Calon Cross for THL William Douglas

Text by Master Mathurin Kerbusso, Calligraphy and Illumination by Lady Ayisha bint Asad

Calon Cross Scroll for William Douglas

As word-fame is woven
by works and by wonders,
Who labors in lord’s hall
is a pearl of great price.
Lo the keeper of keys,
falcon-perch of the people.
Proved is the good man by
the love of his lady

Acolyte of Egil,
the wielder of wound-reeds.
Mead-worthy the marshal,
Field-steward of flax-pole.
But best is the bearer
of wands of the willow
to lessen the lacking
of those with the bow-thirst

A maker of money
well-marked is his merit.
Good guild-man of graving
the bright dew of Draupnir.
Full four has he fashioned
Crown-gild of bright coinage.
No hire nor no barter
Save his fealty fulfilled.

Well-honed are the wound-fires
blood-dewed from the battle.
Well skilled in the steel-dance
and doughty is Douglas.
Good, too, as the teacher,
sword-tender, helm-bringer,
and bearer of baton
on the field of the fray

Now told is the tally,
the were-gild of William.
The Khan pays in purple,
Qatan in bright wave-flame;
the Cross of the Khanate,
for neck-ring and parchment.
In the waning of winter,
the ebb of the Men’s Month.