An Tir Internal Letter for December, AS XXXX / 2005 CE

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• LETTERS FROM KINGDOM HERALDIC STAFF
  • From Black Lion
  • From Lions Blood
• HERALDIC ARTICLES
  • Tabards
• LAUREL ACTIONS
• LIONS BLOOD ACTIONS
• NEW SUBMISSIONS

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Unto Christopher Black Lion and the esteemed members of the An Tir College of Heralds to whom this missive comes, Richenda du Jardin, Lions Blood Herald, sends greetings and felicitations.

Let me begin by apologizing for the lateness of this letter. I damaged my computer while preparing it and the data disk I got when I sent it for repair didn’t work.

COMMENTARY ON THE ITEMS IN THIS INTERNAL LETTER IS DUE ON THE 10TH OF FEBRUARY.

The December meeting will be held on December 18 and the January meeting will be held January 22 (so as to not conflict with Coronation). Both meetings will begin at 1:00. As of this moment, those meetings will also be held at my house. I am looking for people to host meetings in February (19) and March (19 — in Seattle). I will be doing a 2-hour roadshow at An Tir Kingdom Heraldic Symposium on April 8-9. Therefore, commentary on the February items will be due April 5, not April 10. Directions to my house are:

From the West: Take your best route to I-90. Get off on exit 280 (Lincoln Ave/Maple Ave.). Go through two lights and turn right at the next intersection (Jefferson). Go one block and turn left (Fifth). Turn right at the fourth stop sign (Howard). Follow Howard for two blocks — find whatever parking you can in the second block as parking is rather tight. Walk up to 7th and I am in the brick building on the left (524 W 7th.). Buzz apartment #510 and someone will be down to get you.

From the East: Take your best route to I-90. Get off on exit 280 (Lincoln Ave/Maple Ave.). Turn left at the second light (Second). Turn left at the second light (Fourth). Turn right at the next intersection (Jefferson). Go one block and turn left (Fifth). Turn right at the fourth stop sign (Howard). Follow Howard for two blocks — find whatever parking you can in the second block as parking is rather tight. Walk up to 7th and I am in the brick building on the left (524 W 7th.). Buzz apartment #510 and someone will be down to get you.

Limited crash space will be available.

LETTERS FROM KINGDOM HERALDIC STAFF

From Black Lion

Greetings An Tir!

I continue searching for my Just Add Water deputy, Queue Forchée Herald. The job description is fairly simple - mostly assist me with tasks as needed, be ready to step in should I be unavailable and act as my Emergency Contingency Deputy. This is a good position to apply for if you are considering becoming Black Lion at some time in the future. You do not have to intend to become Black Lion and being Queue Forchée does not assure you of being selected but it is good training. Applications will close on the 15th of January, 2006.

Instead of sending out a PDF attachment to these lists I have arranged for my quarterly reports to be posted on the web.

You can find them at <http://www.antirheralds.org/college/college.html> — scroll down to the bottom, to Black Lion Reports.

Last quarter's report is there as well as the one I just submitted to Laurel.

In Service to Kingdom and College,
Lord Christopher Thomas
Black Lion Principal Herald, An Tir
Argent, a flat cap purpure plumed and on a chief azure three commedia del'Arte masks argent.
black-lion@antir.sca.org

From Lions Blood

I realized that I have been a little remiss over the past few months with thanking my commenters. I want to thank the following members of the An Tir College of Heralds who have helped me with their commentary: Baron David of Moffat, Electrum Herald; Li Ban ingen Echtigeirn, the new Boar Pursuivant; Ursula Georges, “Loyalle” Pursuivant; Moreach Nicmhaolain; Alicia, False Isles Pursuivant; Dafydd Caerfyrddin; Ciaran Cluana Ferta, Æstel Herald; Gwen Frost, Sinister Gauntlet; Elizabeth Dougall, Eisenmarche Pursuivant; Zenobia Napthali, Black Stag; Coinneach mac Dhomhnuill; Aryanhwy Prytydes merch Catmael Caermyrdin; Francesca Testarossa dei Martini; Owen ap Morgan; Æthan of Eppelhyrste; Esclarmonde de Porcairages, Argent Scroll; Gunnvor (aka the Viking Answer Lady); and of course Juliana de Luna, Siren Herald.

This is an amazing amount of support. But, I will admit, I’m greedy. I want to have the most number of internal commenters of any kingdom in the Knowne World. I know we can do it. All it takes is a little time from each of you — pick an item and comment on it.

Why do I need so many commenters? Two reasons:

1. The more commentary I can get, the better decisions I make. I’ve seen a number of submissions that seem destined for return because no one can find any documentation — until one more person looks and finds something. Sometimes this is an experienced herald, but sometimes it’s a new herald.
2. The more commenters we have, the easier it is to keep the submission process going over the years. Even though I just stepped up as Lions Blood, I need to be thinking about what happens when I step down. An Tir has a long history of putting out high-quality submissions and Letters of Intent for Laurel.

In service,

Richenda du Jardin
Lions Blood
richenda@cet.com

HERALDIC ARTICLES

Tabards

The subject of heraldic tabards comes up fairly regularly. At the most recent Known World Heraldic Symposium I discussed them at length with the other Principal Heralds and other interested parties. As with most things in the Society, traditions vary between Kingdoms. However, we do have some good knowledge of period practice. It is my goal for the An Tir College of Heralds to follow those practices wherever possible.

The first item that comes up is mixing the arms of the employer (the civic or Noble party who employs the herald) with the badge of the College of Arms (the green field with the gold crossed trumpets). There is no period equivalent to this badge. Heralds in period wore a tabard that was strictly their employer's arms. Anyone seen wearing an unbelted tabard showing the arms of a Noble or Noble or other Estate, such as a city, was known to be a herald speaking for them. Likewise, anyone who is actively working as a herald should be wearing an unbelted tabard of the arms of their employer.

Note I said unbelted tabard. That is a very critical distinction between wearing heraldic garb (reserved to the owner of the arms) and a herald's tabard or cloak. Someone acting as a herald should not belt or otherwise obscure the tabard with anything other than a cloak (and that only if it is cold). When wearing the tabard the herald is the voice of their employer and should not be displaying other loyalties (favors, sashes, etc).

I have recently retired two of the three Kingdom tabards. These tabards were quartered with the arms of the Kingdom and the badge of the College. The implications of this quartering are unsettling for those who know what marshaled arms means.

I am not asking any branch with an existing tabard to stop using it. However, any branch that is making a new tabard should avoid placing anything other than their arms (complete with wreath) on the tabard. Each panel of the tabard - front, back, and sleeves if they exist - should be completely filled with the arms of the branch and nothing else.

I encourage branches to have at least two tabards of their arms. One for summer - light weight, easy to clean, good for outdoor use for tourneys and such - and a very fancy, formal one for indoor/winter and court. Baronies might want to consider having multiple summer-weight heraldic tabards as they usually have multiple employed heralds (the branch herald and his or her deputies).

Branches may also wish to make some "generic" tabards. These would have the green field with the crossed gold trumpets on the front and back panel. The sleeves (if there are any) can be green with trumpets or the branch's populace badge. Generic tabards should not have the branch's arms on them anywhere.

In some places at some times during our period pursuivants wore their tabards "athwart (sleeves to front and back) to signify that they weren't full Heralds. This is not a requirement, I l eave it up to each pursuivant to determine if their persona would have done this.

Since the Kingdom is down to only one tabard and needs at least five for all of the active Kingdom Staff Heralds at Crown events I have asked Lady Ellen Fraser to coordinate the creation of several more tabards. She has graciously agreed to do so after Twelfth Night. If you are interested in assisting with this project please contact me and I will put you in touch with her. It is my goal to have at least three tabards by May Crown.

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LAUREL ACTIONS

The following items have been registered by Laurel

• Aine Paixdecoeur. Reblazon of device.
  Or, a natural whale naiant to sinister base sable between two bendlets wavy all between two roses vert seeded Or.
  
  The whale was originally blazoned a sperm whale. The submitter contacted the College of Arms and indicated that the blazon was not acceptable; it was reblazoned simply as a whale on the Errata letter of 02/2005. We would have changed it back to a sperm whale, but for the submitter's preference. However, a whale with no other modifiers indicates a heraldic monster, which this is not. Therefore we have reblazoned it as a natural whale.
• Armatus Kamateros. Name and badge.
  Azure, a cross potent argent between six mullets of eight points in annulo Or.
  
  The submitter requested an authentic 10th C Byzantine name, but accepted no changes. Although the name Armatus is found in a list of Byzantine names, the source for that list tends to normalize and Latinize the names. AHM Jones, The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, A.D. 527-641 vol III, shows an example from a Greek inscription from 575/576 from Thrace; the spelling in the transcription would usually be transcribed as Armatos. If the submitter is interested in an fully Greek name, we suggest this spelling.
  
  Please advise the submitter to draw the cross larger, as befits a primary charge.
• Ása Starradóttir. Device.
  Argent, a reindeer salient contourny sable and on a chief gules three coronets argent.
  
  The submitter is a duchess and thus entitled to display the coronets.
• Ashley Little. Name and device.
  Per pale Or and argent, in pale a crow displayed head to sinister sable perched atop an annulet gules.
  
  The name Ashley is the submitter's legal given name.
• Avacal, Principality of. Reblazon of badge for the Champion of Arts and Sciences.
  Quarterly argent and Or, an eagle's claw conjoined to a sinister wing gules sustaining a candle sable enflamed gules.
  
  Originally registered 03/2000 and blazoned as Quarterly argent and Or, a winged eagle's claw gules sustaining a candle sable enflamed gules, that blazon would give it two wings, while the emblazon shows only one.
• Avacal, Principality of. Reblazon of badge.
  Quarterly argent and Or, an eagle's claw conjoined to a sinister wing gules sustaining a glove sable.
  
  Originally registered 03/2000 and blazoned as Quarterly argent and Or, a winged eagle's claw gules sustaining a glove sable, that blazon would give it two wings, while the emblazon shows only one.
• Avacal, Principality of. Reblazon of badge.
  Quarterly argent and Or, an eagle's claw conjoined to a sinister wing gules sustaining a sword sable.
  
  Originally registered 03/2000 and blazoned as Quarterly argent and Or, a winged eagle's claw gules sustaining a sword sable, that blazon would give it two wings, while the emblazon shows only one.
• Avacal, Principality of. Reblazon of badge.
  Quarterly argent and Or, an eagle's claw conjoined to a sinister wing gules sustaining an arrow inverted sable.
  
  Originally registered 03/2000 and blazoned as Quarterly argent and Or, a winged eagle's claw gules sustaining an arrow inverted sable, that blazon would give it two wings, while the emblazon shows only one.
• Baltasar Cordero. Name and device.
  Or, a pheon bendwise sinister inverted and on a bordure gules five shuttles Or.
  
  Nice name!
  
  Originally blazoned as boat shuttles, a boat shuttle is the default heraldic shuttle. It is a period heraldic charge; the Worshipful Company of Weavers used these shuttles in 1490.
• Beatriz Tejedora. Name and device.
  Gules, a shuttle palewise Or and a bordure Or semy of pheons bendwise sinister inverted gules.
  
  Originally blazoned as boat shuttles, a boat shuttle is the default heraldic shuttle. It is a period heraldic charge; the Worshipful Company of Weavers used these shuttles in 1490.
• Branwen Miles. Name.
  
  The given name, Branwen, is SCA-compatible.
  
  The submitter requested authenticity for Welsh language/culture. However, we have found no examples of the given name used for humans in period, and the byname is documented as an English byname. This means that we are unable to make it authentic as the submitter requested.
• Crickstow-on-Sea, Port of. Device.
  Or, on a pale between two laurel wreaths azure a beacon Or enflamed proper.
  
  Nice device!
• Ekarius von Magdeburg. Name.
• Fionnghuala of Anglesey. Name and device.
  Per chevron sable and gules, two mullets of eight points elongated to base and a swan naiant wings addorsed argent.
  
  Submitted as Fionnuala of Anglesey, Fionnuala is a Modern Irish Gaelic (post-1700) form of the name Fionnghuala. Explicitly modern forms of Gaelic names are not registerable. The Early Modern Gaelic form Fionnghuala is found in several 14^th C entries for the Annals of the Four Masters. We have changed the name to Fionnghuala of Anglesey in order to register it. As registered, this name combines Gaelic and English; this is one step from period practice.
  
  The swan is cut off at the water line; this is unusual but acceptable. Please instruct the submitter to not draw the neck overlaying the back wing; this will also decrease the appearance of trian aspect.
• Giovanni Orseolo. Name and device.
  Argent, a thistle proper between in pale two crocodiles statant in annulo vert.
  
  The question arose whether Giovanni Orseolo, son of Pietro Orseolo II, Doge of Venice, was important enough to protect. He is not. First, he does not have his own entry in the Encylopedia Britannica. Second, while he was married to a niece of the Emperor of Byzantium, he was not, himself, an emperor of Byzantium. The description of the wedding describes how the couple was crowned by the Emperor and the Patriarch. However, setting crowns on the heads of the couple was at that time and is now a standard part of the Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremony; what is described in such passages is that part of the ceremony. Nor was Giovanni a Doge of Venice. Given that he was not a sovereign, no arguments are made that he was otherwise important or influential, and as he does not have his own entry in Britannica, he is not important enough to protect.
  
  Please advise the submitter to draw the thistle larger and the crocodiles smaller.
  
  When animals are in annulo they are not given arrangement difference from other animals which are also in annulo. Thus, in pale two crocodiles statant in annulo would thus not be considered heraldically different from in fess two crocodiles statant in annulo. Therefore, explicit blazon of the arrangement of animals in annulo is optional. Here we have elected to retain the in pale blazon provided by the submitter in order that a reconstructed emblazon will more closely match the submitted emblazon.
• Grimon de Beaujolais. Reblazon of badge.
  (Fieldless) In fess a dragon's jambe inverted conjoined to a dragon's sinister wing Or.
  
  Originally registered 09/1999 and blazoned as (Fieldless) In fess a dragon's jambe inverted issuant from a dragon's wing Or, the wing is a sinister wing.
• Huszar Ferenc. Reblazon of device.
  Purpure, an antelope springing and on a chief Or three awls points to base purpure.
  
  Originally registered 05/1998 and blazoned as Purpure, an antelope springing and on a chief Or three awls purpure, this has been reblazoned to indicate the orientation of the awls as there is no default orientation for an awl.
• Isolda Throkmorton de Foxley. Name change from Isrið in glaða.
  
  Submitted as Isolda Throkmorton of Foxley, the submitter requested authenticity for 14th C England. The documentation shows the locative as de Foxley in the 14^th C. Also, at that time double surnames are vanishingly rare and are usually a locative and a patronymic or descriptive, rather than two bynames of location as in this name. Either Isolda Throkmortonor Isolda de Foxley would be a reasonable 14^th C English name, but the combination yields a name more likely for the 16th C. However, as the submitter will not accept major changes, we cannot drop one of the bynames to fulfill her request for authenticity. We have changed the name to Isolda Throkmorton de Foxley to match the documentation.
  
  Her old name, Isrð in glaða, is retained as an alternate name.
• Katerine Martel. Badge.
  (Fieldless) On a mullet of nine points argent, in pale a crescent azure and a pawprint vert.
• Lucrezia da Carrara. Name.
• Marina la Pica. Device.
  Purpure semy of quatrefoils Or, a sea-pithon displayed argent.
• Patrekr Kórason. Device.
  Per pale sable and gules, a plate between in fess two snakes glissant palewise argent.
• Robert Gunn. Name.
  Nice name!
• Tausius Valgas. Device.
  Per chevron purpure and argent, in base a ragged staff sable.
• Tausius Valgas. Badge.
  (Fieldless) A ragged staff sable.
  
  This is clear of Stephen de Huyn's badge for the Company of Saint Jude, Per pale azure and argent, a club sable. There is a CD between a club and a ragged staff and a second CD for fieldlessness.
• Tristan de Ver. Name and device.
  Per chevron sable and vert, a coney sejant guardant maintaining a spear argent and in chief two fleurs-de-lys Or.
• Vanya Betzina. Name (see RETURNS for device).
  
  Betzina is the submitter's legal given name.
• Wenyeva atte grene. Badge.
  (Fieldless) A ladder bendwise vert.
  
  Nice badge!

The following items have been returned for further work

• Alessandra da Montefeltro. Badge.
  (Fieldless) A triquetra interlaced with a heart voided Or.
  
  This is being returned for lack of identifiability. It has the same problem as her device, Azure, a triquetra interlaced with a heart voided and on a chief Or an open book between two lozenges gules, which was returned on the May 2005 LoAR with the comment:
  

  The opinion of the College is that the primary charge on this device is unidentifiable. RfS VIII.3 states, "Elements must be used in a design so as to preserve their individual identifiability. Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by significant reduction in size, marginal contrast, excessive counterchanging, voiding, or fimbriation, or by being obscured by other elements of the design." In this case, the heart, a charge not usually seen voided, loses its identifiability when voided and interlaced with the triquetra.

• An Tir, Kingdom of. Order name Ordo Equi.
  
  This order name is too evocative of the Latin alternative title for Sir, which is Eques. While Equi means "of the horse" and "Eques" means "a member of the Equestrian Order" or "horseman", all the commenters noted the similarity. Most did not notice the difference in the words and most thought that the name was presumptuous. RfS VI.4 says "Some names not otherwise forbidden by these rules are nevertheless too evocative of widely known and revered protected items to be registered..." That is the case here.
• Gwenlian Catharne. Badge.
  (Fieldless) An awl, point to chief argent.
  
  There is no default orientation for awls in the SCA. This submission's awl must therefore be explicitly blazoned as point to chief.
  
  This is being returned for conflict with Helva of Saxony, Vert, a full drop spindle argent. There is no visual difference between a loaded drop spindle and the awl as depicted here; there's a single CD for fieldlessness.
  
  We've found no evidence of awls used as period heraldic charges. Awls are certainly period artifacts: a discussion of medieval awls can be found at the website, "Footwear of the Middle Ages" (www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/shoe/RESEARCH/GLOSSARY/bdefa.htm) in their glossary under 'Awl'. Awls would therefore be registerable under RfS VII.3, provided they're depicted in a period form and provided they're recognizable solely from their appearance, per RfS VII.7. And it would appear that a needle mounted on a wooden handle is, indeed, recognizable as an awl of some type. They've been registered before, in the device of Huszar Ferenc (reblazoned elsewhere on this LoAR).
  
  The trouble is that the awl depicted in this submission doesn't match the illustrations on the website above (which were taken from period sources). It's visually similar to, and therefore conflicts with, a full drop spindle. The awls depicted in Huszar Ferenc's device would conflict with bodkins. There doesn't seem to be a standard depiction of an awl in heraldry, even modern heraldry. Therefore, whether any given awl will conflict with another charge has to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
  
  We would suggest the client resubmit with a period form of awl. In particular, we recommend one of the first two examples of medieval awls from the above website: they have distinctive handles and are least likely to be confused with other charges. Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme has provided examples of these awls, which can be found at the end of the LoAR.
• Vanya Betzina. Device.
  Sable, on a bend sinister gules fimbriated Or between two crosses barby three crosses barby palewise argent.
  
  This is being returned as the crosses are neither clearly clechy nor barby, but are somewhere in between. RfS VII.7.a requires that "Elements must be recognizable solely from their appearance" and RfS VII.7.b requires that "Elements must be reconstructible in a recognizable form from a competent blazon". As the crosses are somewhere in between crosses clechy and crosses barby they are neither recognizable from their appearance nor can they be blazoned so that the e mblazon can be reconstructed from the blazon.

LIONS BLOOD ACTIONS

These items will be forwarded to Laurel

• Abrahe çaragoça de girona. — Name — Change from Ealdred Galt Mac an Toisich & Device — New.
  Or, on a fess dovetailed gules, a drawknife Or
  
  The submitter will accept any changes necessary to register his name. If changes are required, he is more interested in the language/culture. He desires a male name, and is interested in a name authentic for the language, culture and time period “Early 16^th Century Catalan Jew Converso.” He permits creation of a holding name.
  
  Abrahe is a Jewish/Catalan given name which is a variant of Abraham. This is found at http://www.s-gabriel/names/juliana/catalan-jews/CatalanJews-given-men.html#alpha. No copies of this documentation is provided. [Note: URL is incorrect; correct URL is http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/catalan-jews/CatalanJews-given-men.html#alpha — Online IL Ed.]
  
  Other apparent extracts of various websites are provided for Çaragoça including http://www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/professional/pubs/sala/handlist.html, which lists a Jacobus Çaragoça.
  
  Girona is documented as a city 52 miles northeast of Barcelona, and is documented from http://libro.uca.edu/lewis/sfc3.htm, http://libro.uca.edu/lea1/1lea5.htm, http://campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron/WestEurope/CharlesSpain.CP.html, [URL is incorrect; no working URL found. — Online IL Ed.] http://isfsp.org/sages/girona.html, and http://girona.biography.ms/. The ISFSP web site indicates that there were Jews in Gerona in by 888 and as late as 1150. The Girona web site indicates that Girona is the Catalan spelling of the Spanish city Gerona.
  
  Siren says:
  

  “There is little doubt that this name is registerable, but it is quite unlikely as a name for an “early 16^th century Catalan Jew converso.” Note that a converso is the Spanish term for a convert from Judaism to Christianity; this reached the highest level after 1492, when Jews were given the choice of either converting or going into exile.

  <Abrahe> is a name documented to before 1400, not the early sixteenth century, though other (less dependable) sources suggest it was in use at a later date (such as http://www.sephardim.com/namelist.shtml?mode=form&from=A&to=Z&Search=Search). However, very few converses (if any) retained their “Jewish” names (at least publically); normally they changed their names — often both given name and byname - to more typically “Spanish” names.

  While I can document the pattern <de placename de placename> for Spanish speaking areas (from de Atienza’s Nobiliario Español), and would be unsurprised to find it without the first <de>, I’ve never seen the same pattern for Catalan speaking areas. The closest I can find are grey period patterns like <Miquel de Salvà i de Vallseca> (1609) and <Miquel Salvà i Vallgornera> (1639). In each case, both elements are surnames. So, a Spanish <çaragoça de Gerona> or a Catalan <çaragoça i Girona> or <de çaragoça i de Girona> should be registerable. However, the Catalan forms seem to be associated with relatively high-ranking individuals, unlikely to be found in converso names.

  I’d also note that while much of the Sala family archives do not capitalize any bynames or placenames, it is not generally true that bynames and placenames are not capitalized in Catalan. The Sala family archives certainly justify the use of early sixteenth century Catalan bynames being *registerable* in lowercase.

  So, <Abrahe Çaragoça i Girona> is certainly registerable, but not terribly authentic. <Abrahe de Çaragoça> or <Abrahe de Girona> would be lovely Catalan Jewish names. But this name cannot be made authentic as a converso name.”

  This device has two minor problems; both of which can be corrected through proper drawing. The black line between the gules fess and Or field is too thick to simply be an outline; it looks like fimbriation. While this is legal, the submitter did not indicate that this was his intent.
  
  The second is that the fess has a few too many dovetails. A good number of dovetails is 3-5 sticking out on a side.
  
  Finally, I must caution that printer ink is notoriously poor at retaining its colors for more than a few months. Given that submissions are in kingdom approximately two months after they are mailed and at Laurel for 4 months, this can be a cause for return. Red, purple, black, and yellow are particularly problematic. Submitters should be encouraged to use the Crayola classic markers or RoseArt markers on their submissions.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Blue Stag. — Order name — New
  
  The Oxford English Dictionary dates Blue to 1366 and Stag, in various spellings to 1185. Stags, the plural form, can be dated to 1596, which suggests that the singular form stag was in use at that time.
  
  When reviewing submissions, please double-check that submitters have presented some evidence of the plausibility of their submitted name. If the submitter can not provide documentation, please spend some time doing the research yourself — that’s one of the jobs of the heralds. Ample sources are available on-line and from Aestel that no submitter should have to present an unsupported submission.
  
  While in this case the submission looked like it would be no trouble, that can be deceiving. There are many common-place words we use that either did not exist prior to 1600 or did not have the meanings we currently associate with them. Therefore, we must research and document every element of every name submission.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Butterfly. — Order name — New & Badge — resubmission.
  Azure, a butterfly Or marked sable within a bordure nebuly Or
  
  The Oxford English Dictionary dates butterfly, in various spellings, to: Butterflye, 1548 and Butter-flies 1606. The internal letter mistakenly stated this name and badge were for a second-level arts and sciences award; actually they are for a children’s arts and sciences award.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Green Seahorse. — Order name — New
  
  The word <seahorse> was used in English in our period. Its earliest sense appears to have been ‘walrus’; the Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.oed.com/ s.v. seahorse, subscription required) has the word with this meaning c. 1475. The first instance of this word for a fabulous animal in the OED is from 1587.
  
  The Barony’s name was registered in March 1983. This award will be for children’s service.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Golden Estoile — Order name — Resubmission to Laurel
  
  The Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.oed.com/ s.v. estoile, subscription required) dates the use of the word <estoile> for a heraldic charge in English to 1572.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Plate. — Order name — New & Badge — resubmission.
  Gules, a sea urchin contourny Or sustaining a plate all within a bordure nebuly Or
  
  The Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.oed.com/ s.v. plate, n., subscription required) has examples of the word <plate> used in English as early as c. 1290. The first use of <plate> as a heraldic term for a roundel argent is 1562.
• Bébhínn Inghean Áeda. — Name — Change from Bébhínn Morgan
  
  This is a change of primary name.
  
  Submitted as Bébhínn Inghean Áeda, we have changed the name to Bébinn ingen Áeda to comply with the submitter’s request for authenticity to pre-1000 Ireland.
  
  The submitter initially documented Bébhínn as her registered name. However, her registered name was Bébhinn, no accent over the i. Mari Elspeth nic Bryan's "Index of Names in Irish Annals: Be/binn / Be/ibhinn" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/Bebinn.shtml) lists <Be/binn> as the standard Middle Irish Gaelic (c. 900-1200) form of the name.
• Ceoflæd Pyper. — Badge — New.
  (Fieldless) a mascle counter-ermine
• Ciarán Alanson. — Name & Device — New.
  Or, a dragon displayed and on a chief gules three bezants.
  
  This name contains a lingual mix of Irish Gaelic and English, which is one weirdness. It also contains an apparent temporal incompatibility, which would be a second weirdness. Under most circumstances, two weirdnesses will cause the return of a name. However, temporal incompatibility is not an issue when the given name is a saint’s name. Per Master François la Flamme:
  

  There was some discussion about the registerability of this name, since the dated examples for the given name and the byname have a temporal disparity of approximately 1400 years. The documentation for Turvon references a martyr who was a contemporary of the apostles. Given this information, the name Turvon falls into the category of a saint's name. As discussed in the September 2001 cover letter, a number of cultures had a tradition of giving their children the names of saints. Therefore, it is possible that this name remained in use long after Turvon's death, making this name registerable despite the temporal disparity in the name as documented. [Turvon Kuznetsov, 10/01, A-Atlantia]

  This device is clear of Ysfael Bryndu, April 1999: Or, a wyvern displayed and on a chief triangular gules a Celtic cross Or. There is 1 CD for the change of the line of division of the chief and 1 CD for the change in type and number of tertiary charges.
• Eadric de Lone Stone. — Name & Device — New.
  Per bend sinister azure and sable a badgers head erased
  
  Originally submitted as Eadric de Lonestone, the name was changed in kingdom to match the documentation that could be found for de Lone Stone.
  
  Eadric is documented from Talan Gwynek, “Men’s Given Names from Early 13^th Century England”, http://www.s-gabriel.org/talan/eng13/eng13m.html, sub Edric, where it notes “From OE Eadric. In addition, Reaney and Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames, s.n. Edrich, cite a Robert Eadric in 1221, suggesting that the name remained in use into the 13^th century. [URL is incorrect; correct ULR is http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/eng13/eng13m.html — Online IL Ed.]
  
  Double surnames are not uncommon in late-period England. Reaney and Wilson, s.n. Lone, date Nicholas atte Lone to 1275 and Roger de la Lone to 1279. R&W, s.n. Stone, also date Robert atte Stone to 1296. Given the variety of prepositions that are used nearly interchangeably in period, the byname de Lone Stone is a plausible construction.
• Elric Strangulf. — Badge — New.
  (Fieldless) a wolf salient Or
  
  This should be clear of Anna Moonstar, Azure, a wolf rampant reguardant Or, maintaining in its teeth a mullet of eight points argent, standing upon a moon in her plentitude per pale argent and sable. There is 1 CD for fieldlessness. The question is does the moon in base count as a secondary or a maintained charge. If the moon is a maintained charge, then it is not worth a CD and the two pieces of armory conflict. If the moon is a secondary charge, then its removal is a second CD.
  
  This is clear of Alexander Kirkpatrick, March of 2004, Azure estencely argent, a wolf rampant Or, and of Liriel Correll of Tuatha Keep, August of 1988, Azure, mulletty, a fox salient Or. There is 1 CD for the removal of the semy and 1 for fieldlessness. Semy charge groups are not part of the field and therefore count for difference.
• Elric Strangulf, for Hous of Graneshavene. — Household Name — New.
  
  The spelling Hous is found in the Oxford English Dictionary, s.n. house dated as early as 1290.
  
  Graneshavene is a constructed thirteenth century English placename based on a hypothetical Old Norse Granes hafn meaning “gray headland harbour”.
  
  Eckwall (4^th ed) s.n. Grayrigg, p. 203, lists Grarigg c. 1165; the placename is glossed as “gray ridge”, and is derived from the Old Scandinavian grÁ(r). Eckwall, s.n. Crossens p. 132, lists Crossenes in 1250 and 1323; the name is derived from the Old Norse krossa-nes, meaning “headland with crosses.” Therefore Granes should mean something close to gray headland.
  
  Eckwall, s.n. Whitehaven, p. 514, lists various spellings including Hwithothehavene in 1202; it is derived from Old Norse Hvita-ho,fu{dh} or “white headland harbour.” Thus the construction “Graneshavene” follows the same pattern.
• Sayna de Lincolne. — Device — New.
  Argent, in saltire a rebec and bow within a bordure gules
• Stein Vikingsson. — Device — Resubmission to Laurel.
  Azure, on a chevron Or three triskeles azure, in base a coronet within an annulet of chain Or
  
  While small, the coronet seems to be of a reasonable size to be surrounded by the chain.
• Susanne Von Hemme. — Name — New. (Device returned)
  
  Submitted as Susanne Von Hemmi, we changed the name to Susanne Von Hemme to match the documentation we found.
  
  Hanks and Hodges, is a source to be avoided. According to the Administrative Handbook in Appendix F — Name Sources to Be Avoided in Documentation:
  

  Hanks and Hodges, Dictionary of First Names "Very few of the entries have dates of any kind. There are many modern 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)

  However, Susanna can be found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael’s “German Names from 1495” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/german1495.html). Aryanwhy cites one occurrence of Susanna ([Su]sanna) from Thimenhawßen.
  
  The Academy of St. Gabriel cites E. G. Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, s.n. Susan, that Susan and its variants appear as early as the late 12^th century but are not in common usage until the 16^th. In addition, they cite unpublished research on 16^th century London parish registers from Talan Gwynek, unpublished research based. In this data, various forms of <Susan> are a very common woman’s name, ranking 7^th.
  
  Talan Gwynek’s “Feminine of Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames” (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/reaney.cgi?Susanna) dates Susane Copley to 1559.
  
  We believe that Susanne is a plausible variant of Susanna and Susane.
  
  Bahlow-Gentry, s.n. Hemme, which is a pet form of Hemmert and Himbert. Hemme Frerkyes is dated to the 16th century. Hemme is also a placename in Holstein as Hemeke dated to 1347.
• Wealdsmere, Barony of. — Badge — New.
  Per bend wavy Or and bendy wavy azure and argent, in chief an oak leave conjoined at the stem with an acorn all bendwise proper
  
  The oak leaf and the acorn are co-primary charges. The term conjoined is used with charges of equal visual weight. The term slipping/slipped suggests the first charge mentioned is of greater visual weight than the second.
• Wealdsmere, Barony of. — Badge — New.
  Per pale Or and vert, in fess and acorn inverted proper between two oak leaves counterchanged

These items are being returned for further work

• Aedan an Rannsaichair. — Name and Device — Resubmission to Kingdom.
  
  This submission is being returned again for insufficient forms. Only two copies of the name and device forms were received. In addition, no copies of the documentation from Acair Mercat, Gaelic Dictionary, were included. All submissions must have THREE copies of the following:
  
  • Name form,
  • Any documentation that is not listed in Appendix H of the Administrative Handbook (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/admin.html#APPENDIX_H),
  • Color device form,
  • Black-and-white device form.
• Aquaterra, Barony of, for Order of the Boar. — Order name & Badge- New.
  Argent, a boar passant within a bordure nebuly gules.
  
  This name is being returned for conflict with Boar Pursuivant, registered to the kingdom of An Tir in February 2003. The device must be returned for conflict with Fearghus mac Eoin in February 2003, Argent, a boar statant within a bordure gules. There is 1 CD for the change of the line of division of the bordure.
  
  When reviewing submissions, please spend some time conflict-checking both names and devices for the submitter. This will reduce the wait and disappointment that occurs when Lions Blood or Laurel tells him that someone else got to it first. Sometimes, by working with the submitter to fix the issue, we can help him get something he’s even happier with. Please remember that many subscribers to antir-heralds@sca.org are more than happy to help with conflict-checking at any time.
• Bébhínn Inghean Áeda. — Name — Change to Timur-as Qazaq.
  
  This name is being return for the use of two languages in one name element in violation of RfS III.1.a Lingual Consistency. Timur is documented as a Turkish name meaning “iron.” The as is a Hun element meaning “friend, companion.” Not only are Turk and Hun two different languages, but no evidence was provided for the use of the element as as a suffix; the only evidence provided was of the use of as as a protheme (first part of a word). Prothemes differ from prefixes in that a prefix is appended to an already existing name and a protheme is the first element of a two-element name.
  
  The submitter might want to consider the name Temuras instead. Temuras might be dated to 1657 at www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2000/04/white/part02.htm. While we require all names to be documented prior to 1650 (giving submitters the benefit of the doubt that the person mentioned may have been born prior to 1600), this is a place to start researching. We could not make this change in kingdom as the submitter allowed no major changes and changing the language of the given name is a major change.
• Brynmor Raven. — Name & Device — New.
  Argent, a raven voided and interlaced sable within a bordure vert and on a chief vert three crosses couped argent.
  
  No evidence could be found that Brynmor was a given name used in Wales during our period. However, T.J. Morgan & Prys Morgan, Welsh Surnames, sub Brynmor shows John Williams of Brymor, c. 1706. The construction “of Brymor” strongly suggests that the name is a locative byname (that is, a byname based on the place someone came from). Morgan and Morgan further indicate that Brynmor only became a given name in modern times.
  
  Raven is dated in Reaney and Wilson to 1133-60 as a surname. Rauen is dated as a given name to 1185. Therefore, Rauen Brymor may be a plausible alternative.
  
  This device must be returned because the submitter’s name is being returned and kingdoms can not create holding names. However, even if the name were to be forwarded, the device would be returned for several reasons:
  
  1. This submission must be returned for violating RfS VIII.3:
     

     Armorial Identifiability. - Elements must be used in a design so as to preserve their individual identifiability.
     
     Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by significant reduction in size, marginal contrast, excessive counterchanging, voiding, or fimbriation, or by being obscured by other elements of the design. For instance, a complex line of partition could be difficult to recognize between two parts of the field that do not have good contrast if most of the line is also covered by charges. A complex divided field could obscure the identity of charges counterchanged. Voiding and fimbriation may only be used with simple geometric charges placed in the center of the design.

     Birds are not a simple geometric charges (as laid out in the above rule) and therefore, cannot be voided.
  2. As it is drawn, the raven isn’t voided, it is closer to a knotwork drawing which has been disallowed by precedent for some time:
     

     [Elsbeth Anne Roth — June 1999 - July 2001]
     
     While the wolf was drawn in a style based on period artwork (the Book of Kells), it was not drawn in any style consistent with period heraldry, nor even with any artwork used at the same time as period heraldry. The College of Arms has declined to register Celtic knotwork art, including beasts in that style, for several years. [Conall in fáelchú mac Duibdarach, 06/01, R-Meridies]

     This depiction of the bird makes it difficult to identify the posture the bird is in.
  3. This depiction of a charged bordure resembles a chief surmounting a bordure, as the top is significantly thicker than the outer edges. Chiefs surmounting bordures have been disallowed for some time:
     

     [A device using a bordure and a charged chief of the same tincture ] "A chief should not surmount a bordure (Parker p.112), nor should a chief be used with a bordure of the same tincture, which will have the visual effect of a bordure with a 'fat top'." (LoAR 1/91 p.27).

     On resubmission, the submitter should make sure his bird is not voided or interlaced and in a clear heraldic posture. In addition the bordure should be of a consistent thickness.
• Rhys ap Dafydd. — Device — Resubmission to Kingdom.
  Per pale azure and Or, a double headed swan displayed counterchanged
  
  This conflicts with Martinus Draco Byzantinos (February 2003): Per pale azure and Or, a double-headed eagle and in chief two chi-rhos all counterchanged. According to Master François, a double-headed swan is not documented in a displayed posture in period armory:
  

  …It is vanishingly rare to find birds other than eagles in the displayed posture, while vast multitudes of eagles are found in the displayed posture. We thus re-affirm the January 2000 Cover Letter precedent (above). All birds (other than eagles) in the displayed posture are considered a "weirdness" and are not eligible for substantial difference - unless documentation is provided showing that the particular type of (non-eagle) bird is frequently found in the displayed posture in period… [11/03, CL]

  In addition, double-headed birds are not granted difference from single-headed birds. Per Dame Elsbeth Anne Roth:
  

  [two double-headed eagles vs. two falons displayed] There is a CD for the field, but nothing for the difference between the secondary charges. [Geoffrey de la Dale, 09/99, R-Artemisia] {LB note: The birds are the secondaries in this case}

  Therefore, the only CD between Rhys’ and Martinus’ armory is the deletion of the two chi-rhos from Martinus’ device.
• Susanne Von Hemme. — Device — New.
  Per bend gules and vert, a bend ermine, overall a compass star argent charged with a roundel sable
  
  This is being returned for a redraw. This compass star is unidentifiable as drawn. This submission must be returned for violating RfS VIII.3:
  

  Armorial Identifiability. - Elements must be used in a design so as to preserve their individual identifiability.
  
  Identifiable elements may be rendered unidentifiable by significant reduction in size, marginal contrast, excessive counterchanging, voiding, or fimbriation, or by being obscured by other elements of the design. For instance, a complex line of partition could be difficult to recognize between two parts of the field that do not have good contrast if most of the line is also covered by charges. A complex divided field could obscure the identity of charges counterchanged. Voiding and fimbriation may only be used with simple geometric charges placed in the center of the design.

  The smaller points of a compass star, by precedent, should be approximately 1/2 the length the larger points. Per Master François:
  

  We also advise the submitter that, while a compass star is defined as a mullet of four greater and four lesser points, the lesser points need to be drawn larger, perhaps about half the length of the primary rays of the mullet. Here they are so small that they are very hard to see. [Aclina of Wyvern Heyghts, 02/03, R-Caid] [Ed.: Returned for conflict.]

  In addition, the (primarily argent) ermine compass star overlying the argent bend and the low contrast of the lower small points of the compass star with the field render the compass star nearly unidentifiable.
  
  Because overall charges are both on the field and over another charge, placing tertiaries on them does not violate the layer limit. Per Dame Elsbeth:
  

  By precedent (January 1990 LoAR, pg. 12, s.n. Edward Ashwell of the Crossbow), placing charges directly on overall charges does not violate RfS VIII.1.c, Armorial depth. [Adelicia Brabant, 05/00, A-Ansteorra]

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NEW SUBMISSIONS

To be ruled on at the February Lions Blood Meeting.