The Scribal Guild is a robust community in Meridies that is a wonderful way to reach out to each other, become engaged and connected to other scribes via this website, the Scribal Guild of Meridies Facebook page, and in-person Scriptoriums at SCA events as well as on-line classes and Zooms. The hope for this website is to provide a resource for scribes to access information for Meridian Scribes all in one place as scribal information can often be hard to find and policies and practices can very from Kingdom to Kingdom.  The Scribes in our community have greatly diverse talents and abilities and are willing to share and impart that knowledge to anyone wanting to learn. No one is born an artist and talent only gets you so far on its own thus having such a robust community as ours can be beneficial to all who get involved.

All Meridian Scribes are encouraged to further their scribal education, and to develop their skills in the craft. There is always something more to learn, whether one is a beginner or a seasoned scribe. As a scribe, you provide a great service both to the Kingdom, and to the good gentles that take home the scrolls you have so painstakingly created. Your work is noticed, and is greatly appreciated. So let’s get started!

What is a Scribe?

A Scribe is anyone who completes a scroll for the kingdom either in part or in its entirety. They can trace, draw, line, calligraphy, gild, and/or paint. It is not required to do or know all of these aspects of a scroll to consider yourself a Scribe. As in medieval times, we can work together doing our various parts to create the beautiful works of art the kingdom gives to its populace members to commemorate their award. Completing a scroll by oneself does not make someone more of a scribe than working as a team. And although it is encouraged to know all parts of a scroll eventually, it is not required. 

Scribal Roster

Recently, the Scribal Guild started a Scribal Roster of active scribes and their current level of ability and proliferation. If a new skill is learned, it is requested that you let the Guild Leader know the change in your ability. This protects the artist and the Kingdom/Society.

Follow this link to add your name to the Roster… https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10ym_AWe5Im3tS2pnHRuFQZHcCzYndFpAQhvc9QGsmcc

A Court Scribe can be anyone with calligraphy experience who volunteers to be a court scribe, typically assigned by the Parchment beforehand, to fill in the names and dates of awards going out that day at an event during Court Prep, which usually begins 2 hours prior to Court. The Chancellor from the crown checks the event Troll sheets to determine if the recipients are present at the event and informs the Court Scribe at Court Prep. A Court Scribe knows several different hands and can match the calligraphy hand, or a complementary hand, of the scroll that the name and date are to be added. Two scribes are preferred to help out each event as Court Scribe but will need at least one volunteer. 

***Completed scrolls for the Kingdom cases may be turned into any one of the officers mentioned above who will then submit them to the Principal Parchment Officer***

Scroll Cozies

The Kingdom can always use scroll cozies. However, we actually encourage groups to build up their own stock piles too so they can provide them for their own events, as you can’t guarantee one of the scribes will be at your event and will be able to bring them. If you ask ahead of time, we’re usually able to help, but sometimes we don’t think of it, or don’t have enough room in our cars to transport them.

The quick and dirty cozies are just cardboard and duct tape. I like to use black, white, or black/white patterned tape for this (bc Meridies), but really any will do. They’re simple and easy. They may not look the best, but they certainly get the job done and are very appreciated! (I actually prefer them when the weather is wet too.)

To pretty up the non-fabric cozies, some groups will paint them, but we suggest keeping the paint to the outside of the cardboard so as to not hurt the scrolls. Another method is to cover the cardboard with contact paper. This can be done by covering the individual pieces with contact paper, then taping/contact-papering the pieces together, or by using a larger sheet in a method similar to the sewn case method, just with sticky contact paper instead.

The cardboard ones can get super fancy, but this is a basic walkthrough on simple fabric-covered cozies, both with sewn and non-sewn methods. https://signet.eastkingdom.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/How-to-make-a-scroll-case1.pdf