ÆTHELMEARC
COLLEGE OF HERALDS - commentary archive
Letter of Intent #111 Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon
Feast of St. Brieuc
1 May AS XLIII
Greetings from Myfanwy!
Happy May Day!. Herein pray find commentary on Æ #111. All the
armory was conflict-checked through the December 2007 LoAR.
I remain your servant and the Society’s.
Lady Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon
Ruth Morrisson
myfanwy@nauticom.net
1. Abhain ri Naimh
Where is this group located? Has a petition been included in the
submission?
I did a Google search for “Gaelic-English dictionary” and found
“Faclair Gàidhlig - Beurla Gaelic - English
Dictionary The School Gaelic Dictionary".
Prepared for the use of learners of the Gaelic language by
Malcolm MacFarlane”
[URL: http://www.clanmacrae.org/documents/gaelic-a.htm] (this appears
to be for Scottish Gaelic). Under <A> I found:
[abhainn] nf. g. aibhne; pl. aibhnean and aibhnichean, river, stream
[Abhainn-fàrn] pnf. the river Farn; inflected on first element
[Abhainn-fhaolain] pnf. the river Fillan; inflected on first element
Under <R> I found
[ri] prep. to, towards, against, engaged at : cho math ri sin, as
good as that, as well as that
I did not find <naimh> at all. At another site, “Irish Dictionary
Online” [URL: http://www.englishirishdictionary.com/dictionary, all
the usage forms of <abhain> seem to actually use the form
<abhainn>
(as in <abhainn taoide> “tidal river”; <ri> is a noun
appearing to
mean either “forearm” or “king”, while <naimh> appears as an
element
in other words (none of which seem to relate to “bright”). Looking up
the entire phrase yielded no results. A third site “Irish Identity”
[URL: http://www.hoganstand.
com/general/identity/dictionary.htm] has one look up English words to
find their Irish Gaelic translations; in this one “river” is (again)
<abhainn> , with “riverbank“ translating to <bruach
abhann>; “of”
translates to <cara dúinn>; “brightness” isn’t listed, but
“bright”
is translated as <geal>, while “brilliant” (the next word in the
list) is <lonrach>.
Given that these sites were highly placed (out of nearly 28,000 Google
hits), I’m not certain what website the submitters used (Intertran
does not appear to do Gaelic -- I checked) . While these are all
modern language sites, I don’t think the submitted name means what the
submitters think it does, nor does the grammar appear to be correct
for either Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic; word for word translations do
not always get grammar or sentence structure correct, in my
experience, and often don’t get subtle nuances of meaning either.
Hopefully someone like Bran Dubh will weigh in and give more accurate
translations.
2. Barak Elandris Bear the Walsbane [sic] (new Augmentation) -- Per
chevron inverted grady sable, a bear’s paw print Or, and in chief a
demi-escarbuncle argent.
Obviously there is a typo in the blazon -- it should read “Per chevron
inverted grady sable and Or, masoned sable...”
(italics mine).
Also missing is the date of when the augmentation was received. Anyone
remember offhand (without having to slog through a bunch of old
court reports)?
Unfortunately, as emblazoned, this is *not* “per chevron inverted
grady”. At best it *might* be blazoned as “sable, chaussé grady
Or”
(well, maybe...). In consultation with His Excellency at the Castle
Siege (where he showed his new shield, with the augmentation on it),
it turns out that the emblazon needs to be redrawn -- what’s on his
shield is correct for his registered arms, plus the augmentation. I
showed him different versions at Coronation and he picked the one he
wanted (which turned out to be pretty close to the new shield); that
version has been forwarded to Garnet.
Generally what I have seen registered for augmentations in the O&A
is
the blazon of the original armory, followed by “as an augmentation X”.
I’m not entirely sure how augmentation submissions/registrations are
handled administratively, but checked to see whether the augmentation
counts as a change to the current registration, or is considered a
separate registration, and to see whether it pushes His Excellency
over the four-item limit (I checked in the O&A -- there are his
current arms, his old arms, which were changed/retained, and two
additional badges). There is a recent Precedent, from François’
second tenure as Laurel:
Administrative Handbook I.B states: "Individuals and other Society
branches may register no more than four names and four pieces of
armory."
It could be argued that the registration of this device would
require the
release of one piece of registered armory because the submitter has
three
items and an augmentation currently registered. This raises the
question
of whether an augmentation counts toward the number of armory items
that a person may have registered. We currently list both the
un-augmented
and the augmented version of armory as registered items which could,
with the registration of this augmentation, require the release of
one
registered item. Since the augmentation is a mark of honor given by
the
Crown and is added to the registered armory, we will not count the
registered augmentation toward the registration limit. The
un-augmented
item will continue to count toward the registration limit and must
remain
registered for the augmentation to be exempt from the count.
The submitter had requested that, if the augmentation was
registered,
that one of her badges be released because of the registration
limit. Since
the augmentation will not count toward the limit for peices [sic] of
armory
she has registered, we are not releasing the badge at this time. If
the
submitter still wishes to release the badge, we will release the
badge on a
future letter. [Kathryn of Iveragh, LoAR 11/2004, Outlands-A]
While this specifically pertains to a “second” augmentation, it sounds
as if the augmentation may not count towards the registration limit,
as long as the *original* armory remains unchanged. It’s not entirely
clear though, and this may require a clarification from Laurel.
There is a considerable amount of discussion about augmentations from
François’ first tenure; possibly germane to this submission is
the
following, from the October 2003 Cover Letter to the LoAR:
Kingdom Badges That Are Designated as an Augmentation
In the case where a kingdom has a badge designated as an
augmentation,
it seems appropriate to rule that a person or entity with an
augmentation
from that kingdom may be assumed to have permission for his/her/its
[sic] augmentation to conflict with the specifically-designated
augmen-
tation badge. Kingdoms that already have badges that are serving as
an augmentation should strongly consider adding the "augmentation"
designation to those badges, to cut down on subsequent paperwork
with
letters of permission to conflict.
clear of: Tegan verch Morgant (12/05 Caid) -- Per chevron azure and
vert, a pawprint Or and in chief three increscents argent.
There is a CD for changing the field and at least one for changes to
the secondaries.
3. Beatrix Krieger -- Or gouty [sic] de sang, a cat couchant
guardant and on a chief sable an ax fesswise to sinister Or.
The online docs for the given name are as cited; however, it isn’t
clear from the data that the name is in fact 13th century, since the
data has such a wide range of dates. Is the Withycombe information
(which also says, BTW, that the form <Béatrix> is Old
French)
included to narrow the date range? Also note that none of the
documentation is actually German -- it is English/Old French and
Flemish. Scott’s “Medieval German Given Names from Silesia: Women’s
Names [URL:
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/bahlow/bahlowFem.html] gives the
name <Beate/Beatke>, dating it to 1362. Uckelman’s “German Names
from 1495” [URL:
http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/german/german1495.html] does give
a single instance of <Beatrix>; her article “German Names from
Kulmbach, 1495” [URL:
http://www.ellipsis.cx~liana/names/german/kulmbach1495.html] also
gives a single instance.
It’s good that authenticity has not been requested, because I’m
finding the given name *either* in the 1200s *or* in German (but not
both together).
Does the byname need to be tweaked for gender (presumably in some form
such as <Kriegerin>)?
The axe appears to be a battle-axe [c.f., PIC-DIC, fig. 24a]; however,
the PIC-DIC [sn AXE] also says:
There are a great many variant forms of axe, depending on the shape
of the head and haft; many strange forms are blazoned simply as an
“axe”
[sic]. No difference is therefore counted between the variants. The
most common form is the “battle-axe” [sic] or “war-axe” [sic];
any axe whose
form is unspecified may safely be drawn in this form.
So simply blazoning this as “an axe” is fine. However, the PIC-DIC
also says:
The axe’s default posture is palewise, with the head to dexter and
blade to
dexter.
The text later describes battle-axes as being single-bladed by
default. Given the orientation of the axe in the emblazon, the blade
orientation/direction may need to be specified to accurately reproduce
the emblazon.
Possible reblazon: Or, goutty de sang, a cat couchant guardant, on a
chief sable an axe fesswise to sinister, blade to base, Or.
Possible reblazon: Or, goutty de sang, a cat couchant guardant, on a
chief sable an axe fesswise reversed and inverted Or.
probably clear of: Idunn Felinnoir (4/91 Outlands) -- Erminois, a
lion couchant and on a chief sable three bezants.
There is a CD for type and number of tertiaries. There should be one
for the field -- i.e., between Or and erminois (in which case there is
an additional CD for adding the secondaries); if it’s considered a
visual, there should still be a CD (even if considering both fields as
“Or”) from changing the black ermine spots to red gouts (effectively
changing the type and tincture of secondaries).
4. Brandr huslangr (resub) -- Azure, on a bend argent cotissed Or a
rose gules barbed, stemmed and leaved vert.
I checked the previous submission -- his name was registered 2/05, via
Caid.
possibly not clear of: Robert of Spelsbury (7/80 Middle) -- Azure, on
a bend argent an ivy vine throughout vert, in sinister chief a
squirrel counter-sejant erect argent.
There is at least one CD for changes to the secondaries, but possibly
nothing for the tertiary.
possibly not clear of: Gerdis Leontindotter af Bure (2/99
Drachenwald) -- Azure, on a bend argent between a sheaf of keys wards
to base and a lute Or an ivy vine vert.
There is a CD for change of type of secondaries, but nothing for the
type of tertiary.
5. Briana de Mandoza -- Gules, an eagle displayed argent and a
bordure argent semy of cedar trees vert.
The docs for the given name are as cited.
Is there a typo? The LoI header says
<Mandoza> but the documentation says
<Mendoza>. Presuming that there *is* a typo, and that the
submitted
spelling is in fact <de Mendoza>, the docs are also as cited.
Nice name!
Okay, it’s displayed -- that makes it an eagle. Except that I would
have called this (by virtue of the smooth head) a hawk.
The trees are awfully small. I’m not sure that I would have
identified them as cedars, rather than as generic pine trees (and this
doesn’t appear to be a case of canting). I *think* that they are
couped, but, again, they’re so small it’s hard to tell).
probably clear of: Francis Canny (4/92 Meridies) -- Azure, fretty Or,
an eagle displayed, a bordure argent semy of quatrefoils slipped vert.
There is a CD for changing the field tincture.
There should also be
one for removing the fretty; however there is may only be change of
type of tertiaries (not tincture or number).
6. Catalina de Luna -- Per pale purpure and Or, a quatrefoil and in
chief three decrescents counter-changed [sic].
The docs for both name elements are as cited.
Nice armory!
possibly clear of: Gayla atte Blacwoulfe (4/07 Atlantia) -- Per pale
purpure and Or, a cross fleury between three crescents counterchanged.
There is at least one CD for changing the arrangement and orientation
of the crescents, and possibly also one for changing the cross to a
quatrefoil.
7. Catherine O’Herlihy (badge) -- (Fieldless) An otter’s head
cabossed azure sustaining in its mouth a reed pen argent.
Very nicely drawn. However, I’m unsure whether the pen is maintained
or sustained, given its size relative to the otter’s head (this may
have to be a judgment call by Wreath).
I’m not sure what would make this specifically a “reed” pen (and
whether or not there is any difference between it and any other type
of pen). When I was doing conflict checking, the submitter has
registered arms (6/01 Æthelmearc) that has a reed pen as one of
the
charges, and this seems to be similar -- the emblazon for the armory
submission can be found on Æ #46 [URL:
http://www.aeheralds.net/Letters/AE46/iloi.html] but is just blazoned
there as “a pen”; on the XLoI [URL:
http://www.aeheralds.net/Letters/AE46/xloi.html] it is blazoned as “a
quill pen” but reblazoned without comment at Laurel as “a reed pen”.
Possible reblazon: (Fieldless) An otter’s head cabossed azure
sustaining in its mouth a reed pen fesswise argent.
no conflicts found
8. Daiwyn ap Cadwaladwe -- Gules, a mouse rampant contourny argent,
in base three fleurs-de-lys in chevron inverted Or.
The docs for the given name are as cited.
I can’t find my copy of Morgan and Morgan, so I can’t check the byname
docs. Jones’ “Names and Naming Practices in Some North Pembrokeshire
Toll Books (1599-1603)” gives <Cadwaladr> as a header form, with
the
documented spelling <Kedwalader>.
It’s too bad that the fleurs aren’t a semy or in orle (or even just
having the mouse between them) -- that would have made for extremely
spiffy armory.
possibly not clear of: Keridwen the Mouse (10/93 West) -- Gules
crusily bottony, a mouse sejant erect to sinister, tail nowed argent.
There is at least one CD for changes to the secondaries; there is,
however, nothing for the primary charge.
9. Elizabeth Thorne
Is the old name being retained as an alternate? I presume so, given
that it *is* being retained, but the LoI doesn’t actually say so.
The docs for the given name are as cited.
I don’t have Bardsley; Reaney and Wilson [p. 444, sn Thorn] give the
submitted spelling as a subsidiary header form, and cite <William
Thorn [sic]>, dated to 1206 and <Magge de
Thornes [sic]> dated to 1275 as the closest to to the
submitted spelling. There are three places listed in the _Domesday
Book_ called <Thorne> (in Cornwall, Devon and Yorkshire; however,
in the “Index of Places” [p. 1411], apparently the original spelling
in the text for all of them were <Torne>.
10. Gabriel de Wenslagh -- Gules, a stag at gaze and on a chief
argent three bickerns gules.
The docs for all name elements are as cited.
I double-checked the PIC-DIC -- these are indeed bickerns [c.f.
PIC-DIC, fig. 11a]. However, the PIC-DIC [sn Deer] says that a deer
“at gaze” is statant guardant. The posture of the stag here is
somewhere between passant and statant. It may have to be a judgment
call as to whether the leg position is enough to warrant an artist’s
note or an actual redraw.
no conflicts found
11. Ghita Rinaldi de Amici
I don’t have access to that particular set of Proceedings (according
to the Proceedings link from the Laurel website [URL:
http://www.sca.org/heraldry/laurel/kwhs/author.html] the article
dates from 1989), but the other name docs are as cited.
12. Giovanni da Monza -- Gyronny of eight Or and sable, three
griffins sergeant [sic] gules.
The docs for the given name are as cited. Note that <Giovanni> is
also found as an independent name, with a citation for <Giovanni
Bossi> (dated 1431-1475).
The docs for the byname are also as cited.
Nice name!
Nice armory! Please reblazon the posture as
“segreant”
clear of: Campbell, Duke
of Argyll (important non-SCA arms, 12/94 Laurel) -- Gyronny Or and
sable.
This is clear by X.1 (addition of primary charge
group for cases of
simple armory).
possibly clear of: Morag Campbell of Glenbourne (6/82 An Tir)
-- Gyronny of six from base sable and Or, issuant from base a
demi-roundel gules.
There is at least one CD for changing the type and number of charges;
there may or may not be a CD for the field (this may be a visual, both
between 6 and 8 pieces. and for the tincture distribution)
clear of: Deborah ferch Rhys (8/90 Middle) -- Gyronny of sixteen
argent and sable, a griffin segreant to sinister reguardant purpure,
maintaining in its fore talons a rebec proper.
There is at least one CD for changes to the primary charge group
(tincture, number and orientation) and there should be one for changes
to the field.
possibly clear of: Daedra McBeth a Gryphon (12/93 East) -- Per
chevron ployé Or and sable, two griffins segreant addorsed gules
and a
harp reversed Or.
There is a CD for changing the field; there may be one for changes to
at least half the charge group (orientation of one charge and type and
tincture of another).
possibly not clear of: Malcolm Wallace of Moray (12/94 Calontir) --
Per chevron throughout argent and azure, two griffins segreant gules
and two quill pens in saltire argent.
There is a CD for changes to the field; there is only changes to one
of the primary charge group. The RfS say that for simple armory (in
which there are no more than two types of charges on the field:
Per chevron
gules and argent, three oak trees counterchanged [sic] does
conflict with Per chevron gules and argent, three fir trees
counterchanged
[sic], because the type of charge has not been substantially
changed;
they both conflict with Per chevron gules and argent, two
mullets and a fir
tree counterchanged [sic] because not all of the primary
charges have
been substantially changed.
13. Griffin le Grey -- Argent, on a chevron between three ships in
full sail azure three escallops argent.
The name docs are all as cited. Additionally, the given name is found
as a header form in Reaney and Wilson [p. 206, sn Griffin], with
Griffin [sic] filius Gurgan, dated to 1130, Osbertus
filius Griffini [sic], dated 1153-68, and
Gruffin [sic] son of Oweyn, dated to 1285; these are
all more temporally consistent with the byname.
Not particularly well drawn (especially the escallops) but nice armory
otherwise.
clear of: Julia of Sheffield (4/96 West) -- Argent goutty, on a
chevron azure between three ships sails set sable three escallops Or.
There is a CD for removing the gouts, and one for change of tincture
of the secondaries (there may also be one for the difference to the
sails). There is, however, only change of tincture of the tertiaries.
probably clear of: Phiala O’Ceallaigh (7/07 Æthelmearc) --
Argent,
crusily saltirewise, on a chevron azure three nettle leaves argent.
There is at least one CD for type and number of secondaries; there is
only change of type of tertiaries, but this is simple armory.
possibly not clear of: Quinlan of Sheare (3/75 ??) -- Argent, on a
chevron azure, three quavers palewise argent.
There is a CD for addition of secondaries; this is simple armory, so
there may enough with change of type of tertiary for a second CD.
possibly not clear of: Conall Synclare (4/05 Caid) -- Argent, on a
chevron between three roses azure three swallows volant contourny
wings addorsed argent.
possibly not clear of: Brandon MacKay (1/93 West) -- Argent, on a
chevron between three towers azure, three stag’s heads erased argent.
CD -- type of secondaries
possibly not a CD -- only change of type of
tertiaries
possibly clear of: Rhiannon ferch Llyr (??/??) -- Argent, on
a chevron cotissed azure, a raven displayed sable between two ravens
displayed argent.
There is a CD for changing the type of secondaries, and possibly one
for changing the type and partial tincture of tertiaries.
possibly clear of: Su’ad al Raqqasah (1/04 East) -- Argent, on a
chevron ployé throughout between three lotus blossoms in profile
azure
three decrescents argent.
There is a CD for changing the type of secondaries. There is only
change of type of type tertiaries; there may or may not be one for the
ployé line on the chevron.
clear of: Sir John Hawkwood (important non-SCA arms, 12/94 Laurel) --
Argent, on a chevron sable three escallops argent.
There is a CD for changing the tincture of the chevron, and one for
adding the secondaries; note that there is nothing for the tertiaries.
14. Grímólfr berserkr -- Per pale azure and argent, three
wolves’ heads erased counterchanged.
The name docs are as cited; in the discussion of nicknames, it says:
Titles, such as konungr [sic] ‘king’,
jarl [sic] ‘earl’, or callings such as berserkr [sic] ‘berserk’, skáld
[sic] ‘skald’ are treated as nicknames; they
follow the given name but precede other nicknames: Haraldr
konungr
hárfagri [sic] ‘King Harald Fairhair’, Sveinn
konungr tjúguskegg [sic]
‘King Sveinn Forkbeard’.
Nice armory!
clear of: Lochlainn mac Faoláin Bháin (8/03
Æthelmearc) --
Per pale azure and argent, a chevron between three wolf’s heads erased
counterchanged.
This is clear by X.1 (removal of primary charge)
15. Gytha Oddsdottir (name and device resubs) -- Per chevron inverted
azure and vert, in chief a cat dormant Or and issuant from dexter base
three wolf’s teeth argent.
The docs for the given name are as cited.
The Diplomatarium Norvegicum docs may as cited;
however, this site seems somewhat tricky to navigate and I’m not sure
how to set up the search criteria correctly. The Geirr Bassi docs for
the byname are as cited; the information for forming the patronymic
can be found on p. 17.
Information about the combination of languages can be found at [URL:
http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/sca/weirdness_table.html];
Anglo-Saxon/Old English in combination with Norse (Old Norse) is
indeed one step away from period practice.
no conflicts found
16. Nishimura Saburou
The docs for both name elements are as cited. Note that
<Nishimura>
is also found on p. 141 (under the header for “Village”) and on p. 323
as a historical surname; <Saburou> can also be found on p. 372 as
a
historical masculine yobina.
17. Petr Kotok -- Quarterly gules and sable, a bezant between eight
sickles, hafts to center, in annulo Or.
clear of: Rhodri Longshanks (badge, 11/89 Atenveldt) -- Azure, a
bezant between eight ermine tails in annulo, tails to center, argent.
There is a CD for changing the field, and at least one for the type
and tincture of secondary charges.
This charge group is very evocative of a sun. Therefore I also
conflict-checked for that, for possible visual conflicts (and there
were a great many):
possible visual conflict: Wendryn Townsend (1/73 ??) -- Azure, a sun
in glory Or.
possible visual conflict: William Allan (1/73 ??) -- Barry of six
gules and argent, a sun in his glory Or.
possible visual conflict: Macedonia (badge [important non-SCA flag],
12/94 Laurel) -- Gules, a sun Or.
possible visual conflict: Macedonia, Republic of (badge [important
non-SCA flag], 12/94 Laurel) -- Gules, a sun of eight straight rays
throughout Or.
These are all possible visual conflicts -- a sun vs. what’s been
submitted -- with a single CD for changes to the field.
possibly clear of: Gillian FitzGilbert (11/91 West) -- Quarterly
gules and sable, a sun in splendor Or, a bordure erminois.
There is a CD for removing the peripheral charge, but there is a
possible visual conflict, since what is submitted is reminiscent of a
sun.
probably clear of: Atenveldt, Kingdom of (badge/Ensign, 1/98
Atenveldt) -- Per fess azure and argent, in canton a sun Or.
There is a CD for changing the field; there is a possible visual
conflict with the charge/charge group, but the change of position on
the field should give the second CD.
possible visual conflict: Atenveldt, Kingdom of (badge, 1/73
Atenveldt) -- Per pale argent and azure, a sun in his splendour.
There is a CD for changing the field; there may be a visual conflict
between a sun and the charge group on the new submission, and it is
unclear if there is a tincture change.
possibly clear of: Ælfred Greybeard (9/93 Ansteorra) -- Per fess
indented azure and vert fretty Or, in chief a sun Or.
There is a CD for changing the field; there may be one for removing
the fretty, and possibly also one for position on the field.
18. Willehalm Stürmer
I don’t have Bahlow, but the other name docs for both elements are as
cited.
ADDENDUM:
Æthelmearc, Kingdom of (badge, for Order of the Golden Stirrup)
--
(Fieldless) A stirrup Or strapped gules.
clear of: Aureliane Rioghail (badge, 10/82 Ansteorra) -- (Fieldless)
A pair of hames Or.
There is a CD for fieldless vs. fieldless; while there may be a visual
conflict between a stirrup and a pair of hames [c.f. Parker, p. 302,
for a depiction], the addition of the strapping should be enough for
the second CD.
Bibliography:
Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme [Bruce Miller] and Akagawa
Yoshio [Kevin Munday]. APictorialDictionaryofHeraldryAsUsedinTheSocietyforCreativeAnachronism,
2nd Ed., 1992.
Tangwystyl verch Morgan Glasvryn (formerly Keridwen ferch Morgan
Glasfryn)
[Heather Rose Jones]. “Names and Naming Practices in Some North
Pembrokeshire Toll Books (1599-1603)”. (Y
Camamseriad, #1, Summer, 1992).
Williams, Ann and G .H. Martin (eds.). DomesdayBook:ACompleteTranslation.
London and New York: Alecto Historical Editions (Penguin Books),
1992, 2002.
Withycombe, E. G. TheOxfordDictionaryofEnglishChristianNames, 3rd Ed.
Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1977.