Elevation Document for Giovanna Battista da
Firenze
This scroll says:
Siegfried et Bridei rex et regina Northshelie omnibus ad quos presentes
littere pervenerint salutemus.
In part because some among our population have petitioned us, and in
part because we have made it a matter of Our especial consideration, with
the contents of these letters patent do we commend and commit to the
memories of our subjects the fidelity, grace, and skill of Giovanna
Battista da Firenze. These skills, of cookery, tailoring, and tentmaking,
she has demonstrated unto us and our majesty and has sworn to continue
into the future. Therefore, in our royal generosity and grace, we do
reward those who have acquired merit and by some token of remembrance
encourage them to ever greater achievement. Thus, we of our particular
benevolence do find the aforementioned Giovanna to be worthy of elevation
from the estate in which she lived by making her a companion of our order
of the laurel, that she be recognized a peer of our realm throughout the
known world, and we permit and agree that the aforesaid may live with all
liberties and duties in accordance with the laws and customs of our realm.
As proof of our grace, we grant unto her arms, to wit: Or, a pavilion
between 3 fleurs-de-lys gules, and we permit display in jousting, in
tournaments, upon signets, sails, hangings, tents, and all other worthy
ventures. As confirmation, we graciously set our hand and seal this 5th
day of March, anno societatis 39. Merouda Pendray scripsit.
This scroll is primarily based on Italian and Hungarian documents of
the 15th and 16th century. Why Hungarian? Because the Hungarian court
culture was powerfully influenced by the Italians.
Approximate size: 13.5 inches by 10.5 inches.
Materials: opaline vellum, iron gall ink, hand made vermilion paint.
Baby, don’t lick the red, it’s poison.
The Latinized name of Northshield is: NORTHSHELIE. It has four
syllables, <NORTH>, <-she->, <-li->, and <-e>,
roughly \-SHAY-lee-ay\. I am profoundly grateful to Master Talan
Gwynek (Brian M. Scott) for his assistance with the Latin.
Questions, suggestions, comments, concerns? I welcome email at merouda
(at) hotmail (dot) com.
