Unto the An Tir College of Heralds does Dame Zenobia Naphtali, Lions Blood Herald, send greetings!

Lion's Blood Decision Meetings

Currently scheduled public decision meetings are:

Dccember 14 1996: (Saturday) 12:00 noon at my house, above. Come to the meeting and then, if you like, hang out a bit until the St. Clement's Potluck at 4:00 p.m., also in Dragons Mist (Tier 2 event; contact me if you want further information and don't have access to it.)

January 4 1997: (Saturday) 12:00 noon at the home of Countess Elisabeth de Rossignol (south Seattle area.) Phone her at (206) 277-0763 for directions.

February 16 1997: (Sunday) River's Bend (Longview, WA) the day after Irish Feast. More details to come.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings! If you wish to host a meeting at your home or at an indoor event, please contact me more than a month in advance (so notice can be put in the Internal Letter of Intent.)

Roster Changes and Impending Roster Changes

Lions Blood Upcoming Office Change: Don't forget,all submissions should now be sent to the Lions Blood designate, Ciaran CluanaFerta. Ciaran can be reached at: Brian Russell, 1908 NE Multnomah St. #10, Portland OR 97232 (503) 287-5165. Commentary should continue to be sent to me for all Lions Blood meetings up to and including January 1997.

I will also continue to have the files until January 1997 (so if you have questions concerning submissions history, like whether something was ever submitted, please contact me until January.) I will also have the Lions.Blood@hubert.rain.com account until 12th night after which time I will transfer it to Ciaran for his use.

New Handout on Branch Heraldic Submissions Requirements

Please note the attached handout on Branch heraldic submissions! Regional heralds may wish to send copies of this to their Branch heralds to help them with their paperwork. Also find attached the general instructions on how to fill out the forms.

E-Mail and World Wide Web Information

The An Tir World Wide Web page on heraldry has been expanded by Elizabeth Braidwood and Conor O'Draoi with the assistance of our fearless Web Administrators, Ivarr Ulfvarinsson and Krenn von Salzburg. A page can be accessed under the Officers selection, called The An Tir College of Heralds. This page includes sections called Heralds Online (instructions concerning the email Internal Letter of Intent and the An Tir mailing list), Submissions Forms (downloadable and web-browser printable submissions forms) and An Assortment of Heraldry Handouts (containing all the handouts generated to date.) The submissions forms and handouts are also available via the Libraries selection from the main An Tir web page.

Old Submissions

Thanks to those who wrote letters of comment (boldface) on the August LoI, participated in commentary, or attended the October 13 meeting: Elisabeth de Rossignol, David of Moffat (Electrum), Mary Lesslyn of Kailzie, Katery of Falconkeep, Natasha Orionova Zateeva (Be Wayre), Dair MacTaggart, Krystyna, Moreach nic Mhaolain, Antoinette Jarlshammer (Curragh Mor), Zacharaius Brutus (Glyn Dwfn), Gypsy Morrgain MacLarien (Summits), Grainne Gelleo, Rhun Rolfson, Conor O Draoi, and Ciaran CluanaFerta (Black Stag/Lions Blood Designate).

The Following submissions were forwarded to Laurel in the October 1996 Letter of Intent:

Bran Olom (resub. K/device)Gules on a chevron between three lions Or a cross patonce gules. This should be clear of arms of Godelieve Davyson of Salisbury: Gules on a chevron between three torches Or a cross of Jerusalem gules. There is one CD for the change in type of charges on the field. The armory is simple enough for X4jii to apply to the change in tertiary charges. While both tertiary charges are crosses, they are markedly different in type, both visually and historically. (There is absolutely no reason to believe that a cross patonce and a Jerusalem cross were variants of each other in period.)

A question was raised about the tincture of the chevron. A charge is the color of the tincture following it in the blazon. Thus, the lions and the chevron are both Or, and the cross is gules. Using this blazon convention, it is not necessary to explicitly tincture each charge in a blazon. Thus, in the arms Sable, a fess between two cinquefoils and a crescent, on a chief Or three pheons azure, the field is sable, the fess, cinquefoils, crescent and chief are all Or, and the pheons are azure.

Caverns Gate, Shire of (new/name only) While we cannot find cavern in period toponyms, the word cavern is dated to the 14th c. in the COED. The idea of a cave as part of a place name is found in Ekwall, but the common English term derives from OE holh which comes to more modern English hole. We can understand why they might not wish to construct a name around this theme: it has many uncomplimentary modern connotations. The submitted formation should be S.C.A.-compatible for a place name meaning "gate by a cave" or "gate to a cave."

The submitters originally allowed no changes but have provided a letter allowing "reasonable changes." We have made the smallest possible change from the originally submitted form (Cavern's Gate), dropping the post-period apostrophe. We have explained some of the possible problems to them and some options on changing the name if necessary in the letter accompanying their device and badge returns (see below).

Dair MacTaggart (new/name only) Dair is an englished form of the Gaelic given name Daire, which last is found in O Corrain and Maguire p.68-69. Black gives a MacDair family with the forms McDair and mac Daire in 1622. This implies to us that Dair is a reasonable Englishing. He originally submitted as Adair MacTaggart but we were unable to find justification for Adair as a given name. Black gives it as a surname, but aside from a possible derivation from Edgar (which even Black doesn't seem convinced by) there doesn't seem to be anything linking this surname to a given name.

He originally allowed no changes to the name, but has sent a letter allowing changes to be made as necessary and asking that we submit Dair MacTaggart instead of the original Adair MacTaggart.

Note that even as originally submitted this would have been clear of Adair MacDermid by rule V4 (since the sound and appearance of the surname has significantly changed.)

Donnabh·n ² SÈaghdha (new/name only)

Elspeth MacTaggart (new/name only) Elspeth is a given name dated to 1539-48 in Black p.646 (under Panton.) She originally submitted as Elsbeth and allowed no changes to the name. However, during the time the submission was being worked on at Kingdom she decided she preferred the spelling Elspeth and has sent a letter allowing this change, and other changes to the submission as needed.

James Guntherson (new/name only)

Lionsdale, Canton of (new/name, device)Or on a cross formy quadrate sable within a laurel wreath vert a lion's face Or.

The name could be constructed as English for "valley/dale of the Lion." It could also mean "Valley/dale belonging to someone named Lyon" æ Lyon is dated 1293 as a given name in Reaney's DES p.289, and Dale with the desired meaning is found deriving from OE dÊl in Reaney's DES p.124, under Dale.)

The device is clear of Shamus O'Carolan: Or a cross formy sable surmounted by a rose gules barbed and seeded vert all within a bordure gules, with one CD for the change in type of peripheral (laurel wreath to bordure), another for tincture of peripheral, and additional difference for removing the overall rose and inserting the tertiary lion's head.

This is clear by rule V4 of the registered Canton of Lions End. The difference between End and Dale is significant. Note that we have reblazoned the cross as formy. Paty/patÈe is a heraldic term meaning that the ends of the cross spread out æ however, it is used to depict a number of such crosses that are otherwise distinct which share this characteristic (formy, patonce, etc.) In the past paty has been used interchangeably with formy in S.C.A. blazon but that has not been the case for at least seven years, and perhaps more.

Vulcanfeldt, Shire of (new/ch. device)Argent an apple gules within a laurel wreath vert a chief wavy azure. Vs. the Barony of Three Mountains: Argent a laurel wreath vert and a chief dancetty of three azure this is entirely clear by rule X1, which states "armory does not conflict with any protected armory that adds or removes the primary charge group." This is not just one CD, this is a non-conflict based on adding the primary (large, central) charge of an apple. Rules X1 and X2 do not just provide one CD they provide complete lack of conflict if they apply to the armories in question even if there is no other change.

However, in response to the request of how to count difference between a chief dancetty and a chief wavy, see rule X4e (type changes). "Since the edge partition line of a charge is part of its type the change from 'a pale wavy' to 'a pale embattled' is one clear difference. Change from 'a pale wavy' to 'a fess embattled' is also one change of type, not a change of type plus a change of edge partition." Some lines of partition are not given difference from each other due to their development from one another and being drawn very similarly (wavy/nebuly is one such pair) but indented is a distinct heraldic line of partition from wavy.

As regards rule X.3 "Two pieces of official Society armory that share required charges may consider their Difference of Primary Charges as if the required charges were not there", this is just something that applies to rule X.2, Difference of Primary Charges. It does not apply in this comparison with Three Mountains because there has been an addition of primary charges, not a change. X.3 allows two devices such as Per chevron sable and argent two laurel wreathes and a lion rampant counterchanged to be clear of Per chevron sable and argent two laurel wreathes and a lymphad counterchanged. Ordinarily Difference of Primary charge requires that "the type of every primary charge is substantially changed." However, because the laurel wreaths are required in branch armory, you can pretend they are not there. That gives a comparison between Per chevron sable and argent in base a lion rampant sable and Per chevron sable and argent in base a lymphad sable. This would be clear by Difference of Primary charges since this is simple armory by clause a ("armory that has only a primary group of identical charges is simple armory") and a lymphad (a type of ship) is cetainly a substantial change from a lion.

The two personal sets of arms Per chevron sable and argent two mullets and a lion rampant counterchanged and Per chevron sable and argent two mullets and a lymphad counterchanged would conflict, because X2 could not apply since the type of every primary charge was not changed. This would only get one CD for changing one half of the charge group type by X4e. (Note that the bottommost of a group of 3 charges two and one is defined as half the group in certain circumstances by Laurel precedent.)

Comparing these arms against the University of Atlantia: Or an apple slipped and leaved within a wreath of apple blossoms slipped and leaved proper, there is one CD by rule X4a for the field, one CD (possibly) for the type between a laurel wreath and an apple blossom wreath, one CD (probably) for the tincture difference between a laurel wreath (all green) and an apple blossom wreath (apple blossoms are pinky-white, I think, anyways, this wreath shoul be no more than half green) and one CD by rule X4i by adding the pallet endorsed to the chief. (This is addition of charges on a charge (the chief).)

Note: a pallet is the diminutive of a pale, usually only used when there are more than one of them. Endorsed is the same as cotised and is a term used only for pales. It is not the same as addorsed, which describes two animals which are back to back.

Wyll Hauk (resub. L/device)Argent, a within a vol a hawk's head erased all within a bordure gules charged with three pheons argent. Note the blazon change to a vol from two wings conjoined in lure. Two wings conjoined in lure have their tips downward by S.C.A. default, a vol has the tips upwards as here.

Yolande Chastellain (new/device)Azure a shakefork argent between three crosses bottony within an orle Or.

The following submissions were returned for further work:

Caverns Gate (new/device) Sable a gate between two flaunches Or, each flaunch charged with a laurel wreath proper. Returned for stylistic and artistic reasons. The current Laurel Sovereign of Arms seems to be somewhat more strict in requiring clear standard depictions of heraldic charges on the forms than her predecessor. It was generally felt that the gate provided on both the badge and device forms, with the very ragged top and bottom (and lack of solid rectangular construcion) was difficult to identify as a gate, and would probably be returned by Laurel given the most recent Letters of Acceptance and Return.

Note that the laurel wreathes are blazoned as proper, which should given them the brown branches and green leaves.

Caverns Gate (new/badge)(Fieldless) A "cave opening" sable charged with a gate Or.) Returned for the same problems with the gate as with the device. In addition, the badge had the problem of using a charge meant to depict a cave mouth. We could not find any such charge as a standard heraldic item, or anything similar to it (such as some other kind of charge representing an opening.) Note that the heraldic charges of an arch, dolman and gateway all show the physical outside constructions of types of openings. This charge was just the shape of the opening itself, which is a very different type of thing ("negative space" is not in itself a physical object. The stone bloocks which form an archway or a dolman are physical objects.)

The submitted blazon for this badge was Sable a gate Or, but that was not what was depicted on the forms. This does lead us to note a possible conflict with the badge of Atenveldt: Vert a portcullis Or. Portcullises are often blazoned as gates in mundane heraldry and we are not sure whether there would be a type difference drawn between the kind of gate this group uses and a portcullis. We have advised them of the possible problem.

James Guntherson (new/device) Sable on a pile Or a boar's head erased sable. Returned for conflict with the March of Grimfells: Sable on a pile Or a spiderweb throughout sable charged with a laurel wreath vert. Two pieces of heraldry need two clear differences between them to avoid the appearance of direct relatedness in blood. However, changes to a single group of charges on charges can only get one Clear Difference by Rules for Submission X4j, no matter how substantive the changes are. In this case, the submitter has changed a black spiderweb + a green laurel wreath (on a pile) for a black boar's head (on a pile) æ the fact that both these charge groups are on a pile limits their cumulative difference to one Clear Difference. A second one is needed.

A question was raised about why the boar did not have the distinguishing tusks. It does, they just don't show up well in the mini-emblazon.

Oriana of Myrtlewood (new/device)Purpure on a pile argent a rabbit rampant contourny sable. Returned for conflict with the registered arms of Julia of the Purple Must: Purpure, on a pile argent two sprigs of laurel proper. Two pieces of heraldry need two clear differences between them to avoid the appearance of direct relatedness in blood. However, changes to a single group of charges on charges can only get one Clear Difference by Rules for Submission X4j, no matter how substantive the changes are. In this case, the submitter has changed two green branches (on a pile) for a black rabbit (on a pile) æ the fact that both these charge groups are on a pile limits their cumulative difference to one Clear Difference. A second one is needed.

(Let's all remember how important it can be to bring up "close but clear" seeming conflicts; this was only brought up by one commenter, who counted it as clear (applying rule X4j twice, which cannot be done.) However, if that commenter had not brought it up, we would have sent this to Laurel for almost certain return when the College of Arms would have found this conflict.)

One commenting group asked that we consult with Laurel as to how to compare overall charges with tertiary charges and suggested a check vs. Roland de Trevieres: Checky Or and vert a pile throughout argent surmounted by a fleur-de-lys sable. In this case the field is clearly one CD and even if the fleur-de-lys were a tertiary charge on the pile (instead of surmounting it) there would be a second CD for changing type of tertiary charge on simple armory by X4jii. This therefore does not make a good example for inquiry on the general matter of overall charges vs. tertiary charges: we suggest that a clearer test case is waited for before Kingdom requests this information in the context of the submission (either that, or a theoretical question be sent to Laurel that is purely theoretical.)

Ragnar Grimsson (new/badge)(Fieldless) A raven maintaining an axe sable hafted statant atop a roundel argent. After much discussion, it was decided that this was very likely to be a conflict with Caitlin ni Cailean de Bri: Argent a raven close sable perched upon a rowan branch leaved and fructed proper. Two pieces of heraldry need to have two clear differences between them, to avoid the appearance of relatedness in blood. However, small charges held by animals have not been considered "worth difference" in S.C.A. heraldry for many, many years. One of the necessary two clear differences can be gotten for the fields of the armory, this one being fieldless and Caitlin's being argent. However, it was felt that the small axe and roundel in these arms were small enough to be considered "heraldically insignificant", and it was very likely that the same applied to the branch in Caitlin's device.

The submitter's consulting herald was at the meeting and spoke to the submitter right after the meeting to see if the submitter wished the badge sent on as is (with a high likelihood of conflict) or wished to rework the drawing to avoid the conflict by some alteration. The submitter decided to rework the badge, so this incarnation is being returned.

Note that ravens are close by default so this does not have to be blazoned. The axe has a sable head and an argent handle. The statant posture can be used for the bird even though it is maintaining an axe. One could have also said perched atop the roundel if desired.

New Submissions

The blazons noted herein are those of the submitter unless a reblazon is noted in {curly brackets.} Similarly, documentation will be a summary of that provided by the submitter unless noted in {curly brackets.} Please comment on blazon style and content, and add any documentation that seems necessary.

1) Abigail MacLachlan (Pendale) resub. K/device

{Argent a whip sable and a dexter tierce azure.}

Her name was registered in December 1995. This is a complete redesign of her previous device. It is hard to tell from the emblazons if the whip is sable or vert (there seem to be two of each, perhaps due to problems with a marker.) A letter is being sent to the submitter for clarification. This would be an easy one to 'fix' with the Lions Blood markers so please research both versions.

2) Alanus of Bunghea (Aquaterra)

new/name only

(M) Alanus is in Withycombe p.8 under Alan where this form is dated 1071-5, 1086, 1189-121 and 1284. Bunghea is in Thomas Hinde's the Domesday Book: England's Heritage, Then and Now p.255 under Bungay where the forms Bongeia, Bung-/Burghea are mentioned as (what appear to be) spellings in Domesday Book.) He also states that Ekwall's Domes Day Monochorum refers to Bunghea on p.74 as a spelling from the Domesday Book. He will not accept changes to the name.

3) Amice of Castleton (Wyewood)

resub. K/badge

Fieldless a quatrefoil purpure charged with a fleur de lis Or.

Her name is pending on the June 1996 LoI. Her previous submission used a heart rather than a quatrefoil. Since a heart was a standard shield shape used for heraldic display in some portions of Europe, and it is bad policy to have a fieldless badge look like a little shield of someone's arms, this was returned. A quatrefoil does not appear to be a standard shield shape although evidence to the contrary will of course be heard if presented.

4) An Tir, Kingdom of, for Caldera Herald

new/herald's title.

This is the title intended for use by the Principality of the Summits. According to the Administrative Handbook on registerable items, "Titles for Laurel staff are registered to the Society. All other heraldic titles are registered to the kingdom in which they will be used." So this cannot be registered to the Summits.

The title is meant to be English and refers to the bowl of a volcano. This term is found in an unspecified edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica in the entry under Volcano. The Principality uses water from the caldera of a volcano (perhaps Crater Lake?) to fill the Summits Grail in some of its ceremonies.

5) Briana von der Ostwache (Wealdsmere) new/name, device

Gules two hippocampi (natural seahorses) addorsed and on a chief argent three fleurs-de-lis sable.

(F) Briana is an S.C.A.-compatible given name (most recently so mentioned on the LoAR cover letter of June 1996, where it is said to be a modern feminization of Brian with no known period model. Documentation is provided from Loughead's Dictionary of Given Names saying Briana is "Teutonic" for "Strong: aflame." (The submitter also providees an article from Laurel from Issue 99, Summer A.S. XXVI, which lists this book under Name Books to Avoid.) The form Brianne is in Hanks and Hodges' Dictionary of First Names, where it is said to be recent coinage in English to create a female equivalent of Brian. Withycombe shows Brian as a period male name.

Von der Ostwache is a German locative prepostional phrase in the dative case meaning "from the East Watch/Guard." It is the registered surname of her Lord, Karl von der Ostwache.Von in a German name is mentioned in Laurel's article (above). It is also found in a number of period German names in The German Revolutions, the Peasant War in Germany. The poet Walther von der Vogelweide (Walther from the Aviary) lived in the 13th c. according to The Portable Medieval Reader ed. by James Bruce Ross and Mary Martin McLaughlin, Penguin Books.

If changes are required, she will accept changes to preserve the general sound of the name.

6) Dair MacTaggart (Glymm Mere)

new/device

Argent a Wyvern contourney within a bordure dovetailed gules.

His name is pending on the An Tir October 1996 LoI.

7) Elspeth MacTaggart (Glymm Mere)

new/device

Quarterly Vert and Argent in Bend Sinister 2 Falcons belled sable.

Her name is pending on the An Tir October 1996 LoI.

8) Esperanza Razzolini d'Asolo and Seumas Camshronach an Lochabair (Valley Wold) new/badge

Sable, four dragon wings in annulo alternating Or veined argent and argent veined Or. {Potential reblazon: Sable, four dragon wings in saltire conjoined at the shoulders, those in bend Or ribbed argent and those in bend sinister argent ribbed Or.}

His name was registered in July 1994.

9) Esperanza Razzolini d'Asolo, for Honorine Maria Steenhouwer (Valley Wold) new/badge

Sable a mountain of three peaks Or, each charged with a fleur-de-lys florency sable.

Her name was registered in April 1994. The badge is to be attached to her alternate persona name of Honorine Maria Steenhouwer, which is pending on the September 1996 An Tir ILoI.

10) Esperanza Razzolini d'Asolo and Seumas Camshronach an Lochabair (Valley Wold) new/badge

Sable, four dragon wings in annulo alternating Or veined argent and argent veined Or. {Potential reblazon: Sable, four dragon wings in saltire conjoined at the shoulders, those in bend Or ribbed argent and those in bend sinister argent ribbed Or.}

Her name was registered in April 1994. His name was registered in July 1994. The badge is to be attached to their household name (pending on the September 1996 ILoI), D˜n Drýgon Dubh.

11) GuÈrin de Bourgogne (Lions Gate)

new/name, device

Per chevron inverted argent and gules a pale counterchanged.

(M) The name is French, and to mean GuÈrin, from Burgundy. GuÈrin is the French version of an old baptsimal name of German origin, Warino, according to Dauzat's Noms et Prenoms p.312. Bourgogne is standard French for "Burgundy" and is probably period French as well, since the surname Bourgogne is found as well (Dauzat's Noms et Prenoms p.69). If changes are required, he will accept changes to preserve the meaning of the name.

12) Gypsy Morrgain Maclarien of the Clan MacLarien (Caverns Gate)

new/name, device

Per chevron vert and argent two crescents horns inward argent and a brown bear passant to sinister proper, a bordure counter-compony Or and vert.

(F) The name is meant to be "Celtic." She provides a copy of her birth certificate showing her to have been born under the name Brenda Gypsy Lee Hayes. She also provides a citation from a book called The Scottish Clans and their Tartans from W. and A.K. Johnston and G.W. Bacon Ltd (no author provided) which gives a clan MacLaren. This states that in Gaelic the clan is Clann mhic Labhrainn and that in English it is sometimes written MacLaurin. The submitter gives a handwritten note stating that "I add an 'i' to the name MacLarien."

A citation from the same book under a section called Gaelic Names and Surnames shows the name Morgan with a Gaelic version of Morgunn. The submitter has a handwritten note stating that Morrgain is meant as a variant spelling of Morgan. She also notes under the Clan MacKay that one title used by that Clan, in Gaelic Clan mhic Morgain is derived from the name Morgan. If changes are necessary she wishes to preserve the general sound of the name.

13) Jean de Montaigne (Pendale)

resub. K/device

{Per bend azure and purpure on a bend between two natural dolphins naiant bendwise argent a natural dolphin naiant bendwise purpure.

His name was registered in April 1996. His previous design was similar to this but had the dolphins unacceptably small (they were forced to be small due to the design as they could not fill the space as drawn) and had the center dolphin (then on a pale) divided in purpure and azure, which was very difficult to identify on such a small charge. He has redesigned allowing the dolphins to fill the space better and without dividing any of the charges, thus addressing Kingdom's previous reasons for return.

14) Kira M'Dougall (Aquaterra)

new/name only

(F) She provides a ocpy of her birth certificate showing her to have been born as Kira Marie Andrist. The last name is a spelling found dated to 1647 in Black's Surnames of Scotland p.487.

15) Marina of Vinewood (Eisenmarche) new/name, device

Per pall Sable, Argent, Azure a branch of grapes slipped and leave Argent and two spaniel dogs combattant counter charged.

(F) Marina is on p.208 of Withycombe's Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names as the name of a Greek saint, which is found in England dated to the 14th c. Vinewood is constructed according to English practices. The place name Feniton on p.178 of Ekwall's Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names derives this place as meaning the "tun (town) by Vine Water" and gives a form of Vinetone dated to 1308. Presumably a wood by Vine Water would be Vinewood. If corrections are required she wishes to preserve the general sound.

16) Saint Giles, College of (University of Victoria Medieval Club) resub.K/name, device

Azure, on a cross argent five martlets gules, four laurel wreaths or.

The previous submission spelled the name as St. Giles, not Saint Giles and was mostly returned for lack of a petition of support. It was also noted that current College of Arms policy did not allow registration of the abbreviation St. and they did not allow changes to their name. They have provided a letter indicating that they will allow the name to be changed to Saint Giles, and have provided a petition in support of the device. We still need a petition supporting the name; email has been exchanged with one of their representatives on this topic and they will be sending one shortly (with luck, before the January Lions Blood meeting.)

The branch notes a Saint Giles (Aegidus) who died in 710. He was very popular in the Middle Ages. (Hugh David Farmer, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints 3rd ed. Oxford University Press 1992 p.205.)

In the previous processing of this submission we noted the existence of a large number of places in the Road Atlas of Europe of the form Saint Giles or Saint Giles <modified>. We noandbook, Protected Items section, states "Generic descriptive names outside the Society will not be protected except where the name is immediately associated with a single significant location." The widespread nature of places named after St. Giles leads us to believe that this is a Generic Descriptive (town with church named after St. Giles) and therefore the individual place names of the Saint Giles form that may show up in some geographical dictionary are not protected in the way that place names such as London are protected.

17) Saint Giles, College of (University of Victoria Medieval Club) resub. K/badge

(fieldless) A monk-fish argent.

The previous submission was identical, but could not be forwarded to Laurel without a name accompanying it or preceding it in the registration process. Their petition also supports the badge; not strictly necessary (only a Branch name and device need a petition of support), but always nice to see.

The group provides a photocopy of a page from a book (perhaps entitled Mermaids, it's hard for me to tell from the title page) by Beatrice Phillpotts, 1980, WHS Distributors. Page 26 (in a chapter entitled "The first Mermaids" gives an illustration from a 1491 edition of Hortus Sanitatis which states "a passing monk-fish steers a course through busy sea traffic while scholars discourse." The 'monk-fish' is in the company of a mermaid, a lobster and miscellaneous fish and a boat in this sea. The depiction in this engraving is the same as the one in the badge form.

18) Summits, Principality of resub. K/badge

Azure, a gryphon passant holding a sword in dexter claw argent.

This badge is for the use of the Defender of the Summits. The previous submission had the griffin rampant, and was returned for conflict with Turlough van Garth: Azure a griffin displayed coward breathing flames argent, and with Griffin Val Drummond: Per pale purpure and azure a griffin segreant argent bearing in its dexter talon a morgenstern and in its sinister talon a targe charged with a tower azure.

The Principality has provided a petition in support of this badge; however no petition was strictly necessary. Petitions of support are only required for the official name and device of a branch (and, in the case of Principalities and Kingdoms, the official device of the consort æ Principalities and Kingdoms also have to conduct a polling in their official newsletter in support of such submissions.) It is always nice to have evidence of support, however.

19) Wealdsmere, Barony of, for Order of the Oak's Blood (Spokane WA) new order name,/badge

Gules, an oak tree eradicated proper, fimbriated or.

This is meant for their Baronial service award. The submitting herald notes that oak and blood can each be documented but it is not clear whether the combination follows naming conventions for orders. He sttaes that even though oak triees do not have blood, they have sap which can be metaphorically seen as blood, in a similar fashion to the fact that a weeping willow 'weeps' without shedding tears. He cites a number of registered order names which use metaphor: the Order of the Hope of the Sun, the Order of the Astral Clarion, the Order of the Espirit de Soleil, the Order of the Watchful Flame of Trimaris, among others. He also notes that the pelican in its piety of the Order of the Pelican shows it shedding blood from its breast to feed its young; we know actual pelicans do not do this yet we accept the symbolism. He also notes the Kigndom's Order of the Goutte de Sang, and the orders of the Stag's Blood and Dragon's Blood as well as the title of Lions Blood herald. He feels this is adequate to show the acceptability of this formation as per RfS III.2.b.ii. The inspiration for this came about via a combination of the blood (for the Kingdom Service award) and the oak tree (the main type of charge in the Baronial arms.)

On the badge, the herald notes the arms of Roland Okstede, Argent an oak eradicated proper acorned Or from the Dering and Howard rolls cited in Foster's Dictionary of Heraldry.

20) Wealdsmere, Barony of, for Order of the Golden Osprey (Spokane, WA) new/order name, badge

Azure, an osprey risinig, wings inverted and addorsed argent between an oak leaf inverted and an oak leaf Or.

This is meant for a Baronial service award as well. The herald notes that this should follow the patterns of names of period orders as per RfS III.2.b.ii, with specific examples being the Order of the Swan and Order of the Golden Rose. He also cites from A.C.Fox-Davies' A Complete Guide to Heraldry pps. 240-241 which discusses the ospey and states that "its heraldic representation always shows it as a white eagle. It is however seldom met with, though it figures in the crests of Roche (Lord Fermoy) and Trist. The Osprey is sometimes known as the sea-eagle and heraldicly so termed."

21) Wealdsmere, Barony of for Order of the Sable Sea Lion (Spokane, WA) new/order name, badge

Or, a ford proper, overall a sea lion reflexed sable. Alternately, Per fess wavy Or and barry wavy azure and argent a sea lion reflexed throughout sable.

This is meant to be the Baronial children's award. The herald indicates that the Order of the Sable Sea Lion follows the patterns of names of period orders as per RfS III.2.b.ii, specific examples being the Order of the Swan and the Order of the Golden Rose. The sea-lion is defined by Fox-Davies as "the head, forepaws, and upper part of a lion conjoined to the tail of a fish. The most frequent form in which sea lions appear are as supporters, but they are also met with as crests and charges."

22) Wealdsmere, Barony of, for Order of the Golden Acorn (Spokane, WA) new/order name, badge

Azure, an acorn Or within an orle of four acorns, caps to center, alternating with four oak leaves, stems to fess, argent.

This is meant to be the Baronial Arts and Sciences award. The herald believes the name follows the patterns of names of period orders and awards as per RfS III.2.b.ii, with a specific example being Order of the Golden Rose. The acorn is referred to in Fox-Davies and is also mentioned as detailing on the arms of Roland Okstede: Argent, an oak eradicated proper acorned Or in the Dering and Howard Rolls as cited in Foster's The Dictionary of Heraldry.

In service to An Tir,

Zenobia Lions Blood

Branch Requirements for Heraldic Submissions

Dame Zenobia Naphtali, Lions Blood Herald, 28 October 1996

General Requirements for Forms: The general requirements for Branch submissions are just like any personal heraldic submission. These can be found in the handout entitled How to Fill Out An Tir Heraldic Submissions Forms. However, Branches have extra requirements imposed by Corpora, Laurel Sovereign of Arms, and Kingdom policy.

Registration Limits: By Laurel policy, branches with ruling nobles (Kingdoms, Principalities and Baronies) may register an unlimited number of items. Branches without ruling nobles (Shires, Cantons, Provinces and Crown Principalities) are subject to a limit of four names and four pieces of armory.

Registration Requirements for Offical Branch Status: By Corpora, an incipient Barony, Province, Principality or Kingdom must have a registered name and registered Arms before it may become an official branch. Other branches must have a registered name before they may become official.

Signatures: Submissions for a branch with ruling nobles are required by Kingdom custom to have the forms signed by one of the ruling nobles of that branch. Even submissions such as branch Guild names and badges must be signed by the Ruling Noble, not just by the Guild Head.

Branch Names and Arms:

Petitions: By Laurel policy, all Branch Names and Arms submissions must be accompanied by a petition of support. Other submissions (badges, household names, etc.) do not require such a petition.

Each petition should clearly state its intent. The exact spelling of the branch name should be on the name petition, and a picture of the Arms should be on the Arms petition. The petitions should indicate the signatories' S.C.A. name, legal name, and any office they hold with the branch. The reason offices are requested is that, by Laurel policy, support may be shown either by a majority of the of the active members of the branch, or by the signatures of the seneschal and at least three-quarters of the other local officers. If the branch submission is from a branch with Ruling Nobles the support of a Ruling Noble is required.

Principalities and Kingdoms have special requirements for their Branch name and Arms. They must show support via the results of a poll conducted in the official newsletter and certified by the Branch seneschal. These requirements also apply to the Consort's arms as well as the Sovereign's Arms by a recent Laurel ruling.

Required Charges: All Branch Arms must incorporate one or more Laurel Wreathes as a significant part of the armory by Laurel policy. The Laurel Wreath may only be used on branch Arms, not on badges. Kingdom Arms must include a crown or coronet in the design. Principality Arms may include a crown but are not required to do so.

Orders, Group Names and Badges: By Corpora, Order names may only be registered to Kingdoms, Principalities, Baronies or equivalent branches. Other types of names may be registered by any sort of branch as a household name. Any branch may register badges.

Herald's Titles: By Laurel policy, all Herald's Titles must be registered to the Kingdom in which they are used (except for S.C.A. level Herald's Titles.) Kingdom will register one herald's title per Barony at Baronial request, as well as extra Herald's Titles for use by Kingdom staff and Principalities. By long-standing custom, branches without ruling nobles may not register Herald's Titles.

If a branch with ruling nobles wishes to have a herald's title, it must submit forms and a submissions fee for that title through the An Tir College. The forms should designate the title as being registered to An Tir, not to the branch itself.

Kingdom custom designates Baronial heraldic officers as Pursuivants and Kingdom Staff officers as either Pursuivants or Heralds at the request of Black Lion. Kingdom Custom also allows the submission forms for a Herald's Title to be signed by the Baron or Baroness of the group requesting the title rather than requiring the signature of the Crown.

Regional Heraldic Submissions: A region is an administrative area, with no official identity (by Corpora) other than as part of the Kingdom. As a result, Regional names and armory must be registered to the Kingdom. Regional names may be registered as household names or herald's titles; regional armory may be registered as badges. Should the region later become an incipient branch, its heraldry may be transferred to the branch from the Kingdom.

Regional heraldic submissions must be signed by the Crown. The Crown and Black Lion Herald may require some evidence of regional support of such submissions.

Regional Arms pose a particular problem. If the Region plans to become a Branch some day (such as a Principality or Kingdom) it is necessary for the Regional Arms to incorporate some required charges (see Branch Names and Arms.) However, one of these charges (the Laurel Wreath) may not be registered in a Kingdom badge; it may only be registered in official branch Arms. It is suggested that Regions do not design Arms until they are an incipient Branch. This also keeps the branch from finding itself with a design that does not look good with the required wreath(s).

How to Fill Out An Tir Heraldic Submissions Forms

Zenobia Naphtali, November 1996

Fees: All submissions received by Lions Blood Herald are $10.00 U.S. per action (a name, a device, or a badge are seperate actions.) The exception is that resubmissions made within a year of the return letter require no fees. Fees should be paid by check or money order and should be made out to College of Heralds æ An Tir.

Name packet = one each of An Tir Name Submission Form and any photocopied name documentation (if any). The latest An Tir Name Submission Form is dated November 1992.

Device ("coat of arms") packet or badge packet = one each of An Tir Device/Badge Submission Form, "colored" An Tir Emblazon Form and "uncolored" An Tir Emblazon Form, as well as a copy of any photocopied armorial documentation (if any.) The latest An Tir Device/Badge Submission Form is dated November 1992.

The "colored" emblazon form will have the large shield colored in as you wish it to appear in the Known World heraldic records. The "uncolored" emblazon shows the large shield in a outline (photocopiable) form, with all the details, but no solid blocks of color (even black).

On both the "colored" and "uncolored" emblazon forms, the small shields should be covered with a photoreduced version of the "uncolored" emblazon. If you reduce the large form by 64% three times, you should get the size of the small shield.

There are three versions of the An Tir Emblazon Form: a shield shape for devices, a round shape for badges (including household badges or baronial orders) and a dashed round shape for fieldless badges. Please submit on the appropriate form. You may display your device or badge on any appropriate shape once it is registered. Thus, you submit your arms on a shield shape even though you wish to fight with them painted on a round shield.

Documentation: All documentation should consist of a photocopy of the book page(s) in question along with a photocopy of the title page of the book. Underlining pertinent passages (or marking them in the margins) is encouraged. Highlighting is also acceptable but remember to highlight after you photocopy.

There are some books considered "standard references" by the An Tir college of Heralds for which no photocopies are necessary, just citations of the page numbers. These books are on a list available from your local herald or Lion's Blood.

How many name packets sent where?: 3 copies to Lions Blood Herald, 1 copy to local herald, 1 copy kept by you.

How many device or badge packets sent where?: 4 copies to Lions Blood Herald, 1 copy to local herald, 1 copy kept by you.

Should I send Lions Blood's copies of the forms directly to Lions Blood or should my local herald send them?: You have the option of doing this either way. Remember, the submission is not considered officially received until it has been received by Lions Blood Herald; this includes the one year "free resubmission" period, which runs from the date of the return letter from kingdom until the next submission is received by Lions Blood Herald. However, it is always a good idea to check the idea out with your local herald before sending any forms to Kingdom; your local herald can give you valuable advice and save you time in the submissions process.

How and when will I find out what happened? Your submission will go through two levels of processing; Kingdom and Known World (Laurel). As an example, a submission received by Lions Blood in January will be put on an internal letter dated in early February. Two months later there will be a Kingdom meeting in April to decide on whether to send your submission on or return it for more work. If your submission is returned at a Kingdom meeting you will receive a letter from Lions Blood explaining why. No letter is sent for submissions passed at Kingdom, but feel free to ask Lions Blood what happened.

Submissions passed at Kingdom are sent to Laurel Sovereign of Arms where they are ruled on four months later (in this case, in August). It takes a month or more for Laurel to issue the results of the meeting. As a result, Kingdom will hear the results in September or October, and Lions Blood will write you a letter shortly after in all cases (whether the submission is passed or returned.)

Where do I get Lions Blood's address? Look in the back of the Crier under Black Lion Staff. At the time of this writing, Lions Blood Herald is Dame Zenobia Naphtali. However, due to the upcoming office changeover at Twelfth Night 1997, send forms to the office designate, HL Ciaran CluanaFerta c/o Brian Russell, 1908 NE Multnomah St. #10, Portland OR 97232. Lions Blood can be reached by email at lions.Blood@hubert.rain.com.