Society for Creative Anachronism
College of Arms
For the October 2024 meetings, printed November 24, 2024
To all the College of Arms and all others who may read this missive, from Birgitta Laurel, Sara Pelican, and Iago Wreath, greetings.
On the May Letter of Acceptances and Returns we clarified that the badge of the Order of Defense is protected with any type of sword, not just rapiers. At that time, the question was also raised whether the design should be reserved to the Order regardless of where the blades cross, and this was discussed on the Palimpsest Rules Letter of July 10. Deciding the issue has been both difficult and easy.
On the one hand, people in general appear to find it hard to see that the distinction between two swords in saltire surmounted by another inverted and three swords in pall inverted crossed at the tips is both visible and important. It also seems that the latter arrangement may not have been used in period heraldry, and moreover it tends to blur the distinction between the former arrangement and three swords in pall inverted conjoined at the tips.
On the other hand, if we do not consider all three arrangements distinct we get to more serious issues. Either we have to accept that the registration of the badge of the Order in 2015 violated earlier registrations, or to reinterpret the arrangement in the badge. The first option violates both Chapter III of the Administrative Handbook and Section VI.C.3.b of the Corpora; even concluding that we violated those rules a decade ago is bound to cause immense problems. The second option includes having to tell the Order that the badge they received at the founding of the Order was not the ancient badge that was gifted to them; this, too, would cause serious disruption.
With the agreement of the Board of Directors, we therefore keep the badge of the Order of Defense in the form in which it was originally registered and reserve the variants we decided to protect in May. The badge, which like other Peerage badges is also protected when used as regalia, needs to have the swords cross clearly in the foible of the blade. There is variation in period fencing manuals as to the exact definition, but for heraldic purposes the point of contact needs to be clearly on the blade but equally clearly forward of the centre.
The design three swords in pall inverted crossed at the tips is reserved for the Order of Defense and may be used by members of the Order similarly to other reserved charges. It will be considered as having a Distinct Change from both two swords in saltire surmounted by another inverted and three swords in pall inverted conjoined at the tips. This is not to be taken as a precedent on the acceptability of similar arrangements in other contexts.
The Administrative Handbook II.A.1 - Primary Society Name is revised to make the requirement for a primary name explicit as proposed on Palimpsest's July 31st Rules Letter. This update was approved by the Board of Directors at the October 20th Board meeting. The revised wording will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/admin.html#II.A within a few days.
The proposed revision to AH II.A.5 - Heraldic Titles from Palimpsest's July 31st Rules Letter is returned for further work. Questions were raised about how this would apply to the SCA-affiliate groups among other issues. These are being investigated; however, for now the requirements of the July 2013 and March 2015 Cover Letters continue to apply to all transfers of heraldic titles from SCA branches to individuals.
A number of classes at recent virtual Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposia have been recorded with the intent of publishing them on the net. This project has been too slow at times, but at the moment we are looking for volunteers to help set up a channel, likely on YouTube, and to edit recordings from past and future symposia for publication there. These will be unpaid Laurel Staff positions whose exact number, duties, and workload is yet to be determined. Those interested should contact Laurel at [email protected] by January 1, 2025.
This month marks my stepping in fully to the office of Pelican Queen of Arms, and I have some big shoes to fill. Viscountess Elisabetta Tommaso di Carduci has served the College of Arms, and indeed the Society with nothing but love, passion, and a desire to make things better. This has shown in everything she has done, and everything she has achieved. Thank you Elisabetta for all your work during your tenure.
I can only hope to emulate my predecessors, and help guide our Society through delicate conversations. I hope I can bring us to a better understanding of cultures and traditions outside our own doing so in a sensitive and culturally appropriate manner.
Palimpsest's proposal on the July 10th Rules Letter to modify SENA NPN4B1 to allow non-personal names to use elements that appear to be titles in some circumstances. In particular, titles, even those that do not indicate permanent rank, may be used as elements where they are not a claim to rank. The pattern <titles><charge><designator> where <designator> is the equivalent of Inn or Tavern is not considered to be a claim to rank or title in any language. Based on period evidence, the use of a title with the name of an inn or tavern (or equivalent designator) is not considered to be a claim to rank in English, French, or Spanish nor is the use of a title with ship's names in Dutch or English considered to be a claim to rank. Whether this pattern has a different meaning in other languages requires more data than we presently have. The issue can be revisited in specific languages as data and need require.
There have been many examples in the past few months of armory submissions that lack the required documentation. SENA A2A says:
On first registration of any particular element, documentation must be presented that the element and its depiction may be registered. [...] Items which have not been registered in over a decade, have only been registered a few times, or have recent registrations only via the Existing Registration Allowance may need to be documented. Occasionally new research will require new documentation of a more recently registered element.
When this documentation is not provided, the work of finding support for armorial elements falls to Laurel commenters, heralds at the Wreath meeting, or Wreath himself. These heralds may not always have the time, resources, or knowledge base to do this research, so sending submissions which lack required documentation risks a return.
Comments on our recent Letter of Pends and Discussion showed broad support for the idea of treating demi-charges as equivalent in type to whole charges for the purposes of SENA A3D1b ("sword and dagger"). We direct Palimpsest to draft a Rules Letter proposing a wording change for this rule.
The changes proposed to SENA A6F, Claims through Marshalling, on Palimpsest's July 9th Rules Letter are accepted with some wording changes and will be available at https://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#A6F within a few days.
This is a major rewrite and replaces, with the exception of the introduction, the current A6F in its entirety.
On October 5, at Gleann Abhann's Fall Coronation, Their Majesties Briar and Anahita elevated Bran Finn hua Néill, Diamond Principal Herald, to the Order of the Laurel.
On November 2, 2024, at Atlantian Crown Tourney, Daniela Schwartzhaupt, Silver Nautilus Herald, was made a Herald Extraordinary by Gisela Triton Principal Herald. Her long service in ensuring that heralds were scheduled for events was particularly notable.
Also on that date, at Tir Righ Coronet Tourney in the Barony of Seagirt, Their Majesties Eirik and Brynhildr invested Vémundr Syvursson, former Red Flame Herald (Submissions), and his wife Hallveig Sigrúnardóttir as Baron and Baroness of Seagirt.
At the same event, Their Majesties of An Tir gave Vémundr the Sable Scrivener, An Tir's award for scribal achievements at the Kingdom level.
On November 16, 2024, at Baroness' Inspiration Tournament in the Barony of Lions Gate, Their Majesties Eirik and Brynhildr invested Malyss Makneile, Lion's Blood Herald, and Brynja Kortsdottir as Baron and Baroness of Lions Gate.
Please send information about happenings to major heralds and major happenings to all heralds to Laurel, so that it can be published here.
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 uploaded to the OSCAR packet for that letter. For armory, only colored forms are required.
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.
To subscribe to the mailings of the LoAR, please see the bottom of https://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/lists.html#lists for more instructions.
For all administrative matters, please contact Laurel.
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 https://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=137.
The October Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, October 13, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, October 6, 2024. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Atlantia (02 Jul, 2024), Calontir (05 Jul, 2024), Meridies (08 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (09 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (10 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (10 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (13 Jul, 2024), Trimaris (18 Jul, 2024), Avacal (19 Jul, 2024), Ansteorra (26 Jul, 2024), Caid (26 Jul, 2024), East (26 Jul, 2024), An Tir (28 Jul, 2024), Lochac (28 Jul, 2024), West (28 Jul, 2024), Atlantia (29 Jul, 2024), Ćthelmearc (31 Jul, 2024), Drachenwald (31 Jul, 2024), Ealdormere (31 Jul, 2024), Middle (31 Jul, 2024), Outlands (31 Jul, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (31 Jul, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (24 Aug, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Monday, September 30, 2024.
The November Laurel decisions were made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, November 10, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Saturday, November 9, 2024. These meetings considered the following letters of intent: Calontir (04 Aug, 2024), Meridies (07 Aug, 2024), Gleann Abhann (11 Aug, 2024), Laurel (15 Aug, 2024), An Tir (19 Aug, 2024), Northshield (19 Aug, 2024), Northshield (20 Aug, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (25 Aug, 2024), Caid (26 Aug, 2024), Ealdormere (26 Aug, 2024), East (27 Aug, 2024), Ćthelmearc (28 Aug, 2024), Ansteorra (29 Aug, 2024), Caid (29 Aug, 2024), Lochac (29 Aug, 2024), Outlands (29 Aug, 2024), Atenveldt (30 Aug, 2024), Drachenwald (30 Aug, 2024), Middle (30 Aug, 2024), Trimaris (30 Aug, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (31 Aug, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (18 Sep, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (04 Oct, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should have been entered into OSCAR by Thursday, October 31, 2024.
The December Laurel decisions will be made at the Pelican meeting held on Sunday, December 15, 2024 and the Wreath meeting held on Sunday, December 8, 2024. These meetings will consider the following letters of intent: Calontir (03 Sep, 2024), An Tir (07 Sep, 2024), Atlantia (08 Sep, 2024), Meridies (08 Sep, 2024), Gleann Abhann (15 Sep, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (15 Sep, 2024), Artemisia (18 Sep, 2024), Laurel LoItUP (20 Sep, 2024), Middle (22 Sep, 2024), Avacal (25 Sep, 2024), Ansteorra (26 Sep, 2024), Ćthelmearc (28 Sep, 2024), An Tir (29 Sep, 2024), Palimpsest Rules Letter (29 Sep, 2024), West (29 Sep, 2024), Atlantia (30 Sep, 2024), Caid (30 Sep, 2024), Drachenwald (30 Sep, 2024), Ealdormere (30 Sep, 2024), East (30 Sep, 2024), Laurel LoPaD (30 Sep, 2024), Lochac (30 Sep, 2024), Outlands (30 Sep, 2024), Laurel LoPfR (24 Oct, 2024). All commentary, responses, and rebuttals should be entered into OSCAR by Saturday, November 30, 2024.
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.
Be assured that I remain
In service
Birgitta Lulli
Laurel Queen of Arms
Created at 2024-11-24T16:13:49