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.

Gannicus the Hibernian, Award of Orion, 2018

By Maister Colyne Stewart, March AS 52 (2018)

The hammer rings on anvil’s head,

The steel wed in Credne’s clamor,

Smith, Gannicus, gives of his art,

Generous heart, the Crown thinks thus:

To Goibniu’s son, give gift,

Herald, swift, Lén’s star pearls strew,

Glad Orion’s belt gird him,

Strong of limb, honour well won.

Rylan, Edward, rich royals,

Loyal, of Mac Cuill sure scions,

In Ben Dunfirth done on feast

Of priest McCartan, bless’d birth

In year two and fifty thus,

For Gannicus, lords of tree,

Make note his deeds and sing sure,

Endure his name, give true troat.

Written as a casbairdne, an early Irish poetic form. Casbairdne were quatrains with seven syllable lines. Lines two and four rhymed, while one and three should have consonance with them (I did not adhere strongly to the consonance in this poem). Each couplet (set of two lines) had to employ cross-rhyme (where a word in the first half of the line rhymed with the last word in the other line in the couplet). Two words per line had to alliterate; in the final line of the quatrain the alliteration had to be between the last syllable and the previous stressed syllable. The poem ended with dunadh, which usually meant the last word of the poem had to be the same as the first, or it had to alliterate or rhyme with the first. (Sometimes dunadh also referred to chain rhyme).

Below is a copy of the poem with footnotes. Alliterated words have the first letter shown in bold, while rhymed syllables are shown in italics. 

The hammer rings on anvil’s head,

The steel wed in Credne[1]’s clamor,

Smith, Gannicus, gives of his art,

Generous heart, the Crown thinks thus:

To Goibniu[2]’s son, give gift,

Herald, swift, Lén[3]’s star pearls strew,

Glad Orion’s belt gird him,

Strong of limb, honour well won.

Rylan, Edward, rich royals,

Loyal, of Mac Cuill[4] sure scions,

In Ben Dunfirth done on feast

Of priest McCartan,[5] bless’d birth

In year two and fifty[6] thus,

For Gannicus, lords of tree[7],

Make note his deeds and sing sure,

Endure his name, give true troat[8].

---

[1] A smith of the Tuatha Dé Danaan of Irish mythology; one of the three gods of art.

[2] Another smith of the Tuatha Dé Danaan; Credne’s brother; also one of the three gods of art

[3] Lén was a fairy craftsman who, every night, flung his anvil at a nearby hill, causing pearls to shower from said anvil.

[4] A former High King of Ireland.

[5] The feast of Saint McCartan (also known as Mac Cairthinn of Clogher) is on March 24.

[6] Anno Societatis 52.

[7] A reference to the druids, who also acted as bards and recorders of history.

[8] A loud call, usually used to refer to those made by an animal trying to attract another.

Lucia de Moranza, Award of Orion, 2015

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, Quilliam and Domhnail, King and Queen of the free north, to reward whosoever We think offers a common benefit to all, do We call Lucia de Moranza before Us. Good lady, We send you a gift, which is at any rate the least We could do to show Our appreciation for your endeavours in the arts and sciences. And in this writ, Our gift, We have expressed both Our love of your works in fabric arts, bobbin lacing, egg painting and tablet weaving, as well as the love of the people of Our lands. Take then this Award of Orion, in glad spirit, and give Us satisfaction in knowing that all now know the favour We hold for you. We have done this at Queen’s Prize Tourney, in Our lands of Petrea Thule on the feast day of Emperor Justinian in the fiftieth year of the Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the preface to Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius by Niccolo Machiavelli (c. 1517).

Merewyn of Swenyeshie, Award of Orion, 2015

Let all who heren thisse asise,
Of Steinarr, Kyng of the Ealdormerii,
And Lydr, Quene who Wið-stod him.
Worldes bliss we pris nout,
Al be that the bliss of oure Kine-þeod we pris gretliche.
They that do multiplye the murthe of oure puple
With conning and queyntise - forgen bel beydes -
We wouldst wurðien. We bi-nemnen in oure loftye castel:
Merewen de Sweynesheie is grauntyed the Awarde of Orion.
Ne mon is gabben oure vassal!

(IN MODERN ENGLISH)
Let all who hear this decree,
Of Steinarr, Kyng of the Ealdormerii
And Lydr, Queen who stands beside him.
Wordly bliss we value not,
Although the bliss of our subjects we value grealty.
They that do multiply* the joy of our people
With cunning and artifice - forging beautiful beads -
We would honour. We declare in our lofty hall:
That Merewen de Sweynesheie is granted the Award of Orion.
Let no man scoff at our vassal!


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen

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.

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.

John Moran, Orion, 2014

Declare throughout the realm and understand these words. Nigel by divine grace King of Ealdormere, and Adrielle his inspiration and Queen, to all faithful subjects present and future, greetings. Let all know duty and privilege move Us to see that those who merit honour and recognition are rewarded for their efforts. We being right mindful of the enthusiasm, knowledge and skills in which John Moran has displayed in Tudor culinary manners and arts do wish to recognize him with Our Award of the Orion and grant unto him the right to wear the badge of the award. That this gift remain firm and unimpaired, We order it to be signed with the authority of our seal in Our beloved Canton of Caldrithig by the hand of our scribe, in the 48th year of the incarnation of our Society on this 22nd day of February.

Wording by Duchess Adrielle Kerrec.

Gwen Hamilton, Orion, 2014

Nigel and Adrielle, by grace of the Heavens King and Queen of Ealdormere, and Earl and Countess of Arrochar, to all, Barons, &c., greeting. Among other notable affairs of the realm we consider it to be the most important that it should be fortified by a fitting distribution of orders, dignitaries and offices, supported by sound councils and powerful people. Therefore, as the realm has for a time suffered a manifold decay in names, honours and dignity of degrees, we, regarding with quiet meditation those things by which the same realm can be adorned, and turning our regards to the consideration of our beloved and trusted Gwen Hamilton, and willing that this person should be honoured, have given to her our Award of the Orion, with the common assent and counsel of the prelates, earls, barons and others of our council. Done by our hand and seal, at [EVENT NAME], on [DATE], in our [LOCAL GROUP].

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Creation of the Black Prince as Duke of Cornwall by Edward III, 1338, Charter R.C.V. 35.

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.

Beathan MacFinnon, Award of the Orion, 2013

NIGEL and ADRIELLE, by the Grace of Lady Ealdormere, King and Queen of Ealdormere, Earl and Countess of Arrochar, Protectors of the Far North, Wardens of Septentrialis, Ard Ri of Lacus Pentamerus and Lacus Ealdormearc, High Lord and Lady of Ardchreag, &c.

For as much as you, Beathan MacFinnon, are known for the construction of furniture, jewelry, banners, woodworking and calligraphy, and it was witness at the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire that you were chosen as the victor of the Queen’s Choice Prize, therefore it is but just and reasonable, that since you work so diligently, you should be rewarded for it. And We, being willing to honour and favour you for the reasons aforesaid: Our will is, that you, Beathan MacFinnon, after showing such expertise in the arts and sciences, be given Our Award of the Orion, and the right to bear the badge of the award without let or hindrance. And by this Our letter: We command Prince Siegfried and Princess Ragni, Our most beloved son and daughter, the Infants, Dukes, Prelates, Marquesses, Great Masters and Military Orders, Priors, Commendaries, our Counsellors, Judges, and other Officers of Justice whatsoever, belonging Courts, and Chancery, and Constables of Castles, Strong Houses, and others; and all Corporations, Bayliffs, Governours, Judges, Commanders, Sea Officers; and the Aldermen, Common Council, Officers, and Good People of all Cities, Lands, and Places in our Kingdoms and Dominions, as such in all respects, and give you all the perquisites and other things belonging and appertaining to the said award; and allow, and cause to be allowed you, all the honours, graces, concessions, prehaminences, prerogatives, immunities, and other things, or any of them which are due to you, by virtue of your achievements. We command our Chancellour, Heralds, and other Officers, to pass, seal, and deliver to you, Our Award, in such form and legal manner, as you shall require or stand in need of. And that none of them presume to do any thing to the contrary, upon pain of our displeasure, and forfeiture of 30 finfarthings for each offence. And We command him, who shall show them this Our Letter, that he summon them to appear before Us at our Court, where we shall then be, within fifteen days after such summons, under the said penalty. Under which same, We also command any Public Notary whatsoever, that he give to him that shows it him, a certificate under his seal, that we may know how our command is obeyed.

GIVEN at Bryniau Tywynnog, on the 30th of November, at Wassail, in the year of our Society, 48.-

Nigel, THE KING, Adrielle, THE QUEEN.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Privileges and Prerogatives Granted by Their Catholic Majesties to Christopher Columbus : 1492

Evelyn atte Holye, Award of the Orion

Loving words have been spoken

Of one Lady Evelyn atte Holye

They tell of her skill in sewing,

Her grace in teaching, and her

True eye for colour and taste.

She sets her face towards all Arts

and lets Beauty be her guide.

Such work and service has not gone unnoticed,

And today We are pleased to honour her

Before all of Ealdormere.

Wherefore do We

King Trumbrand the Wanderer

And Queen Kaylah the Cheerful

Bestow upon you the Award of the Orion.

Enter into the joy of Our hearts.

Done this third day of November

Anno Societatis XXXXII

In Our Shire of Trinovantia Nova.

Wording, calligraphy and illumination by THL Asa Gormsdottir

Inspired by a 15^th century Spanish ms Add. 21,120

Konrad Matthias Jaeger, Award of the Orion

Mettle proved

In times of war

Ares’ son extends his realm

To peaceful fields

The watchful guardians

Long and lank

Who count the days of famine we are sent

Sure that the days of feasting shall reclaim

Their cousins

Very cradles of protection

Whatever Fortune’s turn

Soul of an army

We, Roak and Jocea

Have noted the skill

Of His Excellency

Master Sir Konrad Matthias Jaeger

In the construction of belts and boots

And other leatherwork

Here on Our Coronation Day,

We do bestow upon him

The Award of Orion

And all privileges thereto

Done this 25^th day of April

A.S. XLIII

In Our Barony of Ben Dunfirth

Wording, calligraphy and Illumination by THL Asa Gormsdottir

Based on the Lindisfarne Gospels, c. 725

Puns:

Sent / Sure = ceinture Fr. Belt

Turn / Soul = turnsole

Penda of Glyndmere, Award of the Orion

Silent hides to him do speak

Iron glows beneath his gaze

Trees bend before his will

We Nigel Rex and Adrielle Regina

Have noted the endeavours

Of Lord Penda of Glyndmere

In leather working, blacksmithing

And armouring.

For the skill he brings to this Kingdom

We do bestow upon him

The Award of the Orion

Done this 14^th day of November

Anno Societatis 44

At the Ealdormere Fall Fair

In Our canton of Bryniau Tywynnog.

Wording, calligraphy and illumination by THL Asa Gormsdottir

Motif based on 7^th century Irish metalwork (Hunterston and Tara annular brooches and Ardagh chalice)

Calligraphy hand based on the Lindisfarne Gospels (8^th century)

Sibylla of Glyndmere, Award of the Orion

Sight comes to those who seek

Strength woven of finest thread

A riddle from the sleepless leaf

Open hands with meat and bread

We Nigel Rex and Adrielle Regina

Have heard of the generous works

Of Lady Sibylla of Glyndmere

Creating feasts, weaving trim

And serving her barony.

For the skill she brings to this Kingdom

We do bestow upon her

The Award of the Orion

Done this 14^th day of November

Anno Societatis 44

At the Ealdormere Fall Fair

In Our canton of Bryniau Tywynnog.

Wording, calligraphy and illumination by THL Asa Gormsdottir

Motif based on 7^th century Irish metalwork (Hunterston and Tara annular brooches and Ardagh chalice)

Calligraphy hand based on the Lindisfarne Gospels (8^th century)

Aurik Burnsson, Award of the Orion, 2013

King Nigel and Queen Adrielle ruled the land that men now call Ealdormere. It is told that They gave to a smith, in return for his hard works, a hammer. This man was kin of the Skrael, he was named Aurik Burnsson. In the east of the land he laboured at his forge, digging in the earth a cooling trough. And from that time on the spot whence the land had been torn up is called Dows Lake, and the sparks from his forge shine in the heavens. Thus says Colyne, the ancient skald:

Aurik drew from Nigel | gladly the steel-slayer beveled,

Til from the labours hard | water boiled, to Skrael’s increase;

The smith made, moreover, | heaven-eyes that shine,

O’er the forge’s wide: booty | and renown in the smithing.

And so did Nigel and Adrielle, impressed with the work of their servant Aurik, give to him the Award of the Orion not only for his skill at the smithy, but also with the needle and the quill. This was done on the Feast of St. Othmar in the Canton of Ardchreag at the Kingdom Arts and Sciences Faire in Anno Societatus 48.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the opening of Gylfaginning, from The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturlson [13^th c.], translated by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur [1916] http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/pre/

King Gylfi ruled the land that men now call Sweden. It is told of him that he gave to a wandering woman, in return for her merry-making, a plow-land in his realm, as much as four oxen might turn up in a day and a night. But this woman was of the kin of the Æsir; she was named Gefjun. She took from the north, out of Jötunheim, four oxen which were the soils of a certain giant and, herself, and set them before the plow. And the plow cut so wide and so deep that it loosened up the land; and the oxen drew the land out into the sea and to the westward, and stopped in a certain sound. There Gefjun set the land, and gave it a name, calling it Selund. And from that time on, the spot whence the land had been torn up is water: it is now called the Lögr in Sweden; and bays lie in that lake even as the headlands in Selund. Thus says Bragi, the ancient skald:

Gefjun drew from Gylfi | gladly the wave-trove's free-hold,
Till from the running beasts | sweat reeked, to Denmark's increase;
The oxen bore, moreover, | eight eyes, gleaming brow-lights,
O'er the field's wide: booty, | and four heads in their plowing.

Ailis de la Marche, Award of the Orion, 2013

Out of the sweetness of the Marche,

‘Mongst the leaves, ‘neath the larch,

A trouvere raises up her voice,

Forming the verse of her new song,

Words of her home to cause rejoice,

For that for which she most does long.

From finest sweetest place We see

From where We sit as Royalty,

Ailis de la Marche refrain,

Praising northland noble deeds,

Singing once and then again,

Laying sweetest word-fame seeds.

So Adrielle and Nigel king,

To recognize how well she sings,

An Orion we bestow on her,

At Kingdom A&S, Our writ,

On the sixteenth of November,

While in Ardchreag We sit.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on “Ab la dolchor del temps novel” by Guillaume de Poitiers (1071-1127), Translated by A. S. Kline © 2009, http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/French/FromDawnToDawn.htm

Out of the sweetness of the spring,

The branches leaf, the small birds sing,

Each one chanting in its own speech,

Forming the verse of its new song,

Then is it good a man should reach

For that for which he most does long.

From finest sweetest place I see

No messenger, no word for me,

So my heart can’t laugh or rest,

And I don’t dare try my hand,

Until I know, and can attest,

That all things are as I demand.

This love of ours it seems to be

Like a twig on a hawthorn tree

That on the tree trembles there

All night, in rain and frost it grieves,

Till morning, when the rays appear

Among the branches and the leaves.

So the memory of that dawn to me

When we ended our hostility,

And a most precious gift she gave,

Her loving friendship and her ring:

Let me live long enough, I pray,

Beneath her cloak my hand to bring.

I’ve no fear that tongues too free

Might part me from Sweet Company,

I know with words how they can stray

In gossip, yet that’s a fact of life:

No matter if others boast of love,

We have the loaf, we have the knife!

Gina Dragoni, Award of the Orion, 2013

Eternal omnipotent Majesties, in whom the sole hope of the realm is,

Of Ealdormere in the Heavens are thou, our Protector:

Consider, we pray Thee, Thy people, one in particular,

Look at her works lest You be denied the sight of this artisan’s works;

There where Athena commands, Gina creates clothing

Of the most resplendent quality.

O most beneficent rulers, may’st Thou graciously please to ordain her

That, through the records of heralds and scribes,

And through the realms of the Society, her work will be known,

By granting her Your Award of the Orion.

We hear your words and swear it will be done,

An Orion to Gina is given, where the Hare Feasts this day,

In Our Canton of Caldrithig, where all the people have gathered.

Thus We do, in our Society’s forty-eighth year,

On the feast day of St. Victorinus.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on The Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV 1356 A.D.

">Ruckinge, Kent.

Kaðlín of Harrowgate Heath, Award of the Orion, 2013

In the name of Ealdormere, in the year of the incarnation of our society forty-eight, with the consent of Nigel king, I Adrielle queen, give Kaðlín of Harrowgate Heath an Award of the Orion in recognition of her skills at word turning, sewing, nalbinding, carving and tablet weaving. And let her bear the badge of the award, without let or hindrance. Anyone who shows such presumption will be brought before Us. For this reason do We set Our hand and seal this second day of November at Feast of the Hare in Our Canton of Caldrithig.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on A.D. 805. Cuthred, king of Kent, to Ealdberht, his minister, and Selethryth, abbess; grant of 2 sulungs (aratra) at Ruckinge, Kent.

Orla O'shannahan, Award of the Orion, 2013

1. In the first place the king Nigel and his queen Adrielle, by thee counsel of all his barons, for the preservation of peace and the observing of justice, has decreed that an inquest shall be made throughout the separate counties, and throughout the separate hundreds, through twelve of the more lawful men of the hundred, and through four of the more lawful men of each township, upon oath that they will speak the truth: whether in their hundred or in their township there be any person who, since the lord king has been king, has not been recognized for their skill in the arts and sciences.

2. And in the case of a person who has not been recognized for their skill, they will be so recognized.

3. And let it be known that the barons and lawful men having named such a person, will have that person so recognized.

4. And further let is be known that such a person is Orla O’shannahan who was shown great aptitude in the fields of jewelry making, metal smithing, dancing, fiber arts, vinting, and weaving.

5. The lord king and queen therefore wish to bestow upon Orla O’shannahan an Award of the Orion.

6. And let it be recorded that such was done on the Feast Day of St. Alfred the Great, in the Shire of Trinovantia Nova, at Crown Tournament, in the year AS48.

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Assize of Clarendon, 1166.

Ealdormere Award of the Orion Wording

Proclaim throughout the realm that We, [Consort], [Queen/King] of Ealdormere and [Patron(ess)] of the Arts and Sciences, and [Sovereign], Our [King/Queen] by right of arms, are right mindful of the skills in which [recipient] has displayed in [details of reasons for award]. Therefore do We wish to recognize [him/her] with Our Award of the Orion and give [him/her] the right to wear the badge of the award. Done by Our hands and seal this [day] of [month], anno societatis [year], while sitting on Our thrones in Our [group hosting event], at [event].

[Source: Ealdormere Scribal College]