Gerart vander Borch, Award of Arms, 2015

Excerpt from Gamlaðr Vatn Saga:

There was a man called Gerart, still quite young but very handsome and fully grown to manhood. King Quilliam and Queen Domhnail left him with the task of giving help to their lands of the High Cliffs. Gerart thus left his homeland of Germania and put out to sea towards a place called the Marchmount, beyond the Rouge Port and along the normal sea-routes. Settling among the Norse who lived there, Gerart became well known for his giving nature and sense of right. He took to the trade of the smith, and became renowned for his talent at forging tools and for his willingness to work no matter how hard the labour. As the Marchmount in the High Cliffs was found along the trade-routes, it was a good place to hear news. And so a skald came, with word from the King and Queen, for Gerart:

Brokkr-kin, long the road

The gold-crowned asked you to walk,

Builder of towns, iron-shaper,

You are known for your good works.

Skilled and proficient

Your character beyond reproof,

Rulers reward you Gerart,

And call you Herr.

This awarding of arms to Gerart is recorded in the saga as happening in the Barony of Septentria, at the Althing, on the twenty-sixth day of Witu-mānod, in the fiftieth year of the settlement.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on chapter 57 (Egil kills Berg-mund) of Egil’s Saga (Penguin Classics, 1976).

Mahault of Swynford, Order of the Wain, 2015

From Steinarr, king, and Liðr, queen, to all &c, greeting.

Three mountains separated by two valleys will strike a man who sees them from a great distance as one mountain. Then, when he stands on the first mountain, he will see the first valley and two mountains and feel despair at the journey still ahead, and when he stands on the second mountain he will see two valleys and three mountains and further despair. However, Mahault of Swynford, is like one standing before the first mountain, who without fear ascends its height. And when she reaches its peak and sees that there are another two mountains to be climbed, she does not turn aside from the labour as so many do, but continues her journey, climbing peak after peak until all have been conquered and the trails she has cleared from their bases to their summits have made the passing of those who come after easier to traverse. These mountains, representing as they do years of tireless service to the Crown and Kingdom, show the dedication of our servant Mahault, and We are therefore moved to induct, elevate and invite her into Our Order of the Wain.

Done this 6th day of August, at the Pennsic War, in the fiftieth day of the Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on a passage from the Apocalypse Commentary by Petrus Iohannis Olivi (13^th century).

Berend van der Eych, Order of the Wain, 2015

The king, Steinarr, and Queen, Liðr, to Their beloved and faithful servant, Master Berend van der Eych, Baron of the Court, greeting. Because we wish to have a consultation and meeting with you, to be done in the presence of the rest of the principal men and women of Our kingdom, as to reward you for the toil you have undergone over the past fifteen years on behalf of Our said kingdom and all those who dwell within it; we command you, strictly enjoining you in the fidelity and love in which you are bound to us, that you present yourself before us in the Debated Lands during the season of War, for consideration, ordaining and elevating your worthy self into Our Order of the Wain.

This We had done the 6th the day of August, while We sat Our Thrones at the Pennsic War, in the fiftieth year of the Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the summons of a baron to Parliament (1295).

Catherine Townson, Order of the Laurel, 2015

Steinnar and Liðr, by grace of the north, king and queen of Ealdormere, &c. to heralds, pursuivants, &c. greeting. Know ye that plants can grow in disparate soil, and with love and care they can be moved from place to place, and not just grow but thrive. So has one of our subjects been transplanted, and so has she thrived. From far An Tir she came to our northern lands, and in our gardens and glades she tills and hoes, and on the loom her deft fingers flow. Our privilege it has been, to watch her blossom. Therefore, we, seriously contemplating the eminent services and merits of the noble Catharine Townson, who is skilled at the weaving of textiles, and judging the same to be most worthy, that, in our special grace and certain knowledge, have erected, preferred and created the said Catharine as a member of the Order of the Laurel, with the name, status, style, title, honour and dignity as a Laurel, with all and singular responsibilities, duties and other things whatsoever of such status of being a Laurel. To recognize her new station, we give and concede by these presents to her, the said Catharine, a ring we have marked, invested and really enobled, and a medallion of honour and dignity, and also a coat on her shoulders we place. And this we have done on the [ ] day of [ ], at the War of the Trillium, in our Canton of Ardchreag, in the fiftieth year of the Society.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Creation of Edward Copurtenay as Earl of Devon, Letters Patent, Mary, 1553 and the Creation of Thomas, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, as Earl of Norfolk, Letters Patent, Charles I, 1644.

Rose of Greyfells, Award of Arms, 2015

We, Steinar and Lyðr by the grace of the north, king and queen of Ealdormere, and by the covenant we have made with our people, make known to the living and in posterity that Rose of Greyfells has impressed us with her skill with the needle and the spindle, and so do We bestow upon her an Award of Arms. Therefore, the said Rose, shall be entitled to bear arms without let or hindrance and is urged to consult with Our heralds.

In testimony whereof we have confirmed this document with Our seal.

Done at War of the Trillium, in Our Canton of Ardchreag, in the year of our Society 50, on the Feast of Ulrich of Augsburg.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stewart, based on the Abbot of St. Mary of Tronchiennes’
Relief for Succession to a Fief, 1233.

Eoin MacAlpen, Award of Arms, 2015

Steinarr, by the grace of the north, king of the Skraels and all other Ealdormereans, and Lyðr, queen of the same, to the beloved of the northlands, greeting.

For the honour that you bring to Our Barony of Skraeling Althing, and for the skill you have shown with the brewing of mead, do We, Monarchs of the North, confer upon you, Eoin MacAlpen, an Award of Arms. And in order that you may possess what is conferred on you of Our grace we have decreed that you may bear and display your arms, per pale gules and azure, on a beehive or two axes in saltire sable, without let or hindrance.

Given at The War of the Trillium, in our Canton of Ardchreag, in the year of brotherhood 50, on July the fourth, in the fourth month of Our rule.

Wording by THLaird Colyne Stwart, based on a Grant of a Fief in Islands from Archbishop Siegfried to the Abbot of Paderborn, 1241.

Jehanne de Bretagne, Award of the Maiden's Heart, 2015

Steinnar, by Inspiration's Grace King of Ealdormere and His Consort and Queen, Lyda of Gladsome Countenance do happily send greetings unto all such diverse Kings, Dukes, Counts, Knights, Barons and Lords that this missive may address within and without the lands held by Ealdomere. Amongst Our many subjects stands one worthy of Our praise, a devoted servant, humble and gracious in her manner, loving and well loved by all who do meet her. Jehanne de Bretagne is much treasured by Us, her hearth always warm and her laughter always ringing throughout the halls of Our Homeland, filling Our hearts with comfort and delight. Her tasks are many and diverse, her talents and skills leading her down too many meandering paths for Us to detail in such a missive, but We take great pride to assure all that Jehanne is a gentle worthy of Our notice and regard. We, Ealdormere, from our High Seats, do declare that Jehanne de Bretagne, fierce in her love for Us, shall be henceforth permitted to wear the badge of the Award of the Maiden's Heart, without let or hinderance and demand that all shall heed Our Words or face our displeasure.

Sealed with the Great Seal of Ealdormere and executed by sign manual this Feast Day of Saint Mark the Evangelist in the first day of Our Reign at Our Loyal Shire of Bastille du Lac, Anno Societas 49.

Wording by HE Mahault of Swynford.