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

 ENTRANCE
The Ducal Retinue shall arrange themselves as follows:
DUCAL HERALD
SCROLL BEARER          SWORD BEARER
BANNER BEARER          CORONET BEARER
INCIPIENT DUKE

The Sword should be held upright and sheathed. The scroll and coronet may be carried upon pillows, if desired. This party may be followed by a group of supporters. 
At the King's command, the party may enter court, and approach the Throne and bow: 
DUCAL HERALD: May it please Your Majesties, your loyal subject, _______________, having by valor, skill, and strength of arms twice won the Crown of An Tir, reigned as King, and descended from the Throne, has earned the rank and title of a Duke of this Realm. He now makes bold to approach you that he may receive from your hand the Royal accolade, and be invested with the other dignities of this high estate. In token of his loyalty to the Crown Kingdom of An Tir, he here yields his sword into Your Majesty's keeping. 
The Sword-bearer will present the Sword to His Majesty, who gives it to the keeping of the Kingdom Champion. The Sword-bearer returns to his place. 
COURT HERALD: Approach the Throne, noble Count. 
The incipient Duke shall kneel before the King. 
COURT HERALD: Let all the dukes here present, come forward to witness this accolade. 
They shall range themselves to either side of the incipient duke. 

THE PROCLAMATION
KING: Let the Scroll of Arms be read. 
Presenting the Scroll to the King's Herald, the bearer resumes his place. 
COURT HERALD: Hear and attend, all ye, throughout the Knowne World, that from this day hence _______________, having twice borne the burden of the Crown of An Tir, shall bear the title of Duke. We, _______________ and _______________, King and Queen of An Tir, do acknowledge this and do affirm his right to bear by Letters Patent: [blazon]* and to bear above the shield a front-facing helm with gold strawberry-leaf coronet with mantling of [the principal color and metal or fur of the Arms]. In witness whereof, We do here set Our hand and seal, this __________ day of __________, Anno Societatis __________, being __________ Gregorian. 
_______________, King of An Tir _______________, Queen of An Tir 
*If the new Duke 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 DUBBING
KING: Let the Ducal Sword be brought forth.
Unsheathing the Ducal Sword, the King shall strike the new duke with the flat of the blade, upon the left shoulder, the right shoulder, and then upon the crown of the head, and say: 
KING: Duke _______________, it pleases Us greatly that you receive this Accolade at Our Hand. 
DUKE: My Liege, From your Hand I right gladly receive it. 

THE REGALIA
Sheathing the Sword, the King calls for the coronet. 
KING: Let the Ducal 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 duke's head, saying: 
KING: Be henceforth Duke _______________, in this Our Realm, and throughout the Knowne World, and wear this coronet in token of your rank. 
Rising, the Duke shall receive his Sword back from the King. 
KING: We return this Sword to your keeping, charging you to use it henceforth as you have heretofore, in a noble, knightly, and honorable manner. 
DUKE: My liege, upon my honor I swear to do so. 
The duke shall gird himself with the Sword. 

THE FEALTY
If the new Duke will be participating in the investiture of his lady, then the ducal party will move to the Queen's left to await the procession of the incipient Countess or Duchess, and he may wait and swear fealty to the Crown with her. 
But, if he will not assist at her ceremony, then he may swear it at this time. 
COURT HERALD: My Lord Duke, is it your desire to swear fealty to Their Majesties? 
DUKE: It is. 
After the Duke kneels before the King and Queen the herald says: 
COURT 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 ruled and received the oaths of the people, do you in turn swear faith to the Crown and Kingdom of An Tir? And, being mindful that the honor of the Realm springs from your own deeds, do you swear that you shall treat those of every degree with chivalry and courtesy, so long as Their Majesties remain Sovereigns of An Tir? 
DUKE: I so swear. 
KING: And We, for Our part, do swear fealty to this Duke 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. 
The King will hand the Duke the Scroll, and if the King be a Duke, he shall extend His right hand, taking the Duke by the same, and congratulate him. If the King is not a Duke, then the senior Duke present shall perform this rite: 
KING OR SENIOR DUKE: Welcome, brother _______________, to our right noble estate. 
Then as the dukes present congratulate their new comrade, the King's herald will exhort the cheers of the people. 
If the new Duke will not be participating in the next investiture, then he shall be given leave to depart with his retinue, 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 Duke will use (Duke, Herzog, etc.). 

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

Have a blazon of the new Duke's arms for the Scroll.