Written By The Honorable Elizabeth Bakere
Welcome to the Scribes of Aarquelle
Within the lands of the Barony of Aarquelle, scrolls are more than ceremony—they are history made visible, service made tangible, and art given breath. Each piece is a unique collaboration between the hands of our scribes and the spirit of our Barony. Whether illuminated in bold color or etched in delicate strokes, scrolls carry the memory of achievement, the voice of the Coronet, and the heart of our community.
As Baronial Scribe, it is my honor to welcome you into this tradition. This handbook was created to empower you—not just with tools and templates, but with clarity, confidence, and inspiration. You will find guidance on materials, etiquette, award scroll texts, and the deeper philosophy behind our craft. My hope is that these pages support your journey and connect you more deeply to the Dream we share. Every scroll is an offering. Every flourish is a mark of love and legacy.
Welcome, fellow artisan—you are now part of a tradition that reaches back centuries and will shape our future.
Elizabeth Bakere
Dedication
A hardworking group came together and worked on various areas and items in order to start the awards and orders, with verbiage, artwork, and charters. We thank them for their hours of dedication to this project.
To Fionnait MacPherson our First Baronial Scribe, you took on a huge duty to the Barony, organizing scribes, (which is much like herding cats) and making sure that scrolls were finished and at the event they were to be awarded at. Your standard of no back scrolls, made other Baronies and the Kingdom take notice. I trust our future baronial scribes can follow that.
What is an Aarquelle Scribe?
Scribes of the Barony of Aarquelle Scribes are the creators of scrolls and tend to be an interesting and diverse group. They find great satisfaction in spending hours creating a piece of art they may never see again, for someone they may or may not have ever met. They simply find joy in seeing a blank sheet of paper come to life with paint and ink.
An Aarquelle Scribe is an illuminator, calligrapher, or both, that records the words of the Baron and/or Baroness of the Barony of Aarquelle with paper, pen, and paint (or another appropriate medium).
Requirements
Volunteer to illuminate and/or calligraphy scrolls. Deliver finished scrolls to the Baronial Scribe or their representative on duty at a specified event at least two (2) hours before the specified court. Keep secrets! Ensure that the identity of the recipient is kept secret from all. The Coronet has the ability to give or not give any Baronial award or order at their pleasure. Just because a scroll is created does not mean the Coronet must give the award. Ensure that all required elements are on the scroll. Provide a legible copy of the scroll text (typed preferred or hand-written), adhered to the back of each scroll. Use appropriate and acceptable mediums for Baronial-level scrolls. Use appropriate references for the time period of the SCA (pre-17th century Europe).
Should a situation arise which prevents a scribe from completing an assignment or delivering a finished scroll on time, the scribe should notify the Baronial Scribe or Herald or their representative as soon as possible.
Responsibilities
Inform the Baronial Scribe or their representative of any Baronial-level scrolls you are working on (i.e. commission scrolls or assignments directly from the Coronets). In the case of delicate information, you can inform them shortly after the fact (if the Baronial Herald or the representative is the individual receiving the award). A commission is a scroll arranged between the scribe and the recipient after the award has been presented. Any reimbursement or cost for the materials and time should be arranged privately between the scribe and the recipient.
The Herald’s Office of the Barony of the Aarquelle has no part in monetary exchanges for commissioned scrolls.
Sign your work. If unsure about anything regarding a scroll, ask the Baronial Scribe or their representative. Strive to use resources to make scrolls fit the SCA time period as closely as possible. This does not mean you must use period pigments, costly, or dangerous supplies unless you choose to.
The Barony of Aarquelle scrolls are used by the Coronet(s) or their representatives to proclaim and recognize the talents, skills, and service of various individuals of the Barony’s populace. The recipient may also receive a token, but the scroll is the official notification to all that the recipient is worthy of this recognition.
What is a scroll?
A scroll is a piece of physical history of the Barony, the Coronet(s) and the individual receiving the honor. As members of an organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe, we understand the importance of maintaining a physical history rather than merely electronic or verbal. In fact, we often spend hours (weeks, months, even years) searching for extant pieces of physical history.
Basic Scroll Standards
There are specific standards that should be maintained in all scrolls signed by the Baron and/or Baroness of the Barony of Aarquelle:
1. The name(s) of the Coronet(s) must be correct and using the proper title.
2. The name of the individual receiving the scroll must be correct.
3. Any heraldry portrayed in the scroll must be registered through the College of Heralds and correctly emblazoned. All Barony of Aarquelle scrolls should have the badge for the honor being awarded emblazoned on the scroll.
4. A scroll should, at the minimum, answer the following questions: a. Who?: Who is giving the honor and who is receiving it? b. What?: What is the honor? c. When?: When is the honor being conveyed? d. Where?: Where is the honor being given (branch and/or event)? e. Why?: Why are they being honored (although this can be in generic terms if necessary)?
5. Sign your scroll on the back and note whether you did the calligraphy, illumination, or both. You may type the verbiage of the scroll and add scroll calligraphy, illumination made by (Name). If the scroll is done by two or ore persons, please have each sign and state what part they did.
The following standards are not requirements, but are considerations: 1. Calligraphy and illumination needs to be in appropriate matching styles. 2. Smears, pencil lines, blots, and smudges should be removed. 3. Allow at least an inch border in case the recipient wishes to matte and frame the scroll.
Materials
For paper, you can use 80–140-pound paper. If you are not doing your own calligraphy, try to stick to smooth papers without must texture. For those newcomers to art, numbers such as 80 lb or 140 lb (eighty pound or one hundred forty pound) is the weight of the paper; the higher the number the thicker the paper. A thicker paper is more sturdy and easier to scrape.
Ano Materials their tip for newcomers to art is there are two types of watercolor paper readily available on the market today, hot press and cold press. Hot press watercolor paper means the texture and grain of the paper’s surface is very smooth. Basically, it’s been ironed flat. Cold press watercolor paper means the texture and grain of the paper’s surface is very rough, bumpy, or has lots of looser fibers. All of these things can grab your pen or paint and take them somewhere you don’t want them to go.
Parchmantine is a cellulose-based paper that can also be used and is very popular in some kingdoms. Of course, period-style parchments and vellums can also be used, but can be quite expensive. Avoid the following types of paper for scrollwork: 1. Any papers labeled: Drawing, Charcoal, Bristol, “Vellum”, or Calligrapher’s. Also avoid other light weight papers. a. Drawing and charcoal papers will disintegrate in the water (to some extent). b. The Bristol and “vellum” have a waxy coating on them that the paint will not adhere to and will pop off of if the paper is rolled, twisted, or flexed. “Vellum” should not be confused with true period vellum. “Vellum” is a transparent paper used mostly in the drafting or graphic design arts. c. Calligrapher’s paper is very light weight and won’t handle the weight of the paint well. Also, if it gets wet, it falls apart. Try to use standard frame sizes so the recipient can easily get their scroll framed if they want: 5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 12×16, 16×20, 18×24, 20×24, 24×30, or 24×36).
Paint Brushes
I have and use this set (in fact I have 3 sets of these). I purchased mine from Amazon about $12.50 Golden Maple Detail Paint Brushes Set 10pcs Miniature Brushes for Fine Detailing & Art Painting – Acrylic, Watercolor, Oil, Models
You are free to buy and use what you like.
Gilding
Gold prices sure fluctuate with it seems a new hourly new price.
I have used all these different gilding items.
I have also used 23kt paint for gold, and silver paint as well.
Shell gold 0.40 grams is about $83.00 and 2.5 Grams will start at $385.00
Shell Silver 8 grams about $135.00
This was from July 2025 prices.
Gold Leaf and Size adhesive I mean
I like to use edible gold leaf you can look around. My preferred size of squares is the 3 by 3 inch. There are 1 by 1 and 2 by 2 but depending on how much you are gilding the larger square at least for me is better.
I like instacol for the adhesive the yellowish mustard shade. The is a bottle of whiteish which is used when the yellow stuff needs reactivated.
You also can use “gesso”. You can get tablets and grind it up or already made in a liquid bottle, already to use. It stinks to me. It is used mainly for canvas prep, but works for gilding.
Silver Leaf with tarnish stopper. Be careful this stuff will take your skin off, ummm experience nuff said.
Silver is also edible. If you eat enough, we can call you Smurf, you will turn blue. No, I am telling you the truth here!
Shell Silver 8 grams about $135.00
Please use what is in your personal budget on these items. You can get imitation gold/silver leaf, I have some and I practice with it.
Typographical Conventions
Capital and lower-case letters shall be used . Text enclosed between angle brackets is a substitution variable. This means that you will replace it with the appropriate value; i.e., if the sample text reads “We, Baron and Baroness, do …”, you would substitute the names of the Baronage who gave the award. Text enclosed between square brackets and separated by slashes […/…/…] is a selection variable. For example, in a text that reads “… for [his/her] achievement …” you would select the appropriate pronoun. Text enclosed by parenthesis (…) is optional. There may be a number of different options presented here and separated by slashes. In some instances, this option text reflects a very specific usage. Vertical and horizontal spacing and line width are at the discretion of the scribe. The scribe/illuminator should sign or mark the scroll, very discretely on the face; a small maker’s mark in the border illumination is best. On the back of the scroll, he or she should date and sign the document with their SCA name, title and group (date and event may also be placed) scroll recipients want to know who prepared their scroll.
Fixing a Mistake
Scraping & burnishing hot press watercolor paper is similar to scraping parchmantine. Use a curved x-acto blade, and gently, with small quick strokes, work the area of the paper that the mistake has been made on. Take off only as much as needed to get the ink or paint off. This should only be the top little bit (or top layer) of the paper’s surface. To get the paper to accept the ink and paint without making it run or bleed, place a piece of wax paper or paper towel between the paper and the burnishing tool. Burnish (rub vigorously) the scraped area with a burnishing tool or a very smooth rock until the paper’s appearance changes from a rough surface to a smooth workable surface. This usually goes rather quickly. To restore the surface of the paper, spray it lightly with a fixative and let it dry. After it is dry, which should only take a minute or two depending on humidity, it is ready to go!
If the area that has spot that is tiny small, you can after all the ink or paint is dry drier than a desert I mean, use a dab of Titanium White paint. I have done both not sure where the x-acto goes, but I do have back up of single razor blade that is held in a protective holder.
Date Conventions
The best numbers to use on award scrolls are standard Roman numerals. You may use period Arabic numerals, but few people will be able to read them. When writing a Roman numeral, put a dot at the start and end of the number. It can be either on the base line or at mid-minim height. A descending j stroke was sometimes made for the last I in the numeral, but not using it is also correct. The SCA calendar year begins on May 1.
Starter Tips for the Budding Scribe
Sketch in pencil first: Not because you will follow it perfectly, but because it gives you permission to change your mind.
Start with pencil if not comfortable in going straight to ink
Start with the heartbeat of the scroll: your calligraphy
You may place lines so you can write on them, so your words are straight. Makes me feel like I am back in kindergarten with those line tablets.
Begin with your calligraphy while the parchment is flat and pristine—mistakes are easier to correct at this stage.
The words are the soul of the piece, and placing them on pristine parchment first ensures crisp lines and clarity. No color, no shimmer—just the quiet power of ink flowing like intention.
Once your lettering dries completely, it is time for the sparkle…
Gold Before Gouache
Apply gold leaf second: After ink dries completely, gild with care. Gold lifts the design and signals importance.
Gilding is your scroll’s crown. Apply gold leaf after your ink has settled—let it cling to chosen letters, borders, or flourishes with patience and precision. Breath control optional. Royal glow mandatory.
And only then, with ink and gold complete, we summon color.
If using gold paint instead of leaf, this is the time to apply.
Paint as Finale
Finish with paint: Backgrounds, borders, and decorative motifs come last—color brings everything to life.
Painting is now your flourish, the final dance of your brush across already declared words and already gleaming accents. It is mood-setting, emotion-layering, and edge-gilding with gouache.