Although Tola's persona is Viking, the scroll wasn't going to be Viking-themed. Rather, the scribe intended a later-period charter text with annotations. To still keep a bit of the early-period string-worker theme, I consulted Sawyer's Anglo-Saxon Chaters on line, and stole the best bits from two early charters. Then, Mistress Eva, scribe extraordinaire, filled in footnotes and annotated text around my original text. The footnotes marked below are hers, not mine.
An image of the finished product:
Tsar Ivan and Tsaritsa Mathilde gathered these laws together and commanded them to be written.
Being masters of the government(1) of the whole of the realm of the East, far and wide, We are not unmindful that acts done by Us should be fortified, recorded and proclaimed to the people. Wherefore everyone present and future seeing the present page should know that We, Ivan and Mathilde(2), King and Queen of the Easterners, have granted(3) with a perpetual right unto Tola knitýr(11) the rights, privileges, liberties and rank of the Order of the Laurel(4), to hold the same as a certain inheritance; and we do further give and grant to the said Tola Arms by letters patents(5) in the form following: Or fretty azure, overall on a fess gules three bezants.(6)
We, Ivan and Mathilde, caused this charter to be written so that the validity of this deed of gift(10), endowed with all authority, shall always remain inviolate and unshaken(12). If, however, anyone relying on the tyrannical power of rank should attempt to change this gift into something other than we have decided, may he be punished eternally by the sorrowful fires of Hell. But as far as the worldly law is concerned, he shall be required, the judicial power compelling him, to pay a hundred pounds of gold to the said Tola and his attempted attack, being frustrated, shall have no effect at all. Done publicly in the lands of Buckland Cross, upon xvi December(8), in the fifty-second year of the Society.
(1) The King and Queen are masters of the government of the East in the following manner, as it is written in East Kingdom Law: “About the powers of the Crown:
The Crown must know and uphold East Kingdom Law and the Governing Documents of the Society.
The Crown will chair the Curia Regis.
The Crown must attend Their Coronation, The Crown Tourney to determine Their Heirs, and the Coronation of Their Heirs.
The Crown may oversee treaties between the East and other Kingdoms according to the following procedures: The Royalty and Heirs of the East Kingdom must all specifically agree, in writing, to the wording of a proposed treaty. To be enacted, a treaty must be signed by the Sovereign and Consort of the East.
(2) Ivan, with the inspiration of his brilliant lady, Mathilde, prevailed over all others in the Crown Tournament held on May 6, Anno Societatis 52, and was crowned Prince of the East and Tir Mara, and Mathilde was crowned Princess of the East and Tir Mara. On October 7, Anno Societatis 52, Ivan and Mathilde ascended the thrones of the East and were crowned Tsar and Tsaritsa, the hundredth monarchs of the East. As the tournament and coronation were held in accordance with the Laws of the Society and of the East, Ivan and Mathilde are the rightful rulers of the East and hold all powers associated with that office.
(3) As is written in East Kingdom Law: Awards in the East Kingdom are the gift of The Crown. Furthermore, as is written in Corpora: The Crown may elevate subjects to the Peerage by granting membership in one of the Orders conferring a Patent of Arms, after consultation with the members of the Order within the Kingdom, and in accordance with the laws and customs of the kingdom.
(4) It is written in Corpora: A candidate of the Order of the Laurel must have attained the standard of excellence in skill and or knowledge equal to that of her perspective peers in some area of the Arts or Sciences. The candidate must have applied this skill or knowledge for the instruction of members and service to the kingdom to an extent above and beyond that normally expected of members of the Society.
The duties & privileges of the members of the Order of the Laurel are defined as follows:
To set an example of courtesy and chivalrous conduct.
To respect the Crown of the kingdom; to support and uphold the laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
If in fealty, to support and uphold the Crown of his or her kingdom.
To enrich the kingdom by sharing his or her knowledge and skills.
To advise the Crown on the advancement of candidates for the Laurel.
It has further been noted by Tola that a Peer’s duty is to guide, and speak in arenas others can not, not to force anyone down any particular path.
(5) Members of the Order of the Laurel shall also meet the criteria for holding a Patent of Arms, to wit, from Corpora: Candidates for any order conferring a Patent of Arms must meet the following minimum criteria.
They shall have been obedient to the governing documents of the Society and the laws of the kingdom. consistently shown respect for the Crown of the kingdom. set an example of courteous and noble behavior suitable to a peer of the realm. demonstrated support for the aims and ideals of the Society by being as authentic in dress, equipment and behavior as is within their power. shared their knowledge and skills with others. practiced hospitality according to their means and as appropriate to the circumstances. made every effort to learn and practice those skills desirable at and worthy of a civilized court.
They should participate in Society recreations of several aspects of the culture of the period.
(6) These arms became the sole property of Tola knitýr in September, Anno Societatis 41.
(8) The Kings and Queens Rapier Championship was held on this day.
(10) While it is well understood that a Peerage is the gift of the Crown, some gifts are demanded of the Crown by their subjects. The members of the Order of the Laurel, when consulted as to whether Tola should be included among them, they implored them to do this just thing.
Her qualities as a leader and example of courtesy were called out, as Catrin o'r Rhyd For, Mistress of the Laurel and the Pelican, and Tyger of the East noted, Once I asked Tola to do one job on one project. She grew so far beyond that work. She walked beside me, watched out for problems, eased my load, and formed a vision beyond mine of what could be. She was my peer, and I felt very lucky to have her company.
Furthermore, many noted her skill with fiber was such as to confuse the mind, as it would seem that such execution combined with such aesthetic sense and thorough understanding should not be possible.
(11) Mistress Elizabeth Lovell identifies Tola knitýr in the following way:
She who is not daughter of,
She who is not wife of
She who is not mother of
She who is not apprentice of…
But Tola who stands on her own two feet with the knowledge that everything she has done to this point and everything she will do in the future is hers. No one can take that from her, she is and has been her own person.
(12) As Mistress Elizabeth Lovell advises, once a Laurel, those of the Society will see you as a Laurel at all times, no matter where the conversation happens, from this we learn that not even you can take your station from yourself.
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