| Scroll | Exemplar |
|---|---|
 |
The scroll was completed over two weekends; on May 1, I picked out design and wrote the text. On May 2, I sketched the layout, painted the blue of initial, and calligraphed first sentence. On May 5, I painted the green, finished calligraphy, did all rubrication outside main initial, and half of main initial rubrication; May 6 I finished.
The exemplar is Codex Claustroneoburgensis 389, fol. 99v (with extra inspiration from fol. 25v), a 15th C German MS.
The text reads:
We, Vitus, by right of arms King of Drachenwald, Sovereign of Nordmark and Insula Draconis, Lord of the far Reaches of Africa, Knight of the Order of the Chivalry, to our trusty and well-* servant Viscountess Whilja af Gothia, Companion of the Orders of the Panache and the Lindquistringes, fond greetings.
*beloved
Know that for the love we bear you and in gratitude for all that you have rendered unto us and ours we are minded to favor you above others of the land by granting unto you the right to bear a black dragon's head ensigned with our sigil, so that all may know the high esteem and respect that we hold for you.
In witness of this act we have caused these present letters to be drawn up, which we have signed below with our own hand on the ____ day of ____, a.s. xlvi.
Yeah, big skipped-word error in there. Had to put it in as a footnote.
© 2011, Sara L. Uckelman.
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