I've had the pleasure of knowing Thomas delbroc ( +Steve B. ) for nearly 25 years. So, I was delighted to be able to work on the scroll text for the Order of Defense. Thomas's persona is English circa 1500, so the words are from that era, in appropriate spelling.
Ioannes, Kynge of þe Est-londes[1], and Ro Honig, his Quene, to alle to whom þese presents shal come, Greeting. Be it knowen þat we haue giuen and granted, and by þese presents do giue and grant for vs and our heirss to our welbeloued Thomas delbroc þe stasion, estate and renowne of a Maister of Defence, with all freedams, prevelages, acquietaunces[2], protexions[3], concessyons[4], lyberties and allowaunces as any oþer Maisters of Defence haue resonfully[5] vsed or enioyed; And We do furþer giue and grant to þe sayd Thomas þe ryȝt to beare armes by lettres patents in þe forme folwyng: Sable, a cuppe golde and a base ermine. And the sayd Thomas shal likewise haue licence to displaie, beare vppon his persone and set vp banners and standarts with þe representacion and signacle of þe Ordre of Defence, to witt: þre swords in pall weþir-turned[6] tippes iwarled[7]. In witnesse whereoff we haue caused to be made þese our lettres patents. Doune at Pennsic Warre in þe fiftie-secound yere of þe Societie.
[1] There is no good way of saying "Kingdom of the East" in Middle English. Est-londes is "lands of/to the East," which seemed to me the best approximation.
[2] acquietaunce = a letter of indulgence
[3] protexions = protections, referring either to the protection or maintenance which a lord or a patron provides a servant or retainer, or to safe-conduct
[4] concessyon = granting (of land)
[5] resonfully = rightly or rightfully
[6] weþir-turned = inverted
[7] iwarled = interlaced
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