Shiny Thing

Words: Alys's Tyger of the East

2010-09-30T11:09:00.001-07:00

Jon Blaecstan did the calligraphy and illumination. (I hope to post a picture later. It's a knockout.) My source had a couple lines still in French in the beginning, and Brunissende helped me retain that with her French translation.

As Jon was using the Vienna Codex 1856, a c.1470 Burgundian manuscript, for the art, my search for a poetic source for words began with 15th-century Burgundian poetry. I found Charles d’Orleans (1394-1465), who fathered King Louis XII from his third wife, Marie de Clèves, the niece of Philip of Burgundy; and as well his erstwhile friend, François Villon, with his bizarre itinerant life of writing poetry while thieving in Paris and across the French countryside. François was part of a criminal group called “Coquille”, an organization akin to a small mafia which reminded me of the Morgendammerung gang of a certain Bretonnian thief’s acquaintance (biography).

Charles d’Orleans was a great mentor of poetry in his time: during the last 15 years of his life he received many visitors who joined with members of his household in poetry contests. He supported the poetry of François Villon, who stayed with him sometimes (in between prison sentences, that is). Charles wrote mainly rondeaux and ballades and is now thought to have inspired Charles Baudelaire (Key Figures in Medieval Europe: An Encyclopedia).

François Villon’s poems inspired me for this purpose: particularly the one below, the opening of which so clearly suggests a Demon Queen of Fence reference.

The bolded lines below repeat, and I’ve partly mimicked this.

AWARD TEXT
Alys Mackyntoich Tyger of the East

Dame du ciel, regents terrienne,
Naguere couronee infernale reine d'espee…

Lady of Heaven and earth, and therewithal,
In early times crowned Demon Queen of Fence…

We, thy right Sovereigns, thy name do call,
And name thee Demon Courtier hence,
For in courtly ways art thou wicked good.

But all Our banter may not mar
Such merits as thy worthy merits are;
Without the which (as true words testify)
A kingdom’s Heaven remains fair and far,
Untouchable, so We reign, and say goodbye.

King Andreas, and Gabriella, Queen,
Lift thee in grace as thou hast lifted Us
And name thee Tyger of the East, full seen
At the Coronation of Our Heirs, done thus
This third day of October, with all trust
That We have chosen what is meet and just.
Anno Societatis XLIV,
A Tyger’s Year, shalt have no loss thereby.
Unto Our blessed court: in peace and war,
Honor this, for We reign, and say goodbye.

SOURCE TEXT
Ballade To Our Lady by François Villon, 1431 - ? (disappeared in 1463)
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, English trans.

Dame du ciel, regents terrienne,
Emperiere des infemaux palus....

Lady of Heaven and earth, and therewithal
Crowned Empress of the nether clefts of Hell,—

I, thy poor Christian, on thy name do call,
Commending me to thee, with thee to dwell,
Albeit in nought I be commendable.

But all mine undeserving may not mar
Such mercies as thy sovereign mercies are;
Without the which (as true words testify)
No soul can reach thy Heaven so fair and far.
Even in this faith I choose to live and die.

Unto thy Son say thou that I am His,
And to me graceless make Him gracious.
Said Mary of Egypt lacked not of that bliss,
Nor yet the sorrowful clerk Theopbilus,
Whose bitter sins were set aside even thus
Though to the Fiend his bounden service was.
Oh help me, lest in vain for me should pass
(Sweet Virgin that shalt have no loss thereby!)
The blessed Host and sacring of the Mass
Even in this faith I choose to live and die.

A pitiful poor woman, shrunk and old,
I am, and nothing learn'd in letter-lore.
Within my parish-cloister I behold
A painted Heaven where harps and lutes adore,
And eke an Hell whose damned folk seethe full sore:
One bringeth fear, the other joy to me.
That joy, great Goddess, make thou mine to be,—
Thou of whom all must ask it even as I;
And that which faith desires, that let it see.
For in this faith I choose to live and die.

O excellent Virgin Princess! thou didst bear
King Jesus, the most excellent comforter,
Who even of this our weakness craved a share
And for our sake stooped to us from on high,
Offering to death His young life sweet and fair.
Such as He is, Our Lord, I Him declare,
And in this faith I choose to live and die.

Words: Violet's OSC

2010-09-30T10:48:00.001-07:00

Brunissende did the calligraphy and illumination. I'm unsure of Violet's persona, but I think it's 16th-century lowland Scots. I based these words on 16th-century English poet Edmund Spenser's An Hymn In Honour Of Beauty. The rhyme scheme is ABABBCC.

The first verse of the award text is directly based on the below verse from Spenser.

AWARD TEXT
Violet Coleson OSC

To serve is that which giveth pleasant grace
To all things fair, that kindleth lively fire,
Light of Our lamp, which, shining in the face,
Thence to the soul goes all that would inspire
The goodly deeds in Barony and Shire;
Therewith is Violet Coleson to be seen,
Supporting works for Shire, and king and queen.

Long hath she labour’d, in a quiet way,
For gates and kitchens while the hours spend
Their perfect minutes on the manner’d play
That good and gentle company attend,
Until Our feast meeteth content’d end;
She stayeth then, mayhap into the night,
In setting litter’d land and house aright.

The bees that make the honey, make the hive;
We Edward, and Our fair queen Marguerite,
This blessed day of Anno XLV,
As Our crown’d heirs come to the royal seat,
Induct Our Violet Coleson, as is meet,
Into Our Silver Crescent Order’s line,
And to her person privileges assign.

SOURCE TEXT
An Hymn In Honour Of Beauty by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

57 That is the thing which giveth pleasant grace
58 To all things fair, that kindleth lively fire,
59 Light of thy lamp, which, shining in the face,
60 Thence to the soul darts amorous desire,
61 And robs the hearts of those which it admire;
62 Therewith thou pointest thy son's poison'd arrow,
63 That wounds the life, and wastes the inmost marrow.

Trim set for Alesone

2010-09-17T15:27:00.001-07:00

A set of linen trim. One of them is 3 colors and two are 4 colors. The yellow one is a pattern I made up tonight that I'm kind of liking.

Inkle loom and trim

2010-07-22T04:46:00.001-07:00

Some of the trim finished lately.

The pink, tan and cream one is an experiment from one of my first patterns. I changed the pattern some and the loom here is threaded with the new version. There's also some trim for Violet and Lissa that didn't use a pattern, just alternating bands of colors. The white, grey and pale blue one is an experiment from a pattern Bruni made.

Words: Margaret's OSC

2010-07-11T17:55:00.001-07:00

Eva Woderose did the calligraphy and illumination for this piece, based on a 14th-century missal. The assignment came to me Wednesday morning for a Saturday court, but I had a few hours and was able to get it out that night.

With the 14-century English missal as the source for the art, I was going to use Chaucer at first, but decided to go for something new. The source, The Letter of Cupid by Thomas Hoccleve, 1402, has a rhyme scheme ABABBCC. The award text is mainly influenced by the first two verses of 'Cupid. I was able to keep very close to them in this case.

AWARD TEXT
Margaret of Rochester OSC

Our juste wyl, unto whos comaundëment
The gentil kinrede of goddes on hy
And mortel Estren folk been obedient,
And Margaret of Rochester serve besily,
Of the East, right Kinge and Quene soothly,
To alle tho that heren Our decree
This faire day, hertly greting sende We!

In general, We wolë that ye knowe
This lady of grete help and reverence
For the newe compaignye y-sowe
Such seed of hy prayse in our audience
And Order, and noon gave she of offence
That it Our eres greveth for to here
That she is not a Companion by this yere.

Wel Edward and Marguerite have thoughte
To remedye this wronge, what shal be sene;
Our Companions of the Silver Crescent oughte
To knowe their honoured wyshes wroughte
A rightwyse order from their kinge and quene;
Forty and fyve our yere, July the tenth day,
Margaret shal amongst your Order stay.

This We do at Our Grete Northestren Warre
In Malagentia, with Our faire court before.

SOURCE TEXT
The Letter of Cupid, by Thomas Hoccleve, 1402

Cupido, unto whos comaundëment
The gentil kinrede of goddes on hy
And people infernal been obedient,
And mortel folk al serven besily,
The goddesse sonë Cithera soothly,
To alle tho that to our deitee
Ben sugets, hertly greting sende We!

In general, We wolë that ye knowe
That ladies of honour and reverence,
And other gentil women, haven sowe
Such seed of compleynt in our audience
Of men that doon hem outrage and offence,
That it Our eres greveth for to here;
So pitous is th’effect of this matere.

Words: Alys's Manche

2010-07-07T03:03:00.000-07:00

Brunissende did the calligraphy and illumination for this one. I haven't done a legal text in a while, so I made some process notes, omitting the dead ends:

Alys’s persona is 16th-century, from Inverness in Scotland. Since the recipient was receiving the award for work in legal-sourced award texts and heraldry, I searched for early modern English (1500 and after) legal documents, preferably one bestowing a grant (since in many kingdoms this would be a grant-level award, so it's about the closest thing to our Scadian invention). I didn’t see anything that drew my interest until I was reading the Newberry Library of English Manuscripts’ Checklist of Post-1500 Manuscripts:

Cook, Robert
[Armorial bearings of the kings and noble families of Great Britain from the reign of William the Conqueror to that of James I]
England, 1572
Case MS F 0745.1915

This wasn’t a link to a text, but it was a lead. Here was a thing to do: find a legal text from (or for) a King of Arms from a time and place appropriate to the recipient’s persona. This way we can combine legal works and heraldry (the recipient’s accomplishments) on the same document.

From the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:
Cooke, Robert (d. 1593), herald

From the English College of Arms:
There’s a small image of the document (scroll down a bit) for the “Letters patent of Robert Cooke, Clarenceux King of Arms, dated 18 March 1576, confirming arms and crest to Henry Stanley, of Sutton Benington, Nottinghamshire, and granting arms for his wife, Anne, daughter of Richard Bradshaw.”

This is English, not Scottish, but it's a nice-looking piece. I sent the link over to Bruni, who mailed the College of Arms asking for a higher-res image of the art. I searched online for its text, but wasn't able to find it. I asked the College for that, but they didn’t respond. (And still haven’t.)

Time was short, since the award was to be given in two weeks and I was going on vacation for the following week. So I found a related text, Robert Cooke bestows arms on the City of Bristol:

By 1570, the city could muster 160 men with new uniforms, equipment and guns with enough for 20 more stored in the Guildhall. The uniforms cost the city another £65 and consisted of cassocks with laced sleeves, breeches and iron corslets. This was quite a sizable force for a city of 6,000 inhabitants as Bristol then was.

John Evans in his 1824 book "A Chronological Outline of the History of Bristol and the Stranger's Guide" describes the letter of patent:

'By a patent of "Robert Cooke esq, alias Clariencieux, principall and kinge of armes of the southe easte and weste partes of this realme of England from the river of Trente southewardes," the arms of the City of Bristol are declared to be "gules on a mount vert, issuant out of a castle silver upon wave, a ship golde;" and the crest and supporters now granted, "upon the heaulme in a wreathe golde and gules; issuant out of the cloudes two armes in saltour charnew, in the one hand a serpent vert, in the other a pair of balance gold; supported with two unicornes seant gold mained, horned; and clayed sables mantled gules dowbled silver." The motto, "Virtute et industria."'

The full text of this letter of patent is in both "Proceedings of the Clifton Antiquarian Club for 1904 - 1908" and John Latimer's "Sixteenth Century Bristol" (issued in 1569).

The source text is written as being from the principal herald and I have written Alys's award text as being from the Crown. I'd be happy to discuss why I've done this if anyone's interested, but I think I've rambled enough in this space.

AWARD TEXT
Alys Mackyntoich OM

To ALL AND SINGULAR AS WELL NOBLES AND GENTLES and others to whom these presents shall come Edward Kinge of the Easte realme first of His name and Marguerite juste Quene sendithe humble comendacons and greeting FORASMOCHAS aunciently from the begining the valiaunt and vertuous actes of worthi persons have ben comended to the worlde with sondry monumets and remembrances, emongst the which the chiefest and most usuall hathe ben the bestowing of privileges which are evident demonstracons of prowes diversly distributed accordinge to the qualities and deserts of the persons meretinge the same to the end that suche as have done comendable service to their kinge or quene or country eyther in warre or peace may receave due honor in their lives.

AND WHEREAS ALYS MACKYNTOICH hath of long time ben lerned in the artes of auncient lawfull documentes and armes by studie of auncient workes and by vertue of techenge the artes of auncient armes to Our divers subjects she now by the Kinges and Quenes Majestie as is aforesaid and by vertue of which merets incluson in Our most worthi Order of the Manche the first privilege thereof there hathe ben a due and lawfull documente, YET NOT UPSTANDING, UPPON divers consideratons We shall require also a medalion bearenge armes, that is to saye, Per pale Or and purpure, a manche counterchanged, WHEREUPPON, CONSIDERING the worthines of the recipient aforesaid We shall by vertue of Our sovereigne mighte require sondry greeting from the Order aforesaid to their new Companion, and knowenge this request to be reasonable, We shall confirm and bestow it unto Alys Mackyntoich, now Companion of the Manche, TO HAVE and HOLDE THE SAID privileges, and she them to keepe for ever more without impediment let or interuption of any persons or persons, In Witness whereof We have subscribed Our hande on the thirde day of July in the yere of our Society XLV, feaste day of Saint Thomas, in Our sovereigne reigne, by grace Kinge and Quene of the Easte, Defendors of the Realme, emongst Tygers the most valiaunt, at Our Northern Region Warre Camp in the Shire of Glenn Linn.

SOURCE TEXT
Patent of Arms to the City of Bristol
by Robert Cooke, Clariencieux Principal Herald, 1569

To ALL AND SINGULAR AS WELL NOBLES AND GENTLEMEN and others to whom these presents shall come Robert Cooke esquire alias Clarencieux, Principall Heraulte and kinge of armes of the southe easte and weste partes of this realme of England from the river of trent southwardes sendithe humble comendacons and greeting FORASMOCHAS aunciently from the begining the valiaunt and vertuous actes of worthi persons have ben comended to the worlde with sondry monumets and remembrances of their good deserts, emongst the which the chiefest and most usuall hathe ben the bearing of signes in shildes caled armes which are evident demonstracons of prowes diversly distributed accordinge to the qualities and deserts of the persons meretinge the same to the end that suche as have done comendable service to their prince or country eyther in warre or peace may both receave due honor in their lives and also derive the same successively to their posteretie after them.

AND WHEREAS THIS CITIE OF BRISTOLL hath of long time ben incorporate by the name of mayor and comonalty as by the moste noble prince of famouse memory Kinge Edward the third and laitely confirmed by the Quenes Majestie that now is by the name and names as is aforesaid by virtue of which corporation and sithens the first grant thereof there hathe ben auncient armes incident unto the said mayor and comonaltie that is to saye, gules, on a mount vert issuant out of a castle silver, uppon wave a ship golde, YET NOT UPSTANDING, UPPON divers consideratons they have required me the said Clarencieux kinge of armes to grant to their auncient armes a creaste, withe supportars due and lawfull to be borne, WHEREUPPON, CONSIDERING their worthines and knowenge their request to be reasonable, I have by vertue of my office of Clarencieux kinge of armes confirmed given and granted unto John Stone now mayor, John Hipsley recordar, David Harris, Willm Pepwell, Robert Sayer, Roger Jones and Willm Lawe, Aldermen, Thomas Crickland and Richard Yonge sherives, Robert Halton chamberlayn and Richard Willimot towneclarke, and to their successors in lief office, this Creaste and supportars herafter followenge that is to say, uppon the heaulme on a wreathe golde and gules, issuant out of the clowdes, two armes in saltour charnew in the one hand a serpent vert, in the other a pair of balance gold, supported with two unicorns seant gold mayned horned clayed sables mantled gules doubled silver as more playnely aperth depicted in the margent, To HAVE and HOLDE THE SAID armes creaste and supportars to the said mayor and comonalty and to their successors, and they it to use beare and shew for ever more without impediment let or interuption of any persons or persons, In Witness whereof I have subscribed my hande and set hereunto the seale of my office the fower and twentithe day of August in the yere of our Lorde God A thousand five hondrethe thre score and nyne, and in the eleventh yere of the reigne of our sovereigne lady Elizebethe, by the grace of God Quene of England France and Irelande, Defendor of the Faithe, et cet "Robert Cooke Alias Clarencieux" "Roy D'armes."

Words: Lylie's Pelican

2010-06-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Brunissende de Broceliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll, with scenes including Lylie in court and a bedroom scene for her interest in period bedrooms. Lylie's persona is late 14th-century English, so I returned to 1380's Chaucer for this scroll. Lylie is another of the Wyves of the Oaken Glen, so I used The Wife of Bath from Canterbury Tales as my main source. My need for Middle English words extended beyond one tale, though, so I borrowed from throughout the 'Tales.

For help with pronunciation, I used mostly this guide, including its sound file of the Canterbury Tales Prologue near the page bottom. There was another source, but it seems to have gone offline.

SCROLL TEXT
Lylie of Penhyll's Pelican:
Middle English version
(Modern English version below)

In th'olde dayes of the right Kyng Hanse,
Of which that Estren folk speken as grand,
All was this land fulfild of saluyng
In song and word they were rehersyng
For gentils newe to hir compaignye
To revel ful ofte in hir melodye.
Oon swich lady, swete Lylie of Penhyll,
To sondry folk in nede made wist hir wyl
To go ful swithe the regne up and doun
Hem avaylyng, and she niste renoun,
Blessynge halles, listes, kichenes, boures,
Burghes, castels, gates, and toures
With her laboures, for to fynde grace,
And fro hir love for ech thyng fynde a place.
Edward King, and Marguerite our Queene,
Fro hir right laboures ful rekene
That come twenty and nyne, the Roses day,
When mede lylies inspiren month of May,
Forty and fyve our yere, Saint Winebald feste,
We shal make a Pelican of the Este.
This decree a leveful Pere warente.
We give hir arms by lettres patente:

Per pale azure and argent, a fleur-de-lys
per pale argent and azure and a bordure
semy-de-lys counterchanged.

With swich answere as We wolde yow purveye,
Ful fayn take leve, and wende forth youre weye.

Lylie of Penhyll's Pelican:
Modern English version

In the old days of the good King Hanse,
Of which many Eastern folk speak as grand,
All was this land a land of greeting
In song and word they were rehearsing
For gentles new to their company
To revel oftentimes in their melody.
One such lady, sweet Lylie of Penhyll,
To sundry folk in need made known her will
To go swiftly the kingdom up and down
Helping them, and she knew not renown,
Blessing halls, lists, kitchens, bowers,
Burghs, castles, gates, and towers
With her labors, to find her own grace,
And from her love, for each thing find a place.
Edward King, and Marguerite our Queen,
From her right labors, have bid and seen
That come the twenty-ninth, the Roses day,
When valley lilies inspire the month of May,
Forty-five our year, and Saint Winebald feast,
We shall make a Pelican of the East.
This decree a lawful Peer warrants.
We give her these arms by letters patent:

Per pale azure and argent, a fleur-de-lys
per pale argent and azure and a bordure
semy-de-lys counterchanged.

With such answer as We would you purvey,
Full glad take leave, and wend forth your way.

SOURCE TEXT
The Wife of Bath from Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer, 1380s English

In th'olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour,
Of which that Britons speken greet honour,
All was this land fulfild of fayerye.
The elf-queene, with hir joly compaignye,
Daunced ful ofte in many a grene mede.
This was the olde opinion, as I rede;
I speke of manye hundred yeres ago.
But now kan no man se none elves mo,
For now the grete charitee and prayeres
Of lymytours and othere hooly freres,
That serchen every lond and every streem,
As thikke as motes in the sonne-beem,
Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes, boures,
Citees, burghes, castels, hye toures,
Thropes, bernes, shipnes, dayeryes,
This maketh that ther been no fayeryes.
For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
Ther walketh now the lymytour hymself
In undermeles and in morwenynges,
And seyth his matyns and his hooly thynges
As he gooth in his lymytacioun.
Wommen may go saufly up and doun.
In every bussh or under every tree
Ther is noon oother incubus but he,
And he ne wol doon hem but dishonour.
And so bifel it that this kyng Arthour
Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler,
That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver;
And happed that, allone as she was born,
He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn,
Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed,
By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed;
For which oppressioun was swich clamour
And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour,
That dampned was this knyght for to be deed,
By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed -
Paraventure, swich was the statut tho -
But that the queene and othere ladyes mo
So longe preyeden the kyng of grace,
Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place,
And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille,
To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille.
The queene thanketh the kyng with al hir myght,
And after this thus spak she to the knyght,
Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day,
"Thou standest yet," quod she, "in swich array
That of thy lyf yet hastow no suretee.
I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me
What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren.
Be war and keep thy nekke-boon from iren!
And if thou kanst nat tellen it anon,
Yet shal I yeve thee leve for to gon
A twelf-month and a day to seche and leere
An answere suffisant in this mateere;
And suretee wol I han, er that thou pace,
Thy body for to yelden in this place."
Wo was this knyght, and sorwefully he siketh;
But what! He may nat do al as hym liketh.
And at the laste he chees hym for to wende,
And come agayn right at the yeres ende,
With swich answere as God wolde hym purveye;
And taketh his leve, and wendeth forth his weye.
He seketh every hous and every place
Where as he hopeth for to fynde grace
To lerne what thyng wommen loven moost;
But he ne koude arryven in no coost
Wher as he myghte fynde in this mateere
Two creatures accordynge in-feere.

Words: Antonio's OGR

2010-04-16T02:57:00.000-07:00

The recipient's persona is late-period Italian. The callligraphy and illumination for this piece were by Eva Woderose, based on Missal (Harley 2912) of late 16th-century central Italy (possibly Rome). The original text was in Latin. I based the words on Gerusalemme Liberata, 1580 Italy, by Torquato Tasso.

The source was written in ottava rima, 8-line stanzas grouped into cantos of varying length with rhyme scheme ABABABCC. The text was most influenced by the verses below.

SCROLL TEXT
Antonio Patrasso
OGR (Backlog)

O gracious court of Anno XXVIII,
Lucan and Jana, second of their names,
This 23rd of April, Saint Pusinna’s date,
So order verse be writ for due acclaim
And privileges of an increas’d estate,
That lawful words uphold a lawful claim:
Antonio Patrasso We raise hence
To the Golden Rapier’s Order and defense.

To our Companions, that venture forth
To wars, and our lands defend
From friends of Ignorance and Error’s worth,
Your thoughtful eyes upon this labor bend:
We, in Malagentia’s frozen north,
Our Kingdom University attend
To in turn defend your favor’d due
As spring’s pledges blossom and renew.

SOURCE TEXT
Gerusalemme Liberata, 1580 Italy, by Torquato Tasso
II
O heavenly Muse, that not with fading bays
Deckest thy brow by the Heliconian spring,
But sittest crowned with stars' immortal rays
In Heaven, where legions of bright angels sing;
Inspire life in my wit, my thoughts upraise,
My verse ennoble, and forgive the thing,
If fictions light I mix with truth divine,
And fill these lines with other praise than thine.
IV
Ye noble Princes, that protect and save
The Pilgrim Muses, and their ship defend
From rock of Ignorance and Error's wave,
Your gracious eyes upon this labor bend:
To you these tales of love and conquest brave
I dedicate, to you this work I send:
My Muse hereafter shall perhaps unfold
Your fights, your battles, and your combats bold.

Words: Cellach's Court Barony

2010-04-16T02:48:00.000-07:00

Brunissende de Broceliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this court barony scroll. I based the words on The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, 1590. Not much liking the period Irish poetry I found, I used the English Spenserian stanza from The Faerie Queene, which is at least set in Munster. The scroll words were most influenced by two stanzas from Canto I.

SCROLL TEXT
Cellach ingen Chernaig
Court Barony, with Grant of Arms

A lovely Ladie kneels us faire before,
With yeres of labour done for gentle artes,
Wherein the needle pricks a vele or gore
And dresses it with threde ere it departs;
Such ladies close we hold within our hearts
Who tireless spread a craft with full support;
As pretious as fine flax in laden carts,
Or silke from storied Easterne farms and ports,
Most deare is she, a Baronesse of our Court.

Cellach ingen Chernaig is faire called she;
King Konrad and Queene Brenwen full bestow
Her barony with grant by this decree
At Mudthaw and full pleasd the rows
Where gentles from Athena’s Thimble show
Their vertues in embroideries displayd;
This Anno XLIV so will all know,
We have full orderd writ that which we say,
Done this bold March the 27th day.

SOURCE TEXT
The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, 1590

IV
A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside,
Upon a lowly Asse more white then snow,
Yet she much whiter, but the same did hide
Under a vele, that wimpled was full low,
And over all a blacke stole she did throw,
As one that inly mournd: so was she sad,
And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow;
Seemed in heart some hidden care she had,
And by her in a line a milke white lambe she lad.

V
So pure and innocent, as that same lambe,
She was in life and every vertuous lore,
And by descent from Royall lynage came
Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore
Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore,
And all the world in their subjection held;
Till that infernall feend with foule uprore
Forwasted all their land, and them expeld:
Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld.

Words: Raven's Pelican

2009-08-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Blaecstan did the calligraphy and illumination for the Pelican scroll of Brannat Dub, called Raven. As far as he knew, the persona of the recipient is Scots-Gaelic, so I used "The Poet asks an Irish Patron for a Harp", Scottish-Gaelic, c. 1450, from The Poetry of Scotland: Gaelic, Scots and English on my shelf.

Although my original persona was Lowland Scots and I've used Scottish legal documents, this was my first foray into Scottish poetry. Gaelic is also a linguistic nemesis: with this handicap, and with time constraints, I chose in this case to follow content and flavor over meter. There're many parallels between the scroll and source texts: you can see the first in the swapping of the first two lines of each.

SCROLL TEXT
Brannat Dub, called Raven
Pelican

Under the rule of Andreas and Gabriella,
wheat flourishes on Eastern plains;
each ear of corn carries its full burden
on the black-cherried lands of Our gains.

The most joyous court of the Eastern realm
is its king’s fort, on its green-jewelled leigh:
the white castle with its precious stones
above the tranquil Eastern sea.

Numerous and noble are the members of Our house,
numerous Our hunting hawks on the wing;
wine is quaffed in that capital of garnered plenty:
it is the palace of a noble king.

Cows yield sweet milk in milking folds;
the East has fallow land rich in grass;
Andreas, lord of all,
has fierce bloodhounds watered by a lass.

We, Andreas, and Our fairest, Gabriella,
have come, and good is Our reason,
from Our fair lands to war, as is meet:
for war and reward each have their season.

Even so, at war, We call one to honor:
Brannat Dub, O raven-haired one,
lass who looks after Our bloodhounds and men
and all others who thirst in the warmth of the sun.

The account of your works, Brannat, called Raven,
has been chronicled in a fair, loving hand;
everywhere, the watchful have seen your labors
and your careful services are in demand.

O Daughter of the East, for your provisioning
of water, in this kingdom and afar,
your establishment of safe practice, your cleaning,
washing, sweeping, ever following your star

We decree, at this August’s foreign war,
Your inclusion in a loved and famed Order:
Pelicans, know her as your Companion
From this day on Aethelmearc’s fair border.

Thus in Anno Societatis 44 do We bestow upon Brannat Dub, called Raven, Arms by letters patent:

Per pale argent and gules, a raven sable and in dexter chief a mullet azure.

SOURCE TEXT
“The Poet asks an Irish Patron for a Harp”
By Giolla Críost Brúilingeach
A poem in Scottish Gaelic from c. 1450
Translation to English by Derick Thomson
From “The Poetry of Scotland—Gaelic, Scots and English”,
Edited by Roderick Watson, ©1995

English translation:
The Author of this is Giolla Críost Brúilingeach

Red wheat grows on smooth plains
under the rule of Tomaltach, lord of Céis;
on the white-hazelled domain of Coll’s descendant
each ear of corn carries its full burden.

Cows yield sweet milk in milking folds;
he has fallow land most rich in grass;
both in its smooth demesne and its hilly land
it is lovely country bearing a heavy crop.

Tomaltach, lord of all,
has fierce deerhounds on golden leashes;
in early morning there are studs of horses in the proud assembly
round the most warm lough of virtue.

The most joyous court on the ridge of the world
is Mac Diarmada’s fort, with its bright aspect:
the white castle with its precious stones
above the tranquil lough of Cé.

Horns and goblets and fair-wrought cups
are there in the thronging court of Lough Cé;
wine is quaffed in that capital of garnered plenty:
it is the palace of a noble king.

Numerous are the members of his household, comely and noble,
numerous his gestures and tall steeds;
spears and blades and mailcoats,
and sedate, large-kneed, stern men.

I have come—good is my reason—
from Scotland to visit you, as is meet,
drawn by your fame, O white-footed son of Connacht,
O great handsome Tomaltach.

I have come to make a request of you,
from Scotland, O golden-haired one,
over the stormy sea with its clustering wave-tops,
chill and huge, the home of grilse and salmon.

A harp in special, in return for my poem,
grant me at my request, O king,
O countenance like the ripe fruit of the apple-tree,
for this is something that you happen to have.

O Son of Conchobhar of the Rock’s haven,
to pay poet-bands befits you well;
the account of your handsomeness is being chronicled;
may Ireland be yours for your filling of hands.

The daughter of Walter de Burgh of Brega
is a famous lady who does not stint store;
her hair is deep-trenched, bright-locked, in tresses:
she is the choice among Ireland’s fair ladies.

Caitilín of the white palms
has a long lovely hand decked with rings;
red her lips, luscious and noble,
gleaming the rosy nails of her hands.

Gaelic version from the oral traditions of Argyll and Perthshire, Scotland:
Auctor Huius Giolla Críost Brúilingeach

Cruithneacht dearg ar maghaibh míne
fá Thomaltach chosnas Chéis;
bídh ar clár collbhán uí Cholla
lomlán a droma ar gach déis.

Lacht milis ag buaibh i mbuailtibh,
branar fa féaraighe fonn;
fá h-árainn mhín is fá monadh
tír álainn fá toradh trom.

Míolchoin gharga ar iallaibh órdha
ag Tomaltach ’s ceann ar cách;
sguir go moch san aonach uallach
mán loch bhraonach bhuadhach bhláth.

An chúirt as aoibhne ar druim domhain
dún Mheic Dhiarmada as geal gné
i gcaisteal fionn na gcloch mbuadha
ós cionn Locha cuanna Cé.

Cuirn is cuaich is copáin chumhdaigh
i gcúirt líonmhoir Locha Cé;
ibhthear fíon san chonnphort chnuasaigh:
is longphort ríogh uasail é.

Iomdha a theaghlach álainn uasal,
a éideadh ’s a eachradh ard;
iomdha sleagh is lann is lúireach,
agus fear mall glúineach garg.

Tánaig mise, maith an t-adhbhar,
dot fhios a hAlbain, ó’s cóir,
mád teist, a Chonnachtaigh chaisghil,
a Thomaltaigh mhaisigh mhór.

Cláirseach ar leath dom dhán damhsa
tabhair mar iarraim, a rí;
ghnúis mar bhláth na h-abhla abaigh,
ó’s ní tharla agaibh í.

A mheic Chonchobhair chuain Chairrge,
cubhaidh riotsa díol na ndámh;
tá cuid do sgéimhe dá sgríobhadh;
Éire dhuid ar líonadh lámh.

Inghean Bháiteir a Búrc Breaghdha,
bean nósmhor neamhghann má ní;
folt cladhach cúlghlan na gcéibheann:
rogha úrbhan Éireann í.

Deárna álainn fhada fháinneach
ag Caitilín na mbas mbán;
dearg a h-imle solta saora,
‘s ingne corcra laomdha a lámh.

Words: Marion's Pelican

2009-08-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Blaecstan did the calligraphy and illumination for Marion's Pelican scroll. I based the words on Dante's Divina Commedia, purely because I know the recipient likes it well. I selected a passage from Inferno because it also suits the recipient, in a way... I followed the scenario from Dante of traveling and seeing dark things.

The source is iambic pentameter in three-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of ABA, BCB, CDC, DED, etc., ending with a couplet. This is a Patent of Arms and, accordingly, includes blazon. I put the blazon after the ending couplet, since elsewise it would break the rhyme scheme.

SCROLL TEXT
Marion del Okes
Pelican

Along Our journey through the realm and reign
Andreas, King, and Gabriella, Queen,
May travel every road in the domain.

Some roads bring Us to quiet fields of green,
Some elsewise show Us valleys hushed with dread:
Some lords and ladies make both roads serene.

In fields and valleys both, gentles have said
One name that well We know in love and trust
From younger days, so hear this order read.

This St. Eadburga’s feast We have to Us
Our Marion del Okes, in whom we see,
As others do, the gentle and the just.

Who now within the range of this decree
Has not once lost and suffered on the road,
But found one gentle soul to answer need?

From all such gifting souls has service flowed,
Since youthful May We marked, in Anno One;
We count as more than just Our thanks bestowed.

Our Marion has risen with the sun
To oversee the western battlefields
So others thrilled with Eastern victories won.

As herald she secures the names and shields
Of armory for Iron Bog, and knows
As well the work of Kingdom courts and seals.

A steward of events and of branch polls,
A long-time guard, and Captain of her own,
She has remained through every trial composed.

As she has lightened work and, as light, shone
Upon the darkened roads as best she may,
In summer’s light she kneels before the thrones.

This Eastern Camp of War, the 18th day,
July, in Eisental Our Shire, with dear
Companions of the Pelican arrayed,

We sign to Marion these arms this year
By lettres patent, and name her a Peer:

Or, a badger statant sable marked argent within an orle of oak leaves conjoined vert fructed proper.

Thus in Anno Societatis 44 do We Andreas IV and Gabriella II decree the inclusion of Marion del Okes into the Order of the Pelican.

SOURCE TEXT
Divina Commedia
Inferno: Canto I
Dante Alighieri
Italy, early 14th century
Translation to English by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext97/0ddcl10.txt

Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.

So bitter is it, death is little more;
But of the good to treat, which there I found,
Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

I cannot well repeat how there I entered,
So full was I of slumber at the moment
In which I had abandoned the true way.

But after I had reached a mountain's foot,
At that point where the valley terminated,
Which had with consternation pierced my heart,

Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders,
Vested already with that planet's rays
Which leadeth others right by every road.

Then was the fear a little quieted
That in my heart's lake had endured throughout
The night, which I had passed so piteously.

And even as he, who, with distressful breath,
Forth issued from the sea upon the shore,
Turns to the water perilous and gazes;

So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,
Turn itself back to re-behold the pass
Which never yet a living person left.

Words: Picchinina's Silver Crescent

2009-08-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for Peach's OSC scroll. She based the illuminations on those of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Il Filostrato because of Peach's Italian persona. My goal is to base the words on the same source as the C&I, so that we're giving the recipient a likeness of a complete page out of history. In this case, I couldn't find the translated words to Il Filostrato, so I used Giovanni Boccaccio’s Sonetto instead. At least then it is the same author, place, and time period.

Syllables in the source varied, at 10+ syllables each line. The source sonnet has the customary 14 lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. I wished to include as much information about the recipient as possible in the poetic part of the scroll. In listing her service, I broke from the rhyme scheme of the source, with the second stanza not repeating ABBA.

SCROLL WORDS
Picchinina the Incongruous
Silver Crescent

Beside the fields and beds of those in need,
If they are blessed, stands Picchinina the Incongruous;
For need, like light, draws worthy souls who must
Fulfill the golden purpose of their creed.
Event and Feast Steward of many years,
Chirurgeon, Mistress of the Lists, and Seneschal,
Almost two decades at gates We recall,
At least five reigns of favors We held dear.
All this We know she does with a kind heart
And talent for augmenting work with play;
At Our East Kingdom War Camp We impart
This notice, signed July, the 18th day,
Of Our Year XLIV, and by this art
The letter of Our law is on display.

This feast day of St. Eadburga, We, Andreas IV and Gabriella II, induct Picchinina the Incongruous into Our Order of the Silver Crescent.

SOURCE TEXT
Sonetto
Giovanni Boccaccio, 1313-1375
English Translation by Lorna de’ Lucci
http://elfinspell.com/BoccaccioPoems.html

BESIDE a fountain in a little grove
That fresh green fronds and pretty flowers did grace,
Three maidens sat and talked methinks of love.
Mid golden locks, o’ershadowing each sweet face,
For coolness was entwined a leaf-green spray,
And all the while a gentle zephyr played
Through green and golden in a tender way,
Weaving a web of sunshine and of shade.
After a while, unto the other two
One spoke, and I could hear her words: “Think you
That if our lovers were to happen by
We would all run away for very fright?”
The others answered her: “From such delight
She were a little fool who’d wish to fly!”

In Italian

INTORN’ ad una fonte, in un pratello
di verdi fronde pieno e di bei fiori,
sedean tre angiolette, i loro amori
forse narrando; et a ciascuna ’l bello
viso adombrava un verde ramicello
ch’ i capei d’ or cingea, al qual di fuori
e dentro insieme i dua vaghi colori
avvolgeva un suave venticello.
E dopo alquanto l’ una alle due disse,
com’ io udi’: “De’, se per avventura
di ciascuna l’ amante qui venisse,
fuggiremo noi quinci per paura?”
A cui le due risposer: “Chi fuggisse
poco savia saría co’ tal ventura!”

Earth tanka

2009-07-08T16:48:00.001-07:00

Unethical earth
Forges its sons and daughters
With harsh elements,
And we in turn use ideals
As our own hammers and tongs.

Too clumsy with hands,
We heat and hammer and cool
The souls of others
With our acts, and with error,
Before mastering ourselves.

Words: King's Archery Champion

2009-06-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Words: Queen's Archery Champion

2009-06-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

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
Queen's Archery Champion

Beloved court, as brilliant as the stars,
Arrayed here in this barony of Ours:
We, Gabriella, at this day’s fair end
Have news for you and absent kin and friends.
This day, the last of this year’s sodden spring,
We sought the champion that the kingdom brings
This year before Our eyes, to shine and shoot
As will a passing star in its pursuit.
We found a champion suitable for Queens;
A bow __(he/she)___ bears, and arrows bright and keen.

This 20th day of June, AS XLIV, We name ________________________ Our Queen’s Champion of Archery and bestow suitable appointment in Our court. This We do 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

The form of Venus, glorious as could be,
Was naked, floating on the open sea,
And from the navel down all covered was
With green waves, bright as ever any glass.
A citole in her small right hand had she,
And on her head, and beautiful to see,
A garland of red roses, sweet smelling,
Above her swirled her white doves, fluttering.
Before her stood her one son, Cupido,
Whose two white wings upon his shoulders grow;
And blind he was, as it is often seen;
A bow he bore, and arrows bright and keen.

April Tanka

2009-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

April 1
Rain and sleeplessness
Open April in quiet
Workings on the soul,
As dim and industrious
As all the Fools of the day.

April 2
A dark carousel
Spins and mixes the moonlight
With unwelcome thought,
Making one foolhardy ride
To take place on one’s pillow.

April 3
A downy pillow
With no weight and no bottom
Accepts the sunken,
Like the waters of the deep:
Sweet Nyquil's buried treasure.

April 4
2007
Can inflict in flashes still
Reminders of loss
In reviewing its remains:
Even its old tax return.

April 5
The silver maple
Outside the window opens
Buds at spring's calling;
Yet inside, throats grow raspy
And can call no one clearly.

April 6
This morning's commute
Was a blur of cloud and trance,
All cold senses dulled
To the sky's warring clashes
And the vigilance of earth.

April 7
Freighted with baskets,
With hellos, and with constraints,
We sweep past check-in
To the whirlwind final hour
Before Coronation court.

April 8
This morning I find
They fixed last night's crisis then
And didn't leave it
For me to amend, for once.
Sharing a burden, I rest.

April 9
A pink tennis ball
Bounces with plawhplawhplawh sounds
On the concrete floor
From hand to quick-lunging hand:
Hard to believe it's practice.

April 10
Tranquil wandering
Paired with furious onslaught
Without harm's real risk
In a small and facile world:
How dreamy. It must be WoW.

April 11
Another reign change
Come and gone in a small world;
Meanwhile friends share more
Of their hearts' fond convictions,
Making their own history.

April 12
Words may give color
Or clarity to wisdom,
Yet impression's paint
Is so often colored true
That it defines boundaries.

April 13
Every so often
You, unknowing, remind me
That you're simply right
For me in who you are and
What you do: so, dear, thank you.

April 14
Midsummer drums and
Another fire's tempting view.
Why would I look for
Another "something new" when
I've got you to let me down?

April 15
This fog rolling flat
Against the earth, cold on cold,
Comes to each season
With either longing for spring,
Or for memory of last night.

April 16
Whan tendre maydes
The hooly blisful martir
For right to seke,
They forseke licour that
Hem hath holpen al the nyght.

April 17
Wind and rain and wave
Turn the earth and its airs
And fools' paradise,
The shifts hiding from humans
Their own soft and timeless selves.

April 18
Golden is the sun
And its glow on earthly shapes;
This invitation
Comes from the season to all:
It is warm—open and shine.

April 19
The hawk’s yellow stare
(Hailed as sight-through-all-facades
In mythology)
Could be the fascination
Of a small, baffled bird brain.

April 20
Lynx, from the Greek word
For “shine”, holds close his secrets
In the dark, lore says.
How would we know? I suppose
He must confide in someone.

April 21
How can Miss Dreadful
Weigh a rotund fourteen pounds?
She was eleven.
No, her belly isn't big:
Her head's just getting smaller.

April 22
Caitlin's butterflies
Sit fanning their colored wings
In her poetry,
Awaiting the warmer spring
To take wild flight from the page.

April 23
Weary of the work
Of making rain, the clouds list
Toward the eastern sea,
Retiring into summer,
Gray only with disinterest.

April 24
It's someone's birthday
nom nom nom nom nom nom nom
I would honor him
With Alice's Restaurant
Played loud, but it's in storage.

April 25
Happy birthday to
Old AWOL McAbsentpants,
Wishing you the best
And all, wherever you are.
Love, "Alty McAltypants"

April 26
The root of this sloth
Is the sudden summer strike
And we're living things
Waiting full of energy,
Then knocked over by the heat.

April 27
The expanding sun
Throws coronal flares and winds
In all directions;
Neither can I be confined
To a chair and desk today.

April 28
Miniscule grass seeds,
More delicate than fennel,
Season the plain earth
In our hope; and in their hope,
Poor weeds secure their roots first.

April 29
Spring courts, an event
To run, summer’s new teaching,
Fall’s language studies:
Well in advance of the spring,
I was overgrown with plans.

April 30
Just like that, this rain
Of April's water and words
In five metered lines
Evaporates in a mist
Of clouds and forgetfulness.

Words: Queen's Rapier Champion '09

2009-03-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll.

Having written many fencing scrolls from foppish sources, I tried something different and used the more manly Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus (aka "Saxo the Learned") The Danish History, Books I-IX, Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD.

SCROLL WORDS
Queen's Rapier Champion '09

Alethea Regina, also Alethea the Learned, wise and temperate Queen of the East, flower of Elysium, muse of song and saga, bids you greetings. Know that in order to try the bravery of Our champions, We bid them not skulk timorously at the heels of others, but to come to the duelling-ground and requite by noble deeds of combat the trust placed in them by their Queen, and to avenge with heaped interest any wrongs to their illustrious lines.

On this Feast Day of Saint Ermine, the 28th day of February, We have tested the valor of Eastern warriors and found one whose heart is not afraid, and who welcomes challenges with a smile. So do We name ____________ Our Queen’s Champion of Rapier and bestow suitable appointment amongst Our champions. This We do at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Barony of Bhakail, AS XLIII.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus
(aka "Saxo the Learned"), The Danish History, Books I-IX
Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD

For he sank down half-conscious, and, leaning on his elbow, welcomed death with a smile, and spurned destruction with a laugh, and passed rejoicing in the world of Elysium.

[...]

Then, in order to try the bravery of the champion, he bade him not skulk timorously at his master's heels, but requite by noble deeds of combat the trust placed in him by his prince, who had chosen him to be his single partner in the battle. The other complied, and when shame drove him to fight at close quarters, Uffe clove him through with the first stroke of his blade. The sound revived Wermund, who said that he heard the sword of his son, and asked "on what particular part he had dealt the blow?" Then the retainers answered that it had gone through no one limb, but the man's whole frame; whereat Wermund drew back from the precipice and came on the bridge, longing now as passionately to live as he had just wished to die. Then Uffe, wishing to destroy his remaining foe after the fashion of the first, incited the prince with vehement words to offer some sacrifice by way of requital to the shade of the servant slain in his cause. Drawing him by those appeals, and warily noting the right spot to plant his blow, he turned the other edge of his sword to the front, fearing that the thin side of his blade was too frail for his strength, and smote with a piercing stroke through the prince's body. When Wermund heard it, he said that the sound of his sword "Skrep" had reached his ear for the second time. Then, when the judges announced that his son had killed both enemies, he burst into tears from excess of joy.

Words: King's Rapier Champion '09

2009-03-03T15:59:00.000-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll (although she may have hid behind another name).

Having written many fencing scrolls from foppish sources, I tried something different, and based the words on Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus (aka "Saxo the Learned") The Danish History, Books I-IX, Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD.

SCROLL WORDS
King's Rapier Champion '09

We, Darius Rex, Fourth of His Name, have come this Feast Day of Saint Ermine to the East’s southern lands and found in the souls of its warriors a great cunning and fierceness. Of the cunning: we have seen how, at the outset of a duel, there may be a long dispute, which of those fighting ought to have the chance of striking first. For of old, in the ordering of combats, men did not try to exchange their blows thick and fast; but there was a pause, and at the same time a definite succession in striking: the contest being carried on with few strokes, but those terrible, so that honour was paid more to the mightiness than to the number of the blows. Of the fierceness: We know that carnage takes many forms, and the courage shown this day calls to Us.

Of these warriors of cunning and fierceness, one has shown the wisest hand: so do We declare ___________________ Our King’s Champion of Rapier and bestow suitable appointment amongst Our own champions. This We do at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Barony of Bhakail, the 28th day of February, AS XLIII.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus
(aka "Saxo the Learned"), The Danish History, Books I-IX
Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD

At the outset of the duel there was a long dispute, which of them ought to have the chance of striking first. For of old, in the ordering of combats, men did not try to exchange their blows thick and fast; but there was a pause, and at the same time a definite succession in striking: the contest being carried on with few strokes, but those terrible, so that honour was paid more to the mightiness than to the number of the blows. Agnar, being of higher rank, was put first; and the blow which he dealt is said to have been so furious, that he cut through the front of the helmet, wounded the skin on the scalp, and had to let go his sword, which became locked in the vizor-holes. Then Bjarke, who was to deal the return-stroke, leaned his foot against a stock, in order to give the freer poise to his steel, and passed his fine-edged blade through the midst of Agnar's body. Some declare that Agnar, in supreme suppression of his pain, gave up the ghost with his lips relaxed into a smile. The champions passionately sought to avenge him, but were visited by Bjarke with like destruction; for he used a sword of wonderful sharpness and unusual length which he called Lovi.

The carnage that is being done without calls thee.

Words: Katherine's Silver Martlet

2009-02-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

Siobhan inghean ui Dhonnabhain did the calligraphy and illumination for Katherine Barr of Cumberland's Silver Martlet. I knew nothing of her persona, but supposed it's the Cumberland of northern England and picked an English form: Elizabethan sonnets for both Martlets (hers and Larry's). There's no specific source, just the form.

I focused on the airy quality of a small bird without feet, favoring words that sound light.

Years ago when I was on Geneviere II's guard, I wrote a sonnet comparing her a martlet because martlets are in her heraldry. I included that one below, too.

SCROLL WORDS
Katherine Barr of Cumberland
Silver Martlet

The martlet sails the saltless sea of winds,
For neither earth nor water is her home,
Not this empyrean bird: her nest, the skin
Of lustrous clouds in the celestial dome,
Has all the permanence of questing thought;
And thus she brings solutions to all needs,
Her service always soaring, always sought,
Awarding the same guidance that it heeds.
Our Mistress Katherine Barr of Cumberland
Has well been likened to such graceful birds:
If ever earthly minds can understand
And shape exquisite aether into words,
Let this our order pass for law to tell
Her great worth to Drueta and Nigel.

We, by right Baron Nigel and Baroness Drueta of Iron Bog, induct Mistress Katherine Barr of Cumberland into our Order of the Silver Martlet, in loving memory, this 21st day of February, Feast Day of Saint Daniel, AS XLIII, at our first court in the Barony of Iron Bog.

Another Martlet Sonnet...
Sonnet for Geneviere II, a present from outgoing Queen's guard

The martlet travels upon heaven's skin;
For in her flight, she summons breezy things
To shape and curl into the summer winds,
Fair weather'd in the haven of her wings.
No earthly bird, unearth’d for want of rest
Upon two feet, her vehicle the grace
Of ever-beating wings, feather'd as best
May sponsor Eastern art's far-reaching lace;
A patroness of words by feather'd quills:
So know some younger gentles of the East.
And by such words and phrases, youthful wills
Immortalize their beauties and their beasts.
Imaginings are fanciful as sighs;
By artful flight, the earth shall meet the skies.

Words: Larry's Silver Martlet

2009-02-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

Siobhan inghean ui Dhonnabhain inked this scroll (C&I). The recipient's name sounds English, so since I knew nothing of his persona, I went with the timeless English form of the Elizabethan sonnet. No specific source, just the form.

In contrast to the sonnet of the Baroness Iron Bog, Larry's sonnet is meant to sound heavy and martial. The very words of "Barony of Iron Bog" sound pretty heavy to me, so I used them in the first line to set the weight for the rest. The line "Fair wheat, bright ink, black ore, cold brews, warm fleece" is written to sound like a march. The boasting about baronial resources is an indirect link to war strategy, and there's a short reference to the Wetlands Alliance.

Also, the end words refer to Larry as "our forebear", as if he's dead. That's not true, though: he's just a ghost. :) The point here is that scribes can incorporate court schtick in scrolls if they're absolutely certain it's going to happen. If it doesn't happen, hopefully the herald will edit what's read in court.

SCROLL WORDS
Lawrence Thornguard
Silver Martlet

The Barony of Iron Bog has grown
From Spring’s young, flooded marsh to Wetland proud
Of Summer’s bold acclaim, and we have shown
What gentle strength hides in a cattail bowed
To wind, what artistry in water blooms.
The Baron Iron Bog has served this land
Since mem’ry rose from its own sleeping rooms;
We, Nigel and Drueta, watched his hand
Turn countless water tides for prosp’rous fields,
And tides of war for lasting, able peace;
With gentle strength and artistry we yield
Fair wheat, bright ink, black ore, cold brews, warm fleece:
Prosperity is labor’s aftermath,
And Lawrence Thornguard paved the morass path.

In the memory of our forebear, Master Lawrence Thornguard, this 21st day of February, Feast Day of Saint Daniel, AS XLIII, at our first court in the Barony of Iron Bog, we have ordered and give our signatures to his inclusion in our Order of the Silver Martlet.

Words: Creature's Silver Cattail

2009-02-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

Siobhan inghean ui Dhonnabhain (I think) did the calligraphy and illumination for Creature's Cattail scroll. I learned that the persona of Creatura Cristi of Oaks is 13th-century Italian, so for the source I turned to Dante’s Divine Comedy, written early in the 14th century. Somehow this also felt nice for the barony's main church site contact.

The Divine Comedy was written in terza rima: 11-syllable triplets rhyming ABA BCB CDC DED [...]. The last word in each of its three parts (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso) is “stars”—likewise with this scroll.

SCROLL WORDS
Creatura Christi of Oaks
Silver Cattail

The glory of a lambent star on its course
Across night’s restful dome is a reflection,
And little more, of the light’s colossal source.

Likewise, those works remembered with affection
Are little more than points of silvery light
Against the worker’s luminous perfection.

We treasure every subject’s works, and delight,
Moreso, in the subject’s fair and virtuous self:
Creatura Christi of Oaks is one so bright.

Our arts and sciences have long had her help,
The Shambles and Gold Key have rich goods that show
The evidence of her care on crowded shelves.

This Feast Day of Saint Daniel, so that all know
Our praises for her home labors afar,
Our last court as our witness, we now bestow

Our barony’s high accolades, and we are
Absolutely certain of her unique worth:
There is no finer lady under the stars.

By this we, Lawrence and Katherine, Baron and Baroness Iron Bog, order the inclusion of Creatura Christi of Oaks into our Order of the Silver Cattail.

SOURCE TEXT
Paradiso – Canto 1, Divina Commedia
by Dante Alighieri, Italian, early 14th century

This English translation of the beginning of Paradiso’s Canto 1 aims for accuracy of meaning over correct rhyme:

The glory of Him who sets all things in motion
Cleaves through the universe, and it flames again
In different places with a different force.

I have been to that heaven where His light
Beams brightest and seen things that none, returning,
Has the knowledge or the power to repeat,

Because, as it draws near to its desire,
Our intellect sinks down to such a depth
That memory cannot trace its way back there.

Nevertheless, whatever I could treasure
Up in my mind about that sacred kingdom
Shall now become the subject of my song.

O good Apollo, for this final task,
Make me such a vessel of your virtues
I may deserve the gift of your dear laurel.

Words: Larry's Outgoing Baron Scroll

2009-02-28T06:26:00.001-08:00

Jonathan Blaecstan inked this one (C&I). I had no information about Larry's persona, but it sounds English enough, so I'd chosen to write a straight-up Elizabethan sonnet for his Martlet. For the scroll for the outgoing Baron of Iron Bog, I just picked another English time period. I went with a Chaucer source I hadn't used yet: the Parlement of Foules (1380's England). There's a Wikipedia entry on the poem. I thought that since Larry was a two-time kingdom seneschal, the reference to a parliament was appropriate; also, it's a parliament of birds and he was getting a Martlet the same day.

The verse is in rhyme royal, which is seven-line stanzas, usually in iambic pentameter, with a rhyme scheme a-b-a-b-b-c-c. I used the spelling and hyphenation in the source where I could.

I used a possessive "'s". In hindsight, I think this line would perhaps have been better were it written "For Master Lawrence Thornguardes suporte", with the -es of Thornguard pronounced, because possessives looked more like this:

"line 98 Was comen and stood right at my bedes syde."

I have read that possessive apostrophes in English may have begun as the language became less inflected, and we stopped pronouncing the unstressed "e" (changing "bedes syde" to "bed's syde").

SCROLL TEXT
Lawrence Thornguard
Outgoing Baron scroll
The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne,
That rocks now hard stille trace his yonger bote
Fro softer days, and he hadde largely earned
The Kingedom acolades and hye reput
When Masters of to-day were stille in root
To first events, so wot do We present
To venerable wards that hevene sent?

The Baron Iron Bog hast given al
Of herte and soule to these faire hosting lands,
And herte and soule We give, fro warm recal
Of al his Kingedom werke and giving hands,
In thanks. So be it doon and lettred grand
By Seson Change for Iron Bog hye corte
For Master Lawrence Thornguard’s long suporte.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
Parlement of Foules
Geoffrey Chaucer, England, 1380's
Here begynyth the Parlement of Foulys

The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne,
Thassay so hard, so sharp the conquering,
The dredful Ioy, that alwey slit so yerne,
Al this mene I by love, that my feling
Astonyeth with his wonderful worching
So sore y-wis, that whan I on him thinke,
Nat wot I wel wher that I wake or winke.

For al be that I knowe nat love in dede,
Ne wot how that he quyteth folk hir hyre,
Yet happeth me ful ofte in bokes rede
Of his miracles, and his cruel yre;
Ther rede I wel he wol be lord and syre,
I dar not seyn, his strokes been so sore,
But God save swich a lord! I can no more.

Words: Marion's Court Barony

2009-02-25T10:33:00.000-08:00

Sarra the Lymner did the calligraphy and illumination for Marion del Okes's court barony scroll. I sent the words to Signet for this before I electronically got the assignment, so I didn't know who the scribe was until I saw the docket the morning of court. I was happy when I saw the name and I think she did a lovely job.

The source for the text was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by "the Pearl Poet" (anonymous), England, late 14th century. The style is called "bob and wheel" alliterative revival. It used (roughly) several lines of 10-12 syllables, each with two stressed words, a caesura, then two stressed words. 3/4 of stressed words should alliterate.

Then comes the "bob and wheel". The bob is two words, two syllables, with rhyme A. The wheel follows, at first continuing the same thought, with four lines of 5-9 syllables and rhyme BABA. (Note: The translation to modern English may not follow this format strictly, but it's my memory that the original seemed to.)

An example of the bob and wheel from the source:

They were yet in the pride, in the prime of their youth,
and filled
       as full of heaven's blessing
       as the king had strength of will.
       And mighty men surpassing
       all were gathered on that hill.

You'd think that knowing the recipient very well would make writing a scroll for her easier. For me it has the opposite effect, because I have so much information to select from. I went the safe and fair route and tried to stick to the feel of the source as closely as possible. I wanted a storybook feeling of lords and ladies reveling in a hall somewhere who are comfortable and happy, but also isolated and vulnerable to malevolent natural forces.

This source fit the recipient's persona's time and place. The recipient also collects mugs of warped green tree-like faces, and I thought of those when I read of the green knight (a part I didn't include below).

SCROLL TEXT
Marion del Okes
Court Barony

One winter in the wood Queen Alethea sat
At leisure with her ladies and loyal liegemen
Arranged as kinsmen, always in the attention
Of her good-order guard, led by good Marion,
No reckless ruses spoiling their right Queen’s refuge.
Winter’s hot halls and chambers were heaped with happy
Lords and ladies as high and merry as you like!
Of those that gathered, wise Queen Alethea thought
A few had feasted less, following the way of work
Behind the throne, that the bold may shine more brightly,
Safe from sorrow’s touch—and such rare success they had.
We, Alethea Queen, consider our Captain
Marion del Okes marked for well-merited renown,
And due honor does our King Darius decree,
So we
       strengthen her estate and bless
       this occasion’s Barony
       with a worthy Baroness
       of courtly propriety.

On this Feast Day of Saint Margaret, 21st of February AS XLIII, at the Second Barony of Iron Bog Investiture, we confer upon Marion del Okes all the privileges of a Baroness of Our court, and Grant her these arms:

Or, a badger statant sable marked argent within an orle of oak leaves conjoined vert fructed proper.

SOURCE TEXT
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by “the Pearl Poet” (anonymous)
England, late 14th century
Style: Bob and wheel alliterative revival

Book I: Christmas in Camelot

One Christmas in Camelot King Arthur sat
at ease with his lords and loyal liegemen
arranged as brothers round the Round Table.
Their reckless jokes rang about that rich hall
till they turned from the table to the tournament field
and jousted like gentlemen with lances and laughs,
then trooped to court in a carolling crowd.
For the feast lasted a full fifteen days
of meals and merriment (as much as could fit.)
Such gay glee must gladden the ear --
by day what a din, and dancing by night!
The halls and chambers were heaped with happy
lords and ladies as high as you like!
There they were gathered with all the world's goodness:
knights as kind as Christ himself,
ladies as lovely as ever have lived,
and the noblest king our nation has known.
They were yet in the pride, in the prime of their youth,
and filled
       as full of heaven's blessing
       as the king had strength of will.
       And mighty men surpassing
       all were gathered on that hill.

While the year was as young as New Years can be
the dais was prepared for a double feast.
The king and his company came in together
when mass had been chanted; and the chapel emptied
as clergy and commons alike cried out,
"Noel! Noel!" again and again.
And the lords ran around loaded with parcels,
palms extended to pass out presents,
or crowded together comparing gifts.
The ladies laughed when they lost at a game
(that the winner was willing, you may well believe!)
Round they milled in a merry mob till the meal was ready,
washed themselves well, and walked to their places
(the best for the best on seats raised above.)
Then Guinevere moved gaily among them,
took her place on the dais, which was dearly adorned
with sides of fine silk and a canopied ceiling
of sheer stuff: and behind her shimmering tapestries from far Tarsus,
embroidered, bedecked with bright gems
that the jewelers would pay a pretty price for
any day,
       but the finest gem in the field of sight
       looked back: her eyes were grey.
       That a lovelier's lived to delight
       the gaze - is a lie, I'd say!

But Arthur would not eat till all were served.
He bubbled to the brim with boyish spirits:
liked his life light, and loathed the thought
of lazing for long or sitting still longer.
So his young blood boiled and his brain ran wild,
and in many ways moved him still more
as a point of honor never to eat
on a high holiday till he should have heard
a strange story of stirring adventures,
of mighty marvels to make the mind wonder,
of princes, prowess, or perilous deeds.
Or someone might come, seeking a knight
to join him in jousting, enjoying the risk
of laying their lives on the line like men
leaving to fortune the choice of her favor.
This was the king's custom at court,
the practice he followed at pleasant feasts held
in his hall;
       therefore with bold face
       he stood there straight and tall.
       As New Years proceeded apace
       he meant to have mirth with them all.

Words: Katherine's Kingdom Augmentation of Arms

2009-02-23T20:45:00.000-08:00

Kayleigh McWhyte did the calligraphy and illumination for Katherine Barr of Cumberland's Kingdom Augmentation of Arms. The illumination she based on the Ottheinrich Bible, Germany, 1500-1570; and the calligraphy on a 16th-century cadell from a German handwriting book. With all the 16th-century German influence, I based on the words on Martin Luther's The German Mass and Order of Divine Service, January 1526.

This scroll was to be done quickly: more words, less picture. The first letter needed to be a "B". It's my habit here to veer away from the easy answer, so I didn't use the common opening "Be it known..."

The part that goes "for without the people" came from a frequent court speech during this reign that said "without the belief of the people, we don't rule".

I think I only used the first paragraph of the source, so that's all I've included here.

SCROLL TEXT
Katherine Barr of Cumberland
Kingdom Augmentation of Arms

Before our court and above all things, We, Darius and Alethea, Rex et Regina Orientalis, most affectionately beseech all who see or desire to observe this our Order of the Kingdom’s Will, on no account to make of it a common law; but to regard it with satisfaction in good pleasure as, where, when and so long as circumstances favour and demand it, for its rarity makes of it a source of great meaning and pleasure to us. Moreover, We endeavor that the people are bettered by what We do, for without the people, Our decrees are mere blank parchments given to chairs in empty halls. Since, then, in these matters of outward ordinance something is laid upon us as a matter of conscience before the East, We do in love reward those who, in like ways and fashion, work ceaselessly for the betterment of others, and know that in so doing they do not impoverish themselves but enrich a Kingdom.

The Baroness Iron Bog, founding Baroness of these hosting lands, welcoming and helpful to all; also past Seneschal of our greater Kingdom, continuing in wise counsel as deputy; also creator of the Pennsic War’s original Information Point; and in many other ways our loyal servant, known to this court as Mistress Katherine Barr of Cumberland; shall this 21st day of February, Feast Day of Saint Daniel, AS XLIII, during the Season of Change in the Barony of Iron Bog accept this our signed Augmentation of Arms by Kingdom, to wit: A gorgon’s head cabossed argent, to augment Gules, a chevron erminois between three stag’s heads cabossed Or, pending consultation with the College of Arms.

SOURCE TEXT
The German Mass and Order of Divine Service, January 1526
Martin Luther

Above all things, I most affectionately and for God's sake beseech all, who see or desire to observe this our Order of Divine Service, on no account to make of it a compulsory law, or to ensnare or make captive thereby any man's conscience; but to use it agreeably to Christian liberty at their good pleasure as, where, when and so long as circumstances favour and demand it. Moreover, we would not have our meaning taken to be that we desire to rule, or by law to compel, any one. Meanwhile, there is on every side great pressure towards a German Mass and Order of Divine Service: and there is great complaint and offence about the different kinds of new Masses, that every one makes his own, some with a good intention and others out of conceit to introduce something new themselves and to make a good show among others and not be bad masters. As then always happens with Christian liberty, few use it for anything else than their own pleasure or profit: and not for God's honour and the good of their neighbour. While, however, every man is bound on his conscience, in like manner as he uses such liberty himself, not to hinder nor forbid it to any one else, we must also take care that liberty be servant to love and to our neighbour. Where, then, it happens that men are offended or perplexed at such diversity of use, we are truly bound to put limits to liberty; and, so far as possible, to endeavour that the people are bettered by what we do and not offended. Since, then, in these matters of outward ordinance nothing is laid upon us as matter of conscience before God, and yet such ordinance can be of use to our neighbour, we ought in love, as St. Paul teaches, to endeavour to be of one and the same mind; and, to the best of our power, of like ways and fashion; just as all Christians have one baptism and one sacrament, and no one has a special one given him of God.

Two Tanka

2009-02-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

2/17
An average morning
With bad traffic and brown fumes
Still offers escape
In the sky, its colored space
A suggestion of freedom.

2/18
Yesterday I saw
Palm trees and gray chaparral
And eye-blinding sand
In a memory years old
From a place that feels new born.

(about California)

Words: Jean Paul's Court Barony

2009-01-18T08:50:00.001-08:00

After writing Lylie's court barony, I started on JP's, to be given at the same event. Brunissende de Brocéliande was the calligrapher and illuminator for this one, so there are naked bits to be seen if you look closely enough. Her source (which she followed spectacularly) was Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry: Fevrier (February).

Jean Paul's persona is 1580's French. I chose to follow Pierre de Ronsard’s “Je ne veux comparer tes beautez à la Lune…” from Sonnets pour Hélène, 1578. Variations on the Petrarchan sonnet were very popular in the French court at this time, in part because of this poet. This source is one example.

SCROLL TEXT
Jean Paul Justin Casse
Court Barony

When sunlight wanes and day birds lullaby,
We Darius and Alethea send
In court for present nobles to commend
For graces that delight Our eyes.
A courtly gentleman so favored by
The Graces might the Muses scarce offend;
They watch, and common candlelight amend
With rousing fire, for his apt art’s supply:
Inspiring cunning chests and patterned shoes,
Bound parchment books for courts and kin to use;
Not only does he craft, but also fight.
From rapier fields he brings courtly finesse;
So let him join Our court, a Baron blessed
Before Our throne on this new year’s Twelfth Night.

SOURCE TEXT
Je ne veux comparer
tes beautez à la Lune…
from Sonnets pour Hélène
Pierre de Ronsard
France, 1578

Je ne veux comparer tes beautez à la Lune:
La Lune est inconstante, et ton vouloir n'est qu'un:
Encor moins au Soleil; le Soleil est commun,
Commune est sa lumiere, et tu n'est pas commune.
Tu forces par vertu l'envie et la rancune,
Je ne suis, te louant, un flateur importun;
Tu sembles à toymesme, et n'as pourtraict aucun,
Tu es toute ton Dieu, ton astre et ta fortune.
Ceux qui font de leur dame à toy comparaison
Sont ou presompteueux, ou perclus de raison;
D'esprit et de sçavoir de bien loin tu les passes.
Ou bien quelque demon de ton corps s'est vestu,
Ou bien tu es pourtraict de la mesme Vertu,
Ou bien tu es Pallas, our bien l'une des Graces.

English rendition by Humbert Wolfe
(more poetic than precise):

Shall I your beauties with the moon compare?
she's faithless, you a single purpose own.
Or to the general sun, who everywhere
goes common with his light? You walk alone
And you are such that envy must despair
of finding in my praise aught to condone,
who have no likeness since there's naught as fair,
yourself your god, your star, Fate's overtone.
Those mad or rash, who make some other woman your rival,
hurt themselves when they would hurt you,
so far your excellence their dearth outpaces.
Either your body shields some noble demon,
or mortal you image immortal virtue;
Or Pallas you or first among the Graces.

On this tenth of January AS XLIII, we bestow upon Jean Paul Justin Casse the rights and estate of a Baron of Our court, and Grant these arms:
[blazon not registered yet]

Words: Lylie's Court Barony

2009-01-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

Svea the Short-sighted did the calligraphy and illumination for Lylie's Court Barony scroll.

I had a source which, at 1380's English, was within a couple years of her persona's time and place: Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde. It's in rhyme royal, which is seven-line stanzas, usually in iambic pentameter, with an end-line rhyme scheme of ABABBCC.

Originally I had in mind to try to follow the source as closely as possible. Then I held the recipient in mind as I wrote, and the words wanted to go their own way: whimsical, light, and happy. I'm not going to argue with the muse.

SCROLL TEXT
Lylie of Penhill
Court Barony

A decade of Society ago,
As winter’s heavens turned upon their arch,
A lily broke the seal of settled snow
That whitened all the central Eastern march;
Concordians who wandered their land parched
For signs of spring saw this May blessing stir:
Green, tipped with white, beneath green snowy firs.

Sweet Lady Lylie comes to Us this day,
Called to Our court: a hint of early spring
As in those times, when she first came to play;
By any vessel she has cheer to bring,
By any instrument a wind will sing
For singing is its nature; likewise We
Have answers for Our natures in decrees.

King Darius, and Alethea, Queen,
This tenth of January 43,
Have come through winter’s ice to see the green
Of promise in Our subjects, those who free
The populace from toil with their degree
Of service: Lylie of Penhill We bless,
And gift this court with a new Baroness.

SOURCE TEXT
Troilus and Criseyde
Geoffrey Chaucer
English, 1380-1387

The double sorwe of Troilus to tellen,
That was the kyng Priamus sone of Troye,
In louynge how his auentures fellen
ffro wo to wele, and after out of ioie,
My purpos is, er that I parte fro ye.
Thesiphone, thow help me for tendite
Thise woful vers that wepen as I write.

To the clepe I, thow goddesse of torment,
Thow cruwel furie, sorwynge euere in peyne,
Help me that am the sorwful instrument
That helpeth loueres, as I kan, to pleyne;
ffor wel sit it, the sothe for to seyne,
A woful wight to han a drery feere,
And to a sorwful tale a sory chere.

ffor I, that god of loues seruantz serue,
Ne dar to loue, for myn vnliklynesse,
Preyen for speed, al sholde I ther-fore sterue,
So fer am I from his help in derknesse;
But natheles, if this may don gladnesse
To any louere and his cause auaille,
Haue he my thonk, and myn be this trauaille.

But ȝe loueres that bathen in gladnesse,
If any drope of pyte in ȝow be,
Remembreth ȝow on passed heuynesse
That ȝe han felt, and on the aduersite
Of othere folk, and thynketh how that ȝe
Han felt that loue dorste ȝow displese,
Or ȝe han wonne hym with to grete an ese.

And preieth for hem that ben in the cas
Of Troilus, as ȝe may after here,
That loue hem brynge in heuene to solas;
And ek for me preieth to god so dere
That I haue myght to shewe in som manere
Swich peyne and wo as loues folk endure,
In Troilus vnsely auenture.

This Twelfth Night We confer upon Lylie of Penhill all the rights and splendour of a Baroness of Our court, with these arms by Grant:
[blazon not registered yet]

Words: Juliana's Pelican and Laurel

2009-01-18T07:27:00.001-08:00

I got the assignment for Juliana von Altenfeld's Laurel and Pelican scrolls in the midst of a move, but I couldn't resist the chance to write for the rare double Peerage (both Peerages given in one day). I received a lengthy recommendation letter and the guidelines that the words were to flow from one scroll to the next.

Khioniya Nikolaevana Ryseva illuminated one of the scrolls and Saerlaith ingen Cinneide illuminated the other (based on MS Richardson 39, f. 88v and 70; German, 1450-1499). Eva Woderose did the calligraphy for both. This was a wonderful project, which culminated in some excited emails with the photos of the finished scrolls.

I based the text in part on the prologue of Der Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools), Sebastian Brandt, German, 1494; translation by Alexander Barclay (1475-1552). In the text, I simulated the English of Barclay's 16th-century English translation, including the spelling. For example, if I needed to use the word "mind", I'd look for similar words in the source text (such as "blynde") to find a likely spelling ("mynde"). I also followed the source's seemingly random lack of ending punctuation.

Der Narrenschiff is an early Protestant-era, German satire in doggerel verse (open meter). The outraged, common-man humor of the source isn't really the language of high state occasions... but the place and time period were perfect for the recipient and for the illuminators' source.

I wrote the second-to-last verse as an emergency patch for the scribes when the text fell a little short in the column space. In the last verse, I got out of rhyming with "patent" through the fill-in-the-blank blazon (it has its uses!).

SCROLL TEXT
Juliana von Altenfeld
Pelican and Laurel

Amonge the jenteles of three regyons
Ouer the Knowne Worlde, East West and south
Soundeth praisyng in plenty with reson
Wherin vertue and wysdome from the mouths
Of many take one name from the crowde:
Juliana von Altenfeld, lady kynde
She is Mystres Juliana to our myndes

Since Our Society yere 23
We haue had her servyng wayes and selfelesnes
Rewardes in her techyng and phylosophy
We haue her tables whiche godly doth expresse
Her loue of gode fode, kepyng to the best
Banysshed is hunger, we wander content
Our hertes ar ful from her feastyng euents

Her wysdome is loued, blynde folysshenes is
Exyled from her kichens for these many yeres
Honest maners, governaunce by grace: tis
A recipe for al to feast in chere
Loke upon her with Our eyes and see a Pere:
Or wander a fole, incresinge without nomber
That al the worlde thou vtterly encomber.

Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and Justice
Hath vs wel loued: For we set of them al store.
Hauinge a Gyld Charter wel establisshed
Our Gyld Mystres grewe amonge the cokes such lore
From old bokes to heted pots redacions pored
Throughe her study and techyng, so studentes growe,
And without rank, knowledge is free to flowe.

Al is wel tended under inuentiue myndes:
The Tastyng Bordes that she brought to euents
Al showe the cokery works of many kyndes
In flavors that heuyn only sent
For promyses that We would mayke intent
To prayse Our worthy Juliana soon
Perhaps on November 22.

At Hundred Minutes War Our Anno 43
We mayke this same wyll and promyse knowne:
Darius and Alethea decree
That this same Juliana has growne
To not one moste glorious estate for home
But two: the Orders of Pelican and Laurel
That We kepe heuyn’s pece with Our moralles

Companions of the Laurel ardent blessed
Their confidense in her hawse to dwel.
Companions of the Pelican protest
That this tale was slowe for tyme to tel:
One tale alone can nat do her well
One hundred words of good is yet one word shye,
No goodnes We perceyue shal We to yll aplye

Our Mystres Juliana, Pelican
And Laurel, coke of olde wyne and newe joye,
And euer gracious lady who began
So much for al in Kingdom to enjoye,
A hundred kichens of her past employed
Not only skyl from her, but artistre,
Preparyng fodes from France and Germany.

In token of her newe estates We gyue
To Mystres Juliana arms by lettres patent
Armory that wyll vs al outlyue:
[line of space for blazon]
[line of space for blazon]
Exclusiue is her right to bere these arms
Honoure this day her welthe of wysdome’s charms.

SOURCE TEXT
Der Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools)
Sebastian Brandt, German, 1494
English translation by
Alexander Barclay (1475-1552)
Here begynneth the prologe.

Amonge the people of euery regyon
And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west
Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson
Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest
Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best
Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne
Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne

We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse
Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall
And also of the newe our erour to redresse
Of phylosophy and other artes liberall
With other bokes of vertues morall
But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe
We all ar blynde no man wyll them ensue

Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes
Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe
Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes
Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe
Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe
Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne
Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne

Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite
Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.
Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.
Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.

Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.
Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.
Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne
But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.
So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.
That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.

Blasphemers of Chryst; Hostlers; and Tauerners:
Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,
Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners
Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.
But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious
We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:
Utterly subdued to al lewdnes and Foly.

Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.
Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.
Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable
Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.
No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.
But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful
Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.

But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.
And theyr demerites worthely to note.
Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.
None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.
One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.
For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge
The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.

Words: Marion's Silver Crescent

2008-11-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande based the calligraphy and illumination for Marion del Okes's Crescent scroll on I bagni di Pozzuoli di Pietro da Eboli, 1450-1475, the illumination of a poem on mineral baths from ca. 1200. Not being able to find this translated poem on mineral baths for the text source, I instead used Henry, King of the Romans: Concerning Serfs Who Flee to the Cities of Alsace, given at Basle, December 16th, 1224. This source was from the same time period as the original poem; but it's been a while, and I don't recall why I picked this particular text from that century. Really, the most important thing for this scroll was to fulfill the recipient's request that her next scroll have naked doods.

SCROLL TEXT
Marion del Okes OSC
We, Andreas and Gabriella, Rex et Regina Orientalis, make known to all, both present and future, that one question may be settled forever; that all Companions of Our Orders may enjoy their proper rights, and furnish us with just counsel on those who display such qualities as they admire and uphold within their Orders, and by this wisdom the following decision has been made by us: That Marion del Okes, lady of Our lands, by virtue of her many years of service as a steward and Our liaison at festivities, in branch polling and sundry heraldic works, both in courts and amidst the written works of antiquity, by her diligence in the guards of three Eastern Queens, and by her judicious labors for Our rapier marshallate, shall hereby count herself among the Companions of Our Order of the Silver Crescent, to bear such insignia and signs as appropriate to her new station. And in order that there might be enduring evidence of this we have ordered this present charter to be written, and have confirmed it with Our seal.

Done this 5th day of January, Feast Day of Saint Talida, Anno Societatis XLII, on the occasion of Our 12th Night in the Barony Beyond the Mountain.

SOURCE TEXT
Henry, King of the Romans:
Concerning Serfs Who Flee to the Cities of Alsace, 1224
Henry, by the grace of God, King of the Romans and ever Augustus.

We make known to all, both present and future, that (since the question has been debated between our cities of Alsace, and the nobles and ministerials of the same province, about those men of theirs who had fled to those cities and who might so flee in the future) this same question may be settled forever; and, that each side may enjoy its proper rights, the following decision has been made by us: That if any person pertaining to any noble or ministerial betake himself to our cities with the idea of staying there, and his lord wish to reclaim him, the lord ought to be allowed to take him, if he has seven relatives on the mother's side, who are commonly called nagilmage, who will swear that he belongs to the lord by right of ownership. But if for any reason the lord be unable to obtain the relatives or friends, let him obtain two suitable witnesses from the neighborhood from which the fugitive came, and let him prove that he had that man in his undisturbed possession by right of ownership before he betook himself to our cities, and with his witnesses let him take oath on the relics of the saints, and so let his man be restored to him. We also decree and firmly ordain that all nobles and ministerials, as has been said, being desirous of obtaining their men, may enter our cities in peace and security and depart without hurt or injury. At their request a safe-conduct will be furnished them by the bailiffs and council of our cities. And in order that there might be enduring evidence of this we have ordered this present charter to be written, and have confirmed it with our seal.

Given at Basle, December sixteenth, 1224.

Words: Thomas and Marion's Burdened Tyger

2008-11-25T16:40:00.000-08:00

Although Thomas delbroc and Marion del Okes had received OBTs years ago, they'd never gotten scrolls. One of the early projects I did with Brunissende was an OBT scroll for both of them.

They both have English personas, so I looked to the English Confirmation of the Charters, 1297, for the words. This is the only scroll for two people that I've worked on thus far.

SCROLL TEXT
OBT for Thomas delbroc and Marion del Okes
I, Timothy, and I, Gabrielle, by grace King and Queen of the East, to all those that these present letters shall hear or see, greeting. Know ye that We love festivities to the profit of our realm, and for so much as the more part of the community would have found themselves sore grieved with lack of water and other famines at Barren Sands War of AS XXX, were it not for the ingenious stewarding of Our Thomas delbroc, and of Marion del Okes, his lady wife, thus do We recognize their excellence by inducting them into Our Order of the Burdened Tyger. Done by Our Hands at Barren Sands War, this 6th day of June, AS XXXIII, in Our Shire of Barren Sands.

SOURCE TEXT
English Confirmation of the Charters, 1297 (cut for brevity)
1. Edward, by the grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, to all those that these present letters shall hear or see, greeting. Know ye that we to the honor of God and of holy Church, and to the profit of all our realm, have granted for us and our heirs, that the Great Charter of Liberties and the Charter of the Forest, which were made by common assent of all the realm, in the time of King Henry our father, shall be kept in every point without breach. And we will that these same charters shall be sent under our seal to our justices, both to those of the forest and to the rest, and to all sheriffs of shires, and to all our other officers, and to all our cities throughout the realm, together with our writs in which it shall be contained, that they cause the aforesaid charters to be published, and have it declared to the people that we have granted that they shall be observed in all points, and that our justices, sheriffs, mayors, and other officials which under us have to administer the laws of our land, shall allow the said charters in pleas before them and in judgments in all their points; that is to wit, the Great Charter as the common law and the Charter of the Forest according to the Assize of the Forest, for the relief of our people.

Road tanka

2008-11-25T06:21:00.000-08:00

Just a tanka from the morning's commute.

A black dipping jar
Sits on wood, beside parchment.
Ink soaks down, leaving
Clean strokes and the purity
Of doing and not seeking.

Words: Katherine's Tyger of the East

2008-11-23T13:53:00.000-08:00

I teamed up with Jon Blaecstan again to make Katherine Stanhope's Tyger of the East scroll. Jon's calligraphy and illumination for this were based on the Black Hours. Both the source and his work are amazing.

Sometimes when I write poetic scrolls, I just freely write in a form appropriate to the time and place of the scroll style. At other times, I also try to use a specific source in that style, and integrate words, phrases, and themes from the period source. For Katherine's scroll, I based the words on Shakespeare's Sonnet 5, and there are several correlations between scroll text and source.

SCROLL TEXT
Katherine Stanhope's Tyger of the East
The Duchess Katherine Stanhope, twice Our Queen,
Past Tyger Clerk and Queen’s Equestrian,
Has blessed Our courts with little rest between
Each year of service, candles at both ends
Were burning in her watches of the night;
Those hours, that with her gentle work did frame
The lovely Eastern art and archer’s might,
Now celebrate in court the very same:
With thankfulness the King and Queen have called
Her favored presence into noble court;
This summer’s distillation in the halls
Of winter brings to Us most welcome warmth:
To this great lady, raise a glass at feast,
We name her Katherine, Tyger of the East.

SOURCE TEXT
Shakespeare's Sonnet 5
Those hours, that with gentle work did frame
The lovely gaze where every eye doth dwell,
Will play the tyrants to the very same
And that unfair which fairly doth excel:
For never-resting time leads summer on
To hideous winter and confounds him there;
Sap cheque'd with frost and lusty leaves quite gone,
Beauty o'ersnow'd and bareness every where:
Then, were not summer's distillation left,
A liquid prisoner pent in walls of glass,
Beauty's effect with beauty were bereft,
Nor it nor no remembrance what it was:
But flowers distill'd though they with winter meet,
Leese but their show; their substance still lives sweet.

So We, King Darius and Queen Alethea, say on this Feast Day of St. John, the 25th day of October, in the 43rd year of the Society, at the tournament to find Our successors in the Shire of Glenn Linn, and to this We give Our names and seal.

Words: El's Augmentation of Arms

2008-11-23T13:34:00.001-08:00

Khioniya enlisted my help for Jonathan Blaecstan's work on a last-minute augmentation for Pennsic '08. The scroll was to be "a big capital with lots of words", so I had complete liberty with the source text. I got stories of El from a couple of his friends in email, and grabbed a source that took my fancy.

SCROLL TEXT
El of the Two Knives's Augmentation of Arms
Our Eastern court, alive with wisdom and virtuous works, shalt well understand that We find, in the knowledgeable beholding of Our Realm, four degrees and forms of strength to a man, and they be these: strength of body, that well may he raise his sword and earn heritage in his Kingdom; strength of mind, that with a ready wit he may praise or humble the deserving in the tales and songs of bards; strength of honor, that he may stand by his sense of right and wrong, though wisdom meeks him to the counsel of others; and strength of name. Three of these have come before; and the fourth may by grace be begun here, but it shall ever last without end in the joy of this Our decree. And right as thou seest how they be set here in order each one after other: body, mind, honor, and name, right so We, Konrad and Brenwen, Rex et Regina Orientalis, find that in the same course are, from amongst Our subjects, true legends made; and We know these legendary men and women in how others speak of them, and not in how they speak of themselves.

Therefore take good heed unto time and how the legends of the East dispense it: for nothing is more precious than time. In one little time, as little as it is, may one man’s heaven be won or lost.

Master El of the Two Knives, by the strength of his body, mind, and honor: a fighter who won many tournaments, seconding in Crown many times; a well-loved bard, source of inspiration to newcomers; a Kingdom Seneschal of many years' time; and one of our greatest resources among men; has kindled Our desire full graciously to forever strengthen and honor his name, and show the pride of all who have known him. Therefore shall Our Kingdom have no wonder that by Our hand at this Pennsic War in AEthelmearc’s domain, 7th of August, Feast Day of Saint Sixtus, AS XLIII, We sign Our hand to augment his arms by Kingdom, to wit: Sable, two swords Curtana inverted and conjoined at the quillons within a bordure Or, in a fashion to be selected by the Royalty in consultation with the College of Arms.

SOURCE TEXT
The Cloud of Unknowing, Chapters 1 and 4 (4 is cut for brevity), Anonymous, 14-century English
HERE BEGINNETH THE FIRST CHAPTER
Of four degrees of Christian men’s living; and of the course of his calling that this book was made unto.

GHOSTLY friend in God, thou shalt well understand that I find, in my boisterous beholding, four degrees and forms of Christian men’s living: and they be these, Common, Special, Singular, and Perfect. Three of these may be begun and ended in this life; and the fourth may by grace be begun here, but it shall ever last without end in the bliss of Heaven. And right as thou seest how they be set here in order each one after other; first Common, then Special, after Singular, and last Perfect, right so me thinketh that in the same order and in the same course our Lord hath of His great 66 mercy called thee and led thee unto Him by the desire of thine heart. For first thou wottest well that when thou wert living in the common degree of Christian men’s living in company of thy worldly friends, it seemeth to me that the everlasting love of His Godhead, through the which He made thee and wrought thee when thou wert nought, and sithen bought thee with the price of His precious blood when thou wert lost in Adam, might not suffer thee to be so far from Him in form and degree of living. And therefore He kindled thy desire full graciously, and fastened by it a leash of longing, and led thee by it into a more special state and form of living, to be a servant among the special servants of His; where thou mightest learn to live more specially and more ghostly in His service than thou didst, or mightest do, in the common degree of living before. And what more?

Yet it seemeth that He would not leave thee thus lightly, for love of His 67 heart, the which He hath evermore had unto thee since thou wert aught: but what did He? Seest thou nought how Mistily and how graciously He hath privily pulled thee to the third degree and manner of living, the which is called Singular? In the which solitary form and manner of living, thou mayest learn to lift up the foot of thy love; and step towards that state and degree of living that is perfect, and the last state of all.

HERE BEGINNETH THE FOURTH CHAPTER
Of the shortness of this word, and how it may not be come to by curiosity of wit, nor by imagination.

BUT for this, that thou shalt not err in this working and ween that it be otherwise than it is, I shall tell thee a little more thereof, as me thinketh.

This work asketh no long time or it be once truly done, as some men ween; for it is the shortest work of all that man may imagine. It is never longer, nor shorter, than is an atom: the which atom, by the definition of true philosophers in the science of astronomy, is the least part of time. And it is so little that for the littleness of it, it is indivisible and nearly incomprehensible. This is that time of the which it is written: All time that is 75 given to thee, it shall be asked of thee, how thou hast dispended it. And reasonable thing it is that thou give account of it: for it is neither longer nor shorter, but even according to one only stirring that is within the principal working might of thy soul, the which is thy will. For even so many willings or desirings, and no more nor no fewer, may be and are in one hour in thy will, as are atoms in one hour. And if thou wert reformed by grace to the first state of man’s soul, as it was before sin, then thou shouldest evermore by help of that grace be lord of that stirring or of those stirrings. So that none went forby, but all they should stretch into the sovereign desirable, and into the highest willable thing: the which is God. For He is even meet to our soul by measuring of His Godhead; and our soul even meet unto Him by worthiness of our creation to His image and to His likeness. And He by Himself without more, and none but He, is sufficient to the full and 76 much more to fulfil the will and the desire of our soul. And our soul by virtue of this reforming grace is made sufficient to the full to comprehend all Him by love, the which is incomprehensible to all created knowledgeable powers, as is angel, or man’s soul; I mean, by their knowing, and not by their loving. And therefore I call them in this case knowledgeable powers. But yet all reasonable creatures, angel and man, have in them each one by himself, one principal working power, the which is called a knowledgeable power, and another principal working power, the which is called a loving power. Of the which two powers, to the first, the which is a knowledgeable power, God that is the maker of them is evermore incomprehensible; and to the second, the which is the loving power, in each one diversely He is all comprehensible to the full. Insomuch that a loving soul alone in itself, by virtue of love should comprehend in itself Him that is sufficient 77 to the full—and much more, without comparison—to fill all the souls and angels that ever may be. And this is the endless marvellous miracle of love; the working of which shall never take end, for ever shall He do it, and never shall He cease for to do it. See who by grace see may, for the feeling of this is endless bliss, and the contrary is endless pain.

Words: Juliana's Silver Crescent

2008-11-23T12:55:00.001-08:00

Since Juliana von Altenfeld has a German persona, Brunissende de Brocéliande based the calligraphy and illumination for her Crescent scroll on Kuchemaistrey, Nuremberg, 1485. I returned to Das Kochbuch der Sabrina Welserin, 1553, for a source text. (I had previously used it for Andrea MacIntyre's OBT scroll, which had been given for a German feast.) This time I used recipes #202 and #203 for the words (especially #203).

I still found it a little awkward to use recipes for scroll wordings. It's a fusion of two different styles. My way to make this text flow was to break down the purposes of the two documents and find a common ground. A recipe is a "how-to"; a scroll text notifies the populace of an award and typically describes the recipient's accomplishments. I looked for a "how-to" to describe in an award context: I wrote the scroll as if it were a recipe for how to be as cool as the recipient.

SCROLL TEXT
Juliana von Altenfeld's OSC
If you would prepare approximately three seemly feasts, then follow the example of Juliana von Altenfeld at a Bishop Geoffrey Tournament, a Runnymede dinner, and an Investiture for Our chosen Baron and Baroness of Bhakail; meals which you already know were wholesome and well-researched. Look further and you will hear of many more tables which this treasured lady has set with sumptuous food for hungry guests, and of how grateful they were for her service. With these stories in mind, study future feasts for a good while. Let these memories remind you that no one leaves hungry or unhappy from a feast of Juliana von Altenfeld, for she will work for two months or longer to plan a feast, and longer still to cook it until it is well-done and splendidly brown.

On this 27th day of September, Feast Day of Saint Elzearus, AS XLIII, at Our Coronation in the Barony of Carolingia, We, Darius Rex and Alethea Regina, see that Juliana is ready for induction into Our Order of the Silver Crescent, that when this matter is done, it is well-done, and blessed by the voices of many Companions.

SOURCE TEXT
Das Kochbuch der Sabrina Welserin, 1553, Recipes #202 and #203
Recipe #202
To make smoked tongue, recipe from Herr Jörg Fugger

Take fresh tongues and cut the throat completely from it. Then they should be well pounded or beaten, lengthwise, over a block or a chair, not too hard, so that they are not smashed or do not become mangled. One must beat them until they become soft underneath and also at the tip. They do not, however, become as soft at the tip as at the back on the thick end. When they are so beaten, then put them into a trough with salt for a good while. Then they should be salted like other meat and a nice red raw beet cut into cubes and also peas sprinkled under them and in between them and over the top of them, but not all too much, and let them stay thus for a day or overnight in a warm place. Then lay a small board over them and a good heavy stone and let it remain so for four weeks. If, after four or five days, they should not be covered with brine, finely chop some red beets and cook them in water and drain the water off the beets and pour a glassful of vinegar into the water. The water should be cool enough that one could just bear to dip a finger into it. One could also cook a few peas with the beets, if the broth would otherwise be too red, and put the red beets and the likewise red peas together with the salt on the bottom and in between and on the top. They can lie for five weeks or longer, and when they are hung, the thick ends should be turned to the top, poke a hole through them with a baling needle and hang them on a coarse thread in a kitchen, which has no chimney, and not over the fire in the thick smoke, so that the outsides become nicely brown, they become splendidly brown.

Recipe #203
To prepare a meat aspic

If you would prepare approximately three seemly dishes, then take from a pig the ears, tail and hooves, which you already know are used for aspic. Chop veal bones into pieces, and take about four or five pieces of pork, whatever you consider right. The pork should be cooked separately in one quart or a little more of wine and a half-quart of vinegar. And the veal should also cook, but not as much as the pork. It needs one-half quart of wine, or a little more, mixed with two quarts of vinegar. Afterwards salt it a little. The pork needs more time to cook than the veal. And skim it well and watch out that it does not boil over. And when it has cooked a little it should be seasoned, also put some sugar into it, and when it is done, and it should be well-done, the fat is taken off and after that strain the both through a linen cloth into a clean pot and afterwards mixed with sugar and spices, however you think it is good, and put on the fire and allowed to boil again. One should also put some elecampane into it, so that the broth becomes clear. The bowl should be sprinkled with cinnamon and raisins. Afterwards lay the pieces of meat in the bowl, however you think it right, and pour over them the broth, when it has come to a boil and before that shell about a half pound of almonds and put them into the bowl, as many as you like, then you have a good aspic.

Words: Brenwen's County

2008-11-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Blaecstan was working on the calligraphy and illumination for Brenwen the Fair's county scroll, and asked me for a little wording help. He said the illumination was from Western France (Angers and Rouen), circa 1455-1465 (Sotheby's catalog, 4 December 2007, page 149); so for the text source I chose King René’s Tournament Book, 1460 France. The selection seemed especially appropriate because there'd been a royal progress tournament based on this format during the recipient's reign.

Of note for this assignment: I jumped around the source a lot to get the words I wanted.

SCROLL TEXT
Brenwen the Fair's County
Be it known to Our very noble and powerful court that We, Darius and Alethea, by right King and Queen of the East, have known our predecessor Brenwen the Fair to take pleasure in all things rightly befitting a Queen, most especially in the inspiration and nurturing of Our skilled artisans and valorous fighters. We have decided to make for her certain honors, the giving of which we undertake at Our first court in the central marches of Our realm, as much from Our love for her as from the ancient and loved customs.

We, having before Us Our barons and baronesses, and at least a great number of Our knights and squires, and also Our learned peers and counsel, say before this great company and in this most honorable place:

The very noble and powerful King Darius and His redoubted Queen Alethea hereby bestow upon the very noble and redoubted lady, Brenwen the Fair, the honorable estate of Countess of the East, on account of her love for the Kingdom and the grace of her reign as the 81st Queen of the East; and also the qualities which We know are in her very noble person, for she is a gentle lady in all her lines of descent. In love and friendship, We call her Countess Brenwen and Lady of the Rose, with all the signs and dignities befitting her station and the right to bear these arms by letters patent:

To the memory of this We give Our signatures and seal this 27th day of September, Feast Day of Saint Elzearus, AS XLIII, at Our Coronation in the Barony of Carolingia.

SOURCE TEXT
King René’s Tournament Book, 1460 France
To the very noble and powerful prince, my very dear, beloved and only brother Charles of Anjou, Count of Maine, Mortain and Guise:

I, René of Anjou your brother, want you to know that because I have long known you to take pleasure in hearing new stories and tales, I have decided to make for you a little treatise, the longest that I know of, on the form and way in which I think a tourney ought to be undertaken at court or elsewhere in the marches of France, as certain princes like to have it done. I have taken this form mostly from that used for organizing tourneys in Germany and on the Rhine, but also from the customs that they follow in Flanders and Brabant, and in the same way from the ancient customs that we used to follow in France, which I have found written down in manuscripts. From these three customs I have taken what seems good to me, and have made and compiled from them a fourth way of holding a tourney, as you will see, if it pleases you, by what follows hereafter.

(...cut some unused text...)

The prince, having before him all his barons, or at least a great number of knights and squires, ought to call the king of arms of his country, because it appertains to him before all other kings of arms; and if he is not present, in his absence, some notable herald.

(...cut some unused text...)

Very noble and powerful prince and redoubted lord, the very noble and powerful prince and my redoubted lord the Duke of Brittany, your cousin, has sent me to you on account of the great chivalry and prowess that he knows is in your very noble person. In all love and friendship, and not out of any ill will, he wishes to hold a tourney and bouhort of arms before ladies and damsels; and to signify this he sends you this sword, which is appropriate for this."

(...cut some unused text...)

Very noble and very powerful prince and very redoubted lord, the very noble and very powerful prince and my very redoubted lord the Duke of Brittany, your cousin, sends you here the blazons of eight knights and squires on a roll of parchment, so that you may choose from these eight the four of them whom you would like to be the judges.

(...cut some unused text...)

Note: If there comes someone to the tourney who is not a gentleman in all his lines of descent, but who is a virtuous person, he should not be beaten the first time, except by princes and great lords, who, without hurting him, should beat him with their swords and maces, and this should always be considered to be an honor.

Words: Robert's Queen's Cypher

2008-11-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

I got another assignment with Nataliia for Robert Hildreth's Queen's Cypher.

I based the words in part on The letters patents, granted by the Queenes Majestie to M. Walter Ralegh, now Knight, for the discovering and planting of new lands and Countries, to continue the space of 6 yeeres and no more by Richard Hakluyt, 1584. The information I have on Robert's persona places him in England, late 16th century. I got a request that the words be short. (In contrast, note the delightfully long sentence in the source.)

While I don't mean to post every short scroll here, I thought this one had a harmonious sound.

SCROLL TEXT
Robert Hildreth Queen's Cypher
Gabriella by grace and beauty of the East Kingdom Queene, inspiration to all gentle folk of the realm, greets all to whom these presents shal come. Know ye that of Our especial grace, certaine science, and meere motion, We hereby give Our trusty and well-beloved Robert Hildreth for his service to Us at events and in the sewing room, and for the generosity of his person, Our Queen’s Cypher.

Done at the Coronation of Konrad and Brenwen in the Crown Province of Ostgardr this Feast Day of St. Constantine, April 12th, AS XLII.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
The letters patents, granted by the Queenes Majestie to M. Walter Ralegh, now Knight, for the discovering and planting of new lands and Countries, to continue the space of 6 yeeres and no more by Richard Hakluyt, 1584
Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland Queene, defender of the faith, &c. To all people to whom these presents shal come, greeting. Know ye that of our especial grace, certaine science, & meere motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors doe give and grant to our trusty and welbeloved servant Walter Ralegh Esquire, and to his heires and assignes forever, free liberty & licence from time to time, and at all times for ever hereafter, to discover, search, finde out, and view such remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countreis, and territories, not actually possessed of any Christian prince, nor inhabited by Christian people, as to him, his heires and assignes, and to every or any of them shall seeme good, and the same to have, holde, occupy & enjoy to him, his heires and assignes for ever, with all prerogatives, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, priviledges, franchises and preeminences, thereto or thereabouts both by sea and land, whatsoever we by our letters patents may grant, and as we or any of our noble progenitors have heretofore granted to any person or persons, bodies politique or corporate: and the saide Walter Ralegh, his heires and assignes, and all such as from time to time, by licence of us, our heires and successors, shal goe or travaile thither to inhabite or remaine, there to build and fortifie, at the discretion of the said Walter Ralegh, his heires & assignes, the statutes or act of Parliament made against fugitives, or against such as shall depart, remaine or continue out of our Realme of England without licence, or any other statute, act, law, or any ordinance whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Words: Andrea's Burdened Tyger

2008-11-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande based the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll on Kuchemaistrey, ca. 1490. At her suggestion, and because the award was being given for German feast cooking, I based the text on Das Kochbuch der Sabrina Welserin, 1553. I used Recipe #181.

This may have been the first time I based a scroll's words on a recipe. I found it a little awkward, since they sound so unlike what we normally expect to hear in court. (It sounded all right, as it went.)

SCROLL TEXT
Andrea MacIntyre's OBT
In Anno Societatis XLII on the 12th of April the mistress cook Andrea MacIntyre prepared for Us, Konrad Rex and Brenwen Regina, on the occasion of Our Coronation, her last feast in the following manner:

First she created a menu suitable for Our time and place and divided it into courses, each with its own head cook. She also had readied other cooks for assistance, according to need. Following that she did much of the shopping, and cooked some parts as she could before the day. Then she ran the kitchens on the day, so that all went smoothly and much was ready to be eaten in advance of its appointed time. Such was the recipe for a good feast.

At this Our War at Barren Sands, in the Shire of the same, Feast Day of Saint Willibald, 7th of June, AS XLIII, we share Our regard for her good works with her induction into Our Order of the Burdened Tyger.

SOURCE TEXT
Das Kochbuch der Sabrina Welserin, 1553, Recipe 181
In the year of our Lord 1548 on the 25th of January the master cook Simon, cook for the counts of Leuchtenberg, instructed me to prepare jellied fish in the following manner

First he took a pike weighing two pounds and skinned it and cut slashed notches into it and divided it into pieces. He had also previously prepared a dish with aspic [with] two trout, each weighing about one pound. He scaled them a little on the back, afterwards shaping them prettily so that the head and tail stood up high and he cooked them. He put water into a pan over he fire, let it boil, also salted it, also poured some vinegar over the trout, after that laid the trout in the broth, so that the broth covered them well, afterwards let them simmer. Do not, however, allow them to cook too quickly or else they will not stay erect. They become entirely blue. And let the trout remain in the broth for three hours and they them afterwards on a pewter plate. After that he put the pike in a pan, put a little salt therein and one quarts of Neckar wine and let it come to a boil. Next he put into it somewhat more than one quart of isinglass water, also saffron, pepper, sugar, as much of each as he felt was right. He let it cook very slowly over a small fire and skimmed the froth with a skimming ladle, after that strained the broth into a pot and laid the pike in a dish and let the broth run three times through a wool or canvas sack, so that it became nice and clear. Following that he poured it on the pike but did not allow the bowl to get too full and let it stand until the following day. After that he took the bowl in which he had put the two trout and poured into it about two fingers high of broth from the jellied fish. Do not over fill it. Also reserve a good part of the broth for the next day. Then prepare white, yellow, brown, black, green as follows. First the white color which is made like so: Pound almonds small and strains them with isinglass water, that is the white color. Then take the white color and color it yellow, then it is yellow. After that take trysolita, which is a brown cloth, and lay the cloth in isinglass water and wring it out, then it becomes brown. The black is made like so: Take rye bread and toast it well on a grill, then pound it into a powder and strain it with isinglass water, then it becomes black. After that take a handful of spinach or chard and pound it in a mortar and strain it with isinglass, then it becomes green. Afterwards send it to a painter and let a bowl in which there is no fish be painted with the five colors, however you would like it, with coats of arms or plants. Everything can be eaten. The aspic should become firm beforehand, before you paint upon it. Afterwards, when that which you want has been painted, also letters, then set the two trout into it and pour the remaining broth over it, until the broth is as full as you would like it. And then let the aspic become firm, then it is ready.

Words: Ian's Salamander teaching thingy

2008-11-13T11:11:00.001-08:00

The name of the Bhakail baronial award for teaching fencing was, at the time I wrote this scroll, poorly translated into French. I don't think the new name had been settled yet. I still don't know what it is.

Brunissende did the calligraphy and illumination for the scroll. It was my first scroll text; I wrote it when I'd been in the SCA for about a year. I don't remember much about it, but at the top of the file I had left a note:

The scroll text opens with a quote from the Book of Jeronimo de Caranza, native of Seville. The treatise of the Philosophy of Arms and of the true Skill and of the aggression and defense of Christianity. Some other parts of the text I derived from Sloane MS 376, another fencing manual, and the misspellings are true to that text.

SCROLL TEXT
Ian Raven of Tadcaster's Salamander teaching thingy
"At the right time, the skilled man knowingly does with experience what he found in the truth." -So says Meliso, in Caranza.

Don Ian of Tadcaster, Lord Raven, knowne by the members of the militia bearing his name as Darth Raven, is storied as such a commendable man.

Know that he has proven sufisiant cunning in the exercise of civil combat, shown sufisiant honor and service, and grown so learned in the manner of goodly instruction, and also in nurturing compliments, that we entrust to him the counsel in good season of all who would seek aide in the Art of Defence to defend the honor of the Kingdom and Barony.

Therefore be it knowne unto all that this 1st day of May, AS XXXIX, at the Beltaine Brew and Brawl of the Incipient Canton of Gleann nam Feorag Dubh, we, Lorcan and Scheherazade, Baron and Baroness of Bhakail, certify by this letter our intent to admit, with honorable counsel, Don Ian Raven of Tadcaster into the Order of _____, that he may shine as the Order's first member, and that he may be knowne unto a few as la Salamandre flambee au Grand Marnier.

Words: Pierre's Silver Crescent

2008-11-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka did the calligraphy and illumination for Pierre de Tours's OSC. Pierre's persona info mentions that he is hunting (and hunted by) inquisitors of the Spanish Inquisition. Since his event attendance was low at the time, we decided to make his scroll an auto de fé (act of faith) summons of sorts. Unfortunately, at that time I didn't possess any primary Spanish Inquisition documents translated into English. So I improvised.

Bernard Gui: Inquisitorial Technique (c.1307-1323) is from the medieval inquisition created during the reign of Pope Gregory IX (1227-1241). Since it's not actually an Iberian document, I combined it with James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act of 1227. The finished scroll text alternated paragraphs between sources. Paragraph one, and the first part of paragraph three, are adapted from Gui's document. Paragraphs two and four came from James I's paper.

My concern with this method was the seamless blending of the two sources. They represent two very different tones and purposes. The more closely I followed the phrasing of one source, the more it would stand out from the other. If either of the primary sources were originally in English, I could have taken and re-ordered individual words – but there was no point in using a modern translation as an etymological guide. I tried to strike a balance.

SCROLL TEXT
Pierre de Tours OSC
When a gentleman is summoned to our court, he may assume a confident air, as though secure in his innocence. We may ask him why he has been brought before us, and he may reply, candid and courteous, “Your Majesties, I would be glad to learn the cause from you.”

Be it known to all that we, Gryffith, by the right of sword, King of the East, and Aikaterine, graceful Queen, are mindful of the fidelity and services which our gentle populace has always shown, and do show now, to us and our predecessors.

Our Pierre de Tours is accused as one such gentleman. He has given many of his hours to our students of the art of defense, security at our Pennsic Wars, scribing for our newsletters, captaining a worthy free ship, the Firedrake, and, most of all, is he accused of bearing for the greater profit a most dread curmudgeonly temperament.

Wishing to increase his wealth by the benefits we confer on him, and to satisfy the wish of our populace, we give by our present charter to him the rank and insignia of a Companion of our Order of the Silver Crescent, done at our Pennsic War in the year of our Society XLII, in the eighth month, on the eighth day, Feast Day of St. Dominic.

SOURCE TEXT 1 (cut for brevity)
Bernard Gui: Inquisitorial Technique (c.1307-1323)
When a heretic is first brought up for examination, he assumes a confident air, as though secure in his innocence. I ask him why he has been brought before me. He replies, smiling and courteous, "Sir, I would be glad to learn the cause from you."

I You are accused as a heretic, and that you believe and teach otherwise than Holy Church believes.

A. (Raising his eyes to heaven, with an air of the greatest faith) Lord, thou knowest that I am innocent of this, and that I never held any faith other than that of true Christianity.

SOURCE TEXT 2
James I of Aragon: The Barcelona Navigation Act of 1227
Be it known to all that I, James, by the grace of God, King of Aragon, Count of Barcelona and Lord of Montpellier, am mindful of the fidelity and services which our faithful citizens of Barcelona have always shown, and do show now, to us and our predecessors.

Wishing to increase your wealth by the benefits we confer on you, we have granted this special favor by our present charter to you and your successors in the city of Barcelona, namely, that any ship or vessel coming from beyond the seas, from Alexandria, or from Egypt, or proposing to go to those places from Barcelona, shall not take any merchandise or goods or cargo, nor carry them, nor bring them to those parts, while any native ship of Barcelona can, or wishes to, carry the said load or merchandise or to take it to those parts. And if any one thinks of sending his goods or merchandise to those parts let him send them in a ship or vessel of Barcelona and let him not dare to send them on a foreign ship or vessel while a ship or vessel of Barcelona is there ready to take his goods or merchandise. And we grant and concede to you, the citizens of Barcelona, that no foreign ship or other vessel, or ship from Sardinia and South Italy, shall dare to take wine at any of your quays, or buy it to take it to foreign parts, except with your permission and assent. And we have firmly ordered that the mayor, our bailiff, the honest men of Barcelona, all other mayors, bailiffs, nobles of Catalonia, officials, all our servants both now and in the future, and all those who wish to send merchandise, or to load it on ships or vessels, shall faithfully observe and cause to be observed all the privileges granted in our charter. And let no one dare to go contrary to this decree; if any do so, let them know that they will incur our anger and indignation and will pay a penalty of a thousand gold pieces.

Words: John's Silver Crescent

2008-11-10T17:42:00.001-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the illumination for John Marshall atte Forde's OSC. Violante de Rojas did the calligraphy.

I have written something that looks a little like documentation for this one, so I'll add it here.

Goal: Create a text for a Silver Crescent scroll being awarded to an English persona. The words should be as period as possible within the limitations of the project (a maximum word length of approximately 200, and the inclusion of award information).

Source selection: Brunissende planned to use art in the scroll from Richard Pynson’s 1492 edition of The Canterbury Tales. Fortunately, this art appeared in period with words I can access in modern times, so I used those words as my source. Geoffrey Chaucer originally wrote The Canterbury Tales around 1387-1395.

Source comparison: Below is the finished text (left) to compare with part of Chaucer’s prologue (right). I’ll discuss the poetic form and adaptations under it.

SCROLL TEXT
John Marshall atte Forde OSC

When autumn drops her apples with the leaves
And harvest baskets fill from dawn to eve,
The tables of good John Marshall atte Forde
Grow evening feasts as simply as dayboard;
When moonlight also limns, with her sweet glow,
The meats and fruits that ripening day chose,
Fair gentles rise to feast, their labors halt,
And if they hungry leave, it’s their damn fault;
For John will pluck, and cook, and serve again
Until the begging dogs are full, even;
Nine years of labor in the scullery,
They also say he marshals archery.
Such words at last a tender silence broke;
Companions of the Silver Crescent spoke,
Quickening the will of King and Queen
To call him forth in court on day 18,
October of Our Anno XLIII;
Darius and Alethea decree
In this Crown Province, green and white Ostgardr,
In rhyme inspired by Canterbury’s bard:
Good John will join the Order specially
And honor tables with his company.

INSPIRATION POEM
Canterbury Tales Prologue
by Geoffrey Chaucer,
circa 1387-1395

When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;
When Zephyr also has, with his sweet breath,
Quickened again, in every holt and heath,
The tender shoots and buds, and the young sun
Into the Ram one half his course has run,
And many little birds make melody
That sleep through all the night with open eye
(So Nature pricks them on to ramp and rage)-
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage,
And palmers to go seeking out strange strands,
To distant shrines well known in sundry lands.
And specially from every shire's end
Of England they to Canterbury wend,
The holy blessed martyr there to seek
Who helped them when they lay so ill and weal
Befell that, in that season, on a day
In Southwark, at the Tabard, as I lay
Ready to start upon my pilgrimage
To Canterbury, full of devout homage,
There came at nightfall to that hostelry
Some nine and twenty in a company
Of sundry persons who had chanced to fall
In fellowship, and pilgrims were they all
That toward Canterbury town would ride.

Chaucer wrote his famous Canterbury Tales prologue in rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter is a recurring pattern of a stressed syllable following an unstressed syllable in ten-syllable lines.

For example, this line from Chaucer is capped to show emphasis:
When ZEPHyr ALso HAS, with HIS sweet BREATH,

As is my adaptation of that line:
When MOONlight ALso LIMNS, with HER sweet GLOW,

Rhymed couplets rhyme on the ends of pairs of lines. (Chaucer’s prologue continues in rhymed couplets past what I have included here.) In his work, the number of lines doesn’t appear to matter, as long as the couplets remain intact.

Within this structure, for the scroll, I also needed to include the following information:

Recipient’s name
Description of the recipient’s service (this source was his recommendation letter)
King’s and Queen’s names
Award or Order name
His induction into the Order
Date of the induction
Local branch or event of the induction

I began as Chaucer’s prologue does: with a description of the season. The Canterbury Tales begin in spring; but this award was scheduled for autumn, so I changed to that season. The source goes on to describe the budding of trees, a production of nature that I adapted to the autumn harvest. I began to add the required service details in the third line (I have a word limit, after all).

Moving from the autumn harvest to feast cooking was the link between period content and my required content for the scroll. From there, the required content took up much of the piece. Because this was for a scroll, and so part of a court’s entertainment, I diverged to make a modern-flavored joke in the second line of this couplet:

Fair gentles rise to feast, their labors halt,
And if they hungry leave, it’s their damn fault;

I was able to fit each piece of the required content into the poetic form without going over the word limit; so the scroll consisted only of the poem – as it appeared in period – with no additional text giving the award date or other information.

Words: Alys's Queen's Order of Courtesy

2008-11-10T17:08:00.001-08:00

Khioniya Nikolaevna Ryseva did the calligraphy and illumination for Alys Mackyntoich's Queen’s Order of Courtesy scroll. Since the award was being given for court heraldry work, Khioniya chose an art source suitable to Alys's heraldic persona: a 12th-century Anglo-Norman known as Alis Helpusgod. Although the Laws of William the Conquerer, England 1066-1087 are a century older than Ms. Helpusgod, the source was utterly suitable to the humor, and I couldn't pass it up.

These are, though, the words of a conquerer laying down the deal for a conquered land. There's nothing flowery here. This was a dilemma: should the words be blunt, true to the accurate historical source; or should they be true to (my interpretation of) the will of the Queen bestowing the award? In the end I felt the tone of the source was too much at odds with the message of a courtesy award, and softened it.

SCROLL TEXT
Alys Mackyntoich QOC
First that above all things a Queen wishes the quality of courtesy to be revered throughout Her whole realm, and wishes promises, once pledged, to be kept ever inviolate, and desires peace to be preserved amongst those who love the Kingdom.

We decree that every freeman who affirms by compact that he will serve Our court thus, both within and without the East, will preserve these qualities with all fidelity. We will, moreover, that all such persons shall be protected by Our honors and shall dwell in the gentle favor of all nobility.

Thus do We, Brenwen, Regina Orientalis, command that all shall hold in high honor one known amongst the humble Sisterhood of Saint Walburga as Alis Helpusgod, who is to Us Our most dear Royal Herald, Alys Mackyntoich, for We induct her into Our Queen’s Order of Courtesy in great respect for her quality, most especially in her pledge of service, and this has been done before many faithful witnesses with surety and warrant.

This decree is ordained in the Crown Province of Ostgardr on the 6th day of September, the Feast Day of Saint Augustine, at Our John Barleycorn's Olympiad Competitions.

SOURCE TEXT
Laws of William the Conquerer, England 1066-1087
Here is set down what William, king of the English, established in consultation with his magnates after the conquest of England:

1. First that above all things he wishes one God to be revered throughout his whole realm, one faith in Christ to be kept ever inviolate, and peace and security to be preserved between English and Normans.

2. We decree also that every freeman shall affirm by oath and compact that he will be loyal to king William both within and without England, that he will preserve with him his lands and honor with all fidelity and defend him against his enemies.

3. I will, moreover, that all the men I have brought with me, or who have come after me, shall be protected by my peace and shall dwell in quiet. And if any one of them shall be slain, let the lord of his murderer seize him within five days, if he can; but if he cannot, let him pay me 46 marks of silver so long as his substance avails. And when his substance is exhausted, let the whole hundred in which the murder took place pay what remains in common.

4. And let every Frenchman who, in the time of king Edward, my kinsman, was a sharer in the customs of the English, pay what they call "scot and lot", according to the laws of the English. This decree was ordained in the city of Gloucester.

5. We forbid also that any live cattle shall be bought or sold for money except within cities, and this shall be done before three faithful witnesses; nor even anything old without surety and warrant. But if anyone shall do otherwise, let him pay once, and afterwards a second time for a fine.

6. It was decreed there that if a Frenchman shall charge an Englishman with perjury or murder or theft or homicide or "ran", as the English call open rapine which cannot be denied, the Englishman may defend himself, as he shall prefer, either by the ordeal of hot iron or by wager of battle. But if the Englishman be infirm, let him find another who will take his place. If one of them shall be vanquished, he shall pay a fine of 40 shillings to the king. If an Englishman shall charge a Frenchman and be unwilling to prove his accusation either by ordeal or by wager of battle, I will, nevertheless, that the Frenchman shall acquit himself by a valid oath.

7. This also I command and will, that all shall have and hold the law of the king Edward in respect of their lands and all their posessions, with the addition of those decrees I have ordained for the welfare of the English people.

8. Every man who wishes to be considered a freeman shall be in pledge so that his surety shall hold him and hand him over to justice if he shall offend in any way. And if any such shall escape, let his sureties see to it that they pay forthwith what is charge against him, and let them clear themselves of any complicity in his escape. Let recourse be had to the hundred and shire courts as our predecessors decreed. And those who ought of right to come and are unwilling to appear, shall be summoned once; and if for the second time they refuse to come, one ox shall be taken from them, and they shall be summoned a third time. And if they do not come the third time, a second ox shall be taken from them. But if they do not come the fourth summons, the man who is unwilling to come shall forfeit from his goods the amount of the charge against him -- "ceapgeld" as it is called -- and in addition to this a fine to the king.

9. I prohibit the sale of any man by another outside the country on pain of a fine to be paid in full to me.

10. I also forbid that anyone shall be slain or hanged for any fault, but let his eyes be put out and let him be castrated. And this command shall not be violated under pain of a fine in full to me.

Words: Thomas's Court Barony

2008-11-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for Thomas de Castellan's court barony scroll. She based it on the First Folio of the Golden Bull of Charles IV.

I often want to find a text source as close as possible to the art source. Here, I did find and base the words in part on the Golden Bull of Charles IV 1356. This court barony scroll was to be awarded by a German crown, and the source document begins:

This document created the constitutional structure of late imperial Germany. For many centuries the German emperors had been sacrificing crown rights in Germany in order to carry out their Italian policy. Charles IV attempted to fix the actual rights of the various German princes. For instance the number of electors of the emperor had been fixed at seven since 1273, but it was not always clear which seven princes ere the electors. As Charles himself was King of Bohemia, and knowing it was useless to try and restore German kingship, he exerted himself to to secure for Bohemia all possible advantages. The historian Lord Bryce wrote that this document "codified anarchy and called it a constitution." Germany was to remain disunited until Bismarck's efforts in 1871.

Originally we wanted to give this ~~old~~ retired court herald a ludicrously long text and have the reading herald parody his style by throwing discarded pages over her shoulder. I wrote the text so that stories of him could be inserted later between the second and third paragraphs (for the desired length); but if they were never added, the scroll would still read smoothly. Since the court grew in excess of 50 items, we decided against any additions and the text stood as it was.

I didn't include a grant in the words because the recipient already had a patent, but a grant was added later nonetheless.

SCROLL TEXT
Thomas de Castellan Court Barony
We, Andreas Rex and Gabriella Regina, decree and determine by this Royal edict that whenever Our court is summoned according to the ancient and praiseworthy custom to meet and commend the worthy with honor and titles, each of those honored shall be shown to have deserved their increase, Our scribes and wordsmiths having furnished the art and words of Our proof.

Our pleased subjects, from within their memories and as much farther as they can, shall provide notices and recollections to Our whim and delight, and so have We asked this for Our Thomas de Castellan, who is such a storied man.

In younger times Master Thomas served the East as Brigantia Principal Herald, as Royal herald, and in the Kingdom and Society marshallate of rapier. He is one of those without whom the Eastern art of defence would not be so fit and fruitful, and since his return has he continued in heraldic works and in the increase of the knowledge of others. Thus do We decree and extend this law by present right that he shall be a Baron of Our Court, and enjoy as many rights and things of beauty as are thereunto attached.

Done at the Coronation of Our Heirs Konrad and Brenwen in the Crown Province of Ostgardr this Feast Day of St. Constantine, April 12th, AS XLII.

SOURCE TEXT
The Golden Bull of Charles IV 1356
Chapter I.- Escort and Safe-Conduct for the Electors
1. We decree and determine by this imperial edict that, whenever the electoral princes are summoned according to the ancient and praiseworthy custom to meet and elect a king of the Roman and future emperor, each of them shall be bound to furnish demand an escort and safe-conduct to his fellow electors or their representatives, within his own lands and as much farther as he can, for the journey to and from the city where the election is to be held. Any electoral prince who refuses to furnish escort and safe-conduct shall be liable to the penalties for perjury and to the loss of his electoral vote for that occasion.

16. When the news of the death of the king of the Romans has been received at Mainz, within one month from the date of receiving it the archbishop of Mainz shall send notices of the death and of the approaching election to all the electoral princes. But if the archbishop neglects or refuses to send such notices, the electoral princes are commanded on their fidelity to assemble on their own motion and without summons at the city of Frankfort within three months from the death of the emperor, for the purpose of electing a king of the Romans and future emperor.

Words: Estrella 2009 gifts

2008-11-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Since TRMs can't attend Estrella War, their Highnesses will bear the gifts from our current Roman court in their stead. I chose Ovid's Amores 1.1 from Rome, 25 B.C.E., for the scrolls' source. Signet gave me a maximum word count of 75.

There were many scrolls done with these words. The black one is from Jonathan Blaecstan and it was for the West. The other one is by Emma MacMinn and Eva Woderose, and was for Meridies.

SCROLL TEXT
Estrella 2009 Scroll Gifts
Weapons and war are at hand. We are ready to roll forth battlelines
   in thunder for allies and worthy foes.
Ranks of shields stand in strict formation – but Mars laughs
   at our mock-serious hostility!
O Cousins, just bind your fair foreheads with myrtle from our shore,
   and let us delight in your company.

SOURCE TEXT
Amores 1.1 by Ovid, Roman, 25 B.C.E.
Weapons and war were my theme. I was ready to roll forth battlelines
   in meter to match my subject matter.
Ranks of verse stood in strict formation - when Cupid laughed
   (it's said) and stole a foot of hexameter.
"Barbarous boy, who gave you leave to meddle in the art of poetry?
   It's the Pierides, not you, we bards flock to.
What if you caught Venus trying on the breastplate of blond Minerva,
   or blond Minerva fanning the flames of love?
Who would approve Ceres ruling over wooded mountains, or put
   bow-bearing Diana in charge of farm work?
Should long-haired Apollo march and drill with a battle spear,
   while Mars sits drumming an Aonian lyre?
Your empire, boy, is enormous and far too powerful as it is.
   Why grasp after more? Let ambition rest.
Or do you rule the whole world? Is Helicon now your private resort?
   Is Apollo in hock to you for his lyre?
I had just unfurled my opening line on the wide open page,
   when in the second you slackened my sails.
Don't you see I haven't the themes light verse is made of: no boy
   or girl with her hair nicely done up."
So I complained. He just reached into his opened quiver
   and found the arrow meant for me.
He stoutly gripped his bow and bent it back against his knee:
   "Here's something," he said, "to make you sing."
O unhappy me! That boy really knew how to use a bow and arrow!
   I'm on fire - Love's taken charge of my heart.
Now let my verse swell with one line and fall back with the next.
   Farewell war and iron-shod hexameters!
Muse, now bind your fair forehead with myrtle from the shore,
   and prepare to dance to a different tune.

Words: Collin's Golden Rapier

2008-10-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this OGR scroll for Collin. His persona is Scottish, so I crafted words from a Scottish court summons of 1510 (The summons of Henry Lord Sinclare v. the Baillies, Burgeses, Counsale and Communite of his Burgh of Disart).

SCROLL TEXT
Collin Munro of Tadcaster OGR

Brion Anthony Uriel Tarragon and Anna Ophelia Holloway, King and Queen of the East, command and charge that this Our Precept pass in Our proper Lands. Lawfully, before sufisiant Witnesses, do We peremptorilly Summon, Warne and Charge Collin Lord Monro of Tadcaster, sword marshal and champion of Our said Lands, to appear before Us in Our Royal Court hald at the War Camp of Our said Kingdom tha 22nd day of July next, to come in the hour of cause to answer for his honour and service, his cunning in the arte of civil combat, and his example to all who aspire to wisely defend Our said Lands. Having taken sufisiant Counsel from Our learned and just Companions, We do so command that Collin Lord Monro bear the rank and insignia of a Companion of the Order of the Golden Rapier. Be this Our Precept given under Our Seles of Arms at East Kingdom War Camp, Feast Day of tha Magdalene, AS XLI, in Our Shire of Eisental.

SOURCE TEXT
The summons of Henry Lord Sinclare v. the Baillies, Burgeses, Counsale and Communite of his Burgh of Disart, 1510

HENRY Lord Sinclare and Baroun of Disart to Nicholl Patrick my Servant of my said Barony Greeting I command and Chargit you that incontinent this my Precept seen ye pass to the Markat Croce of my Burgh of Disart and there be oppin proclamatione ye Lawfully before sufficient witnesses peremptorilly Summond Warne and Charge John Barclay and Robert Gourlay Allegit borrough baillies of my said Burgh and all the Remanet of ye Allegit burgesses Counsall and Communite of the same to Compear before me or my Baillies Ane or mae In my Baron Court of purprisioun to be halding at the Market Croce of my said Burgh tha 18th day of June next to come in the hour of cause to answer to me or my said Baillies for the wrangins purprising and purprisioun comittit upon me my proper Lands fee and heritage in ye occupatioun using and Approving to thaim of Ane part of my Lands of my said Barony callit the Pansteids the Girnall steids and Cadais Croft liande betwixt my Lands of Dubbo and ye Havin of Disart And Alsua for the wrangis purprising and purprisioun comittit upon me my proper Lands fee and heritage in ye occupation using and appropreing to yaim be their comoun use to their Utilite

Words: Andre's Golden Rapier

2008-10-14T16:28:00.001-07:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande returned to Capo Ferro's Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing for the calligraphy and illumination of Andre's OGR scroll. Having written a couple scrolls using this source, I found a new section in it to use for the words: a letter he addresses "To the Gracious Reader".

SCROLL TEXT
Andre L'Epervier OGR

To Our gracious Court: It is not Our intention to hold you at bay with pompous and splendid words in the recognition of Our subject Lord Andre L'Epervier. He is extolled in the due order of his merit, for his skill with a sword, and sword and cloak, for which he is greatly prized and honored, and always praised; and his service and valor are commended of those who worthily carry the sword at their side, among whom today shine gloriously those of the Order here present. We, Konrad Rex and Brenwen Regina, find Lord Andre L'Epervier so endowed with the full and marvelous advantage of the sword, and of other civilized arts, as his gentle actions by the same, to the wonder of all, clearly make manifest. Thus do we induct him into Our Order of the Golden Rapier, at this Our War at Barren Sands, in the Shire of the same, Feast Day of Saint Willibald, 7th of June, AS XLIII.

SOURCE TEXT
Capo Ferro, Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing, 1610

TO THE GRACIOUS READER
RIDOLFO CAPO F. DA CAGLI.

It is not my intention to hold you at bay with pompous and splendid words, in the
recommending to you of the profession of arms that I practice. It is extolled in the due
order of its merit, for which it is greatly prized and honored, and always praised, and the
greatness and valor are commended of those who worthily carry the sword at their side;
among whom today shines gloriously the Most Illustrious Signor SILVIO Piccolomini,
Grand Prior of the Religion of the Knights of Saint Stephen in Pisa, and General of the
Artillery and Master of Chamber of S.A.S. because not only is he endowed with full and
marvelous advantage of that of the sword, but also of every other chivalric art, as his
heroic actions by the same, to the wonder of all, clearly make manifest. But to turn to the
sword, I say it is the noblest weapon above all others, in whose handling the majority of
the industry of the art of fencing is honorably employed; therefore according to my
judgment, the carrying of arms does not alone constitute the entire work, and that is not
what makes the essential difference between a completely valorous man, and a vile and
cowardly one, but as well the profession that someone practices to know how to employ
them valorously in legitimate defense of himself and of his homeland, which no one truly
can do with honor, if he has not first humbled himself, and placed himself under the law
and rules of the discipline of fencing. Which, in the manner of sharpened flint, and
honing valor, reduces him to the apex of his true perfection. The reason being that this
science is laudable and so overly precious, that rather it would be a hopeless work to
want to undertake the task of recounting all of its excellence; I do not believe that any
rebuke must fall upon me, because I have set myself to press it into terms of undoubtedly
brief, infallible, and well ordered precepts, avoiding as much as possible the blind and
dark confusions, the deceitful and fallacious uncertainties, and burdensome and ambitious
long-windedness. Now, even as through recognition of my weak faculties, I do not
presume to have the joy of success of the full response to the fervor of my most ardent
desire, so am I assured that my sincere and cordial labor has not turned out to be
accomplished in vain, deferring such to comparison to those who dealt with the same
topic before me. Considering that such thing relied upon the virtue of that by whose
favor all graces descend unto us, I hope fervently, by these more faithful instructions of
mine that may serve no less useful and delightful to you than showy ones, for a small
particle of that sweet display of the true glory, that it pleases the graceful spirits always to
courteously offer to one who with sincerity of heart goes perpetually laboring in their
honored services.

Words: King's and Queen's Rapier Champions

2008-10-14T16:01:00.000-07:00

With Nataliia Anastasiia Evgenova Sviatoslavina vnuchka, I worked on another two scrolls based on the Practical Capo Ferro. The words, calligraphy, and illumination all came from the same source.

I pulled the words for the Queen's Champion's scroll from the introductory letter to the manual, Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing.

SCROLL TEXT
Queen's Rapier Champion

Every Queen, in order that a few subjects should acquire due reputation, procures for them some place in noble court, and of some honor, to provide for them the best that She can. Thus do We, Gabriella Regina, finding __NAME__ to exemplify, in a generous shining of aspect, the magnanimity, the valor, and the innumerable other virtues in combat, hereby name __HER/HIM__ Queen's Champion of Rapier, and confer appointment in Our court, being a perfect compendium of the world, and shown in and of itself of so much beauty, that We may extend it as suitable to this subject. Done at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Shire of Panther Vale this Saint's Day of Benedict, AS XLII.

SOURCE TEXT
Capo Ferro, Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing, 1610

To the Most Serene Signore Don Francesco Maria Feltrio della Rovere, sixth Duke of
Urbino.

Every father (Most Serene Signor Duke), in order that his children should acquire
reputation, procures for them some place in some noble court, and of some protection, to
provide for them the best that he can. Thus do I, which, finding the present book on the
instruction of fencing born of the better part of me, attempt to place in court, and because
more dear to me than any other are the progeny of my intellect, I plead with Your
Highness to grant them some place in your court, which, being a perfect compendium of
the world, considered perfect, shown in and of itself of so much beauty and goodness as
is found in the world, the same is dedicated to the Most Serene Don Federigo, your son,
recommending it to his protection, although a lad in child’s gowns, and in jests, and gay
dances, it appears nonetheless that there are enfolded in his hands triumphs and spoils,
and as young Alcide with infantile hand, not yet equal to the purpose, menaces the
Hydra, slays the serpents, then in the generous shining of his aspect is seen the greatness
of his ancestors, the magnanimity, the valor, and the innumerable other virtues, which
have exhausted the greatest and most famous historians, and which will render him above
every Prince, and named and illustrious; would they not prove sufficient to confer such
eminence, in truth only the virtues of Your Excellency being in number and quality so
great, that it rightly could come to be called a diligent imitator of the perfection of GOD?
It is not to be marveled at, therefore, by Your Highness, if I long to introduce into your
Most Serene House, and place under the protection of the Most Serene Prince, your son,
this book of mine; but considering the singular graciousness, very characteristic of Your
Highness and of his Most Serene Blood, I cannot but strongly hope that Your Highnesses,
without regarding the baseness of the subject, will favor it fully with your most powerful
favor. But whereas indeed it may not be proper for Your Highnesses to receive such
baseness with such grace, consent at least (as I humbly beseech you) that it can stand
alone in the public hall of your Royal Palace, and in the other public places of your ample
Dominion, as much glory moreover will arise merely from the authority of having a place
among those who are humbly dedicated to serving and revering Your Highnesses, for
whom I pray to the Lord God for complete and perpetual happiness.

From Siena on the 8th of April, 1610.
Your Most Serene Highness’s
Most Humble Subject, and Most Devoted Servant,
Ridolfo Capoferro of Cagli.

I created the King's Rapier Champion scroll words from Chapter 1: Of Fencing in General of the same source.

SCROLL TEXT
King's Rapier Champion
There is nothing in the world which a King, wise sovereign and benevolent ruler of His lands, with greater pleasure and more diligent regard, values in His subjects for the conservation of themselves, than the singular privilege of the hand, with which not only do they go procuring all things necessary for the sustenance of their lives, but arming themselves with the sword, noble instrument, they defend themselves and His lands against any assault whatsoever of inimical force; following nonetheless the strict rule of true valor, and of the art of fencing.

Finding in __NAME__ the perfect reason, nature, art and practice of defense, We, Andreas Rex, Third of His Name, declare __HER/HIM__ Our King’s Champion of Rapier and bestow suitable appointment in Our court. Done at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Shire of Panther Vale this Saint's Day of Benedict, AS XLII.

SOURCE TEXT
Capo Ferro, Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing, 1610

Chapter I: Of Fencing in general
1) There is nothing in the world which Nature, wise mistress and benign mother of the
universe, with greater genius, and more diligent regard, provides Man for the
conservation of his self (of which, more so than any other noble creature, he shows
himself very dear of its safety), than the singular privilege of the hand, with which not
only does he go procuring all things necessary for the sustenance of his life, but
arming himself yet with the sword, noblest instrument of all, he protects and defends
himself against any assault whatsoever of inimical force; following nonetheless the
strict rule of true valor, and of the art of fencing.
[...]

5) The efficient causes of this discipline are four: reason, nature, art, and practice*.
Reason, as director of nature. Nature, as potent virtue. Art, as regulator and
moderator of nature. Practice, as minister of art. Reason directs nature, and the
human body in fencing is its defense; within reason is considered judgment and will.
Judgment discerns and understands that which must be done for its defense. Will
inclines and stimulates it to its self-preservation.

Words: Alain's Golden Rapier

2008-10-14T15:39:00.001-07:00

Brunissende de Brocéliande used Capo Ferro as her source for the calligraphy and illumination for Alain's OGR scroll. The persona info I had for Alain indicated that he's a 15th-century Norman. Lacking any cool texts for that, I used a 15th-century English warrant to write the words.

SCROLL TEXT
Alain Longship OGR

Gryffith and Aikaterine, King and Queen, commandeth the keeper of Their privy seal to make suffisant warrant to the Chauncellory Heralds of the East Kingdom that they issue license unto Lord Alain Longship, who shall be at Our Archery Championships in Settmour Swamp, and also another warrant to Our most tresored Companions of belowsaid Order to put in gage such jewels as they hath in keeping for the skilled and the learned teachers of Our Realm, and that the same Companions secure all other thinges such as is behooveful to Lord Alain for his new estate as a Companion of Our Order of the Golden Rapier this Feast Day of the Martyr Agrippina June 23rd Anno Societatis XLII.

SOURCE TEXT
English Royal Warrant written by Adam Moleyns, 1438

The king commandeth the keper of his priue seal to make suffisant warrant to þe Chaunceller of England that he by lettres patent3 yeue licence vnto such lordes as shal be atte tretee of peas at Caleys &c to haue stuff with þeim of gold siluer coyned & in plate & al oþer þinges such as is behoueful to euch of þeim after þair estat: & þat þe same (keper of) our priue seal make hervpon such seueralx warrentes As þe clerc of þe counseil can declare him after þe kinges entent / And also þat þe said keper of our priue seal / make a warrant to þe Tresorer of England & to þe Chamberlains to paie Robert whitingham such wages for þe viage of Caleys abouesaid (for a quarter of a yere) as so apperteineþ to a Squier to take / And also a noþer warrant to þe said Tresorer & Chaumberleins to put in gage such Iewelx as he hath in keping of þe kinges for money to be emploied in second paiement for þarme into Normadie at þis time: yeven at Wyndesore þe secunde day of Iuin. þe . xvij yer of þe kyng Adam Moleyns

On name frequency

2008-10-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

In April I was thinking about name frequency and individuality, especially about our tendency to avoid certain names because of past associations. There was a little experiment, which I'll note here, in case I want to continue with it later.

The 2006 top-ranked name reported by the Social Security Administration was Emily for 1.0267% of females. (In 1971, 1.75% of female infants were named Kimberly and there were commonly 2-4 in my classes. A little improbable, but it happened anyway.)

In contrast, it’s a small sample on the Medieval Names Archive. Still, the percentage of females named (for example) Ysabel across 6 15th-century Castilian-Leonese documents listed there ran about 9.54%—9 times as many Kimberlys or Emilys, proportionately speaking. So, there probably were about 3 of these in any gathering of 30. (Maria was much more common, by the way. Ysabel was still maybe only the third- or fourth-ranked name, as my guess; and I didn’t include “Isabel” spellings.)

Trends aside, there might be more naming diversity now than ever before. How many times lately have you heard a baby name that you never heard used for a person before? Maybe names will continue this way until, like T.S. Eliot’s cats, we each have “names that never belong to more than one” person. It didn’t used to be so, though. If you were in 15-century Castile, you may have easily known a Maria and a Catalina for each generation of a family.

Words: Eularia's Silver Crescent

2008-10-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

Lady Elisabeth Greenleaf did the calligraphy and illumination (based on a copy of Livy’s History of Rome c. 1370, Paris, Bibliothéque de Sainte-Genevieve, ms. 777, folio 3165) for this partner scroll to Alexandre's Crescent (in the below post). I've since seen these two scrolls on the wall together and it's pretty cool.

For Eularia's Crescent I turned back to Eustache Deschamps, the same poet whose work inspired Alexandre's scroll. I used a different piece of his, which I think was just called Ballade III. This time I used some specific phrasing from the original, rather than just borrowing a theme and form.

Also, there was an inspiration quote. Because, why not?

“Within the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.” –Albert Camus

SCROLL TEXT
Eularia Trewe OSC
She who serves well may have some little sleep,
But peace, sweet peace, she never fears to lose:
For though Savoy in winter is a freeze,
Inside her, tireless summer is in bloom;
In skin, in mind, in heart it sleepless brews
Into a warm ferment wine-lovers say
Is finer than all earthly casks of booze:
Her warm gifts chase the work out of the play.

This Vicereine of the Eastern farms of cheese
Came from France—though they say from England, too;
She stewards, chronicles, and brightly leads
Diverse endeavors: she’s Our servant Trewe.
The favors for a Queen are not so few,
The feasting entertainment not so grey,
That We have heard no little praiseful news:
Her warm gifts chase the work out of the play.

Companions mindful of her giving these
Did meet and speak, long as the summer flew,
And found her service present for the needs
Of many: sewing, demos, serving food.
The Crown hears every word of glorious truth,
And knows all servants’ glories are to stay;
What shall We say of Eularia Trewe?
Her warm gifts chase the work out of the play.

Court, We have seen in her the servant’s Muse,
So Darius and Alethea say
Let her join the Order that We choose:
Her warm gifts chase the work out of the play.

SOURCE TEXT
Ballade III by Eustace Deschamps (1300-1377)
Who loves well has little peace:
His love he always fears to lose:
Trembles, shivers. Dread without cease,
In skin, bone, mind and heart, it brews:
He moans, he groans, no sleep to lose.
Such is a love between he and she:
Spy, search, listen: then seek to prove.
No Love exists without Jealousy.

Yet bitter words we shouldn’t speak
Nor picture Her greedy, old, untrue,
To abuse Her’s a foolish thing indeed:
If she were so treacherous and cruel
Love would have long destroyed Her too:
For his own good they keep company:
She’s shield and guard, and servant true.
No Love exists without Jealousy.

One who scarcely loves knows nothing. He
Has no fear of that which he hates to view:
Jealousy clothes Love utterly:
They doubt each other who seek to woo,
Proof that they travel the highroad to
True Love: who hates will never feel
Jealousy. Lovers, now, grant her due.
No Love exists without Jealousy.

By Our hand at Our 100 Minutes War in the Shire of Rusted Woodlands, this 22nd day of November, AS XLIII, is Eularia Trewe inducted into Our Order of the Silver Crescent.

Words: Alexandre's Silver Crescent

2008-10-13T19:19:00.001-07:00

For Alexandre's OSC scroll, the scribe and I decided to do something appropriate to his persona. I contacted his lady and got, for his persona: "14-century Savoy, in SE France". Next came some research on Savoy, from which I compiled a list of historical and geographical doohickies from which to pull material. I read up on French ballades, a poetic form from this century, and picked out an inspiration poem in this form. At some point I got a list of the stuff he'd done.

Later the recipient asked me what I meant by "inspiration poem". When I write these, I study the poem form. Some of these poetic forms have several variants, and my variant may differ from that of the source. However, I try to draw words, phrases, and sometimes themes from a single source. In the text below I use the theme of pride.

Elisabeth Greenleaf did the calligraphy and illumination for this piece.

SCROLL TEXT
Alexandre Lerot d’Avigne OSC

Savoy, an Alps region of southeast France,
Was a proud and powerful County,
And its Count was proud of his new advance,
In 1329, in Chambéry,
Of a legislative assembly;
Like eagles, nobility would preside
Over cold Mont-Blanc for centuries:
Such works bear the fruits of worthy pride.

From this land of ice and fir trees, by chance
Came Alexandre to the present East,
To fight wars, and interpretively dance,
And teach fencing and court heraldry,
And cook pig for many New World feasts;
As Steward and Seneschal he would guide
Coronations and Cantons to please:
Such works bear the fruits of worthy pride.

In fair Ostgardr of Alpine cold, the chance
Came for gracious new nobility
To serve the greater need through landed grants;
Proud Alexandre's fabled fate would be
To crush beneath a jack-booted heel
Whosoever would his name deride;
And so began his skilled Viceregency:
Such works bear the fruits of worthy pride.

We, Konrad and Brenwen of the East,
Reward this day one who serves and guides
With results greater than one man, at least:
Such works bear the fruits of worthy pride.

INSPIRATION POEM
Ballade 1 by Eustache Deschamps,
1338-1406

The stag was very proud of his swiftness,
Of running ten miles in one breath,
And the wild boar was proud to be fierce,
And the sheep praised her woolly fleece,
And the horse its beauty, and the buck was proud
Of crossing the plain at a bound,
And the one proud of strength was the bull,
The ermine in having a furry skin;
And to them all he said from his shell:
“The snail will get to Easter just as soon.”

What I see first are lions, leopards, bears,
Running the countryside, wolves and tigers
Under pursuit by greyhound and mastiff
And the shouts of men, so hated that if
They're caught each person will attack,
Because of the destruction of the flock;
They're thieves, treacherous and wicked,
And merciless, and for that detested.
Are they strong and fast? Good at a run?
The snail will get to Easter just as soon.

Many see him and the path he's on,
Enclosed in the shell he carries along,
They don't do him harm, they let him be,
And so he goes from week to week,
As many go in their own poor realm
Who live good lives in their simple gown,
And if the world gives them little at all,
They still go on with its good will.
And cow and calf have the meadow's run,
And the snail will get to Easter just as soon.

Prince, among the strong, the rich, the great
There's a lesson they rarely think about;
Their haste can't bring the future on:
The snail will get to Easter just as soon.

By Our hand at Our Pennsic War in AEthelmearc, this 7th day of August, Anno Societatis XLIII, is Alexandre Lerot d'Avigne inducted into Our Order of the Silver Crescent.