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

ENTRANCE
At Their Majesties command, the herald shall call forth the new count: 
HERALD: _______________, approach the Throne. 
The Count and his Retinue shall arrange themselves as follows: 

BANNER BEARER            CORONET BEARER

COUNT
HERALD: May it please Your Majesties, Your loyal subject, _______________, having by valor, skill, and strength of arms won the Crown of An Tir, and having reigned as King, has by his ability earned the title and rank of a Count of this Realm. He now makes bold to approach Your Majesties that he may receive the title and be invested with the dignities of this estate. 
KING: Let the Letters Patent be proclaimed. 
HERALD: Attend these words and know that by these presents, We, _______________ and _______________, King and Queen of An Tir, in recognition that _______________ has reigned as King in Our Realm, do hereby style him Count, and We do affirm his sole and exclusive right to bear by Letters Patent: [blazon]* and to bear above the Arms a helm with gold embattled coronet and mantling of [the principal color and metal or fur of the Arms]. In witness whereof, We do set Our hand and seal, this __________ day of __________, Anno Societatis __________, being __________ Gregorian. 
(Herald’s note: *If the new Count doesn't have registered arms, the herald shall read: " . . . We do affirm his right to bear by Letters Patent, such suitable and unique Arms as, by consulting with Us and Our heralds, he shall choose, and to bear above . . ." )

THE CORONET
KING: Let the Coronet be brought forth. 
The coronet-bearer kneels before the King, and then returns to his place. The King shall place the coronet upon the new count's head, saying: 

KING: _______________, be henceforth Count in this Our Realm, and wear this coronet in token of your rank. 

THE FEALTY
(Herald’s note: If the new Count's lady will be created a Countess, and he will participate in her investiture, then he may move to the Queen's left to await the procession of the new Countess, and swear fealty to the Crown with her. 
But, if he will not participate, or, if his lady has been made a Duchess, then he may swear at this time.)
HERALD: My Lord Count, is it your desire to swear fealty to Their Majesties? 
COUNT: It is. 
The Count shall kneel before the King and Queen, the herald saying: 
HERALD: Do you now swear fealty to _______________ and _______________, your undoubted King and Queen, that you will obey their lawful commands in all matters that concern this Realm, and as you have sat upon the Throne and received the oaths of the people, do you in turn swear faith to the Crown and Kingdom of An Tir? Being mindful that the honor of the Realm springs from your own deeds, do you swear that you shall treat chivalrously and courteously with those of every degree, so long as Their Majesties remain Sovereigns of An Tir? 
COUNT: I so swear. 
KING: And We, for Our part, do swear fealty to this Count of An Tir, and promise to protect and defend him and his household with all Our power, so long as We remain Sovereigns of An Tir. So say We, _______________, King of An Tir. 
QUEEN: And so say We, _______________, Queen of An Tir. 
If the new Count will not be participating in his lady's investiture, or if he and his lady are now done, then he shall be given leave to depart and the herald will exhort the cheers of the populace. 

NOTES FOR THE HERALD
Mail copies of the ceremony to the King, Queen, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess along with the coronation ceremony. 

Learn which title the Count will use (Count, Earl, Jarl, Graf, etc.). 

Be sure that the Committal retinue will be ready to go at the start of the First Court. 

Have a blazon of the new Count's arms (and the principal color and metal/fur), for the Scroll. 

If the text of the actual writ is different from that given in the ceremony above, use the text of the actual writ.

If the new Count's lady will be created a Countess, and he will participate in her investiture, then he may move to the Queen's left to await the procession of the new Countess, and swear fealty to the Crown with her.