AoAs for Michael der Grosse von Bergen and Martin von Vrakenvorde

For my first court as signet I wanted to be absolutely sure that we had scrolls for everything; unfortunately, I was traveling a lot leading up to the event so I knew I couldn't do them on my own, and still have time to get them mailed to Germany. Luckily, during my travels I spent a day visiting Ælfwynn Leoflæde dohtor, who is running Isengau's scriptorium, and she already had one blank, by Apollonia Grünenzwig, on hand, and I asked if she and Apollonia could put together another before I arrived, and they rose to the occasion wonderfully.

The text of the first reads:

Michael der Grosse von Bergen, we Ulfr and Caoimhe rightful king and queen of Drachenwald salute you and send you fond greetings this nineteenth day of June, a.s. xlv. Know that we have heard many good reports of your service to the Shire of Veilburgen, particularly in fostering heraldry. Such service is a mark of nobility and it is our pleasure to recognize this nobility by making you a lord and award you all rights to such arms as you shall register with the College of Arms. In witness whereof we have set our marks below.

The text of the second reads:

All know by these words the will of Ulfr and Caoimhe, King and Queen of Drachenwald. To all true and noble people these present letters seeing or hearing greetings and good will. It is so that many persons been moved of noble and gentle courage to exercise virtuous marks and conditions by the which they shall come to the perfection of great honur. Of which persons one in especial whose name is Martin von Vrakenvorde of the shire of Aventiure who has served our realm greatly as chatelaine, web minister, and fencer. In these as well as in other of his affairs has borne himself valiantly and conducted himself honourably so that he has deserved well and is well worthy that henceforth and forevermore he may be in all places admitted counted numbered and received among the company of other ancient gentle and noble men. Where upon we the said king and queen have made herein an award of arms to the said Martin so that he and no other person but him may bear such arms as he shall register with the College of Arms. In witnes whereof to these letters we have set our marks below on the first day of the first month of our reign.

This is based loosely on some of the texts at http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

Queens Order of Courtesy for Saraswati-man.ikkam, aka Ruth

The exemplar is a 15th C Dutch MS, Codex S 1399, fol. 2054. The design was picked, layout drawn, text written, and calligraphed on May 24, and all the illumination (drawing, inking, and painting) done June 2.

The text reads:

Vistors comes from far away lands et many make this realm their home. Yet few of them shine so fair as the flower of India lately bloomed in Drachenwald, Saraswati-mán.ikkam, whom we know well and love greatly and whom it is our pleasure to call Ruth. For her deeds and largesse and delicacies brought from abroad, we, Fiona, queen of Drachenwald, make her a member of our Order of Courtesy. Done the 19th day of June, a.s. xlv, at the coronation of our heirs and in witness whereof we have set our hand below.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

AoA for Mariken van Oostbroek

AoA for Mariken van Oostbroek

The initial and side border came from Codex S 1943 fol. 170v and the top and bottom borders came from Codex S 1943 fol. 196v. This is a late 15th C MS.

The hand is (yet another) attempt at Gothic. I'm more happy with it than I have been with other recent attempts.

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© 2010, Sara L. Uckelman.

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.