In theory any noble, singly or as a couple, can appoint their own herald.
- Herald
- Know that We _____ [and _____ ], _____ [and ____] of ____ , have need of a pursuivant / herald to carry our messages in peace and war, to be our voice, and to teach the noble arts of heraldry. Know also that hearing good report of our faithful servant _____ as a gentle(wo)man skilled in the arts of honour we are minded to appoint them as our Pursuivant / Herald [Extraordinary].
In witness thereof we call forth all and any members of the College of Heralds here present and direct them to present _____ before Us!
The heralds come forward, escorting the candidate, and stand aside.
- Herald
- Do you _____ , of your own free will, swear to serve ____ [and ____] as pursuivant / herald?
- Candidate
-
If swearing:
- Herald
- You shall swear by the faith that you owe to the Lords / Barons / Princes / Sovereigns whose arms you shall bear, that you shall truly keep such things as are comprised in the articles following:
Following each of the articles, the candidate responds “I so swear”.
If not swearing:
- Herald
- By the faith that you owe to the Lords / Barons / Princes / Sovereigns whose arms you shallbear, you shall truly keep such things as are comprised in the articles following:
- Herald
- First, you shall be true to our high and most excellent Lords / Barons / Princes / Sovereigns that they are, and to them that make you a herald. And if you should have any knowledge or hear any imagination of treason, you shall discover it to them or to their noble council; and counsel it in no manner.
You shall be serviceable to all gentle persons to do their commandments to their worship of noble deeds; and to excuse their worship by your good counsel, and ever ready to offer your service to them.
You shall be secret and keep the secrets of knights, squires, ladies, gentlewomen, and all manner of gentle folk; a confessor of arms; and not discover them in any wise except treason aforesaid.
If you be in any place where you hear debate or peril between two gentles which you be privy to, if so be it that you be required by prince, judge, or any other to bear witness, you shall not be without license of both parties, and when you have leave, you shall not testify for any good favour or awe, but say the truth to your knowledge.
If investing a Kingdom, Principality or Regional Herald
You shall pursue learning, and teach officers of arms under you, all manner of things pertaining to nobility.
You shall forsake all places of dishonesty and hazard and dishonestly going to common taverns and places of debates and all manner of vices, and take to virtues as much as you are able.
If swearing (Be aware of the potential religious sensitivities of this action. It may be omitted.)
- Herald
- These articles you have sworn truly to keep with all your might and power.
An attendant moves forward and gives the goblet of water to the appointing noble who slowly pours a bit of water from the goblet over the candidate’s head while speaking these words:
If swearing
- **Presiding noble
- Then, by your oath, I do create you pursuivant / herald by the name of _____ . As you shall serve Us as pursuivant / herald, We shall reward you with largesse.
If not swearing
- **Presiding noble
- I hereby create you pursuivant / herald by the name of _____ . As you shall serve Us as pursuivant / herald, We shall reward you with largesse.
Sovereign/Baron gives the cup to the candidate.
If creating a Pursuivant
- Herald
- Let the pursuivant be invested with his tabard of office, and let him wear it athwart as befits his rank of pursuivant, and in no other way.
Attendents move forward and put a tabard on the candidate. The tabard should be put on so that the arms of the tabard are on the candidate’s chest and the front and back drape over the candidate’s shoulders and arms.
If creating a Herald
- Herald
- Let the herald be invested with his tabard of office and let him wear it so that he may be known as a herald.
Attendants move forward and put a tabard over the head of the candidate so that it is athwart. Then, in a separate and obvious motion, the tabard is turned so that it is worn properly. If the candidate was already wearing a tabard athwart then the attendants turn the tabard so that it is worn properly.
- **Presiding Noble
- Arise, _____ , and go forth.
The herald exhorts cheers from the populace.
** Acknowledgements **
This is heavily based on a ceremony composed by Lothar von Katzenellenbogen and subsequently adapted by Eiríkr Sigurðarson for use within the Caidan College of Heralds.