Scroll texts
From MiddleWiki
Also called Award Texts; The standard formula for scrolls meant for certain awards and orders.
The Middle Kingdom is fairly unique in that our scribes have a lot of leeway in the wording of award texts to fit the space available or persona of the recipient. For example; a metered poem for someone being awarded for their Bardic prowess. Many other kingdoms have exact wording that must be used, or only a few alterations that are allowed.
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Arts Awards
In the Middle Kingdom awards given for achievements in the arts and sciences (the Orders of the Willow, Silver Oak and Evergreen) have the Consort's name listed first, rather than the Sovereign as the Consort (usually the Queen) is the patron of the arts and sciences.
Bare Minimum
The very least amount of text that can be included on an award is:
- Name of the Recipient
- The Award or Order being given
- Name of the King and Queen (and the fact that they are the King and Queen of the Middle Kingdom)
- Date of the Award
This bare minimum text is used mostly for unusual scrolls such as an embroidered Bayeux tapestry or viking stone carving that does not allow for much verbiage.
Preferred Minimized Text
Includes all of the above plus
- Place or Event where the Award is being given
- "All rights and responsibilities attendant upon this (rank/Order/Award)"
- The badge of the Award/Order (Can be omitted if it is painted as a part of the illumination.
- "Confirmed by Our Hand and Seal"
Lengthened Texts
Just as certain types of illumination lend themselves to short texts, there are others where the scribe finds him or herself scrambling to add in a few extra words to be able to fill the page more or just for the added presentation when read into court.
Some ways of extending scroll texts include:
- Honorifics for the King and Queen; The Just, the swift, the wise, the beauteous and graceful, etc.
- Including the modern date as well as the AS, for example "Given this 14th day of May Anno societatis forty-one being the two thousand and sixth year of the Gregorian calendar"
- Also on the date, mention the particular saints day "On the feast of Michaelmas" etc.
- Honorifics for the recipient; The patient, the kind, unswerving servant of the Crown, etc.
- The reason for the award can frequently be lengthened. For example someone receiving their Award of Arms for "cooking event feasts" might be worded longer as "For her unceasing labors over the hot cook fires of our kitchens preparing most excellent feasts to delight the eye and palette"
Suggested Texts
Are available in the Middle Kingdom Scribe's Handbook: http://www.midrealm.org/heraldry/forms/MKScribesHandbook.pdf
