Ealdormere College of Heralds
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Welcome to the new home for the Kingdom of Ealdormere College of Heralds. We have consulted with our warranted heralds to build a site that includes lots of helpful information. We will continue to keep this page up-to-date.
At the top of this page you'll find a navigation menu which should quickly get you where you need to go.
While we've kept or updated much of the most-used information from the previous website, there are still some blank spaces and pages with rough edges. We're still working to update and polish our new home.
If you find anything broken or missing, please let us know. If you would like to provide pages, documents, essays, photos, or anything else to this website, please contact bee.web.herald@gmail.com
Thank you!
Note: If you're new to heraldry, please contact the Trillium Herald, at trilliumherald@gmail.com to get started!
At the top of this page you'll find a navigation menu which should quickly get you where you need to go.
While we've kept or updated much of the most-used information from the previous website, there are still some blank spaces and pages with rough edges. We're still working to update and polish our new home.
If you find anything broken or missing, please let us know. If you would like to provide pages, documents, essays, photos, or anything else to this website, please contact bee.web.herald@gmail.com
Thank you!
Note: If you're new to heraldry, please contact the Trillium Herald, at trilliumherald@gmail.com to get started!
News Feed
March 2020 LOAR
To the Kingdom of Ealdormere does Lord Willmar Grimsdyke, Seeblatt Herald (responsible for communication with the populace regarding their heraldic submissions) send greetings.
In this troubled time, it is my great pleasure to bring some good news to the Kingdom. This month The Kingdom of Ealdormere had: seven (7) submissions, with six (6) acceptances, one (1) pend, and no returns.
Æthelbert of Whitstone Isle. Badge. (Fieldless) A sparrowhawk's leg bendwise sinister couped à la quise gules sustaining an awl bendwise point to base azure handled Or.
* Bridget Isabella Carma. Name.
* Gaius Tullius Aemilianus. Name and device. Per pale argent and gules, two columns counterchanged and on a chief triangular sable three drinking horns fretted in triangle Or.
Nice Roman name for the first century B.C.E.!
* Lance Kincaid. Name.
* Njáll Hildisson. Name.
The submitter requested authenticity for an unspecified language/culture. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name is authentic for 9th-10th century Iceland.
* Rúna S{o,}lveigardóttir. Device. Quarterly sable and purpure, a sea-unicorn and a bordure engrailed argent.
Cover Content from the November 2018 LOAR
From Wreath: Call for Documentation on Single Items Above a Chevron or Per Chevron Line of Division*
This month we considered a couple of submissions with two charges placed on either side of a chevron or per chevron line of division, which caused the charge at the business end of the chevron to be markedly smaller than its counterpart on the opposite side. This has long been a problem for submitting artists, who often struggle to avoid blurring the distinction between charge groups due to the size discrepancy.
Most examples we have of charges on either sides of chevrons have three charges arranged two and one. Variants on this are incredibly rare, and most involve more than two charges in chief. In order to make a determination of whether to continue allowing a single charge to be centered above the point of a chevron or per chevron line of division under the rules of Core Heraldry, I ask the College's assistance in finding period armorial examples of this practice.
*From Wreath: Charged Held Charges*
This month we considered a submission that had a small maintained charge that was itself charged. Commenters were unanimous in reporting their difficulty in being able to identify the tertiary charge, with several not noticing the charge at all. The submission was returned in part due to lack of documentation for the practice of charging a held charge that is not a means of heraldic display such as an escutcheon or banner. Absent such documentation, charging maintained charges that are not normally forms of heraldic display will not be allowed, due in large part to issues with identification as described above.
*From Wreath: Trilliums*
This month we considered a submission from Caid that involved both a trillium flower and a charged bevilled field, which would have been grounds for return for using two steps from period practice. Eridana *Dolphin* provided an impressive amount of documentation for French trefoils or "tiercefeuilles," including period depictions of European flowers that closely resemble New World trilliums. Because evidence was provided for the existence of such a flower in European flora known in period, this flower shape is no longer considered a step from period practice. However, we will maintain the term "trillium" to specify the leaf-shaped petals that come to
a pinched point, as opposed to the rounder English trefoils or other, more stylized depictions of tiercefeuilles.
*From Wreath: Hangman's Nooses*
This month we considered a submission that featured a hangman's noose which was returned for the use of offensive imagery. Per an entry from the Anti-Defamation League, "The hangman's noose has come to be one of the most powerful visual symbols directed against African-Americans, comparable in the emotions that it evokes to that of the swastika for Jews. Its origins are connected to the history of lynching in America, particularly in the South after the Civil War, when violence or threat of violence replaced slavery as one of the main forms of social control that whites used on African-Americans. The noose quickly became associated with the Ku Klux Klan." Use of nooses as a hate symbol and tool of intimidation has continued to this day. Commenters were unanimous in their view that the charge was offensive and inappropriate in the SCA, and we concur. Hangman's nooses are no longer registerable in the SCA.
*Society Pages*
On January 5, 2019, at the celebration of Twelfth Night in the Kingdom of the East, Their Majesties invested Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald (Regional Deputy for Tir Mara), as a Baroness of Their Court.
At the same event, Their Majesties invested Eginhard d'Aix la Chapelle (Herault Hibou Blanc - French translation Deputy) as a Baron of their Court.
On January 5th, at Coronation/Twelfth Night in the Kingdom of Caid, Their Majesties Agrippa and Dawid elevated Mary Dedwydd verch Gwallter, former Bellows Pursuivant, to the Order of the Laurel.
At the same event, Their Majesties elevated Lachlan of Cromarty, Duellist Herald, to the Order of the Pelican.
Cover Content from the August 2018 Letter of Acceptances and Returns
* From Wreath: IAP and ERA interactionsWe asked commenters to discuss under what circumstances armorial designs registered using an Individually Attested Patterns should be considered for an Existing Registration Allowance. Should they be treated differently from Core Style registrations? Commentary was mixed and inconclusive, largely due to the question being posed as a vague hypothetical situation, rather than having a specific submission upon which to focus. We therefore decline at this time to make a ruling one way or another, and leave the decision to a time when an actual submission might give clarity to the discussion.
* From Pelican: Double given names in HebrewAppendix A currently states that double given names are not found in Jewish names rendered in Hebrew (as opposed to vernacular forms). However, in response to a submission this month, Juetta Copin provided evidence that Ashkenazic Jews sometimes used double given names in Hebrew renderings. Based on this evidence, we rule that double given names are permitted in Ashkenazic Hebrew names and request that Palimpsest update Appendix A accordingly.
* From Pelican: Persian - Arabic combinationsAppendix C currently states that Persian and Arabic can be combined only after 1100 C.E. In response to a submission this month, Ursula Palimpsest provided evidence that Persian and Arabic naming pools substantially overlapped well prior to 1100 C.E. Based on this evidence, we rule that Persian and Arabic can be combined prior to 1100 C.E. and request that Palimpsest update Appendix C accordingly.
* From Morsulus: New Da'ud Code for wynnThe registration of Ædv{w}en Eiríksdóttir this month introduces the Old English character wynn, which represents the sound /w/. Wynn will be represented with the Da'ud code {w} or {W} for the lower case and upper case forms. When converted to Latin-1 for the published database, it will be represented as a "w". As with other letters that are not in Latin-1, the fully Da'ud encoded form will be shown in a note. More information about the character wynn can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynn.
Cover Content from the May 2018 Letter of Acceptances and Returns
*From Wreath: On "Ululant" and Post-Period Steps from Period Practice*
SENA A2B4 defines elements which are a step from period practice under core rules. They include non-European armorial elements, non-European plants and animals, and other European artifacts, all of which must be documented before 1600. These three categories are demonstrably objective.
But there's a fourth category, SENA A2B4d, which allows for certain charges and motifs which appear neither in European heraldry nor in the previously mentioned categories. These include elements such as paw prints, compass stars, and birds (other than an eagle) displayed. These are tolerated because they're remarkably popular and function effectively as armorial elements without causing undue confusion. However, inclusion or exclusion of these charges in past rulings was far more subjective, and such elements could cease being registerable if they became problematic.
Ululant Wolves
It is with this background in mind that we come to the subject of ululant wolves. First appearing in the May 1982 LoAR, the use of ululant, or howling, wolves (and other canids) is long and broad, with just under 200 existing registrations of the term. The term and practice have no basis in period armory or art, but its use in post-period motifs (notably in the American southwest) has led to its popularity in the SCA.
As a head posture on a full or demi-beast, its use is not wholly remarkable. Due to period heralds being largely unconcerned with
consistency in head placement and orientation on animate charges, the College of Arms doesn't grant any difference between beasts with heads guardant, regardant, or facing the same direction as the torso. In these instances, use of ululant had no impact on conflict, and was merely a note to artists to place the head in the preferred orientation for the submitter.
Heads as stand-alone charges, however, present an altogether different scenario. A head facing dexter gets a DC from either a head affronty or a head contourny, and (because SENA A5G7 grants a DC for orientation) also has difference from a head bendwise or palewise. However, ululant heads blur the distinction between orientations, with the angle of registered examples ranging from midway between fesswise and bendwise to fully palewise. This ambiguity in blazon demonstrates the problem with including this post-period motif in SCA heraldry.
Therefore, we will be discontinuing use of the term ululant in SCA armory and removing it from Appendix G. When used with a whole or demi wolf, a raised head will be treated as an unblazoned artistic detail and allowed as long as identifiability of the creature is maintained. Depictions of animal heads as stand-alone charges should have the heads in a clearly recognizable orientation, with the neck either perpendicular to the head (couped, erased) or parallel (couped close).
Pending documentation, submissions using ululant heads appearing on external letters after September 30, 2018, will no longer be registered.
*From Wreath: Orientation of Maintained and Sustained Charges*
In the August 2015 Cover Letter, SENA A5C3 was modified with the following ruling:
Therefore, effective immediately, we are adopting the following definition:
a charge, held or conjoined, which is clearly not a co-primary charge is equivalent to the former definition of sustained if it is identifiable, no matter what its size. Sustained charges grant a cadency difference - currently referred to as a "DC". This standard is intended to include charges which are much smaller than the current definition: a charge large enough to grant difference as a tertiary charge will grant one as held/conjoined charge. Held/conjoined charges must have good contrast with their background.
While this ruling resolved the long-disputed and ultimately untenable distinction between maintained and sustained charges, subsequent interpretation of the precedent raised a new issue: If a sustained charge is the equivalent of a secondary or tertiary charge (in that it must be at least as large as a tertiary charge would be), and if both secondary and tertiary charges receive a DC for orientation, then the orientation of sustained charges must be blazonable so that they can be appropriately compared.
Unfortunately, this interpretation had the unforeseen consequence of several returns for armory with held charges blurring the distinction between orientations, despite the charges being held in a natural manner as seen in period heraldry. Emulating period heraldic style is one of the goals of the College of Arms.
Therefore, effective immediately, maintained and sustained secondary charges will no longer receive a DC for orientation, and as such will no longer be returned for blurring the distinction between orientations.
*From Pelican: Alternate Titles in Latin and Estonian*
The February 23 Palimpsest letter proposed changes to the Latin and Estonian lists of alternative titles. We thank ffride wlffsdotter and Pietari Uv, Töllöö Herald, for their research into Estonian titles.
We approve *nobilis* as a gender-neutral title in medieval Latin at the rank of an Award or Grant of Arms. This title was typically used after a given name, as in *Haroldus nobilis*.
In Estonian, we approve *Perris Würst* as a masculine title at the rank of a Coronet. This title is appropriate for an heir to the throne rather than a territorial ruler. Likewise, we approve *Perris Würsti Prawwa* as a feminine Estonian title at the rank of a Coronet. This title is also appropriate for an heir.
We release the following Estonian titles, since we have no evidence they were used in our period: *Krahv* (formerly a masculine title at the County level), *Krahvinna* (formerly a feminine title at the County level), *Vikont* (formerly a masculine title at the Viscounty level), *Vikontess* (formerly a feminine title at the Viscounty level), *Parun* (formerly a masculine title at the baronial level), *Paruness* (formerly a feminine title at the baronial level), and *Söör* (formerly a masculine title for Knight).
*From Pelican: Lingua Anglica and Lingua Societatis*
The March 1 Palimpsest Rules Letter proposed changes to SENA that wouldreplace our current Lingua Anglica rules, which allow the use of modern English in names in certain contexts, with Lingua Societatis, which will permit the use of other modern languages in certain contexts. Commentary raised many excellent questions about the intent and scope of the proposed rules. Accordingly, we are directing Palimpsest to revise the proposal with the following questions in mind.
The draft rules proposed allowing submitters to use either the language of their country of residence or the language of their country of citizenship and required a letter of attestation to prove country of citizenship. Commentary was mixed about the value of Lingua Societatis for country of citizenship and skeptical of the need for elaborate attestations. We ask Palimpsest to focus on country of residence in the revised proposal.
Commenters also raised important questions about grammar for bynames using SCA branch names. The current Branch Name Allowance allows the use of registered branch names in their exact form, together with the English word "of". However, some modern languages, such as Finnish, typically render locatives in an inflected form. We ask Palimpsest to propose Lingua Societatis rules and examples that take this linguistic difference into account.
*From Pelican: Changes to SENA PN.3.C*
The Palimpsest February 10 Rules Letter proposed multiple changes to the personal name conflict rules in SENA PN.3.C. We are approving those changes, with the addition of some examples. We hereby direct Palimpsest to propose parallel changes to the non-personal name conflict rules.
*Society Pages*
On June 9, 2018, at Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, Malcolm Brigantia created Yehuda ben Moshe, most recently Blue Tyger Herald, a Herald Extraordinary for his extensive work for the East Kingdom and the Society.
To the Kingdom of Ealdormere does Lord Willmar Grimsdyke, Seeblatt Herald (responsible for communication with the populace regarding their heraldic submissions) send greetings.
In this troubled time, it is my great pleasure to bring some good news to the Kingdom. This month The Kingdom of Ealdormere had: seven (7) submissions, with six (6) acceptances, one (1) pend, and no returns.
Æthelbert of Whitstone Isle. Badge. (Fieldless) A sparrowhawk's leg bendwise sinister couped à la quise gules sustaining an awl bendwise point to base azure handled Or.
* Bridget Isabella Carma. Name.
* Gaius Tullius Aemilianus. Name and device. Per pale argent and gules, two columns counterchanged and on a chief triangular sable three drinking horns fretted in triangle Or.
Nice Roman name for the first century B.C.E.!
* Lance Kincaid. Name.
* Njáll Hildisson. Name.
The submitter requested authenticity for an unspecified language/culture. This request was not summarized on the Letter of Intent. Fortunately, Seraphina Ragged Staff identified the authenticity request during commentary, allowing sufficient time for research. This name is authentic for 9th-10th century Iceland.
* Rúna S{o,}lveigardóttir. Device. Quarterly sable and purpure, a sea-unicorn and a bordure engrailed argent.
Cover Content from the November 2018 LOAR
From Wreath: Call for Documentation on Single Items Above a Chevron or Per Chevron Line of Division*
This month we considered a couple of submissions with two charges placed on either side of a chevron or per chevron line of division, which caused the charge at the business end of the chevron to be markedly smaller than its counterpart on the opposite side. This has long been a problem for submitting artists, who often struggle to avoid blurring the distinction between charge groups due to the size discrepancy.
Most examples we have of charges on either sides of chevrons have three charges arranged two and one. Variants on this are incredibly rare, and most involve more than two charges in chief. In order to make a determination of whether to continue allowing a single charge to be centered above the point of a chevron or per chevron line of division under the rules of Core Heraldry, I ask the College's assistance in finding period armorial examples of this practice.
*From Wreath: Charged Held Charges*
This month we considered a submission that had a small maintained charge that was itself charged. Commenters were unanimous in reporting their difficulty in being able to identify the tertiary charge, with several not noticing the charge at all. The submission was returned in part due to lack of documentation for the practice of charging a held charge that is not a means of heraldic display such as an escutcheon or banner. Absent such documentation, charging maintained charges that are not normally forms of heraldic display will not be allowed, due in large part to issues with identification as described above.
*From Wreath: Trilliums*
This month we considered a submission from Caid that involved both a trillium flower and a charged bevilled field, which would have been grounds for return for using two steps from period practice. Eridana *Dolphin* provided an impressive amount of documentation for French trefoils or "tiercefeuilles," including period depictions of European flowers that closely resemble New World trilliums. Because evidence was provided for the existence of such a flower in European flora known in period, this flower shape is no longer considered a step from period practice. However, we will maintain the term "trillium" to specify the leaf-shaped petals that come to
a pinched point, as opposed to the rounder English trefoils or other, more stylized depictions of tiercefeuilles.
*From Wreath: Hangman's Nooses*
This month we considered a submission that featured a hangman's noose which was returned for the use of offensive imagery. Per an entry from the Anti-Defamation League, "The hangman's noose has come to be one of the most powerful visual symbols directed against African-Americans, comparable in the emotions that it evokes to that of the swastika for Jews. Its origins are connected to the history of lynching in America, particularly in the South after the Civil War, when violence or threat of violence replaced slavery as one of the main forms of social control that whites used on African-Americans. The noose quickly became associated with the Ku Klux Klan." Use of nooses as a hate symbol and tool of intimidation has continued to this day. Commenters were unanimous in their view that the charge was offensive and inappropriate in the SCA, and we concur. Hangman's nooses are no longer registerable in the SCA.
*Society Pages*
On January 5, 2019, at the celebration of Twelfth Night in the Kingdom of the East, Their Majesties invested Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald (Regional Deputy for Tir Mara), as a Baroness of Their Court.
At the same event, Their Majesties invested Eginhard d'Aix la Chapelle (Herault Hibou Blanc - French translation Deputy) as a Baron of their Court.
On January 5th, at Coronation/Twelfth Night in the Kingdom of Caid, Their Majesties Agrippa and Dawid elevated Mary Dedwydd verch Gwallter, former Bellows Pursuivant, to the Order of the Laurel.
At the same event, Their Majesties elevated Lachlan of Cromarty, Duellist Herald, to the Order of the Pelican.
Cover Content from the August 2018 Letter of Acceptances and Returns
* From Wreath: IAP and ERA interactionsWe asked commenters to discuss under what circumstances armorial designs registered using an Individually Attested Patterns should be considered for an Existing Registration Allowance. Should they be treated differently from Core Style registrations? Commentary was mixed and inconclusive, largely due to the question being posed as a vague hypothetical situation, rather than having a specific submission upon which to focus. We therefore decline at this time to make a ruling one way or another, and leave the decision to a time when an actual submission might give clarity to the discussion.
* From Pelican: Double given names in HebrewAppendix A currently states that double given names are not found in Jewish names rendered in Hebrew (as opposed to vernacular forms). However, in response to a submission this month, Juetta Copin provided evidence that Ashkenazic Jews sometimes used double given names in Hebrew renderings. Based on this evidence, we rule that double given names are permitted in Ashkenazic Hebrew names and request that Palimpsest update Appendix A accordingly.
* From Pelican: Persian - Arabic combinationsAppendix C currently states that Persian and Arabic can be combined only after 1100 C.E. In response to a submission this month, Ursula Palimpsest provided evidence that Persian and Arabic naming pools substantially overlapped well prior to 1100 C.E. Based on this evidence, we rule that Persian and Arabic can be combined prior to 1100 C.E. and request that Palimpsest update Appendix C accordingly.
* From Morsulus: New Da'ud Code for wynnThe registration of Ædv{w}en Eiríksdóttir this month introduces the Old English character wynn, which represents the sound /w/. Wynn will be represented with the Da'ud code {w} or {W} for the lower case and upper case forms. When converted to Latin-1 for the published database, it will be represented as a "w". As with other letters that are not in Latin-1, the fully Da'ud encoded form will be shown in a note. More information about the character wynn can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynn.
Cover Content from the May 2018 Letter of Acceptances and Returns
*From Wreath: On "Ululant" and Post-Period Steps from Period Practice*
SENA A2B4 defines elements which are a step from period practice under core rules. They include non-European armorial elements, non-European plants and animals, and other European artifacts, all of which must be documented before 1600. These three categories are demonstrably objective.
But there's a fourth category, SENA A2B4d, which allows for certain charges and motifs which appear neither in European heraldry nor in the previously mentioned categories. These include elements such as paw prints, compass stars, and birds (other than an eagle) displayed. These are tolerated because they're remarkably popular and function effectively as armorial elements without causing undue confusion. However, inclusion or exclusion of these charges in past rulings was far more subjective, and such elements could cease being registerable if they became problematic.
Ululant Wolves
It is with this background in mind that we come to the subject of ululant wolves. First appearing in the May 1982 LoAR, the use of ululant, or howling, wolves (and other canids) is long and broad, with just under 200 existing registrations of the term. The term and practice have no basis in period armory or art, but its use in post-period motifs (notably in the American southwest) has led to its popularity in the SCA.
As a head posture on a full or demi-beast, its use is not wholly remarkable. Due to period heralds being largely unconcerned with
consistency in head placement and orientation on animate charges, the College of Arms doesn't grant any difference between beasts with heads guardant, regardant, or facing the same direction as the torso. In these instances, use of ululant had no impact on conflict, and was merely a note to artists to place the head in the preferred orientation for the submitter.
Heads as stand-alone charges, however, present an altogether different scenario. A head facing dexter gets a DC from either a head affronty or a head contourny, and (because SENA A5G7 grants a DC for orientation) also has difference from a head bendwise or palewise. However, ululant heads blur the distinction between orientations, with the angle of registered examples ranging from midway between fesswise and bendwise to fully palewise. This ambiguity in blazon demonstrates the problem with including this post-period motif in SCA heraldry.
Therefore, we will be discontinuing use of the term ululant in SCA armory and removing it from Appendix G. When used with a whole or demi wolf, a raised head will be treated as an unblazoned artistic detail and allowed as long as identifiability of the creature is maintained. Depictions of animal heads as stand-alone charges should have the heads in a clearly recognizable orientation, with the neck either perpendicular to the head (couped, erased) or parallel (couped close).
Pending documentation, submissions using ululant heads appearing on external letters after September 30, 2018, will no longer be registered.
*From Wreath: Orientation of Maintained and Sustained Charges*
In the August 2015 Cover Letter, SENA A5C3 was modified with the following ruling:
Therefore, effective immediately, we are adopting the following definition:
a charge, held or conjoined, which is clearly not a co-primary charge is equivalent to the former definition of sustained if it is identifiable, no matter what its size. Sustained charges grant a cadency difference - currently referred to as a "DC". This standard is intended to include charges which are much smaller than the current definition: a charge large enough to grant difference as a tertiary charge will grant one as held/conjoined charge. Held/conjoined charges must have good contrast with their background.
While this ruling resolved the long-disputed and ultimately untenable distinction between maintained and sustained charges, subsequent interpretation of the precedent raised a new issue: If a sustained charge is the equivalent of a secondary or tertiary charge (in that it must be at least as large as a tertiary charge would be), and if both secondary and tertiary charges receive a DC for orientation, then the orientation of sustained charges must be blazonable so that they can be appropriately compared.
Unfortunately, this interpretation had the unforeseen consequence of several returns for armory with held charges blurring the distinction between orientations, despite the charges being held in a natural manner as seen in period heraldry. Emulating period heraldic style is one of the goals of the College of Arms.
Therefore, effective immediately, maintained and sustained secondary charges will no longer receive a DC for orientation, and as such will no longer be returned for blurring the distinction between orientations.
*From Pelican: Alternate Titles in Latin and Estonian*
The February 23 Palimpsest letter proposed changes to the Latin and Estonian lists of alternative titles. We thank ffride wlffsdotter and Pietari Uv, Töllöö Herald, for their research into Estonian titles.
We approve *nobilis* as a gender-neutral title in medieval Latin at the rank of an Award or Grant of Arms. This title was typically used after a given name, as in *Haroldus nobilis*.
In Estonian, we approve *Perris Würst* as a masculine title at the rank of a Coronet. This title is appropriate for an heir to the throne rather than a territorial ruler. Likewise, we approve *Perris Würsti Prawwa* as a feminine Estonian title at the rank of a Coronet. This title is also appropriate for an heir.
We release the following Estonian titles, since we have no evidence they were used in our period: *Krahv* (formerly a masculine title at the County level), *Krahvinna* (formerly a feminine title at the County level), *Vikont* (formerly a masculine title at the Viscounty level), *Vikontess* (formerly a feminine title at the Viscounty level), *Parun* (formerly a masculine title at the baronial level), *Paruness* (formerly a feminine title at the baronial level), and *Söör* (formerly a masculine title for Knight).
*From Pelican: Lingua Anglica and Lingua Societatis*
The March 1 Palimpsest Rules Letter proposed changes to SENA that wouldreplace our current Lingua Anglica rules, which allow the use of modern English in names in certain contexts, with Lingua Societatis, which will permit the use of other modern languages in certain contexts. Commentary raised many excellent questions about the intent and scope of the proposed rules. Accordingly, we are directing Palimpsest to revise the proposal with the following questions in mind.
The draft rules proposed allowing submitters to use either the language of their country of residence or the language of their country of citizenship and required a letter of attestation to prove country of citizenship. Commentary was mixed about the value of Lingua Societatis for country of citizenship and skeptical of the need for elaborate attestations. We ask Palimpsest to focus on country of residence in the revised proposal.
Commenters also raised important questions about grammar for bynames using SCA branch names. The current Branch Name Allowance allows the use of registered branch names in their exact form, together with the English word "of". However, some modern languages, such as Finnish, typically render locatives in an inflected form. We ask Palimpsest to propose Lingua Societatis rules and examples that take this linguistic difference into account.
*From Pelican: Changes to SENA PN.3.C*
The Palimpsest February 10 Rules Letter proposed multiple changes to the personal name conflict rules in SENA PN.3.C. We are approving those changes, with the addition of some examples. We hereby direct Palimpsest to propose parallel changes to the non-personal name conflict rules.
*Society Pages*
On June 9, 2018, at Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium, Malcolm Brigantia created Yehuda ben Moshe, most recently Blue Tyger Herald, a Herald Extraordinary for his extensive work for the East Kingdom and the Society.
Analyzing Submissions Month-by-Month (posted June 18, 2018)
We are fortunate that the Online System for Commentary and Response (OSCAR) is capable of tracking statistics related to submissions, both for internal and external letters of submission. This allows me, with Principal Herald access, to see our submission statistics from 2007 to the present - that over ten years of submissions! From this data, I issued a challenge to the seneschallate of Ealdormere - initially to seek discussion in their groups about donating funds to support submissions within Ealdormere, but found many interesting things that I thought I'd share with the College and interested nobles.
You can see from the chart to the left, that the number of internal submissions has continued to climb each year, with only 29 in our first year using OSCAR, to six times that number in the past two years.
We are fortunate that the Online System for Commentary and Response (OSCAR) is capable of tracking statistics related to submissions, both for internal and external letters of submission. This allows me, with Principal Herald access, to see our submission statistics from 2007 to the present - that over ten years of submissions! From this data, I issued a challenge to the seneschallate of Ealdormere - initially to seek discussion in their groups about donating funds to support submissions within Ealdormere, but found many interesting things that I thought I'd share with the College and interested nobles.
You can see from the chart to the left, that the number of internal submissions has continued to climb each year, with only 29 in our first year using OSCAR, to six times that number in the past two years.
In addition to a year-by-year analysis, I have completed a month-to-month trend analysis. As expected, September does have a larger volume of submissions - since many nobles submit their names and devices at Herald's Point at Pennsic War. However, there is an earlier bump in the year, in April. Although it's a bit messy, the chart below illustrates the month-by-month volume of submissions between 2007-2018.
In order to determine a range of potential submissions throughout the year, I took the date from 2013 to 2017 to average out the number of submissions each month. This also gave me a potential range, and the associated costs, for monthly submissions. The table on the right gives the month-by-month low to high average number of submissions in this year range.
As a result of this year's challenge, we have had the Shire of Trinovantia Nova and Barony of Ben Dunfirth step forward to donate funds towards this year's submissions. I'd like to thank both groups for their support, and urge heralds to discuss the benefits of making a donation to the College to support submissions throughout the year.
If you have any questions about this analysis, or how your group can help support the College, let me know at trilliumherald@gmail.com
Yours in Service
Sciath Trillium
*From Laurel: New Precedents Editor*
I'm pleased to announce that we're shortly going to be kicking off a project to organize precedents -- the collection of Pelican and Wreath decisions that we use to interpret the application of SENA to submissions. Many years ago, the old system ceased to work; we're restarting using some new strategies.
This project will be led by Beatrice Domenici della Campana; we've historically called this position precedents editor. Signora Beatrice
Domenici della Campana started as a herald in A.S. XXXI in the Shire of Coeur du Val in An Tir, moved through the heraldic collective of Dragon's Mist, An Tir, and through Tree Girt Sea/Ayreton, Midrealm, before landing in her current home of the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr, Northshield. She's served as a local herald, as Dexter Gauntlet Herald (precedence, An Tir), as Isendun Herald (notifications, Northshield), twice as second in charge of Pennsic Heralds' Point, and has recently been working as a projects
deputy to Palimpsest. She'll use the title Green Staff Herald until we can register something suitable for the position.
We should have further news about the project and how people can help by Known World in June.
*From Palimpsest: Proposed Addition to Administrative Handbook*
In order to bring our requirements for signatures of heraldic wills into line with our requirements for signatures of permissions to conflict, we propose that the following language become a new section, IV.G.7, of the Administrative Handbook:
The physical signature (or a facsimile thereof) of the person making the will is preferred. If a physical signature is not available, an emailed signature is permitted, but the identity of the person making the will must be confirmed through the personal knowledge of a Kingdom Principal Herald or a Kingdom Submissions Herald. In general, that means face to face or voice contact with the person giving permission.
*From Wreath: Quadrupeds Affronty*
On the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for armorial examples of quadrupeds affronty, to determine whether prior precedent about dragons "displayed" (i.e. statant erect affronty) being a step from period practice should be overturned. The intent of the request was to determine whether quadrupeds affronty were common in period armory. If so, then having a dragon affronty was a natural extension of that pattern and should not be penalized.
Sometimes, research takes you to conclusions you did not even anticipate.
We are indebted to Bruce Batonvert for reviewing his substantial library for evidence of quadrupeds affronty. In his search, only one example of a quadruped affronty borne by someone in period was found: the arms of die Schertlin von Burtenbach, *Azure/Sable, a lion sejant affronty Or maintaining in its dexter paw a key argent and in its sinister paw a fleur de lis Or*, recorded in Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, 1605, and the Sammlung von Wappen, c.1600 (BSB Cod.Icon 307:520).
A fair number of examples of lions sejant erect are found in crests, most notably in the crest of the King of Scots. However, the direction that the crests face appears to be entirely dependent upon the direction of the helm; all examples of crests with lions affronty also had the helm affronty. When the helm of the King of Scots faced dexter or sinister, such as in the Armorial de Gelre c.1370, Konrad Grünenberg's Armorial of c.1480, and the Sammelband mehrerer Wappenbucher c.1530, the crest had the lion in profile in the same direction.
While the basic philosophy of SCA armory is that if you can find an example of a charge, field division, or posture anywhere in period, it can be incorporated into SCA armory under core rules, there is also the proviso that certain practices (e.g. violations of the rule of tincture) would require more evidence in order to be used. Based on period examples, the only affronty posture for quadrupeds that is justifiable at all is *sejant erect affronty,* and even that has only one example that isn't dependent upon circumstances outside the crest itself.
Therefore, after the August 2018 LoAR, use of the posture *sejant erect affronty* will be a step from period practice for non-lions, whether winged or not. All other affronty postures for quadrupeds will be disallowed after the August 2018 LoAR unless documentation is provided.
*From Wreath: Putting Dormant to Rest*
As above, on the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for commentary to assist submitters in depicting animals dormant, as armory with charges in that posture has frequently been returned for redraw due to lack of identifiability. The intent of the request was that if we considered the examples of dormant found in tracts, we could give definitive guidelines on how to depict beasts dormant in a reliably recognizable manner.
It was noted in the LoPaD that "Dormant is found in period heraldic tracts as a theoretical posture (Legh's *Accedens of Armory*, 1576, fol.44, attributes *Azure, a lion dormant Or* to the Tribe of Judah), but one that is not found in actual armory prior to the 17th century." The same posture also appears in Bossewell's *Workes of Armorie*, 1592. Upon review of both the provided emblazons and descriptions of these tracts, however, it's revealed that the lion of Judah is not in a posture we have been using in the SCA. Legh's depiction of dormant is a variant of his rendering of couchant, with the spine horizontal, forepaws bent, hind legs tucked, tail
situated away from the body, and torso lifted up off of the plane formed by the limbs. The only difference is in placement of the head. Rather than situated above the shoulders and perpendicular to the spine, the head extends out parallel to the spine, set just above the paws. Bossewell's lion is in a similar posture, with the head lowered so that its chin touches the top of its forepaws. Neither of them is dormant as submitters have been interpreting it, namely completely at rest and asleep.
The text description of the posture likewise makes it clear that the intent is not to depict an unconscious animal. Legh's tract has the following dialogue between master and student: "Q: Why do ye make him with his eies open & cal him dormant? A: Because isadore sayeth, their slepe is not with close eyen." Bossewelle also cites Isidore, noting "Isidore sayeth, that the Lyons eies are as though he were awake, when he sleapeth. Cum dormient, vigilant oculi."
When animals are depicted in SCA armory as completely asleep, with the silhouette obscured by the limbs tucked into the torso and the head resting against the forepaws, the charge itself often becomes unidentifiable. The depictions of dormant in heraldic tracts allow for identification of the animal, but do not match the popular understanding of the posture, nor do they justify the intent of most submitters to depict an animal with their bodies at rest and sound asleep.
While the College of Arms' policy generally allows for practices that are only attested in heraldic tracts, exceptions to this are made when the practice hinders clarity and identifiability, such as chasing/adumbration. Allowance of the term "dormant" in SCA heraldry has caused consistent hindrance in clarity and identifiability.
After the August 2018 LoAR, use of the term *dormant* will be discontinued, and armory submissions with asleep or unconscious animals will be returned. Charges in postures following the examples of Legh and Bossewell will be blazoned as *couchant, head lowered* and registered only if all identifying features are clearly visible in silhouette.
*Society Pages: News about Heralds in the Society*
On January 13, at Meridies' 40th Anniversary, Their Majesties elevated Guntram von Köln, Lucis Herald (reporting), to the Order of the Pelican.
The next day, Mathias Blackett, Torch Herald (courts), was also elevated to the Order of the Pelican.
On January 14, at the final court of Christian Bane and Helene Lyon d'Anjou in the Kingdom of An Tir, Tove æt Horsleigh, formerly known as Taraðan banMarca, pursuivant of the Shire of Midhaven from 1988 to 2013, was elevated to the Order of the Pelican
Also that day, Kateline MacFarlane, Mountains Pursuivant of the Barony of Three Mountains, former Mano d'Oro Herald and who has spent many years active in the service of heraldry in An Tir, was created a Herald Extraordinary.
And finally that day, Luaithrend inghean Uilliam, former Basilisk Pursuivant of the Barony of Wastekeep, was admitted into the Order of the Pelican.
On February 10, at Bardic and A&S Champions, Their Majesties of the East inducted Violet Hughes, Sea Star Pursuivant of the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn, into the Order of the Silver Crescent. The Silver Crescent is the East's grant-level service award.
On February 21, at Estrella War, Aten Principal Herald created Dame Anita Challis an Herald Extraordinary.
On March 3, at Baronial Investiture Anniversary, Their Highnesses Brennan and Caoilfhionn, on behalf of the Crown of the East, inducted Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald, into the Order of the Silver Crescent.
As a result of this year's challenge, we have had the Shire of Trinovantia Nova and Barony of Ben Dunfirth step forward to donate funds towards this year's submissions. I'd like to thank both groups for their support, and urge heralds to discuss the benefits of making a donation to the College to support submissions throughout the year.
If you have any questions about this analysis, or how your group can help support the College, let me know at trilliumherald@gmail.com
Yours in Service
Sciath Trillium
*From Laurel: New Precedents Editor*
I'm pleased to announce that we're shortly going to be kicking off a project to organize precedents -- the collection of Pelican and Wreath decisions that we use to interpret the application of SENA to submissions. Many years ago, the old system ceased to work; we're restarting using some new strategies.
This project will be led by Beatrice Domenici della Campana; we've historically called this position precedents editor. Signora Beatrice
Domenici della Campana started as a herald in A.S. XXXI in the Shire of Coeur du Val in An Tir, moved through the heraldic collective of Dragon's Mist, An Tir, and through Tree Girt Sea/Ayreton, Midrealm, before landing in her current home of the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr, Northshield. She's served as a local herald, as Dexter Gauntlet Herald (precedence, An Tir), as Isendun Herald (notifications, Northshield), twice as second in charge of Pennsic Heralds' Point, and has recently been working as a projects
deputy to Palimpsest. She'll use the title Green Staff Herald until we can register something suitable for the position.
We should have further news about the project and how people can help by Known World in June.
*From Palimpsest: Proposed Addition to Administrative Handbook*
In order to bring our requirements for signatures of heraldic wills into line with our requirements for signatures of permissions to conflict, we propose that the following language become a new section, IV.G.7, of the Administrative Handbook:
The physical signature (or a facsimile thereof) of the person making the will is preferred. If a physical signature is not available, an emailed signature is permitted, but the identity of the person making the will must be confirmed through the personal knowledge of a Kingdom Principal Herald or a Kingdom Submissions Herald. In general, that means face to face or voice contact with the person giving permission.
*From Wreath: Quadrupeds Affronty*
On the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for armorial examples of quadrupeds affronty, to determine whether prior precedent about dragons "displayed" (i.e. statant erect affronty) being a step from period practice should be overturned. The intent of the request was to determine whether quadrupeds affronty were common in period armory. If so, then having a dragon affronty was a natural extension of that pattern and should not be penalized.
Sometimes, research takes you to conclusions you did not even anticipate.
We are indebted to Bruce Batonvert for reviewing his substantial library for evidence of quadrupeds affronty. In his search, only one example of a quadruped affronty borne by someone in period was found: the arms of die Schertlin von Burtenbach, *Azure/Sable, a lion sejant affronty Or maintaining in its dexter paw a key argent and in its sinister paw a fleur de lis Or*, recorded in Siebmacher's Wappenbuch, 1605, and the Sammlung von Wappen, c.1600 (BSB Cod.Icon 307:520).
A fair number of examples of lions sejant erect are found in crests, most notably in the crest of the King of Scots. However, the direction that the crests face appears to be entirely dependent upon the direction of the helm; all examples of crests with lions affronty also had the helm affronty. When the helm of the King of Scots faced dexter or sinister, such as in the Armorial de Gelre c.1370, Konrad Grünenberg's Armorial of c.1480, and the Sammelband mehrerer Wappenbucher c.1530, the crest had the lion in profile in the same direction.
While the basic philosophy of SCA armory is that if you can find an example of a charge, field division, or posture anywhere in period, it can be incorporated into SCA armory under core rules, there is also the proviso that certain practices (e.g. violations of the rule of tincture) would require more evidence in order to be used. Based on period examples, the only affronty posture for quadrupeds that is justifiable at all is *sejant erect affronty,* and even that has only one example that isn't dependent upon circumstances outside the crest itself.
Therefore, after the August 2018 LoAR, use of the posture *sejant erect affronty* will be a step from period practice for non-lions, whether winged or not. All other affronty postures for quadrupeds will be disallowed after the August 2018 LoAR unless documentation is provided.
*From Wreath: Putting Dormant to Rest*
As above, on the October 5, 2017, LoPaD, we asked commenters for commentary to assist submitters in depicting animals dormant, as armory with charges in that posture has frequently been returned for redraw due to lack of identifiability. The intent of the request was that if we considered the examples of dormant found in tracts, we could give definitive guidelines on how to depict beasts dormant in a reliably recognizable manner.
It was noted in the LoPaD that "Dormant is found in period heraldic tracts as a theoretical posture (Legh's *Accedens of Armory*, 1576, fol.44, attributes *Azure, a lion dormant Or* to the Tribe of Judah), but one that is not found in actual armory prior to the 17th century." The same posture also appears in Bossewell's *Workes of Armorie*, 1592. Upon review of both the provided emblazons and descriptions of these tracts, however, it's revealed that the lion of Judah is not in a posture we have been using in the SCA. Legh's depiction of dormant is a variant of his rendering of couchant, with the spine horizontal, forepaws bent, hind legs tucked, tail
situated away from the body, and torso lifted up off of the plane formed by the limbs. The only difference is in placement of the head. Rather than situated above the shoulders and perpendicular to the spine, the head extends out parallel to the spine, set just above the paws. Bossewell's lion is in a similar posture, with the head lowered so that its chin touches the top of its forepaws. Neither of them is dormant as submitters have been interpreting it, namely completely at rest and asleep.
The text description of the posture likewise makes it clear that the intent is not to depict an unconscious animal. Legh's tract has the following dialogue between master and student: "Q: Why do ye make him with his eies open & cal him dormant? A: Because isadore sayeth, their slepe is not with close eyen." Bossewelle also cites Isidore, noting "Isidore sayeth, that the Lyons eies are as though he were awake, when he sleapeth. Cum dormient, vigilant oculi."
When animals are depicted in SCA armory as completely asleep, with the silhouette obscured by the limbs tucked into the torso and the head resting against the forepaws, the charge itself often becomes unidentifiable. The depictions of dormant in heraldic tracts allow for identification of the animal, but do not match the popular understanding of the posture, nor do they justify the intent of most submitters to depict an animal with their bodies at rest and sound asleep.
While the College of Arms' policy generally allows for practices that are only attested in heraldic tracts, exceptions to this are made when the practice hinders clarity and identifiability, such as chasing/adumbration. Allowance of the term "dormant" in SCA heraldry has caused consistent hindrance in clarity and identifiability.
After the August 2018 LoAR, use of the term *dormant* will be discontinued, and armory submissions with asleep or unconscious animals will be returned. Charges in postures following the examples of Legh and Bossewell will be blazoned as *couchant, head lowered* and registered only if all identifying features are clearly visible in silhouette.
*Society Pages: News about Heralds in the Society*
On January 13, at Meridies' 40th Anniversary, Their Majesties elevated Guntram von Köln, Lucis Herald (reporting), to the Order of the Pelican.
The next day, Mathias Blackett, Torch Herald (courts), was also elevated to the Order of the Pelican.
On January 14, at the final court of Christian Bane and Helene Lyon d'Anjou in the Kingdom of An Tir, Tove æt Horsleigh, formerly known as Taraðan banMarca, pursuivant of the Shire of Midhaven from 1988 to 2013, was elevated to the Order of the Pelican
Also that day, Kateline MacFarlane, Mountains Pursuivant of the Barony of Three Mountains, former Mano d'Oro Herald and who has spent many years active in the service of heraldry in An Tir, was created a Herald Extraordinary.
And finally that day, Luaithrend inghean Uilliam, former Basilisk Pursuivant of the Barony of Wastekeep, was admitted into the Order of the Pelican.
On February 10, at Bardic and A&S Champions, Their Majesties of the East inducted Violet Hughes, Sea Star Pursuivant of the Barony of An Dubhaigeainn, into the Order of the Silver Crescent. The Silver Crescent is the East's grant-level service award.
On February 21, at Estrella War, Aten Principal Herald created Dame Anita Challis an Herald Extraordinary.
On March 3, at Baronial Investiture Anniversary, Their Highnesses Brennan and Caoilfhionn, on behalf of the Crown of the East, inducted Kirsa Oyutai, Badger Herald, into the Order of the Silver Crescent.
