[SEAL]

Alys Mackyntoich
eastern.crown@eastkingdom.org

15 March 2014

Unto to the East Kingdom College of Heralds, upon the Ides of March, greetings and every good thing! Here is the Letter of Decisions for the Internal Letter of Intent issued on February 6, 2014. The original text from the iLoI is bolded, and is followed by my comments in unbolded text.

Thank you to the following commenters: The NE Calontir Commenting Group (members too numerous this month to list), Abdullah ibn Harun, Andreas von Meißen (Rowel), Brunissende Dragonette (Hyrondelle), Donovan Shinnock, Eleazar ha-Levi, ffride wlffsdotter (Goutte d'Eau), Gunnvor silfraharr (Orle), Ryan McWhyte (Brigantia),Sneferu sa Djedi (Sage), Tanczos Istvan (Non Scripta), Togashi Kihō and Yehuda ben Moshe (Elmet).

Always your servant,
Alys Mackyntoich
Eastern Crown Herald

1: Agapios Cargos - Resub Device Forwarded

Gules, two snakes nowed in an inverted Heneage knot argent fretted with two swords inverted in saltire Or, the hilts winged argent

The original submission, Gules, in saltire two swords inverted Or winged argent interlaced with two serpents argent, was pended on the 13 November 2013 Eastern LoD for redrawing due to the unidentifiability of the charges. This redraw has been approved by the submitter.

Many commenters were skeptical about the registerability of this arrangement, as well as whether the charges are sufficiently identifiable. Although I am also somewhat skeptical, I believe this device would benefit from more commentary from the wider community of heralds, so I am forwarding it for Wreath's consideration.

2: Briana Douglase - Resub Device Forwarded

Per pale and per chevron indented argent and azure, in chief two doves rising wings displayed respectant within a bordure counterchanged

The submitter's original device, Per pale and per chevron indented argent and azure, in chief two doves rising wings displayed respectant counterchanged, was returned on the September 2010 Eastern LoD for conflict with the device of Airbertach Deoraidh, Per bend sinister argent and azure, two eagles displayed counterchanged, registered in 11/1986 via Atlantia. The submitter then added a bordure to clear the conflict. On resubmission, her device with the bordure added was pended for redrawing on the November 2013 Eastern LoD because the per chevron division was improperly low. This redraw addresses the height of the field division.

Commenters agreed that the chevron is now properly drawn, and have identified no new conflicts.

3: Christoffel d'Allaines-le-Comte - Resub Device Forwarded

Azure semy of ears of wheat, on a pale Or a sword azure

This device was pended for redrawing on the December 2012 Eastern LoD because the ears of wheat were unidentifiable. Gunnvor Orle provided examples of period armory with individual wheat ears as charges. This redraw follows those examples.

Commenters agreed that the redrawing made the wheat far more identifiable.

4: Christoffel d'Allaines-le-Comte - Resub Badge Forwarded

Azure, in saltire an ear of wheat and a sword Or

This badge was pended for redrawing on the December 2012 Eastern LoD because the ear of wheat was not identifiable. Gunnvor Orle provided examples of period armory using individual ears of wheat as charges. This redraw follows those examples.

As with his armory, commenters agreed that the wheat in the redrawn badge was far more identifiable.

5: Geoffrey Hart - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Vert, a sea-stag Or

Geoffrey is an English male given name found in "Late Sixteenth Century English Given Names" by Talan Gwynek (http://heraldry.sca.org/names/eng16/eng16alpha.html).

Hart is an English surname dated to 1599 in Bardsley p. 362 s.n. Harte

The submitter did not blazon the posture of the stag. Suggestions for the correct blazon for its posture are appreciated.

This a very nice late period English name. In fact, ffride Goutte d'Eau found a Geoffrey Hart in the Family Search Historical Records as the father of a child christened 24 March 1638, in England. Batch no. P00589-1 (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JMKK-LSM)

The sea-stag is erect, which is the default for sea-monsters, so it was properly omitted from the blazon. This device appears to be clear of the armory of Yseult de la Nogent (Jul 1984, Middle): Vert, a sea-goat erect Or between in chief two roses argent, seeded Or. There is one DC for the roses as secondary charges. Logically, there would be a second DC between a sea-stag and a sea-goat because there is a substantial difference between a goat and a stag. However, there is an old precedent that suggests a sea-goat and a sea-stag might conflict. [Seumas Moray, December 1989, R-Trimaris]. Given the age of this precedent, and given the changes in thinking about conflicts in the last 25 years, I am opting to forward this for further discussion.

6: Geoffrey Hart - New Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) A sea-stag Or

The submitter did not blazon the posture of the stag. Suggestions for the correct blazon for its posture are appreciated.

The sea-stag is erect, which is the default for sea-monsters, so it was properly omitted from the blazon. This device appears to be clear of the armory of Yseult de la Nogent (Jul 1984, Middle): Vert, a sea-goat erect Or between in chief two roses argent, seeded Or. There is one DC for fieldlessness and a second DC for removing the secondary roses.

7: Isabella d'Allaines-le-Comte - Resub Device Forwarded

Vert, a cauldron issuant from a flame and on a chief Or two ladles in saltire vert

The submitter's original device submission, Vert, three seeblatter Or, was returned on the June 2003 LoAR for a conflict with the badge of Annabella of Lochwinnoch (Jan. 2003, Atlantia): Purpure, three hearts Or.

The submitter's second device submission, Vert, a cauldron and in chief two ladles in saltire, bowls to base, a flame issuant from base Or, was returned on the 6 December 2012 Eastern LoD for violations of SENA:

Unfortunately, this device must be returned for violating SENA A.3.D.2.c, which states: "A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures." The ladles and the flame are in the same charge group, but "two in saltire and one" is not a single unified arrangement because its elements must be blazoned separately. The May 2012 Cover letter gives the following example, which is directly applicable:
For example, two swords in saltire and a lion is a mixed-type charge group consisting of inanimate charges and animate charges, which do not have comparable postures. However, the entire group is not in a single unified arrangement, but instead has the swords and the lion arranged separately. This is not an allowable arrangement under A3D2c, without further documentation of its use in period.
In addition, the device as currently drawn arguably violates SENA A.3.D.2.a which disallows "slot machine" heraldry or, in simpler terms, three different kinds of charges having the same visual weight. The cauldron seems to be intended as the primary charge, yet has the same overall visual weight as the ladles and the flame. These two violations of SENA require this device to be returned. Gunnvor Orle suggested that the submitter consider period depictures of cauldrons, which incorporate flames as part of the charge.
This redesign appears to address the problems identified in the LoD.

The submitter has taken Orle's suggestion and is using a period depiction of a cauldron along the lines of the following: Image #1: Sammlung von Wappen aus Verschiedenen, Besonders Deutschen Ländern. (Collection of Arms from Various Countries, Especially Germany - BSB Cod.Icon. 307 [S.L.] Germany in 1600). http://codicon.digitale-sammlungen.de/Blatt_bsb00020245%2C00419.html Image #2: Insignia Lucensium, Senensium, Pisanorum, Pistoianorum, Volterranorum, Aretinorum, Cortonensium, Borgo a S. Sepolcro (BSB Cod.Icon. 278 [S.L.] Italian 1550-1555) http://mdz10.bib-bvb.de/~db/bsb00001425/images/index.html?seite=327

8: Kai Wulfbalt - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Quarterly sable and Or, on a bend argent between two wolves rampant contourny five paw prints palewise sable

Kai is an English male given name. It is found in R&W s.n. Kay as Britius filius Kay dated to 1199. The spelling Kai, potentially referring to King Arthur's foster brother and knight, is found in the Middle English Dictionary s.n. him-self dated to c. 1275.

Wulfbalt is an English byname appearing in R&W s.n. Wolbold. The submitted spelling is dated to 1179; the related spelling Wulbald is dated to 1275.

The use of paw prints is a Step From Period Practice under Appendix G of SENA.

I have adjusted the blazon to remove the extraneous 'e' from 'contourny' and to indicate that the paw prints are palewise.

9: Katherine de Staverton - New Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) A bearded and bird-beaked man's head couped argent wearing a Jewish hat Or

This submission is to be associated with Judith bas Rabbi Mendel

The alternate name Judith bas Rabbi Mendel was registered to this submitter in February 2011 (via the East).

The badge is patterned after the so-called Bird's Head Haggadah, a medieval Jewish manuscript showing people with bird heads and Jewish hats (http://www.medievalists.net/2012/04/03/birds-head-haggadah-scholar-gives-new-insights-into-jewish-me dieval-text/).

This appears to be the defining instance of a Jewish hat or Judenhut.

According to A History of Jewish Costume by Alfred Rubens, the distinctive Jewish hat or Judenhut was a key feature of medieval Jewish costume. The first illustrations of the hat are found in the Stavondale Bible (c. 1097). The Jewish hat was proudly displayed in Jewish manuscripts and imagery, and was not considered a mark of degradation. It appears on Jewish seals, including a 13th cen. seal for the Augsburg Jewish community.

Jewish Life in the Middle Ages: Illuminated Hebrew Manuscripts of the 13th to 16th Centuries by Therese and Mendel Metzger at p. 145 shows the use of three Jewish hats in a German coat of arms from c. 1300.

With the release of the new electronic Pictoral Dictionary, I found that this is not the defining instance of a Jewish hat. There was some debate about the proper way to blazon the bird-beaked head. After considering several options, I have opted to blazon it as (Fieldless) A bearded and bird-beaked man's head couped argent wearing a Jewish hat Or.

10: Kenneth the Red - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Gules, three lions sejant affronty Or

Kenneth is a male given name found in the Family Search Historical Records for Scotland:

Kenneth Logie; Male; Christening; 19 Nov 1609; EDINBURGH PARISH, EDINBURGH, MIDLOTHIAN, SCOTLAND; Batch: C11685-4
the Red is the Lingua Anglica form of the attested bynames le Rede and le Red, both found in R&W s.n. Read dated to 1220 and 1332 respectively.

The submitter's device appears to be clear of the armory of Catrin von Berlin (Nov. 2002, Outlands): Gules, three bat-winged cats sejant affronty wings displayed and a chief Or. The addition of wings to creatures generally is worth a DC. There is a second DC for the addition of the chief.

11: Lilie of Eastham - Resub Device Returned

Argent, a phoenix gules rising from flames proper and a bordure gules semy of bezants

Although marked as a new device, this appears to be a resubmission of a device returned for conflict on the May 2001 Eastern LoD. As there is no longer a time limit for free resubmissions, even a 13-year old resubmission is free.

Note that this is a complete redesign from her earlier submission.

Unfortunately, this resubmission will have to be returned due to the incorrect rendering of flames proper. Longstanding precedent holds that flames proper may not be rendered as flames Or voided gules. [April 1995 Cover Letter]. Instead, the correct rendition of flames proper is as alternating tongues of red and gules. [Id.] Failing to use the proper depiction of flames proper is grounds for return. [Tymme Lytefelow, 08/2012 LoAR, R-An Tir]. Unless evidence is found that would warrant reconsidering this precedent, this device will have to be returned.

Upon being advised of the problem with the depiction of the flames in this device, the submitter withdrew it and re-submitted a corrected drawing that now appears on the March Eastern ILoI.

12: Matilda Wynter - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Ermine, a chevron cotised gules

Matilda is a female given name dated to 1189-1215 in Withycombe s.n. Matilda.

Wynter is byname dated to 1379 in Bardsley p. 819 s.n. Winter.

This device is clear of the armory of James of Wiverneweald (Sept. 1997, Caid): Ermine, a chevron between three estoiles gules, with DCs for the number and type of secondary charges.

13: Matilda Wynter - New Badge Forwarded

(Fieldless) In pale an owl argent sustaining three holly leaves conjoined in pall fructed proper

At Istvan Non Scripta's suggestion, I have changed the blazon from (Fieldless) An owl argent sustaining a holly sprig fructed proper to (Fieldless) In pale an owl argent sustaining three holly leaves conjoined in pall fructed proper.

14: Olaf Olafsson of Dragonship Haven - New Name Forwarded and New Device Forwarded

Or, a tree eradicated and on a chief vert three stags salient Or

Olaf is a male given name found in Academy of St. Gabriel Report 2896 (http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/showfinal.cgi?2896+0) as a Norwegian name dated to 1480-1530.

Appendix A of SENA states that, for later period Scandinavian names, patronymics are formed by using the genitive form of the father's name plus -son. Olafsson appears to be the correct construction.

of Dragonship Haven uses the name of a registered SCA branch pursuant to SENA PN.1.B.2.f. Dragonship Haven, Shire of was registered in August of 1979 (via the East), and was updated to Dragonship Haven, Barony of in March of 1985 (via the East).

Originally submitted as Olaf Olafsson, the conflict with Olaf Olafson, registered April 1986 via Caid, was identified during data entry. Eastern Crown had a conversation with the submitter about his options. He opted to add of Dragonship Haven to clear the conflict.

ffride Goutte d'Eau noted that men named Olaf Olafsson appear in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, dated to 1399 (http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/middelalder/diplom_vise_tekst.prl?b=1691&s=n&str=Olaf%20Olafsson), 1412 (http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/middelalder/diplom_vise_tekst.prl?b=9064&s=n&str=Olaf%20Olafsson), and 1433 (http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/middelalder/diplom_vise_tekst.prl?b=5239&s=n&str=Olaf%20Olafsson).

15: Yehuda ben Moshe - Resub Badge Forwarded

Per bend sinister sable and argent, a spur rowel Or and two smith's hammers in saltire proper

This identical badge was returned on the 6 January 2013 Eastern LoD, with the following explanation:

This badge must be returned for violating SENA A.3.D.2.c Unity of Posture and Orientation, which states: "The charges within a charge group should be in either identical postures/orientations or an arrangement that includes posture/orientation (in cross, combatant, or in pall points outward, for example). A charge group in which postures for different charges must be blazoned individually will not be allowed without period examples of that combination of postures. " The spur rowel and the hammers are part of the same charge group, yet the hammers must be blazoned individually from the rowel because they are in saltire.
Since that decision was rendered, precedent has clarified this section of SENA. The June 2013 Cover Letter ruled that two charges in saltire should be deemed one compact charge for unity of posture purposes only. Thus, this badge should now be registerable.

The badge should be clear of the armory of Stella da Lodi (Sept. 2013, Atlantia): Per bend sinister sable and argent, a mullet Or and a nettle leaf vert, with DCs for the tincture and type of half of the primary charge group.

Nunc est bibiendum