About Us
The Company encompasses and welcomes artists and art lovers of all stripes. Our community is not limited to practicing scribes. All interested parties, patrons, cognoscenti, and curious are welcome to participate.
Our Mission
The Company was established in A.S. 50 with the mission to support West Kingdom Scribes and educate the West Kingdom populace on the value of the Scribal Arts through greater arts awareness, networking, partnership with other guilds, programs, and community outreach.
In short, the Company is a center for education dedicated to bridging the gap between known resources and contacts for new and experienced Scribal Artists and the scribal-curious.
Our Foundation
Recruiting and advancing Scribal Arts talent in the West Kingdom is the foundation to our success and is comprised of four pillars:
Recruitment: Attracting Scribal Arts Talent through newcomer orientations, learning tracks, and social connectedness
Engagement: Engaging Scribal Artists with art project sourcing, arts events, and orientations for Royalty, Nobility & Officers.
Development: Developing Scribal Art Talent through teaching opportunities, learning experiences, and arts and sciences projects.
Retention: Retaining Scribal Artists through continuing education, opportunities, and support.
How We Are Structured
The Guildminister is the head of the Company. They are responsible for the overall coordination of guild activities and encouraging scribal arts throughout the kingdom. The Guildminister is a Good Person who deserves nice words and cookies. The 1389 Norfolk Guild Returns provide for “maystres and kepers of þe gyld.” In modern English “masters and keepers of the guild.”
Under the Guildminister are the Wardens. Wardens are responsible for coordinating activity within their regions (Far West, the Marches, Oertha, Cynagua, and the Mists). The Wardens are also Good People and also deserve nice words and cookies. The 1389 London Guild Returns provide that “Vche ȝer þer schul four wardeines be chosen to reule þe fraternite & to ordeine it & redresse it.” In modern English, “Each year there shall be chosen four wardens to rule the fraternity and to order it and correct it.”
The Beadles also come under the direct authority of the Guildminister but are not responsible for a region. Instead, they are responsible for various specific tasks, like maintaining the website. According to the 1418 Ordinances of the Grocers' Company of London, “The Bedel schall haue for hys trauayle..v marc a ȝer, a Gown, mete and drynk.” In modern English, “The Beadle shall have for his work, five marks a year, a gown, food, and drink.” Learned interpreters read this to mean that beadles get cookies, too.
The Fellows are the members of the Company. Fellows are Wonderful People who put in a lot of time to both perfect and perform their craft. Fellows deserve many cookies. The 1425 Constitutions of Masonry state, “Withynne the craft, Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe.” In modern English, “Within the craft, each shall courteously call the other, Fellow.”
All members of the Company may bear the Company’s badge, a Rampant Cosalot on a white field, bearing a brush and a pen, surrounded by three tressures in the primary colors (yellow, blue and red) and a black bordure.
Find us on Facebook as West Kingdom Scribes, and in Oertha as Oerthan Scribes.