Baconn'd herrying

From a Facebook post (10/2/24) that I want to keep so that I don't lose the information:

 One of my friends posted this video and asked what baconn'd herrying was. I don't remember which one of ya'll and I thought that that person had tagged me. Alas, I am unable to find the poster. With hope, you will read this.

The piece in question is at time stamp 14:30 and the full quote is:

Furft, a loif of brede in trenchors, 2 manchets, a quart of bere, a quart of wyne, 2 pecys of faltfisch, 6 baconn'd herrying, · 4 white herring or a dysche of sproits.

The Works: Together With His Life, And Notes On His Life Of... (Samuel Johnson).

I did some digging and it looks like "bacon herring" is an old Scottish term for redden herrings, or red herrings, or kippers, as they are known, today.

"Writing about 1585, Montgomerie of Hesilheid, a member of a family that provided one of Kintyre's "Lowland Lairds", complained in a poem, "This is no life I lead upon a land with raw red herring reisted in a reek." In earlier times, herring were prepared for redding by being salted whole in the fish houses in heaps about two feet deep. This lasted about two days when they were washed and hung up in the smoke house on wooden rods pushed through the gills and mouths. After seven days of smoking, the oil was allowed to drip from the fish for two days, when the fire was relit. The whole process was twice repeated, and then the smoking was continued until the herring were sufficiently cured for the particular market to which they were to be sent. In the modern process, the ungutted fish are "roused", i.e. salted in vats for one or two weeks, washed and smoked for about a week, the smoking being interrupted as before to allow the oil to drip away. Red herrings were variously known as bacon herring, militiamen, and Glasgow magistrates. "Reds" were traditionally supplied to the Levant. Kippers, of course, are split and gutted before being smoked."

- Fish and Fowl and Good Red Herring, by A. I. B. Stewart. The Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural History SocietyMagazine. WebEdition3 / Mar1997

 Scroll Text - Alastar Scott McCrummin - Millrind Backlog 2026

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Service Award

Oh, all who shall see or hear these present letters, Malcolm and Tessa, King and Queen of AEthelmearc, greeting and recommendation. We who not only by common renown but also by the report and testimony of other Nobles worthy of credence are truly advertised and informed that Alastar Scott McCrummin has long made feats of service so numerous that the scribe did not have enough ink to list them all here. We can say that the number of people whom you have fed surpasses the ability of Our own Exchequer to count. For this, and for the nobility and honor which you show everyday We say that henceforth you be admitted in the company of Our Order of the Millrind. And for the remembrance of this we assign to the aforesaid Alastar the right to bear the blazon in the manner which is fitting his new station and Grant him arms. In witness whereof We King and Queen of AEthelmearc as above named have signed with Our hands and sealed with Our seal and given the 24th day of June in the year of the Society 41.

Inspired by the 1459/60 grant of arms to John Alfrey.

Scroll Text - Anastasie deLamoure - Millrind Backlog 2026

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Service Award

Do hear Our words, Anastasie deLamoure, We greet you well. And for as much as Our Kingdom cannot exist without the service of Our subjects, Our Realm is stronger for the service that you have done for Ourselves and Our predecessors. Of light of your service to the Thrown Weapons and archery communities, as Landed Baroness, as Exchequer, We do Grant you entrance into Our Most Noble Order of the Millrind, with all the rights and responsibilities attendant thereto and command that you wear the badge of the said Order so that all may know of your new station. Further, we command that you continue your acts of service to inspire others to follow in your footsteps. So speaks Timothy and Gabrielle, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, at our hunting lodge in Deftwood, at Shoot in the Wildwood, the 2nd day of September, AS52.

inspired by: Letter from the Edward IV to his officers (23 June, 1442). 

 Scroll Text - Wulfric Isernheort - Golden Alce 2026

AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Unto all gathered at this celebration of Harvest Raid, We Gareth and Julianna, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, greet you well. Duty and privilege move us to see that those who merit, honor, and recognition are rewarded for their efforts. The labors of Wulfric Isernheort deserve such notice. For his skill in the heavy list have caught our eyes and we are well pleased with his skills and deeds of arms. Today, we induct him into the Noble Order of the Golden Alce. We trust that now having been so recognized, this skilled and generous Lord will go on to sustain nobility and increase honor, so that all may see his many martial endeavors and be inspired. So witnessed by all assembled and signed by Our Hand on this 26th day of September, AS61 in the Shire of Heronter.

based on King Renee’s Tournament Book, 1458

https://www.flickr.com/photos/calebreynolds/55549647660/in/photostream/

Scroll Text - Thrown Weapons Tourney Winner - Harvest Raid 2026

 Scroll Text - Thrown Weapons Tourney Winner - Harvest Raid 2026

Shire of Heronter - Martial Tourney

 were on the thrown weapons range, today, and we couldn't keep a lid on who the winner was. Not to be ironic but you threw with a great outlook as you hit bull's eye after bull's eye. Not wanting to play it safe, you took an iris method of throwing and won the thrown weapons tourney. Clearly, you were a attentive pupil when you were taught how to throw. It would be short sighted to ignore your skills; even your glancing hits increased your score. If looks could kill, your opponents would have given you 20 lashes. Not to make this accolade any cornea we wish to name you as the overall winner of today's tourney, done on this 26th day of September, AS61, at Harvest Raid 32, in the Shire of Heronter.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/calebreynolds/55549375513/in/dateposted/

 Scroll Text - Katherine Kersey - Writ for Pelican 2026

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Writ

Pay heed to the words of the King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc. Unto Our noble servant, Katherine Kersey, Baroness of Our Court. Forasmuch as We have of late had many diverse and astonishing reports of your acts, and being that we have long known of your dutiful and diligent service to The Crown and to Our Kingdom and forasmuch as it is the duty of the Crown to recognize and provide due and just reward for those Our subjects of especial fidelity and service, do We command unto you that it be Our express pleasure and will that you answer the following question: will you join the Noble Order of the Pelican and take your place among the Peerage of the Known World. Our people will contact your people to set a day and time for you to answer this Our question. And further do We command that these Our letters shall comprise sufficient warrant and discharge of your duty in this behalf. So signed Gareth, King. So signed Julianna, Queen, on this 26th day of September, AS61, at Our hunting lodge in Our Shire of Heronter, at Harvest Raid.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/calebreynolds/55549270796/in/photostream/

Scroll Text - Heinrich Bidderman - Golden Alce 2026

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Come forth good gentles of the Land and know the will of your Sylvan Sovereigns. Where as anciently from the beginning, the valiant and virtuous acts of worthy persons have been commended to the world with sundry monuments and remembrances of their good skills. Heinrich Bidderman has done commendable deeds of arms as a youth fighter, and has grown into an adult, taking up the rapier and exploring the world of cut and thrust combat. It is only fitting that We should recognize his efforts and welcome him into Our Order of the Golden Alce that all may know of his worth. So say We Oliver and Grainne, on this final day of July, at Pennsic, three score and one years after the founding of The Dream.

Based on an English Patent of Arms to an Individual, 1576