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.)

Bjarn Aaronson, Award of Orion

Droekvett poetry. by THL Dietrich von Sachsen

Worthy northrealm noble,
Norns call him Bjarn; kneels he
In Baldric’s hall – heroes’
Hearth, worthy of Breyla.

Kin is he to canvas
Colours he well controls
Boldly his shield showing
Shapely painted sentry.

Arbiter – our artists
Gain unbiased judgement
Students he taught tell of
Time and effort offered.

Honoured son of Aaron!
Of Orion order
Of harp and stars; stand ye
Strong – your King thus commands.

Done this 30th Day of June in the
53rd Year of the Society,
whereof we have set our
hands and seal. 

Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi, Order of the Pelican, 2016

Quilliam, Queen-maker,

Queries his althing,

Speaks to skald-poets

Converses with carls.

Domhnail, dís[1]-born,

Daughter of dwarf-kin[2]

Muses with maðr[3]

Talks with red rekkr[4].

Who comes when called

Carries long burdens

Field and fen toiler

Works with the wain-kin[5]?

Who nears when needed

Knowing what’s lacking

Moils[6] in mead hall

Stands without sighing?

Kolbjorn, kappi[7],

Dreki-marked[8] kyrtil[9]

Tender of tree-lord

Binder of boughs[10].

Black bear[11] devoted

Born into Ramlands[12]

Frigg[13]-blessed father

Ring-rich in family.

Wise words well spoken

Well heard by high-born

Call they the Kolbjorn

Command they their carl.

Stood he in shire-land

At icy snow-battle

Added as årmann[14]

Joins band of blood-givers[15].

And so was Kolbjorn, loyal servant of Quilliam and Domhnail, inducted into Their Order of the Pelican, at Tournoi du Coeur des Glace, in Their Shire of Bastille du Lac, on the 30^th day of January, in the fiftieth year of the settlement.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, using the galdralag version of the ljoðaháttr meter (known as the “magic spell meter”).  This meter was likely used for magical or cult poetry, and since a Peerage elevation is a special event I thought it fitting.

Ljoðaháttr (“meter of chants”) consisted of a pair of line, each having two stressed syllables and being bound by alliteration, followed by a third line (the “full line” that alliterated with itself and had two or three stressed syllables. Galdralag added a fourth line that mirrored the third. Normally a stanza consisted of two sets of these three or four lines.

Sources:

Linguistics Research Centre, Old Norse Online, http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/eieol/norol-BF-X.html

Nordic Names, http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Kolbj%C3%B8rn

Viking Answer Lady, Poetry in Scandinavia and the North, http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/meters.shtml

---

[1] A dis is a spirit of fate.

[2] Domhnail is a former baroness of Septentria. She followed Barony Cynred, whose short stature and long beard reminded many of a gnome.

[3] Henchmen, people.

[4] Warriors.

[5] A kenning referring to the Companions of the Order of the Wain, who have been recognized for their service.

[6] A verb meaning “to work”.

[7] Hero or champion.

[8] Referring to the dragon on Kol’s heraldry.

[9] Tunic.

[10] These two lines are saying that Kol cares for Yggdraasil, the tree that stands at the centre of the Norse universe.

[11] Kolbjorn means “black bear”.

[12] Kol is from the Barony of Ramshaven.

[13] Frigg is, among other things, the goddess of marriage.

[14] An admistrator akin to a steward or castellan.

[15] In medieval lore Pelicans were known for great sacrifice, even feeding their own blood to their young.

Jocelyn de Cranewall, Einvigi Rapier Champion, 2015

All is done              Ullr's season
Descends with        winter's sea-breath
From northern         frozen mountains.
End of strife            Einvigi age

Dealing cruel          death to swordsmen
Fought they did      for honour and
Fame; on now        to Odin's hall
Valhal's walls         valour recall.

Fiercely swords        did feast on blood
ullr's shields             shone most brightly
In misty                   morning ravens
Gather; whose          wounds form their feast?

And who would        win glory from
crown'd brow of        breaker of rings?
Though kin and        cattle all die
Famous deeds        forever live.

Famed the name        Known for her skill
Jocelyn            Joyful sword-maid
Challengers        Chose well their doom
With flick of        Flashing blade, fell.


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, as an award for a Royal Tourney.

Jocelyn de Cranewall, Einvigi Rapier Most Traveled, 2015

Harken Ealdormere!              Hear the words

From herald's lips;                Loud they proclaim:
Weather of weapons             Washed on our shores
And brave souls walked        The wide Whale-road.

Who sought the sea-steed    Sword holding high?
Wandering Odin                   Ne'er walked so far.
Not for Freyja's tears            Tore men from wives,
But honour and                    High esteem sought.

From land of far Skrael        to Skeldergate
Harrowgate Heath               hears loud spear-din.
Bryniau and Caer Draeth     call warriors
To take to ships                  taunting the Norns.

Konnugr Steinarr                Calls wandering
War-maiden here;              Mark well her deeds!
Fair Drottning Lyda             Lauds her labors!
Silver blade shone-            Shamed challengers.

Hails well from Cranewall-     Cry out her name!
Hail Jocelyn!                          judge you right brave!
Brav'd wind and weather       Breaker-of-Rings
Honours your name              Now homeward come.

Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen, award for a Royal Tourney.

Othindisa bykona, Order of the Laurel, 2015

Þá á vetra stofnans fertugundi ok níundi, Rikardsmessa inn Konung, inn nótt tuttugundi ok annarr þorsmánaðar ok nótt sjaundi mánaðar fimti einvalds Titus ok Anna Leigh, Konunginn Æthelmerc ok Kvenna. Gegnum meðan hæstir eru stormar um vetrinn fóru á Vindkverns Stað á hinna Syndar Sjau Dauðligra Hóf. Þar tala hinn skaldshvítskeggjaðr heyrðu

Ok hann sagði:

Engis gulla augar
óðrærs æna smyrill;
flugastinga súpa
sæta mjölkblóms lævíss.
Vængar með höggvanda
vínsvelgr fljóta til býhus
Þer hunangs ymrþjuða
þrekliga stemma lækrgull.

Meyja hroska meldrar
mala luma hunangs -
lærdóms glaðast landvörð
ljoseld halda blossi.
Runum Freyjas fela -
fjarðlog herjar hirða.
Riki býheims hrósa
ræriróðs prúðlig meyja.

Birtigulla býtár
bekkr damstæð leka
játir barajastars
yndiligr bekkr vindsgnýr.
Hrannir út hann dynjað
Hárs á saltunnu skáldit
siglað Óðinns segjað
skaldskipit ok ölhrönn.

Ágæta Óðindisa
afusa meyja gullin.
Bóndar mikill býkongs
berrat órdsmíðs bjórveig.

Þá er heyrðu þessa, Titus ok Anna Leigh fundu Oðindisa bykona, aldæll ok víta, mætr ganga í bönd með bróðernit lárviðs af vísi býhalda vítr ok læring hana af vísi þat. Gjöf gefu henni, nafn aeðlæst ok skjaldnafn: Fjólublátt, sól í dýrð hans, á æðstu gulli þrjú perur grænt, eiginn hennar af opið bref. Ok gleðusk állr!

Þus endast nóttsaginn einvalds Titus ok Anna Leigh, Konungr ok Kvenna Aethelmearc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Then, in the forty-ninth winter from the Founding, on the Feast day of Richard the King, being the 22nd night of Thor-month, and the seventh night of the fifth month of the reign of Titus and Anna Leigh, the King of AEthelmearc and his Queen traveled in the depth of winter to visit their WindMill Stead for the Seven Deadly Sins Feast. There they heard the White-Beard Skald speak. And he said:

Meadow´s golden-eyes gathers the hawk of wisdom The sting-fly sips sweet blooms' strong milk Drunkard with wings staggering floats to home at bee house There the buzzing-tribe strongly stems the stream-gold. Maiden of the mill wise measures golden honey. Brings to landward brightest beacon´s light of learning. Keeps she Freya's secrets, keeps the baron's fjord-flame. King of bee-home praises wisdom's stately maiden. Bright-gold bee-tears frozen brook the golden dam-yard leaks. Charming bee-tear brook squall yields finest yeast-wave. Har's waves flow to high hall barrel quenches skald's thirst. Skalds ships sails all ways over Odin's ale-wave. Thanks to golden maiden, Oðindisa's glory, Bee-king's minions many bring to wordsmith strong drafts.

After hearing this, Titus and Anna Leigh found Othindisa bykona, gentle and wise, most worthy of taking the oath of a Companion of the Laurel Brotherhood for her studies in the science of keeping bees and her teaching of that science, and They gave her a gift of a Most Noble Name and the shield-naming: Purpure, a sun in his splendor, on a chief Or three pears vert, hers alone by Letters Patent. And all rejoiced!

Thus ends this night-saga of the reign of Titus and Anna Leigh, King and Queen of Æthelmearc.

Words by Baron Fridrikr Tomasson

Einar Inn Austrifera Josepson, Award of Orion, 2015

Excerpt from Gamlaðr Vatn Saga:

In the fall, Daffyd and Mahild took over a farm in the Ford, and it soon became a fine estate. A son was born to them, named Einar; he was quickly handsome and precocious. Like his father, Einar was skilled in working with wood, but soon surpassed him in this ability. Many were the bowl and spoon carved by Einar’s hands, and many homesteads made use of his work.

Mighty Trumbrand and Queen Kaylah, having heard of Einar’s talents, came with many warriors, servants and retainers and stayed at the farm in the Ford. There they watched Einar as he laboured at his trade, and they were much impressed.

They called Einar before them, and then spoke:

We called on Einar’s homestead

And found the woodman shaping;

Armed with blade and saw-tooth

The wood bent to his will.

Grand things we saw him make there,

All of them great treasures,

Made from mighty oak trees;

Rewards must now be given.

And so they gave Einar a ring, marked with the stars of Orion, so that all who met him would know of his great skill.

The skalds recorded that this happened in the Shire of Bastille du Lac, on the 31^st dagr of Þorri, in the forty-ninth ár of the worldthing.

Wording by THL Colyne Stewart, based on excerpts from Laxdæla Saga.

Kolbjorn skatkaupandi, Order of Thorbjorn's Hammer, 2014

Cattle die,

Kinsmen die

You yourself die;

I know one thing

Which never dies:

The virtue of a man's life.

Hammer of Thor strikes Anvil of Virtue,       Rings forth, naming Kolbjorn.

Brother they hailed,                                        Of Ealdormere the most blissfull,

Potent King in the high seat                           They wished him to join,

And the Brethren to sit                                   Happy at the feast,

Ever with Thorbjorn,                                       Pleasure to share.

Many songs they sung,                                   Rode on sea steeds,

The King and Queen,                                      Trumbrant Bold, Kayla Fairhair'd.

At the magestic house,                                    Odin listened,

Wrote he the runes.                                         Declare, Nornir! Kolbjorn,

This day Battle Brother                                  'Til Fenris does come.

Wording by HE Mahault of Swynford.

Mjoll Ulfsdottir, Award of the Orion, 2012

Who is this lady that comes before Us

Here in our lofty hall?

To stand before Edward, Wolf-strong King,

And Rylyn, North-wise Queen?

Called she Mjoll, Dottir of Ulf,

Water-born and Water-loved

Skilled with hands and leather-craft

And Jörð's bounty well fashioned.

Bearer is she of unsheathed axes,

Giver of shovels-sheathed.

Shaper of skins, and pelts prepared

For beauteous crafts to please the eye.

Drunk has she deep from Mead of Suttungr,

Odin’s gift of poetry to men;

With skald’s tongue and wisdom great

Does she great works of song and tale.

Know we well this Lady’s worth

And proclaim it thus in our high hall:

That Lady Mjoll, Dottir of Ulf,

Bear our will and favour forth.

Take upon thee this harp of gold

Bedecked in wine-deep stars

Orion’s harp, for all to hear,

Award we now for art and skill.

Done this 1st Day of September, AS 47,

As we sit our thrones at Baron's Howe.

Wording by Dietrich von Sachsen.

Sage of House Marchmount. Award of Arms, 2014

Great rulers have great reason

to regard you; trust

they show in your service:

Always are you working.

Before your coming

no handmaiden so deserving

in all the northlands, you

Triple-cub of Ealdormere.

Days of youth are past; you

stand no longer maiden:

fierce woman of the north,

hailing from the Marchfell.

Kneel now down before us,

Adrielle and Nigel,

Konungur and Drotning,

rise and take up blood-ember,

Hefdharfru of our court.

Such was recorded by our skalds, at the Kelda Arts and Sciences Kaupstefna, in the Barony of Ben Dunfirth, on the twenty and sixth day of the third month in the forty-eighth year of the verǫld-thing.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on Ottar the Black’s poem about King Olaf in the Orkneyinga Saga.

Joffr Rödson, Award of Arms, 2013

In the days when Nigel was King and Adrielle was Queen, it once happened that an armourer came before them and greeted them. And the king and queen received him well and asked him his name. The man said he was called Joffr Rödson, son of Röd. He asked if he could stay awhile among the retainers. The king and queen granted him that and assigned him a very worthy seat. Joffr was pleasant and polite and well liked by all. He worked diligently on the growth of the king and queen’s lands, and they were both well pleased with him.

At the end of the year, when gathering for a yule celebration, Nigel and Adrielle held a court and called Joffr Rödson before them, and gave him an arm ring and the right to call himself a lord of the people.

And Nigel’s skalds took note that this occurred on the thirtieth day of November, in the Canton of Bryniau Tywynnog, at Wassail, in the forty-eighth year of the society.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on The Tale of Toki Tokason, 13^th or 14^th century, trans. Peter Tunstall, 2005.

Tamsin Kitto, Award of the Orion, 2013

Many are held             in high esteem

Skald and poet                        foe-render and Viking

But none so high         as those who create

Tamsin Kitto is such a one      whip-corder, weaver,

Binder of naal             Vor knows her work

Called before thrones              knealing artisan

Before Nigel, Konungr           Adrielle, Drottning

Giver of minds-worth             she is bestowed

An Orion is given        with as many strings

As Tamsin has talents             while in Bryniau Tywynnog

At yuletide wassail                 on the last day of Frer-mánuðr

Forty-eight years         since Ymir was rended

And from his bones    was born the world

Words by THLaird Colyne Stewart, done in the style of Old Norse verse.

Trimaris Award of Arms Wording

Many are those whose service is so bountiful that We are much besieged with letters and reports, so that this service will not pass unknown. We the Crown Trimaris have paid heed to those letters, and hereby do confer upon ____________ an Award of Arms. Upon the _____ day of _______, signed and sealed by Our hand, Anno Societas ________.

ALTERNATIVE:

Gracious are those who serve, and joyful are We to proclaim such service to all. Know ye then, that ______________ is Our valued subject, and to honor them for their efforts, We the Crown Trimaris hereby bestowan Award of Arms. Witnessed in the Year of Our Society _____________, upon the _________ day of __________.

ALTERNATIVE:

Zephyr winds blow upon Our shores, and carry to Us tidings of good deeds and honorable service. We the Crown Trimaris do hear those words, and summon ______________ before Us. In reward of selfless dedication, we herewith bestow an Award of Arms upon this _____ day of _______, in the Anno Societas ___________.

ALTERNATIVE:

All shall know by these letters that We, the Crown Trimaris, mindful of the efforts and contributions of the good ____________ do herefore bestow this Award of Arms. Signed and sealed this _____ Day of _____, being _____ A.S. _____

ALTERNATIVE:

Service, strength, honor, courtesy- these are the foundations of Our Society. We hold in high esteem thosewho show these qualities, and by many letters have We the Crown Trimaris been made aware that ______________ is one such person. Our esteem is such that We do this day bestow upon them an Award of
Arms, so made upon the _____ day of _______, A.S._____________.

ALTERNATIVE:

Quiet are those who serve, doing so not for honor or recognition, but for love of the Dream. Though it may not be sought, We do recognize that service and devotion in ______________, and upon the _______ day of _______, A.S._____________,

ALTERNATIVE:

We the Crown Trimaris do hereby bestow this Award of Arms.Our Kingdom Trimaris rests upon the foundation of service, strength, honor, and courtesy of those who dwell within its shores. As you have shown all of these qualities, We are pleased to bestow upon ______________________ an Award of Arms. Signed and sealed this _____ day of _____, A.S. _______

ALTERNATIVE:

Praiseworthy are those within Our Kingdom Trimaris who have served with honor and gentility, by which We are enriched. As Our good and noble servant ________________ has shown these qualities, We, the CrownTrimaris, are pleased to bestow this Award of Arms. Signed by Our hand this _____day of _____, Anno Societatis.

ALTERNATIVE:

(for Norse/ Scandinavian personas only- not suitable for adding blazon wording)

Here within Our Three-Seas land
Call We forth one who serves
One whose devotion sustains Us well.
For We are far-seeing by Our raven’s eye.
Summon now before Us
This loyal citizen, and
Call forth ______________to face this host of compatriots.
Here this ____ sun-sky of _______
Called the year of A.S ______,
We the Crown Trimaris bear forth
An Award of Arms.

[Source: The Trimaris College of Scribes]