Re: Heraldry Fibs (was Re: heraldry rules)

[Robert J Welenc <rjwelenc@erols.com>]

Poster: Robert J Welenc <rjwelenc@erols.com>

Theodora von Schmetterlingswald:

>Say I come up with a spiff design and look at it awhile and decide I
really
>like it to represent ME.  So I go about and make banners and put it
on my
>shield (if I'm a fighter) and wherever else.  
>
>Time goes by.  Someone else who has seen it --lets say Pennsic and
thinks
>its spiff.  They may not even remember seeing the specific banner I
had.
>But it's swirling in the back of their brain and out it comes.
<snip> Now THEY
>go to register it.  Because I haven't registered, they may not even
know
>they are conflicting with mine.  
>
>If we live far apace and only are in contact at things like Pennsic
or such
>it may be a long time before either knows about the other.  Of
course if
>this mythical other person attains great honors or one or the other
moves,
>we are set up for conflict.
>
>This is a merry little tale, and I don't know if it has actually
happened.
>But the possibility exists. ??

It has indeed, my lady, and with an even better twist. There was much
discussion of this on the SCA Herald's list a couple of years ago.   

Out in the far kingdom of AnTir there is a duke, who has created but
never registered his armory.  During both of his reigns, his
Principal Herald urged him to do so, but for reasons of his own
(Which my correspondent knew not) His Grace chose to ignore her.

Enter a newcomer in a barony neighboring His Grace's.  Independently,
the newbie creates armory which conflicts with the Duke's armory,
which he wishes to register.  

Should the kingdom submissions herald return this submission, which
he KNOWS conflicts with the Duke's, thus granting protection to
unregistered arms?  Should he notify His Grace and give him a chance
to submit his arms before taking the newbie's submission?  Or should
he follow the exact letter of the rules and say "Sorry, YG.  You
snooze, you lose."  Should he then warn the newbie that if such arms
are registered, he is likely to be hassled by people who perceive
this as a usurpation of the Duke's arms?
 
I'm glad *I* didn't have to make that call, or else a certain Duke
would no doubt have been exceedingly ticked off...





Lady Alanna Volchevo Lesa
Partan Herald, Barony of Lochmere
Laurel Minion
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