Petronill of Seashire

Persona

Raised in a household focused on printing, Petronill of Seashire’s family was in France in the early 1500s so her father could learn some of the latest techniques from one of the houses there. Petronill eventually married into another printing family, continuing to work on printing, focused on ephemera like playing cards and bulletins. She is currently working on a deck of cards representing the heraldry of a little known group. Petronill believes that she saw a sea hare on her trip to England from France, even though they are not known to frequent the Channel and thinks it must signify something.

The following will continue to be expanded and altered as the Persona research develops.

Petronill began life in England in 1527. She was often called Petronilla (the Latin form of the name), especially when she lived in France. Her name was fairly common at the time (and was throughout the medieval period in many areas). Saint Petronilla was a very popular saint known for her chastity. She was born in England on one of the minor printing streets. Her father was not the first son and when he had an opportunity to work for Yolande Bonhomme at the Unicorn in Paris, he jumped at the chance and moved the whole family. As a child one of her principal tasks was tending to the ink balls. Petronill always thought of this as a punishment because she’d knocked the vat of urine over when she was extremely little but all the children had to do it. She’d also clean ink off the plates and hang paper to dry. She’d draw whenever she was able or play with the other printers’ children.

Printers are a tight-knit group. Her mother, Agnes Higham, was an outsider. She came from Dartford (which was a pilgrimage stop and market town) and, more importantly, and sadly she was not from a printing family. In the 1520s printing wasn’t all that well established in England and it is not terribly surprising that Thomas Seel (Petronill’s dad) was not able to marry into another printing family since he wasn’t expected to inherit the business. Still, she was quick to learn French and thus found life in Paris easier than she’d expected. They had three children (John, the oldest, Petronill, and Hester) and one miscarriage.

While they were in France Petronill got to see two of the best printing shops in the world in operation. Both happened to be run by women. Her dad worked for Bonhomme and just down the street was Charlotte Guillard.

When Thomas inherited the printing after the death of his parents and his brother the family returned to England. Thomas still nominally runs the shop (he’s 81) but really, it is John who’s in charge now. Petronill married another printer who lives in the same part of London. They were never blessed with children but some of the family, especially nephews, are apprenticed to them from time to time. Petronill still publishes in her own name, following French custom. Petronill loves the artistic side of the business and likes to create wood cuts and etchings. She would very much like to expand into publishing of works by natural philosophers.

Alternate Persona

Cerridwen of Seashire is an early-period Celt in love with illumination and specifically Celtic knotwork. She has largely retired but may still show up occasionally.

Whereabouts

Petronill currently resides in the Canton of Caldrithig, within the Barony of Skraeling Althing.

Heraldry

Device: Gules, seven lozenges three, three, and one Or.
Badge: (Fieldless) A cross couped sable.
Badge: (Fieldless) A sea-hare argent maintaining a strawberry proper.
Motto: EMBRACE THE POWER OF AND
Supporter: A sea-hare argent

Some notes on this heraldry:

The Laurel commented on the device that, “This arrangement of charges, with the number explicitly blazoned, is found in the arms of the Earls of Winchester, mid-13th C.” This is thanks to the work of heralds who look at period exemplars.

The proposed blazon for the sea-hare badge was much more complicated than proved necessary (Petronill had originally proposed “A sea-hare erect argent, maintaining in its paws a strawberry proper.”) The sea-hare represents the sea-dragon of her first shire and the hare of her current barony.

While neither mottos or supporters are registerable, they are important heraldic elements in many areas and time periods in the SCA. They are provided here for information and for the benefit of scribes and others who might want to know.

Offices and Appointments

Current Office

Petronill currently holds no offices.

Past Offices

Seneschal - Barony of Skraeling Althing
Signet - Barony of Skraeling Althing (possibly it was Deputy Signet for the Kingdom… it was a long time ago.)
Pursuivant - Barony of Skraeling Althing

SCA History

SCA life began as Cerridwen in Seashire (East Kingdom) before it was even part of a Barony in 1986 (AS XXI). She was quickly attracted to all things A&S (except sewing, never sewing) but especially illumination, cooking, and dancing. After a time Cerridwen moved from Seashire to the Shire of the Ile du Dragon Dormant and took on the by-name of “Seashire” to recognize her past and in keeping with some medieval naming customs. Cerridwen eventually moved to Caldrithig. As interests moved to later and later time periods with a greater interest in period accuracy, including a documentable name, it became time to change persona. Petronill was born. Petronill maintains “of Seashire” even though it is not historically accurate to her time period because she believes that connections to history are important. Cerridwen has been known to say that you can take the girl out of the East Kingdom but you cannot take the East Kingdom out of the girl. Should Petronill ever leave Ealdormere, she will likely say the same about her current home.

Both Petronill and Cerridwen, if present at a Feast, will try to spend at least some time in the kitchen and, failing that, gate. Recent interest in Heraldry tables and entering competitions has curtailed that somewhat.