Ursula

My translation of the portion of the statutes of the sixteenth-century French Ordre du Saint-Esprit concerning the initiation of a new member. In comparison to fifteenth-century ceremonies, this shows a much greater emphasis on the power of the Sovereign. As one might expect from a kingdom embroiled in religious wars, there is also a far greater emphasis on the role of the Church.

( Those who will have been received to enter into said Order . . . )

As of final court at Kingdom Arts & Sciences, I'm on vigil for membership in the Order of the Laurel (the SCA's highest arts and sciences honour, if you're not familiar with this stuff). glasseye and I had already checked out of the hotel, so aelfgyfu had to lure us to court ("It's just in fifteen minutes! We're only waiting for Her Majesty to make a phone call, no, you probably don't want to walk past her right now . . .") and thrust a tunic at me.

Now I have to plan a ceremony. I'm thinking I will research actual induction ceremonies for fifteenth-century knightly orders. Things to do:

• Talk to Their Majesties and choose a date for the ceremony between now and July Coronation. (June Faire?)
  
• Write a poem for Their Majesties.
  
• Get my hands on a copy of the statutes of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Boulton says they discuss the induction of a new member at some length), and translate the relevant sections.
  
• Think about clothing. (Some women wore the regalia of the Order of the Garter; can I find a picture?) Anyone want to help me sew a mantle?
  
• Scroll? (As a "copy of the statutes of the Order"?)
  
• Talk to glasseye about "admission fee" (part of admission to the Orders of the Garter, Golden Fleece, etc.)
  
• Party!