Sun and Chalice for Duncan Forbes

Done on a blank by Saraswati. The text is in an attempt at Scots, and reads:

Quhosoevir by reasoun and wit, by gud countenans and counsell, by deedis and werkes has set himselfe abofe his peeris is by these thyngis woorthie to be known throuchout the land for the ensaumple whilk he hast set. And so it is syc that we Richarde and Lena celestiaul princes wish and desyre to make the loird Duncan Forbes of owre most high esteme a member of the nobil, aunciant, and honorabil Companye of the Sunne and Challis, ande by the tokens sygnis and badges of whilk order he shall be knowin amongst alle deinseinis of this reaulme and in hothers as a member of the said compainie. Doun yhe Fredday the i day of thei mownth of Fabruarii in the year of the society xlvij. In witness quhereof we haue set owre oune handis and markis.

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© 2013, Sara L. Uckelman.

Fox for Katherine of Great Chesterford

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.

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© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.

Ffraid for AElfwynn of Eoforwic

The illumination, by Lady Saraswati, was based on the Book of Kells, so I used this image as my guide for the calligraphy.

The text, calligraphed over the course of two days and based on the Dec. 21, 1587 commission to Charles, Lord Howard, in State Papers Relating to the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, Anno 1588, vol. 1, John Knox Laughton, ed., (Navy Records Society: 1894), p. 19, was written the first day and translated into Latin the second; the calligraphy was done on both days.

The text:

Domina Ælfwynna de Eboraco, salutatio et salus ex Richardo et Lena, principibus Insulae.

Sci quod habentes specialium credum et confidentiam in fidelitate, prudentia, zelo, experientia, industria, et diligentia quod ostendisti, facimus, assignamus, constituimus, et ordinamus te esse socium ordonis Ffraid. Per ipsos principes vi octobris xlvii.

Translation:

Lady Ælfwynn of York, salutations and health from Richard and Lena, Princes of the Island.

Know you that we, reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity, prudence, zeal, experience, circumspection, industry, and diligence that you have long shown, do make, assign, constitute, and ordain you to be a companion of the Order of Ffraid: by these princes, vi oct xlvii.

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© 2012, Sara L. Uckelman.