Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms

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For the April 2021 meetings, printed June 1, 2021

To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Emma Laurel, Elisabetta Pelican, and Oddr Wreath, greetings.

* From Laurel: Re-Registering Released Items

Standard wording on a Letter of Release includes "I understand that release of registration is permanent." Some have interpreted this to mean that they couldn't re-register the released item but someone else could. This is incorrect. If you want to re-register an item that you or anyone else has released, it is treated as a new submission and must be considered under the rules currently in effect. If the rules have changed so that it is no longer registerable then it cannot be re-registered. If a conflicting item has been registered since the release then the item can't be re-registered without permission to conflict.

* From Pelican: On the given name Verica

This month we considered a submission using the British given name Verica in a feminine context. This name was documented as feminine in The First Thousand Years of British Names by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn and found at https://heraldry.sca.org/names/british1000/british1000.html. Since this article was published in 1998, we have improved our data about the people who lived in this time period. One of the chief resources we now have available to us is the "Celtic Personal Names of Roman Britain" database (CPNRB), found online at https://www.asnc.cam.ac.uk/personalnames/.

In CPNRB, there are two separate persons with the given name Verica. Both of these individuals were masculine. Given this data and the data provided by Alisoun Metron Ariston, as of the publication of this Cover Letter, we will register Verica as either a feminine Latin given name or a masculine British given name. However, we will no longer register it as a British feminine given name.

* From Wreath: Named motif: "star of Ansteorra"

Effective immediately, a star of Ansteorra as proposed by the Kingdom of Ansteorra is defined as the tinctureless charge, a mullet of five greater and five lesser points.

This mullet is non-trivial, having an unusually large (yet blazonable) number of points of alternating length, which is a combination of choices unlikely to be found in typical armory except in reference to the Kingdom of Ansteorra.

The naming of a motif does not void any existing style issues. Since a mullet of five greater and five lesser points carries a step from core practice, so too does a star of Ansteorra.

We direct Palimpsest to add the star of Ansteorra to Table 6 of the Glossary of Terms.

* From Wreath: On Squirrels and Nuts

This month we considered a badge pended to discuss how to treat charges held as an optional part of a charge's standard depiction. In this case, the specific question was whether a nut held by a tertiary squirrel should or should not be considered as an additional tertiary charge group. Under current standards, held charges constitute a separate charge group, such as that seen with a primary lion maintaining a secondary sword. In the case of tertiary charges, however, SENA Appendix I.C says in part, "A single charge group may only have one tertiary charge group on it." A design with a tertiary squirrel maintaining a separately-grouped tertiary nut, would thus be returnable under Appendix I.C.

After discussion with the College, we have decided to relax the Appendix I.C restriction to allow designs where a tertiary charge includes another dependent, closely associated charge. We are registering the armory which prompted this decision. The nut is considered an artistic detail and does not contribute to difference. We direct Palimpsest to propose suitable modifications to SENA to implement this relaxation, including a list of other similar charge combinations.

Armory that would be registrable only based on the proposed changes will be pended until the Rules Letter is decided, rather than immediately returned.

* From Laurel: Updates to the Administrative Handbook and SENA

This month there are a number of updates to the Administrative Handbook and to SENA. Updates to appendices will be available at http://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html and http://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html within a day or two of publication of this Cover Letter. However, updates to the main sections of SENA require approval from the Board of Directors prior to publication of those updates on the website. Names and armory submitted between now and that approval will be evaluated in accordance with the updates below on the assumption that the Board will approve the changes.

* From Laurel: Updates to the Administrative Handbook Appendices F and H

The changes to Appendix F and Appendix H of the Administrative Handbook proposed on the January 10th Rules Letter are accepted with some additions and modifications. The updated appendices will be available at http://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html in a day or so. Several previous standard sources, including OCM and Dauzat, have been moved from Appendix H (Sources That Do Not Require Photocopies to Laurel) to Appendix F (Names Sources to Be Avoided in Documentation). Over 50 sources are being added to Appendix H and many of the existing and new sources now have urls for ease of access.

* From Wreath: Updates to SENA A3B1, Tinctures and their Classifications

The changes proposed as item 1 on the January 31st Rules Letter to catch SENA up with current precedent are accepted. These changes only affect the paragraphs dealing with proper, the rest of the rule remains unchanged: "brown" and "wooden" are removed from items where proper is defined as brown, and removing the requirment that things blazoned as brown X proper or X proper when proper is brown, be solidly brown. The new wording for those paragraphs of A3B1 is:

Proper is a term used for a charge in its "natural" or "standard" tincture. Items that were used in proper tinctures in period armory may be used. A list of proper tinctures is found in the Glossary of Terms. Any animal (not including monsters) that can be brown in nature can be blazoned as a brown X proper. Such an animal would be expected to be completely brown (with the exception of minor artistic details), as opposed to drawn naturalistically. Similarly, tools that can reasonably be wooden can be described as a wooden X proper, and are brown. Brown is considered to be a color, not a metal, and it is not identical to black or sable. While a few monsters have a defined proper, most of them do not because they do not exist in nature. Thus, monsters constructed from animals which can otherwise be proper may not be proper.

For example, a rose proper is defined to be gules barbed vert seeded Or. Some proper animals include: a brown bear proper, a falcon proper, and a rabbit proper. Tools and other wooden objects include: a wooden staff proper, a barrel proper, and a harp proper. A heraldic dolphin proper is vert with gules fins while a natural dolphin proper is light grey (effectively argent).

In general, charges that do not have a heraldically defined proper may be described as proper when a normal person would be able to color them appropriately from knowing only the sort of item with no further color description. So, a tree, a thistle, and an elephant can be proper. On the other hand, a female American kestrel or a bay horse cannot be proper because the definition of that animal does not adequately specify an exact tincture pattern which may vary according to season, gender and/or geographical range.

Proper charges are classified as a color, a metal, or neutral depending on their dominant tincture. Grey and light skin tones are treated as a metal (equivalent to argent); brown and other darker skin tones are treated as a color.

The insert/delete version:

Proper is a term used for a charge in its "natural" or "standard" tincture. Items that were used in proper tinctures in period armory may be used. A list of proper tinctures is found in the Glossary of Terms. Any animal (not including monsters) that can be brown in nature can be blazoned as a brown X proper. Such an animal would be expected to be completely brown (with the exception of minor artistic details), as opposed to drawn naturalistically. Similarly, tools that can reasonably be wooden can be described as a wooden X proper, and are brown. Brown is considered to be a color, not a metal, and it is not identical to black or sable. While a few monsters have a defined proper, most of them do not because they do not exist in nature. Thus, monsters constructed from animals which can otherwise be proper may not be proper.

For example, a rose proper is defined to be gules barbed vert seeded Or. Some proper animals include: a brown bear proper, a brown falcon proper, and a brown rabbit proper. Tools and other wooden objects include: a wooden staff proper, a wooden barrel proper, and a harp proper. A heraldic dolphin proper is greenvert with redgules fins while a natural dolphin proper is light grey (effectively argent).

In general, charges that do not have a heraldically defined proper may be described as proper when a normal person would be able to color them appropriately from knowing only the sort of item with no further color description. So, a tree, a thistle, and an elephant can be proper. On the other hand, a female American kestrel, an Arctic fox in winter phase, or a bay horse cannot be proper because the definition of that animal does not adequately specify an exact tincture pattern which may vary according to season, gender and/or geographical range.

Proper charges are classified as a color, a metal, or neutral depending on their dominant tincture. Grey and light skin tones are treated as a metal (equivalent to argent); brown and other darker skin tones are treated as a color.

* From Pelican: Updates to SENA PN3D, Standard for Relationship Conflict

The changes proposed as item 2 on the January 31st Rules Letter are accepted. The new wording for PN3D is:

D. Standards for Relationship Conflict: To be clear of relationship conflict, the submitted name must not unmistakably imply close relationship with a protected person. This includes, but is not limited to, a claim to be the parent, child, or spouse of a protected person. An unmistakable implication generally requires the use of the entirety of a protected name; however, if the protected name consists only of a single element a relationship cannot be unmistakably implied. The relational marker does not need to be in the new submission for conflict to apply. That is, if a registered item includes a relational marker followed by a complete name and the new submission is the same as that complete name, it is in conflict. Names are still protected from relationship conflict even if grammar requires that the name be modified in order to demonstrate the relationship. Adding an element not in the protected name is generally enough to remove relationship conflict.

For example, Miryam bint Da'ud is not an unmistakable claim to be the child of Da'ud ibn Auda, but Miryam bint Da'ud ibn Auda is. Similarly, Llewelyn ap Owen is an unmistakable claim to be the father of a registered Morgan ap Llewelyn ap Owen.

For example, Felicia uxor Willemi le Tailor is an unmistakable claim to be the wife of a registered Willemus le Tailor, even though there is a change in appearance of the given name, because the change is necessitated by the grammar. However, Felicia uxor William Taylor is not an unmistakable claim to be the wife of Willemus le Tailor, as William Taylor and Willemus le Tailor are different enough to be clear of identity conflict under our rules. Similarly, Ketill Skallagrimsson Gormssonar is an unmistakable claim to be the son of a registered Skalla-Grímr Gormsson as the changes to the name elements are necessitated by the grammar. In Old Norse the hyphen in names with pre-pended bynames doesn't necessarily appear in descendants' names.

For example, Mary Elizabeth Smith is an unmistakable claim to be the daughter of Elizabeth Smith even though a relational marker is not included. This type of relationship conflict occurs only in languages, such as English, where unmarked patronymics or matronymics are used. However, Giulia Maddelena di Giacomo is not an unmistakable claim to be the daughter of Maddelena di Giacomo, as Italian did not mix marked (di Giacomo) and unmarked (Maddelena) relationships in the same name. Thus, in this case, Maddelena must be considered a second given name.

For example, Anne Bonncueur is not an unmistakable claim to be the child of Boncueur as Boncueur is registered as a single-element name. However, Eirikr Skalla-Brandsson is an unmistakable claim to be the son of a registered Skalla-Brandr as Skalla-Brandr is a two-element name - it consists of the given name Brandr and the pre-pended byname Skalla-.

The insert/delete version:

D. Standards for Relationship Conflict: To be clear of relationship conflict, the submitted name must not unmistakably imply close relationship with a protected person. This includes, but is not limited to, a claim to be the parent, child, or spouse of a protected person. An unmistakable implication generally requires the use of the entirety of a protected name; however, if the protected name consists only of a single element a relationship cannot be unmistakably implied. The relational marker does not need to be in the new submission for conflict to apply. That is, if a registered item includes a relational marker followed by a complete name and the new submission is the same as that complete name, it is in conflict. Names are still protected from relationship conflict even if grammar requires that the name be modified in order to demonstrate the relationship. Adding an element not in the protected name is generally enough to remove relationship conflict.

For example, Miryam bint Da'ud is not an unmistakable claim to be the child of Da'ud ibn Auda, but Miryam bint Da'ud ibn Auda is. Felicia uxor Willemi le Tailor is an unmistakable claim to be the wife of a registered Willemus le Tailor, even though there is a change in appearance of the given name, because the change is necessitated by the grammar. However, Felicia uxor William Taylor is not an unmistakable claim to be the wife of Willemus le Tailor, as William Taylor and Willemus le Tailor. Similarly, Llewelyn ap Owen is an unmistakable claim to be the father of a registered Morgan ap Llewelyn ap Owen.

For example, Felicia uxor Willemi le Tailor is an unmistakable claim to be the wife of a registered Willemus le Tailor, even though there is a change in appearance of the given name, because the change is necessitated by the grammar. However, Felicia uxor William Taylor is not an unmistakable claim to be the wife of Willemus le Tailor, as William Taylor and Willemus le Tailor are different enough to be clear of identity conflict under our rules. Similarly, Ketill Skallagrimsson Gormssonar is an unmistakable claim to be the son of a registered Skalla-Grímr Gormsson as the changes to the name elements are necessitated by the grammar. In Old Norse the hyphen in names with pre-pended bynames doesn't necessarily appear in descendants' names.

For example, Mary Elizabeth Smith is an unmistakable claim to be the daughter of Elizabeth Smith even though a relational marker is not included. This type of relationship conflict occurs only in languages, such as English, where unmarked patronymics or matronymics are used. However, Giulia Maddelena di Giacomo is not an unmistakable claim to be the daughter of Maddelena di Giacomo, as Italian did not mix marked (di Giacomo) and unmarked (Maddelena) relationships in the same name. Thus, in this case, Maddelena must be considered a second given name.

For example, Anne Bonncueur is not an unmistakable claim to be the child of Boncueur as Boncueur is registered as a single-element name. However, Eirikr Skalla-Brandsson is an unmistakable claim to be the son of a registered Skalla-Brandr as Skalla-Brandr is a two-element name - it consists of the given name Brandr and the pre-pended byname Skalla-.

* From Pelican: Addition to SENA Appendix A - Estonian Naming Patterns

The changes proposed on the January 7th Rules Letter are accepted. Estonian patterns are being added to the Baltic section of this appendix.The updated appendix will be available at http://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#AppendixA in the next day or so. We wish to thank ffride Morelle for her research that allows us to add these patterns.

* From Pelican: Updates to SENA Appendix D, Acceptable Transliteration Systems for Non-Latin Scripts

The changes proposed as item 3 on the January 31st Rules Letter are accepted. The first deals with transcriptions of Non-Runic Old Norse, and explicitly allows a terminal -R. The second change changes the phrase Oriental Languages to East Asian Languages.

* From Wreath: Updates to SENA Appendix F, Some Armorial Elements that Do Not Need Further Documentation

The changes proposed as item 4 on the January 31st Rules Letter are accepted. These changes to match current precedent only affect the section "A Partial list of Registrable Postures". Note that the appendix as modified still mentions steps from period practice, which were changed to steps from core practice on the February 2021 Cover Letter. The April 17th Rules Letter proposes updates to address this change and its impact. Until that Rules Letter is processed, Appendix F will still refer to steps from period practice.

* From Wreath: Updates to SENA Appendix G, Some Specific Elements that are a Step from Period Practice

The changes proposed as item 5 on the January 31st Rules Letter are accepted. Those changes align the lists in Appendix G with current precedent. Note that the appendix as modified still mentions steps from period practice, which were changed to steps from core practice on the February 2021 Cover Letter. The April 17th Rules Letter proposes updates to address this change and its impact. Until that Rules Letter is processed, Appendix G will still refer to steps from period practice.

* From Wreath: Updates to SENA Appendix I, Charge Group Theory

The changes proposed to section E of this appendix as item 6 on the January 31st Rules Letter are accepted. These changes update the treatment of maintained charges to match current precedent. The new wording for section E of the appendix is:

E. Sustained and Maintained Charges: Charges that are held by, suspended from, or are otherwise touching another charge fall into two categories. Those that are large enough to be of equal weight with the charge holding them are considered to be part of the same charge group (primary, secondary, tertiary, or overall) as the charge holding them. We call these sustained charges. Those that are much smaller may only exist as maintained secondary charges of primary charges. (Note: An exception is made for augmentations that are on other charges so long as identifiability is retained.) They contribute to difference and must have good contrast with the field and be large enough to be identifiable. Orientation of maintained charges does not contribute to difference and may or may not be blazoned.

The insert/delete version:

E. Sustained and Maintained Charges: Charges that are held by, suspended from, or are otherwise touching another charge fall into two categories. Those that are large enough to be of equal weight with the charge holding them are considered to be part of the same charge group (primary, secondary, tertiary, or overall) as the charge holding them. We call these sustainedsustained charges. Those that are much smaller may only exist as maintained secondary charges of primary charges. (Note: An exception is made for augmentations that are on other charges so long as identifiability is retained.) They contribute to difference and must have good contrast with the field and be large enough to be identifiable. Orientation of maintained charges does not contribute to difference and may or may not be blazoned.we treat as artistic details. They are not part of any charge group. They do not contribute to difference for conflict purposes. They are allowed to violate the contrast rules, though they must have some contrast so that they can remain identifiable. Despite that, they contribute to complexity count, because they still add to visual complexity. We call these charges maintained charges.

In the case of Sable, a dragon maintaining a sword argent, the sword is much smaller than the dragon and does not contribute to difference. In the case of Sable, a dragon sustaining a sword argent, the sword must be of equal visual weight with the dragon. This generally means being at least as long as the dragon is tall. It is considered part of the primary charge group with the dragon. A depiction that is unclear, with a sword that is smaller than the dragon, but still quite large, may be returned for blurring the distinction between the two possible blazons with their different implications for style and conflict.

* Society Pages

We've been remiss in neglecting to mention some recent office changes! In March, Brigida von München stepped down as Gold Falcon Principal Herald of Calontir after an extra-long tenure due to the pandemic. Her successor is Zaneta Baseggio. Also in March, Æðeluulf munuc took over as White Stag Principal Herald of the Outlands from Timothy O'Brien. And this month in May we say goodbye to Judith Wilkinson as Diamond Principal Herald of Gleann Abhann, and hello to Gaius Curtis Primus.

On May 13, 2021, Yehuda ben Moshe, currently Brigantia Principal Herald of the East, was inducted into the Order of the Golden Rapier, the East's Grant-level rapier award. This induction will be shown to the public in an upcoming video Court of Their Majesties of the East, Tindal and Alberic.

At their Ninth Ethereal Court of the East, held on May 16, 2021, Their Majesties of the East also made Drasma Dragomira, Seahorse Pursuivant, a Lady of their court and awarded her arms.

In more somber news, Countess Berengaria de Montfort of Carcassone, Vesper Herald Emeritus of the West and Bleu Grael Herald Emeritus of the Summits among others in a decades-long service to heraldry, passed from this world to the next on May 27, 2021, surrounded by her husband, Sir Alail Horsefriend, and her beloved felines. May her memory be a blessing.

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 Trent Le Clair, 928 Frazier Dr, Walla Walla WA 99362

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.

* Scheduling

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 April Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, April 11, 2021 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, April 10, 2021. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Laurel LoPaD (03 Jan, 2021), Lochac (04 Jan, 2021), Calontir (06 Jan, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (07 Jan, 2021), An Tir (10 Jan, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (10 Jan, 2021), West (13 Jan, 2021), Middle (17 Jan, 2021), Æthelmearc (19 Jan, 2021), Æthelmearc (23 Jan, 2021), Outlands (23 Jan, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Jan, 2021), Ansteorra (30 Jan, 2021), Atenveldt (30 Jan, 2021), Caid (30 Jan, 2021), Northshield (30 Jan, 2021), Atlantia (31 Jan, 2021), Avacal (31 Jan, 2021), Drachenwald (31 Jan, 2021), East (31 Jan, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (31 Jan, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (10 Mar, 2021) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

The May Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, May 16, 2021 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, May 8, 2021. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Trimaris (01 Feb, 2021), Meridies (02 Feb, 2021), Calontir (04 Feb, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (05 Feb, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (06 Feb, 2021), An Tir (11 Feb, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (14 Feb, 2021), Æthelmearc (20 Feb, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Feb, 2021), Atenveldt (25 Feb, 2021), Lochac (25 Feb, 2021), Caid (27 Feb, 2021), Ansteorra (28 Feb, 2021), Avacal (28 Feb, 2021), Drachenwald (28 Feb, 2021), East (28 Feb, 2021), Palimpsest Other Letter (28 Feb, 2021). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Friday, April 30, 2021.

The June Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, June 6, 2021 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, June 5, 2021. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Calontir (02 Mar, 2021), Meridies (02 Mar, 2021), Atlantia (05 Mar, 2021), Palimpsest Rules Letter (06 Mar, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (07 Mar, 2021), An Tir (09 Mar, 2021), Artemisia (13 Mar, 2021), Æthelmearc (20 Mar, 2021), Middle (21 Mar, 2021), West (23 Mar, 2021), Ealdormere (24 Mar, 2021), Atlantia (26 Mar, 2021), Lochac (27 Mar, 2021), Northshield (28 Mar, 2021), Caid (29 Mar, 2021), Atenveldt (30 Mar, 2021), Avacal (31 Mar, 2021), Drachenwald (31 Mar, 2021), Laurel LoPaD (20 Apr, 2021) (redraws). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, May 31, 2021.

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.

Pray know that I remain,

In service,

Emma de Fetherstan
Laurel Queen of Arms


Created at 2021-06-01T21:52:32