AoA for Laird Sweyn Mac Awliffe Words: Aneleda Falconridge Calligraphy & Illumination:Robert of Stonemarche
AoA for Laird Sweyn Mac Awliffe Words: Aneleda Falconridge
Calligraphy & Illumination:Robert of Stonemarche
All hail and harken to our words, lad who the northern reaches know, as the swarthy one who wears the kilt in weather fair or as winds blow.
He’s nae a man of many words, there’s oft a stir when he goes past for in his wake there usually is some deed he’s done sae fleet and fast.
Who is he working all the day? Who is this man who hauls the hay? Who takes a chore so one can play? The one called Sweyn Mac Awliffe!
He cuts a figure on the range where he will help, and he will show and teach the wielder of the axe or the knife how best tae throw.
He is a kind and gentle man Providing for the others’ needs – From cool clear water o’ the spring To tarts beloved of those he feeds.
Who in deeds e’er does his part? Who unloads the burdened cart? Who is this man so good of heart? The one called Sweyn Mac Awliffe!
So we give him title now of Laird And make him one of Eastern Court And he shall bear himself the arms that he alone shall wear and sport
(These are not yet registered but this verse is what will be used when they are. =)*** On Gyronny of gules and ermine, a brown bear proper rampant and on a chief argent a dagger fesswise gules – none may recant! ****
Who makes the rounds with bonny care? Who does a thistle and a dagger wear? Who’s ever just, and always fair? The Laird called Sweyn Mac Awliffe!
The Emperor Brennan did declare, Empress Caoilfhionn also swore this to be signed as solemn truth at Malagentia’s Great Northeastern War
Therefore on the twelfth day of July in the 49th year of the Society, this deed is done now in full with great and noble piety.
WHEREAS the man know as Matthew Moraveous Avdenmork has come before Our presence at Our request; and
WHEREAS Matthew Moraveous was a decade hence reborn as one of the the pride of the Azure Tyger, serving her by choice as a sinister defender of the indomitable East, raising his arm to her glory with honor and joy against all challenges; and
WHEREAS he hath, time and again, forsaken all others to hunt the mighty dragon as an Unbelted Champion; and braved and bested, with brutal exhilaration, the berserkers of the birch isle; and is numbered among the most fearsome band of Tygers Combatant; and
WHEREAS this kinsman of good heart continued to exhibit proper fealty to his beloved and fallen Knight and laudable loyalty to his widow; and has honorable represented his allegiances to Haus Dagon, the Dutchy von Drakenlkaue, his own House of the Crucible, and the Northern Army; and has loving provided for his family with inspirational devotion; and
WHEREAS We have witnessed that his affection for the martial path has been unwavering, having seen his earnest adherence to martial laws and customs and having noted the prowess and humility evidenced in his behavior; We, Brennan August and Caiolfhionn Augusta, confirm by these letters patent, before all plebians and patricians, that Matthew Moravious Avdenmork is this day joined to an exclusive company, the best consorts of the Domina Orientalis, of whom there is no equal, as a member of the Order of Chivalry, who shall bear his own Arms:
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Henceforth, may Matthew Moraveous ever augment the estimable Peerage of the Order of Chivalry with his understanding and promotion of Justice, Mercy, Tolerance, Strength, Prudence, Perseverance, Temperance, Prowess, Humility, Courage, Sacrifice, Loyalty, Truth, Compassion, Courtesy, Grace, Hospitality, Sacrifice, Honor, Gratitude, Franchise, and Love as he continues to serve Our enduring land and its people.
This We set with Our Names on the eighth day of August, Anno Sociatatis XLIX, on the battlefield of the Great Pennsic War in the sylvan Kingdom of Aethelmearc.
consilio et animis *
Emperor Brennan August Empress Caiolfhionn Augusta *(by wisdom and courage)
To all trewe Eastern people these present, reading, or seeing this missive, We, Cyng Kenric & Cwene Avelina, send due recommendation & greting. Reason ordeyneth that vertuouse men of noble courage be by there merites Renounned Rewarded. And not oonly in theire psones in this mortall liffe so breef & transitory but also in theire good name & fame to be of noble memory after theire departing out of liffe & to be in euery place of honour before other persones euermore Reuerenced & Recomendid for shewing of certaine signes tokenes of honour & gentilnes to thentent that by theire ensample other psones may the sonner & the more enforce & applye theyme theymeself to dispend theire lyves in honourable worke & vertuous dede for to purchace & gete therby the renoun of gentilnesse euermore. Not only by common renoun but by the report & testimony of noble psones worthy of faith We are truly advertised & informed that Gryffyn Dunham has long pursued valiant feats of armes as well in this as in other matters applyed & honourably governed himself in goodly entent & disposition so that he is worthy that henceforth for ever he be in all places by his gode disposicion honourably accepted, receiued, admitted, counted, & renouned among the number & company of the Antient & Noble Order of the Tygers Combattant. We devise, ordaine, & conferme him unto these happy few that with noble Courage excercyse vertuous manners of arms endorsed by the abillitye of wch psons foresaid. Our will shall be peasebly & without challenge or interuption for eumore. In wittenesse wherof I, Cyng Kenric, & I, Cwene Avelina, haue signed these psente with Our owne h&e at Anglespur the 4 Day of January the XLVIII yere of the Society.
Based on the charter texts of John Alfrey, 1459/60, John Picton, 1486, and Edmond Mille, 1450. (http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm)
Modern English spelling and punctuation
To all true Eastern people these present, reading, or seeing this missive, We, King Kenric & Queen Avelina, send due recommendation & greeting. Reason ordaineth that virtuous men of noble courage be, by there merits Renowned, Rewarded.
And not only in their persons in this mortal life so brief & transitory, but also in their good name & fame to be of noble memory after their departing out of life & to be in every place of honor before other persons evermore Reverenced & Recommended for showing of certain signs, tokens of honor & gentleness to the intent that by their example other persons may the sooner & the more enforce & apply themselves to dispend their lives in honorable work & virtuous deed for to purchase & get thereby the renown of gentleness evermore.
Not only by common renown but by the report & testimony of noble persons worthy of faith We are truly advertised & informed that Gryffyn Dunham has long pursued valiant feats of arms as well in this as in other matters, applied & honorably governed himself in goodly intent & disposition so that he is worthy that henceforth forever he be in all places, by his good disposition, honorably accepted, received, admitted, counted, & renowned among the number & company of the Ancient & Noble Order of the Tygers Combatant.
We devise, ordain, & confirm him unto these happy few that with noble Courage exercise virtuous manners of arms endorsed by the ability of which persons foresaid.
Our will shall be peaceably & without challenge or interruption for evermore.
In wittiness whereof I, King Kenric, & I, Queen Avelina, have signed these present with Our own hand at Anglespur the 4 Day of January the XLVIII year of the Society.
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Gryffyn Dunham’s persona is of the Agincourt era. Because I couldn’t find extant English poetry for this era (1415) and I wanted English, and close to period language, without using Latin. Because it’s a martial award I also didn’t want it to have a delicate feeling, which poetry of the era might have. So I researched some charters as close as I could find to the date I wanted – 1450, 1460, and 1480 as a language guide. From that, I took the portions which suited my purposes best and altered them. Most charters have a very “template” feel to them (of course) which made the mixing quite easy. I changed the later language spelling to match the spelling of the era and I snuck in a small Shakespeare bit from the famed St. Crispin’s Day speech, a piece I know Gryf really likes. Ultimately I hope that it reads like a period document appropriate for his persona.
(I used many sites with charters on them, but this was an incredible resource for me: http://verysleepy.itgo.com/grants.htm )
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.
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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
