Investiture of Heralds
Ceremonial of the Kingdom of An Tir
Version: 12th Night, XXXVII (2003)

The herald shall call the outgoing herald.
HERALD: _______________, come now into Their Majesties’ court. 
And when he has arrived, he shall say: 
OUT-GOING HERALD: Your Majesties, I have come to resign my office of [title] , and do here surrender unto You these symbols of my former office.  I recommend unto your Majesties _______________ as my successor in Your service. 
And here he renders up his cloak, tabard and/or staff of office. 
KING OR QUEEN: We thank you for your service to Our Kingdom, and wish you success in your future efforts. 
Here the Crown shall give him leave to depart, and the herald shall exhort the cheers of the populace for the out-going Herald.  (Outgoing herald may also stay to witness investiture of new herald.)
HERALD: It was the custom in times past that persons named to an Office of Arms be invested in that office by solemn and fitting ceremony, and we today continue that tradition according to the Laws and Customs of An Tir. _______________, Their Majesties command your presence. 
The herald shall call forward the all available heralds from the populace to witness the ceremony.  If desired, they may arrange to enter as a procession, escorting the new Herald.

And when the new Herald has arrived: 
HERALD: _______________ and _______________, King and Queen of An Tir (Baron and Baroness of _______________) are minded to name you [title]_______________. Will you accept the responsibilities and honor of this office in their court? 
Upon a positive reply, the herald continues: 
HERALD: Are you then prepared to take the Oath of Arms? 
Upon a further positive reply: 
HERALD: Do you swear that you will ever be true to (the Crown of An Tir) and your liege lord and lady, the King and Queen of An Tir (the Baron and Baroness of _______________), and further, that you will honor all lords and ladies of this Realm? 
CANDIDATE: I so swear. 
HERALD: Do you swear that you will bear yourself soberly and discreetly, keeping all secrets save only treason against the Crown (and your Barony); that you will seek out and report worshipful deeds; that you will be ever ready to commend and loath to blame in all your dealings? 
CANDIDATE: This I swear. 
HERALD: Will you preserve to the best of your ability the rights and privileges of the Office of Arms, to make known to your fellows any deeds of arms, feasts, tournaments, jousts and other assemblies of honor at which they may be able to acquire thanks, honor and profit, sharing truly the goods and gifts coming from this noble Office of Arms? 
CANDIDATE: I so swear. 
HERALD: Do you also swear that you will faithfully participate in the activities of the An Tir College of Heralds, and continue diligent in the study and practice of the science of arms, pledging your knowledge to the service of the Crown and people of An Tir? 
CANDIDATE: All this do I swear. 
Then shall the King or Queen (Baron or Baroness) take a cup of water, and pouring it over the head of the candidate, saying: 
KING or QUEEN: Then be henceforth [title]_______________ Herald (Pursuivant/ Pursuivant Extraordinary) in An Tir. 
Giving the new Herald a full cup to drink: 
KING or QUEEN: Drink deep to seal the oath that you have taken this day, and keep this cup as token of your pledge. 
Here shall an escutcheon of Office be placed about the neck of the new Herald, the court herald saying: 
HERALD: Wear this badge as token of your rank within the College of Arms. 
And if there is a tabard, it shall be given now. If the Herald has not been titled before then the tabard shall be placed over his head athwart (the front over the right shoulder) and 'turned' clockwise until it comes around to its' proper positioning. 
HERALD: Bear this tabard as symbol of your office within the College of Heralds of An Tir. 
And here the herald shall exhort the cheers of the populace, as the new herald takes his/her place. 

NOTES FOR THE HERALD
Check to see that the out-going herald has brought his/her tabard and other symbols of office.

Check to see that there is a cupful of water for the "baptism" and beverage for the following drink.