Words: King's Archery Champion

Eva Woderose did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll from the Ellesmere Chaucer. This was a great opportunity for calligraphy, illumination and words to all come from the same source, so I based the words off a part of the Knight's Tale that mentions a bow and arrows. I used the modern translation.

SCROLL WORDS
King's Archery Champion

How keenly Eastern subjects arm with bows
And shafts to hunt the battlefields for foes,
For which Andreas gives admiring praise,
Full seeing in this skill an army raised.
He likewise loves the champions of his name,
Appointing them to court, and court’s acclaim,
As they themselves have made to King and lands
The gift of time that talent still demands.
Who loves the East? ____(S/he)____ who gives steady chase
With bow in hand, and arrows in a case.

This 20th day of June, AS XLIV, We, Andreas, name __________________________ Our King’s Champion of Archery at Our King’s and Queen’s Archery Champions and Vinland Raids in the Barony of Smoking Rocks.

SOURCE TEXT
Canterbury Tales of the Ellesmere Chaucer (Knight's Tale)
Geoffrey Chaucer, England, late 14th century

How Atalanta hunted the wild boar;
And Meleager, and many another there,
For which Diana wrought him woe and care.
There saw I many another wondrous tale
From which I will not now draw memory's veil.
This goddess on an antlered hart was set,
With little hounds about her feet, and yet
Beneath her perfect feet there was a moon,
Waxing it was, but it should wane full soon.
In robes of yellowish green her statue was,
She'd bow in hand and arrows in a case.