Heraldic Mantle of Giles Hill

Regalia
Heraldic Cape of Giles Hill
Information
Status: Active Artist(s): {{{artist}}}

Freelance Heralds

Medieval heralds generally worked for a single patron (which could be a monarch or other noble personage, or an Order of chivalry). When speaking for the principal, the herald would wear a tabard bearing the arms of their patron, symbolizing the fact that the herald spoke not on their own behalf, but with the voice of their liege. Some heralds, however, were available to be hired to speak for anyone needing their services, and made this known by wearing mantles bearing the arms of their various employers.

The Society's heralds typically wear a tabard displaying the arms of the territory they serve. Occasionally a tabard bearing personal arms will be seen; this may be in tournaments of great pageantry, like Crown Tournies or pas d'armes, or a court ceremony like a coronation or elevation to the peerage. But given the expense of creating a heraldic tabard, not only in materials, but in the artisan's labor, personal heraldic tabards (distinct from armorial surcotes or other garments which bear the arms of the wearer) are quite unusual.

Dr Lynsey Darby, a former Archivist of the College of Heralds in London, reveals that Randolf Jackson, appointed Montorgeuil poursuivant by Henry VII in early 1486, provided heraldic services for the 135 Seigneurial families of Jersey. The Governor of Jersey, Matthew Baker, presented an expense claim for a Tabard provided for Montorgeuil, "broidered with the devices of many Houses"

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  Herald with tabard and baton Tirol, Anton: Wappenbuch - BSB Cod.icon. 310 [S.l.] Süddeutschland.

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  Konrad Grunenberg's Roll of 1483.

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  Julian Wilson heralds a Pas d'Arms at the Ancient Hospital and Almshouse of St. Cross, in Drachanwald, near West Dragonshire (Southern England excepting London). The devices on the tabard are those of Seigneurial families of Jersey in the late 15th C, courtesy of the Librarian of our local historical Socièté Jersaise.

Construction of the Mantle

The mantle is in the form of a three-quarter circle Elizabethan fingertip cape, circa 1580. It is made of black silk velvet, trimmed with gold bullion gimp, and ornamented with heraldic badges and the arms of the territories and peers Giles has served as herald.

Territorial Arms and Badges on the Mantle

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  The Kingdom of Caid
  Azure, a crown within a laurel wreath Or, between three crescents within a bordure embattled argent. The first SCA chapters in southern California were established in 1970, and became the Principality of Caid in 1974. Caid became independant of the West in 1978. Giles has served Caid as herald for courts across the Known World, in The West, An Tir, Atenveldt, Atenveldt, Ansteorra, Aethelmerc, and Glen Abhan. He has repeatedly served as Golden Rose Herald, the staff herald charged with producing royal courts in Caid, and was created Chrysostom Herald by Sven and Kolfinna.

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  [Barony of Bonwicke]
  Per pale Or and gules, a pale indented counterchanged, overall a laurel wreath vert. Bonwicke's arms were designed by Giles Hill.

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  The Barony of Calafia
  Blazon. Additional information.

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  The Barony of Gyldenholt
  Azure, three trees conjoined in fess Or, surmounted on the foliage by a laurel wreath vert, within a bordure Or. Giles served at Gold Forest during the tenure of Wulfric and Lasairfhiona, and Ursul and Collette.

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  Plain text display
  Vert, in saltire two trumpets Or. Additional information.

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  Plain text display
  Blazon. Additional information.

Personal Arms on the Mantle

The (approximate) finished dimensions are 4" tall, 3.5" wide. They are canvaswork (also called tentwork and needlepoint) worked on 18 - 22 count needlepoint canvas, in cotton, linen, or silk.

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  Augustine von Freiburg
  Per chevron gules and checky sable and argent, a cross formy fitchy and in chief 2 card-piques Or. Sir Augustine was elevated to the Order of the Chivalry on October 6, 2007 by Drogo and Iðuna, King and Queen of Caid. On September 5, 2010 he was elevated to the Order of the Pelican by Conrad and Eleanor, King and Queen of Caid.

• Giles FileName.jpg

  Plain text display
  Blazon. Additional information.