Silver Martlet for Constanza of Thamesreach

I received the assignment for this *mumble* years ago. I had a good two months to work on it -- and then their highnesses moved up the delivery date until the next weekend, the scroll didn't get made and became a backlog and then it...mouldered. I knew what I wanted to do for the design, I could picture the idea but I knew it was one beyond my drawing skills, so I had to find the right exemplars I could trace/adapt. And this was hard, and it got older and older and older...and then I got an assignment for a scroll for her lord. I could do his as a matcher to hers and finally get this wrapped up!

So I looked for lots and lots of exemplars, because now I needed something that involved both sheep (for this) and foxes (for his). I thought I'd picked out some good images of both, from Morgan Library MS M.8, and I sat down the night of 8 Sept. to start sketching things out. I sketched a fox on one; then a sheep on the other; then moved the sheep; then sketched some geese and chickens on the other, realized they weren't right; started looking for examples of archery bosses; found an actual fox with a crossbow; then found other sheep I liked, and a woman in the same MS; so completely changed MS and started sketching out bits for both from it. That was all I got done that night!

So the final exemplar was British Library MS Additional 42130 ff. 81v and 163v:

If you look closely, you'll see that the woman is spinning sheep into onomastic articles. Every single name in the scroll (and there are many) can be documented from an article that Constanza wrot.

The text reads:

The martlet is a restless bird, whose travels take it from one end of the world to another. Like the martlet, Lady Constanza of Thamesreach spans the spectrum of arts and science, talented in skills ovine and onomastic, practical and theoretical, tactile and mental. Also like the martlet, Constanza travels our lands and shares her knowledge, teaching and educating wherever she goes. Like the martlet she is, and as a martlet henceforth shall she be: By this present diploma we Duncan and Eibhlin, prince and princess of Insulae Draconis by our princely might and authority do in accord with law and ancient and honorable custom make the said Constanza a member of the most noble and illustrious Order of the Silver Martlet, with all rights, responsibilities, and privileges appertaining thereto, on the i day of the xi month of the xlviii year of the society and witnessed below.

More close-ups:

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© 2016, Sara L. Uckelman.

Fox for Guy de Dinan

Scroll

Exemplar

The exemplar is BL MS Stowe 17, fol. 244. The text reads:

Oh the wily fox he is a clever fellow, he tricks his enemies into thinking he is helpless and then springs his pointed claws upon them. Like the sly fox the archer fools his enemies into complacency before his pointed arrows fall upon them. The fox is a cunning fellow, dissembling and distracting and misdirecting so that no one knows his skills. Like the fox is our beloved archer Guy de Dinan, who with such craft has risen to the rank of yeoman archer. We, Pol and Caitriona, prince and princess of Insulae Draconis, however, are more clever than the fox and his guile does not escape our notice. By the power and authority invested in us by ancient law and custom, we call the said Guy before us to be name a true fox and a member of the Order of the Fox, with all rights and responsibilities appertaining thereto. This we do at Michaelmas Feast in the Shire of Thamesreach xxiv.ix.li.

And two close-ups:

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© 2016, Sara L. Uckelman.

Fox for Aodhan dha Cheist

Scroll

Exemplar

The original is from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16, Folio 72v. I chose and sketched it, painted the base coat and the black on Aug. 24. I did the whitework, blackwork, and laid down the size on Aug. 25, after which I composed the text and calligraphed it (getting a really bad case of calligrapher's hand along the way...)

The text reads:

Pól and Caitriona, by right of arms prince and princess of Insulae Draconis. For as much as you, Aodhan dha Cheist, have demonstrated not only skill but also great joy and exuberance on the archery field, rising to the rank of master archer, you have also distinguished yourself with the rapier, and thus do we the abovenamed princes do by this charter create the said Aodhan a member of the Order of the Fox. Datum apud Lough Devnaree iii septembris a.s. li.

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© 2016, Sara L. Uckelman.

AoA for Thomas Bainbridge of Manchester

The exemplar for this piece was Codex Claustroneoburgensis 389 f.74r, a 15th C German manuscript. I just love this particular pattern and combination of colors -- it's so weirdly modern. I've wanted to do it for ages, so was very happy to have the opportunity to use it here!

The text reads:

Pol and Caitriona, prince and prince of Insulae Draconis, to our servant Thomas Bainbridge of Manchester, salutations and greetings. Insofar as by the ordination of the right of arms we have ascended the thrones of princely might, it is right that in our deeds we altogether reward those by whose gifts and services we are exalted. There fore we, desiring that ancient custom as well as solemn laws to remain in vigour and prosperity, and en deavouring to recognise and elevate such persons as have con tributed richly to our realm, the likes of the above-named Tom of Manche- ster who has served us most especially through labouring as our Gauntlet Pur- suivant, maintaining and recording all manner of worthy challenges, skirmishes, and duels throughout our lands, do by our princely authority proclaim and affirm that the aforenamed Thomas is to be recognised as a lord, with all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges attendant thereto, and for the recognition of which we charge the said lord Thomas to consult with our heralds and to devise suitable and unique arms. Datum apud Castellum de Raglan, super Festo de Raglan, a.s. lj.

This was originally given out at Raglan, but the recipient sadly couldn't make it then, so it was held in secret and re-given at October crown.

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© 2016, Sara L. Uckelman.