HERALD: CHECK WITH THE ROYALTY BEFORE TALKING TO THE CANDIDATE. This may be a surprise peerage, and if so, you could spoil the surprise by talking to the candidate first.
Before the ceremony, the following items need to be assembled or arranged:
The Order of the Pelican are responsible for:
The Candidate is responsible for:
The Heralds are responsible for (talk to the candidate if not a surprise):
Herald: The strength and stability of the Kingdom lie in these virtues of its people: chivalry, creativity, and service - for if any of these are lacking, the Kingdom fails. The servants of the Crown support it by their efforts and with their dedication preserve the Kingdom from Extinction.
Let the Members of the Order of the Pelican attend upon Their Majesties.
(The Members of the Order, saving only the Spokesman and the Attendant, approach and kneel in a semi-circle. All should be wearing their cloaks, if they have them. The Spokesman and Attendant should borrow them if they do not have personal cloaks.)
King: We are minded to admit name to your Right Noble Order. Let [him | her] now be brought forth.
Herald: Let name be brought before Their Majesties.
(The Spokesman and Attendant go to the Candidate, who is standing at the back of Court. If the candidate wishes a procession, then the candidate and procession shall come forward instead. The candidate comes forward flanked by the Spokesman and Attendant, both of whom are Members of the Order. The Candidate kneels, as does the Attendant. The Spokesman turns slightly to face the populace.)
King: [Master | Mistress] Spokesman, let all know in what manner name has enriched Our Realm.
(Here will answer the Spokesman, giving the reasons why the Candidate would be a suitable Member of the Order. This speech may be altered in many ways to suit the specific Candidate, but should always include the final phrase below.)
Spokesman: name has given greatly of [his | her] labors {for x many years} as (position), {and has given other service in (area(s) of service)}, and has encouraged others to like service by word and deed, {(and has especially benefitted the Kingdom by (specific example),)} and further has governed [him | herself] in all ways as befits a Member of our Order.
Herald: The strength and stability of the Kingdom lie in these virtues of its people: chivalry, creativity, and service - for if any of these are lacking, the Kingdom fails. The servants of the Crown support it by their efforts and with their dedication preserve the Kingdom from Extinction.
Let the Members of the Order of the Pelican attend upon Their Majesties.
(The Members of the Order, saving only the Spokesman and the Attendant, approach and kneel in a semi-circle. All should be wearing their cloaks, if they have them. The Spokesman and Attendant should borrow them if they do not have personal cloaks.)
King: What business have you before us?
(Spokesperson shall stand and say,)
Spokesperson: Your Majesty, we, the Companions of the Order of the Pelican of the West feel our numbers are not complete, and that there is one here present whose honor and service entitles [him | her] to recognition as our Peer.
King: We are agreed. Go forth and bring the candidate to Us.
(The spokesperson shall turn, with attendants, and with some indirection, search the assembled populace. Then they shall find the Candidate and bring him/her before the King.)
Spokesman: We here present name for Your Majesty's consideration as a Candidate for membership in Our order.
King: You have spoken with Us of [him | her] before. We are in agreement that [he | she] is worthy of Membership in your noble Order.
King: [Master | Mistress] Spokesman, let all know in what manner name has enriched Our Realm.
(Here will answer the Spokesman, giving the reasons why the Candidate would be a suitable Member of the Order. This speech may be altered in many ways to suit the specific Candidate, but should always include the final phrase below.)
Spokesman: name has given greatly of [his | her] labors {for x many years} as (position), {and has given other service in (area(s) of service)}, and has encouraged others to like service by word and deed, {(and has especially benefitted the Kingdom by (specific example),)} and further has governed [him | herself] in all ways as befits a Member of our Order.
Herald: You do not have Their Majesties' permission to depart.
Herald: The strength and stability of the Kingdom lie in these virtues of its people: chivalry, creativity, and service - for if any of these are lacking, the Kingdom fails. The servants of the Crown support it by their efforts and with their dedication preserve the Kingdom from Extinction.
Let the Members of the Order of the Pelican attend upon Their Majesties.
(The Members of the Order, saving only the Spokesman and the Attendant, approach and kneel in a semi-circle. All should be wearing their cloaks, if they have them. The Spokesman and Attendant should borrow them if they do not have personal cloaks.)
King: We are minded to admit name to your Right Noble Order.
King: [Master | Mistress] Spokesman, let all know in what manner name has enriched Our Realm.
(Here will answer the Spokesman, giving the reasons why the Candidate would be a suitable Member of the Order. This speech may be altered in many ways to suit the specific Candidate, but should always include the final phrase below.)
Spokesman: name has given greatly of [his | her] labors {for x many years} as (position), {and has given other service in (area(s) of service)}, and has encouraged others to like service by word and deed, {(and has especially benefitted the Kingdom by (specific example),)} and further has governed [him | herself] in all ways as befits a Member of our Order.
Herald: Spokesman, come before Their Majesties!
(Here will answer the Spokesman, giving the reasons why the Candidate would be a suitable Member of the Order. This speech may be altered in many ways to suit the specific Candidate, but should always include the final phrase below.)
Spokesman: name has given greatly of [his | her] labors {for x many years} as (position), {and has given other service in (area(s) of service)}, and has encouraged others to like service by word and deed, {(and has especially benefitted the Kingdom by (specific example),)} and further has governed [him | herself] in all ways as befits a Member of our Order.
King: We are minded to admit name to your Right Noble Order. Let [him | her] now be brought forth.
Herald: Let name be brought before Their Majesties.
(The Spokesman and Attendant go to the Candidate, who is standing at the back of Court. If the candidate wishes a procession, then the candidate and procession shall come forward instead. The candidate comes forward flanked by the Spokesman and Attendant, both of whom are Members of the Order. The Candidate kneels, as does the Attendant. The Spokesman turns slightly to face the populace.)
Herald: The strength and stability of the Kingdom lie in these virtues of its people: chivalry, creativity, and service - for if any of these are lacking, the Kingdom fails. The servants of the Crown support it by their efforts and with their dedication preserve the Kingdom from Extinction.
Let the Members of the Order of the Pelican attend upon Their Majesties.
(The Members of the Order, saving only the Spokesman and the Attendant, approach and kneel in a semi-circle. All should be wearing their cloaks, if they have them. The Spokesman and Attendant should borrow them if they do not have personal cloaks.)
King: name, mindful of your great
and unremitting service to Our Kingdom,
and mindful also of the wishes of your Peers,
it is Our intent to admit you to the Order of the Pelican.
Will you accept from Us this honor?
Candidate: I will. (or equivalent speech)
APPRENTICE/PROTEGE
CONTINUE
King: If you are [an apprentice to | a protégé of] any member of this Order, name [him | her] now.Candidate: Your Majesty, I am [apprenticed to | protégé of] name.
Herald: [Master | Mistress] name, approach Their Majesties.
(The Pelican approaches and stands next to his/her apprentice/protégé.)
King: [Master | Mistress] name, We are minded to admit your [apprentice | protégé] name to the Order of the Pelican. Will you now release [him | her] from your service and release [him | her] from whatever fealty exists between you?
Pelican: I now release you, name, from my service [and the fealty we have had between us].
Candidate: It has been my honor and pleasure to train with you. I release you, [Master | Mistress] name, from all of the responsibilities and duties you took upon yourself when I became your [apprentice | protégé]. [I here return this token of my bond to you.]
(Candidate returns whatever token there may have been, if there was one.)
King: Will you now give Us your word
that you will henceforth comport yourself
as befits a Peer of Our Realm,
as you most surely have until now,
and that you will attempt
in all your endeavors to be
a noble example to Our people?
Candidate: I will. (or equivalent speech)
Queen: Will you promise further to treat all with Courtesy, and to uphold the Laws and traditions of Our Kingdom?
Candidate: I will. (or equivalent speech)
FEALTY
King: Will you now swear fealty to the Crown and Kingdom of the West?Candidate: I will. (or equivalent speech)
(The King and Queen either put out Their Hands, and the Candidate places his hands in them, or uses the Great Sword of State, held over Their Majesties hands, and the candidate places his/her hands on top of Their Majesties' hands and the sword.)
Herald: To your Liege and before your Peers, repeat after me:
Here do I swear
by mouth and by 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
on my honor,
and the lawful command of the Crown
in need or in plenty
in peace or in war
in living or in dying
from this hour henceforth
until the King depart from His Throne
or 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,
to protect and defend you
and all your household,
with all Our power
until We depart from Our Throne,
or 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.
(This ends the portion of the Ceremony dealing with the giving and return of fealty oaths. If the Great Sword of State was used, it should be given back into the keeping of the Earl Marshall.)
CONTINUE
King/Queen: (The King and Queen take the hands of the new Pelican between theirs (the right hand of the King and the left hand of the Queen, placing the new Pelican's hands between theirs. NOTE: If multiple candidates are being done, then this needs to be done for each.)
King: Then We now proclaim you, name,
[Master | Mistress] of the Pelican.
Queen: Receive from Our hands the token of the Order of the Pelican.
CHAIN/COLLAR OF FEALTY
CONTINUE
King/Queen: Wear this [chain | collar] in token of your fealty.
(Queen puts medallion/chain/collar around Candidate's neck.)
KINGDOM/OTHER CLOAK PRESENT
CONTINUE
King: Let name be robed as befits [his | her] new estate.(The newest Member of the Order comes forward wearing or carrying the "Kingdom" cloak, and gives it to the Attendant, who stands and places it on the Candidate.)
King: (The King takes both the new Pelican's hands in His own and raises him/her up.)
King: Arise, [Master | Mistress] name, and greet your Peers.
Herald: For [Master | Mistress] name, newest member of the Order of the Pelican, Hip, hip ...
King: Let the Proclamation be read.
Herald: (If no scroll is present, the herald shall read the appropriate of the two following texts:)
NO SCROLL - NO PRIOR PATENT
Herald: Be it known that Their Majesties, King-name and Queen-name, King and Queen of the West, do on this day elevate Their subject Pelican-name, to the Peerage of this Kingdom, and do admit [him | her] to the Right Noble Order of the Pelican. And They do grant unto [him | her] by Letters Patent these arms: Blazon, to bear and to hold without let or hinderance throughout Their Realm. Done by Our word and hand this day day of month, in the AS-Year year of the Kingdom of the West,
King-Name, Rex Occidentalis
Queen-Name, Regina
NO SCROLL - PRIOR PATENT
Be it known that Their Majesties, King-Name and Queen-Name, King and Queen of the West, do on this day elevate Their subject Pelican-name, to the Right Noble Order of the Pelican, and do confirm [his | her] right to bear [his | her] arms by Letters Patent, to wit: Blazon. Done by Our word and hand this day day of month, in the AS-Year year of the Kingdom of the West,
King-Name, Rex Occidentalis
Queen-Name, Regina
(After the proclamation or scroll has been read, the Herald will hand the promissory or scroll to the Spokesman.)