I had the chance to do some scroll text work again. This one is for Mercedes Vera de Califia's Master of Defense. I left the Spanish terms that had no English equivalent in Spanish. I would have liked to have gotten the whole thing in medieval Spanish but time and availability of my 16th century Spanish expert did not work out.
On the other hand, Mercedes' persona is explicitly a Spanish woman living in England, so the mixed English and Spanish works out just fine.
Wilhelm, by right of arms, King of the East, and Vienna, by agency of the same right the Queen, to all prelates, dukes, duchesses, counts, countesses, ricos homes, priors of the Orders, Knight-commanders, alcades of castles and fortified as well as unfortified places, adelantados, merinos[1], lieutenants of all cities, towns and places, presidents and Auditors of our Council and our tribunals and our chanceries, town councilors, and the jurados, officers and omes buenos of the cities, towns and other places of our Kingdom, and all other vassals and subjects of whatever estate, condition and dignity you may be, and every one of you, health and greetings. Considering our veneration for the greatness, the excellence, the nobility and the eminent virtues of our servant Mercedes Vera de Califia, and having taken testimony from persons of good repute and witnessed with our own eyes the excellence of the said Mercedes in all matters of the rapier, and considering also the great benefit and advantage that our Realm has received from the labors of the said Mercedes in the government of rapier combat among our people, it is our great pleasure to direct and ordain that the said Mercedes be gifted, invested, and endowed with the Order of Defence, with all privileges, benefits, usages, liberties, profits, easements and rightful pertinents in and by all ways pertaining thereunto, to have and hold the same perpetually and as freely and quietly, fully and honourably as any other member of the Order aforenamed. In witness whereof we have ordered this instrument to be drawn up, marked with our ensigns manual, and countersigned by the Brigantia Herald, whom we have commanded to cause the said instrument to be read aloud in our Court. Given in the city of Quintavia upon the 8th of December in the fifty-third year of the Society, being the first year of our reign.
[1] No, not the sheep. You're clearly thinking of someone else's scroll.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Silver Crescent text for Muirenn Blue Tyger
I've been so tied up with life stuff that my writing and posting about non-work things has dropped off sharply, for which I apologize. Several weeks ago, the excellent and remarkable Muirenn ingen Dúnadaig got a Silver Crescent for, among other things, her herald work. Here's the text:
Wilhelm, king of the East by the right of arms, and Vienna, his most beloved wife, queen by agency of the same right, to all who will see this charter, we extend greetings. The dignity of our nobility and royal mercy demands that we give benign and favorable assent to the just requests of all, so that anyone may enjoy the consolation of our protection and fostering comfort, and also to increase the tranquility and governance of our realm. Petition has been laid before us by notable persons of our realm and, finding much that is good, just, right and fitting in the said petition, we do find it meet to do the following: By this our royal charter we hereby do endow Muirenn ingen Dúnadaig, presently Blue Tyger Herald, with the Order of the Silver Crescent and all rights, privileges, freedoms and liberties attendant thereupon. And we do further grant unto the said Muirenn the right to bear arms in the form following: Argent, three fox's masks and a chief indented vert. So that no one presume to infringe on this endowment and grant, we have fortified the present page with our ensigns manual and caused it to be read aloud before witnesses upon 27 October, being the feast of Saint Abban, in the fifty-third year of the Society.
Wilhelm, king of the East by the right of arms, and Vienna, his most beloved wife, queen by agency of the same right, to all who will see this charter, we extend greetings. The dignity of our nobility and royal mercy demands that we give benign and favorable assent to the just requests of all, so that anyone may enjoy the consolation of our protection and fostering comfort, and also to increase the tranquility and governance of our realm. Petition has been laid before us by notable persons of our realm and, finding much that is good, just, right and fitting in the said petition, we do find it meet to do the following: By this our royal charter we hereby do endow Muirenn ingen Dúnadaig, presently Blue Tyger Herald, with the Order of the Silver Crescent and all rights, privileges, freedoms and liberties attendant thereupon. And we do further grant unto the said Muirenn the right to bear arms in the form following: Argent, three fox's masks and a chief indented vert. So that no one presume to infringe on this endowment and grant, we have fortified the present page with our ensigns manual and caused it to be read aloud before witnesses upon 27 October, being the feast of Saint Abban, in the fifty-third year of the Society.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Doroga's Maunche Text
Doroga's lady requested that we try to find a way to work a particular quote from Cervantes into the text. Can you figure out what that quote is?
I did not know who would be reading this, so I did not get too creating with 16th century spelling.
Brennan Rey and Caoilfhionn Reyna to our good and gentle Doroga Voronin, greetings and all good of the goods. Noble persons of exalted lineage have brought us word of your singular excellence. It is said that, if one would view in equal balance the shining Phoebus and the blood-stained Mars, look to Doroga, in whom the one and the other are not separate. In him, both pen and sword are manifest with such discretion, art and dexterity that he has made of bladework both science and art. We are by these words greatly moved and being so moved, we do now, of our especial grace, certain science, and mere motion, give and grant and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors give, grant and by the present charter confirm unto you the status, estate and renown of a companion of the Order of the Maunche, with all rights, privileges, prerogatives, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, franchises, and preeminences attending thereupon. And we do further grant unto you the right to bear Arms in the form following: Per pale purpure and vert, on a chief argent a raven displayed sable. And we do further instruct and command you to bear upon your person hereafter and in all times coming the badge and signacle of the Order of the Maunche so that the love and esteem we bear you be made manifest to all persons of whatever estate. For the greater security and stability of the aforesaid, know that we have laid our hands upon the holy relics of our Realm and sworn to keep, observe and fulfill all of the within promises, and each part of parcel of them, really and in fact, renouncing all deception, mental reservation, and subterfuge. Witness ourselves, at Malagentia, upon 14 July, in the fifty-third year of the Society.
I did not know who would be reading this, so I did not get too creating with 16th century spelling.
Brennan Rey and Caoilfhionn Reyna to our good and gentle Doroga Voronin, greetings and all good of the goods. Noble persons of exalted lineage have brought us word of your singular excellence. It is said that, if one would view in equal balance the shining Phoebus and the blood-stained Mars, look to Doroga, in whom the one and the other are not separate. In him, both pen and sword are manifest with such discretion, art and dexterity that he has made of bladework both science and art. We are by these words greatly moved and being so moved, we do now, of our especial grace, certain science, and mere motion, give and grant and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors give, grant and by the present charter confirm unto you the status, estate and renown of a companion of the Order of the Maunche, with all rights, privileges, prerogatives, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, franchises, and preeminences attending thereupon. And we do further grant unto you the right to bear Arms in the form following: Per pale purpure and vert, on a chief argent a raven displayed sable. And we do further instruct and command you to bear upon your person hereafter and in all times coming the badge and signacle of the Order of the Maunche so that the love and esteem we bear you be made manifest to all persons of whatever estate. For the greater security and stability of the aforesaid, know that we have laid our hands upon the holy relics of our Realm and sworn to keep, observe and fulfill all of the within promises, and each part of parcel of them, really and in fact, renouncing all deception, mental reservation, and subterfuge. Witness ourselves, at Malagentia, upon 14 July, in the fifty-third year of the Society.
Anastasia's Augmentation of Arms
The spelling is accurate for c. 1510 and the text was inspired by multiple letters of Henry VIII to Cardinal Wolsey thanking him for his service and urging him to take a vacation. And, of course, there are footnotes.
Brennan the Kyng and Caoilfhionn the Queen to Anastasia Gutane, right trustie, and righte welbelovid wee greete you well. We recommande you with all owr hart to the peple of the Easte and the Known Worlde, and thanke yow for the grette paynes and labour that yow do dayly take in the bysyness and maters of the Societee. And we commande, desyre and instruct yow to take summe pastyme and comfort from yowr labour[1], to the intent that yow may longer endure to serve us and our Reaulme. Surly yow have so substancyally orderyd maters wythyn yowr sphere that lytil or nothyng can be addyd; indede we are well contendyd with what order yow have mayde in all maters to whych yow sett yowr hands, shewinge therbie yowr great love and loyalltie towardes the Crowne and peple of the Easte, which wee accept most thanckfullie from yowr handes. And further, desyryng, wantynge and wyshyng that the valew, esteeme and tendershippe[2] in whiche yow are beholden be made both perficte and manyfest to all persouns of whateuere estate, Wee have theerfore thoughte it meete and behoveful[3] to give, graunt and bie thees presents lettirs convaye untow yow an Augmentacioun of Armes, with all circumstaunt[4] benefetes, avauntage, profits, pryvyleges and honnours, and we instruct and commaunde our heraulds to attende fourthewyth to þe circumstauncis of the sayd Augmentacioun. Given under our signet at our mannor of Malagentia the 14th daie of July in the 53rd yere of the Societee.
[1] Something we have said to Anastaia a lot :-)
[2] tendershippe = favor, regard, esteem.
[3] behoveful = requisite, necessary, pertinent, appropriate, proper
[4] circumstaunt = accompanying
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
County Text for Matilde de Cadenet
Now-Countess Matilde asked me to do her County text to fit a Russian icon-style scroll. I generally don't like to repeat sources if possible, but Matilde really liked one of my previous Russian-inspired pieces (for Khioniya Ryseva's Silver Crescent), so I broke my usual rule and re-used the intro. Sometimes you just gotta give the people what they like :-)
And yes, this is a fairly long one. Again, sometimes you just gotta give the people what they like.
Brennan and Caoilfhionn, Imperator et Imperatrix, to our servant Matilde de Cadenet, greetings. The authority of the Crown of the East had its origin in Maragorn and Adrienne, founders of Our line, and the great Cariadoc, who declared war upon himself, and the valiant great Darius and Roxanne of blessed memory, who led Eastern armies against the sons of the Dragon, then it passed to the avengers of wrongs, our ancestors, the praiseworthy great Kenric and Avelina, who obtained great victories upon the fields of AEthelmearc, and to our father the wise Emperor Ivan, until it reached us, the humble scepter-bearers of the Eastern Empire. Here follows the command of the orthodox, truly Eastern Majesties:
Forasmuch as you have shown yourself to be of singular and remarkable worth; and having taken counsel from the boyar and boyar kinsmen of our Realm and having heard abundant and multifold praise and of your deeds and your character; and having by evidence of our own eyes avouched your quality; We do now by these present Imperial and unassailable letters bestow upon you the sign and insignia of a Countess, along with all rights, privileges, immunities, honors, and endowments of that rank.
If anyone, be a neighbour or a stranger, no matter what his condition or power, though any kind of wile, should attempt to do any act of violence contrary to this our Imperial edict, let God remove him from the land of the living and wipe out his name from the book of life, let him experience in his own body the torments of future damnation, unless he come to his senses and hail you as honorably excellent and excellently honorable Countess.
Written in our great Eastern Empire, in the famous Shire of Quintavia, on the steps of our Imperial threshold, in the fifty-second year from the creation of the Society, the 7th day of April.
And yes, this is a fairly long one. Again, sometimes you just gotta give the people what they like.
Brennan and Caoilfhionn, Imperator et Imperatrix, to our servant Matilde de Cadenet, greetings. The authority of the Crown of the East had its origin in Maragorn and Adrienne, founders of Our line, and the great Cariadoc, who declared war upon himself, and the valiant great Darius and Roxanne of blessed memory, who led Eastern armies against the sons of the Dragon, then it passed to the avengers of wrongs, our ancestors, the praiseworthy great Kenric and Avelina, who obtained great victories upon the fields of AEthelmearc, and to our father the wise Emperor Ivan, until it reached us, the humble scepter-bearers of the Eastern Empire. Here follows the command of the orthodox, truly Eastern Majesties:
Forasmuch as you have shown yourself to be of singular and remarkable worth; and having taken counsel from the boyar and boyar kinsmen of our Realm and having heard abundant and multifold praise and of your deeds and your character; and having by evidence of our own eyes avouched your quality; We do now by these present Imperial and unassailable letters bestow upon you the sign and insignia of a Countess, along with all rights, privileges, immunities, honors, and endowments of that rank.
If anyone, be a neighbour or a stranger, no matter what his condition or power, though any kind of wile, should attempt to do any act of violence contrary to this our Imperial edict, let God remove him from the land of the living and wipe out his name from the book of life, let him experience in his own body the torments of future damnation, unless he come to his senses and hail you as honorably excellent and excellently honorable Countess.
Written in our great Eastern Empire, in the famous Shire of Quintavia, on the steps of our Imperial threshold, in the fifty-second year from the creation of the Society, the 7th day of April.
Maunche Text for Chatricam Meghanta
Chatricam Meghanta has been doing amazing work in medieval Indian poetry. For her Maunche (East Kingdom grant-level arts award) text, I did not want to do a Western European legal text.
I'm not a poet. Trying to replicate Tamil poetry, her speciality, seemed a dicey proposition -- so easy to do it completely wrong. I went back through Megha's own research pages to see if anything really sang to me. I read a lot of Tamil poetry as well as other medieval Islamic poetry that Megha had posted or referenced. I began to circle around pieces from the poets Hafez and Rumi, both medieval Persians rather than Indians, but both "poets of the spirit" that I know have great meaning to Megha.
In particular, this poem by Hafez kept insisting that it "belonged" to Megha.
CAST ALL YOUR VOTES FOR DANCING
I know the voice of depression still calls to you.
I know those habits that can ruin your life still send their invitations.
But you are with the Friend now and look so much stronger.
You can stay that way and even bloom!
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter.
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun from the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved
And, my dear, from the most insignificant movements of your own holy body.
Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins that may buy you just a moment of pleasure,
But then drag you for days like a broken man behind a farting camel.
You are with the Friend now.
Learn what actions of yours delight Him, what actions of yours
Bring freedom and Love.
Whenever you say God's name, dear pilgrim, my ears wish my head was missing
So they could finally kiss each other and applaud all your nourishing wisdom!
O keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter and from the most insignificant
movements of your own holy body.
Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!
The imagery of performance as the act of "squeezing drops of the Sun" was compelling. My source was chosen.
I set out to write something with the "look and feel" of the Tamil poetry that Megha performs and using Hafez's splendid imagery. My length was limited to fit how the scribe wanted to use the text, so most of the text ended up being devoted to getting the work of the SCA award process done. But that is all to the good because I am not naturally a poet and I think more words would have revealed that weakness quite clearly.
I know that Megha likes it, so I succeeded in that most important aspect. I'm still a little disappointed that I couldn't get the "ears kissing each other in joy at her words" imagery in here, though.
O poet, keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music and from your companions' beautiful laughter.
O poet, your name is spoken the halls of the wise and the King and Queen would do you honor for your golden words.
O poet, you should wear this Maunche upon your person in all the days coming.
These words were commanded by Brennan and Caoilfhionn, King and Queen, upon 7 April at Quintavia.
I'm not a poet. Trying to replicate Tamil poetry, her speciality, seemed a dicey proposition -- so easy to do it completely wrong. I went back through Megha's own research pages to see if anything really sang to me. I read a lot of Tamil poetry as well as other medieval Islamic poetry that Megha had posted or referenced. I began to circle around pieces from the poets Hafez and Rumi, both medieval Persians rather than Indians, but both "poets of the spirit" that I know have great meaning to Megha.
In particular, this poem by Hafez kept insisting that it "belonged" to Megha.
CAST ALL YOUR VOTES FOR DANCING
I know the voice of depression still calls to you.
I know those habits that can ruin your life still send their invitations.
But you are with the Friend now and look so much stronger.
You can stay that way and even bloom!
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter.
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun from the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved
And, my dear, from the most insignificant movements of your own holy body.
Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins that may buy you just a moment of pleasure,
But then drag you for days like a broken man behind a farting camel.
You are with the Friend now.
Learn what actions of yours delight Him, what actions of yours
Bring freedom and Love.
Whenever you say God's name, dear pilgrim, my ears wish my head was missing
So they could finally kiss each other and applaud all your nourishing wisdom!
O keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter and from the most insignificant
movements of your own holy body.
Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!
The imagery of performance as the act of "squeezing drops of the Sun" was compelling. My source was chosen.
I set out to write something with the "look and feel" of the Tamil poetry that Megha performs and using Hafez's splendid imagery. My length was limited to fit how the scribe wanted to use the text, so most of the text ended up being devoted to getting the work of the SCA award process done. But that is all to the good because I am not naturally a poet and I think more words would have revealed that weakness quite clearly.
I know that Megha likes it, so I succeeded in that most important aspect. I'm still a little disappointed that I couldn't get the "ears kissing each other in joy at her words" imagery in here, though.
O poet, keep squeezing drops of the Sun from your prayers and work and music and from your companions' beautiful laughter.
O poet, your name is spoken the halls of the wise and the King and Queen would do you honor for your golden words.
O poet, you should wear this Maunche upon your person in all the days coming.
These words were commanded by Brennan and Caoilfhionn, King and Queen, upon 7 April at Quintavia.
Writ for the Laurel
I wanted to do something a little different than the basic bare-bones Writ for this one. I looked to a couple of late 13th century examples of summonses to Parliament that laid out the intended purposes of the Parliament before demanding the attendance of the person addressed. As East Kingdom Crowns generally have Order meetings at Pennsic, this model fit the purpose nicely. Plus, because I'm always a fan of scrolls that threaten someone, I liked the command to come prepared "with full and sufficient power" to do the necessary business.
Brennan Imperator and Caoilfhionn Imperatrix to Jean-Paul Ducasse. Since we intend to have a consultation and meeting with the principal persons of our kingdom with regard to the constitution of our Order of the Laurel, on that account, we have commanded the said Order to be with us in August at the Pennsic War to consider, ordain and do as may be necessary for the proper continuance thereof; We therefore strictly require you to attend upon us at the aforesaid place and time, to hear the counsel of the aforesaid Order and such other notable persons as shall be in attendance, the task being before you to answer the question whether you will accept elevation to the aforenamed Order. You should attend upon us on the date abovenamed prepared with full and sufficient power to answer the question so that the aforesaid business shall not remain unfinished in any way. Witness at Quintavia upon April 7 in the fifty-second year.
Brennan Imperator and Caoilfhionn Imperatrix to Jean-Paul Ducasse. Since we intend to have a consultation and meeting with the principal persons of our kingdom with regard to the constitution of our Order of the Laurel, on that account, we have commanded the said Order to be with us in August at the Pennsic War to consider, ordain and do as may be necessary for the proper continuance thereof; We therefore strictly require you to attend upon us at the aforesaid place and time, to hear the counsel of the aforesaid Order and such other notable persons as shall be in attendance, the task being before you to answer the question whether you will accept elevation to the aforenamed Order. You should attend upon us on the date abovenamed prepared with full and sufficient power to answer the question so that the aforesaid business shall not remain unfinished in any way. Witness at Quintavia upon April 7 in the fifty-second year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)