Æthelmearc Internal Letter of Intent #Æ51
May 2001 A.D. / A.S. XXXVI

"Though April showers may come your way..." The folks we bought our farmhouse from owned it less than two years and I don't think they ever actually lived here. The folks they bought it from lived here for over forty years and planted literally thousands of flowers. The bushes lining the driveway are lilacs, the walkway from the driveway to the door is lined with tulips and kyacinths. There's a double ring of daffodils around all the trees in the front yard. The back deck is surrounded by wild roses on either side, tulips along the back and big bushy snowball flowers at the corners. The area near the workshop that I was thinking would make an interesting Japanese style rock garden is a sea of daffodils. What else could we do? Cigfran and I planted another four dozen tulips this spring. :) There's a few plants that I thought were unattractive and made a mental note to replace them in the future. They're attracting butterflies to their blossoms like moths to flame. They're staying. The houses on either side of us are double wides and I'm willing to bet that if I spent enough time looking through old records, I'd find that it was all one property once. The three of us are surrounded in every directions by vineyards. The grape vines are in blossom and the air itself has a bouquet. Who needs the wine?

The next letter of intent will probably be after Pennsic. It's been the pattern for the last two years that submissions die off just before the War. As always, you are welcome to comment on all or any part of this letter. E-mail is strongly encouraged. Send comments to: Dagonell Collingwood, Garnet Herald; c/o David P. Salley, 5294 Webster Road; Fredonia, N.Y. 14062 or salley@klaatu.canisius.edu. Courtesy copies to: Cadell Blaidd du, AE Heralds Webmaster, c/o Trevor W. Schadt, 2352 Eldridge St., Pittsburgh PA 15217, owaru@myfamily.org and Richenda du Jardin, Æsch Editor, c/o Sue Wensel, 1155 Portland Street #2, Pittsburgh PA 15208, sewensel@bellatlantic.net. Due date is July 15, 2001 A.D. / A.S. XXXVI.

Equestrian - The Oxford English Dictionary dates the word "equestrian" to 1656. While this is outside the bounds of the Society's time period, we would point to the previous entry, "equestrial," on the saame page. This word appears with the notation that it is now rare and "=equestrian." Equestrial is dated to 1553. We would prefer to use the modern spelling of the word, as submitted. Photocopies from OED attached.

Guild - a standard descriptor used within the Society, dated to at least 1109 AD in the Oxford English Dictionary, with the submitted spelling dated to circa 1600-1609. Photocopies from OED attached.

This name follows the accepted Society naming practice for guilds, as per Laurel precedent. The precedents of Bruce Draconerius state: "...Guild names were straightforward descriptions of their craft..." (Online precedents of Bruce Draconerius, section on Names-Household)

"[Fieldless] A horse passant per pale guiles and argent."

Herald of Record: Silver Buccle

The original submission was The Order of the Grand Caltrop which was later withdrawn by the Kingdom.

White - a common adjective used in names within the Society. The Ooxford English Dictionary dates its use as an adjective to at least 1300, with the submitted spelling of "white" occuring as early as the fourteenth century. Photocopies from OED attached.

Horn - the horn is a heraldic charge used in Society and mundane heraldry. We are using the hunting horn on the badge. The use of the word referring to a "wind instrument, more or less resembling a horn in shape, and originally formed of the horn of some beast..." dates to at least circa 1000 AD, with the spelling "horn" coming from that time (photocopies from OED attached).

This name follows an accepted naming practice for orders in the Society, as outlined in the RfS (Part III.2.b.ii), which states of period order names that some "...are similar to sign names."

"[Fieldless] A hunting horn argent."

Herald of Record: Silver Buccle

"[Fieldless] An open book per pale gules and argent."

This badge is for the Æthelmearc Pages School, however the name is not being registered at this time.

Herald of Record: Silver Buccle

Aethni - The Age of the Picts by W.A. Cummins, pg. 34, cites "in the Annals of Ulster there is a single reference to a Pictish princess ... where the death of Eithni is recorded" (pce)

Rannach - The Illustrated Gaelic-English Dictionary by Edward Dwelly, pg. 748, lists 'rannach' as meaning 'songster, bard, rhymer, story-teller'. (pce)

An tEilan Dubh - This is a direct translations in Gaelic of 'The Black Isle' as cited in Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland and the Middle Ages by John Roberts, pg. 40 (pce)

"Gules, a reindeer trippant between three pines couped a double tressure wavy intertwined Or."

Her original submission Rhenna de an tEileran Dubh, with an identical device was returned in December 1999, however the notification letter was not sent out until April 2000. The name was returned in-Kingdom for a lack of documentation of Rhenna. No conflicts or problems were found with the device.

"Or, a camel proper, saddled and bridalled vert."

Herald of Record: Bonifatius Eburhard

Note from Garnet: She's enclosed photocopies from A Learner's Arabic English Dictionary by Guarav Publishing. The camel is brown. Master Da'ud has already been consulted.

Baldwin - Hanks and Hodges states Baldwin "was a comparatively common name" and was "the given name of the Norman Crusader (Baldwin of Boulogne)" 1100 AD.

Hillshire - This is an invented placename. Ekwall cites at least five places with "Hill-" as a prefix. Ekwall also citges three places where "-shire" is used as a suffix. (Wilpshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire)

"Argent, a griffin sejant gules, on a mountain vert, a tree argent, a chief raguly vert."

Herald of Record: Isake de Elford

"Or, an oak tree within an orle of ravens proper."

Herald of Record: Silver Buccle?

Note from Garnet: Why is there a tree growing in my wife's device? :)

Catarina - marked as common name in fourteenth century Venice

Zaneto - Zaneta is given for fourteenth century Venice, we believe masculine is also correct.

Rizo - 'curly haired' surname in fourteenth century Venice

All citations are from Fourteenth Century Venetian Personal Names by Arval Benicouer and Talan Gwynek

Herald of Record: Julianna de Luna

"Per bend azure and gules, a dragon's head couped facing sinister, a bordure argent."

Her previous submission, emblzoned identically, was returned for a redrawing.

Herald of Record: Gilles de Beauchamps

Clovis - An Encyclopedia of World History, William L. Langer ed., pg. 148, charts a family tree for the Merovingian Kings including: Clovis I, 481-511, King of the Franks; Clovis II, 638-656, King of Neustria; and Clovis III, 671-695, King of Austrasia and Neustria. (pce)

de Aragon - The Directory of Royal Genealogical Data (http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/royal) copyright 1994-2000 by Brian Tompsett is "a database containing the genealogy of the British Royal Gamily and those linked to it via blook or marriage relationships ... There are in excess of 30,000 individuals from the earliest times to the present in the database." A search on Galindo, Aznar II, Count of Aragon produces a page that lists his children including Garcia Aznar de Aragon, Urraca Anzarez de Aragon and Sancha Anzarex de Aragon. (pce)

"Argent, a bordure embattled vert, a boar's head sable."

Herald of Record: Cormac O'Gadhra

Cortlandt - Cortlandt is a Dutch name, which we believe to mean literally "short land," or a small or narrow piece of land. The name is found among the early Dutch settlers of New Ansterdam, now New York. Stephanus Van Cortlandt was born in New Amsterdam on 7 May, 1643. His father, Oloff Stevense Van Cortlandt was born circa 1600-1610, possibly near Utrecht. Oloff was a soldier with the Dutch West India Compant, and arrived in New Ansterdam in 1638. The sources for the documentation of the Cortlandt family are: (1) Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson and published by Yale University Press; and (2) The New Century Cyclopeia of names, (volume 3), edited by Clarence Barnhart and published by Appleton-Century-Crofts. Photocopies of both are attached.

We beleive Cortlandt to be formed from two Dutch word elements: Kort, meaning short and -land, meaning land. We have enclosed photocopies from a Dutch dictionary. Please note that this source is modern Dutch. Our access to Dutch resources is quite limited, and we do not know if the translation would be the same in the Dutch language of period.

We believe that, if a correct translation of Cortlandt, "short land" would be a reasonable place name, at least based upon the English sources available to us. We recognize that English and Dutch place names may not necessarily have similar formations, but we have no access to Dutch place name resources (in English or Dutch). However, Reaney and Wilson provides some evidence of support. On page 407 of the third edition, Reaney and Wilson identify "Shortwood" (which is also the header), including Bartholomew de Sortewud in 1226 and Alan Shortwode in 1392, with the statement that the name comes from Shortwood in Throwley or "dweller by the small wood." On page 284 of the same edition, Reaney and Wilson identify Longland (the header form), including Thomas de Longelond in 1296, with the statement that the name means "dweller by the long piece of land."

Finally, I would like to address the spelling of the word "Cortlandt." The petition of support has a spelling of "Courtlandt." This is different from the spelling on the submissino form. When I first spoke with the Shire about gathering a petition of support, the initial research I had done on the name used that spelling. They used it based on my advice. Subsequent research, with better sources, shows that the submitted spelling is more accurate, or at least more widely accepted.

Keep - Keep is a late period word referring to "the innermost and strongest structure or central tower of a medieval castle, serving as a last defense; a tower; a stronghold, donjon." This citation comes from page 375 of volume eight of the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED dates the earliest usage of this meaning to 1586 (copy from the OED is attached).

While this is late in period, we would point out that "keep" has been registered as a name element to approximately thirty-six local branches in the Society (not counting households). Most recently, it was registered in November 1999 to the "Shire of Crossroad Keep." Keep has been registered as an element of personal names approximately 250 times; most recently to "Elizabeth of Northkeep" in May 2000. The word is probably, while not the most period of elements, at least SCA-compatible.

Please note that the Shire is flexible about the spelling of the name, and will permit changes if necessary. However, if changes must be made, the sound is more important than meaning or spelling to the Shire.

"Vert, a fess dancetty between three hearts in chief and a laurel wreath in base argent."

Herald of Record: Silver Buccle

Note from Garnet: The submissions come with petitions of support signed by a majority of the members of the shire. Approximately fifteen pages of photocopies accompany this submission.

"Barry wavy vert and argent ermined vert."

His original device submission, "Argent, three shamrocks and on a chief triangular vert, an annulet argent" from the same letter was withdrawn by the submitter.

Herald of Record: Roana d'Evreux

Giliane - circa 1200 CE R&W Dictionary of English Surnames, (under Gillian or Julyana) English female given name

la Rousse - An Index to the Given Names in the 1292 Census of Paris by Colm Dubh cites Aalis le Rousse

"Per pale argent and vert nebuly, six martlets counterchanged."

Herald of Record: Bonifatius Eburhard

Giovanni - Italian; Rhian Lyth pg. 107 dated to 1427 (pce)

Bartolomeo - Italian; Rhian Lyth pg. 107 dated to 1427 (pce)

da Corleone - Webster's Geographic Dictionary, pg. 260 lists Corleone as a city in Sicily named Qurliyum in 9th century Arabic sources (pce)

"Purpure, an owl upon a chain fesswise, and in cheif three garden roses argent."

Herald of Record: Egill the Dane

Note from Granet: This is apparently a hardship case. My files indicate the original identical name submission was made at Pennsic 23 and it passed Kingdom but there's no indication of any decision from Laurel. Could someone peek at Laurel's files and see if this submission made it that far? The original device submission was completely different.

Gwendolyn - SCA compatible

Dolfin - R&W, pg. 138 (sn. Dolphin) cites Adam filius Dolfin 1256; Geoffrey Dolfin 1171; Richard Dolfin 1182.

"Argent, a dolphin haurient embowed purpure, on a chief wavy sable, a dagger proper."

Herald of Record: Hilda Hugelmann & Julianna de Luna

Isake - Withycombe, pg. 163, (s.n. Isaac) a spelling variation on the name Isaac form the Judeo-Christian Bible. Isake Linca 1534. (pce)

Elford - Hanks and Hodges, pg. 165 (s.n. Elford) a place name in England nera Shrewsbury. Note from Garnet: The submitter's mundane surname is Elford.

"Per pale argent and Or, a lion rampant sable, a bordure embattled sable."

Herald of Record: Isake de Elford, Hunter's Home Herald

Lodinn - Geirr Bassi, pg. 13

Vikarr - Ibid., pg. 16

Patronymic formed by rules cited on pg. 17

"Or, two dragon's head couped addorsed vert, on a chief wavy azure, three doves volant argent."

Herald of Record: Hilda Hugelmann

Qrn - Geirr Bassi, pg. 17

Askell - Ibid., pg. 8

Patronymic formed by rules cited on pg. 17. If this is registered, his old name Ulric Axelsson and device "Per pale gules and sable, two arrows in saltire argent, overall an apple Or." are to be released.

"Azure, a falcon close, belled and jessed Or, on a chief indented Or, three drakkars azure."

Herald of Record: Julianna de Luna

"[Fieldless], A lion's head caboshed per pale gules and argent."

Herald of Record: Ailis Linne

Note from Garnet: At Pennsic 1999, her name and device were submitted through AEthelmearc. Due to a bureaucratic mix-up, her name and badge were submitted through the East at the same time. Six months ago, my office sent her official notice that her name and device were registered with Laurel. Two months ago, she received notice from the East that her badge was being returned for conflict and her name would be sent to Laurel shortly. I'd like to thank my entire staff on a job well done. Keep up the good work. The resubmission is a complete re-design.

Seóan - O'C&M, pg. 163, (s.n. Seaan, Sean), "(s'an) m. This name is a borrowing through French Jehan of the Latin Joannes. ... it was relatively popular in England from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries ... It was brought into Ireland by the Anglo-Norman settlers but it was soon adapted by the Irish. Among the variants of the name in use in the Middle Ages were Seóan, ..."

O'Donndubán - O'C&M, pg. 77, (s.n. Donndubán) "(dun-av-an) m, 'dark brown swarthy person'. This name occurs principally in Munster where it is borne by a number of ninth and tenth century princes. From it derives the modern surname O Donnabháin (O Donovan)" Note from Garnet: The submitter's mundane surname is O'Donovan.

"Gules, bend between six bees Or."

Herald of Record: Fridrikr

Note from Garnet: His original name submission was Sean O'Faolain, which was returned for being an exact match of an early Irish poet who has his own entry in Encyclopedia Brittanica. The original device submission was identical to this one. No conflict was found, but it had to be returned when the name was returned.

Sergei - Wickenden, Dictionary of Period Russian Names, 3^rd ed., pg. 313 (s.n. Sergei) cites a Father Superior Sergei 1456-1471

Bolotnikov - "son of Bolotnik" Ibid., pg. 34 (s.n. Bolotnik) lists Ivan Bolotnikov to "before 1147"

"Per chevron gules semy of compass stars argent and ermine, a wolf and a bear combattant argent."

Herald of Record: Cadell Blaidd du

Note from Garnet: Two questions: Is it 'per chevron' or 'a pile inverted'? Should the beasts be specified as 'in chief' or is argent on ermine considered a forced change of position?

"Quarterly azure and argent, in pale a raven perched upon a decrescent sable."

His original submission, "Quarterly azure and argent of the 2^nd and 3^rd, a raven close on a decrescent sable." which appeared on the same letter was withdrawn by the submitter before it could be returned. Two Dagonell points to any untitled herald who can cite which rule it violated. It's worth two Dagonell points because it's a toughie.

Herald of Record: Julianna de Luna

Vladisla - Wickenden, Dictionary of Period Russian Names, pg. 313 (s.n. Vladislav), dates Vladisla to 1016.

Nikolich - Ibid, pg. 153 (s.n. Nikolai)

Herald of Record: Rhys ap Madog

Device: "Argent, a fess gules between three trees two and one vert and a crane in its vigilance sable."

Badge: "[Fieldless] On a hurst of trees vert, a crane in its vigilance Or."

Herald of Record: Cadell Blaidd du

Wladyslaus - variant on Wladyslaw, a name frequently found in The Polish Way, pg. 18 (pce)

Poznan - a town listed in The Polish Way, pg. 19 (pce)

According to the forms, his original submission Wladyslaus Polonus was returned in-Kingom July 2000.

Herald of Record: Gilles de Beauchamp

In Service, Dagonell

The Top twenty Signs that You might be a Heraldic Minion

20.) You add "-ant" to every verb (and some nouns -e.g. "a cat meatloafant")

19.) You have more markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. than your 10-year-old niece (and you spend more time coloring)

18.) You dream of the day when you will have sub-minions

17.) You buy books in languages you can't read because they have cool heraldic plates

16.) You criticize billboards for being color-on-color.

15.) You have purchased (or been given) more than five items of mundane clothing with heraldic themes -- and you wear them.

14.) You've tried calling 1-900-HERALDS, just to see [ Note from Dagonell: Nope, it's not in use. :( ]

13.) Your spouse, who has never touched a heraldry book starts using blazon when talking to you.

12.) You favorite movie is Henry V, because the herald has a starring role

[Note from Dagonell: Your next favorite movie is On Her Majesties Secret Service. James Bond impersonates a herald from England's College of Arms, nuff said.]

11.) You recognize people my arms more readily than by face

10.) You understand why Miss Manners insists on blue or black ink on white paper

9.) You mark "ILoI today" on your calendar with stars and exclamation points.

8.) You know exacly how to pack the boxes of heraldry books so they all fit in your herald's trunk.

7.) Two words: "Dagonell Points"

6.) You have made up heraldic titles for all of your pets.

5.) You don't buy heraldry books at Pennsic because you already have everything the merchants do.

4.) You have T-shirts that say "My <title> Principal herald went to KWHS and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" from all sixteen kingdoms.

[Note from Dagonell: Hey Edmund? I think I know how we can skip the next submission price increase!]

3.) "Herald's Barbeque" takes on a chilling new meaning.

[Note from Cadell: Chilling maybe, but it's certainly not a new meaning. Just ask most of the non-heralds you know!]

2.) You local heraldry group has its own name and badge.

...And the number one sign that you are a Heraldic Minion:

The ultimate fantasy: You and Halle Berry/Mel Gibson writing LoC's together! :-)