Herewith please find the decisions made at Marche le Sauvage on December 18, 1999.
Kathri, Asterisk
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Unto the Ansteorran College of Heralds does Perronnelle Charrette de La Tour du Pin, Retiarius Pursuivant, make most courteous greetings.
For information on commentary submission formats or to receive a copy of the collated commentary, you can contact me at:
Charlene Charette
15910 Valverde Drive, Houston, TX 77083
281/277-4055 (11am-10pm)
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Commenters for this issue:
Da’ud ibn Auda – al-Jamal Herald
Magnus von Lubeck – Raven's Fort
Jararvellir – Midrealm; present at this session were Musa ibn Ibrahim al-athir, Isfael ap Briafael, Iohanna di Carracci, and Aryanhwy merch Catmael. Comments prefaced "I" are from me, Aryanhwy.
Bryn Gwlad – Bryn Gwlad commentary, by Gwenllian ferch Maredudd, Salvatore, and Daniel de Lincoln (y'r humble scribe and first-person comments below). We checked all armory against the 8th edition Ordinary. We found no conflicts unless noted.
FLASH! Parker's Glossary is on-line with colored emblazons! Huzzah! See http://www04.u-page.so-net.ne.jp/ta2/saitou/ie401/index.htm . It's one of the most complete sources for heraldic charges and terms. Although Victorian, it's still quite useful.
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1. Adelicia Brabant (Gate's Edge) resub device; name in LoI0899; Azure, in saltire two artist's brushes argent, overall on an artist's palette Or a road-runner proper, all within a bordure argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] Let’s see: one of the reasons the prior submission was returned as because of the "non- period form of palette", and so this submission uses a different form that still isn’t the defined one for the SCA. Indeed, the charge at first blush appears to be a very fat cross formy pierced in chief. Unless she’s submitted documentation for this particular form of artist’s palette as being a period artifact, I think we still have a problem. [Asterisk: Although not exactly the form shown in the PicDic, this pallete is close enough to be forwarded, in the opinion of those at the meeting.]
Jararvellir
[Device] We all had issues with the road-runner; it’s indigenous to North America and was not found in Europe in period. (I don’t even know if it’s found in period now.) However, this is a moot point because the device has four layers (field, paintbrushes, pallet, and bird) and must be returned as per RfS VIII.1.c.ii Armorial Depth. [Asterisk: See Bryn Gwlad, below.]
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Overall charges count as being on the field, so this is 3 layers (field, 4 things on the field, bird), so it's OK.
A roadrunner has been registered only once before, in the very early days of the Society: Reyna de San Diego, 1/76, "Azure, a roadrunner courant to sinister ...". Danny don't think that the one very early registration is enough to justify it today. Was it known to Europeans in period? [Asterisk: It was probably known to the Spaniards in what is now northern Mexico and SW USA, which has been sufficient for registration.] The OED (1st ed.) first citation is 1872. It defines it as the "paisano or chaparral cock"; the first it dates to 1885, the second to 1882, saying it's "evidently the Mexican name caporal Americanized". Surely Spanish sources would have the earliest records, but we have no such references. [But we don't have to document the words in the blazon and if Laurel wants to change, it she can.][
Also, what tincture is the bird? If it's all brown, it's a "brown roadrunner proper". "PRECEDENT: Henceforward, and more in line with period heraldic practice, animals which are normally brown may be registered simply as an {X} proper (e.g., boar proper, hare proper). Animals which are frequently found as brown but also commonly appear in other tinctures in the natural world may be registered as a brown {X} proper (e.g., brown hound proper, brown horse proper)." (LoAR Cover Letter, 10/95)
Otherwise, "Proper is allowed for natural flora and fauna where there is a widely understood default coloration for the charge so specified. My rule of thumb here is that if you have to look it up in a book, it is excessive." (Cover Letter, May 1991) Is the "proper" for a roadrunner widely understood? Danny doesn't know how to color one.
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1. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned "…a brown roadrunner proper, …
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2. Ælfwyn æt Gyrwum (Bjornsborg)
new device; name reg 04/99; Azure crusilly moline, on a fess Or three annulets azure.
Jararvellir
[Device] Beautiful! Bryn Gwlad
[Device] (Daniel's irreverent comment: 3 hugs, semy of weird kisses? Daniel's a friend; he can do that.)
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2. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel.
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3. Aeron Aschennen of Clan MacKenzie (Mooneschadowe)
new change of primary name from Anastacia de Maris; new change of device; current name registered 10/95; Barry bendy azure and argent, a manticore rampant guardant Or maintaining an orb azure.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Name] A citation that a name is found in Hanks and Hodges is not, in itself, sufficient documentation for registration. See Appendix F (Names Sources to Be Avoided in Documentation) to the Administrative Handbook ("Very few of the entries have dates of any kind. There are many modem forms included in the entries. There are even, as there are in many general works of this kind, some errors, sometimes quite glaring." [LoAR Nov 1994, p. 20])
"The available evidence indicates that the way membership in such a clan (no matter what ‘clan’ word was used for the group) was indicated in a personal name was by the use of ó (or older ua) plus the clan eponym in the genitive (i.e., ó Aonghusa) not by using a construction equivalent to ‘of Clan X’." (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR June 1998, p. 5) Clan affiliations are not indicated by "of Clan [Whatever]" in personal names, and such have been returned (or modified, as in the precedent above) before.
[Device] The primary charge here is not a manticore; that charge is described as: "a monster, consisting of a lion's body with a human face (sometimes head), a scorpion's tail, and sometimes horns." (Pictorial Dictionary, 2nd ed., cf. "Manticore") (emphasis added) The monster here has the standard lion’s tail, and is probably visually and heraldically indistinct from a lion rampant Or. As such, it likely conflicts with Belgium and Brabant, Sable, a lion rampant Or.
The term "orb" is a defined heraldic charge; what the manticore here is holding isn’t it. Blazon fu: maintaining a hurt or maintaining a roundel azure.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Name] Please tell local heralds that books by Hanks & Hodges, Kolach, and Yonge make nice paperweights but that is about all they are good for. Laurel will not accept anything from these books. Heini Gruffudd, Welsh Names for Children, page 6, under Aeron gives it as a man or woman's name and lists "Celtic Agrona = goddess of slaughter; god of battle, as Aerfen, Aberaeron, Ceredigion." Other entries with no dates include Aeronwy - variant of Aeron, Aerona - feminine of Aeron, and Aeronwen - Aeron + gwen (white, blessed). This suggests that the name is associated with divine powers but the variants suggest its use as a human name. The only other helpful item found was in T.P and Prys Morgan, Welsh Surnames, page 45, under Arawn dates the masculine name Aron from 1215-1350 and from 1350-1415. Black gives the spelling as Aschennan.
[Device] This is a mantyger rather than a manticore. "The principal difference between a mantyger and a manticore... is the manticore has a scorpion's sting for a tail. It is doubtful that there is a CVD for the difference, but it is a blazonable distinction." (LoAR 4/91 p.3).
Jararvellir
[Name] According to Gruffudd,
[Device] We also found the charge to be awfully complex to be on a field of this type. Also, this isn’t a manticore; it has a lion’s tale, not the tale of a scorpion, as a manticore should have.
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Blazon fu 1: mantyger. "The principal difference between a mantyger and a manticore... is the manticore has a scorpion's sting for a tail. It is doubtful that there is a CVD for the difference, but it is a blazonable distinction." (LoAR 4/91 p.3). (Da'ud prec. 1.1, s.v. DIFFERENCE - Armory).
Asterisk, please check the definition of a mantyger and verify that the full-sized form has one. An Heraldic Alphabet says it usually has the body of a heraldic tyger, an old man's head with flowing beard and hair, and two horns, pretty much echoing Parker. However, AHA says that the body of a tyger is the body of a lion. With the manticore's head guardant and with this scanned mini-emblazon, it's hard to tell it's a man's head and that those are horns – it looks rather lion-like.
Blazon fu 2: roundel, not orb. Daniel had somehow gotten the impression that orbs (aka mounds) were reserved charges, but they're not mentioned in precedents, not in the Glossary, and they've been registered as late as 7/99 (Calafia, Barony of. "(Fieldless) A dragon's jambe inverted couped Or sustaining an orb azure.".) It's irrelevant anyway, because the mini shows a plain roundel.
Consider Belgium, Brabant, Palatinate of the Rhine, and Norway, all of which are versions of "(Field) a lion rampant Or". Is there a CD for type for mantyger versus lion? I see no precedents. If it was seen as a distinct charge in period, there's a CD by X.4.e, so check the Pict Dict for any period uses of it. The OED has mantigore, in the sense of this beast, in period.
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3. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned "Barry bendy azure and argent, a mantyger rampant guardant Or maintaining a roundel azure." Re Bryn Gwlad: There is often a CD between a beast and a monster. Having no firm basis for return, we decided to see if there would be a CD in this case.
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4. Aeron Aschennen of Clan MacKenzie (Mooneschadowe) new badge; name change from Anastacia de Maris is immediately above; (Fieldless) A dragon passant coward azure maintaining a compass rose argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Badge] The compass rose is entirely unidentifiable; before reading the blazon, I thought it was a rose or some other kind of flower. RfS VII.7.a. requires that: "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance."
Conflict with Sciath Ni Chúanachtaigh of Clan MacRath (July 1999), Gyronny gules and Or, a dragon passant azure. There is one CD for the field (or lack thereof), but nothing for the posture of the tail or for the maintained charge.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Badge] Kingdom of Drachenwald June 1982: "(Tinctureless) A silver wristguard engraved with a dragon passant coward, wings addorsed, maintaining in dexter forepaw a sword erect", for the Order of the Silver Guard. There is one CD for fieldless but none for tincture here.
Jararvellir
[Badge] The rose is not recognizable as a compass rose; from a distance it looks just like a regular rose.
I’m horribly abominable when it comes to counting CDs against tinctureless armory, therefore I’m not sure if this would conflict with Drachenwald "[Tinctureless] A silver wristguard engraved with a passant coward, wings addorsed, maintaining in dexter forepaw a sword erect" or not. This also conflicts with Sciath Ni Chúanachtaigh of Clan MacRath (reg. 7-99 via Caid), "Gyronny Or and gules, a dragon passant azure." There is one CD for fieldlessness, but none for the maintained charge, and none for the position of the dragon’s tail.
Bryn Gwlad
[Badge] Daniel thinks that the dragon isn't in a heraldic position, because of the body slant and the foot positions. Gwenllian disagrees. Mari wonders whether the badge was simply rotated slightly when it was scanned. [Asterisk: Nope, but maybe when the drawing was originally produced. It's a moot point now.]
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4. COLLEGE ACTION:
Badge: Returned for conflicts (see Jaravellir).
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5. Ailitha ingen Chathail (Wastelands)
new device; name in LoI0999; Per ben sinister wavy azure and vert, two cats sejant, 1 sinister and 1 dexter, Or.
Da’ud ibn Auda [Device] The submitted blazon is confusing; it could equally well mean two cats sejant to dexter in fess. Blazon fu: Per bend sinister wavy azure and vert, two cats sejant addorsed Or.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] Can be reblazoned "Per bend sinister wavy azure and vert a domestic cat sejant and a domestic cat sejant contourny Or."
Jararvellir
[Device] Perhaps a better blazon would be "in bend two cats sejant addorsed."
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Blazon fu: "in bend two cats sejant addorsed Or".
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5. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned Per bend sinister wavy azure and vert, two cats sejant addorsed Or.
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6. Alisandre Oliphant (Bjornsborg)
new badge; name reg 04/86; (Fieldless) A rose purpure barbed and seeded proper.
Jararvellir
[Badge] Clear from conflict in the on-line OandA.
Bryn Gwlad
[Badge] Blazon fu: the rose is "inverted".
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6. COLLEGE ACTION:
Badge: Forwarded to Laurel.
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7. Caitlin nan Cnoc Airgead (Gate's Edge)
resub device; name reg 03/90; Per fess argent and sable, a demi-horse issuant from the line of division contourny sable.
Magnus von Lubeck [Device] Can be reblazoned "Per fess argent and sable a demi-horse rampant contourny issuant from the line of division sable."
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7. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned as "… a demi-horse rampant contourny issuant …"
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8. Derek Fallon Rathbourn (Bordermarch)
new change of device; name reg 03/90; Quarterly gules and sable, on a compas star argent a wolf's head cabossed sable vomiting flames proper.
Jararvellir
[Device] There was some problem with identifiability on this one; perhaps some internal detailing on the wolf’s head would fix that. Also, could we find a better way to blazon the flames than "vomitting"?
Also, while blazoned as "Quarterly gules and sable," the mini had the first and third quarters already colored as black – perhaps was it supposed to be "Quarterly sable and gules"?
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Reblazon: this is almost certainly "Quarterly sable and gules". It's also "a compass star elongated to base". It's also "breathing flames proper".
(Due to the stylized head, Daniel first thought it resembled "on a star elongated to starbase, a Klingon battlecruiser volant inverted sable, its boom exploding proper".)
Consider Thomas von Leipzig, 9507, "Quarterly sable and gules, on a sun argent a two headed eagle sable, a label argent." 1 CD for the label. A compass star gets no CD versus a sun, by precedent.
I cannot find a direct precedent whether a compass star is simple enough to be voided per the Bruce precedent. If it isn't, then X.4.j.ii doesn't kick in, no 2d CD for type only of the tertiaries, and there's a conflict. I believe it isn't X.4.j.ii-"simple". From X.4.j.ii.a, "'Gules, on a mullet of six points Or a cross crosslet sable' does not have a clear difference from 'Gules, on a mullet of six points Or a pellet' because the interior of a correctly drawn mullet of six points is too small." I think this should apply with more force to a mullet of eight points.
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8. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel.
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9. Dominic MacNamara (Bjornsborg)
resub device; name in LoI0699; Argent, a fish-tailed demi-dog vert maintaining a Celtic cross gules and a chief invected azure.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] Keith of the Oaks February 1990: "Argent, a sea-dog rampant vert within a bordure azure." There is one CD for changing the type of secondary from bordure to chief. [Asterisk: Actually, it's 1 CD for adding a chief and 1 CD for dropping the bordure.]
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9. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel.
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10. François la Flamme (Stargate)
new change of device; name registered 02/94; Vert estencelé Or.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] Consider Libya, Vert. RfS X.4.a.ii. states that: "If the fields of two pieces of field-primary armory have no tinctures in common, they are considered completely different and do not conflict, irrespective of any other similarities between them. The ermine furs and their variants are considered to be different tinctures, so Per bend ermine and azure is completely different from Per bend erminois and gules and from Per bend argent ermined gules and sable." If estencely is considered to be an "ermine variant", (it is, in essence, ermine without the tail part, leaving only the spots) then this is clear by application of X.4.a.ii. If, on the other hand, estencely is considered to be semy of sparks (as it has sometimes been blazoned in the SCA), then the field is strewn with a group of charges which are by definition not primary charges (see RfS X.4.b.), and thus there may be only one CD from Libya.
Jararvellir
[Device] This received many favorable comments from the entire room. The only thing we suggest is drawing the sparks in a more even manner.
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10. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel for a ruling on the issue raised by Da'ud. [Asterisk: And as I said at the meeting, I'm not telling my boss he can't have what he wants. If it's true, let his boss tell him.] ------
11. Gerard le Wise (Wastelands)
resub device ;name reg 06/99; Per chevron inverted sable and gules, an oak leaf in chief and an owl displayed in base argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] "Per chevron [inverted] intersects the sides of the field, even if the line of partition is enhanced (raised) or abased (lowered). The angle is fairly shallow. [Baldwin of Erebor, Cover Letter, 10 October 1984, p. 2] "This is being returned for a redraw. This is not a chief triangular, per chevron inverted, chapé, or a pile, but rather something partway between all of them. (Jaelle of Armida, LoAR March 1997, p. 12) The emblazon here has the same problem: it is not per chevron inverted since it issues from the corners of the chief; it is not a chief triangular because it goes down to the fess point of the shield; it is not chaussé because that goes to the base point of the shield, nor is it a pile because that does not issue from the corners of the chief. This sort of "betwixt and between" line has long been cause for return.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] The chevron inverted line of division needs to be drawn lower.
Jararvellir
[Device] It’s hard to draw an owl displayed and have it still look like an owl. While this is a rather ugly bird, it’s a fairly good displayed owl. The leaf is borderline oak/maple. Perhaps it could be redrawn a bit.
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] This is a "chief triangular". Thus it's color-on-color. If redrawn as a correct "per chevron inverted", it would be clear.
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11. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Returned fro redraw of leaf and line of division.
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12. Ivie Rathbourn (Bordermarch)
new name; new device; Gules on a demi-sun Or a wheel proper.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Name] Her desired gender is female, but she only documents the name as a masculine surname, "the son of Ive". I’m not at all sure that the given has been sufficiently supported here, at least not based on the documentation submitted in the ILoI. [Device] The primary charge is not a "demi-sun"; such charge is only the chiefmost half of a sun. But neither is it a sun, which charge has alternating straight and wavy rays. The emblazon here looks more like an "eight-armed snowflake" than it does anything else. [And snowflakes have been banned for some years now.] I am afraid this falls afoul of RfS VII.7.a., which requires that: "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance."
"The wheel's "proper" coloration is brown, the color of wood." (Pictorial Dictionary, 2nd ed., #792)
Magnus von Lubeck
[Name] Withycombe, page 168 gives the female name Ivy as a late 19th century invention. Bardsley dates the surname to after period in 1641 and doesn't date the pet form of the name Ivie. There was no reference to a female form of the name. There is also no registration of the name in the SCA so this name looks to be modern. She might want to consider Iva. Reaney & Wilson, page 250 under Ivatt give Iva as an Old French feminine of Ivo. Withycombe, page 167 under Ivo dates that name in England from the Domesday Book 1086. Reaney & Wilson, page 372 under Rathbone dates the spellings Rathebon to 1275, Rathebun to 1297 and 1327, and Radbone to 1547. The grandfather clause should allow her to use Rathbourn.
[Device] This is a sun rather than a demi-sun and a wheel proper is brown. How does it conflict with thee, let us count the ways. Macedonia December 1994: "Gules, a sun Or." Important non- SCA flag. One CD for the tertiary. Kriemhild of Stonecroft January 1974: "Vert, a mullet of nine points throughout Or, thereon a turkeycock's head [Gallopavo meleagris] erased proper." One CD for the field and conflict only if the proper color here is brown. Sara of the Rushes January 1973: "Gules, an estoile of four straight and four rayonny voided rays Or." One CD for the tertiary but none for the estoile. Kyrgyzstan September 1995: "Gules, on a sun Or three bendlets and three bendlets sinister, all enarched, within and conjoined to an annulet gules." Important non-SCA flag. One CD for the tertiary changes.
Jararvellir
[Name]
[Device] This is not a demi sun. It is rather a something. It’s not a mullet or a sun, because the rays are drawn like flames, not in the typical wavy manner. What it looks like is she’s trying to copy an escarbuncle; in fact, we’d call visual conflict against escarbuncles, it’s so similar.
Bryn Gwlad
[Name] We don't have evidence for the given name.
[Device] Our first impression was "a hurst in annulo". In all seriousness, it's certainly not a demi- sun, nor is it a recognizable sun. If it were redrawn or considered to be a sun, it would conflict with Macedonia, "Gules a sun Or", with only 1 CD for the wheel.
------12. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
Device: Returned for conflicts. See Bryn Gwlad.
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13. Keina Greenleaf (Wastelands)
new name; new device; Argent, an oak leaf and on a chief vert three horsehoes open to chief argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] "The horseshoe has its opening to base by Society and mundane default." (Pictorial Dictionary, 2nd ed., #396). The horseshoes here can be more simply blazoned as inverted.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] Nice canting arms. The horseshoes could be blazoned inverted.
Jararvellir
[Name] Good name.
[Device] The oak leaf doesn’t especially look like an oak leaf, but as a generic leaf, it’s beautiful.
Bryn Gwlad
[Name] All from Reaney and Wilson 3rd ed. For the given name: Keina mater Berte 1202, p. 80 s.n. Cain. For the concept of the name and justification for the spelling "leaf", p. 205 s.n. Greenleaf: Adam Grenelef 1327, Grenelefe in 1441 and 1577; Leafgrene 1377. To justify the spelling "green": Thomas Greenleese 1584 p. 205 s.n. Greenlees, and Alice Greenhood 1423, 1449 p. 204 s.n. Greenhead.
[Device] Isn't that the default position for horseshoon?
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13. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned "… three horseshoes inverted…"
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14. Martin Fletcher (Mendersham) new name; new device; Per saltire argent and gules, on an eagle displayed sable a mullet of four greater and four smaller points argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] The eagle lacks legs and feet, nor does it appear to have the eagle’s hooked beak and tufted head. Given all that, we should (if it is decided not to return it) blazon the primary charge simply as a bird. "A mullet of four greater and four lesser points" may be more succinctly blazoned as a compass star. Blazon fu: Per saltire argent and gules, on a [legless] bird displayed sable a compass star argent.
Conflict with Silesia, Or, on an eagle displayed sable a kleestengl, with a cross issuant to chief argent. There is a CD for the changes to the field, but nothing for changing the type only of a tertiary charge on a complex charge (per RfS X.4.j.i. and ii.).
Magnus von Lubeck
[Name] Reaney & Wilson page 171 under Fletcher gives William Flecher dated 1203. F.K. & S. Hitching, References to English Surnames in 1601 and 1602 page 36 mentions Fletcher in Cornwall dated 1601.
[Device] Rosalind of Wellmark May 1996: "(Fieldless) On a hawk displayed sable a cross couped argent." One CD for fieldless and a second CD should be gained from X.4.j.ii.
Jararvellir
[Name] R&W has
[Device] For some reason the wings on the bird just look wrong, but it shouldn’t be a bar to registration.
Bryn Gwlad
[Name] The spelling "Fletcher" is dated to 1541 (s.v. itself) in the OED 1st ed. Reaney and Wilson 3d ed, p. 171: Robert le Flecher 1203, William Flecher 1203, Peter le Flechier 1227. Op cit, p. 300 s.v. Martin, has Martin de Martinaus 1276.
[Device] Reblazon: the tertiary can simply be called "a compass star". If it had beak and legs, it'd be an "eagle". If it had neither beak nor legs, it'd be an "alerion". Is it acceptable for the legs to go walkabout but the beak remain?
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14. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
Device: Returned for conflict with Silesia. See Da'ud, and also note blazon fu.
------15. Meadhbh inghean Róis (Wastelands)
resub device; name reg 04/99; Argent a chevron vert, two garden roses gules slipped and leaved vert and a triquetra vert.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] We no longer blazon "garden roses". "The commentary is in, with a clear majority of commenters in favor of adopting Baron Bruce's proposal that we continue to accept garden roses in SCA armory, but simply blazon them as roses. As a consequence, we will immediately and henceforth blazon a rose, whether the default heraldic rose or the garden rose, as a rose." (Da’ud ibn Auda, Cover Letter November 1994) Because the roses are not in the default "palewise" posture, their posture needs to be noted in the blazon. Blazon fu: Argent, a chevron vert between two roses gules slipped and leaved in chevron and a triquetra vert.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] Blazon as "Argent a chevron vert two roses gules slipped and leaved and a triquetra vert." November 1994 LoAR Cover Letter "As a consequence, we will immediately and henceforth blazon a rose, whether the default heraldic rose or the garden rose, as a rose."
Jararvellir
[Device] This could perhaps be better blazoned as "in chief in chevron two garden roses, flowers to chief, proper." I believe the proper coloration for garden roses is gules flower, vert leaves and stem.
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15. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned Argent, a chevron vert between two roses gules slipped and leaved in chevron and a triquetra vert.
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16. Michael of Kendel (Bjornsborg)
new badge; no folder in files and reg of name not shown in O&A, but device reg 08/94; (Fieldless) A stag's head erase argent attired Or.
Magnus von Lubeck
The device is registered under Michael of Kendal August 1984 (via Ansteorra). I think that was before names were required. The College might check with Laurel's office to see if a registered name is needed.
[Badge] Armida Morgan July 1974: "Azure, the head of a hind erased argent." There is one CD for fieldless.
Bryn Gwlad [Badge] Lovely! Consider Armida Morgan, 7407, "Azure, the head of a hind erased argent." "[A hare vs. a hare armed with stag's attires] There is a CD ... for the removal of the attires, which a comparison of the emblazons showed to be the visual equivalent of removing wings, for which we also grant a CD. (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR May 1995, p. 10)" (Da'ud 2.2, s.v. Difference). On the other hand, "[Returning Azure, in pale a heart distilling gouttes d'Or and a stag's skull caboshed argent within a bordure embattled Or.] The device conflicts with ... Vert, a heart Or between the attires of a stag's head cabossed argent, attired, within a bordure embattled Or. There is only one CD for the tincture of the field. The gouttes, the tincture of the horns, and the difference between a stag's skull cabossed and a stag's head cabossed are insufficient for the necessary CD. [12a/93, p.16]" (Da'ud 2.1 prec., s.v. Difference (CD)).
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16. COLLEGE ACTION:
Badge: Returned for conflict with Armida Morgan, but we would still like a clarification about the name. Bordure has inquired of Laurel.
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17. Mìchél mac Donnchaid (Eldern Hills)
new name
Magnus von Lubeck
[Name] Withycombe page 219 under Michael gives Michell from 1439 and 13th century. Reaney & Wilson, page 311 under Mitchel gives Michel de Whepstede 1327. Black, page 543 under MacMichael gives Johannes McMichell from 1527 and page 599 under Michelson as son of Michael Gilbertus Michelson from 1483. O Corrain & Maguire page 76 Donnchad lists it as one of the more common Irish names in the later Middle Ages and dates it to 944 and 1064. Black, page 228 under Duncan dates Donnchaid in the genitive form from 1467 and Donnchad from 1520.
Jararvellir
[Name] I can’t say for sure, but I believe the grave accent on the first is a modern editorial mark; I don’t know of the grave accent being used in period Gaelic. As for the rest of the name, looks good to go.
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17. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
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18. Owen Campbell (Mendersham)
resub device; name reg 12/98; Gyronny of eight Or and sable an orle of trefoils counterchanged.
Da’ud ibn Auda [Device] Gyronny is "of eight" by default; "of eight" may be safely dropped from the blazon. The shamrocks (not simply "trefoils", which have differently shaped leaves from the ones here) appear more to be "in annulo" than as an "orle". Orles follow the shape of the shield; the shamrocks here are in a circle.
Only the first and second reasons for return have been addressed; the submission still is a cadet version of Campbell of Argyll, which in combination with the surname is probably sufficient to cause its return. "[The submitter] provides copious extracts from Burke to support the contention that members of the clan may use differenced versions of the chief's arms. Unfortunately, the examples support the original contention of the College that the use of the clearly cadenced arms ... implies a claim to kinship with the head of the clan, which is not permitted. The general feeling of the College was that an allusion to the Campbell arms or badges might be permissible with the simple name Campbell, but that the arms differenced went beyond the differences required for what Scots heraldry charmingly calls a ‘stranger in blood’." (Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane, LoAR August 1987, pp. 15-16)
RfS X.4.a.ii. defines "the peripheral ordinaries are the chief, the bordure, the base (including the point pointed), the quarter, the canton, the gyron, the orle, the double tressure, and flaunches.." Because an orle (or, as here, charges in orle) are not considered primary charges (they do not lie across the center of the field), there is in fact only one CD (per RfS X.4.b.) between this submission and Campbell, Duke of Argyll, the addition of the secondary shamrocks. This is presumptuous of the arms of Campbell, even without the surname.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] This still appears to have problems of presumption with the Campbell name and arms.
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Blazon fu: "gyronny of eight" is the default; delete "of eight". If there was a problem of presumption before, then there still is with this resub. Da'ud's cited a prec. from 1987. I think it should not be cause for return. I think the SCA CoA was more anal in 1987 about presumption issues. For example, then you couldn't use a god/goddess name (Ceridwen, Rhiannon, Athena, Diana, Thor, &c) with an attribute of that divine person, but now you can use one. I believe this armory is clear of Campbell, Duke of Argyll, "Gyronny Or and sable", by X.1.
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18. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Returned because arms are both presumptuous of and in conflict with Campbell, Duke of Argyll, "Gyronny Or and sable." See Da'ud.
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19. Sean McConnul Duncan (Gate's Edge)
resub badge; name reg 03/91; (Fieldless) A griffin segreant contourny azure.
Jararvellir
[Badge] The griffin is salient, not segreant. ------
19. COLLEGE ACTION:
Badge: Forwarded to Laurel.
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20. Serena Gethin (Gate's Edge)
new name; new device; Quarterly sable and gules, a seahorse erect within an orle of annulets argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] Sea-monsters are erect by default; we can safely remove "erect" from the blazon.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] The seahorse is erect by default.
Jararvellir
[Name] This is a beautiful name; unfortunately, it is not Welsh.
[Device] Another red, black, and white device? Geez, what is it that you guys have in the water down there?
Bryn Gwlad
[Name] Salvatore says, "Serena is not Anglicized Welsh. No evidence that it made it into the Welsh culture [to match the surname]. Needs to be modified to fit into that language/culture", if desired to reach the desired authentic 14th C. Welsh.
Note that the 8/99 LoAR Cover Letter has a nice discussion of registerability of mixed- culture names. "The fourth category is when names mix elements of two cultures and we know of many case of names containing elements of both cultures and of both spelling conventions; for example, English and Welsh. As these names are historical we allow them even when the two languages are used in the same phrase."
[Device] No blazon fu: the 3/97 Cover Letter clarified that in the SCA this is indeed a seahorse, the fish being called a natural seahorse, and the term "hippocampus" has been sunk. (Irreverent comment: "Ring, ring, ring ... hello, seahorse here".)
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20. COLLEGE ACTION:
Name: Forwarded to Laurel.
Device: Forwarded to Laurel. ------
21. Serena Gethin (Gate's Edge)
new badge; name submission immediately above; (Fieldless) A torse wreathed of sable, gules, and argent.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Badge] Torses wreathed (multiply divided) of three tinctures are a post-period phenomenon.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Badge] The torse is in annulo. All torses registered are wreathed of two tinctures only – one metal and one color. This lovely armory will have to be returned because of contrast problems. See July 1998 LoAR "[A bend sinister wreathed sable and gules.] This is being returned for running afoul of our contrast requirements. We require that charges which are "wreathed" to have good contrast between their parts. 'A wreathed ordinary must be of two tinctures with good contrast.' (Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme, LoAR September 1992, p. 43)." August 1988 LoAR "Philip MhicRath of Locksley. Unfortunately, this example, where there is adequate contrast between the sable and Or, does nothing to emend the current ban on wreathing of two metals. The basis for the limitation on wreathing of two tinctures of the same category is the reduction of identifiability that ensues." February 1985 LoAR "Katerina de Turenne. Society convention presently allows an ordinary to be wreathed of only one color, with the internal lines being considered either a treatment or a form of diapering. (WvS, 28 Dec 82, p. 11) I find this usage questionable, and judging from the comments on this submission, the College of Arms is of like mind. (Mundane practice is apparently to twist together a strand of color with a strand of metal.)"
Bryn Gwlad
[Badge] (Irreverent comments: "Now THAT'S a torse of a different color!" "I'm looking over / A three-wreathed cover ...")
Is there a contrast problem? VIII.2.b.v. says "Elements evenly divided in three tinctures must have good contrast between two of their parts.", but I don't recall seeing examples of three- way tincture divisions other than per pall and per pall inverted.
Is there a period style problem? "Eliada of Thun. Azure, a fess wreathed Or and argent ... A wreathed ordinary must be of two tinctures with good contrast." (9/92 LoAR, Aten. ret.) – but this is a wreathed ordinary, not a wreath as a charge. Do they adduce any period evidence of three-wreathed torses? It's never been registered before.
Clear of Trimaris, 9706, "(Fieldless) A joscelyn wreathed azure and argent, belled argent." Even if Serena's were "wreathed color and argent", it'd be a change of half the tincture.
Teceangl– In Stevenson, Heraldry in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1949), p 195, the author makes reference to the grant of arms and crest to the City of Exeter in England, which featured a wreath/torse of three colours, Or gules, and azure. The grant was made in 1580, so definitely qualifies as period.
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21. COLLEGE ACTION: Badge: Forwarded to Laurel with documentation of the three-colored wreath/torse, with request for a change in the existing precedent.
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22. Stephen MacThomas (Gate's Edge)
resub device; name change in LoI0499; Quarterly azure and argent, six towers counterchanged.
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Device] Six charges on the field do not have a default arrangement; we probably ought to specify them here. Quarterly azure and argent, six towers, three, two and one, counterchanged.
Jararvellir
[Device] Gorgeous device! Got many resounding approval-type noises from the entire group.
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22. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned ".. six towers, three, two and one, …"
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23. Talmon Wilbanks (Gate's Edge)
resub device; name in LoI0899; Argent a tree proper, the crown charged with two swords inverted in saltire argent, all within a bordure azure.
Magnus von Lubeck
[Device] Compare with Clare de Chesnei March 1993: "Argent, a tree eradicated proper, a bordure azure semy of acorns Or." Removing the acorn semy and adding the swords may clear it under X.4.i.
Bryn Gwlad
[Device] Reblazon: "Argent, on a tree proper ...".
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23. COLLEGE ACTION:
Device: Forwarded to Laurel reblazoned "Argent, on a tree proper two swords … "
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24. Ulric von Mendersham (Mendersham) new name; see Fasttracked Returns for new device
Da’ud ibn Auda
[Name] RfS III.1.a. requires that "Each phrase must be grammatically correct according to the usage of a single language." "von Mendersham" is such a single phrase, but the particle is German and the (SCA) placename is English. He might be Ulric of Mendersham, or he might be Ulric von [German placename], but not "von Mendersham". In returning the byname von An Tir, Laurel stated: "The languages of the locative do not match (German and Welsh)." [The submission was returned solely for this reason. This ruling implies that SCA places are not entirely part of the "lingua franca" and are subject to the style rules for linguistic consistency] (Da'ud ibn Auda, LoAR August 1990 p. 14).
Magnus von Lubeck
[Name] Hans Bahlow, Dictionary of German Names, Edda Gentry translation, page 391 under Ohl dates Olrik to 1318 and page 574 Ulrich mentions St. Ulrich bishop of Augsburg. Morlet, Les Noms de Personne, volume 1, page 176 under Odalrichus gives Ulricus dated from 11th-12th century, 996-1031, 10th-11th century, 9th-11th century, 1045, 1060, 1070-1078, and 1100. Omer Englebert, Lives of the Saints, Barnes & Nobles, 1994, page 258 St. Ulrich (890-973) bishop of Augsburg.
Jararvellir
[Name]: Bryn Gwlad [Name] "Medieval German Given Names from Silesia", Talan Gwynek, http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/bahlow_v.htm, is "a compilation of the given names found in Hans Bahlow's Mittelhochdeutsches Namenbuch nach schlesischen Quellen (Neustadt an der Aisch: Verlag Degener & Co., 1975). The title may be translated Middle High German Name Book from Silesian Sources.". He documents Ulrich 9 times, in the years c.1250, c.1285, 1296, 1300, 1311, 1320, 1337, 1349, 1369. I found two precedents concerning branch names in personal names. In the 4/98 Cover Letter: "There has been a number of commenters counting the use of an SCA branch name in an SCA name submission as a 'weirdness' if the official group name is in poor style – i.e. not in the form of a documentable place-name. The use of any registered official groups will not count as a weirdness." (I have no idea whether Mendersham is "poor style", and with this we don't have to care.) 6/98 LoAR, Atenveldt ret.: "Roberto Raimondo de la Montana de Trueno. Name. 'De la Montana de Trueno' is intended to translate the name of his local branch (Mons Tonitrus) into the language of the name (Spanish). While this is a praiseworthy intent, only the actual registered form of an SCA branch name is automatically registerable as part of a personal name. If the name is translated into some other language, then it must be a plausible place-name in that language." In searching the 1990s LoAR, I saw only "of 24. COLLEGE ACTION: Name: Returned for use of English and German in one phrase. We will also ask the submitter if he prefers the more period spelling "Ul(l)rich." [Asterisk: A resubmitted device from this submitter will be in ILOI 0200. If the submitter promptly accepts "Ul(l)ric(h) of Mendersham" the name will be "fasttrack joined" to the device. {{OK, Daniel, what does that do to your tracking system? I think I hear screams and sobs.}}] ------