Mattius of Petrea Thule, Scarlet Banner, 2016

Nigel, king, Adrielle, queen, and servants of Ealdormere, to Their beloved subject, Mattius of Petrea Thule, squire and man of good cote, greetings.

The actions of the worthy ought to meet with a corresponding fulfillment. Insomuch, as of your affection for all things martial, being always upon the lists and the fields of war, being a squire to one of our loyal knights, training to be a marshal, and the joy that is always apparent upon your person when so engaged: We, therefore, much pleased with the earnestness of your dedication, do look on you in favour, and do ordain that, by the authority of this Our present decree, you be given Our Award of the Scarlet Banner.

Given at Pikeman’s Pleasure, by the hand of Nigel and Adrielle, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Ealdormere, on the 4th day of June, in the 51^st cycle of indiction of the incarnation of our Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Papal Bull “Pie Postulatio Voluntatis” which established the Order of the Knights Hospitaller. 

Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato, Champion of Thrown Weapons, 2007

Call upon all and know that We, Christopher and Morgen, by Grace and Prowess Rightful King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc, to all people to whom these present letters shall come, send greetings. Know ye that of Our special grace, certain skill of arms has come to Our notice. We, with Our Own eyes, have witnessed the prowess of Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato, who, with little effort, defeated, demoralized, depressed, discouraged, disheartened and did away with all competition upon the Thrown Weapons range. Furthermore, he overpowered and oppressed all who opposed him and thus, with no other thrower left standing, We are so moved to name the said Augusto as Our Champion of Thrown Weapons. Done on the 30th day of Septemebr, as41, at Harvest Raid.

Words by Baron Caleb Reynolds. Inspired by Letters Patent to Sir Humfrey Gylberte June 11, 1578.

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

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[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.

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).

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.

Gajin Suren, Award of the Maiden's Heart, 2014

Trumbrand, Khan of the north and destined thereof,
Truly ordained by spirits of Heaven above;
Truthful Kaylah, Khatun of Beauty and Love,
Trust well in Gajin Suren, whom they speak of.

He knows well the honour that comes of service,
Head or Hooves, for men courageous or nervous;
He hefts the plunder from field to cart - does this
Helps aged men and mighty Tumens thus.

Together none can easily vanquish you,
To be alone is to be broken in two,
Trains our warriors - Marshalls the lists do you,
Trade your many labours for honours new.

Thy breed were born of the fallow doe's offspring;
Thy service to us does us great honours bring,
Think upon the doe's grace the old men do sing,
"Thyself has earned the Maiden's Heart" says your King.


Wording by Lord Dietrich von Sachsen