Laurel Scroll
Text:
Hail! Prosperity! May the sun which delights the lotuses, the ocean
where the multitude of gems, all virtues, has its birth, the supreme
ruler of all royal races —the house of Lochleven—rule for ever the
circle of the earth, redressing the grievances of all!
The letters of the alphabet are only twenty-six, whereas the virtues
of the Kings and Queens of this House are resplendent beyond number.
How can I describe these with so little? O Mother Sarasvati! Secure
for me the help of other letters!
In the first year of his reign, this king Edward, whose enemies are
not sufficiently numerous to allow the full display of his heroism,
who is pleased to be seated together with his queen Marguerite on the
throne of heroes which is made of pure gold, asked his wisest
councilors, his preceptors of deities, by what gift does one succeed
in coming to Heaven and attaining to beatitude? O foremost of
speakers, do thou tell me of that gift which is productive of high and
inexhaustible merit.
They replied: that ruler who desires to have prosperity and who wishes
to win happiness for himself, should always make gifts of the three
peerages, with due rites, unto deserving persons. And as those who are
deserving of the recognition of the Laurel continually multiply the
ranks of the learned and the skilled, the merit that attaches to a
gift of the Laurel increases every time the scholar teaches and
provides exemplars for the benefit of the kingdom, even as a drop of
oil, falling upon water, is seen to extend on every side, and cover
the watery surface.
Indeed, they who hurl themselves into battle, fighting without any
regard for themselves to secure the benefit to their masters, even
they are unable to transcend the merit of those that make gifts of the
Laurel and the Patent of Arms. Flowers of excellent perfumes, an
excellent conch and excellent seat, an umbrella and excellent steeds
with excellent vehicles, are always ready for the person who makes
such a gift.
The King and Queen, so advised, then turned their sun-bright gaze on
the person of Irayari Vairavi, the spotless white parasol of her
blooming fame, and her mastery of courage, wisdom, love, ingenuity and
learning. With the tumultuous sounds of the war-drums, rows of bells
and bugles, kettle drums, tambourines, and conches, they made known
their gift of the Laurel.
It is known that by denying such a gift, one hurls oneself into hell
and casts ten generations of both one’s paternal and maternal lines
into the same place of misery. And the tears that would fall from the
eyes of one so denied are capable of destroying the ancestors and
descendants to the third generation of the denier. The wise heed these
warnings.
Therefore it has come to pass in the first year and xxth day of this
reign, which is Anno Societatis 45, at the Thirty-Ninth Pennsic War,
that by the inspiration of their hearts and by the advice of their
wisest councilors, Edward and Marguerite, King and Queen of the East,
who are the embodiment of the boundless joy of their subjects, do
command this edict, conferring upon their servant Irayari Vairavi the
rank of Laurel and Peer, be read aloud and borne forth on the
glittering jewels of the rows of royal diadems.
Text by Seigneur Lucien de Pontivy and Lady Aldreda de Tamwurthe
Translation into Tamil by Arvind Neelakantan
Seal created and Carved by Master Luke Knowlton, cast by Kestrel of Carolingia
Copper plates created and engraved by Master Luke Knowlton