Caleb's A&S Blog: July 2020

Friday, July 24, 2020

Scroll Text - Ian Muir, aka Keyard- Golden Stirrup 2016

Scroll Text - Ian Muir, aka Keyard- Golden Stirrup 2016

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial/A&S Award

Due commendations to all nobles and gentles these present letters hearing or seeing, Magnus Tindal and Etain, otherwise called Augustus and Augusta of Sylvan AEthelmearc, send humble and due recommendation. As it appears for so much as the Order of the Golden Stirrup, right noble company, is, before this day, short of a full compliment, We have been moved to take action. We have been informed, by nobles and gentles beyond reproach, not only of the skill of arms of Ian Muir, known to many as Keyard, but his skill with the needle and thread. We are well pleased by his attention to detail that he shows whenever he places hand upon a sword. From his style of combat to the wools and linens that he garbs himself in, We are moved to add his name to the rolls of the said noble Order which they and their successors might boldly and vowably occupy challenge to Our will and desire for evermore without any rebuke of any estate or gentle of this Realm. Thus is Our will made into law on this 26th day of September, as 50, in Our Shire of Herontir during Our Coronation.

based on the Grant of Arms to the Carpenters Company of London, 1466

Scroll Text - Zinoviia Ivanova - Golden Alce 2016

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Right trusty and welbeloved, we greet you well. And for as much as Our trusty and welbeloved Zinoviia Ivanova, Lady, has been seen in armor and under arms and has among other things reported to Us how Our enemies and adversaries are coming towards Our Realm to besiege it, we command that you keep your sword and axe about your person until the time that We have once again gathered Our army. That being said, We will and command that you take your place among and in the number of the Noble Order of the Golden Alce and wear the badge of the said Order so that you might strike terror in the hearts of those who wish harm to Ourselves and Our Realm. Thus is Our will made into law by the hands of Marcus and Marguirete, King and Queen of AEthelmearc, at Crown Tourney, the first day of October, AS 51, in the Canton of Beau Fleuve.

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

Scroll Text - Wolfgang Starke - Golden Alce 2016

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Wolfgang Starke, know ye that of Our special grace, certain science and art, and by skill of arms, We have affirmed and awarded, and by these presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, we affirm and award to you admittance to the Noble Order of the Golden Alce and charge you with free liberty and licence from time to time, and at all times for ever hereafter, to discover, research, find out and perfect such techniques of rapier that you may turn your hands to and also charge you to use the skills that you have learned to hone your skill upon the rapier community of AEthelmearc so that you may be deadly effective against the enemies of the Crown and Kingdom, be they upon Our Lands, upon the seas or within foreign Kingdoms. Thus to We, Thomas Byron of Haverford and Ariella of Thornbury, otherwise known as the King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, do set hand to paper on the 28th day of May, AS51, at QRC, in the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais.

Charter to Sir Walter Raleigh : 1584

Scroll Text - Gwendolyn the Graceful - Golden Alce 2016

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Gwendolyn the Graceful, it has been some time since you have been seen by Royal eyes. We give you greetings and wish you peace in this, Our time of War. While We have heard your voice many times of late, We also have heard from others of the deeds you have accomplished while away from Our sight. Gwendolyn the Skillful, We hear. Gwendolyn the Accurate, We hear. Gwendolyn the Deadly, We hear. While We don Our armor and lead Our Army into the fray, We know that you can be found raining death upon Our enemies serving with the AEthelmearc ballista crew. So moved are We that We have affirmed and awarded, and by these presents for Us, Our Heirs and successors, do affirm and award you entrance into the Noble Order of the Golden Alce and give to you the right to wear the badge of the said Order so all shall know of Our will. Witness Ourselves on the fields of Pennsic, the 10th day of August, two score and eleven years from the founding of Our Society.

Inspired by Letters Patent to Sir Humfrey Gylberte June 11, 1578

Scroll Text - Gunnarr UlfrBani - Golden Alce 2015

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Timothy, King by right of arms, and Gabrielle, Queen of beauty and grace, do offer peace and greetings to all to whom these letters shall come. Since human memory is short and does not suffice for a crowd of things, the authority of those who preceded our reign has decreed that those things were to be written down which the progress of fleeting time generally removes from the knowledge of men. Wherefore let the generality of the present, as well as the future subjects of Our Kingdom, know the skill and daring demonstrated by Our good subject, Gunnarr UlfrBani, is most pleasing to Our eyes. We, therefore, induct him into the Noble Order of the Golden Alce and by this Award, We do affirm his right to bear the Badge of the Order and retain all rights and privileges of said Order and wishing this to remain valid unto all posterity, We forbid that any one, with rash daring, infringe it or in any way attempt to violate it; and We validly corroborate this Our decree, signed by Our Hands and witnessed by those who are present at this deed on the 18th day of April, AS 49 at the Queen's Rapier Championship in Our College of Silva Vulcani.

inspired by The Gelnhausen Charter; April 13, 1180 A.D.

Scroll Text - Finnr Jafnkollr - Golden Alce 2014

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Justice desires and reason demands that those men of virtue and great heart shall be by their deeds and renown rewarded in this life by certain signs and shows of honour and nobility in order that others should be moved also to pass their days in feats of arms. Therefore, 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 Finnr Jafnkollr spends his time in armor, on the battle field, in the tourney list and with the blacksmiths, perfecting his kit and increasing his skill as a warrior and as a leader and marshal of other warriors, are so moved to induct the same Finnr Jafnkollr, as mentioned above, into Our Order of the Golden Alce that all may know of his worth. So say We Magnus Tindal et Etain Nobilissimus Imperator AEthelmearc, on this 30th day of August, anno societatis nine and forty, in Our Barony of Delftwood, at Shoote in the Wyldewoode.

Scroll Text - Daniel Rufus - Golden Alce 2014

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Proclaim to all nobles and gentles these present letters hearing or seeing, Titus Scipio Germanicus and Anna Leigh, otherwise called King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc send humble and due recommendation. As it appears for so much as the Order of the Golden Alce, right noble company, is, before this day, short of a full compliment, We have been moved to take action this day. We have been informed, by nobles and gentles beyond reproach, of the skill of arms of Daniel Rufus, right trusty and right welbeloved fighter. We are well pleased by the deeds of arms that he has performed and the service to Our Kingdom as a teacher and a marshal that we are moved to add his name to the rolls of the said noble Order which they and their successors might boldly and vowably occupy challenge to Our will and desire for evermore without any rebuke of any estate or gentle of this Realm. Thus is Our will made into law on this 27th day of September, as 49, in Our Shire of Sylvan Glenn during the Siege of Glenary.

based on the Grant of Arms to the Carpenters Company of London, 1466

Scroll Text - Andrew of Thescorre - Golden Alce 2015

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

To all seeing these presents, Timothy and Gabrielle wish the enjoyment of perpetual peace. Since those things which are done lapse with the passage of time, and unless they are corroborated by written testimony, will easily slip the memories of men, and be changed, We wish it to be known to all people both now and in the future that We, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, on the advice of the members of the Order, for the preservation of that true chivalry, and the consistent skill of arms, We have seen from Andrew of Thescorre, have inducted him into the Noble Order of the Golden Alce, to hold freely with every right there in. Therefore, in order that no calumny may arise in the future, and in order that all doubt may be removed, We have strengthened this gift of Ours, corroborating it in writing and with our hands at Pax Interruptus, two scrore and ten years after the founding of Our Society.

Inspired by the Grant of a House at Riga to the Men of Lübeck, 1231

Scroll Text - Aledis Lanen - Golden Alce 2016

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

O come all good people of the Land and know the will of Magnus Tindal and Etain, Nobilissimus Imperator et Nobilissima Imperatrix. For as much as We been informed that Our trusty and welbeloved Aledis Lanen has taken up the axe, the knife, the spear and the Atl-atl and cast them with mighty throws at the enemies of the Crown. We have also been informed that she has also become a thrown weapons marshal so that she may teach and encourage the noble skill to others. In doing so, We are right pleased with the work she hath done for these, Our Sylvan Lands, that We are right moved to induct her into the Noble Order of the Golden Alce. Thus were Our hands moved on the 6th day of February, AS50 at the Feast of the Seven Deadlie Sins in the Barony of Delftwood.

inspired by 1432-36SC1/44/8 Letter of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, to the Chancellor

Scroll Text - Darri inn Valski - Gage 2014

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Martial Award

Due greetings and commendations to all gentles these present letters from Magnus Tindal et Etain, Basileus kai AEthelmearc, to the barons, lords and freemen of Our domain, greetings. It has come to Our notice the tremendous skill of armor and shield, of sword and spear, within the tourney and upon the field and with all the noble skill of arms that a man shall learn. Thus, be it known that we have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant for us and our heirs to our wellbeloved subject, Darri inn Valski, entrance into our Order of the Gage and do grant him arms, to wit, Per pall argent fretty vert, sable, and vert, two wolves sejant ululant respectant argent, that he shall bear from this day until the world's end without let or hinderence. In witness whereof we have caused to be made these Our letters. Witnessed Ourselves at Pennsic 43, the fourth day of August, AS 49.

based on the "Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted unto Iohn Cabot and his Three Sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian and Sancius for the the Discouerie of New and Unknowen Lands" and a letter from Henry VII to the dean and chapter of Wells, dated April 9, 1495.

Scroll Text - Sophie Davenport - Fleur 2017

Kingdom of AEthelmearc - Fleur de AEthelmearc

Albeit the jealous temper of mankind, ever more disposed to censure than to praise the work of others, has meant that the work of the deserving sometimes goes unrecognized; therefore, prompted by that desire which nature has implanted in Us, X and Y, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, to reward whosoever We think offers a common benefit to all, do We call Sophie Davenport into Our Presence and offer unto her a gift, which is the least We could do to show Our appreciation for her endeavors and skill in the arts and sciences. And this, Our warrant and gift, We give in Our love for her works of calligraphy and illumination and for the service which her scrolls have done for Our Kingdom. We give to her the badge of the Noble Order of the Fleur as well as free admittance into the said Noble Order so that all shall know of the favor We hold for her. Done by Our hands at {EVENT} on this Xth day of {MONTH}.

inspired by the preface to Discourses of Titus Livius by Niccolo Machiavelli (c. 1517).

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Playing with ink

Trying something new.

Here are two scrolls. The one on the left was done with Micron pens (and W&N gold gouache). The one on the right was done using ZZKOKO ink in fountain pens. I don't know which one I like best. The red ink looks better than the red Micron, but the blue Micron looks nicer than the blue ink. Also, the Micron worked better with my straight edge than the fountain pen.

I will have to experiment more.