Recreating the Catalan Map Panels

Scroll Extant

The Tentative Layout

The Extant for the Pelican Art

Pelicans in their Piety, found in a bestiary (BNF Latin 2495 B, fol. 41v), 1st quarter of the 13th century. This page can be found here.

This style of pelican was chosen for the recipient because it would have already existed during the time frame when the Catalan Atlas was being created. The Catalan Atlas was created in 1375. Some may argue that this style would have been present during 1200-1225 from the documentation, but this style hasn't changed much between 13th and 14th century.

Pelican in Piety from Bestiaire d'Amours (BNF Fr. 12469, fol. 11v), 13th-14th century.

Drawing in the Pelicans

The Whole Layout - In Progress

I was naughty and didn't tape down my page. I started working on this in the middle of the night. I was focused on getting my framework in and the tape normally obscures that.

And then... it started to rain.

This meant that my page started to curve in.

My bad.

Scroll Text by Sir Beatrix Krieger of AEthelmearc

"Be it known that we, Gareth, King by Right of Arms and Valor, and Juliana, Queen by Grace and Inspiration of Sylvan Æthelmearc, grant to Our trusted and well beloved Simon Savastian Caminante full and free capacity, permission, and authority to walk or sail to all parts, countries, and seas of the Knowne World and be recognized under the banner of his noble heraldry, quarterly argent and sable, a cross bottony throughout gules and overall a weasel statant erect contourny Or. It is with his efforts and dedication to Our Glorious Kingdom that Simon be granted liberty and license to wear a Pelican in Her Piety on all his accoutrements as he sees fit. This done in gratitude for his outstanding service in times of War and Peace, undertaking great deeds of labor and support for the Realm and the community of Defense. Provided always, and Our will and desire is, and We do hereby declare to all that Simon Savastian Caminante shall at any time or times hereafter be called Master of the most virtuous Order of the Pelican. In witness whereof, We have initiated these Our letters to be made patents at ¬_insert day of month at event and location name_ in the eight and fiftieth year of the Society, bestowed by the hand of the Crown, with our love and protection."

Based loosely on “The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted unto Cabot and his Three Sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian, and Sancius for the Discouerie of New and Unknown Lands.” March 5th, 1498 and “Charter to Sir Walter Raleigh.” March 25th, 1584.”

To read more about the documentation of the scroll text, you may check here: https://www.meilan.one/catalan-pelican-scroll/catalan-scroll-text

EXTANT for "The Letters Patents of King Henry the Seventh Granted unto Iohn Cabot and his Three Sonnes, Lewis, Sebastian and Sancius for the the Discouerie of New and Unknowen Lands."

As found here: https://avalon.law.yale.edu/15th_century/cabot01.asp

Henry, by the grace of God, king of England and France, and lord of Ireland, to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting.

Be it knowen that we haue giuen and granted, and by these presents do giue and grant for vs and our heiress to our welbeloued Iohn Cabot citizen of Venice, to Lewis, Sebastian, and Santius, sonnes of the sayd Iohn, and to the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, full and free authority, leaue, and power to saile to all parts, countreys, and seas of the East, of the West, and of the North, vnder our banners and ensignes, with fine ships of what burthen or quantity soeuer they be, and as many mariners or men as they will haue with them in the sayd ships, vpon their owne proper costs and charges, to seeke out, discouer, and finde whatsoever isles, countreys, regions or prouinces of the heathen and infidels whatsoeuer they be, and in what part of the world soeuer they be, which before this time haue bene vnknowen to all Christians: we haue granted to them, and also to euery of them, the heires of them, and euery of them, and their deputies, and haue giuen them licence to set vp our banners and ensignes in euery village, towns, castle, isle, or maine land of them newly found. And'that the aforesayd Iohn and his sonnes, or their heires and assignee may subdue, occupy and possesse all such townes, cities, castles and isles of them found, which they can subdue, occupy and possesse, as our vassals, and lieutenants, getting vnto vs the rule, title, and jurisdiction of the same villages, townes, castles, & firme land so found. Yet so that the aforesayd Iohn, and his sonnes and heires, and their deputies, be holden and bounder of all the fruits, profits, gaines, and commodities growing of such navigation, for euery their voyage, as often as they shall arrine at our port of Bristoll (at the which port they shall be bound and holden onely to arrine) all maner of necessary costs and charges by them made, being deducted, to pay vnto vs in wares or money the lift part of the capital! gaine so gotten. We gluing and granting vnto them and to their heires and deputies, that they shall be free from all paying of customer of all and singular such merchandise as they shall be free from all paying of customes of all and singular they shall bring with them from those places so newlie found.

And moreover, we haue giuen and granted to them, their heires and deputies, that all the firme lands, isles, villages, townes, castles and places whatsoever they be that they shall chance to finde, may not of any other of our subjects be frequented or visited without the licence of the foresayd John and his sonnes, and their deputies, vnder payee of forfeiture as well of their ships as of all and singular goods of all them that shall presume to saile to those places so found. Willing, and most straightly commanding all and singular our subjects as well on land as on sea, appointed officers, to giue good assistance to the aforesaid John, and his sonnes and deputies, and that as well in arming and furnishing their ships or vessels, as in provision of quietnesse, and in buying of victuals for their money, and all other things by them to be provided necessary for the sayd naulgation, they do gine them all their helpe and fanour. In witnesse whereof we haue caused to be made these our lettres patents. Witnesse our selfe at Westminister, the fift day of March, In the eleventh yeere of our reigne.-

SECOND CABOT PATENT
REFERENCES
Letters Patent. February 3,1498.
Latin text in Harrise John and Sebastian Cabot (1896.) pp. 393, 394.

In English-

Harrise Jean and Sebastian Cabot. (Paris, 1882.) pp. 327 328.
Riddle Richard. A Memoir of Sebastian Cabot. (Phila., 1831) pp. 74, 75.
Beazley John and Sebastian Cabot. pp. 95, 96.

Oath of the Pelican by Simon Caminante

I, Simon Caminante, without haste nor violence, do swere on my word of honour and under all pretexts that serve to keep faith between men that the Crowne is the onely Supreame Governour of this Realme, and therefore I do promise that from henchforth I shall beare faith and true Allegiance to the Crowne, their Heires and lawfull Successors: and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions and Authorities granted or belonging to the Crowne, their Heires and Successors. I shall conceal their counselle when shown to me and I shall givve them the best counselle I can givve, when they shoulde charge me therewith.

Extant for Oath of the Pelican

"I, (name) do utterly testifie and declare in my Conscience, that the Kings Highnesse is the onely Supreame Governour of this Realme, and all other his Highnesse Dominions and Countries, as well in all Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall things or causes, as Temporall: And that no forraine Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiorities, Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme. And therefore, I do utterly renounce and forsake all Jurisdictions, Powers, Superiorities, or Authorities; and do promise that from henchforth I shall beare faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highnesse, his Heires and lawfull Successors: and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Privileges, Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highnesse, his Heires and Successors or united and annexed to the Imperial Crowne of the Realme: so helpe me God: and by the Contents of this Booke."

From Oath of Supremecy, England 1535

Can be found at: https://www.henryviiithereign.co.uk/1535-oath-of-supremacy.html

But Wait, This Scroll Text Looks Different from what was Posted up there! What happened?!

What had happened was... I had started working on the scroll text when I stopped to read the documentation. I quickly realized that the text was from a 1496-1498 English letter of patent belonging to John Cabot & Sons. (Click here for documentation on that). I realized that the scroll text wouldn't "fit" the theme of the scroll, which was created almost 200 years prior to the inspirational text.

Instead, I stopped working on the text page I was working on. I decided to create ANOTHER scroll for Simon, this time styled as close as possible to the extant letter of patent, which currently resides in a Canadian maritime museum. I also created a wax seal for it to match the aesthetic of the piece. I chose to make it look like Their Majesties were about to send Simon off on a voyage: they gave him both a letter of patent that would allow him to go anywhere under Their protection, plus a map to guide his way.

But what's Going to Happen to the Other Page?

I haven't decided yet. I might finish it up and paint it for him. It might make an awesome birthday present or something.

Materials Used:

Parchment
Fade-proof, archival black India Ink
Metal-nibbed pen
Red sealing wax
Graphite pencil
Ruler

Mostly Complete

I apologize, I didn't take any photos of this step. I had a bit of a panic and decided to complete my text as fast as possible. I think the wording along with the guide lines took me about 3 hours from start to end, including sanding the page.

I took a step back from the photo and realized that I was missing something.

Cue the wax seals!

I made the mold for the wax seal out of my children's playdough because it was the only thing lying around my house that I could use for this project.

I carved in the symbols for the AEthelmearc escarbuncle out of the tools I had around the house. I used the probe of a disection probe to make most of the shapes.

I melted the wax using a candle and a metal spoon before pouring it into the mould. Make sure that you pour enough wax in to fill the shape!

Fresh out of the mould. Our little wax seal needs to be cleaned up before we apply it.

Second Time is the Charm!

The first one turned out funny-looking. I attempted to make a depression in the middle of the escarbuncle and it didn't turn out right. I mashed up the mould in my hand and made it.

Freshly Washed

I cleaned the wax seal under cold, running water using a paint brush and gentle soap to clean off the green play dough.

Right Before Application

Taken right before I applied it to the scroll. I applied it ot the scroll using a drop of melted wax. Adding melted wax to a wax seal is a risky venture because the added extra wax can melt the seal. I had practiced this technique several times before attempting, plus I had the scroll over a cold, marble cutting board to keep the temperature low to keep the wax from melting.

Another alternative to this would be to use a glue like E6000.

Final Scroll

Pardon my funny-looking finger, I had my knuckle on the page. My finger is not deformed.

This is what the scroll looked like after the seals were applied.

The aesthetic of this scroll was for Their Majesties to sign it wherever. The extant has King Henry's signature half scribbled on the top of the page.

Things I Learned

I need to remember to secure my pieces down to the board before I walk away otherwise it might curl
Feedback from Calligraphy Laurel: I've improved with my line spacing on the ascenders and descenders. My word spacing has improved significantly since January 2023. They are not fond of my choice of calligraphy pen size, and they suggested I go one size smaller next time.

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