I was asked to boast Brenden into the hall for his elevation to Pelican January 2024 at Birka. I created a boast to read during the whole of the procession, which began at the back of the Birka hall and ended (fortunately!) just as the Crane family approached the thrones.
O crowded hall, come and greet this noble thane Who captures images and hearts, Brenden Crane. I’d boast of a man of great humility Simple, for his virtues are easy to see So much for his fellows our fine friend doth care the honors he loves are the honors we share So much that on paper this man did implore His boast be an homage to those here before To people he never knew but in name Their mark upon friends in his heart lit a flame That heart, so open, that he wears on his sleeve While its steady beat inspires us to believe. Yes, name them he bid me, so name them I will For while scattered to realms they are with us still. Our Dear Caroline and beloved Julien, St Liam and ernst, who serve now much as then, Don Jehan, Aimee, and of course, Gregory… Their stories are guides, like the stars ore the sea Shine bright on the whale road Brenden rows upon While observing the sky – in night, day, or dawn. His generous spirit and kindness to all Have touched many gathered as one in this Hall He would never suspect when we look at him, We feel those constellations burning within. That light he reflects on both pauper and queen, And casts out the shadows so we can be seen. This boast with no boasting, I fear is in vain So proudly I boast SEE OUR FRIEND Brenden Crane.
Because We know that you especially desire to hear and learn the state of Our respect for good works, We König Tindal und König Alberic, find it fitting to state Our opinion on the matter of Otto Gotlieb. We have surveyed Throughout the East from Endeweard’s lands and thence beyond. Having proved the customs of Service in manners of leading, of making, of mapping, and all well witnessed by many, We provide in these days past Martinstag, that Otto shall be called a companion of the Order of the Pelican and be knowne by his deeds and countenance. Worthy is he for whom service is home. The bells should ring, and crowds come gathering round. Made by Our sovereign word A.S. LV.
König Tindal König Alberic
Text inspired by
A public letter from Conrad II to the Abbot of Corvey on the Germans’ Crusade, original in Latin
The length and layout of the piece were dictated by the document upon which the scroll design was based, which has 11 lines of approximately 10 words each.
To Cedric of Thanet, knight, laurel, and worthy subject, do We send Our greetings and recognition. Long and well have you served our lands, guarding the northern marches at Our ward’s end with sword, and spear, and ax, and blade. Teaching all comers, you have encouraged Our ranks and protected Our borders with your great service to those of great and humble esteem alike. In honor of your reliability and wise governance, We render to you the gratitude deserved for your care of Our loyal subjects, and for the very great fidelity which you have shown to the East, by ordaining you a companion of the Order of the Pelican with the advice and consent of your fellow companions. By this sign, all will know Our respect for your devotion, and should you be called beyond Our borders, all willing, you shall return to us. Thus, three days past Martinmas, in the fifty-fifth year of the Society, with Our intention of worthily rewarding your services now complete, We, Magnus Tindal and Alberic von Rostock, Royal Majesties of the East, ask you to continue the same.
Labor omnia improba vincit.2
+ Ego Tindal rex Orientis consensi et subscripsi + Ego Alberic rex Orientis consensi et subscripsi
1. Pay tribute to Cedric. From the Spear a pelican. 2. Hard work conquers everything.
This text inspired by
Text from a letter from Alexander IV to Margeurite of Provence, January 23, 1258
Public letter from Conrad II to the Abbot of Corvey on the Germans’ Crusade, original in Latin (https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/1148conrad2.asp)
There came a woman to the court of the East, and all should care to hear tell of her. A match for a hundred workers was this mead-woman, and yet she asked for no wages.
Medhbh was the woman’s name, well-attended and generous. She cared for many, first at the request of the Ard Rí, and after, she served many more, moved by fierce loyalty that welled from her as water from a spring.
For the space of a dozen years and more she labored. Stout of heart, she took the mantle of leader for her cóiceda, handling grievances and important matters, sharing knowledge of the law, and voicing the needs of her people to the land-chiefs.
Red-maned Medhbd traveled often to soldier’s fields, to places where the sea could not be seen in any direction. She helped prepare camps for the chieftains to meet with their people and gather with their warriors. Her bright hands served all with respect, from the roughest shovel-lifter to the gentlest lady, offering a thousand welcomes to each who entered her care. For these things, and more, six pearls from the sea were given to her to wear, gifts from chieftains in her honor.
One day, when the winds of Feabhra had blown for twenty-three days, one pearl fell into Medhbd’s lap as she worked. She instinctively cradled the salt-treasure to her breast. When she brought down her hand, she found the pearl transformed to garnet, red as blood and clear as water. Suddenly she was surrounded by many white-winged birds who pulled her toward their flock by their beaks and pushed her with their wings.
Thus was Medhbh ingheanui Cheallaigh blessed for her service by the pelicans. Her wages were paid in joy and tears, and she was granted a patent of arms bearing her icons, argent, a triskelion of spirals purpure and on a chief embattled vert three towers argent. It was the fifty-third year, on the day in which Wilhelm Ri and Vienna Ban Ri named the filid who would serve them and placed the new Ruiri in Dragonship Haven.
Saerlaith ingen Chennetig wrote and collected it from Athlæða Fálkribrú.
This piece is supposed to sound like a Celtic story. I read a lot of early Celtic works to hopefully make it sound right.
The last bit IN IRISH (I think): Saerlaith ingen Chennetig roscrib in leborsorathinoila Athlæða Fálkribrú was provided so Saerlaith could enscribe if she wanted to, in Gaelic.
Sources: https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T106500D/index.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irish_kingdoms and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BAath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelic_calendar https://celt.ucc.ie//published/G106500D/index.html https://celt.ucc.ie//published/T106500D/index.html https://celt.ucc.ie//earlypoetry.html https://www.vanhamel.nl/codecs/Flanagan_(M.-T.)_1998a to https://books.google.com/books?id=uPFjLITLW7YC&pg=PR7&lpg=PR7&dq=Flanagan,+Marie-Therese,+%E2%80%9CThe+context+and+uses+of+the+Latin+charter+in+twelfth-century+Ireland%E2%80%9D,&source=bl&ots=Fe0hpttfJH&sig=ACfU3U2-4HY34IK9L59AkqD33t5181USjw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5gKjj1ajgAhUOT98KHXkRBegQ6AEwA3oECAIQAQ#v=onepage&q=Flanagan%2C%20Marie-Therese%2C%20%E2%80%9CThe%20context%20and%20uses%20of%20the%20Latin%20charter%20in%20twelfth-century%20Ireland%E2%80%9D%2C&f=false https://findwords.info/term/curran https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildare_Abbey https://www.focloir.ie/en/dictionary/ei/north-east
+ Ego Matilda regina Orientis consensi et subscripsi
*The Lord is my Light, with “Dominus” abbreviated. (Dreda) ** Psalm 18:11 http://vulgate.org/ot/psalms_18.htm
Isabel Chamberlain’s Completed Scroll, with words by Aneleda Falconbridge and interlinear text by Alidreda de Tamwurthe.
Main sources:
Artistic inspiration is Vespasian Psalter, believed to be the first Latin-to-English translation of the Psalms (into Anglo-Saxon) written, it is thought, in the second quarter of the eighth century. The document features an abbreviated version of Psalm 26 (27).
My goals were to have the document look like the original as much as possible.
The text has nearly the same number of lines and nearly the same number of capital letters as the original.
The top image can remain exactly as on the extant. The small letters above will turn into the date of the award.
ABOVE the Latin, as with the extant document, is the text translated to early English/Anglo-Saxon by Mistress Aildreda de Tamwurthe, who is amazing. Then Mistress Isabel Chamberlain put the whole thing together. It was a labor of love.
Dreda’s interlinear text in Anglo-Saxon, as sent to Isabel.
Resources:
Latin-English Study Bible: Vulgatæ Editionis
Latin Vulgate text, English translation (CPDV), and translation commentary. Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor
In the year of the Society 53, April 7 DNSILLUMINATIOMEA
All Peers, Nobles, and Gentles We hear the voice of the people. I give you at the request of the Order of the Pelican my loyal Estgaraet Hrofiscester. Straight and strong and willing to help everyone. He built roads, many, keeps the peace, serves the people. They understand the works of Estgar and the work of his hands. The man is good. More precious than gold and precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Give him according to his works. Render to Estgar his reward. We acknowledge the dignity of our Estagr at our court in the Shire of Quintavia. Great is his name in many lands. He is a Pelican. + I Ivan King of the East agree and subscribe + I Matilde Queen of the East agree and subscribe
Aneleda’s Latin Text:
LIII anno societatis VII Aprilis DNSILLUMINATIOMEA
Omnibus paribusnobilibusgentilibus A voce et a populusaudi nos. Do tibi tuæque ad pelecānōrummeo fidelissimo Estgarus Hrofiscestri. Rect et fortis et patiens Adiutor omnis. Construxit itineribus multis, custodit pacem, serves populus. Quoniam intellegunt opera Estgarum et opus manuum. Ipse virbonum. Desiderabilia super aurum et lapidem pretiosum multum et dulciora super mel et favum redundantem. Redde ipsisretributionem. Da Estgarus secundumipsis opera. Dignitatemque agnoscimus nostrorum Estagrum apud aulam nostram in villa Quintavia. admirábile est nomen eius in multis eius terras Ipse vir pelecānum est. + Ego Ivanus rex Oreintalum consensi et subscripsi + Ego Matilde regina Oreintalum consensi et subscripsi
Steffan’s Edits to the Latin Text:
LIII AS VII Apr DNSILLUMINATIOMEA
Omnibus paribus nobilibus et gentilibus Vocem populi audimus Vobis damus secundum postulationem Ordinis Pelicani nostrum fidelissimum Estgar de Hroficester. Rectus et fortis est et propensus omnes juvare. Construxit multas vias, conservit pacem, servavit populum. Intellegunt opera Estgari et opera manuum. Hic vir bonus est. Desiderabilia super aurum et lapidem pretiosum multum et dulciora super mel et favum redundantem.* Damus secundum sua opera. Reddimus ad Estgarum commodum justum. Dignitatem agnoscimus nostri Estgari apud aulam nostram in Scira Quintaviae. Magnum est nomen in multis terris. Pelicanus est. + Ego Ivanus rex Orientis consensi et subscripsi + Ego Matilda regina Orientis consensi et subscripsi
TO all peers, nobles and gentles We hear the voice of the people We give to you, according to the petition of the Order of the Pelican Our most faithful Estgar of Hroficester Straight and strong he is and willing to help all. He has built many roads, conserved the peace, served and protected the people. They recognize Estgar’s works and the works of his hands. This one is a good man. More precious than gold and precious stones And sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. We give according to his works. We render to Estgar his proper reward. We acknowledge the dignity of our Estgar among our shire of Quintavia. Great is his name in many lands He is a Pelican. + I Ivan King of the East agree and subscribe + I Matilde Queen of the East agree and subscribe
