Still alive, taking requests

 It's been a while since I've updated here.  Just posting to let you know (a) I'm still alive and (b) if there are specific kinds of texts people would like to see, please let me know.

I've used King and Queen throughout the sample texts.  Obviously these titles can be replaced by those preferred by the particular monarchs.

Leave a comment if there's something you'd like to see added to the sample texts.

Two Very Simple Tyger's Cub Texts

Mistress Leonete d'Angely asked me this weekend to draft two very simple Tyger's Cub (youth award) texts, suitable for being worked on by two 11-year old students of hers.   Her wish is, of course, my command.


[first name] the King and [first name] the Queen to our faithful [recipient name].  Word has reached our ears that you bear yourself with grace and courtesy and have enriched our Kingdom with your deeds.  Because we value such things highly, we hereby endow you with the Order of the Tyger's Cub, so that all may know your worth.  Done upon [date] at [place where event is].

----------------------------------------

By [first name] the King.  By [first name] the Queen.  Let it be known to all persons who see or hear these words that we find much that is good and noble in our subject [recipient name].  So that everyone may know the esteem in which we hold the said [recipient's first name], we hereby endow [him/her] with the Order of the Tyger's Cub.  Done upon [date] at [place where event is].


Both of these can easily be modified to add more detail if appropriate.   In the first, after the words "with your deeds," insert "most especially _________" and then describe something notable the person did or does.   You can do a similar thing after the first [recipient name] in the second text.

Another way to add more detail and personalization is to add a sentence giving the recipient permission to wear the badger of the Order upon his or her person.  The Tyger's Cub badge is blazoned: Or, a tyger sejant azure, its forepaws resting on a torteau.

Finally, you can expand these texts (or really, any text) by endowing the recipient not only with the award, but with "all rights and privileges appertaining thereto."

Simple Writ for the Peerage

As writs are becoming more and more common for upcoming Peerages, I thought this was a good addition to my stable of simple scroll wordings.


[given name] the King and [given name] the Queen unto [recipient's full name], greetings.  Having ordained and commanded our court to be assembled in the city of [local group of event where elevation is to be held] upon [date when elevation is to be held], we hereby command and direct that you appear there in that same place personally to answer the question of whether you will accept elevation to the Order of [peerage].  So ordered upon [date] at [place].

Simple Text for a Burdened Tyger

I admit that I kind of hate the "suggested" wording for Order of the Burdened Tyger scrolls found in the old Scribes' Handbook.   Here is my suggestion for more period wording:

Whereas liberality and hospitality are among the first virtues, essential to the good of Our Realm and Our people; and whereas [recipient] demonstrated and conveyed such excellent liberality and hospitality as [steward/cook/function] of [event name]; and whereas We are moved to reward the said [recipient's first name] for his/her labors; Therefore, We, [king’s first name] and [queen’s first name], King and Queen of the East, do by these present letters induct the said [recipient’s first name] into the Order of the Burdened Tyger, with all rights, privileges and duties appertaining thereto.  Done on [date] at [place].

Simple Text for King's or Queen's Cypher

With many Crowns deciding to give out scrolls rather than tokens as their Cyphers, I've been asked several times how such scrolls should be worded.   Obviously, a personalized text is ideal, but since Cyphers are often done on very very short notice, here is an example that can be personalized if there is time:

[King's first name/Queen's first name], to all those whom these present letters shall see or shall hear, greetings.  Considering the manifold labors and travails that we have charged our servant [recipient] to undertake in our name and for the greater glory of our person; and the said [recipient's first name] having borne such burdens with constancy, faith, honor, fortitude and forbearance; We are therefore moved to bestow upon the said [recipient's firest name] our Cypher.  Done upon this [date], in the [number] year of the Society, at [place].

Text for a martial award

Whereas as the practice of the arts martial is a matter dear and close to our hearts, and whereas [recipient] has become renown for his/her practice of the arts of [martial art]; and whereas the said [recipient given name only] has shown him/herself to be in all ways fit and deserving of such honors as are within Our powers to bestow; Therefore We, [King's first name] Rex and [Queen's first name] Regina, do hereby induct the said [recipient's given name only] into the Order of  [name].  Done upon [day] [month] in the [number] year of the Society, in [local group].

Text for a Silver Wheel or Silver Crescent (or anything else service-oriented)

[King's first name] and [Queen's first name], King and Queen of the East, to all and singular unto whom these our letters shall come, greetings.  Forasmuch as [recipient's full name] has shown him/herself to be a good right and honorable man/lady given to hearty labors and untiring service, and forasmuch as his/her sundry works and labors have been made manifest to us by good report of our people, and forasmuch as we are charged by law and custom with bestowing honors upon those of our subjects who do such deeds, we do therefore bestow upon the said [recipient's given name only] the Order of the [name], the
which reward s/he shall enjoy from this day forward unhindered and inviolate.  Done upon [day] [month] in the [number] year of the Society, in [local group].

Texts for a Court Barony (with a Grant of Arms)

By [King's given name] the King.  By [Queen's given name] the Queen.   Know that our faithful [recipient] has rendered good, valuable and notable services for the benefit of ourselves and our realm.  Therefore, that these good deeds will not be forgotten, by these present letters, we do give, grant and confirm unto the said [recipient's] the status and renown of a Baron/ess of our Court.  And we do further, by our will, grant the said [recipient's first name] arms in the form following: [blazon], to be borne by him/her hereafter freely, fully, wholly, honorably, well and in peace. Done upon [date] in the [number] year of the Society, in [place]. 


-----------------------------------------


Let it be it known to the present age and to future generations of Our subjects, that We, [King's given name] and [Queen's given name], Rex et Regina, find [recipient] to be deserving of such honors and tokens as are within Our singular authority to bestow, most especially in the matter of [something the recipient has done].   Therefore, in recognition of said deeds, and wishing always to acknowledge the said [recipient's given name]'s worth, and for the love we bear him/her, We do by these present letters elevate the said [recipient's given name] to the estate of a Baron/ess of our Court and do further Grant unto the said [given name only] Arms fit to reflect his/her new station, the said arms being: [blazon].  We have caused the present letters to be marked with our ensigns manual upon [day] [month] in the [number] year of the Society, in [local group].

Still more simple AoA texts

By [King's first name] the King and [Queen's first name] the Queen.  To our faithful [recipient], right trusty and well-beloved we greet you well.   Know that your actions, deeds and labors on behalf of the realm find great favor in our sight. Therefore, as symbol and token of your merit, we do by these present letters award you Arms as follows: [blazon].  Done upon [date] in [place].

--------------------------------------


[King's first name], King of the East, and [Queen's first name] his Queen, to all to whom the present letters shall come, greetings and every good thing.  Let it be known to all that our subject [recipient] is of good and noble character, and has distinguished him/herself by good works.  That these good works be not forgotten, we do now Award unto the said [recipient's first name] such Arms as are just fitting and proper: [blazon].  Enacted at [place] upon [date].

-----------------------------------


We, [King's first name] and [Queen's first name], King and Queen of the East, by advice and good deliberation of our council, find it meet to endow our servant [recipient] with such rewards as are just, fitting and proper for one of his/her nobility, bearing and good works.  Thus we do by these present letters award the said [recipient] Arms.  So ordered by our hand and signs manual upon [date] in [place].




Note:  These all assume that the recipient has a registered device.  If s/he does not, remove the reference to the blazon and substitute something like this sentence:

We further instruct [recipient's given name] to consult with our heralds forthwith to determine fitting Arms in metal and color.

Very simple AoA texts

For someone who has registered a device:

[King's given name], King of the East, and [Queen's given name], the Queen, to the good persons of all our land greeting.  Know that, in recompense and satisfaction for his/her notable deeds, we hereby award unto our trusty and well-beloved [recipient] the following arms: [blazon].  Done upon [date] in the [number] year of the Society, in [place].

----------------------------------------------------

Everyone present and future should know seeing the present page that we, [King's first name], by right of arms King of the East, and [Queen's first name], by the same right the Queen, have caused Arms to be awarded unto [recipient] for his/her good and notable services to our realm; and we further have instructed and ordained that the said [recipient's first name] shall bear the following Arms freely and perpetually: [blazon].   Done upon [day] in the [number] year of the Society in [location].

---------------------------------------------------

[King's first name] the King and [Queen's first name] the Queen, to all whom these letters should come, greetings.  You should know that we have given and awarded in perpetuity to [recipient] the right to bear the following Arms: [blazon].  That this award, justly and legally done, may remain undisturbed in the future, we have had this document marked with the protection of our ensigns manual for the force of perpetual authority.  Done upon [day] in the [number] year of the Society in [location].







For someone who doesn't have a device registered at the time of their AoA, there is also these options:

[King's given name], King of the East, and [Queen's given name], the Queen, to the good persons of all our land greeting.  Know that, in recompense and satisfaction for his/her notable deeds, we hereby award unto our trusty and well-beloved  [recipient] such arms in metal and color appropriate to his/her station and instruct him/her to consult with our heralds forthwith.  Done upon [date] in the ____ year of the Society, in [place].

--------------------------------------


Let it be known to the present as well as the future that We, [King's first name], illustrious king of the East and [Queen's first name] our queen, hereby award Arms in metal and color unto our good and honorable subject [recipient] and instruct him/her to consult with our heralds forthwith.  We enforce this award by the present writing, lest any challenge might arise to it in the future.  Done upon [day] in the [number] year of the Society in [location].

Slightly longer texts for AoAs

For a recipient with a registered device:

[king's first name] the King and [queen's first name] the Queen: Inasmuch as We are charged, empowered and authorized to bestow honors upon those of Our subjects whose deeds are to the betterment of our populace; and inasmuch as our subject [recipient full name] has proven him/herself  to be fit and deserving of such honors as are within Our powers to bestow; We do now by these words and in the presence of such witnesses as are herein assembled, award to the said [recipient first name] Arms, in the form following:  [blazon].  Don upon this [day and month], in the [number] year of the Society, sitting on our thrones in [place].



For a recipient who has not yet registered a device:

[king's first name] Rex and [queen's first name] Regina, to all our faithful in the present and the future, greetings.  Having heard the petitions of our subjects concerning the good and worthy deeds of our subject [recipient], not least of which being [something notable s/he did], We do now by these present letters order and command that the said [recipient first name] be awarded Arms in metal and color, and further command him/her to consult with our heralds forthwith.  So that it be truly believed and held firmly in future times, we have signed the present charter with the subscription of our own hands upon [date], in [place].