Done on a blank by Saraswati. The text reads:
We, Paul and Aryanhwy, King and Queen of Drachenwald, do hereby make Caerthgyn of Dunbeath a member of the Order of Panache, for he has made the kingdom brighter by his skills in leather and metal. Datud viii decembris apud Adamestor.
The source for the illumination was a Welsh MS, and I attempted as best I could to match the script. It was hard, but I like the way it turned out.
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
The illumination was done by Agatha of Norwich. When Ari gave me the assignment, she asked for something special, since the martial orders are not offered to women as frequently as they might. So I knew exactly which illumination to go with. The text reads:
By the Prince and Princess right noble and well-beloved.
In times past it was ordained that a company of fighters skilled in sword, lance, and bow be formed so that these isles be prevented from harm and protected from ill and that suitable new members be made of this company by special commission signed by their Highnesses, and this company is known as the Order of the Fox. And whereas the Prince and Princess, being credibly informed by speeches and attestations that diverse and many are the skills at arms shown by Lady Katherine of Great Chesterford, both in tournament and war, do make unto her our especial seal of approval by confirming, ratifying, and announcing that the Lady abovenamed is from this day henceforth a member of the said Order. Dated at Flintheath, the first day of December during the first year of the reign of Paul and Aryanhwy the first by those names in Drachenwald.
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
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This is based on Paris, Bibl. Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 0257, f. 133v. It's the first illumination I've done in 5 months, and only the second in over a year. On Oct. 14 I picked the initial, drew the layout, composed the text and partly calligraphed it; on Oct. 15, I finished the calligraphy; and on Nov. 13 I did the initial. I was unhappy with the whitework when I finished it (and am still when I compare it to the original), but I was pleasantly surprised to find, the next day, that I thought it rather good. Usually my scrolls do not improve in my estimation by waiting.
The text reads:
Paul and Aryanhwy, king and queen of Drachenwald, to all the dukes, counts, barons, and lords of this kingdom, greeting. Let it be known that we have not only by the testimony of many worthy and credible gentles but also by our own witness been informed and acquainted of the many skills and deeds in armoring and metalsmithing displayed by our subject Dunstan von Wilster. In recognition we make the said Dunstan a member of the ancient and honorable Order of the Panache, with all the rights, responsibilities, appertaining thereto, and so that all may know of his excellence, of his knowledge, and of his prowess in these matters we charge him to bear the badge of the order, a torteau charged with a bezant pierced with sabale, three feathers issuant to chief gules, Or, and sable. So that none may contest this our will we the said king and queen abovenamed have witnessed these presents on the 6th day of October, a.s. xlvii, at Crown Tournament.
I'm miffed that I smeared the calligraphy; I tried to scrape it, but I'm not a very good scraper yet.
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
Done on blank by Saraswati. The text reads:
Each and every one of our subjects bring us joy, but one especially shines forth as an example of all that is good and noble. Wolfgang vom Walde has pleased us greatly with his endeavors and attempts to promote the arts and sciences of war within Ad Flumen Caerulum, training and teaching, so that others may increase in favor and deed.
For all these merits and many more which are held by the same Wolfgang we, Paul and Aryanhwy, king and queen of Drachenwald, right mindful of the duties and powers with which we are lawfully encumbered, do hereby recognize the said Wolfganges exemplary service and conduct and for his benefit and advancement we create him a lord and award unto him all rights to such arms as he shall register with the College of Arms. This we do on xxiv day of november a.s. xlvii, witnessed by the said king Paul, whose name is signed below in testament.
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
This blank was done by Racaire; I just filled in the relevant bits in red.
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
This was one of my "gotchya!" scrolls. Mistress Johanna has been a bounteous creator of largesse for many kings and queens of Drachenwald -- since stepping up, I have received TWO boxes via mail, and more delivered by hand. Imagine my surprise when I checked the OP, and no one had yet thought to recognize her skills and services to the arts & sciences. (Largesse is not the only thing; she's always teaching and displaying and learning, too.) A quick email to Paul, saying "We've got to fix this", a quick response back, and we were set. :) It was only a week and a half before the event, so I had to use a blank, but since I wanted something simple, delicate, and elegant, this blank by Lady Agatha of Norwich was just what I wanted. Agatha based the illumination on the Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, which I went to to try to copy the calligraphy as best I could.
For the text, I went through the MED and looked up every adjective that had "noble" in its meaning, and selected all of the appropriate ones (minus "daft", "sely", and "odde"), because I knew one modifier alone, or even two or three would not be enough to describe all that she has done. I composed the text on the first day, and for once actually did a practice version, to see if the text would fit (it did, perfectly -- I didn't have to do any modifications!), and calligraphed it the next. The text reads:
Considering well the avenaunt, chois, comely, digne, excellent, honourliche, liberal, queme, true, wale and forthmostly the bountevous generositie of Johanna aff Hucka we make her a member of the Order of Panache, on the x day of nov xlvii.
Now witnessed:
© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.
