It should be ascertained beforehand the titles the new Count and Countess wish to use: Earl, Comptesse, etc.; and these should be substituted for "Count" and "Countess" in the Ceremony, where appropriate.
CRESCENT HERALD
Their Majesties call before the Throne
[Count] and [Countess],
for they has done great service to Caid
and We would honor them.
The two enter, attended by such Royal Peers as please them; the attendants bear the coronets and personal banners. They kneel before Their Majesties, who stand.
KING
[Count],
having by your valor, skill, and strength of arms
won the Crown of this Kingdom,
and having served this Realm as King,
We do hereby affirm you as a [Count Title] and Royal Peer.
Will you accept this honor,
vowing your continued fealty
to the Crown you have lately worn?
COUNT
I will, Your Majesty.
KING
Let the scroll be read.
Crescent Herald reads the scroll (or promisory, if no scroll has been prepared). He hands the scroll to the King, who in turn hands it to the new Count.
KING
Let His Excellency receive the coronet of his new rank.
Another Count (or the King) places the coronet on the new Count's head. The King raises the new Count to his feet.
KING
[Name], henceforth be Count [Name] in this Our Realm.
The new Count stands beside the King.
QUEEN
[Countess],
having by your beauty, grace, and virtue
inspired your champion to win you the Crown of this Kingdom,
and having served this Realm as Queen,
We do hereby affirm you as a [Countess Title] and Royal Peer.
Will you accept this honor,
vowing your continued fealty
to the Crown you have lately worn?
COUNTESS
I will, Your Majesty.
QUEEN
Let the scroll be read.
Crescent Herald reads the scroll (or promisory, if no scroll has been prepared). He hands the scroll to the Queen, who in turn hands it to the new Countess.
QUEEN
Let Her Excellency receive the coronet of her new rank.
Another Countess (or the Queen) places the coronet on the new Countess' head. (As an OPTION: The new Count may coronet his Lady. If so, he first holds it over her head, saying:
COUNT
As it was my honor to win you the Crown of Caid,
so it is my pleasure to invest you in this estate.
The Count then places the coronet on his lady's head. End of OPTION.)
The King raises the new Countess to her feet, and kisses her hand.
KING
[Name], henceforth be Countess [Name] in this Our Realm.
The Queen presents the new Countess with a yellow rose.
QUEEN
[Countess Title] [Name], be welcomed into the Order of the
Rose,
whose token this is.
The Count rejoins his lady.
CRESCENT HERALD
[Count Title] [Count] and [Countess Title]
[Countess],
will you now swear fealty to the Crown and Kingdom of Caid?
COUNT & COUNTESS
We will.
The Seneschal brings forward the Great Sword, which the King unsheathes and holds horizontally. The Count and Countess kneel and place their hands on the Sword.
COUNT & COUNTESS
Here do we swear, by mouth and hand,
fealty and service to the Crown and Kingdom of Caid.
As we have ruled this Realm in faith,
so shall we keep that faith henceforth,
that we may, by our example,
foster chivalry, courtesy, and honor throughout the land;
until the Crown depart Their throne,
or death take us,
or the world end.
So say we, [Names].
KING
And We, for Our part,
swear fealty to these Royal Peers of Caid,
and to all their households,
to protect and defend them against every creature
with all Our power,
until We depart from the throne,
or death take Us,
or the world end.
So say We, [Name], King of Caid.
QUEEN
And so say We, [Name], Queen of Caid.
The King returns the Great Sword into the Seneschal's keeping. Their Majesties raise up the new Count and Countess, while Crescent Herald exhorts cheers from the populace. Their Excellencies, along with their parties, bow and retire.
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