The candidate and their entourage should assemble at the back of court.
Herald: In days gone by, there existed many orders of knighthood which recognized the skill and honor of their members. In the service of their King, and in the defense of the noble ideals of chivalry embodied in their Queen, did these orders achieve their exalted rank.
The Society created the Order of Chivalry, which consists equally of the Knights and Masters of Arms, to recognize outstanding martial achievement and the attainment of those qualities and abilities which are a mark of a Peer.
Members of the Order of Chivalry are mighty warriors, but they are also skilled in the arts, and have given of their time to the benefit of the common weal. As such, they have been recognized as Peers of the Realm. Their Majesties now call before them the Companions of the Order of Chivalry of the Outlands here assembled.
As an option, the members of the order may be called forward by name, in order of precedence, but this must be arranged in advance.
Members of the Order come forward and kneel, leaving an aisle.
Herald: The Crown now calls __________________________ to come before this Court and Company.
Escorting Herald: Your Majesties, Now before you comes _______________________________, <FULL AWARDS AND TITLES> who bears the arms, to wit: <BLAZON>
Their Majesties stand.
King: _________________________, have you undertaken to accept the accolade of Knighthood that was offered to you at ________________________?
Candidate: I have.
King: This greatly pleases us. Bring forth the chain.
The
new knight's chain is handed to His Majesty, who says:
This
chain has passed from knight to knight throughout the ages
in Our Kingdom.
Let it now
pass from knight to knight once again.
His Majesty hands the chain to the nearest knight.
Queen: Sir/Master/Mistress
_______________________ (Chivalry representative),
Master/Mistress ____________________, (Laurel
representative),
Master/Mistress ___________________,
(Pelican representative),
< OPTIONAL> _______________________,
(Royal Peer representative),
as members of the
Peerage, do you now affirm that ___________________
has grown in
gentle virtue and
chivalrous
grace, the hallmarks of a true and faithful Peer?
Chivalry Rep.: Replies
in their own fashion, or says:
May it please
my Liege and Lady to know that having heard the counsel
of my Peers,
and
from my
own certain knowledge,
I am able to affirm that __________________ is a
chivalrous
[gentleman/lady] whose achievements on the field
of honor have been matched by
[his/her] courtesy and concern for all of Your Majesties'
subjects.
Laurel Rep.: Replies
in their own fashion, or says:
Your Majesties,
of my own certain knowledge I am able to affirm
that _____________________
has demonstrated
[his/her]
abilities in the arts and encouraged their practice
in Your
Majesties' Kingdom.
Pelican
Rep.: Replies in their own fashion, or says:
Your
Majesties, of my own
certain knowledge I am
able to affirm that _____________________
has
given freely of [his/her]
time in support of many
worthy projects in Your
Majesties' Kingdom.
<OPTIONAL> Royal Peer Rep.: Replies in their own fashion, or says:
Your Majesties, of my own certain knowledge I am able to affirm that ____________________ is a dutiful and loyal subject to Your Majesties' Crown.
King: Gentle Peers, we thank you for your wise counsel. Bring forth Lightning, the Great Sword of State.
Swordbearer hands Lighting to His Majesty, who holds it so Her Majesty and the Candidate can support it.
(The Candidate can either state their oaths in full, or answer as scripted below:)
King: ______________________________, you have been deemed fit for this high estate by your peers, and have indicated your willingness to accept this honor from Our hands. Do you now swear by all that you hold sacred, true, and holy that you will honor and defend the Crown and Kingdom of the Outlands?
Candidate: I will.
Queen: That you will honor, defend, and protect all ladies, and those weaker than yourself?
Candidate: I will.
King: That you will be courteous and honor your peers, of the Chivalry, and of the Laurel, and of the Pelican?
Candidate: I will.
Queen: That you will conduct yourself in all matters as befits a Peer, drawing your sword only for just cause? That you will enshrine in your heart the noble ideals of Chivalry to the benefit of your own good name and the greater glory of the Outlands?
Candidate: I will. Or some more elaborate response.
His Majesty takes the sword and holds it out in front of him above the candidate.
(If neither the King nor Queen is a knight, then a knight must come forward and hold the sword while the dubbing is being done, with the King (and Queen) placing [his/her] hand(s) on the Knight's hands or shoulders.)
King: Then having sworn these solemn oaths, know now that We, _________________ and ___________________, by right of arms, King and Queen of the Outlands, do dub you with Our sword, Lightning, and by all that you hold sacred, true, and holy... Once for Honor... Twice for Duty... Thrice for Chivalry... Arise, Sir _________________!
His Majesty hands Lightning back to the swordbearer. The white belt is handed to Her Majesty.
Queen: Accept this white belt, symbolizing the purity of your honor, the sign of the Order of Chivalry, and of your knightly rank and station.
Her Majesty ties the belt around the new knight's waist.
The chain is handed to His Majesty.
King: Accept from Our hands this chain, passed from knight to knight, for each knight is a link in the honor of Our Kingdom. It symbolized your fealty to Crown and Kingdom. Take this chain and swear.
His Majesty holds the chain out to the new knight between his hands. The knight grasps the chain with both hands and swears the Oath of Fealty.
Knight: Speaks
[his/her] own
words or
the following,
with prompting
from the
herald:
This
day do
I render
homage and
fealty to
my Sovereign
Lord and
Lady, _______________
and _____________
by Right
of Arms,
King and
Queen of
the Outlands,
who will,
from this
day forward,
be my
Liege Lord
and Lady.
I will
remain true
in all
ways, serving
them faithfully
- this
do I
swear, by
my belt
and chain
and by
my honor
and by
the high
ideals which
I hold
as a
Knight of
this Realm.
So say
I, _____________________.
King: We accept your homage and fealty and pledge to you that from this day forward until the end of Our Reign you are Our Liege [man/woman] that We will honor your order and defend your rights as a Peer, and that We will protect the trust that you have placed in Us, mighty with justice, tempered with mercy.
His Majesty holds up the chain.
King: Accept this chain, which shall symbolize your duty and your bond as a Liegeman in fealty to the Crown of the Outlands. Never forget the burden of this chain.
His Majesty places the chain around the knight's neck.
If there is a sword being presented, use the following:
If there are spurs, then use the following:King: Accept this sword, which shall symbolize your prowess at arms. Remember well: that the sword of the Chivalry should be drawn only in defense of the realm, or of those weaker than yourself. Wear it with care. Wield it with mercy.
His Majesty presents the sword to the new Master, belts it on, etc.
King: Bring forth the spurs.
Spur-bearer (or King): In former times, knights rode forth to mete out justice in the name of the Crown. Accept these spurs which symbolize your devotion to the high ideals of Chivalry and Justice. Wear them honorably and proudly and may they never be hacked off in shame or degradation.
Spurs are affixed to the knight's heels.
King: Let this be the last blow you receive unanswered.
His Majesty delivers a mighty buffet.
King: Let the scroll be read!
Herald: Reads the scroll or text below:
To
all
nobles
and
gentles
to whom
these
present
letters
shall
come.
_______________
and
_______________,
King
and
Queen
of
the Outlands,
send
greetings.
Whereas
______________________
has
shown
excellence
in [his/her]
feats
on
the
field
of honour,
rendering
high
and
noble
service
to
the
Crown
and
Kingdom
in war
and in
peace,
We
are
minded
to elevate
[him/her]
to
the rank
of Knight
of the
Society
for
Creative
Anachronism.
We do
hereby
elevate
and
affirm
those
Arms
previously
granted
by the
College
of
Arms
by
these
Letters
Patent,
to
wit: <BLAZON> which
[Sir/Dame]
_________________
shall
hold
for
[his/her] sole
and
unique
use throughout
the
Known
World. To
which
We
set Our
hands
this
___ day
of
___________,
Anno Societatis
____,
being
______ Gregorian.
_______________,
King
______________,
Queen
King: Go now, and greet your Peers!
Herald: For [Sir/Dame] _________________, HIP, HIP.....(3 cheers).