Alys Mackyntoich
eastern.crown@eastkingdom.org

20 August 2013

Unto to the East Kingdom College of Heralds, upon the Feast of Saint Bernard, greetings and every good thing! Here is the Letter of Decisions for the July 2013 Internal Letter of Intent. The original text from the iLoI is bolded, and is followed by my comments in unbolded text.

Thank you to the following commenters: Abdullah ibn Harun (Sinking Tower); Aryanhwy merch Catmael (Schwarzdrachen); Brenna Lowri o Ruthin; Brunissende Dragonette; Eleazar ha-Levi; Etienne Le Mons (Vexillum); Gunnvor silfraharr (Orle); Juetta Copin; Lillia de Vaux (Diademe); Llewellyn Walsh; Mari Clock (Mural); Maridonna Benvenuti; Ryan McWhyte (Brigantia); Simeon ben Iucef de Alcaçar; Tanczos Istvan (Non Scripta); and Yehuda ben Moshe (Elmet).

Your servant,
Alys Mackyntoich
Eastern Crown Herald

1: Abdullah ibn Harun al-Qurtubi - New Badge Forwarded

Azure semy of lyres argent

2: Christiana Crane - New Household Name Forwarded and New Badge Returned

Fulton House

(Fieldless) A martlet sable.

The submitter's name was registered on the April 2012 LoAR.

Fulton is a place name that evolved into a surname as seen in R&W s.n. Fulton, which gives Richard Fulton (1218-19) and Roger de Fuldon' (1255-58) and Bardsley p. 303 s.n. Fulton, which gives John de Fulton (1273). Bardsley states that the village of Fulton is extinct.

Unfortunately, this badge conflicts with the device of William de Molay (April 2008, Ansteorra): Per bend embattled grady Or and gules, in sinister chief a martlet sable. There is only a single difference for fieldless vs. a fielded badge. For fieldless badges, there is no DC for the charge's position on the field. As a result, the badge must be returned.

3: Constança Navarra - Resub Device Returned

Per pale argent and sable, a chalice and a wolf sejant ululant counterchanged, on a chief Or a bunch of grapes slipped and leaved bendwise proper

The submitter's name appears on the June 6, 2013 Eastern ILoI.

A wolf ululant is a Step from Period Practice under Appendix G of SENA.

This device is not marshalled armory. SENA A.6.F.3.c says:

c. Per Pale Fields with Multiple Charge Groups: As marshalled arms using a per pale line of division were not inherited, the addition of a charge or charge group which crosses the per pale line is generally sufficient to remove the unmistakable appearance that a portion of the field is independent armory. The addition of a bordure or chief that does not itself appear to be part of two distinct original arms also removes that appearance. In general, a chief or bordure which has poor contrast with one side of the field or one that is charged so that identical charges or parts of charges appear on both sides of the line of division or bordure meets this standard.

This device has a complexity count of nine (chief, chalice, wolf, bunch of grapes + Or, purpure, vert, sable, argent = complexity of nine). Since the device also has a SFPP for the use of a wolf ululant, a complexity count above eight is grounds for return. [Nogg Gabriel, March 2012 LoAR, R-An Tir].

4: East, Kingdom of the - New Order Name Forwarded

Order of Valor of the East

This Order name follows the pattern of using virtues or abstract qualities, shown in "Medieval Secular Order Names" by Juliana de Luna (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/order/new/ListingOfStandardForms.html#AllAbstract). Valor is a virtue or positive quality, which the Middle English Dictionary s.n. valour defines as:

1.(a) Worthiness in terms of the chivalric virtues, nobility of character or breeding; also, spiritual worth [quot. ?a1475]; also, courtliness, refinement [quot. a1500(?a1400)]; of ~; (b) bravery, courage, valiance in battle; of ~; (c) physical strength, might; also, stability, endurance [quot. c1450]; intensity [quot. a1475]; of ~.

SENA NPN 3.C states "The Order of the Whistle does not conflict with the Order of the Whistle of Drachenwald, because the substantive elements being compared are Whistle and Whistle of Drachenwald." Therefore, the Order of Valor of the East does not conflict with the Order of Valor registered to the Kingdom of the West in August of 1987 (via Laurel).

Lillia Diademe pointed out that the spelling valor occured in period, albeit under one of the alternate meanings for the word. MED, s.n. valour, under definition 3b 'the monetary sum representing the value of something, price' has: "(1466-7) Acc.Howard in RC 57 174: 3e have ... a lytel stofe of myne fore my howesolde, wesche is of no grete valor." MED s.n. tensor has "(1467) Ordin.Wor. 394: Also, that euery Tensure be sett a resonable fyne..and that euery tensure that hath ben wtyn the cyte a yere or more dwellynge, and hath sufficiaunt to the valor of xl s. or more, be warned to be made citezen by resonable tyme to hym lymitted, and yf he refuse that..he shalle yerly pay to the comyn cofre xl d. ouer that summe that shalle yerly pay to the Baillies or eny other officers, and so yerly to contynue tylle he be made citezen." Finally, MED s.n. worth: "(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221) 535: Wurthe, or the wurthe of walur of a thynge: Valor." These examples would seem to support the submitted spelling.

5: East, Kingdom of the - New Order Name Forwarded

King's Order of Excellence

This Order name follows the pattern of using virtues or abstract qualities, shown in "Medieval Secular Order Names" by Juliana de Luna (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/order/new/ListingOfStandardForms.html#AllAbstract).

excellence (n.)
1. Superiority, greatness, distinction (in a certain respect): distinction or eminence (in ability, artistry), refinement (in manners), excellence (of character), greatness or culmination (of fame or reputation), prominence (of birth or wealth), distinction or dignity (of old age), excellence (of a jewel); -- with in or of phrase.

(c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2)) 2 Mac.6.23: The worthi excellence of age, and his eelde [senectutis suæ eminentiam dignam]. c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn) 61/3: For þreo causus of gret fame: þe furst is excellence of dignite. (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert) E.408: She was encressed in swich excellence Of thewes goode..That ech hir louede. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) prol.361: Guydo..Whiche had in writyng passyng excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 1.2179: To gete hym honour by excellence of fame. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 2.194: Of peyntyng I haue noon excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 2.1526: Of port, of konnyng, & of womanhede, Sche haþ alone..þe souereynte and þe excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 2.2726: Of witte and of sapience þou schalt hooly han þe excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 3.2198: Liche þe honour and þe excellence Of royal buriyng. ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982) 108/8: His grete nobillay..and þe grete excellence of his ricches. c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140) 17: While þat Rome was in excellence Of alle Realmes in dignite.

2. Outstanding or supreme quality; greatness, prominence, distinction, illustriousness (in some unspecified respect, often to be gathered from the context); esp., integrity or refinement of character; crafti excellence, excellence in craftsmanship; roial excellence, illustriousness of a ruler, royal splendor; don excellence, do an act of kindness or generosity; in excellence, at the culmination of (one's) life or fame.

(c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert) A.3048: A man hath moost honour To dyen in his excellence and flour, Whan he is siker of his goode name. (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert) A.311: A sergeant of the Lawe, war and wys,..ful riche of excellence. (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert) C.10: For nature hath with souereyn diligence Yformed hire in so greet excellence. (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert) B.3011: We submitten vs to the excellence and benygnytee of youre gracious lordshipe. (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3) 7.1751: The gold [in a King's crown] betokneth excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 1.460: þi kny3tly hert, þi manly excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 2.1037: þe werkeman haþ nat failed It to parforme by crafty excenlence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 2.2006: Gery Mars..Can 3eue a man whilom excellence To wynne a pris. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 4.1596: Twey tombes..of royal excellence. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 5.977: For al hir excellence..3et hir lord of newfangilnesse Toke anoþer. c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4) 4.5970: With-outen any maner reuerence Or honour done to þe excellence Of Appollo. a1450(?c1421) Lydg. ST (Arun 119) 1895: Requiring hym, of kyngly excellence, In goodly wise [to] 3eve hym audience. a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson) 3.215: In preysing of hire excellence, Hire governaunce, hire wit. c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson) 2049: Yow, that don to me this excellence. c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916) 29/1: Sum excellence or worþines or goodnes of god. 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327) 134: The wurthy excellence Of thys holy maydyn. c1475(a1449) Lydg. Horns (LdMisc 683) 10: Rubyes of moost excellence Shewe in dirknesse lyght where so they be. c1475(a1449) Lydg. Benedictus DDS (LdMisc 683) 25: God gaff Dauyd roiall excellence,..moost ffor his meeknesse. a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson) 2.26.1: The excellence of the spere solide, amonges othir noble conclusiouns, shewith [etc.]. c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103) p.258: This purveaunce haþ this excellence: That alle þing at ones he enbraceth.

6: Evalina von Schaidegg - Resub Device Forwarded

Argent, three mullets one and two and a mountain of two peaks issuant from base gules, a chief azure

This is a resubmission of a device returned on the February 5, 2013 Eastern LoD. The submitter's original device, Argent, three mullets of five points one and two and a mountain of two peaks gules conflicted with the device of Donal MacMurtrie (May 1988, Atenveldt): Argent, three mullets, one and two, gules, with only a single DC for the addition of the mountain. This resubmission adds an azure chief to clear the conflict.

Commenters questioned whether there was a problem with the device's having both a chief and a base. Precedent permits designs with a chief and a base together to be registered on case-by-case basis where the overall design does not resemble a charged fess -- for example, "if the chief and base were different tinctures, for instance, or if they had different lines of division." [Cynwrig de Montain, Nov 2006 LoAR, R-Artemisia; Rowland of Lincolnshire, Dec. 2011 LoAR, A-Outlands]. Since this device's design could not be mistaken for a charged fess, I am fowarding it.

I have modified the blazon to indicate that the mountain is issuant from base.

7: Grímólfr Skúlason - New Name Forwarded and New Device Withdrawn

Lozengy gules and argent, two ravens displayed and a wolf statant sable.

Grímólfr is a male given name found 5 or fewer times in "Viking Names found in Landnámabók" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/norse/landnamabok.html).

Skúli is a male given name found in the same article. The submitted patronymic Skúlison is not correctly formed. According to the rules set out on p. 17 of Geirr-Bassi, the patronymic should be Skúlason. Unfortunately, the submitter allows no changes. I will attempt to reach him to get his permission to fix the grammar of the byname.

On July 14, 2013, the submitter consented to change the byname from Skúlison to Skúlason to correct the grammar. After considering commentary about the unidentifiability of the ravens on the device, the submitter opted to withdraw the device for redrawing. This withdrawal will be treated as a return for the purposes of resubmission.

8: Grímólfr Skúlason - New Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) In saltire a rose in profile slipped and leaved and a rapier Or, overall a wolf's head couped sable.

The use of a rose in profile is a Step from Period Practice. [Jahhaf ibn 'Awanah, 03/2012, A-East] As there is only a single SFPP in the badge, it is likely registerable.

9: Katherine Meade - Resub Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) An elephant rampant argent bearing its back a howdah gules between and conjoined to four torteaux in cross.

The submitter's first badge submission, (Fieldless) An elephant rampant argent bearing a howdah gules was returned on the November 2011 LoAR for conflict with the device of Simona dell'Amore, Sable, an elephant rampant argent. As the LoAR explained: "The motif of an elephant with a castle or tower upon its back is period, but we grant no difference between a howdah and a castle or tower, and as an elephant with such on its back was used interchangeably with an elephant unburdened, we do not grant difference for the existence (or lack thereof)."

Although this badge is intended to be fieldless, it was submitted on the form for fielded badges. Heralds, please be careful about using the correct form and making sure your submitters do as well.

I modified the blazon to include the tincture of the elephant. I have some misgivings about the registerability of this badge giving the very minimal conjoining of the rightmost torteaux. However, I think it would benefit from more commentary. Therefore, I am sending it up for further review.

10: Sitt al-Gharb ha-niqret Khazariyya - New Name Forwarded and New Device Returned

Sable, on a pale purpure fimbriated between two winged monkeys rampant a crescent and a broom Or.

Khazariyya is a female given name meaning "the Turkish woman" found in "Jewish Women's Names in an Arab Context: Names from the Geniza of Cairo" by Juliana de Luna (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/geniza.html).

Unless commenters can supply evidence to justify the pattern of the name, this name will have be returned (or unless the submitter consents to changes such as the use of a marked patronymic or dropping an element).

Submitted as Khazariyya al-Sa'ima Sitt al-Gharb, no documentation was provided for the naming pattern [given name] + [byname] + [given name] in Arabic names. Nor is such a pattern supported by the articles in Appendix A of SENA. Neither unmarked matronymics nor double given names are found in Arabic.

I had a lengthy e-mail discussion with the submitter about how she wanted to proceed. After reviewing several options with her based on "Jewish Women's Names in an Arab Context: Names from the Geniza of Cairo" by Juliana de Luna (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/geniza.html), the submitter opted to change her name to Sitt al-Gharb ha-nigret Khazariyya. Juliana's article gives the example of "Sitt al-Banat ha-nigret Sa'ida (Mistress over the girls, named propitious)." Following that pattern, this name would be something like "Lady of the West, named the Turkish woman."

Private e-mail with Juliana clarified that "nigret" is likely a typo here and the proper spelling should be ha-niqret. The submitter approved this correction.

Names in the pattern [given name] "who is called/known as" [given name] can be registered in languages in which that pattern is documented, as is clearly stated in the 03/1996 Cover Letter (http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/1996/03/cvr.html) and provided for in Appendix A of SENA. The pattern is adequately documented from the Geniza of Cairo. Therefore, I am forwarding this name.

Unfortunately, this device must be returned for having two tertiary charge groups on the pale. SENA, Appendix I.C states that where, as here, the tertiary charges on a pale are of substantially different sizes, they form two distinct charge groups, which is not permitted. The broom here is substantially larger than the mullet.

When considering her options for resubmission, the submitter should keep in mind that excessive allusions to a famous fictional character can be grounds for return. [Arthur d'Uriens, Dec. 2010 LoAR, R-Trimaris] The combination of a name meaning "Lady of the West" plus a broom and flying monkeys caused commenters to draw an immediate connection to the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. While a single allusion is permissible, [Rhiannon de Carreg Cennen, March 2007, A-East], two or more allusions can be problematical and should be avoided.

11: Lions End, Canton of - New Heraldic Title Forwarded

Billet Pursuivant

SENA NPN 1.B.4 states that Pursuivant is one of the standard titles for local branches.

A billet is a common heraldic charge. Parker's A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry lists it as "Billet, (fr. billette): a small oblong figure." The PicDic states: "billets are also found in period armory as distinct, single charges; such usage dates from c. 1295 in the arms of Gacelin."

The OED s.n. billet gives examples of this spelling in period:

1592. Wyrley Armorie 153. A siluer fes 'tween many billets gold.
1610 Guillim Heraldry iv. v. (1660) 279. This Billet in Armory is taken for a paper folded up in form of a letter.

12: Lions End, Canton of - New Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) In pale a bicorporate lion conjoined to a billet fesswise Or.

13: Lucien de Pontivi - New Household Name Forwarded

Academy of Saint Gregory with the Dove

Academy is a household designator that may be used in household names registered to individuals. [Galen Storm, 08/2002, A-Atlantia]

Examples of the dove dictating to Pope Gregory in medieval artwork can be found in the Antiphonary of Hartker of the monastery of Saint Gall (Cod. Sang. 390, p. 13) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gregory_I_-_Antiphonary_of_Hartker_of_Sankt_Gallen.jpg) and in a 9th cen. manuscript (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Registrum_gregorii,_san_gregorio_magno_ispirato_dalla_colomba,_983 _miniatura,_treviri_stadtbiblithek,_19,8x27_cm.jpg)

I mis-spelled the submitter's name during data entry, something no one managed to catch in commentary. The mis-spelling has been corrected.

14: Murdoch Macrae - New Name Forwarded

Murdoch appears as a male given name in "Index of Scots names found in Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue," by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/scots/dost/murdoch.html), with the submitted spelling dated to 1599.

Macrae is a header form in Black p. 560, with the dated forms Macraith (1202), M'Rey (1376), McRay (1476) and Mackcrae (1650). James Macray of Pardowis appears in a Scots language document dated 19 May 1584 in the Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (http://www.rps.ac.uk/). "Publications of the Scottish History Society" (T. and A. Constable, 1917) at p. 639 has an excerpt of a Scots language document dated to 1646 containing the name Robert Mackrae. (http://books.google.com/books?id=wAEdAAAAMAAJ).

Macrae has been registered within the past year as an interpolated spelling based on this identical documentation. [Emily Macrae, 11/2012 LoAr, A-Outlands].

15: Nyfain merch Coel - New Name Returned and New Device Returned

Per pale vert and sable, a greyhound sejant affronty argent and in chief two oak leaves Or.

No documentation summary was provided, although a copy of "Names of Women of the Brythonic North in the 5-7th Centuries," by Tangwystyl verch Morgant Glasvryn (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/tangwystyl/brythonic/) was attached.

No black and white line drawing was provided.

This name must be returned for lack of documentation. No evidence was provided to rebut the May 2007 precedent stating that Nyfain is a wholly modern form and therefore unregisterable. The submitter might want to consider the 5th cen. Latinized form Nemania or one of the forms actually found in the period texts:

Neuein - De Situ Brecheniauc (Cotton ms. Vespasian A xiv, fos. 10v-11v (ca. 1200) text perhaps a century earlier
Nyuen - Cognacio Brychan (Cotton MS. Domitian I, fox. 157v-158v) ms. dated 1502-55, copied from a ms poss of the 13th c.
Nevyn - Plant Brychan

Other than the possibly-legendary Coel Hen, the only name in my database that I have tentatively normalized as Coel appears in the name "Meredith ap Kenwric ap Choel" dated 1352 cited in:

Rees, William. 1941. "Ministers' Accounts (General Series), Bundle 1158, No. 3 (Public Record Office -- Accounts of the Ministers for the Lands of the Crown in West Wales for the financial year 1352-3" in Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 10:60-83,139-156, 156-271.

However this identification is uncertain and probably wrong. There is no general pattern in this source of using "ch" for initial [k] (this would be the sole example). Furthermore, there is a strong suspicion that "Kenwric ap Choel" may be the same person as appears in the listing "Fili' Ieuan ap Kenwric ap Hoel" elsewhere in the document.
So my overall conclusion is: no, I don't have any reliable evidence for the use of "Coel" as an ordinary name.

[T]here is no documentation for Luan as anything but a legendary name. As it can be documented only as a legendary name, it is not registerable. [Luan an Fael, LoAR 11/2007, Lochac-R]

16: Scolario Roverino - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Argent, two keys in saltire, wards to chief, gules.

Scolario is a vernacular male given name based on the Latinized Scolarius found in Juliana de Lunda's "Masculine Names from Thirteenth Century Pisa" (http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/pisa/pisa-given-alpha.html).

Roverino - quoting directly from the form "Nicolao Roverino appears in Genoa (Republic), Les douanes de Genes, John Day. (Paris: SEVPEN 1963)." No copy of this source was provided; no page number was cited.

Brunissende Dragonette pointed out that the actual title of the book cited for the byname is Les douanes de Gênes, 1376-1377, Volume 1 (http://books.google.com/books?ei=vLrgUaG_JJO-4AOU6YH4Cg&hl=fr&id=VLkqAQAAIAAJ&dq=les+douanes+de+Gene s+Roverino&q=Roverino#search_anchor). This places the byname squarely in the 14th century.

Maridonna Benvenuti provided additional documentation for Roverino in Delle monete e dell' instituzione delle zecche d'Italia, dell' antico by Gian Rinaldo conte Carli (http://books.google.com/books?id=ichVAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA93&dq=Roverino&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rkHhUaz5A5THywGypYGo BQ&ved=0CGgQ6AEwCDgU#v=onepage&q=Roverino&f=false). This source, p. 93, the 16th century Appendix, year 1502, mentions Ducato Ungaro and Ducato Roverino. Translated "Duchy of Ungaro and a Duchy Roverino..." The footnote (b) "...Roverino perche forse provenuto da Sisto IV, della Rovere, creato del 1471, morto nel 1484... A translation: Roverino may have originated with Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere, [the pope] who was created in 1471 died in 1484..."

17: Simeon ben Iucef de Alcaçar - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Vairy sable, argent, gules and Or, on a pale sable three towers Or.

Simeon appears s.n. Simon in "Jewish Given Names Found in Les Noms Des Israélites en France" by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/jewish/levy/simon.html). Simeon is dated to the 10th and 11th centuries.

de Alcaçar is a locative byname appearing in "Late-Period Spanish Men's Names from Seville," by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/spanish/silversmiths.html) dated to 1540.

Iucef does not have a cedilla in the cited article. I therefore have removed it from the submitted name. Removing an accent is not a major change.

In CORDE, I found references to del castiello de Alcaçar dated to c. 1196 and infante Don Pedro del Alcaçar dated to 1312, removing any possible issue with the temporal gap between name elements.

Evidence of vairy of four colors is found in Hierosme de Bara. Le Blason des Armoiries. Paris: Chez Rolet Bovtonné. 1628. p. 11. (http://books.google.com/books?id=4AhJAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA11) or (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5753422z/f26.image).

18: Simeon ben Iucef de Alcaçar - New Badge Pended

(Fieldless) An open book Or transfixed by an arrow fesswise reversed sable.

This arrow is fesswise reversed, since arrows fesswise in the SCA have their point to sinister. (http://heraldry.sca.org/coagloss.html#default) I have changed the blazon accordingly.

The required black and white outline copy was not provided. The submitter is remedying that defect.

The May 2009 CL tells us that a transfixing charge can be co-primary, sustained, or maintained. This arrow as drawn is visually co-equal with the book, so it cannot be a co-primary. It might be sustained or maintained. If the arrow is considered maintained, this badge conflicts with Cormac Longstrider (June 2000, East): Gyronny azure and argent, an open book Or bound sable. I have contacted Cormac about permission to conflict and he is considering whether to grant it.

Since the paperwork issue is being addressed and the conflicts question is awaiting resolution, I am pending this badge rather than returning it.