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Parlement-art - 5/24/96

 

Ealdomere Nobles' Guide To Parlament.

 

NOTE: See also the files: SCA-hist1-msg, Eald-hist-msg, SCA-stories1-msg,

East-hist-msg, Middle-hist-msg, you-know-msg, Baronial-Lead-art.

 

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NOTICE -

 

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that

I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some

messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

 

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium.

These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

 

I have done  a limited amount  of  editing. Messages having to do  with

seperate topics  were sometimes split into different files and sometimes

extraneous information was removed. For instance, the  message IDs  were

removed to save space and remove clutter.

 

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I

make no claims  as  to the accuracy  of  the information  given  by the

individual authors.

 

Please respect the time  and  efforts of  those who have written  these

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Thank you,

    Mark S. Harris                 AKA:  Lord Stefan li Rous

   mark.s.harris at motorola.com            stefan at florilegium.org

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Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: nusbache at epas.utoronto.ca (Aryk Nusbacher)

Subject: A Ceremonial Guide

Organization: University of Toronto - Nifty Stuff Division

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1993 01:16:47 GMT

 

I've been leafing through the SCA directory on my hard drive, and I

have tripped over some interesting bits which I thought the folks on

this net might enjoy reading. Here is one such bit.

 

 

            THE EALDORMERE NOBLES' GUIDE TO PARLEMENT

 

 

           Excerpts from the Ceremonial for Ealdormere

 

 

 

                     Including a precis of the

 

                      ORDER OF INVESTITURE

                             of

         HIS SPLENDID HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF EALDORMERE

                             and

        HER SPLENDID HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF EALDORMERE

 

 

 

                   Book Tax Paid at Eoforwick

 

 

                         Nihil Obstat

                 Censor Librorum Arcdcs. Eboraci

 

 

 

            Available for Purchase from the Publisher

            For the reasonable Sum of Half a Dollar

 

 

 

 

 

                      Printed at Eoforwick

 

 

This guide is excerpted from the Ceremonial for Ealdormere, and

contains some of the philosophy and general remarks on the form

and function of the parlements of Ealdormere.  It will be an aid

in attending parlement at investitures of new Princes and

Princesses of Ealdormere as well as in planning variations on the

parlement theme, including bribery and favouritism.  For full

details of these ceremonies and their complete forms, consult the

Ceremonial for Ealdormere.

 

Non-nobles must not feel excluded from parlement.  Nobility is an

estate to which newer gentles in the SCA must aspire and for

which one must labour, and sitting behind the bar of court is no

shame.  There are certain jobs in parlement, furthermore, which

are reserved for gentry, and there is much honour to be gained

from these services.

 

                         INTRODUCTION

 

                             Logic

 

The Ealdormere Ceremonial endeavours to preserve the dramatic

spirit of the SCA court, while at the same time attempting to

introduce a level of intimacy that is lacking in SCA ceremonial

in general.  In particular, the fact that courts have generally

been held in a very adversarial, divided situation have created a

distance between the royal personages and the noble personages in

the hall.  It is hardly surprising, given that the assembled

courtiers are treated like groundlings, that the assembled

nobility of a kingdom are referred to as "the populace".

 

It is not inappropriate to refer to a court as a "forum" for

contact between the ruler and his nobles.  There were various

formats in which mediaeval rulers interacted with their co-rulers

in the "court", and over the centuries the court had different

forms.  To distill it down to the bare essentials, there are

three meanings to the word court.  One is the sense of the king

and his retinue.  That court is a travelling court that descends

on his nobles' castles like a plague of locusts, eating

everything in sight.  The second is the sense of the occasion

when the court was in one place and accessible.  Michaelmas

court, for instance, or Christmas Court was a time when nobles

were given the opportunity (or the summons) to appear at their

overlord's side.  The last is the most formal court of all, the

court of justice or the parlement, where the king or his nobles

met to hear cases, matters of fiscal policy or bills of

legislation.

 

                           Deviation

The Prince and Princess are the boss in any court proceeding.

The herald is only the Master of Ceremonies, and what the boss

says goes.  This is subject to the strictures of authenticity,

custom and law.  The enhancement of communication between the

Princes and the nobles and gentry of Ealdormere is of paramount

importance.

 

                           Terminology

All language in this document is gender-reversible.

 

For the purposes of Ealdormere ceremonies, an Herald is anyone so

deputed by the Prince or the Princess on the advice of the

Trillium Herald.  It does not necessarily imply a formally

rostered herald, nor does it imply the rank of Herald as opposed

to pursuivant.  Just so the term Barons of the Exchequer does not

imply court baronage.

 

                         Ordinary Courts

The Ealdormere Ceremonial describes, in addition to parlements an

Ordinary Court, designed for ordinary SCA events.  This sort of

court will be held at feast or on the fighting field.

 

                           PARLEMENTS

 

The formal court scenes of the SCA loosely resemble two sorts of

court occasions:  parlements and church ceremonies.  Both involve

seated participation, very formal circumstances and awesome

consequences.  For a few selected courts a year (including

investiture), the parlement form is proper.  Other business of

the Prince and Princess ought to be conducted at Ordinary Court.

 

A parlement is an important meeting of the prince and his nobles.

Important meetings of nobles with royal sanction can also be

parlements as can important meetings of judges (though the

English got round the noble vs. judge problem by saying that

anyone on a judicial bench is considered a lord).  Important

meetings of nobles without royal sanction are called "plots".

Parlements also acted as courts of appeal, and a nobleman could

only be tried in a parlement (by his peers).  Anything with great

significance ought to happen in a parlement, since everyone who

is anyone is there.

 

The term "parlement" herein, and indeed in period, refers to a

sort of court.  A parlement called by the Prince of Ealdormere is

a formal court and not a legislative body.  No bills of

legislation may be brought--all legislation is made by Orders in

Council per SCA and kingdom law.  No voting is in order in a

parlement--only acclimation. A parlement has no corporate or

institutional authority. Note that the spelling "parliament", so

evocative of the parliaments at Westminster and Ottawa is

deliberately not used here. A parlement of Ealdormere is not a

substitute for a Moot of Ealdormere as an expression of the vox

populi.  Since a parlement is a proper court, however, new

principality laws may be announced in a parlement.

 

              Summons of Parliament for Investiture

The parlement of Ealdormere is not intended to be summoned at

every event.  Provision is made for conducting ordinary court

during feasts and on the tourney field.  The parlement is

designed to be summoned at the very most five times in a year

(Twelfth Night or other winter event, coronet tournaments and

investiture), but need only be summoned twice a year.

 

Parlement must properly be summoned for Investiture.  Care should

be taken to arrange that the King and Queen of the Middle be

present, or that a proper Lieutenant be arranged.  The Crown

Prince and Princess of the Middle are the preferred Lieutenants.

 

                           The Summons

If the Prince decides to call a parlement, a summons should go

out to all nobles in the principality, via the baronial and

principality newsletters. The date and time of the Parlement as

well as the place should be clearly set forth as well as the main

reason for the summons (to discuss our succession, for instance).

The summons must be obeyed "on pain of our displeasure".  Royal

displeasure is, of course, a changeable thing, and if you have to

work that weekend nobody's going to hold it agin you.  The form

of summons is set out below.

 

                             Seating

Seating will be after the English pattern.  The Prince occupies

a chair of estate at the head of a rectangular hall, directly in

the centre of the wall.  To either side of the Prince, running

the greater length of the hall, are rows of benches or chairs.

Where the benches end is a line or bar.  Beyond the bar of the

house are as many chairs or rows as necessary to seat nobles from

outside Ealdormere as well as the gentlemen and gentlewomen.

Nobles (and their friends and retainers) sit in the side benches,

with the highest ranking (if they so desire) sitting closest to

the Prince, and in the front benches.  Space should be left

behind the benches so that nobles can slip in and out to answer

calls of nature and such like.  On a chair to the Prince's right

sits the Princess.  On a bench to the Prince's left sit the

Marshal and the Barons of the Exchequer (except at a Court of

Claims, when they sit before a vacant throne).  On benches

directly before the prince sit his clerks, preferably with desks.

At the Bar of the Court stands a Sergeant at Arms holding the

Sword of Estate.  Note that there is a rectangular space open in

the midst of the court, the "well of the court".  Here stands the

herald.

 

The Front Benches to the Prince's right are for the Officers of

State for Ealdormere, for Middle Kingdom Officers of State who

are also Ealdormere nobles, for Lords Mayor of cities and for any

bishops.  The Front Benches on the Prince's left are for Dukes,

Earls, Viscounts and Barons. If the King of the Middle is in

attendance at a Parlement of Ealdormere, he sits in the centre

seat, and the Prince directly to his right.  If the Queen of the

Middle is present, she sits directly to the King's left.  If the

Crown Prince or Princess of the Middle is present, they sits at

the upper end of the left Front Bench.  The Heir and Heiress of

the Principality sit at the upper end of the left Front Bench,

just down from the Crown Prince and Princess.  Should the front

benches overflow, the above nobles may be accomodated on the

second bench.  Should the front benches not be filled, any

Ealdormere nobles may fill the lower end.  Middle Kingdom Great

Officers and visiting royalty may be accomodated on a bench just

outside of the Bar of Court.

 

                     Officers of the Court

The officers of the court are as follows:  the Herald, the Clerk

of the Signet, the Clerk of Chancery, the Sergeants at Arms and

the Sergeants at Law.   Officers of the Court are seated within

the well of the court, except the herald and the Sergeant at

Arms, who stand.  Although there is a place marked on the diagram

for the herald; he need not keep to that spot, nor need anyone

speaking from the well of the court.

 

                           The Bench

The Bench to the left of the Prince is occupied by the Marshal of

Ealdormere, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and any other

officers of the Exchequer present, who are called the Barons of

the Exchequer.  In a Court of Claims these are the judges, and

they are here to offer counsel to the Prince.

 

                           Entrance

Entrance is made in procession, with first the Officers of the

Court, and then any front benchers who wish, preceding the

Prince.  Ladies in Waiting and Gentlemen of the Chamber follow

the Prince and Princess and attend wherever the Prince's Lord

Chamberlain wants them to. Should the Prince desire a few

guards they accompany the Ladies and Gentlemen in waiting.  The

Herald notifies the Clerk of Chancery of the date and place of

the court, and everyone sits down.  The business of the day is

then conducted after the forms set out below in the specific

ceremonial section.

 

                             Closing

At the close of business for a parlement, the Prince declares the

parlement closed, and he processes out, followed by the front

benchers and then by the officers of the court.  If there will be

parlementary sessions both for coronet tourney court and for

investiture (some weeks later), then the parlement can be

prorogued for the appropriate length of time, and no new summons

need be issued.

 

                     BRIBERY AND FAVOURITISM

 

Rather than be seen to touch money, the Prince and Princess may

accept gratuities and payments through the clerks of chancery and

the signet.  Should a noble desire a royal favour, passport or

letter, he need only make his request from the well of the court

(or within the Presence at an Ordinary Court), and drop his

donation off with a clerk on his way out.  Should a gentleman or

gentlewoman desire same in a parlement, they may be called by the

herald to the bar, and there they may request and make their

payment to the Sergeant at Arms; though in ordinary court they

may approach the presence. All such funds are turned over to the

Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Prince's own Lord Privy Purse

as desired by the donor.

 

Favourites are beckoned to sit near the Prince and Princess in

ordinary court, or to sit at the upper ends of the benches in

parlement, or in the front rows of extraordinary court.

 

                    THE SUMMONS TO PARLEMENT

 

          1.  Regular Summons (individual)

This is for a noble who has newly moved to Ealdormere, or has

returned after a long absence.

 

Unto our right trusty and well-beloved cousin (for a Duke:  the

High and Mighty Prince) the noble Lord {A}, of {Place} doth the

Prince of Ealdormere send his Greetings.  Know that we are minded

to meet with our nobles in parlement on the {X} day of {X} in the

Year of the Society {XX} in order to discuss our succession.

Your Lordship (Grace) is summoned to attend on pain of our royal

displeasure.

 

          2.  Regular Summons (general)

This is for publication in the Principality and baronial

newsletters with the announcement for Coronet Tournament and

Investiture.

 

Unto all to whom these presents shall come, Greetings.  Know that

we are minded to meet with our nobles in parlement on the {X} day

of {X} in the Year of the Society {XX} in order to discuss our

succession.  All the noble men and women of Ealdormere are

summoned to attend on pain of our royal displeasure.

 

          3.  First Summons

This is issued along with a Middle Kingdom Award of Arms.

 

Unto our right trusty and well-beloved cousin the noble Lord {A},

of {Place} doth the Prince of Ealdormere send his Greetings.  It

has come to our attention that your lordship has been enobled by

the King of the Middle.  In addition to the other

responsibilities and duties attendant upon elevation to this

rank, know that when from time to time we are minded to meet with

our nobles in parlement your Lordship is commanded to attend on

pain of our royal displeasure.

 

                   FEALTY AND OFFICERS' OATHS

 

          1.  Fealty

Fealty is expected only of tenants-in-chief of the Prince.  To

claim to be tenant-in-chief is to claim not to be subject to any

other baron or peer.  Like the other oaths sworn in Investiture

ceremony, this is a variable oath, and may be sworn by whatever

the jurant holds proper.

The jurant places his hands between the Prince's

     I {Name}, {Office, peerage or tenancy}, do swear this my

     fealty to my lord the Prince of Ealdormere and to his lady

     the Princess of Ealdormere (for a baron:  and my homage for

     the lands of {tenancy}), and to uphold the Laws and

     Ordonnances of Ealdormere, to serve the Prince and Princess

     in council and in war.

The Prince replies:

     This do we hear and never forget, nor fail to reward that

     which is given:  Fealty with love, service with honour and

     oathbreaking with vengeance (and we confirm unto your

     Lordship [Grace] the fief of {tenancy}).

 

          2.  Oath to Uphold

Since an office is not military service, nor is it given in

return for a fief, there is no need to swear fealty or homage in

return for an office. Instead, the following Oath to Uphold is

sworn at Investiture.  Since this is no oath of fealty, there is

no reason for an officer of the Principality not to swear the

oath unless he is, for example, a Quaker.

 

     I here swear by my body that I will uphold the rightful and

     lawful Prince of Ealdormere with faithful service in council

     and defence of might and main.  I swear that I will ensure

     that the lawful will of the Prince be done and that of his

     lawful successors so long as I hold mine office.

The Prince replies:

     This do we hear and never forget, nor fail to reward that

     which is given:  Loyalty with love, service with honour and

     oathbreaking with vengeance; and we confirm unto your

     Lordship [Grace] the office of {office}.

Since this oath is sworn to every Prince at Investiture or in

Ordinary Court shortly thereafter, there is no need for a formal

investiture of officers in court.  A new Principality officer may

be noted in the roll of honour in Ordinary Court, and the oath

may be sworn at a convenient Sitting in State.  Release from this

oath will rarely be necessary, except on a noble's departing the

Principality.  In that case, release may be begged and granted at

a Sitting in State.

 

          NOTES ON OFFICERS OF THE COURT AND POSITIONS

 

The Officers of the Court are appointed by their superior

officer, with a term running from Spring investiture to Spring

investiture.  There is no limit to the number appointed, so that

if an appointed officer is unable to attend a court an additional

officer may be appointed, to serve as well until the next Spring.

Sergeants at Law and at Arms carry their titles in perpetuity

unless they are resigned. Thus it is important that such

Sergeants not be created gratuitously.

 

     A.  The Clerk of Chancery

The Clerk of Chancery is a deputy of the Trillium Herald.  The

Clerk of Chancery is charged with inscribing the Scroll of

Honour, with recording therein the appropriate records of honour

and oaths sworn in respect to the Succession.

 

     B.  The Clerk of the Signet

Responsible to the Lord Privy Seal, the Clerk of the Signet is

charged with providing the herald and the Clerk of Chancery with

award scrolls at court.

 

     C.  The Sergeants at Law

The Sergeants at Law are responsible to the Marshal of

Ealdormere.  They are charged with supervising the legality of

the succession.  Should the Prince or his justices sit in justice

or equity, the Sergeants at Law are charged to argue the case.

 

     D.  The Sergeants at Arms

The Sergeant at Arms is responsible to the Marshal of Ealdormere.

He (or they) are charged with keeping order in court, and in a

parlement they are the keepers of the bar of the house.  The

Prince's Sword of Estate is carried at a parlement by a Sergeant

at Arms.

 

                     THE MOOT OF EALDORMERE

 

A Moot of Ealdormere may be called according to the ancient

customs of the Principality. It is conducted by whichever

officer the Prince shall appoint, or by the Prince himself.  The

conducting officer shall be responsible that it be conducted in a

fair and orderly manner.  No protocol is applied to Moots of

Ealdormere.

 

                           SOME TERMS

 

In Latin the Prince of Ealdormere is Princeps Eldormari.  The

Princess is Principissa Ealdormari.  The King of the Middle is

Rex Mediterranei or Rex Medii.  The Queen of the Middle is Regina

Mediterranei or Regina Medii. "A.S." abbreviates "Anno

Societatis".

 

Nobles of Ealdormere are referred to by the Prince and Princess

as "our right trusty and well beloved cousin the noble Lord X",

which can be abbreviated to "the Lord X".  Dukes are "the High

and Mighty Prince the Duke X", or just "the Duke X".

 

                       ORDER OF INVESTITURE

                             of

         HIS SPLENDID HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF EALDORMERE

                             and

        HER SPLENDID HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF EALDORMERE

 

 

The Marshal of Ealdormere convenes a Court of Claims of

Ealdormere at his pleasure. Sitting in court are the Marshal and

the Barons of the Exchequer.

 

The Court of Claims is ended with the arrival of the King of the

Middle and his retinue.  All rise.

 

The King of the Middle (or his Lieutenant; accompanied by

     gentlemen and ladies in waiting)

The Queen of the Middle (or her Lieutenant; accompanied by

     gentlemen and ladies in waiting)

The Prince and Princess of Ealdormere (accompanied by gentlemen

     and ladies in waiting)

The Marshal of Ealdormere (armed and carrying his baton and

     accompanied by a Sergeant at Arms bearing a sheathed Sword

     of Estate) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ealdormere

     (bearing a ceremonial purse).

The Trillium Herald of Ealdormere (bearing his staff of office

     and the Prince's arms)

The Great Officers of Estate of Ealdormere

The Officers of the Court

An Herald (bearing his staff of office and the arms of his

     employer)

The Heir and Heiress of the Principality (accompanied by

     gentlemen and ladies in waiting)

The Front Benches of Parliament

 

The King welcomes the assembled nobles.

 

The New Prince is presented to the Court.

 

Oaths are sworn to establish that the New Prince is rightful heir

to Ealdormere.  The Sergeants at Law are consulted.

 

The Siege of the Principality is given over to the King.

 

The herald begs the king, on behalf of the nobles assembled, to

confer the Estate of Prince of Ealdormere on the New Prince.

 

The Court of Claims and the Herald admonish the New Prince and he

swears an Oath on his sword.

 

The New Prince swears his fealty to the King.  In token of the

fealty the New Prince gives the king a garb of barley.  In

similar token the King gives the New Prince a glove.  The King

invests the New Prince with the insignia of his new Estate.

 

The New Prince begs that his lady be made Princess of Ealdormere

 

The New Princess swears an oath and her fealty.  The Queen

invests the New Princess with the insignia of her new Estate.

The Marshal of Ealdormere demands the acclimation of the

assembled nobles.

 

Oaths of fealty and oaths to uphold the New Prince are sworn.

The Old Prince is created a Viscount and his lady a Viscountess,

should such be necessary. The New Prince's Champion is created,

as is the New Princess's champion.  Other matters are discussed.

Those who ought to be ennobled are ennobled.

 

The Roll of Honour is raised so that the assembled nobles and

others may view it.

 

The parlement is closed.

 

HISTORICAL NOTE:

To my knowledge, a parlement of Ealdormere was convened only once: to

invest the first Prince.

 

 

<the end>



Formatting copyright © Mark S. Harris (THLord Stefan li Rous).
All other copyrights are property of the original article and message authors.

Comments to the Editor: stefan at florilegium.org