Thomas de Marr – Silver Crescent

Greate is the man and gret is the report;

We creddit him with muche and goodly change

He gives to all a lyfe of finest sport

To towers white this boldnes is not strange.

Nor vnto those in which great honour plant

Nor youthful mynds whose valeur he bringth in,

To him a crescent silver and arms grant

Quarterly sable and vert, a dragon

passant Or between in chief two crosses

of Santiago argent, an orle Or.

Queen Vienna and King Wilhem bid all see

Thomas de Marr honored before us all

On the 23rd of March, year fifty-three

At Bridge Barony’s beloved Black Rose Ball.


Words by Aneleda Falconbridge, for Thomas de Marr, 16th century Scottish gentleman

In the style of “VPON SIR GEORGE WHARTON” by William Fowler (1560?-1612), Scottish poet. (Scottish poetry is very hard to do in 100 +/- words!)

VPON SIR GEORGE WHARTON

Greate was the wrong but gretar the report;

yet creddit was repayred with reuenge,

with loss of lyfe after such martial sort,

as to faint hartes this boldnes will seme strange.

But vnto those which ar to honour borne,

and mynds resents the valeur of there race,

suche noble harts which couardyce ay scorne

may well condoole our deathe but not disgrace

http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=chadwyck_ep/uvaGenText/tei/chep_1.0828.xml;chunk.id=d184;toc.depth=1;toc.id=d184;brand=default


Audrye Benyet – Silver Crescent

To all noble kin we now present,
That all consider graciously
The thought, the mind, and the intent
Who loves the East most faithfully.

Her heart of service to you proffer’d
With right good will full honestly,
Refuse it not, since it is offer’d,
But take it to you gentlely.

Far to travel, to run, to ride,
She undertakes it pleasantly;
Bid her to go, straight she doth glide
At your commandement humbly.

Audrye Benyet now we doth entreat
Companion be, not secretly
Silver Crescent Order comes to greet
She who has served all steadfastly.

Amid this Great Northeastern War
The passing year marked fifty-three
Our Grant this day shall be abject:
Therefore accept it lovingly.

On June’s fourteenth day assuredly,
Since this so much we do desire,
Reward Our servant liberally.
For all her service and her hire.

Assigned by Eastern Royalty
Emperor Brennan Empress Caoilfhionn

An image of a recreated medieval style illuminated page, with the text of this article
Illumination by Mistress Agatha Wanderer, Calligraphy by Duchess Thyra Eriksdottir, words by Mistress Aneleda Falconbridge


Calligraphy by Thyra Eiriksdottir. Illumination by Agatha Wanderer. Words from Sir Thomas Wyatt’s “The Heart and Service” adapted by Aneleda Falconbridge.

BASE SELECTION “The Heart and Service” Sir Thomas Wyatt – 1503-1542

This work seemed perfect as a starting point, as even its title provides appropriate context for Audrye’s work! I wanted to stay true to the feel and form, and as the piece was requested to be relatively short, it was a good poetic style to use to accommodate that request. It is 147 words, including the signature line.

The original is here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45577/the-heart-and-service

The typical form for this piece seems to be loosely based on rhyme royal with lines of varying syllables and matched rhymes.
A (9 syl)
B (8 syl)
A (9 syl)
B (8 syl)

Sir Thomas Wyatt –1503–1542

“Born in Kent, England, Sir Thomas Wyatt was an ambassador to France and Italy for King Henry VIII. Wyatt’s travels abroad exposed him to different forms of poetry, which he adapted for the English language — most notably, the sonnet. Rumored to be Anne Boleyn’s lover, he spent a month in the Tower of London until Boleyn’s execution for adultery. Many consider his poem “Whoso List to Hunt” to be about Boleyn.”

https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/public/hunting-for-thomas-wyatt/

 

Silver Crescent for Isabell Montreuil sur Mer

de fin cure vows ay servi 
“I have served you with a sincere heart”
Beauty above is of great value. Beauty below is of great work.
The embroidered cloth is made to be admired, of colors bright and stitches neat. Yet only beneath the brightness of the cloth the measure of the work is seen. There is a pattern to the back, the work-side of every lovely thing. Few know this as well as Isabelle de Montreuil sur Mer, who has embellished the kingdom with her work and dedication to the success and enjoyment of others.
Her life would make a tableaux finely staged – in the many panels one would see her beside the fire cooking for a hungry house. Laden with water for horses and riders. Gently holding the train of a Queen. Bearing baskets and umbrellas. Wearing the heavy gown of Chancellor serving those who would learn to better serve. Planning and serving, transporting, ensuring and securing the design all can see with sturdy knots below the scene.
What an embroider’d tale of Isabelle de Montreuil sur Mer! But now sew before her bow’ed head: appliquéd in silver bright the moon resplendent in the night, hanging over Eastern crown, to show the world her lovely worth. Surround her with that Order of esteem, each one a spangle on the cloth that glorifies the mighty East.
It is with our joy that we, Brennan Augustus and Caoilfhionn Augusta, do join Isabell Montreuil sur Mer with their Order of the Silver Crescent, at the Tournament of the Lady of the Rose in their Barony of Bergental on this glorious twentieth day of September, anno sociatatis XLIX.
calligraphy by Gwillim Kynith, illumination by Agatha Wanderer, words by Aneleda Falconbridge

Silver Crescent for Cateline la Broderesse

Scroll for Cateline la Borderesse illuminated by Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt  with calligraphy by Alexandre St. Pierre.
Scroll for Cateline la Borderesse illuminated by Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt with calligraphy by Alexandre St. Pierre.

 

A tous nobles oyant ces dires issant de l’humble serviteur de leurs majestés Kenric et Avelina y voit grande joie.Chanson m’estuet chanteir de la meilleur qui onques fust ne qui jaimais sera. Huimais ne dot mie que n’aie boen jour car sa grant dosour n’est nuns qui vois die. Mout a en li cortoizie et valour bien et bontei et charitei I a.Qui est cette dame? Car celle l’ot fait, qui bien euvre de fil de soie et de fil d’or, c’est Cateline la Broderesse belle au chief noir.

Bele Cateline, a la fenestre au jor, sor ses genolz tient paile de color, a un fil I fet coustres beles, cost un fil d’or, l’autre de soie.

D’un boen samiz une robe cosoit; a son ami tramettre la ami, en sospirant, ceste chançon chantoit: “Sainte Clare, tant es douz li nons d’amors! Ja n’en cuidai sentir joie!” Tard la nuit travaille,. Telle la lune dans le ciel, un croissant d’argent.

“Et Deus il voile merir  toz les biens k’elle m’anvoie. Car se je mualz estoie ce diroie ju ensi, “dame, grant merci.”

Car temps est dores en avant de recorder des bons le bein, por animer celi qui a present sont adonnez a toute arte et service, tout bien et honneur.

Pour que soient reconnues ses nombreuses heures de service, qu’elle puisse joindre, telle broderie au tissu, l’ordre du Croissant d’Argent.

Mandé de par Kenric et Avelina, suzerains des Terres de l’Est, en l’occasion de la Fête des Rois dans leur fief d’Anglespur ce sixiesme jour du Janvier, anno sociatis XLVIII.

________________________________________

 

Words by Aneleda Falconbridge with translation assistance from Baron Pellandres dit le Frere (Jean Francois Jacques).
** St. Clare of Assisi is the patron saint of embroiders

To all a nobles who will take my recommendation as herald of Their Majesties Kenric and Avelina, I give joyous tidings.I must sing a song about the best womanwho ever was or will ever be. Henceforth I am not afraid of not having a good day, for her great sweetness, is greater than anyone can say. She is filled with courteousness and virtue, with goodness and kindness and charity.

Who is this lady? She who worked well in gold and silver thread and made it, beautiful dark haired Cateline la Broderesse.

Lovely Cateline, at the window in the light, has on her knees a cloth of bright color which she stitched beautifully with thread. She sews with one golden thread, another of silk.

She was sewing a robe of fine silk. She meant to send it to her friend, sighing all the while she was singing this song: St. Clare, how sweet is the name of love! I never thought it would bring me such joy!” She works through the night. The moon shines down, a silver crescent in the sky.

May it please God to reward her for all the good things she sends me. For even if I were mute I would say this, “Many thanks my lady”

For now it is time to recall the good qualities of a worthy woman in order to inspire those who are presently devoted to art and service, goodness and honor.

To reward her long hours of service she is joined as silver threads to cloth to the Order of the Silver Crescent.

At the command of King Kenric and Queen Avenlina, Monarchs of the Eastern Realm, at the celebration of Feast of the Three Magi on Twelfth Night, in the Shire of Anglespur this Sixth Day of the New Year, anno sociatis XLVIII.

Cateline’s Silver Crescent was wonderful because her persona is very clear and while she serves in many leadership roles, one of the major points of her service is that she creates many gifts for others at the request of royalty or for friends having peerages. I chose to make the scroll using French working songs, about and sung by women, as the basis for the scroll.

I had not planned to actually make it in French, but to just choose one line as a highlight for the English. As it would go, my lovely friend and Northern Army hero Baron Pellondres was available to help me with one small change and from there it snowballed and the next thing I knew it was totally in French. He translated the opening and closing sections, as well as changed the gender of one section reference to praise a woman rather than a man.

The words of this piece come largely from early French working songs which women would sing (and maybe wrote) called “Chansons de Toile” from the late 12th and early 13th century. Many of these song-stories reference a woman sewing or embroidering cloth for her beloved, they are about love lost and found, bad happenings and good ones. Because sewing and making cloth beautiful was regular woman’s work, it is often mentioned at least in passing in the pieces.  I took many of those references and wove them together to make the whole of the piece. They were sung while working, it is proposed, and I pictured Cataline as the singer/subject of the songs as I created.

Because French is open to so many end-rhymes, these songs have beautiful cadence. Many have a small chorus and a beautiful end rhyming scheme for which French is perfect. Because this is a more utilitarian thing, I did not try to make it poetic in that way, and I don’t have sufficient command of French to create poetry in that language. Also, its calligraphy destination is as prose, so it seemed like it was better to just make it beautiful prose.

I was extremely blessed that the herald for the event, Rowen Stuffer,  was willing to have it read in both languages. I am so indebted to Master Lucien de Pontivy for his reading of it in Old French, which was, frankly, stunning. (The hall went silent – not even a murmur – as the scroll was read. I kind of swooned.)

The following pieces were used in the creation of this one:
All original text for the scroll was translated by Baron Pellendres dit la Frere.

“Galeran de Bretagne” – a poem by Renault
“Quant vient en mai que I’on dit as ions jors” – Chanson de toile
“Chans de singe ne poire mal pelee” – Sotte chanson
“The Lay of Pergamon” 197v-198r from the tales called “Perceforest”
“Chanson m’estuet chanteir de la meilleur” by Rutebeuf
“La Bele Aye” – Chanson de toile
“Bele Yolanz en ses chambres seoit” – Chanson de toile

A line-by-line breakdown of the document is available here….Cateline12thNightText.

 

Silver Crescent for Mistress Mira

To all freeholders and the whole realm of the East send all manner of filial reverence.
We, King Gregor and Queen Kiena, find that among other famous nations our East has been graced with widespread renown.  Our most tireless Mistress Mira Fennor of Argyll has and shall ever be, as far as duty calls, ready to do Our will in all things, as an obedient daughter.
She, that her people and her heritage might be delivered out of the hands of our enemies, met toil and fatigue, hunger and peril, like another Macabaeus or Joshua and bore them cheerfully.
Her, too, divine providence, has been made a member of the Order of the Silver Crescent, her right of succession according to our laws and customs which we shall maintain to the death. To her, as to the one by whom striving has been wrought for our people, we are bound both by law and by her merits that our freedom may be still maintained, and by her, come what may, we mean to stand. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that she hath worked, but for our people.
Given at Pantaria, the King’s and Queen’s Equestrian Championship, of the Shire of Panther Vale, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of May in the year of the Society XLVIII of the reign of our King aforesaid.
* * *
 
Text based on portions of a translation of the Scottish “Declaration of Arbroath” of 1320, a “Letter directed to our Lord the Supreme Pontiff by the community of Scotland.” http://www.constitution.org/scot/arbroath.htm