Elevation to Comital Rank (Inspiration) and Order of the Rose

Ceremonial of the Kingdom of An Tir

Version: (2022)

Entrance

At Their Majesties' command, the herald shall call forth the new count:

HERALD
, approach the Throne.

The Count/COUNTESS and their Retinue shall arrange themselves as follows:

BANNER BEARER            CORONET BEARER
                COUNT/COUNTESS Inspiration
HERALD
May it please Your Majesties,
Your loyal subject, ,
having by beauty, grace, and virtue inspired their
champion to win for them the Crown,
and having reigned and descended from the Throne,
has thus earned the title and rank of of this Realm.
They now make bold to approach Your Majesties
that they may receive the title
and be invested with the dignities of this estate.

If Letters Patent are not to be granted then skip ahead.

Crown
Let the Letters Patent be proclaimed.
HERALD
Attend these words and know that by these presents,
We, and , [Sovereigns] of An Tir,
in recognition that has reigned as [Sovereign] in Our Realm,
do hereby style them ,
and We do affirm their sole and exclusive right to bear by Letters Patent: [blazon]
and to bear above the Arms a gold embattled coronet,
the shield encircled by a wreath of alternating red hearts points to center
and red heraldic roses barbed, leaved, and seeded proper.
In witness whereof, We do set Our hand and seal,
this day of , Anno Societatis , being Gregorian.

If the new Count/Countess doesn't have registered arms, the herald shall substitute:

"We do affirm their right to bear by Letters Patent, such suitable and unique Arms as, by consulting with Us and Our heralds, they shall choose, and to bear above..."

The Coronet

Crown
Let the Coronet be brought forth.

The coronet-bearer kneels before the Crown, and then returns to their place.

If the new Count/Countess is participating, the Crown shall call them forward. Otherwise, skip ahead.

Crown
, it would please Us greatly if you would invest your Inspiration with the coronet of their new estate.

Taking the coronet from the hands of the Crown, the Count/Countess shall place it upon their Inspiration's head, saying:

COUNT/COUNTESS
As it was my delight to win for you the Crown of An Tir,
so it is today my exceeding joy to give you this coronet
of a of this Realm.

But if the Count/Countess is not participating, the Crown shall take the coronet
who placing it, shall say:

Crown
, be henceforth in this Our Realm, and wear this coronet in token of your rank.

In either case, before rising, the Count/Countess-Inspiration shall receive from the Crown a rose.

Order of the Rose

Crown
, be welcomed into the Order of the Rose,
whose token this is, and be henceforth as you have been hitherto,
a model of honor and grace to the people of this Realm.

The Crown will hand them the writ, and the herald will exhort the cheers of the people.

The Fealty

If the Count/Countess has participated in the investiture of their Inspiration, they shall then swear fealty to the Crown with them. But if they have not, then the Count/Countess-Inspiration shall swear by themselves at this time.

HERALD
, is it your desire to swear fealty to Their Majesties?
COUNT/COUNTESS
It is.

They shall kneel before the Crown, the herald saying:

HERALD
Do you now swear fealty to and ,
your undoubted [Sovereigns],
that you will obey their lawful commands in all matters that concern this Realm,
and as you have sat upon the Throne and received the oaths of the people,
do you in turn swear faith to the Crown and Kingdom of An Tir?
And, being mindful that the honor of the Realm springs from your own deeds,
do you swear that you shall treat chivalrously and courteously with those of every degree,
so long as Their Majesties remain Sovereigns of An Tir?
COUNT/COUNTESS
I so swear.
Crown 1
And We, for Our part, do swear fealty to this of An Tir,
and promise to protect and defend them and their household with all Our power,
so long as We remain Sovereigns of An Tir.
So say We, , [Sovereign] of An Tir.
Crown 2
And so say We, , [Sovereign] of An Tir.

They shall be given leave to depart and the herald will exhort the cheers of the populace.