slurring heralds authentically
Aug. 30th, 2006 02:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ursulaA few days ago I was hunting through the OED to answer one of those burning questions of early modern life, namely, would it be more authentic to refer to myself in the SCA as Ursula Georges otherwise Loyall Pursevant, Ursula Georges Loyall, or just Ursula Loyall, when I chanced upon the following descriptions of a herald's duties:
1562
They...are named ancient Herehaughtes, who haue made distinction betweene the gentle and the vngentle.
1592
Buying Armes of the Herald, who giues them the Lyon without tongue, tayle, or tallents.
1592
The herralde to blason their descente from an old house.
1598, Jonson
The first red herring that was broil'd in Adam and Eve's kitchen, doe I fetch my pedigree from by the Harrots bookes.
and a little out of period:
1687, Dryden
Do you not know that for a little coin Heralds can foist a name into the line?
From this data I conclude that, although heralds in the SCA are criticised justly and unjustly for all sorts of things, they have been remiss in their efforts to recreate one of the more renowned (albeit late-period) abuses of heraldic power, namely, taking money to create false genealogies. I feel that therefore, in the interests of authenticity, I should point out that I am VERY HAPPY to be bribed to make up genealogies, and can in fact use my onomastic skill to invent a lengthy and plausible genealogy for your persona at a moment's notice.
1562
They...are named ancient Herehaughtes, who haue made distinction betweene the gentle and the vngentle.
1592
Buying Armes of the Herald, who giues them the Lyon without tongue, tayle, or tallents.
1592
The herralde to blason their descente from an old house.
1598, Jonson
The first red herring that was broil'd in Adam and Eve's kitchen, doe I fetch my pedigree from by the Harrots bookes.
and a little out of period:
1687, Dryden
Do you not know that for a little coin Heralds can foist a name into the line?
From this data I conclude that, although heralds in the SCA are criticised justly and unjustly for all sorts of things, they have been remiss in their efforts to recreate one of the more renowned (albeit late-period) abuses of heraldic power, namely, taking money to create false genealogies. I feel that therefore, in the interests of authenticity, I should point out that I am VERY HAPPY to be bribed to make up genealogies, and can in fact use my onomastic skill to invent a lengthy and plausible genealogy for your persona at a moment's notice.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-08-30 10:31 pm (UTC)