Frankish Given Names from the Cartulary of Montier-en-Der (666 - 999 C.E.)

Introduction

            The Abbey of Montier-en-Der was a monastic house in northeastern France (modernly, it is located in the Haute-Marne department).  The Cartulary of Montier-en-Der is a collection of Latin legal documents relating to the Abbey compiled in the early 12^th century.  An annotated copy of the Cartulary of Montier-en-Der, edited by Constance Brittain Bouchard, was published by the University of Toronto Press in 2004.  I am relying on this edition for my data.  Bouchard did not modernize or normalize the spellings.  She also preserved some of the scribal abbreviations.

Notes on the Transcription

            In the transcribed Cartulary, u often stands in for v.  Whether a particular letter u should be read as v depends on the context.  For instance, Aua is probably Ava, but the u in Bertulfus makes sense only as a u.  Where it is possible to identify when the u should be read as a v, I have indicated that in the header.

            Several of the documents found in the Cartulary are forgeries, usually created significantly later than the date on the document itself.  Where the forgery was prepared within period, I have dated the names in the document to the likely date of the forgery.

Using the Data

The source documents are written in Latin.  As a result, not all spellings found in the text are registerable name spellings for SCA purposes.  Latin spelling varies depending on whether the given name appears as the subject or object of the original sentence.  Only the nominative forms can be used to create given names. 

The bolded header forms are the most common nominative forms of the given names.  Where the nominative form is not found in any of the texts, I have extrapolated the most likely nominative form based on other period examples. 

The forms under the heading are those actually found in the texts, including certain variant spellings.  Variant nominative forms are marked as (n.). 

Genitive (possessive) forms are marked as (g).  Genitive forms are of interest because they can be used to create patronymic surnames using the following patterns:

[male given name] + filius (“son”) + [genitive father’s name]

[female given name] + filia (“daughter”) + [genitive father’s name] 

The numbers in the second column of each entry are the dates of documents in which the name is found.

For submitters who do not want to use the Latin forms, in most cases, the vernacular form can be identified by dropping the –us from the end of male names.  For example, the probable vernacular form of Amalricus is Amalric.

A.  Male Given Names

Aaron

      Aaron                          late 10^th century

Abilo

      Abilonis (g.)               late 10^th century

Adalacrus

      Adalacri (g.)               843

Adalbero

Adalbero                     980

Adalberonis (g.)         980

Adalbertus

      Adalberto                    693

Adalgarius

      Adalgarius                  867/875

Ademarus

      Ademaro                     876-77

Adremarus

      Adremari (g.)              967

Adroldus

Adroldus                     971, 991

Adroldi (g.)                 late 10^th century

Adso

Adso                            971, c. 980

Adsonis (g.)                967, 968

Adzo (n.)                     967

Æneas

Æneas                         845

Agifredus

      Agifredus                    867

Agilus

      Agilus                         867

Agristius

      Agristius                     971

Aimo

      Aimo                           991

Aimoldus

      Aimoldus                    971

Ainherus

      Ainheri (g.)                 late 10^th century

Airardus

      Airardi (g.)                 992 – c. 1000

Albricus

      Albrici (g.)                  967

Albuinus

      Albuinus                     992 – c. 1000

Aledrammus

      Aledrammo                 876-77

Alegrerius[1]

      Alegrerius                   991

Alledulfus

Alledulfus                   768-800

Alleolfi (g.)                760

Alo

      Aloni                           693

Altmarus

Altmarus                     845

Altmaro                      845, 857

Amalricus

      Amalrici (g.)               675

Andelonus

      Andeloni (g.)              760, 768-800, 851

Angelramnus

      Angelramni (g.)          967

Archemfridus

Archemfridi (g.)         late 10^th century

Archemfrido               late 10^th century

Archemfridus             late 10^th century

Archenoldus

      Archenoldi (g.)           843

Archerius

      Archeri (g.)                 828

Arembertus

      Aremberti (g.)            857, 992 – c. 1000

Arierus

      Arieri (g.)                   828

Arnaudus

      Arnaudo                      851

Arnulfus

Arnulfi (g.)                 992 – c. 1000

Arnulfus                      980

Artmannus

      Artmanni (g.)              857

Artuisus

      Artuisi (g.)                  857

Atelanus

      Atelani (g.)                 666, 675

Baiolus

      Baioli (g.)                   992 – c. 1000

Basinus

      Basino                         693

Bercharius

Bercharii (g.)              666

Berchario                    675, 693

Bercharius                  666, 675. 685, 693, 857, 971

Berengerus

Berengerii (g.)            967, 992 – c. 1000

Berengerus                  992 – c. 1000

Bernefridus

      Bernefridus                 857

Beroldus

      Beroldi (g.)                 971

Bertoendus

      Bertoendo                   693

Bertrannus

      Bertranni (g.)              992 – c. 1000

Bertulfus

      Bertulfi (g.)                828

Blesinus

      Blesini (g.)                  851

Blitharius

      Blitharii (g.)               857

Boso

Boso                            876, late 10^th century

Bosone                        968

Bosonis (g.)                851

Bouo

      Bouonis (g.)                843

Childericus

Childerici (g.)             675, 693

Childerico                   666, 675

Chilpericus (n.)          685

Clodoueus (Clodoveus/Clodoveo)

Clodouei (g.)              693

Clodoueo                    693

Clodoueus                   693

Constantius

      Constantii (g.)            980

      Constantius                 971

Deocadius

      Deocadius                   666

Deodatus

      Deodati (g.)                992 – c. 1000

Dudo

      Dudonis (g.)                992 – c. 1000

Durandus

      Durandus                    827

Ebo

      Ebo                              827

Eirbertus

      Eirberti (g.)                 768-800

Elbrant

      Elbrant                        828

Eldebertus

      Eldebertus                   971

Eldeuualt

      Eldeuualt                    828

Eldricus

      Eldricus                      991

Elisierdus

      Elisierdus                    991

Emo

      Emonis (g.)                 828

Ermenaldus

      Ermenaldus                 971

Ermenardus

      Ermendardus              991

Ermengaudus

      Ermengaudus              991

Floterus

      Floteri (g.)                  828

Floutgis

      Floutgis                       828

Fluderig

      Fluderig                      828

Folchricus

      Folchricus                   859

Fredugisus

      Fredugisi (g.)              827

Fulco

      Fulco                           991

      Fulconis (g.)               late 10^th century

Garnerius

      Garnerius                    991

      Warnerius (n.)            971

Gautfin

      Gautfin                        828

Genulfus

      Genulfi (g.)                 857

Gerherus

      Gerherus                     857

Gibuinus

      Gibuinus                     980

Gilduinus

      Gilduini (g.)                980

Giraudus

      Giraudi (g.)                 851

      Giraudus                     851

Girmarus

      Girmari (g.).               828

Girouus

      Girouum                     828

Gislaudus

      Gislaudus                    991

Gislebertus

      Gislebertus                 857

Gislefridus

      Gislefridi (g.)             843

Giso

      Giso                            971

Godelinus

      Godelini (g.)               867/875

Godo

      Godo                           876-77

Goduinus

      Goduinus                    971

Golmarus

      Golmarus                    760

Guaderannus

      Guaderannus               991

Gualo

      Gualo                          971

Guanuinus

      Guanuinus                   991

Hadricus

      Hadricus                     991

Harduinus

      Harduini (g.)               828, 857

Harmarus

      Harmari (g.)                666

Hauto

      Haudo (n.)                   828, 832

      Hauto                          815, 827

Heribertus

      Heriberti (g.)              968, 980

      Heriberto                    968, 980

      Heribertus                   968, 980

Heruieus

      Heruiei (g.)                 980

Hilduinus

      Hilduini (g.)                666

Hisimbertus

      Hisimbertus                832

Hostoldus

      Hostoldi (g.)               857

Hugo

      Hugone                       991

      Hugonis (g.)                857

Hunrogus

      Hunrogi (g.)                857

Ingelbertus

      Ingelberti (g.).            c. 980

Karolus

      Karoli (g.)                   845, 857, 859, 867/875, 876-77

      Karolo                         768-800, 851, 857, 859, 876, 968

      Karolus                       845, 857, 867/875, 859, 876-77, 968

Lantbertus

      Lantberti (g.)              968, c.980

Lantboldus

      Lantboldi (g.)             857

Ledesus

      Ledesi (g.)                  760

Leodegarius

      Leodegarii (g.)            666, 675

Letericus

      Letericus                     991

      Letrico                        876-77

Lotharius

      Lotharii (g.)                827, 980

      Lothario                      967, 968

      Lotharius                    827, 980

Lucdouuicus (Ludovicus)

      Lucdouuici (g.)           815, 827, 832, 845, 857, 867/875

      Lucdouuico                 828

      Lucdouuicus               815, 827, 832

      Ludouici                     late 10^th century

Madalgarius

      Madalgario                 693

      Madelgarii (g.)           851

Maddeurertus

      Maddeurerti (g.)         843

Madianus

      Madiani (g.)                857

Mainerus

      Mainerus                     991

Manasses

      Manasses                    991

Merulfus

      Merulfus                     857

Milo

      Milo                            971

Mummolenus

      Mummoleni                666

Narbrannus

      Narbranni (g.)             768-800

Niuardus (Nivardus)

      Niuardi (g.)                 666, 980

Niuo (Nivo)

      Niuonis (g.)                967, 992 – c. 1000

Odelherus

      Odelheri (g.)               late 10^th century

Odo

      Odo                             991

      Odonis (g.)                  980, 992 – c. 1000

Otgerus

      Otgeri (g.)                   980

Pardulus

      Pardulo                       857, late 10^th century

      Pardulus                      857

Pipinus

      Pipini (g.)                   815

      Pipino                         760

      Pipinus                        693

Ragenardus

      Ragenardi (g.)             late 10^th century

Ragenarius

      Ragenarii (g.)             857, 967

Raimfridus

      Raimfridi (g.)             828

Raimhardus

      Raimhardi (g.)            828

Rainoldus

      Rainoldi (g.)               992 – c. 1000

Rainerus

      Rainerus                      991

Remigius

      Remigii (g.)                760, 768-800

Reolus

      Reoli (g.)                    675

Ribaldus

      Ribaldi (g.)                 992 – c. 1000

Richardus

      Richardi (g.)               968, 980

Riculfus

      Riculfi (g.)                  828

Rigobertus

      Rigoberto                    693

Risus

      Risi (g.)                       857

Riuuerus

      Riuueri (g.)                 843

Rodulfus

      Rodulfi (g.)                 968, c. 980, 992 – c. 1000

Rogerus

      Rogeri (g.)                  828

Rohencus

      Rohenci (g.)                843

Romoldus

      Romoldi (g.)               967, 992 – c. 1000

Rotbertus

      Robertus                     971, 991

Rotfridus

      Rotfridus                     843

Rotgarius

      Rotgarii (g.)                851

Rotlandus

      Rotlandi                      late 10^th century

      Rotlandus                    late 10^th century

Ruerus

      Rueri (g.)                    late 10^th century

Seiardus

      Seiardi (g.)                  992 – c. 1000

Sigebaldus

      Sigebaldi (g.)              768 - 800

Sigibertus

      Sigiberti (g.)               980

Somnassus

      Somnassi (g.)              760

      Sunnasii (g.)               768-800

Stephanus

      Stephani (g.)               992 – c. 1000

      Stephano                     693

Tebaudus

      Tebaudus                    991

Teodericus

      Teoderici (g.)              968

Teudalt

      Teudalt                        828

Teudo

      Teudo                          991

Vfonis (Ufonis)

      Vfonis                         828

Vuaimeris/Waimeris

      Vuaimeris                   693

Vualbertus/Walbertus

      Vualbertus                  late 10^th century

      Vualberti (g.)              late 10^th century

Vualfridus/Walfridus

      Vualfridus                   967

Vualterus/Walterus

      Vualteri (g.)                980, 992 – c. 1000

Vualtildis/Waltildis

      Vualtildis                    693

Vuatso/Wazo

      Vuatsonis (g.)             980

Vuibertus/Wibertus

      Vuiberti (g.)                980

Vuicardus/Wicardus

      Vuicardi (g.)               992 – c. 1000

Vuido/Wido

      Vuidonis (g.)              980

Vuilelmus/Wilelmus

      Vuilelmi                     980

Vuilericus/Wilericus

      Vuilerici (g.)               857

Vuilerus/Wilerus/Willerus

      Vuileri (g.)                  967

Vulfaudus

      Vulfaudi (g.)               675

      Vulfaudus                   859

B.  Female Given Names

Aua (Ava)

      Auæ                             857

Auregia   

      Auregiæ                      857

Emma

      Emma                         980

Erlesenna

      Erlesennæ                   760

Foedagia

      Foedagiam                  851

Gisla

      Gislæ                           857

Huneriana

      Huneriana                   857, late 10^th century

Tetca

Tetce                         857

Tidiliana

Tidiliana                     end of 10^th century

---

[1]  It is unclear whether this is a unique name or a misspelling of Alegregius, a name appearing in later documents.

Guest Post: King's Bard Scroll by Chatricam Meghanta

Today's guest post is from Chatricam Meghanta aka Marguerite inghean Lachlainn.  It is traditional for the outgoing King's Bard to compose the scroll text for her successor.  Here, Meghanta talks about her work adapting Indian poetry for that purpose.

Winner scrolls are weird. You don't know what the persona of the winner will be so you can't custom tailor the look & feel of it to them. Therefore it either needs to be medieval non specific... or about the crown who is giving it out. In the East, for the King's Bard scroll sometimes it is also about the lineage of the Bards who came before you.

Rowan [the scribe] really wanted the chance to do something non western in her scroll, had her eye on Mughal mineatures. So I, as outgoing King's Bard, obliged her with the words I crafted.

The King’s Bard Scroll is based on Purananuru # 201.  I picked this poem as the source because the speaker is a poet, talking to a King, asking them to take on a 3rd person into their house. In this case the 3rd person is the daughter of a king who has been treacherously killed. The poet is trying to get the daughters married off to other kings to protect them.

I adaped the original (below) to ask the King to take a new Poet/Musician/Entertainer into his house.

Puranānūru 201, Poet Kapilar sang to King Irungōvēl, (Thinai: Pādān, Thurai: Parisil)

If you ask who they are, they are his daughters,

he who granted towns to those who came in need

and earned great fame for gifting a chariot to a

jasmine vine to climb,

he who owned elephants with jingling bells, the

lord of Parampu, the great king Pāri.  They are

my daughters now.

As for me, I am their father’s friend, a Brahmin,

a poet who has brought them here.

You are the best Vēlir of the Vēlir clan,

with a heritage of forty-nine generations of Vēlirs

who gave without limits,

who ruled Thuvarai with a fort with tall, huge walls

that were made of copper, the city that appeared in

the sacrificial pit of a northern sage.

O king who is victorious in battles!

O great king with garlanded elephants!

O Pulikatimāl with a bright garland

who knows what a man’s responsibility is,

and what your duty is to bards!

I am offering them. Please accept them.

Lord of the sky-high mountain that yields gold!

You whose strength cannot be equaled on the earth

that is covered by an arched sky and surrounded

by the ocean, you whose army puts fear into

enemies with victorious spears!

O ruler of a land that can never be ruined!

https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-purananuru-201-400/

Scroll text below: I gave Rowan [the scribe] options for some words. Those options are in parentheses. I am not sure which ones she picked:

Poet Megha sang to King (Tsar?) Ivan:

O great king with garlanded elephants!

O Ivan with a gleaming beard,

who knows what a man’s responsibility is

and what His duty is to bards!

You have selected a new bard,  

____NAME GOES HERE_____________

Their art cannot be equaled on the earth.

They will inspire your army and put fear into your

enemies with songs!

O ruler of a land that can never be ruined!

Oh King (Tsar?) of the rising sun,whose generosity

to bards knows no limits, may you grant them

rice, ghee, sweet liquor and ornaments of gold,

As you have this poor, unworthy, poet before them.”

Done this Day, Shani-vaasara (Saturday), February 19th, in the season of Hemanta (Winter) AS 52 In the The Crown Province of Ostgardr

(Cutsheet) Words by Chatricam Meghanta, modeled on Puranānūru poem 201 by Kapilar.

Ibrahim's Silver Rapier

Ibrahim  +Matthew Pius  is a long-time friend who has been doing good work studying and applying Italian rapier manual techniques for years, but flies under the radar a lot.  I was delighted to help with the process of getting him some recognition at long last.

Let it be known to all present as well as future persons seeing these words that We, Ivan and Matilde, Tsar and Tsaritsa of the East, find much that is worthy, noble and valiant in the deeds and person of our subject Ibrahim al-Rashid, who has committed himself to the study of the sword under the tutelage of the masters, and has, upon credible report, obtained excellence in the knowledge and practice of the same.  That the merit of the said Ibrahim may be manifest, of our especial grace, certain science and merest motion, We do hereby gift, grant and by the present charter confirm unto him the Order of the Silver Rapier, to have and hold the same freely and perpetually, along with all rights, privileges, freedoms and immunities appertaining thereunto.  That this gift of Our conferring may have the force of stability and hold firm through the process of time from now on, We have caused the present writing to be marked with Our ensigns manual and Our words to be read aloud before all of Our nobles who were present in the Crown Province of Ostgardr, upon 10 February in the fifty-second year of the Society.

Raziya's Laurel Text

Raziya's Laurel scroll is a remarkable piece of work, where the very tiny calligraphed words form a knotwork design.  As a result, the scribe essentially told me to write until she had enough words to fill out the design.  Below is the process pic the amazing scribe, Rhonwen Glyn Conwy, shared during the process.  I'll try to get a picture of the final from Raziya.

As a result, this is  very long text even for me at 300+ words. 

By Ivan the King.  By Matilde the Queen.  Since memory of this world is fleeting and its state cannot always be as it should be, therefore, so that present and future generations may have true and full notice of those things that were done by Us, it is useful and worthy to commend such things to memory by writing so that if dissension should arise in something after the course of time has elapsed, it may be resolved by the force of writing.  Thus, We wish it known to all the persons of our Realm, present and future, and to all persons of all the Realms of whatever degree, high or low, and being so known to be held and to retained in memory, that upon this day and date, induced by the requests of Companions of the Laurel and many others, we did give, grant and bestow unto our servant Raziya bint Rusa the acclaim, rank, prestige and status of the Order of the Laurel, with all things appertaining thereunto, including all privileges, immunities, freedoms, emoluments and rights as any other member of the aforenamed Order possesses or shall possess in all times coming.  And further, we did invest and endow the said Raziya with arms by Letters Patents in the form following: Purpure, a serpent in annulo Or and on a chief argent three ravens sable.  If anyone should, with rash daring, break, defy or disregard our Royal Will as stated herein, let him be cursed and removed from all fellowship of good and righteous men and women, like Dathan and Abiron, whom the earth opening its jaws swallowed up; let him share the double disaster with Heliodorus and Antiochus, the one being coerced with a sharp blow and the other struck down by a curse that set his body putrifying and swarming with vermin; but as far as worldly law is concerned, he shall pay one hundred coins of silver to those he has harmed.  This charter was made in the fifty-second year since the founding of the Society, and read aloud in our Court upon the 10th day of February in our Crown Province of Ostgardr, so that none may claim ignorance of its contents.

Text for a Silver Crescent

Unfortunately due to real world conflicts, I missed the induction of one of my favorite people to the Order of the Silver Crescent yesterday.  However, I was there in spirit because I provided the text.

The paragraph break is due to how this scroll is calligraphed and illuminated.  The first paragraph is set out separately as an introduction (sometimes in red rather than black), and then there is a large illuminated A for the start of the second paragraph.


Ivan, by right of arms, King of the East, and Matilde, by the same right his Queen, to the dukes, counts, viscounts, barons, seneschals, provosts, justiciaries, bailiffs, all in the present and future to whom these letters will come, greetings.

As it is known to all with no need of persuasion that, in order to safeguard peace, it is especially effective to commit the truth of things done to the memory of letters.  Therefore, we have granted and confirmed in perpetuity by this our present charter to our beloved and faithful servant Æsa feilinn Jóssursdóttir the statue, estate and repute of membership in the Order of the Silver Crescent, along with all such privileges, rights, immunities, freedoms as any other member of the Order aforesaid.  And we do further instruct, command and ordain that the said Æsa shall bear hereafter upon her person the sigil and badge of the aforenamed Order, so that all may know the esteem in which she is held in the lands where our authority holds sway.  That this our grant may have perpetual authority and full strength, we have had this document read aloud and marked with our ensigns manual.  Dated at Nordenhalle upon 3 February in the fifty-second year of the Society.

Another Writ

Ivan the King and Matilde the Queen to our beloved and faithful subject, Christina Jenevra de Calvalhal, greetings.  We hereby command you, strictly enjoining you in the fidelity and love in which you are bound to us, to present yourself at a time and place of our choosing for taking consultation with the principal persons of the Kingdom, along with us and our heirs, such as may be necessary to give answer upon that same day to the question of whether you will accept the accolade of the Order of the Laurel.  Witness the king and queen at Birka, upon 27 January, in the fifty-second year of the Society.

Tola's Laurel Text

I can't believe I completely forgot to post this, although what with the holidays and then the sheer weirdness of the last few weeks I don't know why I'm surprised.  But here it is.

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.