Coronation Oath
From MiddleWiki
From the Middle Kingdom Boke of Ceremonies - February Anno Societatis LI (2017)
King's Oath
The King then turns to the Tanist and says:
- King: Kneel and learn the duties of a King.
- This is what it means to be a King: a King is not an all-powerful Sovereign; a King is given the duty to govern.
- A King must bear the heaviest burdens and strike the mightiest blows, ever to be foremost in the boldest battle and last in the most desperate retreat.
- A King has no right to the common joys of living, no freedom to indulge personal interests, tastes, and biases.
- A King is a sacrifice to the common people, one who lives to serve by ruling, protecting the Kingdom by disciplining all private inclinations and sentiments, submitting Himself to absolute objectivity and justice.
- And, in the time of famine or leanness, as must come from time to time in every land, He must wear the finest raiment and laugh the heartiest at the lightest board of any in all the Kingdom.
- A King must place the people's needs before all else.
- To be King is to respect all manner of things that any people hold dear, even though the King may not.
- Do you still desire the Crown of the Middle Kingdom?
- Tanist: I do.
- King: Then take the oath of Kingship.
The Tanist shall rise, and the King shall say the oath, phrase by phrase, the Tanist repeating it.
I, <<Name>>,
Promise to rule over the Middle Kingdom
In accordance with the Laws of the Society for Creative Anachronism And the customs of the Kingdom,
To the best of My ability, as King and Liege Lord,
Dealing justly with great and small
To the benefit of the Kingdom and the Society,
In good times and in bad,
Until My heir rightfully succeeds to the throne,
'Til Death takes Me,
Or 'til the world ends.
- King: Swear it.
- Tanist: I swear it to the King of the Middle Kingdom.
- King: Swear it to the Great Lords and Ladies of the Realm.
- Tanist: I swear it.
- King: Swear it to the people!
- Tanist: I swear it!
Then the King shall rise and take the Crown from his head, and the Tanist shall kneel,and the King shall place the Crown upon his head.
As the new King rises, the former King shall say:
- Former King: People of the Middle Kingdom, behold your King!
Queen's Oath
The new King or the Queen, at the choice of the Princess, shall administer the oath, phrase by phrase, the Princess repeating it:
I, <<Name>>, promise to rule over the Middle Kingdom
In accordance with the Laws of the Society for Creative Anachronism And the customs of the Kingdom,
To the best of My ability, as Queen of Love and Beauty,
Dealing justly with great and small
To the benefit of the Kingdom and the Society,
In good times and in bad,
Until My heir rightfully succeeds to the throne,
'Til Death takes Me,
Or 'til the world ends.
- New King: Swear it.
- Princess: I swear it to the King.
- New King: Swear it to the Great Lords and Ladies of the Realm.
- Princess: I swear it.
- New King: Swear it to the people!
- Princess: I swear it!
Then the Queen shall take the Crown from her own head and give it to the new King, who shall speak words from His heart, and then place the Crown upon the head of the new Queen.
- New King: People of the Middle Kingdom, behold your Queen.
