So, today’s installment on the blog is a blank cheque scroll! Here we take an English letter of marque, issued by Henry IV in 1405 to John Wellys and Philip Taillour, and convert it to a baronial award scroll.
Awards that grant an Order and maybe a badge can get repetitive, and you want to watch hot button issues like granting land or mentioning god, claiming actual authority over another person in the SCA, and so on, but nothing is more refreshing than a scroll with some interesting verbiage – in this case, the right to load up an imaginary ship with a small army, kill the enemies of the barony, and keep whatever he can take. It’s harmless fun, and promotes some entertainment in court (the recipient was a young man who mostly looked bewildered, especially because the wording was written on a small model ship … the best the barony could afford, don’t you know).
This scroll is close to verbatim on a number of phrasings, with the tense changed, the wording simplified to one recipient where the original text was an award to two gentlemen, and the removal of a half dozen ‘aforesaids’ that made the scroll hard to follow to the modern ear. I’ve bolded the inspirational text.
The King to all and singular Admirals &c.,
Greeting. Know ye that we have granted and given to our well-beloved
John Wellys, master of a certain ship called the James of Bristol, and
to Philip Taillour, master of another ship, called the Trinity of Bristol, liberty
to equip in the port of the town of Bristol, at their own charges,
the aforesaid ships with as many mariners, men-at-arms, and bowmen as shall
be necessary for their navigation and defence at sea against our
enemies, whosoever they may be, and for subduing, capturing, and destroying
the same; and liberty to set forth with the same ships, so equipped, upon the
sea for the purpose aforesaid. And we will that whatsoever they, John
and Philip, succeed in winning, gaining, and having by capture from our
enemies aforesaid, they may have and keep for their own proper use,
without claim or hindrance by or from us, or our heirs or ministers,
or the ministers of any our heirs whatsoever. Provided always that under
colour of this licence they, John and Philip, their mariners, men-at-arms,
and bowmen aforesaid, neither do nor permit to be done any violence, hindrance,
or hurt to any who are in friendship with us. Witness the King at
Westminster on the 4th day of February.
And here’s the final product that was bestowed. Another fun thing, you might notice – almost all our society scrolls cite ‘Anno Societatis’ … everyone knows it’s ‘Year of the Society’, so why not spice it up? Our less-than-humble barony uses ‘Anno BenDunfirtii’ indicating how many years the barony has been in existence, which is a fairly period practice as many scrolls say ‘done in the Xth year of the reign of Henry IV’ or some such thing.
The Baron and Baroness send unto all and singular
admirals, captains, deckhands and others who are cursed to wander on land,
greetings. Know that we grant and give
to our well-beloved and long-serving tavern master and gate keeper, Lord Otto
the Black, mastery of a certain ship called the Blackstone, liberty to equip
his ship in the port of Dundurn at his own expense, and hire as many mariners,
men-at-arms, and bowmen as shall be necessary for defence at sea against our
enemies, whosoever they may be, and for subduing, capturing and destroying those
enemies. And we will that whatsoever he
succeeds in winning, gaining or having from our enemies, he may have and keep
for his own use without claim or hindrance from us or any person in this
Barony, provided that Lord-Captain Otto the Black sails under his own colours,
and an ensign of the Boar’s Tusk, which we give to him as well. Witnessed by the Crown at Murder Melee, the
8th day of June, Anno Bendunfirtii xxv.
Of course, when writing a blank cheque scroll, make sure the royalty or baron and baroness are good with the wording in advance!
If anyone has any questions about scrolls that push the boundaries of gifts, bestowals, powers conferred and potential interbaronial or interkingdom incidents that might be caused by such a scroll, feel free to reach out to collaborate (or commiserate).
Cheerfully slaving for my feudal masters,
Brand, Barenwalde