Ines de Freitas, Award of Orion, 2021

 Decree of the King, Rattanicus, and the Queen, Isabel, first of those names.

Leaving aside the types and definitions of Justice, which many write about in unreasonable ways, it is Our intention to speak very briefly of justice alone, which is the reason royal power exists: to punish the evil and to reward the good.

And given that the King and Queen, whose reign is well-recorded, rule with justice – an act more pleasing to God than any other - We wish to speak about justice as those who have been greatly contented by the learning of one Lady, Ines de Freitas, who has embellished Our kingdom with song and scholarship in equal measure.

The King and Queen made vast use of the virtue of justice to bestow upon the Lady, Ines de Freitas, the Award of Orion, and on whose account we must consider that there was in this time the gift of justice, whose laurel and fruit is honorable fame in this world.

This was done on the 20th day of November, as We sat Our thrones in our land of Bastille du Lac, where We put Our hands and seal.

Wording by TH Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, based on The Prologue of the Chronicle of King Pedro I of Portugal.

Avelyn Wexcombe, Court Barony, 2021

 O, the Northrealm! A land so bless’d,

With worthy nobles of the best!

In Skraeling Althing look around:

Carrots of gold spring from the ground!

This work of goodly Avelyn,

Eighth to sit the High Seats and reign,

Well-beloved in all her land

(Naught to do with that sword in hand…)

Bent her will to learning and jest,

(Eastrealm friends say “Give it a rest!”)

These years of service now are past,

Like bounding hares they run so fast!

Rattanicus and Isabel,

Your lieges speak – all ears compel,

Silver now encircles your brow,

Let none gainsay what we do now.

Done this 13 th Day of November, Anno Societatis LVI (56), as We celebrate the Feast of the Hare in Our

Canton of Caldrithig, where we have set Our Hands and Seal.

Wording by TH Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, based on the humorous verse “The Foxe and the Welle”.

Dafydd ap Alan, Court Barony, 2021

 ‘Tis said that gold grows not on trees,

Nor can it be fish’d from the seas,

But in fair Skraeling Althing bright,

Golden Carrots are their birthright.

Give thanks unto Dafydd’s labours –

Eighth of the land’s chosen leaders –

Defends his people with his blade,

Survived a kidnapper’s raid,

A noble fam’d for rapier wit,

(Dragon Dormant prefer’d he’d quit!)

Though time bids all to say goodbye,

Let joy, like rabbits, multiply!

Isabel and Rattanicus,

Northrealm sovereigns now sayeth thus:

From our hands take this coronet,

That for your service none may forget.

Done this 13 th Day of November, Anno Societatis LVI (56), as We celebrate the Feast of the Hare in Our

Canton of Caldrithig, where we have set Our Hands and Seal.

Wording by TH Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, based on the humorous verse “The Foxe and the Welle”.

Yamagata Tokimu'ne, Award of the Maiden's Heart, 2021

Snow blankets the land

The mountain sleeps under drifts

Its streams are frozen

Undisturbed by marching feet

Of bushi; they march to war.

One stands among them

Honour’d is Yamagata

Tokimune; serve

Your Ten’nō and your Jotei

Shugo of Western Province.

Rise, Hatamoto

Tono of the Okami!

Wolves howl your name

Kaylah and Trumbrand declare

The Maiden’s Heart – bear it now.

 

Done this 70th day of Winter, in the 54^th Year, by our decree.

 

Wording by Akashi Terumoto go-Taisho

Composed as a renga (連歌) format of poetry.

Nicola Canis, Award of Arms, 2021

 

Let all present and future know that We, Rattanicus Rex and Isabel Regina Ealdormerensis, in Our goodness and grace, have by this present letter given and granted and confirmed, through her homage and service, to Nicola Canis, the rights, responsibilities, and station of a Lady of the Realm; and further we do by this letter grant unto the aforesaid Nicola the right to bear the arms Per bend sable and azure, a three-headed dog rampant contourny tailed of a serpent maintaining in its tail a sword argent, for which a yearly annuity must be rendered in coin or in service, as pertains to the whole realm. And We, Rattanicus and Isobel and our heirs warrant the aforesaid Nicola of the aforesaid rights for the aforesaid service in perpetuity. With these witnessing on the 4th day of September, Anno Societatis LVI (56).

Wording by TH Lord Dietrich von Sachsen; based on a grant of land given by Nicola de la Haie.

Dubhessa ui Uilliam, Hare Salient, 2021

 Excerpt from the Annals of Kaerbrok:

That time saw the streets of villages and cities, castles and towns with scarcely a person to be seen, yet that year was still beyond measure abundant and fruitful, though in ways before unimagined. In this time of uncertainty there were those who continued to serve the peoples of their barony, and indeed Dubhessa ui Uilliam is one of the exalted.

And We, Avelyn and Dafydd, Baroness and Baron of the Barony of Skraeling Althing, and of the Covenant Among the Hares, have this written about her sacrifice and deeds of good work and other notable things, which happened in Our time, which we saw with our Own eyes, or which We learned of from persons worthy of credit. And lest things worthy of remembrance should perish with time and fall away from memory of those who come after us, We, seeing her work as former Minister of Arts and Sciences for her Stronghold of Greyfells, her work as her Stronghold’s seneschal, her work at events, including that which was held on the day of this edict, and many too numerous to recount in full, do present her with an Award of the Hare Salient. This we did in her Stronghold, at the Making MAYhem event, on the turning of the wheel to the first day of the fifty-sixth year of the Society.

 

Wording by Baron Colyne Stewart, based upon the final entry of The Annals of Ireland, written by Friar John Clynn, c. 1349  CE.

Dietrich van Sachsen, Kings Favour, 2021

Commission of Array to the Honourable Dietrich von Sachsen, the General of Our Bardic Army, to assemble all the able skalds, bards, poets, versifiers, and all other persons as deemed necessary from all of the hundreds of Septentria, Skraeling Althing, Ramshaven, Ben Dunfirth, Rising Waters and the shires of Ealdormere, and to bring them ethereally to the first Bardic War to wage in contests of wits, songs, and arms. This was done beginning the Ides of May and in aid and recognition of this commission and his deeds, do We, Rattanicus and Isabel, King and Queen of the Lupine Lands, bestow upon the said Dietrich an Award of the King’s Favour. This We do in spirit at Fruits of Our Labours, held by the Canton of Bryniau Twynogg, on the Feast Day of Romanus of Subiaco, hermit, in the second year of the plague, and the 55^th year of this, our community, which remains vibrant in the face of adversity.

 

Wording by Baron Colyne Stewart, based on a commission from the Glendower rebellion, 1403. (Cal. Patent Rolls, Membrane 20, 1403, 7 Oct. Gloucester.)