Master Eldred Ælfwald Þegn

Court Baron

Backlog scroll at the request of Master Eldred Ælfwald.

I'm not going to lie, when I learned that Master Eldred Ælfwald had requested I create his Court Baron scroll I panic researched for a week or so. I made 4 or 5 "final decisions" before landing on St. Alban's Psalter. After researching a bit I decided I wanted to use a dragon, a corvid bird, Ragnarr, Lynette, Atlantia, architecture, his arms, and even hide a little Jeet Kune Do and train (a la Highlights).

I asked Lord Ishmael Reed to complete a period poem which was then meticulously translated to Old English by Alias Ela (Lady Elenor de La Rochelle). Both are extraordinarily talented friends of mine and I am grateful for their hard work on this scroll.

I then used a ductus I created of the different scripts alongside a few other references for a little clarity to complete the calligraphy.

Calligraphy & Illumination

K ValravnRoxbury MillAtlantia

Old English Translation of Poem and Scroll Text

"Þa wilde wegas gewindende, ond hwider hie wandriaþnan nat. Se nihternnes swigaþ on him.Romanisca rada mara runa beoð -- stiþwegasFornæmaþ ond fot-wergaþ, gelic forwenednes scopa.Heafodwoþ ond hleoþorcyme holiaþ niwe swaðeÞurh þrahe þiccettu: wit sculon þancian treowlicne þegn.Eala! Eldred Ælfwald alihtaþ wegas!His ræd rihtlæceþ rada for cynescipum;Wide ond wuldortorhte wegas Atlanties beoð.Ragnarr cyning ond Lynette cwene oncnæweþ weorþlicnesseSwa hie stepaþ Eldred sceadwisne to þegne.
Uncer Irfenuman þu geambihte; æfter Heora Irfan þu wisse.Gif cyne-stræte Hie framacyrren, þonne crafe hie, Eldred, edwendan.
Ragnarr V ond Lynette II unnon Eldrede þegnes on þæm sixtaum dæge Aprelises on þæm geare 2019, Anno Societatis LIII, be þæm Ealdordome Christophes II ond Adelheite II, ond tiðaþ him þæs rihtes gebrycgan ond iewan Þegnes Heafodbend.

Rex Regina"
Alias ElaLady Elenor de La RochelleRoxbury MillAtlantia

Original Poem

"Winding the wild paths are, and where they leadNone can know, for night is silent upon them.Rarer still are Roman roads, rutted and worn,Whose trodden remnants tire, as trailing speech. A clear-voiced clarion calls, cutting new trackThrough time’s thickets, a true thegn to be thanked.Lo! Where Eldred Ælfwald leads, light pilgrimage it is,A highway wrought of his wisdom, on which Highnesses march.Atlantia’s way is wide and clear, so well-proved EldredIs raised to rank befitting by King Ragnarr and Queen Lynette:Baron.Our Heirs now you will serve,Theirs after will you guide,From straight paths if e’er they swerveMay your voice regain their stride.
Bestowed on the 6th day of April in the year 2019, Anno Societatis LIII, upon the Coronation of Christoph II and Adelhait II, and conferring upon him the privilege of the use and display of a Baronial Coronet.

Rex Regina"
Lord Ishmael ReedRoxbury MillAtlantia

Literal Translation of Old English Text (my friends are AMAZING!)

"The wild ways are winding, and where they wanderNone know not (ne witan). The nighttime is silent upon them.Roman roads greater secrets be – rough waysWorn out (by grief) and foot-weary (my cognate), like the novelty of poetsA voice and a coming heralded by trumpets hollow out a new pathwayThrough a season's thickets: we (dual) must thank a truthful/faithful thegn (baron)Lo (recognize)! Eldred Ælfwald enlightens ways!His wise counsel makes right roads for royalties;Atlantia's ways are wide and gloriously bright.King Ragnarr and Queen Lynette recognize worthinessSo they raise sagacious Eldred to baronYou will serve our heirs; afterwards Theirs you will guide.If they turn away from the king's road, then implore them, Eldred, to return.Ragnarr V and Lynette II bestow to Eldred a baronage on the sixth day of April in the year 2019, A.S. LIII, at Beginning of the Reign of Christoph II and Adelheit II, and they grant him the privilege to use and display a Baron's Coronet. "
Alias Ela (Elenor de la Rochelle)Roxbury MillAtlantia

Materials

Windsor & Newton GouacheFinetec GoldSumi Ink11"x13.5" Pergamenata

Paper Size

11" x 13.5" (I have no idea why)

Assignment Date

9 April 2019

Completion Date

30 June 2019Had to wait for a calligraphy nib to come in. Also see: scared.

Script

Taken from the exemplarCaroline MinusculeSquare CapitalsRustic Capitals

Source

St Albans Psalter