An Tir Internal Letter for February, AS XXXX / 2006 CE

Arms of Lady Richenda du Jardin

Lady Richenda du Jardin, Lions Blood Herald
524 W. 7th Avenue, #510
Spokane, WA 99204
509-455-5137 or richenda@cet.com



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.

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

The February Lions Blood meeting will be held at 1:00 on February 19 at my house. 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.

The March Lions Blood meeting will be held at 1:00 on March 19 at Æthan of Eppelhyrste's house (2020 Minor Ave E, Apt. #2 ) in Seattle. Directions:

From North of Seattle, take I-5 South to the Roanoke exit, right after the UW exit. Take a right at the first light (Lynn). Go straight down, through the light (Eastlake), and turn left from Lynn onto Minor Ave E. Go two blocks; halfway down the third block there is a paved area on your left instead of the grass border that usually lines sidewalks. That building is 2020. I am in the ground floor in the middle, just walk on up.

From South of Seattle, take I-5 North to the Lakeview exit, the exit just before the UW exit. Turn left on Lakeview, and follow it to the first light, Lynn. Take a left on Lynn, go straight down, through the light (Eastlake) and follow directions as above.

LETTERS FROM KINGDOM HERALDIC STAFF

From Black Lion

Greetings An Tir!

I have a few bits of business and will then hand the page to Argent Scroll Herald for an important announcement. 

I am very happy to announce that as of Twelfth Night the "mini emblazon" is no longer required on any armorial submission in An Tir. The forms are being updated to remove the mini but in the mean time just cross the little picture off and ignore it.

I would like to invite everyone to join us at the An Tir Heraldic Symposium in Wyewood April 8th and 9th.

At Twelfth Night I made a few changes in the Kingdom College's staffing:

The college's roster can be viewed at http://antirheralds.org/college/college.html

In Service, 
Lord Christopher Thomas 
Black Lion Principal Herald, An Tir

From Lions Blood

I want to start by offering great thanks to Baron David of Moffat, Electrurm; and Dame Zenobia Napthali, Black Stag for the great work they have done on notification letters.

I also want to thank my commenters - Li Ban ingen Echtigeirn, Boar; Juliana de Luna, Jambe de Lion; Ursula Georges, Loyalle; Esclarmonde de Porcairages, Argent Scroll; Alicia le Wilfulle, False Isle Pursuivant; Moreach Nicmhaolain; and Einarr Grimsson, Red Hawk Herald of Calontir!

In the January meeting, several items were sent up with incomplete or no documentation. While I realize many of us get caught on "biffy consults", please take the time to review your submitter's submissions. Submissions that have no documentation require that the kingdom commenters spend more time and energy on those submitters, which pulls time and energy away from submitters who have made a good faith effort in completing their submissions. And that's not fair.

Æstal and Loyalle are available to help both consulting heralds and submitters with getting documentation. They are both good heralds with extensive resources available. Use them.

Since I stepped up as Lions Blood, I've been running articles about commenting. If you have questions, drop me a line. You probably aren't the only one with that question. I will do my best to answer it and get the answer in the next Heralds Page.

In service,

Richenda du Jardin
Lions Blood
richenda@cet.com

AN TIR HERALDIC SYMPOSIUM

Unto the An Tir College of Heralds from Esclarmonde Argent Scroll Comes Greetings,

I invite you all to attend An Tir's premier heraldic event: Kingdom Heraldic Symposium. Symposium offers classes and activities for every level of experience. I hope all the branch heralds, especially those within daytrip range of the site, will encourage your local populace to attend. I have done my best to arrange a schedule in which every class period has something of interest to the non-herald, the new herald, and the veteran herald. The experience of attending Symposium can enrich anyone's understanding of our period and its most colorful of elements. 

This year's Symposium features a number of attractions that you won't see every year. We look forward to:

You can also look forward to the traditional Symposium offerings:

Directions: This year, the Shire of Wyewood, just south of Seattle, Washington, will host the event. The following directions are "generic" directions that will get you there no matter where you are coming from, but may not be your most direct or convenient route. Please watch the website for directions from the south, the east, etc. 

Take I-5 to where it meets I-405 south of Seattle. Take I-405 North (to Bellevue). Take exit 2, Hwy 167 South. Take Hwy 167 to the next exit, which is for 180th/43th Street/ Valley Medical Center. You will actually exit to East Valley Road; take a left onto East Valley and another left onto 43rd/ 180th. You will pass over the highway again. New Horizon School is on the right as you go up a steep hill right after passing over the highway. 

Please see our website at http://slumberland.org/symposium/ for complete schedule, fees, feast pre-registration, and directions. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

In Service,
Lady Esclarmonde de Porcairages, Argent Scroll Herald and Autocrat
Snail_Or@msn.com

HERALDIC ARTICLES

A Quick and Dirty Guide to Conflict Checking - Part I

The most important thing to remember about conflict checking is that most devices are going to be free from conflict, and those that aren't are mostly easy to change so that they will be. This time, we're going to go over some basic ideas that help you determine where you need to go to conflict check any device. Then next time we'll get to the nitty gritty of conflict checking.

Starting out: What are you looking at?
The first step to conflict checking is figuring out the pieces of the device. Ask yourself the following questions:

What's the primary charge?
The primary charge is the charge or charges in the visual center of the shield. If there is one or more central ordinaries they are usually the primary charge. For example, in "Argent, a bend sable" and "Argent, two bendlets sable" the bend(lets) are the primary charges. If there is no other central charge, a semy is a primary charge. In "Argent, a lion sable", "Argent, three lions sable", and "Argent semy of lions sable" the lions are the primary charges; in "Argent semy of lions sable, a cross azure," the cross is the primary charge. If there are charges only in chief or base, they're the primary charge: so the primary charge of "Azure, in chief a cloud" is the cloud, but the primary charge of "Azure goutty d'eau, in chief a cloud" is the gouttes. Not every device has a primary charge, but most do. A peripheral ordinary (chief, base, bordure, etc.) can never be a primary charge.

Are there secondary charges?
Secondary charges are a single charge or group of charges around the primary charge(s). Therefore, you cannot have a secondary charge without a primary charge to surround. For example, in "Argent, a fess between three lions sable" and "Argent, semy of lions, a fess sable" the lions are the secondary charges, surrounding the primary fess. Similarly, with the case "Argent, a fess and in chief a lion sable", the lion is the secondary charge. In each case if you removed the fess the lions would become primary. There are a couple of special kinds of secondary charges - we'll talk about them more next time.

Is there a peripheral ordinary?
A charge that follows part or all of the edge of the shield, such as a bordure, a chief, an orle of charges, etc. It is not necessary for there to be a primary charge present. For example, in both "Argent, a bordure sable" and "Argent, a lion within a bordure sable" the bordure is the peripheral charge. Peripheral charges act like a kind of secondary charge for conflict checking purposes.

Is there an overall charge?
A charge that overlies a primary charge. The underlying charge is the primary. In period heraldry the overall charge is almost always an ordinary, and usually a bend. For example, in "Argent, a lion sable surmounted by a bend gules" the bend is the overall charge, and the lion the primary.

Are there tertiary charges on any of the charges?
Tertiary charges are charges which lies entirely on another charge. For example, in "Argent, on a bend sable three mullets argent" the mullets are the tertiary charges. You may have different tertiary charges on different charges (though you may not put tertiaries on tertiary charges); in "Gules, a lion Or charged on the shoulder with an annulet gules, a bordure Or crescenty gules," there are two tertiary charge groups: the annulet on the lion and the crescents on the bordure.

What's the field?
This is the background, whether "Sable" or "Per pale vairy gules and ermine and lozengy azure and Or. Some badges are "fieldless"; that's the field.

Is it simple armory?
It's simple armory if it has "no more than two types of charge directly on the field and has no overall charges." You may have learned it differently, because this rule was changed back in 2003. So, whether or not there are tertiary charges doesn't affect whether it's simple armory or not. Remember, type is not determined by tincture, orientation or position. So, a crescent and a decrescent are the same type, as is a bezant and a plate, and a lion rampant guardant and a lion dormant contourny.

So, here's a quiz: for each one, answer the questions above. Answers are at the end of the internal letter:

  1. Argent, a tree eradicated sable.

  2. Azure, a plate between in fess and increscent and a decrescent.

  3. Sable bezanty, three millrinds argent.

  4. Or, a tower between three roses, a bordure gules.

  5. Per saltire gules and sable, a saltire between in pale two mullets and in fess two lozenges argent.

  6. Gules, on a bend argent three gouttes azure and on a chief argent a sunburst gules.

  7. Argent, a sword overall a bend gules.

  8. Vert, two billets and a lozenge Or.



LAUREL ACTIONS

The following items have been registered by Laurel.

The following items have been returned for further work.

LIONS BLOOD ACTIONS

These are the decisions of the January 2006 Lions Blood meetings.

These items will be forwarded to Laurel

These items are being returned for further work


NEW SUBMISSIONS

Correction to January 2006 Letter

Morgan ap Hugh
The blazon was missing from Morgan ap Hugh's device submission in January. The blazon is: Argent, on a pie inverted gules between two dragonflies purpure a stag statant contourny Or

New Submissions
To be ruled on at the April 2006 Lions Blood Meeting.

1. Aedan Mac Gabraine Blatha An Oir Name & Device, New

Per saltire sable and vert, two gryphons sejant respectant and in base a rose argent.

The submitter will not accept any changes to his name, does not care about meaning/sound/ language/culture, does not want his name to be changed to be authentic. He is interested in a male name and will permit a holding name to be formed.

Aedan is found on the St. Gabriel Medieval Names Archive in
Mari Elspeth nic Bryan (Kathleen M. O'Brien)'s Index of Names in Irish Annals: Áedán at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/mari/AnnalsIndex/Masculine/Aedan.shtml which states that Áedán was found c.700-c.900 in Old Irish and c.900-c.1200 in Middle Irish with documented usage in the Annals ranging between 505 and 949.

Gabraine is documented from the same article as Aedan with an entry for Aedan mac Gabran with a date of 606-609. Variant spellings of the name in the article are as follows: Aedhan mac Gabrain, Aedán macc Gabráin, Aedhain mac Gabrain, and Aedhain maic Gabrain.

Copies are included with the submission.



2. Amicia of the Ruins Madrone Name, New

The submitter will accept any changes to her name. If her name must be changed, she is interested in a name authentic for language/culture of 14th century England. She is interested in a female name and will allow the creation of a holding name.

The submitter indicates that "the first name is well-documented to this time and place" [14th century England - Boar]. She goes on to state that "the byname is locative" and refers to the SCA Shire of the Ruins in Lakeland, Florida. She also states the following: "If you feel you must change the byname to an actual town of the period, please change it to "Amicia de Yorkshire" or "Amicia of Yorkshire." Amicia is documented for Yorkshire in the 14th century."

Amicia is documented from Talan Gwynek's "Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames" at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/reaney.cgi?Amice where the submitter's preferred spelling is dated to 1189-1346.

She dates Amicia to 14th century Yorkshire in another article from the St. Gabriel Medieval Names Archive: Talan Gwynek's "Yorkshire Given Names from 1379" at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/yorkshire/yorkshire.html[1]  in the subsection "Yorkshire Feminine Names from 1379" at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/yorkshire/yorkf.html. Amicia is listed with a frequency of 6.

Locatives as bynames are documented from Talan Gwynek's "A Brief Introduction to Medieval Bynames" at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/bynames and are defined in the article as bynames that identify you "by the place where you live, work, or were born, or by the land you own."

Copies of all documentation is included.

[1] URL is incorrect; correct URL is http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/yorkshire/ - Online IL Editor



3. An Tir, Kingdom of - Ordre de Cheval et Lion   Order Name, New

The kingdom name was registered in 1981.

The submitter will accept any changes necessary for registration. If changes are required, the submitter is most interested in the meaning which is asserted to be "Order of the Horse and Lion." The submitter is not interested in authenticity for either time period or language/culture.

<Ordre de Cheval et Lion> is a constructed French order name meaning "Order of the Horse and Lion." Meradudd Cethin's "Project Ordensnamen" (http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/names/order/) lists a (perhaps legendary?) order of the <Dog and Cock> dated to 500 and attributed to France. Other French orders named after animals include <Lion>, 1080, <Tiercelet>, 1377, <Porcupine>, 1394, <Greyhound>, 1416, and <Dragon>, 12th-14th century.

<Ordre>, <Cheval>, and <Lion> are all modern French words. The Oxford English Dictionary (http://222.oed.com[2])  s.v. <order>, n. gives <ordre> as the Old French, Anglo-Norman, and Middle French word for English <order>. OED s.v. <lion>, n. gives <liun> as the Anglo-French word corresponding to French <lion>. OED s.v. <cheval> confirms that <cheval> is a modern French word (borrowed into English in the 17th century); OED s.v. <chevalier> gives <chevaler>, <chivaler> as Anglo-French spellings and <chevalier> as an Old and modern French spelling, so <cheval> is reasonable as a medieval French spelling.

The submission is signed by Queen Angharad.

[2] URL is incorrect; no correct URL found - Online IL Editor



4. Cathal Colach Grimwith Name & Device - New

Sable, in fess a bow argent and a griffen rampant Or and on a chief gules three arrows inverted bend wise argent

The submitter did not mark a box in the "Action Type" box, however, there is no registered name that matches the submitter's.

The submitter will not accept major changes, wishes a male name, and wishes a name authentic for 6th-10th century Scottish. If his name must be changed, he cares most about the meaning, which 
he asserts to be "Colach - Wicked." He will allow the creation of a holding name.

No documentation was provided for this submission.



5. Giles Lupino Terra Pomaria Name - New

The submitter desires a male name and will allow any changed necessary for registration. If his name must be changed, he cares more about sound. He expresses no interest in authenticity and will allow the formation of a holding name.

Giles is found in E. G. Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names under the header "Giles."

The submitter asserts that the article "Italian Names from Florence, 1427" at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/ferrante/catasto/ supports the formation of Lupino. He gives a list of examples of surnames formed in the style of Lupino, including Agnolino, Calvano, Calviano, Cambio, Cambrino, Bernardo and Bernardino.

Copies of the article are included.



6. Jalida bint Yasamin bint al-Susiya Duncan Chalaidh Name and Device - Resubmission

Vert, a fork and spoon in fess, on a bordure argent semi of mushrooms azure

The submitter will accept any changes, cares most about sound, desires a female name, is not interested in authenticity and will accept a holding name.

Originally submitted as Y{a-}sm{i-}n bint al'-Id bint al-Susa in September 2003, no decision was made on either submission.

Jalida is found in Manuela Marin's Mujeres en al-Andalus in Juliana de Luna's article in process. Copies were provided.

Al Yasamin is found in the same article and book. Juliana states that there are many flower names without the article, such as Banafsj (violet) Bah{a-}r, and Narjis (narcissus).

Susa is a place in modern Iran, mentioned in the Bible. It was destroyed in 1218, according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susa). Juliana believes this is the feminine locator byname from Susa. Al-Susi is the byname of a transmitter of hadith (http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txo/koran.htm).



7. Laurence of Damascus Three Mountains Device - New

Per Pale Argent and Gules, an escallop Counterchanged

The submitter's name was registered in August of 2002.



8. Margaret Fae Blatha An Oir Name & Device - New

Quarterly per pale wavy argent and sable, a rose and a raven sable.

The submitter will not accept any changes to her name. She desires a female name and does not express a preference if changes are required, nor does she wish her name to be authentic. She will allow the creation of a holding name.

Margaret is found in Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Third Edition, page 206.

Fae is found in "Romany (Gypsy) Names) by Arval Benicoeur (Josh Mittleman) and the Academy of Saint Gabriel (no URL is given) as the surname of George Fae.

Copies of the Saint Gabriel article are included.



9. Mathieu Thibaud Chaudeau de Montblanc Seagirt Device - New

Argent, a key palewise wards to dexter sable

The submitter's name was registered in October of 1995.



10. Muirenn inghean Derbail an Dana Grimwith Name & Device - New

Purpure, two swords and a rose slipped and leaved argent

The submitter did not choose an option from the "Action Type" box, however, there is no registered name that matches this submission.

The submitter will not accept major changes to her name, cares most about sound, desires a female name and wishes her name to be authentic for 6th-10th century Irish. She will allow the creation of a holding name.

No documentation was included with this submission.



11. Rois inghean Muirenn Grimwith Name - New

The submitter will not accept major changes and cares most about sound, wishes a female name and wants her name to be authentic for 6th-10th century Irish. She will not allow the formation of a holding name.

No documentation was included with this submission.



12. Shannon O'Duncan Vulkanveldt Name & Device - New

Purpure, a mangoch bendwise or between a mushroom and a floppy chef's hat argent

The submitter will accept any changes necessary for registration, wishes a male name, cares most about sound and wishes a name authentic for Scottish and Irish (no date given).

Shannon is found in The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History by George F. Black, Ph.D. under the header of Shannan. It is a diminutive of the Irish sean meaning "old, wise". Dated spellings are Aschenane, 1376; Achinyane, 1488; Aschennay, 1513; Aschennan, 1548; Aschennane, 1546, 1581, 1582,; Shennane, 1684; and Shennan, 1751. All of these are surnames. Aside from the header, there is no mention of the spelling desired by the submitter.

Duncan is also found in The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning and History by George F. Black, Ph.D. under the header of Duncan. Dated forms include Duncha, c. 1520; Donnchaid, 1467; Dunnchad, 717; Duchad, 965; Donnchadus, c. 1150; Dunecan, c. 1135; Dunecani, c. 1200; Dunecan, 1240-1249; Dunkan, 1367; Duncanson and Dunkanson, 1367; Duncanus, 1402; Jacob Duncan, 1685; and others.

The submitter also lists The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght, 1367 in his documentation notes, but does not include any details or listings. Copies of Black are included.



13. Tita the Wanderer Hartwood Name & Device - New

Azure, a dance Or between three daisies proper.

The submitter will not accept major changes, cares most about sound, wants a female name and is not interested in authenticity. She will allow the formation of a holding name.

Tita is found in the article "Feminine Given Names from the Online Catasto of Florence of 1427" by Arval Benicoeur (Josh Mittleman) at http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/arval/catasto/ with a frequency of 9.

The Wanderer in conjunction with an Italian given name is discussed in the Letter of Acceptances and Returns for Februrary 2005 [Niccolina the Wanderer, 2/05, A-Atlantia]. Quote follows:

Niccolina the Wanderer. Name and device. Per bend sable and purpure, a decrescent and a mullet argent.
The question arose whether this name was two steps from period practice. There appeared to be one step for mixing Italian and English and a second for using the Wanderer, a byname previously declared SCA-compatible. However, Metron Ariston noted:
I would aver that the Lingua Anglica allowance does apply to the byname since it is one of the standard translations for the Italian surname Pellegrino. While I have not been able to find clear-cut examples of pellegrino used as an inherited byname in the early Renaissance period, there is little doubt that it could be used as a descriptive and I was able to find at least one clear-cut baptismal record from the "grey area" for one Maddalena Pellegrino who was baptized on 18 January, 1643, at Girifalco (<http://www.girifalco.net/paginebianche/2000/nov00/PAG12-~2.HTM>).

A check of various Italian-English dictionaries shows wanderer as a standard translation of pellegrino, although pilgrim is the typical translation. Therefore, the byname the Wanderer is registerable as a Lingua Anglica translation of the Italian byname Pellegrino.



14. Tristram O'Shee Glymm Mere Name & Device - New 

Per saltire gules and sable, a calygreyhound rampant argent.

The submitter will not accept any changes, desires a male name, and expresses no interest in authenticity. He will allow the creation of a holding name.

Tristram is found in E.G. Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Third Edition, page 283.

O'Shee is found in the O'Shee is found in the National Library of Ireland Microfilm P. 8301, Genealogical Office Manuscript 164, Pages 142-150. The article indicates that O'Shee is the Aglicized form of O'Shea and is dated to 1582 by the "...archives of the family and the Records of the College of Arms of England by Robert Cooke Esq. Clarencieux King of Arms and Principal Herald of the East, West and South Parts of the Realm of England at the desire and Particular request of Sir Richard O'Shee of Kilkenny..."

"Odanus was the first of the Clann who assumed the Patronymic Name of O'Shea or O'Shee from a Sheadh, one of his Ancestors renowned for Martial Deeds, in obedience to the royal mandate Promulgated by Bryan Boruma, Monarch of Ireland A.D. 1002 to distinguish the different Clans of the Kingdom from each other."



15. Wilfred of Corwen Blatha An Oir Name & Device - New

Per bend sinister Or and barry argent and vert, a brown bear rampant proper collared gules and chained sable

The submitter will not accept any changes, desires a male name, and expresses no interest in authenticity. He will allow the creation of a holding name.

Wilfred is documented from E.G. Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Third Edition, page 293.

Corwen is a town in Denbighsire, Wales, lying on the River Dee. It is best known as the base of Owain Glydwr, the fifteenth century Welsh leader. The town grew as a center for cattle drovers.



Arms of Li Ban ingen Echtigeirn

Written by Li Ban ingen Echtigeirn, Boar Pursuivant

The Answers to Conflict-checking Quiz:

  1. Argent, a tree eradicated sable. Primary: tree; field: argent; simple armory
  2. Azure, a plate between in fess and increscent and a decrescent. Primary: plate and crescents; field: azure; simple armory (remember the two crescents are the same type)
  3. Sable bezanty, three millrinds argent. Primary: millrinds; secondary: bezants; field: sable; simple armory
  4. Or, a tower between three roses, a bordure gules. Primary: tower; secondary: roses; peripheral ordinary: bordure; field: Or; not simple (count the types of charges on the field)
  5. Per saltire gules and sable, on a saltire between in pale two mullets and in fess two lozenges argent Primary: saltire; secondary: mullets and lozenges; field: per saltire gules and sable; not simple (count the types of charges on the field)
  6. Gules, on a bend argent three gouttes azure and on a chief argent a sunburst gules. Primary: bend; peripheral ordinary: chief; tertiary: (1) gouttes (2) sunburst; field: gules; simple armory (remember tertiaries don't count)
  7. Argent, a sword overall a bend gules. Primary: sword; overall: bend; field: argent; not simple (overall charge)
  8. Vert, two billets and a lozenge Or. Primary: billets and lozenge; field: vert; simple armory

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