gonzaga, although the elements are different.
New Text
C. Standards for Identity Conflict: To be clear of identity conflict, two names must be substantially different in both sound and appearance. Because conflict is a modern concept, we consider matters such as meaning, language, etymological origin, etc. to be irrelevant for conflict. Only sound and appearance are considered for difference. Thus, the Latinized form of a name may be clear of conflict with the vernacular form. While we do not go out of our way to consider variant pronunciations, we do consider important period and modern pronunciations of name elements.
To be substantially different, a pair of names must be different in sound and appearance under the standards laid out belowa pair of names must meet at least one standard for substantial difference in sound and at least one standard for substantial difference in appearance, as described below. Names may be different in sound under one standard and appearance under another standard. Names are compared as complete items, so that Lisa Betta Gonzaga conflicts with Lisabetta Gonzaga, although the elements are different.
Society Pages
On 8 April, at the Festival of the Passing of the Ice Dragon in the Barony of Rhydderich Hael, Kingdom of Æthelmearc, Edmund Tregelles and Giulietta da Venezia, both former Silver Buccle Principal Heralds, were raised to the rank of Herald Extraordinary.
Also at the same event, Robert O'Connor, known in Æthelmearc, Atlantia and elsewhere as "Bob the Herald," was made a Companion of the Order of the Pelican.
On April 15, at Night on the Town in the Kingdom of Atlantia, Their Majesties Cuan and Signy inducted Kryss Kostarev into the Order of the Golden Dolphin, Altantia's grant level award for service. Moments later Cuan and Signy then made Kryss Kostarev a Companion of the Order of the Pelican. Kryss is known for running the art tent at Pennsic many times, as well as Heralds Point itself.
It is our sad news to report that on April 17, Clare RosMuire St. John passed away. She held the personal title of Nimbus Herald, and had been Asterisk Herald as well as holding several other heraldic offices in the early days of Ansteorra.
On May 6 at Atlantian Crown Tourney, Their Majesties Cuan and Signy also inducted Seraphina Delfino, Golden Dolphin Herald, into the Order of the Golden Dolphin.
Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.
Send What to Whom
Letters of Intent, Comment, Response, Correction, et cetera are to be posted to the OSCAR online system. No paper copies need be sent. All submission forms plus documentation, including petitions, must be posted to the OSCAR online system. While black-and-white emblazons must be included in the Letter of Intent, only colored armory forms need to be posted in the forms area.
Cheques or money orders for submissions, payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms" are to be sent to Stephanie Ray-Solum, Blue Bug Bookkeeping, 2144 Westlake Ave North Suite F, Seattle, WA 98109.
Send roster changes and corrections to Laurel. College of Arms members may also request a copy of the current roster from Laurel.
For a paper copy of a LoAR, please contact Laurel, at the address above. The cost for one LoAR is $3. Please make all checks or money orders payable to "SCA Inc.-College of Arms". The electronic copy of the LoAR is available free of charge. To subscribe to the mailings of the electronic copy, please see the bottom of http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.
For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.
Pray know that I remain,
In service,
Emma de Fetherstan
Laurel Queen of Arms