Adrian Imperial College of Arms nigelbyz@yahoo.com 10 December 1999

Unto the members of the Imperial College of Arms does Lord Nigel the Byzantine, Fleur-de-Lis King of Arms, send Greetings and Salutations!

Fellow Heralds:

We Have Achieved Website!

At long last, the website for the Imperial College of Arms has been published. Its temporary home is at http://www.geocities.com/nigelbyz/. Once we’ve got the majority of the bugs worked out, the site will be migrated over to a more permanent home off of the Imperial website. Please report any bugs or other problems to the webmaster, Fleur-de-Lis.

Because we now have the website in operation, these LoRRs will no longer include emblazons. Emblazons are now available on the website, either by going to the LoRR page, or finding the registrant’s name in the Armorial page.

Awards Received at Coronation by ICoA Members

Members of the College of Arms made out like bandits when the awards were being handed out:

Congratulations to Hrothgar Ragnarsson, Solaris, for being created the Premier Companion of the Order of the Talbot!

Congratulations to Aerindane McLorie, Dragon, for being created a Companion of the Order of the Nebula!

Congratulations to Sir Karl von Katzburg, Tyger, for being created a Companion of the Order of the Comet!

Congratulations to Dame Maud de Clayton, Portcullis, for taking her First-Level Knighthood in the Arts!

Oh yeah, and I was made a Baronet, too…. :)

In addition, two of our members have taken Crowns!

Sir Coda, Embattled Hope, is now King of Esperance, and Sir Raffe, White Rose, is now Crown Prince of York! Congratulations! Both of these fine gentlemen will be stepping down from their heraldic posts, but they already have excellent replacements already lined up. See the Roster for details. In like manner, Dame Allora, Griffin, has announced her intention to seek the Crown of TerreNeuve. It seems that Heralds are taking over the world! :)

Sad News

Gregoire d’Avallon, Beltazure King of Arms, has decided to take a hiatus from Adria, for reasons that remain his own. As many of you may be aware, Gregoire was my "drop-dead" deputy, and has been my right hand this past year. His departure leaves me without the best co-worker and friend I could ever have asked for. Many of the reforms of the past year were either his idea or were made workable by his input. He will be sorely missed, and I wish him well on whatever path he may take.

Help Wanted

As Gregoire’s departure leaves a gaping hole in my administration, things are going to be hectic for a while. I am taking applications for Beltazure King of Arms. Applicants must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the Rules for Heraldic Registrations, as well as a good knowledge of Heraldry, and access to a computer with MS Office (97 or better) capability. Please email Letters of Application directly to me.

In the meantime, the duties that Beltazure was undertaking, including the administration of the Shires as well as the compilation of the Ordinary, will have to be parceled out. Shires east of Mountain Time will be under the guidance of Dragon, while those in Pacific and Mountain Times will be under Griffin’s wing. The Ordinary project has been placed on hold.

Results of the Imperial Estates Meeting and Coronation

You may all remember from July’s Estates Meeting the piece of new business marked Q, which intended to codify a system of regalia with regard to rank and title. I had put forth a much simpler proposal, which was not supported by all members of the College. Sir Nikolai Belski and I worked out an agreement, which goes as follows:

By vote of the Estates, Article IX.A, B, and D and all of Article X are removed from the Bylaws. My proposal will be combined with the removed Bylaw articles and written up as an Estates Writ, with Proposition Q being checked against the resultant Writ and published as an auxiliary historical document. This Writ will be published in about three weeks.

Revised RfHR

The Rules for Heraldic Registrations and the Manual for the College of Arms have been combined into one comprehensive document. All Rule citations in this LoRR use the new numbering system. Please consult the Preface of the new RfHR (Included with this LoRR) for comparison of the old and new systems. The new RfHR is posed on the website.

Heraldic Adrian Herald

I am in negotiation with the Imperial Chronicler to produce a special issue of the Adrian Herald with the sole focus of Heraldry and the College of Arms. I would appreciate any articles you may wish to submit. Send them directly to me by the 15th of January 2000.

Heraldic Ranks and Titles

I've given a lot of thought to our ranking system and its relation to Period style. Historically, only the chief herald of a region was styled Sovereign of Arms; the heralds of lesser entities were considered assistants to the Sovereign of Arms and were syled Pursuivants if they were junior and Heralds (with a capital H) if they were senior. Adrian practice of calling every person doing heraldry a "Sovereign of Arms" is not only seriously incorrect, it is also seriously misleading, as well.

There is also the aspect of the elevation of local areas. When an area increases in size and rank, several things happen to increase its prestige. From a mere Shire ruled by a Viceroy under direct Imperial control, they move to Duchy, with limited autonomy and are ruled by a Duke. From there, they become a Kingdom, completely autonomous regarding their own internal affairs and are ruled by a King.

I believe this elevation of prestige should also apply to the College of Arms. Heraldry already has an established ranking system based on the relative ranks of the Geographic Chartered Subdivision (GCS) or Estate served, I believe we should use this to promote a more Period feeling to our dealings as heralds.

In an effort to avoid confusion, in this statement I will be using the lower-case "sovereign of arms", even though this is grossly incorrect. Many Adrians still persist in the belief that the term "herald" is reserved for the person doing Court. I will be using "court herald" when I specifically mean this job. We are all "heralds", no matter what it is we are doing.

1. A person acting as sovereign of arms for a Shire shall be styled as <groupname> Pursuivant.
2. A person acting as sovereign of arms for a Duchy shall be styled as <groupname>or <title> Herald.
3. A person acting as sovereign of arms for a Kingdom shall be styled as <groupname> or <title> Sovereign of Arms and may use King or Queen in place of Sovereign according to personal or regional preference.
4. Deputies to GCS heralds shall be styled <groupname> or <title> Pursuivant.
5. A person acting as a court herald to any Estate or GCS shall be styled as <estate name> Court Herald.
6. The person acting as Imperial Sovereign of Arms shall be styled as Fleur-de-Lis Sovereign of Arms and may use King or Queen in place of Sovereign according to personal preference.
7. A person serving as Deputy Regional Imperial Sovereign of Arms shall be styled as <title> Sovereign of Arms and may use King or Queen in place of Sovereign according to personal preference. These titles shall be assigned by the Imperial Sovereign of Arms.
8. Other deputies to the Imperial Sovereign of Arms shall be styled as <title> Herald or <title> Pursuivant, depending on rank and duties within the Imperial College. These titles shall be assigned by the Imperial Sovereign of Arms.
9. Regions may petition the Imperial Sovereign of Arms for an appropriate title for their sovereign of arms and any deputies.
10. Archduchies may petition the Imperial Sovereign of Arms to raise their Herald in rank to Sovereign of Arms. The criteria for this elevation shall be:

    The Archduchy has a population of 75 or more.
    The Archduchy is on track to become a Kingdom within the year.
    The Archducal Herald reports on a consistent basis.

11. Former regional sovereigns of arms and Deputy Imperial Sovereigns of Arms may style themselves Pursuivant Extraordinary, if they remain active in the College and maintain a current Adrian membership.
12. Former Imperial Sovereigns of Arms may style themselves Herald Extraordinary, if they remain active in the College and maintain a current Adrian membership.
13. The Imperial Sovereign of Arms may grant a permanent title to a Pursuivant or Herald Extraordinary either as a reward for service or by petition from the individual affected. The Imperial Sovereign of Arms may also raise a Pursuivant Extraordinary to the rank of Herald Extraordinary for exceptional talent or service.

Please see the latest Roster (elsewhere on the Website) for examples.

Miscellany

A mnemonic to remember the cadency marks as used in English heraldry:

"The sun, the moon, and the stars are for the birds -- a big nothing. Flora rose cross and ate flour."

First son - Label; Second son - Crescent; Third son - Mullet; Fourth son – Martlet; Fifth son - Annulet; Sixth son – Fleur-de-lis; Seventh son – Rose; Eighth son – Cross Moline; Ninth son – Octfoil (double quatrefoil).

As always, please feel free to contact either Nigel, Gregor, Allora, or Aerindane with any comments, questions, or concerns you may have.

In service to the Empire and the Art of Heraldry,

Nigel the Byzantine
Fleur-de-Lis King of Arms

REGISTRATIONS AND RETURNS

In order for those members of the College not well-versed in Heraldry to make sense of the LoRR, I am including such things as Complexity Count in the comments. However, this month's comments are more succinct than previous months because of time considerations. Also, Rules will not be completely quoted, just numbered. If you have any questions about anything on the LoRR, please feel free to ask. Also, if you disagree with any of my rulings, please feel free to comment. I am not infallible.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED:

Aragon, Kingdom of

Catrina Peruzzi (Device) - Azure, a unicorn rampant between three roses argent.

Complexity count 4. Nice, simple Period design. The visual weight of the unicorn and roses could be improved by making the roses smaller and the unicorn larger, but this is not in and of itself reason enough for return.

Clear of Jeannee Marie de Treson (Pembroke: Mar 1991): Azure, a unicorn proper, and in sinister chief three arrows fesswise reversed or. 1 CD for type of secondaries (arrows to roses) (XI.C.5), 2nd for position of secondaries (clustered in sinister chief to two-and-one) (XI.C.7). Since a unicorn proper is defined as argent, horned, unguled, and hooved or, the secondary tincturing does not count for difference in this case.

Clear of Helena of Stonecourt (Pembroke: Oct 1990): Azure, a unicornate pegasus argent, horned and unguled or. 1 CD for the change to the primary (change of type of monster from winged composite to standard unicorn) (XI.B), 2nd CD for addition of secondaries (XI.C.2).

Clear of House Lai Fail (TerreNeuve: Jul 1996): Azure, on a mount sable a unicorn passant argent. 1 CD for the change of posture of the primary (passant to rampant) (XI.C.8). 2nd for addition of the secondaries. Looking at this emblazon, the mount is not a significant part of the design, and therefore its removal does not count toward difference.

No conflicts found.

David von Albrecht (Device) - Sable, a lion rampant queue-fourchee argent and a chief lozengy argent and azure.

Complexity count 5.

This has a possible conflict: Aerindane McLorie (Device: Chesapeake, Apr 1999) Sable, a Bengal tiger rampant argent marked sable maintaining a sword or. 1 CD is gained by the addition of the chief, but no other CD's are gained for maintained charges or the tail. However, let us look at XI.D.1, the Visual Test:

XI.D.1. If the tinctures, shapes, or arrangement of the charges in a presentation create an overwhelming visual resemblance to a piece of protected armory, the presentation will be held to conflict even if sufficient theoretical difference can be counted between them.

We feel that this conflict is overriden under XI.D.1, as the cumulative differences between the two devices, including the striping on the tiger, the sword, and the split tail, added to the visual weight of the chief, make these two devices clear of conflict. In order to accommodate this precedent, we have renumbered XI.D.2 to XI.D.3 and inserted the following:

XI.D.2. This Rule may also be used in its converse: that even if sufficient theoretical difference may not be counted between two pieces of armory, the overall effect of the tinctures, shapes, or arrangement of the charges may be sufficient to clear a conflict.

No conflicts found.

Dwarf Erikson (Device Resub) - Or, a griffin sejant, dexter forepaw raised sable.

Complexity count 3. His previous presentation, Or, a griffin sejant, dexter forepaw raised sable within a bordure gules, was returned for redraw because the bordure was barely one pixel wide. We suggested that he either draw the (unnecessary) bordure wider or lose it altogether, the latter of which he has done here, thus much improving the device.

Clear of James of March de Coirnoir (TerreNeuve, Nov 1994): Azure, a griffin sejant, dexter forepaw raised sable headed and marked argent, within a bordure argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd CD for removing the bordure (IX.C.2). Looking at the emblazon shows that the griffin is primarily sable, with minor argent markings, so this does not count toward difference.

Clear of Robert Jehan Alexandre Chrysostom Antoine Michel de St-Albain Annecy von Hapsburg’s badge (Esperance: Unk): Gules, a griffin sable. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field, 2nd for changing the posture of the primary charge (griffins are by default segreant [rampant]).

Clear of Galadon Pendragon de Glendorren‘s badge (Esperance: Apr 1996): Sable, a griffin sejant reguardant argent. 1 CD for changing tincture of the field, 2nd CD for changing the tincture of the primary. Because the postures are so close, no difference is counted between them (IX.C.8: "A change of posture must affect the orientation of the charge, or significantly change its appearance.").

No conflicts found.

Horatio Merriweather (Device) - Gules, three anchors within a bordure or.

Complexity count 4.

He would like to release his previously registered device, Gules, in saltire a pair of scimitars surmounted by a palm tree sable, the whole fimbriated or, between three decrescents argent, registered under the Game name Achbar of Dark Sands.

No conflicts found.

Horatio Merriwether (Badge Transfer) – Sable, a wyvern passant or and on a chief gules three anchors or.

House HMS Draconus has asked the Crown of Aragon to transfer this badge to Lord Horatio for his service as their founder, and they have consented. Since Estate arms technically belong to the GCS Crown, this permission was necessary. The transfer is so noted.

The registrant has since moved to Esperance and presented additional armory; see his entry under that Kingdom.

Hrothgar Ragnarsson (Device) - Argent, on a cross sable a wolf's head cabossed argent.

Complexity count 4. Nice, strong Viking name.

Clear of the Flag of Adria (Adria: Dec 1998): Argent, a cross or. 1 CD for changing the tincture of the primary (IX.C.4), 2nd CD for addition of the tertiary (IX.C.9).

Clear of the Order of St. Joan (Adria: Aug 1992): Argent, on a cross gules a lily argent. 1 CD for changing the tincture of the primary, 2nd CD for substantially changing the tertiary (lily to wolf’s head) (IX.C.10.a).

Clear of England’s Cross of St. George (Mundane: Dec 1998): Argent, a cross gules. Same reasons as for the Flag of Adria, above.

There are several other mundane flags of Argent, a cross <tincture>, all of which are clear by the same reasons given above. No other conflicts found.

Kelleen O'Shaughnessy (Device) - Azure, two lions combattant argent and in chief an estoile en soleil or.

Complexity count 5. The estoile en soleil is questionably Period, but under the Grandfather clause (XVIII), since she registered the charge previously, this objection is irrelevant. XVIII applies even though the registrant is releasing her previously registered arms (see below).

No conflicts found.

She would like to release her previously registered device, Per bend engrailed azure and vert, an estoile en soleil or and a tree eradicated argent, registered under the Game name Morrgon O'Shaughnessy.

Loren Heartless (Device Resub) - Vert, a boar's head couped close argent.

Complexity count 3. His previous presentation, Vert, a boar's head (?) couped close and in canton a fleur-de-lis argent, was returned for lack of identifiability and violation of restricted charges. This improves the design (including lifting Fleur-de-Lis' own graphic!) immensely. He may wish to draw the charge larger.

Clear of Angus McCllister’s badge (Umbria: Jun 1997): Or, a boar's head couped close gules. 1 CD for changing the tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd for changing the tincture of the primary (IX.C.4).

No conflicts found.

Marchellina de Peruzzi (Device) - Azure, a dolphin naiant argent and on a chief or, three roses gules barbed and seeded argent.

Complexity count 7. Originally presented with the roses tinctured murrey, after speaking with the presenter, she has agreed to present them as gules.

No conflicts found.

Rose Raven Feather (Device) - Argent, three plumes sable.

Complexity count 3. No conflicts found.

Sedessa Iva de Insula (Device) - Per bend purpure and vert, a bend bevilled between a tree eradicated and two decrescents in bend, all argent.

Complexity count 6. No conflicts found.

Thomas Bligthe (Device) - Gules, a chevron argent between two anchors and a griffin passant or.

Complexity count 6.

Clear of Owen Tudor (Mundane) - Gules, a chevron between three tilting helms argent. 1 CD for change of type of secondaries (IX.C.5), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the secondaries (IX.C.4).

Clear of Robert Jehan Alexandre Chrysostom Antoine Michel de St-Albain Annecy von Hapsburg‘s badge (Esperance: Nov 1994) – Gules, a chevron or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the primary (IX.C.4), 2nd CD for addition of secondaries (IX.C.2).

Clear of Barony of Dinn Righ (York: Mar 1995) - Gules, a chevron between a mullet of eight points, an oak leaf, and a tower, all argent. 1 CD for change of type of secondaries (IX.C.5), 2nd CD for change of tincture of the secondaries (IX.C.4).

No conflicts found.

Thomas Dayton of Aragon (Device) - Gules, in fess a dexter hand appaumy and a sinister hand appaumy or.

Complexity count 3. No conflicts found.

Winfred Randal Llewellyn ap Alyson (Device Grandfather) - Azure, a flame of fire proper within an annulet nowed at the base of a Staffordshire knot argent.

This armory was originally registered in the mists of time and lost (Sir Winfred is the first King of Adria). The registrant should be made aware that flames of fire are correctly drawn as alternating tongues of gules and or, not as an amorphous flame with fimbriation (which until recently was the standard in SCA armory).

Esperance, Kingdom of

Elspeth O’Neill de Glendorrin (Device) – Vert, a Latin Celtic Cross or and on a chief argent three harps sable.

Complexity count 7.

Clear of House of the Celtic Cross (Aragon: Jul 1998) - Vert, a Celtic cross argent and a chief triangular sable fimbriated argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the primary (IX.C.4.), 2nd CD for changes to the chief (IX.C.4, 8, & 9).

Clear of the Domain of Clan Kilshannig (Adria: Nov 1993) - Vert, a Celtic cross within a bordure invected argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the primary (IX.C.4), 2nd CD for changes to the perhipheral ordinary (IX.C.8 & 9).

No conflicts found.

Emilia Scrappenhopper (Device) – Per pale wavy argent and vert, two popinjays respectant counterchanged.

Complexity count 3. No conflicts found.

Esperance, Kingdom of (Badge) – Purpure, a lion crowned within a bordure or. (for Embattled Hope Sovereign of Arms)

Complexity count 4.

Clear of Cedrik Kilshannig (Umbria: Nov 1998) – Gules, a lion or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd CD for addition of the perhipheral ordinary (IX.C.2).

Clear of Kingdom of Umbria (Umbria: Mar 1997) - Vert, a lion crowned within a double tressure flory counter-flory or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd CD for changing type of perhipheral ordinary (IX.C.5).

No conflicts found.

Horatio Merriwether (Badge) – Per pale gules and sable, three anchors within a bordure embattled or.

Complexity count 5. No conflicts found. The registrant already possesses Gules, three anchors within a bordure or. This would ordinarily be counted as a conflict, with only 1 CD for changing the tincture of the field, and none for the complex line of the perhipheral ordinary. However, at this time Fleur-de-Lis would like to make the following precedent:

PRECEDENT: No conflict is called with armory the registrant already possesses.

Since the system of conflict is in place to prevent two individuals from having armory that is too similar, it does not apply to individuals who are registering badges with the same motif as their arms.

Horatio Merriwether (Badge) – Or, on a chevron gules three anchors palewise or, all within a bordure azure.

Complexity count 6. No conflicts found.

Horatio Merriwether (Badge) – Or semy-de-lis gules, on a bend gules three anchors palewise or.

Complexity count 5. No conflicts found.

Please inform the registrant that he now has 5 registrations to his credit, and has 1 more left before he reaches his limit of 6 (XVII.A).

Jamie the Red (Device) – Sable, a dragon rampant gules and on a chief argent a length of chain gules.

Complexity count 6. Because this gentleman’s previously registered arms, Sable, in dexter a dragon rampant gules and on a pale offset to sinister argent a length of chain gules contain the motif of a gules dragon rampant on a sable field, he is permitted to register this revised motif. The registrant wishes to retain his previously registered arms as a badge.

Clear of Temjur Jhitan (York: Oct 1996) - Sable, an Oriental dragon passant reguardant within a bordure gules. 1 CD for change of posture of the primary (IX.C.8), 2nd CD for change of tincture and type of perhipheral (IX.C.4 & 5). Dragons, whether Occidental or Oriental, conflict with each other.

No conflicts found.

Katherine mac Domnaill (Device) – Argent, a bend sable between two roses proper.

Complexity count 5. Clear of Maxwell Saint Stevens (Dragon’s Mist: Dec 1997) - Argent, a bend between two mullets gules. 1 CD for change of tincture of the primary (IX.C.4), 2nd CD for change of type of secondary (IX.C.5).

No conflicts found.

Katherine Marshall (Badge) - Purpure, a fleur-de-lis or, overall a cat sejant guardant ermine.

Complexity count 5. The registrant is a Princess, and thereby has the right to register a gold fleur-de-lis.

Clear of the Empire of Adria’s badge (Adria: Dec 1998) - (Fieldless) A fleur-de-lis or. 1 CD for fielded vs. fieldless (IX.C.1.a), 2nd CD for addition of the overall charge (IX.C.3).

Clear of the Empire of Adria (Adria: Dec 1998) - Argent, a fleur-de-lis or enfiled of a crown argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd CD for addition of the overall charge (IX.C.3).

Clear of the badge of the Royal Order of the Queen’s Guard (Adria: Apr 1987) - Azure, a fleur-de-lis or. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field (IX.C.1), 2nd CD for addition of the overall charge (IX.C.3).

No conflicts found.

Maedb Hawkins Drakonja (Device) – Sable, a cat in its curiosity contourny or peering into a cauldron bendwise argent, and on a chief argent a length of chain azure.

Complexity count 8. This presentation is based on Fleur-de-Lis’ innacurate research regarding the posture of "a cat in its curiosity", which has since proven to be post-Period. Since, at the time of presentation, both the registrant and Fleur-de-Lis believed it to be Period, we are accepting it in good faith, not wishing to penalize the registrant for Fleur-de-Lis’ error. However, no further registrations of this posture will be made. No conflicts found. The registrant wishes to retain her previously registered arms as a badge.

Otto of the Wounded Eye (Device) – Per pale argent and sable, a double-headed eagle maintaining a sword fesswise, all counterchanged, within a bordure vert.

Complexity count 6. No conflicts found.

Robert de la Fontayne (Device) – Sable, an Oriental dragon rampant contourny or and on a chief argent, a length of chain gules.

Complexity count 7. No conflicts found. The registrant wishes to keep his previously registered arms as a badge.

Robet ap Pryderi (Device) – Sable, a coney rampant contourny between three Latin crosses pointed or, and on a chief argent a length of chain vert.

Complexity count 8. No conflicts found. The registrant wishes to keep his previously registered arms as a badge.

Roy William mac Coda von Seiken (Badge) – (fieldless) A dragon displayed reguardant, tail nowed azure.

Complexity count 2. No conflicts found.

Roy William mac Coda von Seiken (Badge) – Azure, a lion rampant between three Latin crosses pointed argent.

Complexity count 4.

Clear of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (Mundane) - Sable, a lion rampant argent. 1 CD for change of tincture of the field, 2nd CD for addition of secondaries.

No conflicts found.

Troianos the Strong (Device) – Quarterly sable and azure, two axes in saltire and overall a wolf’s mask argent.

Complexity count 5.

Clear of Thomas Fitzshokes Paciafex (Esperance: Mar 1997) - Gules, a grey wolf's face proper maintaining in its mouth a rose reversed azure slipped and leaved vert, all within a wreath of thorns sable. 1 CD for changing the field, second CD for adding the underlying charges.

Clear of House Ulf (Esperance: Apr 1995) - Azure, in saltire two halberds, overall a wolf's head couped argent. 1 CD for changing the tincture of at least half the field, 2nd CD for changing the type of underlying charge from halberd to axe AND for changing the position of the head (no more than 1 CD could be garnered from changing the primary group). Fleur-de-Lis notes with amusement the repetition of this motif in the same Kingdom.

No conflicts found.

TerreNeuve, Kingdom of

Nigel the Byzantine (Device) – Purpure, two lions addorsed, tails nowed or.

Complexity count 3. No conflicts found. The registrant wishes to retain his previously registered arms, Purpure bezanty, a bordure or, as a badge.

Nigel the Byzantine (Badge) – (Fieldless) An elk sable.

Complexity count 2. Elk and Moose are essentially the same creature, except that "Moose" is a term unknown to heraldry in our Period, and so the beast is blazoned as an Elk. No conflicts found.

York, Kingdom of

Cœur Valiant, Barony (Device Resub) – Gyronny argent and sable, a dragon statant contourny purpure.

Complexity count 4. Their previous presentation, Gyronny sable and purpure, a dragon statant contourny argent, was returned for violation of the Rule of Tincture. This new presentation fixes that problem. No conflicts found.

Coventry, House (Device Resub) – Per bend sable and checky purpure and argent, in sinister chief a rose argent barbed and seeded vert.

Complexity count 4. Their previous presentation, Per bend sable and checky purpure and vert, in sinister chief a rose argent barbed and seeded vert, was returned for violation of the Rule of Tincture. This new presentation fixes that problem. No conflicts found.

Cullen Crombie of the Berwickshire Gordons (Device Resub) – Per pale vert and sable, in dexter a dragon rampant contourny argent.

Complexity count 4. This is this gentleman’s fourth attempt at registration. This is the history of this gentleman’s presentations:

In the Jan/Feb/March LoRR, he presented Per pale vert and sable, a dragon and a unicorn combattant argent, which I returned.

In the April LoRR, White Rose King of Arms appealed the ruling with the following words:

I respectfully would challenge the ruling on Sur Cullen Crombie (Device) based on his being Vassal Knight to Sir Trakx Greenwood, it is their common desire to reflect this bond in Sir Cullen's device.

To which Fleur-de-Lis replied,

I'm afraid I would have to disagree. If this was indeed the case, it would show that Sir Cullen and Sir Trakx were married, and I don't think that's quite what these two men had in mind.

In the May/June/July LoRR he presented Per pale vert and sable, a pallet between a dragon and a unicorn combattant argent, on which I commented,

This presentation takes advantage of what we suggested at his initial presentation:

Second-best fix is to place a Pale Argent between the two creatures. This would not create a completely Period design, but would at least satisfy RfHR VI, and would not be obtrusively UN-Period. The creatures are very nicely drawn; perfect Period style.

While the presenter is obviously attempting to comply with RfHR VI, he has fallen afoul of this month's bugaboo, RfHR III.A. (thin-line heraldry). The pale is WAY too thin to be acceptable; it must be drawn about 1/5 to 1/3 of the width of the shield to be registerable. Therefore, regretfully, we must return this for yet another re-draw.

Fleur-de-Lis should like to re-iterate that marshalling your arms with those of your vassal knight is NOT a Period way of doing things; neither will we register such. We should also point out that the way these arms were originally presented, Sir Trakx's arms were in the position traditionally reserved for the female member of a marriage, therefore implying at the very least that Sir Trakx is subservient to Sir Cullen, something I'm quite sure neither gentleman intended to mean.

If Sir Cullen were to register Vert, a dragon segreant contourny within a bordure argent, it would pass with no problem at all. He cannot simply register Vert, a dragon segreant contourny argent because of conflicts.

This presentation disregards all of Fleur-de-Lis’ previous advice and takes a different tactic.

Fleur-de-Lis, despite extensive research, can find no documentation for a field divided per pale with a single charge in one half of the field. The design is not obtrusively non-Period, however. Fleur-de-Lis is aware that the presenter’s original intent is to show a quasi-marriage relationship between himself and another Knight by showing two arms marshalled together. We have pointed out to him what this represents, and wish to caution him not to display his original design.

Therefore, finding no conflicts and no violations of the Rules for Heraldic Registrations, Fleur-de-Lis will register these arms with one condition: The arms MUST be displayed as registered, with no additional charges. If it is reported to this Office that Sir Cullen is displaying anything other than what is registered here, Fleur-de-Lis, acting under RfHR XVI., will make an official request that the offending arms be taken down from view and not displayed. If it is reported to this Office a second time that Sir Cullen is persisting in displaying unregistered armory, this Office will be left with no other recourse than to file charges of Conduct Unbecoming a Knight against Sir Cullen with the Imperial Chancery, under the provisions of RfHR XVI.B.6.

Du Lac, House (Device) – Per bend sinister gules and sable, a dexter hand couped bearing a sword argent.

Complexity count 5. No conflicts found.

Elric Melaidus (Device) – Azure, a chevron inverted gules and in chief a barrel helmet contourny argent.

Complexity count 5. No conflicts found.

THE FOLLOWING ARE BEING RETURNED FOR FURTHER WORK:

Esperance, Kingdom of

Dennis of the Dell (Device) – Sable, two wolf hounds sejant addorsed argent, and in chief a plate charged with a cross formy vert, itself charged with a harp or.

Complexity count 8. This device violates III.F. with its excessive layering. The field has a plate charged with a cross charged with a harp. Maximum number of layers is 3 for normal armory. Augmentations may have up to 4 or 5, pursuant to review by Fleur-de-Lis. Simplest fix is to remove the harp; this would then make the arms registerable.

Sangrael, Duchy of

Karl Brauer (Badge) - Argent, a cross fleury between the sections of a cross couped disjointed sable.

We had great difficulty blazoning this, as pretty as it is. The presenter gives the style of cross as a "cross fletchy, endored couped", which to us makes no sense. We think he is trying to describe a cross endorsed or cotised, but this treatment is reserved for Ordinaries, not regular charges. Usually, difficulty in blazoning is a sure sign that a particular design is not Heraldic. We checked all of our resources, attempting to find a reference to this kind of treatment and failed.

Having spoken to his Sovereign of Arms, we are returning this under III.A. to be presented again without the extra bits, which, after alreaydy having checked the Armorial, will find no conflicts.

York, Kingdom of

Zachery O’Malley (Device) – Sanguine, in cross a rapier inverted and a maine gauche fesswise reversed argent.

This is being returned for two reasons.

First, it violates the Precedent on acceptable tinctures (LoRR, May/Jun/Jul 1999, and RfHR I.I.). Sanguine is not one of the seven permitted tinctures in the Adrian College of Arms. We suggest the presenter use Gules next time.

Second, it is being returned for violation of RfHR III.A., lack of Period style. Having two different types of the same category of charge is not a Period practice. Also, two swords in cross is unusual at best; inverting the one and reversing the other is an additional deviation from Period style.

PRECEDENT:

Two different types of the same category of charge may not be used on the same piece of armory. This includes combinations of sword/dagger/rapier, lion/Bengal tiger/catamount/domestic cat, and so forth. Two swords in fess or Two rapiers in fess are both acceptable, while A sword and a rapier in fess is not.

Bearing this Precedent in mind, Fleur-de-Lis would suggest that the presenter choose either of these very well-drawn charges and create a design with that.