The good gentle's name was Michael Alewright. The procedure was much the same as its Midrealm counterpart; among the people who spoke on Michael's behalf were Mistress Margaret Makafee and Count Jehan de la Marche. The interesting part was when Michael swore fealty to Their Majesties Aethelmearc; for the first time in my life, I could not quote the Oath of Fealty in my head. As I found out later, Michael had taken great care in writing his Oath of Fealty. He wanted to make sure it was just right. When speaking to him the next day, I got to hear his opinion of that oath. He said that he had wanted it to be something special, something personal.
Among the other awards received that night, Ailis Linne was accepted into the Order of the Millrind, and Roana D'Evereux was accepted into the Order of the Fleur d'AEthelmearc. Having been my second Aethelmearc Court, it was a very interesting experience; especially from the standpoint of this Midrealm herald.
Laurel, not Pelican
From the court report posted by Giulietta da Venezia, Reporting Herald
Their Majesties invited Their Order of the Laurel to attend Them. They then called forth Michael MacPhe, called Alewright. Having heard the words of Her Grace, Meirwen uerch Owain, Sir Alonzio of the Peacemakers, Her Excellency, Dame Margaret Macafee, Her Excellency, Mistress Achren, and His Excellency, Count Sir Master Master Jehan de la Marche, Their Majesties created him a Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Laurel, and granted him arms by Letters Patent. Scroll by Margaret Makafee.
(No subject)
Mistress Orianna Fridrikskona Companion of the Order of the Pelican AEthelmearc
AEthelmearc Court and Oaths of Fealty
AEthelmearc and (last I knew) the East do not have standardized oaths of fealty. Each peer is free to speak whatever oath he or she is comfortable with.
It is important to understand the difference between fealty and homage when creating an oath. Homage, an unconditional oath making one a vassal of the person to whom one has sworn, is usually inappropriate. It is generally not a good idea to pledge, for example, that you will put your duty to the Kingdom or Crown before all else. Fealty involves a conditional oath between equals (or nearly equals). It is entirely authentic and reasonable to swear fealty with caveats like "excepting what I owe to my lord/lady, barony, household, etc."
All of this applies to personal oaths - oaths as an officer or landed baron are different and can promise homage in the name of the office rather than the person, because the office has no existence outside the SCA. Even then, an oath can require that the royalty give something in return. The Baron and Baroness of the Debatable Lands have for years sworn an oath based on one used by the barons swearing to King John at the signing of the Magna Carta, which requires the king to respect the people and rights of the barony in return for the barons' support.
Others have written at greater length and eloquence on this topic. I recommend Master Ioseph of Locksley's web page at http://www.locksley.com/locksley/onfealty.htm for a better explanation.
Another custom some of the more impudent peers like me have is to swear to give the royalty our advice and counsel, whether asked for or not... :-)
Arianna of Wynthrope, OP, OL - Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands - AEthelmearc
Oath of Fealty
"This do We hear and shall never forget, nor fail to reward that which is given: Fealty with love, service with honor and oath-breaking with vengeance."
A few words have been changed, but it's easily recognizable.
Milica
Re: Laurel, not Pelican
--Justin