I was thrilled to work on this special signet project with Gunðormr Dengir , Thyra Eiriksdottir and Alys Mackyntoich to have a pre-printed writs. Due to the burden on the Scribes anything that is done to lessen the work for a reign is a good thing. Or in the imortal words of the Tyger Clerk of the Signet when asked to comment about why standardized writs were introduced this year. “Because that writ scope-creep was [beep beeeep].”
More to the point this table from the gazzette article really drives home the time savings in the long run.
Was the effort worth it? Let’s compare the time it would take to complete 50 writs, by each method.
| Printed | Hand-written |
| 3hrs wordsmithing | 1.5hrs wordsmithing |
| 3hrs typesetting | 1hr material prep/practice |
| 3hrs printing, cutting, cleaning | 2hrs calligraphy (average) |
| 20mins personalization per writ = 16hrs | -> 4.5hrs per writ, x50 |
| = 25 hours total | =225 hours total |
The goal was for short texts in the format of 15th / 16th century summons. Not having a lot of words to play with I attempted to make my suggestions count. I turned to a favorite source, the Scottish parliament records and picked out interesting words that had a legal / summoning context.
Not a lot of words, so need to make the words count. I came up with 2 options.
Shorter
INSERT NAME
has been compeared by precepts of clare constat to the royal Eastern court of
MONARCH AND MONARCH
to answer the question put before them in liege postie whether to
join the ORDER OF FOOBAR
And a longer one
INSERT NAME
has been compeared, commanded and summoned
by precepts of Clare constat to the royal Eastern court of
MONARCH AND MONARCH
to answer the question put before them in liege postie whether
to take on all rights, responsibilities and duties of the
ORDER OF FOOBAR
Some the interesting words
compear
To appear in court as a party to a cause either in person or by counsel.
precept
A command or injunction to do some particular act; an order
Clare constat
deed executed by a subject superior
liege poustie
The state of being in full possession of one’s faculties and so capable of transacting one’s own affairs, sound in mind and body.
The following was a long list of words I picked out to play around with and certainly will use in future scrolls.
brieve
Sc. Law. A legal writ, an official document.
bloodwit
Guiltiness of, or liability to a penalty for, bloodshed; an action against a person for bloodshed.
bruik
To have or enjoy possession of, frequently of lands.
caption
Legal arrest or apprehension; a warrant for arrest.
cass
To make void, render ineffective, annul or disable.
chaser
A male sheep imperfectly developed in the genitals, which causes it to desire and chase ewes.
circumduce
Sc. Law. To reject as being legally invalid; to declare or claim (the term for leading a proof) to be elapsed.
clare constat **
Sc. Law. A deed executed by a subject superior, for the purpose of completing the title of his vassal’s heir to the lands held by the deceased heir, under the granter of the precept.
compear
Sc. Law. To appear in court as a party to a cause either in person or by counsel.
compone
To come to an agreement (with another for something); to compound or settle a matter by making payment or otherwise.
comprise
To value, appraise; also the seizure of goods of a debtor.
compromit
To agree upon; to settle, arrange.
compulsitor
Sc. Law. A compulsory instrument or act; anything which compels.
connex
Sc. Law. An appurtenance; an item of property connected with another. Always used in conjunction with annex.
conquest
Acquisition, especially of property; property acquired (in contrast to inherited).
consignation
trysting
A meeting arranged for the purpose of negotiation towards the settlement of a dispute. The action of negotiating such a settlement; arbitration, negotiation.
use and wont
Usual and customary procedure.
culrach
Sc. Law. The surety given on removing a case from one court to another. Required especially when a cause was removed to the court of a lord of regality.
decerniture
A decreet or sentence of a court.
deliverance
Sc. Law. A formal decision or judicial judgement.
dempster
The officer of a court who pronounced doom or sentence definitively as directed by the clerk or judge.
doom
A judicial sentence, used in both civil and criminal cases, but often in the formula of a death sentence.
infeft
To invest with legal possession a person with heritable property.
Infeftment
Sc. Law. The investing of a new owner with a real right in or legal possession of land or heritage; a document specifying the infeftment.
liege poustie
Sc. Law. The state of being in full possession of one’s faculties and so capable of transacting one’s own affairs, sound in mind and body.
novodamus
Sc. Law. The formal renewal (with or without alterations) by a feudal superior of a former grant; a statement to this effect in a charter renewing a grant in this way.
obligement
A contractual promise or undertaking; also, one of several particular undertakings embodied in a single agreement or contract
** precept
A command or injunction to do some particular act; an order. Also a writ ordering the formal giving of possession of heritable property to an heir or successor.
propone
To put forth or display, declare, offer as a reward, propose (for an answer), intend.
proven
Sc. Law. To establish (a thing) as true; to make certain; to demonstrate the truth of by evidence or argument.
writ
A writing having legal force, usually as witnessed, signed or sealed, a deed, a formal written document.