PREPARATION: Before the ceremony, the Herald should discover the blazon of the arms of the new Count, if there is no scroll. The Herald should also determine, if the new Count/Earl is not already a peer, if he wishes to swear fealty at this time. The new Count/Earl should have gathered his escort (as described below), and have them ready at the back of Court, as this should be the first piece of business in Their Majesties' first Court.
Scroll/Promissory: Scroll of Arms, if prepared.
Token: County Coronet, if prepared.
Herald: [Count | Earl] <name>, approach the throne.
(The new Count/Earl and his honor guard shall come forward and the new Count/Earl shall present himself before the Throne. They shall make a reverance to Their Majesties.)
Spokesman/Herald: May it please Your Majesties, Your loyal subject, [Count | Earl] <name>, having by his valor, skill, and strength at arms having won the Crown of this Kingdom, and having reigned as King of the West, and thus by his own ability having earned the title and rank of [a Count | an Earl] of this Realm, makes bold to approach You, that he may receive the same title of Your Majesty.
(Then the King shall place the coronet over the head of the new Count/Earl, saying:)
King: [Sir | Master] <name>, be known henceforth as [Count | Earl] <name> in this, Our Realm.
(Places coronet on the head of the new Count/Earl, and raises him up.)
FEALTY - if the new Count/Earl is not already a Peer of the Realm, he should be offered a chance to swear fealty at this time.
King: Do you wish to swear fealty at this time?
(If the new Count wishes to swear fealty at this time, do the following fealty oath:)
Herald: To your Liege and before your peers repeat after me:
Here do I swear, by mouth and hands,
fealty and service
to the Crown and Kingdom of the West,
to speak and to be silent
to do and to let be,
to come and to go
to strike and to spare
in all matters as concern the Kingdom
upon my honor
and the lawful command of the Crown
in need or in plenty,
in peace or in war
in living or in dying,
until the King depart from His Throne
death take me, or the world end,
so say I <name>.
King: This do We hear,
nor fail to remember,
and We for Our part do swear fealty to you,
<name>, and to all your household,
to protect and defend you with all Our power,
until We depart from Our Throne,
death take us, or the world end.
So say We, <name>, King of the West.
Queen: So also say We, <name>, Queen of the West.
CONTINUE
King: Let the Herald read the Scroll of Arms.
(The Count or knight bearing the Scroll of Arms shall present it to the Herald. The Herald shall read it and then return it.)
(If there is no Scroll of Arms, the Herald shall read the text below:)
NO SCROLL PRESENT
Herald: Know by these presents that We, <King-name> and <Queen-name>, King and Queen of the West, in recognition that Our subject <name> has reigned as King in Our realm, do hereby style him [Count | Earl]. We do affirm his sole and exclusive right to bear the following Arms by Letters Patent in the Kingdom of the West. Blazon. By Our word and hand this day day of month, Anno Societatis AS-Year. <King-name>, Rex; <Queen-name> Regina.
Herald: For [Count | Earl] <name>, Hip, hip!
(The new Count/Earl shall thank the King, and the Counts in his honor guard shall congratulate him. Then the new Count/Earl and his honor guard shall stand to the side, if the person who reigned with him is being made a Countess/Duchess. Otherwise, they leave.)