AoA for Tamara of Thamesreach

AoA for Tamara of Thamesreach

The exemplar is fol. 125v of Codex Mellicensis 1079, from the 15th C. I didn't have space (or enough confidence in my abilities) to add the bunnies; I'm not entirely sure I like how my turned out compared to the original (in part because I couldn't zoom in to the image enough to see how the penwork inside the initial was supposed to go, and my green isn't the right color, and I can't draw decent birds, or copy swirls easily...), but I also think it might be one that will grow on me the more time elapses since I did it. (I marked out and practiced the calligraphy the first day; I did the actually scroll entirely on the second day.).

The text is my standard Latin AoA text for a recipient with registered arms, but this time I went and tried to put the blazon into Latin as well, which I think worked OK:

Audite verbis Thorvaldi et Fione regis et regine drachenwaldenses. Scite quod his presentibus agnoscimus virtutem et dignitatem subjecti nostrorum Tamare de Thamesreach. Altamus et assignamus ei ordonis domine et jus insigni super scutum argentum quinct folii philyre virides duo unus duo circuitur rubro. Fit manibus nostris in xxix die Maii anno societatis xlv apud West Dragoningshire.

Translation:

Pay heed to the words of Thorvaldr and Fiona, King and Queen of Drachenwald. Know that by these presents we recognize the worth and dignity of our subject Tamara of Thamesreach. We raise her to the rank of lady and grant to her all rights to the insignia on a silver shield five green linden leaves two one two bordered by red. Done by our hands on the 29th day of May, in the year of the society 45, at West Dragoningshire.

25apr: marked out and tested calligraphy.

1may: calligraphed, painted initial, did border, and arms.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

AoA for Marcus Bucht

The border was drawn out and the text calligraphed on the first day; I don't have notes about the rest, but I don't think I finished this is one day. Maybe I did.

The text is Latin:

Audite verbis Thorvaldi Fioneque regis regineque Drachenwaldenses. Scite quod his presentibus agnoscimus virtutem dignitatemque subjecti nostrorum Marco Bucht.

Altamus et assignamus ei ordonis domini et jus tali armis prout deferet cum collegio armorum. Fit manibus nostris in decum die Aprilis anno societatis quadraginta quattuor apud Poukka.

Which reads in translation:

Pay heed to the words of Thorvaldr and Fiona, King and Queen of Drachenwald. Know that by these presents we recognize the worth and dignity of our subject Marcus Bucht. We raise him to the rank of lord and grant to him all rights to such arms as he shall register with the college of arms. Done by our hands on the 10th day of April, in the year of the society forty-four at Poukka.

The design is based (rather poorly) on Codex Claustroneoburgensis 1193, fol. 404r, which is late 15th C, German (?). Let's just say that there turned out to be way more shading than I am comfortable with.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

AoA for Balduin Valke

This is based on British Library MS Burney 275 f.336, French, between 1309 and 1316. The penwork P was done Feb. 28, the border was drawn, inked, and painted Mar. 16, the white work and the painting of the arms on the Mar. 17, and finally, the calligraphy on Mar. 20.

Here is the text:

Pay heed to the words of Gerhardt and Judith, King and Queen of Drachenwald. We, not only through common report and the testimony of many worthy and credible gentles, but also by our own witness are well acquainted with and informed of the deeds and doings of our subject Balduin Valke, and it is our solemn and joyful duty to recognize the worth and nobility of the said Balduin by raising him to the rank of lord with all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges appertaining thereto including the sole and unique right to bear the arms blazoned as follows and depicted more plainly below, that is to say: Or, a pair of wings sable. So that none may give the said Balduin any let or hindrance or other impediment in the displaying of the said arms and in testimony of our action we have set our hands below on the 12th day of December, a.s. xliv, being the feast of Saint Lucia.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

AoA for Luna de la Lorenzo

The initial was drawn and painted on March 18, and March 20 I finished the penwork, wrote the text, and calligraphed it.

The text reads:

Foremost amongst the qualities of a lady be that she

Be good and discreete.

Flee affectation or curiositie

Have a good grace in al her doings

Be of good condicions and wel brought up

Not to be haughtie, envious, yltunged, lyght, contentious, nor untowardlye

Have the vertues of the minde, as wisdome, justice, noblenesse of courage, temperance, contingency, sobermoode, etc.

All these and more are shewn by Luna de la Lorenzo, wherefore we make her a lady by awarding her arms, on April 10, a.s. xliv.

The text is adapted from "Of the chief conditions and qualityes in a wayting gentylwoman" English 16th C, originally found for use with the Scarborough Faire Performing Company History, Customs, and Manners SAPA 2000 by Susan Von Rudolph, and available online at ftp://ftp.cirr.com/pub/SCRIBE/History/Gntlwmen.Txt.

The design is adapted from British Library MS Egerton 2633, fol. 1, a French translation of Boethius made in the Netherlands, 15th C.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

Court Baronies for Alaric of Bangor and Nerissa de Saye

Done on a blank by Trinite Ducalon. The text reads:

Alaric of Bangor, duke, knight, and faithful keeper of our lands of Insulae Draocnis these six months past, we, Thorvaldr and Fiona, king and queen of Drachenwald, salute you and send you greetings the xxth day of February, a.s. xliv. We by these presents wish to thank you for your service by creating you a baron of our court. The rank of baron brings with it a grant of arms and the right to wear a silver coronet ornamented with pearls. And to your dear consort Nerissade Saye we likewise send fond greetings and commendations. As Duchess, lady of the Laurel, and more recently as our vicereine in Insulae Draconis you have long served us well and it is our pleasure to recognize you and reward your service by making you a baroness of our court. This dignity likewise brings with it a grant of arms and the [right] to wear a silver coronet embellished with perals. In witness whereof we have signed our names below.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

Blank B

A pen-work B based on British Library MS Arundel 325 f.36, French, 1st half of 14th C. This one smudged while I was working on it. :( But only a little bit, and I think I covered it enough so it passes the arm's length test.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

Blank A

A pen-work A based on British Library MS Arundel 11 f.9, English, either between 1440-1447 or after 1465. I only just now realized that the initial was done in red, blue, and gold, not just red and blue; the printed copy of the image I was working from didn't make this clear. Oh well. If I'd realized, I would've done it in gold too, but I didn't.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.