Vast Geekery
May. 11th, 2005 11:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kellan_the_tabbySo I decide to actually send in a report to our local newsletter, since I figure I should do that every couple months and I actually have something to report. I open an email and type 'Greetings' and then sit there and stare at it, 'cos I know it's all wrong.
So I pull up the Paston Letters and start reading them over for useful nuggets. I figure I'll swipe a salutation and maybe a closing, and write the rest in the usual way, and maybe put in a note about my sources.
About an hour and much giggling later, I send this off:
Right worshipful sirs and maistresses of Eisental I recommend me to you, and remain willing with all my heart to do you service to my simple power.
Item, that the device of Kass McGann was duly registered at Laurel this December past, to wit, Ermine, a phoenix azure issuant from flames proper within a bordure nebuly azure.
Item, that the name of Mary of the Stuwes was duly registered at Laurel this December past.
Item, that the name of Robert Fairfax was duly registered at Laurel this December past. And that the device of Robert Fairfax, to wit, Pily bendy and per pale Or and Gules., was duly returned, for that it was in conflict with the device of the right worshipful Raymond the Mild.
Item, where ye desire me that I should take me to our weekly exercise and training in armor and the ways of combat and bring with me divers books and papers, the which will I use to guide you to understanding of names and devices. And that I will aid you in duly registering the same.
Written at Voormezele on Sainte Odilos Day. Yours, Ieffrum laudat.
The phrasing for fighter practice is Lewis's, and Eldrich supplied me with the Latin form of my name. I sent it to the chronicler and the Shire list just like that, no explanations. I figure I'll knock some people for a loop.
And now I have a setting for the story idea that's been bouncing around my head. :)
So I pull up the Paston Letters and start reading them over for useful nuggets. I figure I'll swipe a salutation and maybe a closing, and write the rest in the usual way, and maybe put in a note about my sources.
About an hour and much giggling later, I send this off:
Right worshipful sirs and maistresses of Eisental I recommend me to you, and remain willing with all my heart to do you service to my simple power.
Item, that the device of Kass McGann was duly registered at Laurel this December past, to wit, Ermine, a phoenix azure issuant from flames proper within a bordure nebuly azure.
Item, that the name of Mary of the Stuwes was duly registered at Laurel this December past.
Item, that the name of Robert Fairfax was duly registered at Laurel this December past. And that the device of Robert Fairfax, to wit, Pily bendy and per pale Or and Gules., was duly returned, for that it was in conflict with the device of the right worshipful Raymond the Mild.
Item, where ye desire me that I should take me to our weekly exercise and training in armor and the ways of combat and bring with me divers books and papers, the which will I use to guide you to understanding of names and devices. And that I will aid you in duly registering the same.
Written at Voormezele on Sainte Odilos Day. Yours, Ieffrum laudat.
The phrasing for fighter practice is Lewis's, and Eldrich supplied me with the Latin form of my name. I sent it to the chronicler and the Shire list just like that, no explanations. I figure I'll knock some people for a loop.
And now I have a setting for the story idea that's been bouncing around my head. :)
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 09:34 am (UTC)Highly amusing, and a damn fine example. Tomorrow is our business meeting. *PLOT*
-S.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 10:11 am (UTC)Yeah, the direct link isn't working for me, either, which is weird since I already had that link up. Try this: go to http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/
and hit 'Search Public Collections', then 'Middle English', and search for Paston. Worked for me.
If you write something for the meeting, post it! We'll start a Period English Movement. :)
That would be too cool!
Date: 2005-05-11 11:00 am (UTC)What is Ieffrum laudat is the Latinization of?
Re: That would be too cool!
Date: 2005-05-11 11:24 am (UTC)Ieffrum laudat is a Latinisation of 'Geffroi le crieur', which is my new(ish) alternate name. I'm thinking about just switching over to that, since Kat'ryna doesn't work so well for a fifteenth-century Frenchman...