Signet
From MiddleWiki
1. An officer responsible for obtaining illuminated scrolls for use in court. Signets are local or regional officers reporting to a Kingdom Signet who assign or request scrolls from working calligraphers and artists (see scribes). The scribe then creates the work and is responsible for conveying the scroll to the event where court is to be held, and/or to the signet in charge of that event. Discretion is called for in this position, as with the artists and calligraphers being coordinated and supervised, to avoid potential award recipients from finding out before court especially as court lists may change at the last minute. Signets may at the Crown's discretion also seal the scrolls with the Kingdom Seal.
2. A ring or other device which stamps an heraldic design in wax usually to seal a document. The Middle Kingdom usually uses a modern rubber stamp to seal scrolls, however wax seals are occasionally used, or none at all. A scroll does not have to have a seal on it to be official.
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Local Signets
A shire or other local group is not required to have, but might have their own signet. Usually the duties of a Local Signet are to lead the local scribe's guild and/or assist the Regional Signet with court assignments to local scribes.
The exact duties of a local signet are frequently dependent upon the needs and desires of the individual group.
Baronial Signets
Baronies may or may not have a Signet.
The primary function of a Baronial Signet is the assigning of scrolls for Baronial Awards.
As a secondary function the Baronial Signet may assist or act as a liaison to the Regional Signet for the assignment of court scrolls to local scribes.
The exact role and duties of the Baronial Signet are up to the particular Barony and can vary greatly from group to group.
Regional Signets
Each of the five Regions of the Middle Kingdom should have a designated deputy Signet.
The Regional Signet receives the list of awards to be given at a court in that region prior to the event at which the court is held. In the Middle Kingdom court lists are usually received by the signet 2 weeks before the event. If it is less than two weeks before the event and the Regional Signet has not yet received the court list, the signet may contact the Kingdom Signet, Dragon Herald and/or the King and Queen to make certain that an award list is forthcoming and has not been lost in transport.
As court lists are frequently given over email, any one aspiring to a Regional Signet position should have reliable Internet access and a good email account.
Once the court list is received, the Regional Signet:
- Double-checks with the Order of Precedence to make certain that none of the awards are duplicates of awards previously given out. This check is also performed by the Kingdom Signet previously.
- Then the signet contacts the scribes of the region, starting with those local to the event, for assignments. For this purpose it is necessary for a Regional Signet to keep and update a contact list of calligraphers and illuminators in their region.
As a matter of personal preference, I (Milesent Vibert, Oaken regional signet from Feb 2003 to May 2007) assign award scrolls in the following order:
- Any scribe who has requested the assignment for this recipient should their name come up
- A scribe in the same guild or household as the recipient
- A scribe local to the recipient (from the same group)
- A scribe who shares the same interests as the recipient (for example a scribe who is also a fencer for a fencing award, etc.)
- A scribe in the group where the event is being held
- Other area scribes
The goal in this order is to increase the odds of the scroll being assigned to a scribe who is a friend or acquaintance of the recipient. In my experience people are happier to receive an award made by someone they know. Again, this is just the way I personally handle assignments, and not an official policy.
Prior to the event at which the court is occurring, the Signet should contact the event staff to ensure that there is a designated Scribe's Room where court scrolls may be worked on and signed by the King and/or Queen (or Prince/Princess) with privacy to ensure that award recipients are duly surprised when they are called into court. It is also helpful at this time, just before an event, to double-check with scribes who have assignments that they are not having trouble completing them. The signet should make sure to bring at least two copies of the court list to the event (one for the signet and one for the herald.)
On the day of the event the Regional Signet:
- Sets up the Scribe's room and checks that the Gatekeeper for the event knows where to send scribes turning in work.
- Checks in with the Local/Baronial Signet if there is one.
- Checks with the King/Queen (or Prince/Princess if this is a Regency Court) or their retainers on when Their Majesties will be signing the scrolls, verifies the order of the court list and if there have been any last minute changes to the court list.
- Finds out who the herald for the court is going to be and coordinate with the herald any preferences for the handling of scrolls in court. The herald may also wish to view the scrolls before court to make certain s/he can pronounce all the names and read the calligraphy or handwriting on the gloss.
- Checks in all of the scrolls as they are turned in and (if applicable) ensures that each scroll has a written gloss on the back for the herald to read.
- (Optional) compiles a list of all the scribes who contributed to the court to be read at the end of court. This is subject to the preferences of the reigning monarch.
- Oversees the signing and sealing of scrolls (The King or Queen may designate the Signet to seal the scrolls, or apply the seal themselves. This is partly how the Signet's office got its name.)
- Checks with the retainer on duty for court that award medallions are present, and informs the retainer of how many medallions are needed of each type and what order they should be in. (This may be handled by the royal staff separately.) It can be helpful to have a second copy of the court list that is just awards in order without the recipients names for the retainer.
- Delivers the scrolls to court and hands them to the court herald to be read
- Delivers unclaimed scrolls to the Backlog Signet. If any scrolls are claimed by people other than the recipient, write down who accepted the scroll.
Former Regional Signets
Aethon (South Oaken)
| 2007 to 2010 | Elsepth Clerk | |
| 2010 to 2013 | Sybella of Dragonsmark | |
| 2013 to ? | Brianne of Greenlea | |
| 2017 to ? | Soffya von Kulpe | |
| ? to 2023 | Merwyn of the Ruin | |
| 2023 to present | Brianne of Greenlea |
Constellation
| ? to ? | Angharad Rhos Tudor | |
| ? to ? | Justice McArtain | |
| 2010 to 2014 | Kemma Quartremaine | |
| 2014 to ??? | Waldetrudis von Metten | |
| ??? to present | Meadhbh Ramsay |
Lincoln Signet Midlands
| ? to ? | Mary Buchanan | |
| ? to ? | Jocelyn of Lutterworth | |
| ? to 2015 | Hillary of Langeforde | |
| 2015 to ??? | Eva Wurster | |
| ??? to present | Corasande of Starrhill |
Oaken
| ? to ? | Conal O'Hairt? | |
| ? to ? | Roewynne Langley of Mugmort | |
| ? to 2004 | myfanwy ferch Rhonwen | |
| 2004 to 2007 | Milesent Vibert | |
| After Milesent the region was split and now Oaken refers to the North Oaken section, the South Oaken section is now under the Aethon Signet. | ||
| 2007 to 2010 | Cassandra du Belle Isle | |
| 2010 to 2013 | Astridr Kettilsdottir | |
| 2013 to early 2017 | Sorcha Fraser | |
| 2017 to ? | Angelique de la Rochelle | |
| ? to present | Merwyn of the Ruin | |
Fenris Signet Pentamere
| ? to 2004? | Emma de Winter | |
| 2004? to 2008 | Femke de Roas | |
| 2008 to 2010 | Hannah Schreiber | |
| 2010 to 2013 | Helena Sibylla | |
| 2013 to 2017 | Pomeroy Tibault | |
| 2017 to ??? | Una Uilebaine | |
| ??? to present | Úlfrún Barefooted |
The Kingdom Backlog Deputy Signet
Occasionally an award will be added to a court at the last minute or the assigned scroll will not make it to the event. When that happens, the Backlog Signet has the job of assigning the creation of a new scroll for this award already given out in court. The Middle Kingdom is unique in that the number of scrolls to be assigned on our backlog is always very small, usually less than five scrolls to be assigned.
If you never received a scroll for an award, contact the Kingdom Backlog Signet to be added to the "To be Assigned" list.
More often the Backlog Signet is in charge of delivering unclaimed court scrolls to the recipients, frequently coordinating with the Regional Signets.
Backlog Signets
| ? to ? | Alexandra di Campagnella | |
| 2005 to present | Angelique d'Herisson |
The Kingdom Signet
A deputy of the Dragon Herald, the Kingdom Signet works with the current King and Queen and Dragon Herald closely and is the first recipient of a court list for a given event. The Kingdom Signet checks the Order of Precedence to make certain none of the recipients have already received that award, informs Their Majesties when there are conflicts so that Their Majesties may decide if they wish to drop the award entirely or give the recipient a different award.
The Kingdom Signet may perform the duties outlined above of a Regional Signet or delivers the court list to the Regional.
The Kingdom Signet also coordinates the transition of new Regional Signets and any problems arising with all deputy Signets.
The Kingdom Signet has the authority to impose a sanction on a scribe from receiving royal court assignments (this is very rarely done, but has happened in the past).
Kingdom Signets
| 1986 to 1988 | Luisaidh MacLeoid | |
| 1988 to 1989 | Kyrille Andreskevich | |
| 1989 to 1990 | Angelique Du Bois | |
| 1990 to 1992 | Kobayakawa Ariake | |
| 1992 to 1993 | Lucia Porzia Sforza di Firenze | |
| 1993 to 1994 | Katarina Helene Von Schoenborn | |
| 1994 to 1995 | Maeve von Drachenfels | |
| 1995 to 1999 | Bronwyn ferch Gwyn ap Rhys | |
| 1999 to 2000 | Gwenhwyvar Nocturnal | |
| 2000 to 2001 | Shoshanna MacKilbaine | |
| 2001 to 2005 | Kassia Gildea | |
| ? to ? | Alexandra de Campagnella | |
| ? to ? | Mary Buchannan | |
| ? to 2010 | Elspeth Clark | |
| 2010 to 2014 | Justice McArtain | |
| 2014 to early 2017 | Estelle de la Mer | |
| 2017 to 2023 | Sorcha Fraser | |
| 2023 to present | Helena Sibylla |
For more Information
See the website of the College of Scribes: http://www.midrealm.org/signet
