Greetings to all and welcome to the March edition of CAMEL.

Huzzah to our new Heirs Sir Bain of Stornoway and Baroness Iglesia
Delamere

The registrations for the January letter of Acceptances and returns are:

Aífe ingen Cathail. Badge. (Fieldless) A dove striking affronty azure.

This badge does not conflict with the badge of Alexi Gensel,
(Fieldless) A goose displayed head to sinister azure. There is a DC
for fieldlessness, but none for striking affronty versus displayed.
Per SENA Appendix M1d, as we have no period evidence for a goose in the
displayed posture we do not get an SC for change in type of bird, but
there is enough difference between types for the required second DC,
making these clear of conflict.

• [2] Bjorn Sæmundarson. Badge for Eldsstaðir. Azure, on a sun Or an oak
  tree gules, a bordure Or.
• [3] Cheng Weiming. Badge. (Fieldless) A rod of Aesculapius argent
  within and conjoined to a serpent in annulo vorant of its tail sable.

This badge was pended on the September 2023 LoAR to redraw the charges
so they did not partially overlap.

As noted when this was pended, this badge does not violate SENA A3D1a:
“Having identical types of charges in multiple charge groups on the
field blurs the distinction between charge groups. Thus, it is not
allowed, except for cotises and endorses around an ordinary.” A rod of
Aesculapius is considered a single charge, which is clearly not
identical in type to a serpent.

• [4] Cristin verch Reys. Device. Per chevron vert and gules, a
  triquetra and in chief five jasmine flowers argent, in base a ladybug Or
  marked sable.

This device was pended on the September 2023 LoAR to redraw the per
chevron line of division higher on the field and to enlarge the
secondary flowers.

• [5] Gaspar Falch de Cantoria. Device. Argent, a falcon proper, on a
  bordure gules eight bezants.

Nice cant!

• [6] Gwen verch David. Badge. (Fieldless) An oak leaf within and
  conjoined to an annulet vert.
• [7] Gwen verch David. Release of Badge. (Fieldless) On a sheep statant
  argent an oak leaf vert.
• [8] Jayne Hunter. Badge. (Fieldless) In saltire two lightning bolts
  argent, overall a mouse rampant contourny Or.

There is a step from core practice for lightning bolts not used as part
of a thunderbolt.

• [9] Johannes van Aemstel. Name and device. Per pale argent and gules,
  a crow rising sable and a lion contourny argent and on a chief sable
  three saltorels counter-compony argent and gules.

Nice Dutch name for mid-15th century Antwerp!

• [10] Lilavati of Lochac. Badge. Quarterly Or and purpure, a lozenge
  counterchanged.

Nice badge!

• [11] Morgan of Ashley. Acceptance of transfer of badge from Sorle
  Maknicoll and Emelyn ffayrhome. (Fieldless) On a sun Or a hawk’s head
  erased gules.
• [12] Nest Brenhowel. Name and device. Argent, a griffin sable
  maintaining a heart enflamed to chief gules.

The submitter requested authenticity for “Neutral or feminine
preferred”. This name meets that request. It is an authentic feminine
name for the 1290s in Wales.

Nice device!

• [13] Oddr Manaskagi. Name and device. Vert, an apple tree eradicated
  argent fructed gules between in fess two chalices Or, a ford proper.

Submitted as Oddr Mánaskeggr, this name is not constructed correctly.
The submitter intended this byname to mean ‘moon bearded’ and provided
evidence of Old Norse kennings with similar poetic meanings. However, no
documentation was provided and none could be found for kennings being
used as bynames in Old Norse. Bynames in Old Norse are prosaic in
nature, not poetic. Further, the submitter requested authenticity for
“12th to 15th C Nordic”; as documented, all of the elements are dated
between the 9th and 11th centuries in Old West Norse from Iceland.

To retain as much of this name as possible and attempt to meet the
authenticity request, we have changed this name to Oddr Manaskagi for
registration. The given name Oddr dates to the 15th century in
Diplomatarium Norvegicum. The byname Manaskagi is a constructed 15th
century Middle Icelandic toponymic byname meaning ‘Mani’s cape’. This
pattern follows the examples found in Lind Dopnamn, s.n. Mani:
Manalæker ‘Mani’s creek’ 1486, Manaskal ‘Mani’s valley’ 1461/1497,
and Managhærði ‘Mani’s enclosure/enclosed place’ 1412. All of the
deuterothemes in these compound toponyms are inherited from Old
Icelandic words. Skagi is an Old Icelandic word found in
Cleasby-Vigfusson, s.v. skagi, meaning ‘a low cape or ness’. Therefore,
while we do not have any direct evidence of the byname Manaskagi, we
can with reasonable certainty say it is plausible for 15th century
Icelandic. We cannot consider it authentic at this time.

The submitter might be interested to know that the name Oddr máni skegg
would be an Old Norse name with the same elements that means “Odd
moon beard”. However, this name is only dated as late as the 11th
century, which is a hundred years too early for the authenticity
request. Another authentic option using these same name elements is
Oddur Mandne, which is attested to 15th century Sweden. If the
submitter is interested in either of the names Oddr máni skegg or
Oddur Mandne, they may make a request for reconsideration.

• [14] Oksina Myshkina. Name change from Olympia of Southron Gaard.

Submitted as Oksina Myshkinova, this name is not constructed
correctly. The byname Myshkin is already a masculine patronymic
byname, derived from the Russian word for ‘mouse’ mysh’ and its
diminutive ‘little mouse’ myshka. The expected feminine form of this
byname would be Myshkina. We have therefore made this change for
registration.

The submitter might be interested to know that other possible names
based on this byname would include: Oksina Myshkinicha, Oksina Myshkova,
and Oksina Myshkina doch’. If they would like any of these
options instead, they may make a request for reconsideration.

The submitter’s previous name, Olympia of Southron Gaard, is retained
as an alternate.

• [15] Olivia la Halconera. Name and device. Azure, a peacock contourny
  Or between three increscent moons argent.

This name combines an Italian given name and a Spanish byname, an
acceptable lingual mix per SENA Appendix C.

• [16] Primislava of Rowany. Name change from Primislava Wandrownyczka.

Rowany is the registered name of an SCA branch.

The submitter’s previous name, Primislava Wandrownyczka, is retained
as an alternate.

• [17] Sorle Maknicoll and Emelyn ffayrhome. Transfer of joint badge to
  Morgan of Ashley. (Fieldless) On a sun Or a hawk’s head erased gules.
• [18] Thomas Boardmakere. Alternate name Oddr of Mordenvale.

Mordenvale is the registered name of an SCA branch.

• [19] Tomás de Calatrava. Name and device. Azure, a Paschal lamb
  reguardant proper and on a chief gules three Maltese crosses Or.

Nice late 15th century Spanish name!

Documentation supporting an Individually Attested Pattern of charged
gules chiefs on azure fields was provided by the submitter and
commenters, allowing registration of this device.

A Paschal lamb proper is argent, haloed Or, with an argent banner
charged with a red cross throughout; the halo may also have an optional
red cross, and is treated as argent for the purposes of contrast and
conflict. We direct Palimpsest to add this information to Table 4 of the
Glossary of Terms.

The banner of a Paschal lamb, when plain or charged with a cross
throughout, is part of the definition of the charge and does not need to
be conflict checked as independent armory.

• [20] Wulfric h{y-}regilda. Name and device. Per pale sable and argent,
  two wolves combattant reguardant within an orle of ravens rising wings
  displayed counterchanged.

The Da’ud code {y-} represents a lowercase Latin letter y with a macron
over it.

There were no returns on Pends. Huzzah!

The accompanying letter is as follows:

FROM WREATH: ON CAUCASIAN

The word Caucasian as a racial classification is based on obsolete
18th century ideas about race, and the history of its use is steeped in
racist ideologies and policies. As such, we are retiring use of the word
when describing the proper color of human skin for any registrations
made on or after this date, and will be using the terms White or
light-skinned, as described on the January 2021 Cover Letter, in its
place. We will not be updating registered blazons that use this word
unless they are already being reblazoned for some other reason. We
direct Palimpsest to update Table 4 of the Glossary of Terms
accordingly.

• [21] FROM WREATH: ON INTERLOCKING HEADS

This month we were asked to consider a submission involving the motif of
interlocking animal heads. In the defining instance of this motif, we
wrote:

A rare but notable practice in German heraldry was to have charges
issuant symmetrically from either side of a line of division, forming
the appearance of a complex line of division. When formed of animal’s
heads, the jaws of each head would frequently interlock in the center
of the line of division. The practice appears to always have the same
type of charge repeated on each side of the division, rather than
different charges on each side. For SCA purposes, each submission
following this pattern should be treated as two separate charges, each
issuant from the line of division, with the type of field division (per
bend, per fess, per pale, etc.) dictating the angle of the charges
issuant therefrom. [Sigrothr Melrakki, 03/2018, A-Artemisia]

Two beast’s heads issuing from the line of division without their facial
features interlocking is also a period motif, and doesn’t seem to have
been interchangeable with the interlocking version. Under our current
pattern for blazoning these there is no way for an artist to tell which
depiction is intended.

To that end, and based on the German blazon term [plural animal name]+schnitt
, going forward we will blazon the interlocking depiction
as [animals]-cut tincture1 and tincture2. For example, two lion’s
heads interlocked in argent and azure would be blazoned lions-cut argent and azure.

Period examples all have the head of the first tincture inverted and
facing sinister, and the head of the second tincture upright and facing
dexter. This, and its mirror image (blazoned as [animals]-cut reversed)
will both be registerable. Other orientations must be
attested to be registered.

Period examples also show the dividing line meeting the edges of the
field anywhere from per pale, through per bend sinister, to per fess,
even in different renditions of the same armory. Much like
charges in annulo, we will not grant difference for the exact
orientation or arrangement of the heads, the direction they face, or the
direction of the line of division.

Because of the high degree of complexity of the line dividing the two
tinctures, this motif will only be allowed when there is good contrast
between the sections. Armory using this motif will not be allowed with
secondary charges, aside from peripheral ordinaries which will be
allowed on a case-by-case basis.

These designs will be considered primarily as a field division. We
decline to rule at this time on what difference would be counted between
these designs and armory with distinct charges on a divided field. We
also decline to rule at this time on what difference would be counted
between these motifs using different animal’s heads.

Existing registrations using this motif will be reblazoned accordingly.

• [22] FROM WREATH: ON CONFLICT CHECKING LEAVES

This month we considered two items where the shape of the leaf was a key
factor in determining conflict. The conflict-checking of leaves has, for
decades, been a complex, challenging process, with all the relevant
decisions found in precedent, and no way to determine conflict between
two types of leaf not mentioned in precedent. To simplify this process,
and to provide a unifying framework for future decisions, we are
classifying the types of leaf as follows:

“Leaf-shaped” – oval or pointed oval, may or may not have serrated edges

Includes default leaf, aspen, birch, blackthorn, elm

“Heart-shaped” – generally round shape, may be pointed, with a distinct
concavity by the stem, includes arrow-shaped leaves

Includes linden, water lily, lady’s mantle, paulownia, morning glory

“Maple-shaped” – roughly as tall as they are wide, a few large lobes
that radiate from where the leaf meats the stem

Includes maple, sycamore, fig, ivy, grape, strawberry

“Oak-shaped” – taller than they are wide, multiple lobes or points that
issue from a central vein

Includes oak, holly, dandelion, acanthus

“Frond-shaped” – multiple long leaflets issuing from a central stalk

Includes palm fronds and ferns

Leaves in different categories have a DC between them. Leaves within the
same category will generally conflict with each other. Leaves that fit
in more than one of the above categories will be considered on a
case-by-case basis.

This policy was determined by a thorough review of all past leaf
precedents, and aligns with nearly all of them. Any past precedents that
disagree with this policy are hereby overturned.

Notes:

These categories are not taxonomic classifications – some types of oak
leaves, for example, better fit “Leaf-shaped”; these would be considered
leaf-shaped leaves for the purposes of conflict.

Most compound or pinnate leaves are blazoned as sprigs of leaves, and
the individual leaflets are blazoned as leaves. The most common
exception is strawberry leaves, where the term “leaf” is always used to
refer to the cluster of three leaflets.

We direct Palimpsest to update SENA Appendix M with this information.

• [23] FROM WREATH: ON EMBLAZONING LEAVES

Because nature has no respect for our nice little boxes, there are some
leaves that have a lot of variety in shape, even on the same branch. In
these cases the most distinctive and recognizable of their shapes should
be used in emblazons: for example, a leaf blazoned as a holly leaf but
drawn without notches, even though this appearance is common in nature,
is not identifiable as holly and will be blazoned simply as a leaf.

• [24] FROM LAUREL: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Recently, a rather large Letter of Intent revealed some confusion about
the acceptable number of items. As it turns out, submissions heralds in
different kingdoms have been operating under different views of how long
a LoI may be; and while most agree that there is a maximum number of
items, this isn’t written down anywhere accessible.

One thing to consider here is that kingdoms sometimes have reasons to
send large letters. Most often this happens after major wars, although
in our history other causes have also resulted in massive amounts of
submissions getting to the College at the same time. However, another
aspect of this is that it does no-one any particular good to swamp the
college with submissions on which people cannot realistically comment:
making properly informed decisions depends on commentary, and the
heralds who provide that commentary have only limited resources. Burning
out commenters is highly undesirable.

Therefore, any Letters of Intent submitted after the end of March will
be limited to a maximum of 50 items per kingdom per month, either names
or armory. Please note that this likely means somewhat fewer numbered
items, as having both a name and the attached device will count for two
items. In rare cases, Laurel may grant an exception to this limit. To
make this information more easily accessible, we will ask the approval
of the Board of Directors for adding a section to the end of
Administrative Handbook V.B.2:

i. Number of Items – A kingdom is limited to a maximum of 50 items per
month. A name and any attached piece of armory are counted separately,
even if they are presented together in OSCAR. If necessary, remaining
submissions should be pushed to the next month according to a policy
set by the Principal Herald.

FROM PELICAN: SENA PN1B2C – LINGUA SOCIETATIS ALLOWANCE

PN1B2c allows descriptive and locative bynames to use the lingua Societatis
Allowance. Appendix B makes it clear that occupational
bynames are not descriptive bynames; however, precedent allows
occupational bynames to use the lingua Societatis Allowance. In order
to make clear that occupational bynames may use this allowance,
Palimpsest is directed to update the first sentence of PN1B2c to:

We allow the registration of translations of attested and constructed
descriptive, occupational, and locative bynames into standard modern
language forms.

We wish to thank M{a-}lik ibn Q{a-}rin ibn al-M{a-}rid{i-} ibn Jinn{i-}
al-‘Abd{a-}r{i-} al-Shayb{a-}n{i-} for bringing this issue to our
attention.

[1] FROM PELICAN: ARTICLE ERRATA

This month we considered a submission that used “Jewish Names in the
World of Medieval Islam” compiled by Yehoshua ben Haim haYerushalmi
(https://heraldry.sca.org/names/Jewish/Cairo/index.html). This article
capitalizes the articles ben, bint, bat, bar, ibn and al-.
None of these articles should be capitalized for submission unless
documentation for that capitalization in period sources can be provided
at the time of submission.

In addition, this work discusses use of the article ibin. This is a
typo for the standard ibn. We will not register the article ibin as
of publication of this letter.

Palimpsest is directed to update the Standard Source “Errata” article
with these changes.

Congratulations to all those whose names and devices were registered
and keep sending in those submissions.

Yours in service

Isabella Crux

Links:

[1] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01cl.html#8
[2] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#189
[3] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#206
[4] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#207
[5] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#190
[6] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#191
[7] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#192
[8] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#193
[9] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#194
[10] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#195
[11] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#196
[12] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#197
[13] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#198
[14] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#199
[15] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#200
[16] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#201
[17] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#202
[18] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#203
[19] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#204
[20] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01lar.html#205
[21] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01cl.html#2
[22] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01cl.html#3
[23] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01cl.html#4
[24] https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2024/01/24-01cl.html#5