The original post can be viewed on the SCA Laurel Sovereign of Arms Online System for Commentary and Response here, including the illustrations submitted for some devices listed:  https://oscar.sca.org/index.php?action=100&loi=5068

Greetings good gentles, all!

There is something in the air. The scent of spring. Or maybe just more snow. But that means it’s time to shake loose some of the more interesting submissions that have piled up over the long winter.

So, without further ado, we present the following items for your carefully considered mocking… er, commentary.

1: Agnes Lamb de Baa – New Name & New Device

Azure, two Paschal lambs in pale argent

Sound (baaaa) most important.
Meaning (I just really like sheep) most important.

Agnes is an English given name found in this spelling dated between 1153 and 1586 in Talan Gwynek, “Feminine Given Names in A Dictionary of English Surnames” (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/reaney.cgi?Agnes).

Lamb is a given name and byname found in R&W, s.n. Lamb. The example Lamb de Harewude is dated to 1290, and John Lamb is found in the MED dated to 1270.

de Baa is a locative byname found in Dublin Guild Merchant Roll, c. 1190-1265 (Editors: Philomena Connolly and Geoffrey Martin), with the example Hervicus de Baa found on p.4. The merchants listed are from Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Germany, England, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, with the names largely rendered in Middle English, Anglicized Irish, and Latin (meaning for the most part, not that they wrote the names in a really large font).

In this case, the place-name Baa appears to refer to the northern French village of Bahais, according to H.S. King & Company, The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States of America, s.n. Baugh (https://books.google.com/books?id=BFxJAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA152).

The pattern of <given name + byname + locative> is found in Appendix A of SENA for both English and French. The combination of English and French is allowed under Appendix C of SENA.

2: And Peggy – New Name & New Device

Sable, three maidens vested azure, gules, and Or

Submitter desires a feminine name.

And is a feminine Cornish or English given name found in FamilySearch:

• And Wite, 04 Aug 1639, GWITHIAN,CORNWALL,ENGLAND, batch: C02517-1

Peggy is an English surname found in R&W, s.n. Pegg, dated to 1338.

3: Blatz Krieg Bopp – New Name

Submitter desires a masculine name.
Sound (blitz kreeeeg bop) most important.

Consulting Herald: Dee Dee Ramone

All elements are found in the Family Search Historical Records:

• Blatz Beulin; Male; Death; 26 May 1585; Öhringen, Württemberg, Germany; Batch: B00028-8 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J47Q-TXH)
• Hanns Krieg; Male; Death; 12 Feb 1589; Sondelfingen, Württemberg, Germany; Batch: B00055-5 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J4CH-2YC)
• Otilia Bopp; Female; Death; 11 Sep 1592; Öhringen, Württemberg, Germany; Batch: B00028-8 (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J477-M4X)

Appendix A permits double surnames in German.

4: Clock Werk Orenge – New Name

Clock is an English surname found in FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1604:

• Margery Clock, married on 08 Feb 1604 in York, England Batch #M03998-2 https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N29J-J89

Late-period English surnames can be used as given names [Alton of Grimfells, April 2010, A-East].

Werk is a byname dated to 1279 in R&W, s.n. Work.

Orenge is a byname dated to 1296 in R&W, s.n. Orange.

Double bynames are allowed in English under Appendix A of SENA.

5: Cressent Harald le crieur – New Name & New Device

Argent, four crescents conjoined in saltire horns outward gules

Submitted as Cressent Harald, the name was changed with the submitter’s permission as described below.

Cressent is a Jewish given name recorded in Tours in 1314. It is found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael, “Jewish Given Names Found in Les Noms Des Israélites en France“(http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/jewish/levy/ and http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/jewish/levy/cressant.html).

Harald is an unmarked patronymic byname dated to 1327 in R&W, s.n. Harold. It is also found as a given name in the MED, dated between c.1300 and 1475, and as an unmarked patronym in 1300 [‘Close Rolls, Edward I: February 1300’, in Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward I: Volume 4, 1296-1302, ed. H C Maxwell Lyte (London, 1906), p. 375. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/edw1/vol4/p375a].

This name is identical in sound with “Crescent Herald”, a use form of Crescent Principal Herald (Caid), and possibly of the real-world heraldic title Crescent King of Arms (France).

Under PN4E of SENA, “A personal name may not give the false appearance of being a territorial name, a rank or title, or an order or award; a name may make the appearance of a household name on a case by case basis. A personal name may not be identical to the name of any non-personal entity we protect.”

The submitter has allowed the addition of the second byname le crieur (“the cryer”) to avoid the issue of PN4E. This byname is found in Aryanhwy’s article on the 1292 Census of Paris, cited above, as well as in the MED (as le Crieur), dated to 1269. We made this change before sending it up. He offered to add a marked locative using the branch name allowance, of Caid, but we said that was Right Out under PN4B1 of SENA (the so-called “Regina the Laundress” rule).

Under Appendix C of SENA, “Jewish names documented from location X are registerable with (1) other names documented from the languages for that language group”. English and French were combined in period (Anglo-Norman was the language used in the English court and for official documents from the 13th century), and Jewish names were found in both locations (the Jews were largely expulsed from England c.1300), so the combination of a Jewish name from France, an English byname, and an Anglo-Norman descriptive byname from c.1300 should be registerable.

6: Dane Jonsson – New Name & New Device

Azure, a cauldron argent, issuant from base a flame Or

Dane is a late-period English given name found in the FamilySearch Historical Records:

• Dane Rolffe, 17 Oct 1566, TICEHURST,SUSSEX,ENGLAND, batch: P01384-1

It appears to be derived from a locative, from the OE denu (R&W, s.n. Dane).

Jonsson is an interpolated form of Jonson, dated to 1379 in R&W, s.n. Johnson, and 1433 in the introduction to R&W, Surnames of Relationship: Johnson, Williamson,e tc. Distribution and Origin.

The -sson suffix can be used interchangeably with the spelling -son: Dicounesson/Dykounson (1359/1366), Diksson/Dikson (1332), Elisson/Ellyson (1379/1487), found in R&W in the intro and s.nn. Dickenson, Dickson, and Ellison.

The submitted spelling is found in late-period England in FamilySearch:

• Margaret Jonsson, 12 Aug 1562; THATCHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, batch: K15779-1

7: Dane Jonsson – New Alternate Name

OSCAR is unable to find the name, either registered or submitted.

Rocke Cooking

Rocke is a late-period English given name found in the FamilySearch Historical Records:

• Rocke Dawson, 29 Sep 1589, KEDDINGTON,LINCOLN,ENGLAND, batch: C02947-2

Cooking is an English surname also found in FamilySearch:

• Henry Cooking, 11 Dec 1607; WESTONING, BEDFORD, ENGLAND, batch: P00397-1

8: Grind Pepercorn – New Name & New Device

Gules, a pepper grinder argent

Grind is a masculine Anglo-Saxon given name used by moneyer(s) associated with the Lincoln mint in the late 10th century (PASE).

Pepercorn is a Middle English byname dated to 1198-1212 in R&W, s.n. Peppercorn.

This is the defining instance of a pepper mill, which follows the pattern of period artifacts like cooking implements used as heraldic charges, allowed under A2B2a of SENA.

This depiction is based on a artifact from the wreck of the Mary Rose, one of Henry VIII’s fleet that sank in 1545.

(As the museum for the Mary Rose does not have photos of the artifacts online, vistors’ photos from Pinterest were used.)

The above submission has images. To view them, see the URLs below:
(omitted because viewing them requires a login on the OSCAR commenting system)

9: Hoel Milke andbred – New Name

Submitter desires a masculine name.
Client requests authenticity for Middle English, 14th century.

Hoel is a given name found in R&W, s.n. Howel, dated to 1166 in a marked patronym (filius Hoel) and c.1100-30 in an unmarked patronym. It is also found as a given name in the MED, dated to 1337:

• (1337) Pat.R.Edw.III 415: Hoel Rudipath.

Milke andbred is a byname dated to 1327 in Jőnsjő, s.n. Milke and bred.

10: Holiday Revell – New Name

Holiday is derived from the given name Holyday, found in FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1622:

• Holyday Knight, 02 Jun 1622; BROMHAM,WILTSHIRE,ENGLAND, batch C05432-2

Additional spellings of this element as a byname are found in R&W, s.n. Haliday: Halidei (1179-94), Halidai (1188), and Holidaie (1524). As i/y switches are ubiquitous in English in our period, and given the range of attested spellings, the submitted spelling should be an acceptable variant.

Revell is an English surname found in FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1596:

• Flower Revell, 01 Jan 1584; DRONFIELD,DERBY,ENGLAND, batch K04993-6

11: Holiday Revell – New Household Name

OSCAR is unable to find the name, either registered or submitted.

Holiday Ynne

This is intended as an inn named after its owner.

Holiday is an English surname found in FamilySearch Historical Records:

• Marye Holiday, 15 Oct 1538; St Ewen’s, Bristol, Gloucester, England, batch C17285-1

Ynne (“inn”) is found in the MED, s.v. in:

• (1458) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 94 3: Burnell Ynne.

The pattern of <Surname/Possible Locative> + <Inn> (in some spelling) is also found in the MED:

• (1364) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.) 431: Netherinne.
• (1461) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.) 431: Nytherinne.
• (1424) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702) 433: Hospicium meum in Civitate London..vocatum Nevill Inne.

The possible examples of Bosoms yn (1522) and Mitford taverne (1489) are found in Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada’s “English Sign Names” (http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/inn/#BynameInn). The example of Burnell Ynne above also follows this pattern (see R&W, s.n. Burnel).

12: Hone Sharpe – New Name

Client requests authenticity for 1577 England.

This exact name is found in the FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1577:

• Hone Sharpe, 28 Apr 1577, WOOLSTHORPE NEAR GRANTHAM,LINCOLN,ENGLAND, batch: C03429-2

It appears to meet the submitter’s request for authenticity.

13: Huge Palemart – New Name & New Device

Paly Or and vert, on a saltire gules an escutcheon paly sable and argent

Language (Dutch) most important.
Culture (Dutch) most important.

Huge is a Dutch masculine given name found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael and Kymma Godric, “Names from Antwerp, 1443-1561” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/plaiser.html), dated between 1443 and 1450.

Palemart is a Dutch surname found in “Names from Antwerp, 1443-1550” by Aryanhwy merch Catmael and Kymma Godric (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/surnamesplaiser.html), dated to 1552.

The submitter noted that she got a pallet of pales at a really good price, and offered to hook us up if we needed more.

14: Human Guy – New Name

Human is a Dutch given name found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael (with assistance from Talan Gwynek), “Names Found in Commercial Documents from Bordeaux, 1470-1520” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/bordeaux.html).

Guy is a French patronymic byname (or surname derived from a patronymic) found in the same article.

Dutch and French can be combined under Appendix C of SENA.

15: Human Guy – New Alternate Name

OSCAR is unable to find the name, either registered or submitted.

Manhood Drinkale

Manhood is an English masculine given name in FamilySearch:

• Manhood Lawes, 19 Apr 1595, Wiltshire, England, batch: C01691-7

Drinkale is an English byname found in R&W, s.n. Drinkale, dated to 1301.

16: Human Guy – New Household Name & New Badge

OSCAR is unable to find the name, either registered or submitted.

Company of Men

(Fieldless) A fountain within and conjoined to three horsemen in annulo Or

This household name follows the pattern of naming a ship’s company/crew after their ship.

Company is the lingua Anglica form of the designator Compania or Compańia. The former is found in CORDE dated between 1376 and 1614, among other instances, and the latter is found in John Minsheu’s 1599 A Dictionarie in Spanish and English (http://www.ems.kcl.ac.uk/content/proj/anglo/dict/pro-anglo-dict-main.html).

Men is a Spanish given name found in Juliana de Luna, “Spanish Names from the Late 15th Century” (https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/juliana/isabella/MensGivenAlpha.html).

In general, the majority of Spanish ships from our period were named after saints or other religious figures (or towns named after saints). However, several ships of the Spanish Armada were named after people without the use of “saint”: Augusta, Júlia, Diana, Juliana, and David (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_Spanish_Armada and Robert Hutchinson, The Spanish Armada, https://books.google.com/books?id=KsKLAwAAQBAJ).

There is an SFPP for charges in annulo not in their default orientation.

17: Joline Jollaine – New Name & New Device

Gules, a blonde maiden affronty vested Or

Submitter desires a feminine name.

Joline is an English feminine given name found in the FamilySearch Historical Records:

• Joline Vallance, 1628, SPREYTON,DEVON,ENGLAND, batch C05237-1

Jollaine is an English surname in FamilySearch:

• Willyam Jollaine in entry for Elizabeth Jollaine, 14 Jan 1569; NORMANBY-LE-WOLD,LINCOLN,ENGLAND, batch: C04775-2

This appears to be a conflict with the name below, Jollein Jolleen. Although the final syllable of this name is different in appearance, when pronounced with a little Southern twang, it is not a significant change in sound under PN3C2 of SENA. However, this submitter swooped in first with payment, and should be considered to be first in line.

The submitter below notes that this submitter blatantly stole her emblazon from Virgil Raber, Book of coats of arms of the Arlberg Brotherhood, 1548 (http://bilderserver.at/wappenbuecher/VirgilRaberEXAv2_52z2/).

18: Jollein Jolleen – New Name

Submitter desires a feminine name.
Sound (Something that fits to music nicely) most important.

Jollein is found in the marked patronymic byname (filius Jollein) in R&W, s.n. Jolin, dated to 1219.

Jolleen is found as an unmarked patronymic byname in the same entry, dated to 1196.

This appears to be a conflict with the name above, Joline Jollaine. Although the final syllable of the byname is different in appearance, when pronounced with a little Southern twang, it is not a significant change in sound under PN3C2 of SENA. This submitter paid a day later, and should be second in line.

We are sending this up while we attempt to acquire permission to conflict on behalf of the submitter, who hopes that her heartfelt plea is successful:

Joline Jollaine/Jollein Jolleen, I’m begging of you please don’t block my name. Joline Jollaine/Jollein Jolleen, please don’t block it just ‘cos it’s the same.

Your name that I must now compare with checks by SENA rightly there. By look and sound a diff’rence is not seen. Your check came first, I’m sad to say. Permission is just what I need to forever clear this conflict, Joline.

I saw your sub, it made me weep. There’s nothing I can do to keep from crying when folks call your name, Joline. And I can easily understand how you will pass by Pelican. But you don’t know what it means to me, Joline.

Joline Jollaine/Jollein Jolleen, I’m begging of you please don’t block my name. Joline Jollaine/Jollein Jolleen, please don’t block it just ‘cos it’s the same.

19: My Word – New Name & New Device

Sable, in pale a cow contourny argent and a crescent Or

This name is totally fine, so I don’t know why we’re bothering to add any documentation. But if we must…

My is a byname documented on FamilySearch at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NX3C-8YL:

• Elizabeth My married 7 Dec 1613, Midgham, Berkshire, England, Batch # M15537-1

Word is a byname documented on FamilySearch at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JCJC-G4J:

• Thomas Word buried 20 April 1648, St. Dunstan, Stepney, Middlesex, England, Batch # B02838-3.

Late period English surnames can be used as given names [Alton of Grimfells, Sept. 2012, A-East].

20: Nicholas O Fury – New Name & New Device

Argent semy of eagles sable, a demi-man vested azure maintaining two handgonnes sable

Submitter desires a masculine name.
Client requests authenticity for Elizabethan spy living in Ireland.

Nicholas is an Anglicized Irish masculine given name found in Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada, “Names Found in Anglicized Irish Documents” (http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnglicizedIrish/Masculine.shtml), dated between 1548 and 1599 in the submitted spelling.

O Fury is an Anglicized Irish given name found in Mari ingen Briain meic Donnchada, “16th & 17th Century Anglicized Irish Surnames from Woulfe” (http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/Woulfe/), dated to t. Elizabeth I-James I. It is the Anglicized Irish form of the standard Gaelic Ó Fíodhabhra, found as a header in Woulfe.

21: Nicholas O’Fury – New Badge

OSCAR is unable to find the name, either registered or submitted.

Argent, a Moor per fess azure and sable and in chief three eagles in fess sable, a bordure gules

22: Pecok ffethir – New Name

Submitter desires a masculine name.
Client requests authenticity for England shopkeeper.

Pecok is a nickname and byname glossed as “one who is proud of his fine feathers, vain man” in Jönsjö, s.n. Pacok. It is dated in this spelling to 1327 and 1332.

ffethir (“feather”) is a byname dated to 1332 in R&W, s.n. Feather. It is glossed as “one who is light as a feather” and is also described as a metonymic for a buyer or seller of feathers.

23: Revell Ation – New Name

Revell is a byname documented in FamilySearch under https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NG5N-42H:

• Margaret Revell, christened 28 Oct 1599, OWSTON,LINCOLN,ENGLAND, Batch # C03094-1

Ation is a byname documented in FamilySearch under https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXQF-331:

• Anne Ation, spouse of William Scawthorne, married 26 Nov 1626, All Saints, Gainsborough, Lincoln, England, Batch # M16252-1.

Late period English surnames can be used as given names [Alton of Grimfells, Sept. 2012, A-East].

24: Stijnken Pantgate – New Name & New Device

Gules, three pairs of breeches argent

Submitter desires a feminine name.
Language (Dutch) most important.
Culture (Dutch) most important.

Stijnken is a Dutch feminine given name found in “Dutch Given Names from 1573” by Aryanhwy merch Catmael (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/dutch1573.html).

Pantgate is a byname found both in the submitted unmarked form (1465) and in the form van Pantgate (1462, 1465) in Aryanhwy merch Catmael and Kymma Godric, “Names from Antwerp, 1443-1550” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/surnamesplaiser.html).

An earlier submission noted that breeches are a period charge:

• Batonvert notes “Breeches are a period charge, found in the canting arms (Dutch “broek”, breech) of Abbenbroeke; examples are found in the Wapenboek Beyeren, c.1400 [http://www.kb.nl/bladerboek/wapenboek/browse/book.html — scroll to fol.39v], and the equestrian roll of the Toison d’Or, c.1460 [fol.35].”

This device is clear of the badge of Jane Corwin, (Fieldless) A pair of breeches argent, by the change in number of primary charges under SENA A5E3.

25: Titus Leotard – New Name

Titus is an English given name found in the FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1574:

Titus White, 16 May 1574; ST GILES CRIPPLEGATE, LONDON, LONDON, ENGLAND, batch: C02243-1

It is also a classical name found in French histories and other texts, so should be registerable as a French literary name. An example is Guillaume de La Perrière, Le miroir politique, contenant diverses manières de gouverner & policer les républiques qui sont & ont esté par cy devant, published in 1567 (http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6244291j/f102.image).

Leotard is a byname found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael (with assistance from Talan Gwynek), “Names Found in Commercial Documents from Bordeaux, 1470-1520” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/french/bordeaux.html).

If Titus is considered to be English, the combination of English and French is acceptable under Appendix C of SENA.

26: Tres Silly – New Name

Language (Something sorta French) most important.
Culture (Something sorta English) most important.

Tres is an English feminine given name found in FamilySearch Historical Records, dated to 1650:

• Tres Towne, 09 Nov 1650; WELLINGTON,HEREFORD,ENGLAND, batch: C13730-1

Silly is a French locative byname. The marked locative byname de Silly is found in Brunissende Dragonette’s “Names from the Rôle des taxes de l’arrière-ban du Bailliage d’Evreux, in 1562” (http://st-walburga.aspiringluddite.com/docs/TaxEvreux.pdf). Unmarked locatives are found in France per SENA Appendix A.

The combination of English and French is an acceptable lingual mix under Appendix C of SENA, although we know it and the probable mispronunciation of this name in court will drive Wreath Emerita a little crazy.

27: Willa Peereboome – New Name & New Device

Gules, a hand appaumy and on a chief argent three grenades gules

Willa is a feminine given name found in the 1599 edition of Gobelinus Persona, Cosmodromium, hoc est, chronicon universale, complectens res ab orbe condito (https://books.google.com/books?id=v4VNAAAAcAAJ), published in Frankfurt, Germany.

Peereboome is found in the marked Dutch locative vanden Peereboome, found in Loveday Toddekyn, “Flemish Names from Bruges” (https://www.s-gabriel.org/docs/bruges/data1.html), dated to 1461.

The pattern of unmarked locatives for Dutch is not listed in Appendix A of SENA. Examples of this rare pattern include Pantgate/van Pantgate, Delft/van der Delft, and Bossche/van den Bossche, found in Aryanhwy merch Catmael and Kymma Godric, “Names from Antwerp, 1443-1550” (http://www.ellipsis.cx/~liana/names/dutch/surnamesplaiser.html) and/or FamilySearch.

German and Dutch can be combined under Appendix C of SENA.

Thank you to the following mischief makers for their assistance with this Letter of Misintent:

• Lady Lilie Dubh (Pantheon Herald)
• Lady Seraphina Delphino (Evil Minion Herald Imaginary)
• Mistress Vanna del Bianca (Caffeinated Hummingbird Herald Imaginary)
• Baronè Francesco Gaetano Grèco d’Edessa
• Baron Ian Raven of Tadcaster (Bend Butcher Herald Imaginary)
• Yours in Laughter,
• Dame Lillia de Vaux
• Butterscotch Crampette Herald Imaginary
• (Submission Herald Usurper)

 

An Arts and Sciences article in honor of the First of April.

Mistress Elspeth Keyfe of Neddingham and Master Steffan ap Cennydd

The following receipts were found in the so-called Krummhorn MS, the source of the celebrated “Krummhorn Fragment” attributed to Chaucer and translated by Prof. Mucklemouthe[1].

This portion of the MS is a palimpsest over the previous work, which may have been the remainder of the above-mentioned Chaucer. In any case, it is certainly by another hand. The compiler calls them “disshys to be done in haste yet most nourishing”. Their most likely provenance is in the kitchen of the otherwise-obscure Welsh breyr known to posterity as Macsen Mawr, or Max the Large. They are strikingly similar in style to the receipts in the Codex Manducarum, in the Burgher-Königs Kuchenarchivsmuseum in Linz[2].  The Codex is now known to be a Latin copy of the Lyfr Coginio yn Cyflym[3], known to have been written by Macsen’s cook Daffydd ap Tomas for his daughter Gwendolyn.

The receipts contain several terms which have long puzzled those few culinary historians who have chanced upon them. Perhaps the chief of these is “skyrwittes”, the nature of which has been the subject of some debate; although scholars agree that, no matter what they were, they could not here have been parsnips, which the term is most often held to represent. Likewise, the term “wolfpeach” is a matter of conjecture, as references to it or to “lycopersicum” in other texts invariably involve a deadly poisonous herb. Prof. Heinz[4] postulates that the berry of this plant was in sporadic use, and that other parts of the plants (such as the leaves) were far richer in whatever alkaloids caused it be so widely regarded as harmful.

The following receipts, which follow one another in the MS, are presented as interesting projects for SCA culinary historians to attempt to redact.

A dysshe of flesch ypon trenchours.

Nym faire payndemayne and lesh hem in a thriddle, the top therof glaze with yolk of heyryn and strew wyþ smale sedys. Nym god fresch flesch of buff ygrounden smale & mak therof roundels like to the paume & fry hem in faire grece. Ischredde leus of letuys and lay hem thereon and clef thou leshys of wolfpeach thynne and do hem theron wyþ ryngys of onyouns and fayre chese ypon the flesch. And as ye do ypon the base trenchour do thou lykewise aboue.

Nym schyuerys of gourds soaked in brine and lay hem upon the chese, and  save ynough and clewe hem smale and temper therewyþ lombardy mustard, and take wolfpeach othyr walnuts and heyroun  wyþ oyle and make thou a paste and do thereto poudre fort.

Skyrwittes yfryed in grece.

Nym skyrwittes and clef them a fyngerbroede odyr a lyttle þynner. Do hem in much gode grese till they be golden. Strew hem wyþ much salt and mess hem forth. And do thereto the sauce of wolfpeach if thou wilt.

Nym frissiaus othyr cherys and do hem in mylk wyþ much fayre sugur cypre and swynge hyt togyder. And som do thereto gum arabay to mak hyt þyk but þys ys not gode.

[1].     For the Fragment, see the article by Lady Eugenie de Bruges, reprinted in the 20th Anniversary Issue of the Carolingian Triumph.

[2].    Translated by MacDonald, R., in Transactions of the Royal Scots Culinary Historical Society, v.187, suppl. entitled “Dishes Not Containing Oatmeal”.

[3].   “Book of Rapid Cooking”

[4].   Heinz, H.J., Historical Survey of Condiments of the Welsh Border, vol. 27, Lower Powys 1100-1130, pg. 219. (Llansantsieryl, 1883)

[Editors notes:

This piece appeared originally in the 1996 Piketaff fundraiser, “Not Necessarily the Pikestaff”.  The authors have kindly granted permission to reprint today.

In the original publication, the letter thorn (þ) was not printable due to software issues, and th was substituted.  I have restored some of the thorns, but have probably not found all of them.  My apologies to the authors. ]

 

Greetings once again from the Webministry of the East Kingdom!

A piece of advice that was given to me during my recent Vigil was that when you are wrong, own it. Only a week ago I said that the migration of the Kingdom’s email to Google was complete and that everything had gone well. Apparently I could not have been more wrong.

The people I said had done a ton of work? That part was correct. They really did.

Since the “completion” of the project, we have become inundated with complaints. “I preferred the old way.” “No, the really old way.” “It’s not period.” “Now where do I get my turmeric extract?” It has become clear that the Webministry is simply out of step with the communications needs of the populace and of the Kingdom.

As such, we are terminating our relationship with Google, and henceforth partnering with the office of the Minister of Arts and Sciences. As this will be a “more period” communications method, it only makes sense that we would work with Master Phillip and his team.

Thus, we are announcing the new East Kingdom Courier Corps. Here we have the Corps first delivery, to Prince Brennan no less. Master Phillip is shown wearing the new Corps Uniforms, complete with his Courier ID Number and instantly recognizable shiny cloak! You can see the excitement on His Highness’s face on this momentous occasion. Remember, if a “courier” isn’t wearing their number and their cloak, they aren’t a real member of the Courier Corps!

One major advantage to the new Courier Corps is that not only can we deliver messages post haste, we can also deliver potted meat directly to your door! No more worries of running out of turmeric, an official Courier Corpsperson will bring more right to your home, or even right to the feast kitchen! Running low on tactical torches the night before the torchlight tourney? Say no more! For those looking for an investment opportunity, take a look at https://archiveofourown.org/works/801848 !!

Clearly, all of this is going to cost money. Fortunately, Pheidippides himself recommended a sponsorship, and Nike has come through for us sponsoring our official uniform pattens! With Nike pattens it is almost as though you can fly! (Nike! “Juste Doo Eet!”(tm)) We can’t thank her nearly enough for her support.

Now, however, we need help. We are looking for a couple hundred new members of our team. The work isn’t hard… errr… it isn’t diffic… well… the work is really good exercise. Really good. Yeah. For those looking for an even more aerobic (or probably anaerobic, honestly) workout, here we see two more Couriers wearing our special DragonSafe (patent pending) Uniforms made special for deliveries to the Midrealm. You’ll note that the DragonSafe Uniforms do not have our signature cloaks. Our Uniform Designer, Mistress E. Mode, insisted: “No Cloaks!” for added safety when delivering in foreign lands.

In closing, my humblest apologies for the magnitude of my error, and for the months I’ve spent pestering, hounding, and harping on the progress (or lack thereof) of the move to Google for email.  I assure you, I shall not make such an error again.

Nike! “Juste Doo Eet!”(tm)

Anyway…

Yours In Service,
Master Joel Messerer
East Kingdom Courier Corps Dispatch Office

(Photo 1 credit: Adam Trent, message scribe: Eloise Coulter)
(Photo 2 credit: some friend of Ivan and Aaron?)
(Letter from King Richard: Aífe ingen Chonchobair in Derthaige)