|
Minutes Page Main Herald's Web Page |
Latest LoAR Info Submissions to Laurel from this Meeting Returns from this Meeting |
(11:08 am to 12:28 pm)
Alizan De la Fontaine, Vesper; Edith of Swanesdale, Matins; Domamir Vlatko syn, Seawolf; Moira O’Connor, Sableswan; Caitríona inghean ui Chionaodha, Stellanordica; Eilis O'Boirne, Green Crown (in exile); Hirsch von Henford, Golem; Astrið of Swansvale, PaL; Na'arah bat Avraham, Pinnacle; Diana of the Mists, Black Mark; Angus Duncan Cameron, PEaL; Ommadan inigena Ru, Cornet; Aaliz de Saint-Joseph.
COLLEGE OF HERALDS MEETINGS
The November 2020 meeting was held in via remote teleconference, as will be the upcoming
meetings until Vesper announces otherwise.
Meetings for 2021: January 10th, March 14, May 16, July 18,
September 19, November 7.
Meetings usually begin at 11:00 AM and will be held via online/remote teleconference until further notice
(see also: When/Where Are the
Next Meetings?).
The DEADLINES for submission forms and documentation are: 2021 Deadlines: December 16, 2020, March 3, 2021, May 5, July 7, September 8, October 27. Submission forms must be complete and received either via EMAIL or hardcopy by the deadline date at midnight to be considered at the next meeting (which is about 11 days later, except December due to holidays and the roadshow meeting prep time needed). If the forms are EMAILED, then payment must arrive by the meeting day. WALK-IN submissions will not be accepted while meetings are held via remote conference.
REPORTS
Vesper (Alizan): We have a new Stellanordica Herald - Her Excellency Caitríona inghean ui Chionaodha. Thank you, Caitriona, for taking this on!
She noticed there is no current (if any) handbook for the office of Vesper. She’s drafting one, and will send it to her predecessors for review once she’s happy with it.
There has been some confusion regarding which heralds need to file reports. To be clear, only the officers on the College and the Principality Heralds are required to submit reports. Baronies, Provinces, Shires, and the like are not required to do so.
Finally, she is hereby setting a policy that, during her term, Principality Heralds need only report once
per quarter, before the end of the quarter. The reporting periods - as established by Laurel -
are as follows:
Q1 = Dec 1 - Feb 28 / 29
Q2 = Mar 1 - May 31
Q3 = Jun 1 - Aug 31
Q4 = Sep 1 - Nov 31
IDEALLY, she would appreciate receiving Principality reports no later than 5 days before the end
of the quarter, because Vesper’s reports are due the first day of the next quarter. She will
begin sending reminders via the Roster in February.
Seawolf (Damir): Mists is having a management meeting on the 21st, but otherwise no activity since last meeting. He is also seeking a deputy/successor for his role and plan to start advertising. Anyone interested please reach out to him!
Sable Swan (Moira): Coronet was a couple of weeks ago. Damir the Fabulous handled the court, reports have been filed and approved. No activity with consulting.
Stellanordica (Caitriona): Welcome and fair greetings to Caitriona Inghean Ui Chionaodha, new Stellanordica!
Her report: Despite having no events within the Principality since March, Oerthan heralds continue to work hard and support their Coronet and populace. Their Highnesses gave several awards as part of Virtual Autumnal Crown, which have been submitted and confirmed. Heraldic consultation continues to happen within the Principality. If anyone was unaware: Khevron Oktavvi Tikhikovich Vorotnikov put out a new “Oerthan Royal History & Heraldic Colouring Boke” in July 2020, available as a PDF download from his website: http://www.khevron.com
Exchequer (Damir): The College remains solvent and our balance with the College of Arms remains in the green. The 3rd quarter report is submitted to Kingdom for help with a minor balancing issue. Transition from Mechanic's Bank to Bank of the West remains in process.
He has just started his second term as College Exchequer and would like to advertise for a deputy/successor. Anyone interested please reach out to him!
Matins (Edith): Deputy (Hannah): Incoming submissions have slowed down significantly over the past two meetings. To continue to encourage our populace in their pursuit of heraldry and specifically registrable names and armory, she recommends those consulting heralds who have the time, resources, and energy to reach out over the various virtual means to connect with our populace who may be interested. For other options: heralds can offer to teach classes at the various virtual events occurring or run an open consultation room. Don’t wait for people to seek you out, make it easy for them to find you! Aside from Facebook, and virtual events, there are now also Discord servers up and running for several groups, including the Mists, Cynagua, and Oertha.
Submissions do continue to come in and make their way through the submissions process. Reminder: the next meeting is the Twelfth Night meeting, so submissions will be due by Dec. 16 to allow our volunteers time to enjoy the holidays.
Green Crown (Eilis): Since the September meeting, the only official West Kingdom Court was at virtual Fall Crown. It was again heralded by Domamir Vlatko syn and done very well. The court report has been filed and approved by Her Majesty. In addition, an Oerthan court at that event was heralded by Kinehild le librari, and those awards have been reported and confirmed. Damir was also herald for Their Majesties for the Tarnmist baronial changeover, for which no court report was filed, but at which His Majesty's crown kept fading into the background. He assisted Their Highnesses of Cynagua at their virtual Coronet court, and those awards have been reported and confirmed.
Some day we will have real Court again, but until then, thank heaven for Damir!
Baldric (Gwenhwyfaer): Nothing changed since the September meeting. If anyone wants to run classes, let her know and she will help coordinate.
Brachet (Kean), Leveret (Ræv): He has continued actively commenting. He would like to commend Raev, who is also active in OSCAR.
Green Cloak (Ari Ella): No report received. No tourneys have been held.
Green Trumpet (vacant): This position will oversee Town Cry (formerly called Duty Shout) and Heralds Point (information). If interested in this position, please contact Vesper.
Green Banner (Aasa): Things have been pretty quiet. Nothing specific to report.
Golem (Hirsch): Court Reports are still coming in when a virtual court happens, in a nice timely fashion (thanks to Domamir and the few other heralds who have needed to post reports).
The first phase of the update for the Awards List site is done and working. The next phase (or phases – he is thinking maybe two total, he hopes) will be more complicated. The goal is that whoever takes on Golem some day when he hands it off will not need to be a coder to work with the data. At least, hopefully very little coding would be needed.
Otherwise, all is well on this front.
Domamir had a question on the most recent report about the Cynaguan “Heart of the Princess” being given to the recipient more than once. The basic answer is: there are no hard-and-fast rules on this. One is not knighted or made a member of the other peerages more than once, but other recognitions, most of the time by accident, are often given more than once. In theory, if the award has “Order of” as part of the title it should be given only once, but other recognitions, unless specified otherwise, may be given multiple times to the same recipient. If you know in advance of the court that the individual was given a recognition previously, you may consult with the Royalty on that. But if They determine to give it again, well, it’s Their court. In the case of “Heart of the Princess”, it is a personal recognition, so he doubts anyone would have an issue with it being given, say, by different Princesses over time to the same individual if They were so inclined.
Remember that we can advise the Royalty, but we cannot “command” them or tell them flat out “No”. (If there is a solid reason for “No”, then you need to present it well to the Royalty. An illegal (by our rules) or offensive recognition name would be a pretty good reason, for example.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS / Other Business
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTSFacebook Page: The West Kingdom Heralds' have their own page on Facebook, announcements, help with consultation, and more are often done there:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/302970543102065/
MAILING LIST: The West Kingdom College of Heralds has a mailing list for internal communication. NOTE that we are only using this for announcements and we may eventually phase it out. Any herald is welcome to join by request. To join the list, please subscribe at wkheralds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
There are also individual mailing lists on Yahoo for the Principalities, but the traffic has gone to announcements only, and again these may be phased out in preference to the Facebook page noted above. Details can be found at the bottom of this page: I Need to Contact a Kingdom or Principality Herald
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES: Many interesting heraldic links can be found through the SCA Heraldry web page at http://www.sca.org/heraldry, including the Laurel home page, the on-line Armorial and Ordinary (with search capabilities) and The Academy of St. Gabriel (an onomastic and heraldic consultation service). The West Kingdom Heraldry site and the West Kingdom Awards List can be accessed through the West Kingdom site, http://www.westkingdom.org. Heraldic queries may also be addressed to Vesper at herald@westkingdom.org -- answers may take a few days.
BRACHET MEETINGS
Contact brachet@heralds.westkingdom.org for external commenting participation. A central Cynagua external commenting meeting may begin soon, so watch this space!
EXCERPTS FROM THE LOARS
The cover letters, acceptances and returns for the past can be found at http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/. If you are interested in responding to some of the calls for commentary put out by the Laurel Sovereign of Arms, please be sure to visit the site.July, 2020 LoAR (printed September 22, 2020) (West - No LoI)
Cover Letter
From Pelican: Removing Two Articles from Laurel Website
Two name articles currently found on the Laurel website (https://heraldry.sca.org) have been superseded by more current research. As of the January 2021 meeting, these articles will no longer be acceptable as the sole source of documentation for a name element or name pattern. Therefore, we are asking Codex to remove the following articles from that site:
- "On the Documentation and Construction of Period Mongolian Names" by Baras-aghur Naran (https://heraldry.sca.org/names/mongol.html)
- "Italian Renaissance Women's Names" by Rhian Lyth of Blackmoor Vale (https://heraldry.sca.org/names/italian.html)
From Wreath: Armory Corrections
Recently, there have been a number of armory submissions forwarded to Laurel with missing, incorrect, or incomplete information, including thumbnails or even forms. While commenters have been swift to note these instances in plenty of time for timely correction, their comments have largely been unnoticed by Kingdom.
Kingdoms need to monitor their submissions so that these issues may be corrected within the first week, or risk administrative returns. If you are not receiving notifications via email, check your preferences in OSCAR.
Kingdoms are also reminded that correcting color balance may not require the submitter's approval, but using the Fill tool to selectively recolor does, and if that approval is not stated in the submission may result in the item being administratively returned.
From Wreath: On Tortoise-shell Plates
This month we were presented with a badge having a tortoise-shell plate with an outer edge that contrasts with both the field and the interior. In the January 2020 Cover Letter's discussion of tortoise-shell plates, it was stated that such tortoise-shell plates "will only be accepted if they are in groups of three, arranged one and two", which would preclude registration of this item barring additional documentation. However, upon further review of the cases in O-umajirushi, we are now partially overturning that precedent, lifting the requirement that such tortoise-shell plates be in groups of three.
From Wreath: Identifiability of Inverted Bowls, Hats and Similar Items
This month we returned a device with an inverted mazer for lack of identifiability. Given the identifiability issues in general, inverted bowls and inverted headgear will be disallowed unless submitted with evidence of the practice in period.
West Acceptances - July LoAR
(none)
West Returns - July LoAR
(none)
August, 2020 LoAR (printed October 12, 2020) (West - May, 2020 LoI)
Cover Letter
From Laurel: Ragged Staff Transition
Starting November 1, 2020, Lady Lilie Dubh inghean uí Mórdha, previously Pantheon Herald from the East, assumes the office of Ragged Staff Herald. On behalf of the College, I thank Magnifica Seraphina Delphino for her years of diligent service in the position and welcome Lilie to the Laurel staff.
Seraphina has diligently worked with all the kingdoms to make sure that paperwork is in order and keep the heraldic decision meetings orderly and on track. She's been a dream to work with; she's proactive, solves problems, and just makes things happen. Lilie's been working hard to learn ALL THE THINGS (seriously, she's constantly asking questions and taking notes about everything). She's going to do a marvelous job.
From Laurel: Herald Extraordinary
The College of Arms has a rank of Herald Extraordinary that has a long and honored history. The rank was formally created and defined in the July 1981 Cover Letter by Wilhelm Laurel. The intent of the rank is to recognize and reward "... those heralds who have greatly served the College of Heralds and/or the College of Arms and have achieved the highest level of competence in heraldry."
Magnifica Seraphina has served honorably and well as Ragged Staff, only the latest among her many heraldic jobs. I hereby confer upon her the rank and style of Herald Extraordinary, and charge her to register a title of her choosing and use it in perpetuity.
From Pelican: Transitioning and Dividing Labor
As is customary, when we break in a new Sovereign of Arms, we do it gently by splitting the workload. This month, the decisions were split as follows:
For the month of August, Alys wrote the decisions for the Kingdoms of Æthelmearc, An Tir, Ansteorra, Artemisia, Atenveldt, Avacal, Caid, and Calontir, while Elizabeth handled Drachenwald, Ealdormere, East, Lochac, Middle, Northshield, and the West.
From Pelican: Triple Given Names in Spanish
In a 2004 precedent, we previously ruled that triple given names could not be registered in Spanish. [Isabella Maria-Magdalena Fernandes de Chaves, 05/04, R-Trimaris] However, new data has uncovered examples of what reasonably can be read as triple given names in late period and gray period Spain. For example, Lilie Pantheon noted Barthomeu Jaume Lambert Miquel Bonavantura Marcha, Maria Anna Elena Casadaval and Angela Orosia Magdalena Planas, all found in a gray period church register from Gerona, Spain. Kolosvari Arpadne Julia provided images of the primary source documents to confirm these examples.
Although this pattern is rare, it is attested and therefore can be registered. Accordingly, we hereby overturn the May 2004 precedent noted above and permit the registration of triple given names in late period and gray period Spanish.
From Pelican: Relationship Conflict With Single-Element Names
This month we were asked to consider whether we protect single-element names from relationship conflict under SENA PN.3.D. In the early days of the SCA College of Arms, a person's name was less important than their armory and a number of elements registered then can no longer be registered now. This is true also of single-element names, which the College last registered in January 1980. As of this Cover Letter, there are only ten of these names still registered.
The standard for SENA PN.3.D is an "unmistakable close relationship with a protected person". With a single-element name, this is impossible to achieve; there is no way of knowing whether this single element is intended to be a given name or a byname. Therefore, as of this writing, SENA PN.3.D does not apply to single-element names. We ask Palimpsest to draft a Rules Letter to incorporate this clarification to the rule.
From Wreath: On Ermine Spot Variants
Because of the identifiability issues presented and outstanding questions regarding their sources, variant and non-traditional forms of ermine spots are disallowed unless accompanied by documentation of the form to period. The common depiction of an ermine spot as a tail with three dots does not require documentation. Any depiction used must remain at least as identifiable as its source.
Those interested in variant forms may wish to consult Iago Coquille's KWHSS presentation, May the Furs be With You and his accompanying paper, both found in the KWHSS 2020 Proceedings at https://heraldry.sca.org/kwhss/2020/#furs. A wide variety of ermine spots are cataloged from period armorials, as are depictions of vair. Submitters are reminded that materials hosted at https://heraldry.sca.org are non-photocopy resources per Appendix H of the Administrative Handbook.
From Wreath: On Nowy
We were asked this month to reconsider our basis for registering ordinaries nowy. The two basic questions were whether ordinaries nowy were known to period heraldry, and what were the ordinaries found to be nowed.
Based on Iago Coquille's research we are choosing to declare that all ordinaries nowy carry a step from period practice, except for the fess nowy for which we have period evidence, and the "cross nowyed" as depicted in The accedence of armorie (but, notably, not as typically depicted in Society armory). For simplicity, we'll use the term nowy for each.
The below information is an excerpt from Iago's excellent article, "'Nowy' in Period Heraldry", found at https://heraldry.sca.org/armory/nowy/.
Fesses/bars
Nowy appears to be a Breton invention. Research found no bars nor fesses nowy outside of Brittany. The earliest blazon found that describes these as "nowy" ("noues") is provided for the Matignon de Gouyon arms, in Extraict du livre de Navarre, 16th C French (Paris, BnF, ms. Français 32487), f. 33r (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9063216f).
Other period blazons found for them so far call them pumelees [1] or arrestees [2], though the one that uses pumelees draws the bars with multiple bumps, so there seems to have been some confusion by the artist. They are typically drawn as something like two demi-roundels issuant from either side of the fess/bar, but the images found for Lestrelin seem to match the typical SCA emblazon of an outline like a roundel surmounting a fess.
Crosses
No known period examples were found of what we consider a cross nowy (according to both Parker, A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry, and Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme, The Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry).
The accedence of armorie, 1597, has one example of a crosse nowye [3], drawn with projections in the middle of each arm, as opposed to the center of the charge where the arms meet. Parker describes this style as nowyed, distinct from nowy.
Other Ordinaries
No examples found.
Sources
- Armorial de France et traités de blason, 16th C French (Paris, BnF, ms. NAF 1075), p.157
- Le Jouvencel, 1475 French (Paris, BnF, ms. Français 24381), f.170v
- Legh, Gerard: The accedence of armorie, 1597 English
 Bars Pumelees |
 Bars Nowy |
 Cross Nowy |
From Wreath: Torques
This month we reblazoned a few items with torques to match the Society default of opening to base.
From Palimpsest: Changes to A3E2 and Appendix M
The May 2019 Palimpsest Rules Letter proposed changes to SENA A3E2 and Appendix M, in accordance with past rulings. We are approving these changes, with some further clarifications to Appendix M.
SENA A3E2
2. Complexity Count: We require that any submission not exceed a certain "complexity count," measured by adding the number of types of charges to the number of tinctures. Items with a complexity count of eight or less receive no penalty for complexity from this rule. Furs, such as ermine and vair, count as a single tincture rather than their component tinctures. Charges that have different names in different tinctures or orientations (roundels, crescents, gouttes) are considered one type regardless of the term used for them. All charges, including maintained charges, are counted, though objects worn by an animal or person do not add to the charge count. All tinctures are counted except those used only for normally unblazoned artistic details such as teeth, claws, or eyes. Proper is not a tincture, but a description of a group of tinctures. Each tincture of a proper charge is counted separately, except for artistic details.
For example, Vert, in fess two straight trumpets palewise Or and a chief argent has a complexity count of five, while Vert, in fess two straight trumpets palewise and a chief Or has a complexity count of four. Vair, a squirrel gules has a complexity count of three. Argent, a brown monkey proper vested gules has a complexity count of four: there is one charge (the vest, as a worn object, doesn't count as a charge) but three tinctures (including the tincture of the vest). For example, a ford proper has two tinctures, azure and argent. Thus, Or, a squirrel gules and a ford proper has a complexity count of six. For example, a rose proper is a gules charge; the tinctures of the barbs and seeds are artistic details. Thus, Per fess sable and azure, on a fess argent, three roses proper has a complexity count of six.
An item with a complexity count of nine or higher that follows a period pattern of charges and tinctures may be registered, but may need to be documented as an Individually Attested Pattern.
Insert/Delete Version
2. Complexity Count: We require that any submission not exceed a certain "complexity count," measured
by adding the number of types of charges to the number of tinctures. Items with a complexity count of
eight or less receive no penalty for complexity from this rule. Furs, such as ermine and vair,
count as a single tincture rather than their component tinctures. Charges that have different names in
different tinctures or orientations (roundels, crescents, gouttes) are considered one type regardless of the
term used for them. All charges, including maintained charges, are counted, though objects worn by an
animal or person do not. like
and tinctures, each of which
separately.
For example, Vert, in fess two straight trumpets palewise Or and a chief argent has a complexity
count of five, while Vert, in fess two straight trumpets palewise and a chief Or has a complexity count
of four. Vair, a squirrel gules has a complexity count of three. Argent, a brown monkey proper
vested gules has a complexity count of four, , because the tincture of the vest is also countedhas three tinctures, each of which is counted for complexity,
so eight.
An item with a complexity count of nine or higher that follows a period pattern of charges and tinctures may be registered, but may need to be documented as an Individually Attested Pattern.
Appendix M
Broadly, complex lines of division fall into several groups. In general, there is a DC between variants that belong to different groups. In addition, there is in general a DC between any two lines in the "other" group, as it is a catch-all with no relationship between them. Those lines of division listed as "straight line and variants" also conflict with a straight line.
- Straight line and variants: plain, ployé enarched, arrondi (for divisions greater than four)
- Square: embattled, dovetailed, bretessed, embattled counterembattled, raguly, denticulada
- Wavy: Wavy, nebuly, urdy
- Long: Rayonny
- Jagged: indented, engrailed, invected, dancetty, lozengy
- Other: bevilled, potenty, flory-counterflory, indented fleury at the points, left step/right step, rompu, triangular
For a two-sided ordinary, such as a fess or a pale, there is a DC between "dancetty" and other line styles in the "jagged" group.
Insert/Delete Version
Broadly, complex lines of division fall into several groups. In general, there is a DC between variants
that belong to different groups. There is in general a DC between any two lines in the
"jagged" group; as research has proved that these lines were common and were considered distinct by
period heralds unlike the situation for the "square" group and the "wavy" group."variants of straight line"
- Straight line and variants: plain, ployé enarched, arrondi (for divisions greater than four)
- Square: embattled, dovetailed, bretessed, embattled counterembattled, raguly, denticulada
- Wavy: Wavy, nebuly, urdy
- Long: Rayonny
- Jagged: indented, engrailed, invected, dancetty, lozengy
- Other: bevilled, potenty, flory-counterflory, indented fleury at the points, left step/right step, rompu, triangular
For a two-sided ordinary, such as a fess or a pale, there is a DC between "dancetty" and other line styles in the "jagged" group.
West Acceptances - August LoAR
Christopher O Mulryan. Name and device. Or, a mouse of India statant erect azure within a serpent in annulo vorant of its tail vert.
Submitted as Críostóir _ Mulryan, the submitter requested authenticity for 15th to 16th century Ireland. As submitted, this name is not authentic as it combines Gaelic Críostóir with Anglicized Irish Mulryan. Further, the byname is an Anglicization of Gaelic Ó Maoilrighain and retains the clan affiliation marker O. The submitter was presented two authentic options: fully Gaelic, Críostóir Ó Maoilrighain, or fully Anglicized Irish, Christopher O Mulryan. At the preference of the submitter, we have changed this name to the fully Anglicized Irish version Christopher O Mulryan for registration.
Doria Tecla. Exchange of device and badge. Lozengy gules and argent, a gauntlet aversant issuant from dexter base sustaining a printer's ball inverted sable.
The submitter's previous device, Per chevron raguly gules and Or, two bezants each charged with a closed book palewise reversed sable, and a tower gules, is retained as a badge.
James MacGowan. Name (see PENDS for device).
The submitter indicated interest in a Scottish Gaelic name. As submitted, this name is Scots and not Scottish Gaelic. The Scottish Gaelic form would be Séamas Mac an Ghobhann. If the submitter prefers that form, he may make a request for reconsideration.
Moira of Kent. Badge. (Fieldless) A lizard tergiant ermine.
Ommadan inigena Ru. Exchange of device and badge. Per pale sable and vert, a mouse sejant erect playing an Irish harp argent.
The submitter's previous device, Argent, in fess a mouse sejant erect contourny sable playing on a harp reversed proper, is retained as a badge.
Pawe{l/} Polenski. Device. Argent, a brown rabbit's head cabossed proper and in chief an annulet vert, on a chief sable three billets fesswise argent.
Robert Callum. Device. Per fess sable and vert, a basset hound statant and in chief three trefoils Or.
Specifying the type of breed of a dog beyond that which is normally found in heraldry (e.g. talbot or greyhound) is a step from period practice.
Sean O'Farrel. Device. Or, a wolf courant to sinister sable, a bordure compony argent and gules.
Tadio Farnese. Name (see PENDS for device).
Wolfgang Wildßfewer. Device. Argent, in fess a serpent nowed erect and a billhook bendwise sinister, in base a dagger inverted and on a chief triangular sable a dagger palewise argent.
West Returns - August LoAR
(none)
West Pends - August LoAR
James MacGowan. Device. Gyronny arrondi azure and argent, a phoenix Or ermined and flammant gules and in base an anvil reversed Or.
This armory is pended for redraw to address the identifiability of the ermine spots. At the size submitted, they were unidentifiable. Conversely, the anvil can be reduced to a size more suitable to a secondary charge.
It is a step from period practice to have a central charge on a gyronny arrondi field drawn with the corners of the field in the center of a gyron.
This was item 3 on the West letter of May 30, 2020.
Tadio Farnese. Device. Per pale azure and gules, a pale Or, overall a polypus argent mullety sable.
This armory is pended for redraw. As submitted, the pale is too wide, leaving the polypus barely overall. Additionally, a mullety polypus should have mullets over more than just its head.
This was item 9 on the West letter of May 30, 2020.
September, 2020 LoAR (printed November 5, 2020) (West - No LoI)
Cover Letter
From Laurel: Thanks to the Outgoing Pelican Queen of Arms
It has been my pleasure and honor to have Alys Mackyntoich serve as Pelican Queen of Arms over the last three years. What do you give the woman who has everything? She's had her own heraldic title, Ogress, for years. She's a Laurel, a Pelican, a MoD, a Tyger of the East. All I can give her then is my sincere thanks, my deepest respect, and my everlasting friendship. Thanks for all you've done and all you'll do in the future. Elizabeth, you've got big shoes to fill -- I'm sure you'll fill them ably.
From Pellicane: Adew, fayr weill, now I gang
It has been a remarkable pleasure to serve these years as your Pellicane Quhene of Armys. My term comes to end with this month's decisions and I am pleased to hand off the office to my right trusty, well-beloved and very capable successor, Viscountess Elizabeth.
I would be remiss to depart without thanking the many people without whom I could not have done this job. To the commenters and proofers who fed me data, provided me with insights and made me consider issues, thank you! To those who've attended my meetings, thank you for your time and hard work! To all the Submissions Heralds I've worked with, my good right hands, thank you for helping me help the submitters! To the people of Meridies, Æthelmearc, Calontir and Lochac, thank you for your hard work and welcome at KWHSS!
Finally, especial thanks are due to Juliana Laurel, Emma Temperaunce, Oddr Wreath, Cormac Beare, Ursula Palimpsest, Herveus Morsulus, Seraphina Ragged Staff, Lilie Pantheon, Lillia Crampette, Jeanne Marie Noir Licorne, Alisoun Metron Ariston, ffride Morelle, Gunnvor Orle and Brían dorcha ua Conaill, Ælfwynn Leoflæde dohtor, Mari Aldyrne and Aryanhwy Sans Repose. You taught me, you inspired me, you listened to me complain, you talked me through problems, and you have my never-ending gratitude and respect.
I look forward to being able to hug everyone safely and properly some time soon!
From Laurel: Save the date!
Mark your calendars and save the date: Mid Year Known World Heraldic and Scribal Symposium is coming to a computer near you -- January 22nd to 24th 2021, AS 55! To be held online, across time zones. More details, and a call for instructors will be coming soon. Visit https://kwhss.sca.org/ for more information!
From Pelican: Continuing the Transition
This month, the decisions were split as follows: Alys wrote the decisions for Æthelmearc, An Tir, Ansteorra, Atenveldt, Atlantia, Avacal, and Middle, while Elizabeth wrote the decisions for Caid, Calontir, Drachenwald, Ealdormere, East, Gleann Abhann, Meridies, Northshield, and Outlands.
From Pelican: Changes to PN5b and NPN5b
On the Palimpsest Rules Letter dated June 12, 2020, changes were proposed to PN5b and NPN5b to include language expanding the definition of prohibited offensive names. We are adopting the proposed changes as PN5B5 and NPN5B5 as follows:
New Rules
PN 5.B.5. Offensiveness by Association: Names that reference places, persons, events or concepts that are morally repugnant to a large segment of the SCA or the general public will not be registered. The reference must be clear and unmistakable. When considering whether a name is offensive by association, any related armory that contributes to the appearance of offensiveness may be taken into account. The standard for offensiveness by association is high and, with the exception of the examples below, each potentially offensive name element should be considered on a case-by-case basis. In undertaking the case-by-case analysis, the following factors should be considered: (1) the level of fame/infamy of the offensive association; (2) whether the name element is better known for things other than the offensive association; and (3) any other factors that suggest or refute offensiveness.
For example, the byname Hitler is offensive because no modern person hearing this name will associate it with anyone but the leader of the Nazi regime. The byname von Dachau is offensive because of the overwhelming association of the place with the Nazi concentration camp. However, the name Adolf van Meetkercke is not offensive because there have been multiple individuals named Adolf or Adolph and the byname has no association with the Nazi regime, fascism or white supremacy. By contrast, although the given name Reinhard is not offensive standing alone, and the byname of Bohemia is not offensive standing alone, the combination Reinhard of Bohemia is an offensive allusion to Reinhard Heydrich, Reichsprotektor of Moravia and Bohemia and a chief architect of the Holocaust.
NPN 5.B.5 Offensiveness by Association: Non-personal names that reference places, persons, events or concepts that are morally repugnant to a large segment of the SCA or the general public will not be registered. The reference must be clear and unmistakable. When considering whether a name is offensive by association, any related armory that contributes to the appearance of offensiveness may be taken into account. The standard for offensiveness by association is high and, with the exception of the examples below, each potentially offensive name element should be considered on a case-by-case basis. In undertaking the case-by-case analysis, the following factors should be considered: (1) the level of fame/infamy of the offensive association; (2) whether the name element is better known for things other than the offensive association; and (3) any other factors that suggest or refute offensiveness.
For example, the household name Massacre Tavern is offensive because, even though a massacre is an attested term for a period heraldic charge for which a tavern can be named, the modern meaning of "massacre" is a brutal and violent slaughter of a large number of people, something offensive to the general population. Likewise, the order names Order of Malice or Award of Hate are not registerable because these sentiments are generally considered offensive. On the other hand, the household name la maison Adulph Le Clerc is not offensive, even though it contains a form of Adolf: there have been multiple individuals named Adolf, Adolph, or Adulph and the other name elements have no association with the Nazi regime, fascism or white supremacy.
From Wreath: On Birds Displayed
This month provides another opportunity to continue our fascinating journey revisiting old steps from period practice. This month Iago Coquille asks us to reconsider whether it is appropriate to impose a step from period practice for the use of birds displayed, where the bird is not an eagle.
Coquille and Lillia Crampette offer the following period examples of displayed birds, where the bird involved is clearly identifiable as a type other than eagle:
- An owl displayed from the Stammbuch of Johann Hegenmüller (1533-1566) f. 78 bis, http://www.manuscriptorium.com/apps/index.php?direct=record&pid=AIPDIG-MJ____S_0090______2J1KLE8-cs
- Larks ("allouettes") displayed from Armorial lorrain de la première moitié du XVIe siècle. (1496-1543) p. 97, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b8528581h/f101.image
- A swallow displayed from Graz, UB, ms.2211, 1530s Austrian, f. 131r, http://143.50.26.142/digbib/handschriften/Ms.2200-2399/Ms.2211/index.html
- A swallow(?) displayed from the Stammbuch of Veit Georg von Hausen, dated 1592, p. 161, https://haab-digital.klassik-stiftung.de/viewer/fullscreen/1324426616/101/
- A stork ("cigougne") displayed from Grand armorial colorié, 16th C French, f. 460r, https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b530239472/f923.image
- A peacock displayed from the Steiermärkisches Wappen-Buch von Zacharias Bartsch, 1567 Austrian, https://austria-forum.org/web-books/en/wappenbuch00de1893iicm/000117
- A goose(?) displayed from the Steiermärkisches Wappen-Buch von Zacharias Bartsch, 1567 Austrian, https://austria-forum.org/web-books/en/wappenbuch00de1893iicm/000149
- A raven displayed from the Steiermärkisches Wappen-Buch von Zacharias Bartsch, 1567 Austrian, https://austria-forum.org/web-books/en/wappenbuch00de1893iicm/000169
With thanks to Iago and Lillia, we remove the step from period practice.
From Wreath: On the Use of Three Tinctures in the Same Charge Group
Long-standing precedent, reaffirmed in 2018, held that there was "a step from period practice for the use of the same charge in three different tinctures." [Áine inghean Uí Raghallaigh. December 2018 via Atenveldt].
Based on the following citations from Iago Coquille and Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, we are partially overturning this precedent: It is not a step from period practice to use three different tinctures in the same charge group where all the charges are are identical in type. It remains a step from period practice in the case where the types of the charges differ.
- Three chevrons Or, azure, and gules in the arms of di Guere depicted inStemmario Trivulziano
- Three piles gules, argent, and Or in Koloriertes Wappenbuch, 16th C German (Universität Tübingen, Universitätsbibliothek, Md 247-3), Vol. 3 f. 72v, http://idb.ub.uni-tuebingen.de/opendigi/Md247-3
- Three bull's heads sable, argent, and gules in Stammbuch Michael Schad, 1557-1601 German (Weimar, Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek, Stb 283), f. 85r, https://rds-tue.ibs-bw.de/opac/RDSIndexrecord/726763179
- Ditto in Wappenbuch des 16. Jahrhunderts, 16th C German (Weimar, Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek, Fol 223), f. 27r, https://haab-digital.klassik-stiftung.de/viewer/epnresolver?id=3417494796
West Acceptances - September LoAR
(none)
West Returns - September LoAR
(none)
In Service,
Edith of Swanesdale, PaL,
Matins Herald
SUBMISSONS – November (2020)
ITEMS SENT TO LAUREL
Per fess wavy azure and vert, three flames Or and a unicorn couchant argent.
Current device: to be released upon registration: Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a rose purpure barbed and seeded proper and a dolphin haurient argent.
Per fess engrailed argent and azure, a rose purpure barbed and seeded proper and a shark haurient argent.
Note: this is a change from a dolphin to a shark, otherwise the same arms as the current/to-be-released.
RETURNS
None.
Minutes Page
Main Herald's Web Page