Notes: The
poetry is based on a passage from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The rest of
the ceremony is based on the induction ceremony for the Order of the Golden
Fleece, translated by Ursula
Georges from the
fifteenth-century Chronique of
Jean le Fevre, Toison d'Or King of Arms.
*****
Herald:
Siegfried and Xristina,
Velikii Knyaz and Velikii Knyagina of Lord Ealdormere the Great, would hear the
petition of the Honourable Laird Colyne Stewart.
(Colyne approaches
the throne, accompanied by Mahhild (carrying a reliquary box) and Matilda
(carrying the writ)
Colyne: I saw by your letters that, by your grace and
the grace of the greatly honored companions of the honorable order of the Pelican,
I have been elected to this order and friendly company, by which I find myself
very greatly honored. This I have reverently and gratefully received and
accepted, and thank you for it from the bottom of my heart. Thus I have come
before you and present myself ready to obey and to do all that I am called to
do touching this order. (Presents the writ)
Siegfried:
(Looks over the writ) We well remember these letters, and the petition
presented by Her Grace, Adrielle
Xristina:
Today, you have been examined by your Peers and contemplated the burden of this
Order. We would call them forward and hear them bear witness to your virtues
and readiness for this burden.
Herald:
The most noble Order of the Pelican is asked to attend Their Majesties.
(Pelicans come forward)
Siegfried:
Good Companions of the Pelican, we ask that you attend and hear of the
candidate’s virtues, and then we would hear your decision.
Herald
(or maybe Nicolaa):
He bears arms of shining gules and argent,
with the fox counterchanged painted there in richest
hues.
Recalls his lineage, from grace descended
A fox’s jamb, a pen sustaining for his sigil.
And why the fox applies to that laird noble,
I intend to tell, though I tarry more than I
should.
The fox, fair cunning and full of wit,
Tenacious in token of truth, by the title that he
has,
Seven virtues fire the feisty fox:
Franchise in proud bearing, Fortitude, slayer of
sloth,
Humility, purgative of Pride, Temperance, the
middle path;
Justice, giving each his worth; Honesty in word,
And Courage, great strength of heart
For so it accords with this laird and his bright
arms,
Steadily sure in seven ways,
Colyne was for good known, and, as shining silver,
void of every villainy, with virtues adorned
all, so.
And so the fox changed thus
he bore on shield and coat,
as sigil of faith and trust
and gentlest laird of note.
Let His Grace Nigel speak to the virtue
of Franchise
Let Maestra Jocelyn speak to the virtue
of Fortitude
Let Mistress Keja speak to the virtue
of Humility
Let Master Berend and Baroness Matilda
speak to the virtue of Temperence
Let Magistra Nicolaa speak to the
virtue of Justice
Let Her Grace Adrielle
speak to the virtue of Honesty
Let the Honourable Lady Thorfinna speak
to the virtue of Courage
(once all have spoken)
Xristina:
(to the Order): Good Companions of our
Order of the Pelican, having heard these words, do you support the elevation of
Laird Colyne to your Order?
(Pelicans respond)
Siegfried:
(to Colyne) Good Laird Colyne, hearing these words, are you willing to accept
this accolade?
(Colyne responds)
Herald: The Crown and companions of the order, since they
have heard say so much good about you, hoping that you will persevere and
increase these deeds to the exaltation and honor of the order of the Pelican,
and to your merit, praise and exaltation and recommendation, have elected you
to be perpetually companion of this order and friendly company. Wherefore, you
must make the oaths which follow, upon relics of your ancestral home and of the
founding of the Society, to be witnessed by all.
(The reliquary is presented, to be held
by TRM)
Will you, by your loyal power, you will
aid and guard, sustain and defend the high lordship and rights of the Crown, so
long as you shall live and belong to the Order of the Pelican?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
Will you, with all your power, work and
labor to maintain the Order of the Pelican in a state of honor, and take pain
to increase its honor without suffering it to decay or change, as far as you are
able to remedy?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
Will you, if it should happen (God
prevent!) that some fault is found in you whereby, according to the
constitution of this present order you should be removed and dismissed, and
summoned and required to return the sigil of the Order, you, in this case will
return it sound and entire to the Crown?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
Will you bear peacibly and complete all
other pains, punishments, or corrections, which for other lesser cases you are
charged with or enjoined to by the order again without having or holding any
rancor or hate toward the Crown?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
Will you come to and appear at the
chapters and assemblies of the order, or send word according to the statutes
and ordinances of said order; and that you will obey the Crown, or their
delegates, in all reasonable matters touching and regarding the duty and
affairs of this order?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
By your loyal power will you understand
and carry out all the statutes, ordinances, articles and points of order which
you have seen written or heard read, and these promised you swear in general
and at the same time particularly and on each point you make a special oath.?
(Colyne responds “Upon my honour, I
will”)
Xristina:
We have heard your words, and would receive you into this Order Stand ready to receive the regalia.
Herald:
Bring forth the medallion of the Order of the Pelican
(Kol will bring forward the medallion,
say something about the lineage, and give it to Xristina.
Xristina:
(placing the medallion around Colyne’s neck: Good Maister, the order receives
you to its friendly company, and as a sign of this, presents you with this medallion.
Herald:
Bring forth the livery of the Order.
(Coat and hood will be brought forward
by Adrielle and given to Siegfried and Xristina, who will help bestow it.
Siegfried:
Likewise, wear this livery, symbol of
the burden you bear.
Xristina:
May you wear it able to wear it long to the praise and service of the Kingdom,
growth and honor of the order, of your merits and good name.
Siegfried:
You have given us your oath. We would also have your fealty.
(Sword of state is brought forward for
the oath)
I here
swear fealty,
To the Crown of the North
With oaths given and received
I shall serve the realm,
Through word and deed I shall speak true,
And act truer. I lend my hands and my heart,
And this solemn oath
As a Companion of your Order of the Pelican
To the Crown of the North
With oaths given and received
I shall serve the realm,
Through word and deed I shall speak true,
And act truer. I lend my hands and my heart,
And this solemn oath
As a Companion of your Order of the Pelican
Thus
swear I….
Crown
responds as it will.
Herald: Hear now the words of the Crown (reads
scroll)
To all Ealdormere's faithful people who
shall see these letters, Siegfried, King and Xristina Queen, in the presence of
Our noble and powerful Dukes and Duchess, Counts, Earls and Countesses, Barons
and Baronesses, Masters, Laurels,
Pelicans, Knights and their squires, ladies and lords, and all in the future as
well as the present, We greet you on this Feast of the Annunciation this 25th
day in the month of March in the 51st
year of our society, in our beloved lands of Caldrithig, a place
suitable and convenient for this.
We will and do grant by these Letters
Patent, for us, our heirs and successors, with the common advice, assent and
consent of many nobles, including Our beloved companions of the Order of the
Pelican, giving with sincere
intent, induction unto Colyne Stewart
into the Order of the Pelican, for he has performed exemplary and long-standing
service to Canton, Barony and Kingdom as historian, scribe and officer, always
as one who provides an example of courtesy worthy of emulation. We do create and advance him to the title and
degree of Maister of the most noble Order of the Pelican, to be in all places
of honor numbered a Peer of Our Realm, with all right, privileges, insignia,
precedence, and responsibilities thereto appertaining. We affirm by these Letters Patent his right
to bear the arms per pale gules and argent, a fox rampant counterchanged. In
token whereof, We grant him the privilege of displaying above his shield, in
whole or in part, the achievement proper to the Order: to wit, a cap of
maintenance gules trimmed argent plumetty gules, the whole goutty de sang.
We wishing to recognize his devotion
and goodwill and on account of such faithful service and loyalty do establish by this his present charter, to Colyne Stewart, that land called
in the vernacular Drews End, to hold of
him in feu and heritage with all its just perinents, as contained by the King's
Highway to the north, thence west and
south along the Crossroad Creek , thence east along coast till it comes to the Royal Forrest of Beaton
, thence north over the fen back to the King's Highway. Such lands shall belong to our ally and
friend, whole, free and undisturbed in perpetuity, without any kind of
subjection, service claim or demand, with liberty of fishing in the loch and
with liberties in the forest of Beaton.
And wheresoever any letters, charters, deeds or instruments may be
discovered bearing upon obligations, conventions and compacts of this nature,
We will that they be deemed cancelled, invalid, of no effect and void, and of
no value or moment.
If any, however, should try, against
Our wishes, to harm this charter, through the spite of oppressive covetousness,
may they, falling down to the swirling masses of noisome darkness, be cursed,
into everlasting fire, where they may be tormented in a cruel punishment by
demons with heated iron instruments of torture if they do not change this
before their death with appropriate penitence.
That the certainty of foreknowing may
give true and clear remembrance of the past and to that it is forever to be known, this shall be
executed in manuscript and be proclaimed
in the Barony of Caldrithig bearing the seal of the Crown, together with the
seals of the Ducal house of
Arrochar.
Dated this 25th of the month
of March in the 51st year of our society
in the reign of Siegfried and Xristina.
Xristina: Arise, Maister Colyne, and greet the
companions of your Order.
Herald:
For Maister Colyne Stewart, Companion
of the Pelican, Wassail!
For the Order of the Pelican, Wassail!
For the Crown and Kingdom of
Ealdormere, Wassail!
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