Appendix 7
September the 26th,
AS XXIII (1988).
Unto the Heraldic Officers of the Crown Principality of
Ealdormere,
Greetings from Lord Brenainn O'Murchadha de Ros Comain,
Trillium Herald.
Good Gentles All:
Our beloved Sovereigns have recently graced our fair land
with the status of a Crown Principality. We must now begin in earnest to design
Arms for this newly created state. The Lord and Lady Lieutenant shall soon make
a public call for the submission of proposed Arms. It shall be our
responsibility to solicit, gather and analyze these proposals, and then submit
the final selection to the College
of Arms
The timetable for this process shall be roughly as follows:
early October - proposals for Arms
solicited fron the people
October 22nd - October Faire,
Greyfells - heralds meeting to discuss those proposals collected to date
November 12th - Feast of the Hare,
Skraeling Althing - Council meeting; heraldically acceptable proposals presented
for the Council's viewing
early December proposals circulated
to all group seneschals for viewing by the people; further proposals solicited
January ?th – Twelfth Night,
Septentria – heralds meeting to discuss any new proposals; acceptable ones
shown to the Council
January - February - proposals
circulated to the seneschals for voting by the people
March - successful proposal submitted
to the College of
Arms
Some fears have been expressed to me as to the advisability
of the selection of Arms by the (generally) heraldically ignorant populous. As
all of the proposals put before the people will have been thoroughly vetted by us
first, nothing heraldically incorrect will be available for selection. This is
thus not a problem.
The role of the local pursuivants in all of this shall be to
collect any proposals offered by members of the populous, scan them for any
obvious breaches of armorial rules (ie, tincture misuse, blatant conflicts,
lack of a laurel wreath, extreme complexity, unsubtle offensiveness, etc.), and
send them on to me. Do not spend too much time in discoursing with people about
their proposals. Please ensure that the proposees all know that their
suggestions may be subject to alteration by the Heraldic Officers of Ealdormere
(ie, if a proposal contains one or more good ideas, but is generally unacceptable,
it will not be tossed out, but rather adjusted to rneet armorial standards).
The most important rule governing our future submission of
Arms is AR5, the Good Example Rule; "the armery of Society branches and
officers shall set a good example." To my mind this means that our future
Arms should appear as mediaeval as possible. Nothing listed as a Discouraged
Practice should be used in a proposal. Practices such as "mirror-image"
symmetry, the implication of motion , and unbalanced design should be avoided,
as should charges and design elements created within the Society (such as
wreaths "in bordure" or fields "maily"). However , do not worry
too much about this at the local level; those proposals that do not set a good
example will, be weeded out long prior to voting.
Another relevant rule is AR9, the Charge Requirements. Part
"a" states that "territorial branch arms shall contain at least one
laurel wreath as a significant part of the design." The keyword here is
"significant;" a tiny wreath off in a corner won't do. Part
"b" sets out that "principalities may bear a coronet in their
arms if they wish, but are not required to." Crowns and coronets are
identical; the difference is entirely one of blazon.
Proposals should be submitted on standard heraldic emblazon
forms, one coloured and one not, with no writing in any of the spaces provided.
Well drawn proposals would be preferred, of course, but redrawing can be
arranged. As well as the emblazen, the proposal should include a letter
explaining the reasoning behind the proposed design. Please give the collection
of proposals top priority among your duties; I don't think people will mind any
possible delays if it's for the service of Ealdormere (however, I still expect
your quarterly report on time!).
On wolves: I am of the opinion that wolve s should be
discouraged as a part of our Arms, for two reasons:
a) mediaevally, the wolf was a creature of considerable ill-repute;
it is not very symbolic of the excellent qualities of the Ealdormerean peoples,
and
b) I find the wolf rather dull; I'd rather see some more
unusual creature as our totem.
However, by now this beast is probably inseparable from the
concept of Ealdormere in many people's hearts. I propose that the Arms be
lacking in wolves, but that a wolf badge of some kind, for the general use of
the folk of Ealdormere (after all, only the Prince and Princess of Ealdormere
will have the use of the Arms), be simultaneously registered. I like
"argent, a demi-wolf rampant gules issuant from flames azure," based
on an idea (I don't know whose) which I overheard at an event. It incorporates
the people's wolf motif, the primary tinctures from the Arms of Septentria,
Skraeling Althing, and Noergate, and also relates a bit of our Principality's
history. Keep in mind that in mediaeval times badges rarely had any relation to
the arms borne by those who used them; it would be a "good example"
if Ealdormere followed suit.
On the name: if anyone out there has reason to dislike the
name Ealdormere, or thinks they have a better idea, they are welcome to submit
a properly documented name proposal. However, I would not offer much for their
chances of success; our name is even more ingrained than the wolf symbol. There
is no harm in their trying, however.
Should anyone wish to submit proposals for award titles
and/or badges, they are welcome to do so. These will not be considered until
some future time, and are not yet a priority. Any such proposals will be stored
and studied until needed.
On to more commonplace matters.
When a submission. is sent to me, the monies to cover
expenses should be in the form of a cheque or money order payable to the
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. Cash, or cheques/money orders payable to
me, are an inconvenience and an extra expense for me: I have to change them
into an acceptable money order and send this on to Kingdom level. I do not get
to keep any of the submitters money, it all goes to Dragon Herald. Please find
with this letter an updated listing of my resources. My thanks for your
cooperation in these matters. Best wishes to you all!
Your Servant as Ever,
Brenainn O'Murchadha, Trillium Herald.
[contact information removed]
December the 7th, AS
XXIII (1985).
Unto the Group Seneschals of the Crown Principality of
Ealdormere, and All Other Gentles to Whom this missive may come, Greetings from
Lord Brenainn O'Murchadha de Ros Comain, Trillium Principality Herald.
Most August Lords and
Ladies:
This letter is for the purpose of acquainting the citizens
of Ealdormere with the current selection of possibilities for our Principality
Arms. Please allow the good gentlefolk of your group to view and (I hope)
discuss this letter and the accompanying emblazons as soon as you may. Please
colour the illustrations, perhaps with the aid of your local pursuivant.
The arms proposals herein depicted have all been checked for
conflict t0 the best of my current ability (with one exception). They are all
heraldically correct.
They are:
a) Gules, a wolf passant argent within a laurel wreath, in
chief a coronet or.
b) Argent, a laurel wreath gules, overall on a fess wavy
azure, a coronet argent.
c) Or, a fountain within a laurel wreath azure, in chief a
coronet gules.
d) Argent, a pale gules, overall a wolf rampant or holding
in the forepaws a laurel wreath vert, in chief a coronet or.
e) Gules, a trillium flower proper within a laurel wreath,
in chief a coronet argent.
f) Argent, on a fess gules between three laurel wreaths
vert, a coronet or.
g) Per bend. sinister argent and gules, a compass-star
counterchanged, in canton a coronet gules within a laurel wreath vert.
h) Azure, a laurel wreath and on a chief wavy or, a coronet
gules.
i) Vert, a shakefork fleury between in chief a coronet and
in base two laurel wreath or.
j) Quarterly gules and azure, a horse statant, armed and
caparisoned, in base a laurel wreath argent.
k) Argent, a demi-wolf rampant gules issuant from flames
azure (a badge).
The only one of the above which has not yet been checked is
j); it was included because my brother drew one extra escutcheon on the
emblazon sheet, and also because it is the only submission thus far to attempt
to cant on the name Ealdormere (older-mare; a grey horse). I have a goodly
number of other proposals on hand which yet require checking. Further
suggestions will be accepted until January.
Item k) is not an arms proposal, but rather a badge for the
use of the people at large. Keep in mind that the Principality Arms will be for
the use of the Prince and Princess; use by other citizens will be most
uncommon.
Please be sure that your group is aware that anyone can send
me their proposals, and that I must have them by January, the earlier, the
better. My address can be found below. Great thanks for your cooperation in
this matter!
Your Humble Servant,
Lord Brenainn O’Murchadha.
[contact information removed]
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