[MR] A Small Request for Prospective Crowns

[c kane]

   My Lords and Ladies,
   
  The recent (at Coronation) elevation of Mistress Elspet Byndelaise to 
  the Order of the Laurel has occasioned a fair amount of commentary, 
  mostly within the Order of the Laurel. I think, however, that this is 
  an issue that others should participate in, particularly those 
  contemplating fighting in Crown Tourneys.
   
  I am saddened and disheartened that none of that commentary was brought directly to the Crown and that the first I read about it is in this public forum.
   
  The current practice is that usually the members of the Order, and 
  particularly the mentor of the prospective peer is notified in advance, 
  to a greater or lesser extent. In this case mentioned above, no one in 
  the Order, save the mentor, was notified by the Crowns, as I understand 
  it, less than a week in advance..
   
  This simply is not true. Her Majesty, when She was still Her Highness let Elspet's peer know that we intended to elevate Her if Their Majesties at the time Michael and Seonaid did not. Right after Pennsic Anneke contacted Aldis and told her that We were minded to recognize Elspet. Anneke told her that We would like to do so at Coronation but also understood if that was not enough time. I am sorry that you didn't know Kiri, but others did. Master Tristan who did her scroll, Mistress Hrothny who did her towel, Mistress Theora who arranged a lot, Duchess Kyneburh who crafted an A collar for her, her husband and household, etc. All of those whose responsibility it is in my mind to make sure the candidate's day is special and that they have there the things they want or need.
   
  Usually the reason given for not letting friends and family know in advance is the concern that the surprise will be ruined. While I can understand this concern, I believe 
  it is outweighed by the need to make sure that the day is memorable for 
  the candidate.
   
  This may be an area where we just have to agree to disagree. I don't think that the surprise is more important to the day being memorable, I feel it is part of what makes it so. I also feel there are others who should already know and be taking care of these details. I would also state that this concern for a need to tell the candidate was not expressed to us in this particular case. Perhaps I misread Elspet's reactions to being called into court and when she saw her vigil tent next to the lake, but it appears to me that the surprise magnified the importance of it. As far as letting family and friends know in this case, her household knew and I assumed would inform those family and friends who she needed to be there. As far as telling the Order goes, if the Order could keep the business told them by the monarchs quiet, it might be possible. I hate to be that blunt about it, but it has been this way for reigns and reigns. It has already happened this reign. I have already
 been questioned by a Pelican about a candidate on a Laurel polling and the reign is a week old.
   
  The candidate is not made aware of their impending elevation until they 
  are put on vigil in a morning Court. The person has really no time to 
  prepare, participate in the planning of their vigil and ceremony, 
  and/or to make sure that friends and family can be present. This is often a 
  major consideration because family may be not part of the SCA...or may 
  be from another Kingdom, and would need to make a special effort to be 
  present. The candidate has no chance to make sure they are properly 
  prepared, mentally and spiritually.
   
  I believe that Duke Cuan put it best when describing the surprise of a knighting vigil, the bath, etc. It was a shock to the system but it cleared the mind of everything but the task at hand. It made it easy to focus on the advice and wisdom that would soon be imparted on vigil and let go of other thoughts...did I leave the iron on, is there a sale next week... Also if the candidate needs a chunk of time to prepare mentally, or spiritually to sit vigil are they really ready? Besides isn't getting mentally and spiritually prepared for being raised to the peerage what the vigil is for? Or why did squires in some periods pray in churches all night before they received the accolade.
   
  What I propose is that we consider notifying the candidate by Writ, 
  sometime before they are to be elevated, of their impending elevation. 
  This is done in a number of other Kingdoms, and has been done in 
  Atlantia on occasion. Then, vigils could be done in one of a couple of 
  ways...either have a "mini-vigil" at every event the candidate attends, 
  or have the vigil on the day of elevation (preferred). This gives the 
  candidate time to get used to the idea of being elevated (and prevents 
  problems in the occasional situation where the individual does not like 
  surprises!). It allows them to have a say in how their ceremony is to 
  be organized and who will participate. It allows the scribes time to 
  get the scroll completed. The candidate has time to prepare a Master 
  work for display during their vigil (if a Laurel), not to mention 
  having appropriate garb to wear for the ceremony. It allows those close to 
  the candidate to prepare gifts for the candidate...and for those either not 
  in the SCA or who live in distant places (a real concern for folks in 
  Atlantia, given the transient nature of our populace!) a chance to 
  arrange to be there. It also eliminates the problem of a secret being 
  leaked and found out ahead of time by the candidate!
   
  While I do know that Writs are issued in some other kingdoms surprising the candidate is done in other kingdoms as well. It has also been the tradition in Atlantia that we surprise candidates for elevation. I know that traditions are not that important to some, but they are to me. As far as a candidate having a say in their ceremony, there are two ways this can already be accomplished. One is for their peer to ask them well in advance of their wishes. The other is to ask them their preference while they sit vigil. In this particular case while the time was shorter then we would have liked, Master Tristan did a fabulous job getting a wonderful scroll done. The candidate should already own appropriate garb for elevation if they are being considered. This may not be a new, never worn outfit, but a piece of court garb fit to be seen in at court. I have also been privy to many Pelican cloaks, vigil gowns or tunics, and elevation garb being made lovingly all without the
 candidate's knowledge of the event. As far as a master work goes, that is a single peerage issue and should not drive how all the peerage candidates are notified and elevated. Also there is nothing that states that a person peer, or even the Crown cannot commission a masterwork when it is presented, choose that time to pull them for vigil. Who for that matter gets to decide whether what is made is a masterwork. If I as the Crown don't like what candidate X has made do I get to refuse to elevate them. I have never understood why people wait for the last minute to make gifts for a peerage candidate. Except in rare instances it really is a matter of when and not if a really worthy candidate will be elevated. Worst case you make a gift for your friend and find another excuse to give it to them. Also why can't a gift be made and given after the elevation in celebration of it? "It also eliminates the problem of a secret being leaked and found out ahead of time by the candidate!"
 If we as peers could work a little harder not to talk and gossip, this wouldn't be a problem. 
   
  It is my hope that Crown aspirants will consider this as a reasonable 
  and meaningful way to elevate gentles into the Peerage Orders. Of 
  course, each Crown is free to do this as they see fit. However, if 
  this were to become the customary way of doing things, then more would feel 
  comfortable doing this in this fashion.
   
  I would be sad to see this become the norm in how we elevate candidates. It would be the killing of yet another of our Kingdom traditions. I believe there are exceptions to everything and have allowed candidates the chance to do masterworks before elevation (Master Findlach to name one off the top of my head). I just don't think that this should be the norm for Atlantia, and it won't be for this reign. If you are concerned you might miss a peerage then show up. I would understand more of an uproar if We had elevated Mistress Elspet at a small out of the way event with no notice to anyone. She was elevated at a Coronation and a number of the order did know, just not the body as a whole. For those of you who missed it, I am sorry that the coronation of Atlantia's new monarchs, specifically a new first time Queen was not important an important enough reason for you to attend. As a peer I feel it is my duty to attend Coronations and Crowns to show my support. In the last
 decade I have missed seeing one set of monarchs crowned (sorry Rob and Denise) and have seen how all of them won the right to rule. Just part of what I feel my job as a peer is...your mileage may vary.
   
  I would ask any of those previous monarchs who have sat this throne to feel free to voice their opinions on this subject as Duke Logan has done. You are all part of the history that helped build this tradition and many others in Our fair kingdom. Finally, I would ask that Mistress Elspet Byndelaise please post here her opinion of the day. I would like to know if We have cheated her or in some way lessened her day by keeping it a surprise from her so that We may apologize to her if that is the case. If that is not the case then I expect that any future expressing of the need not to surprise a candidate will not reference Mistress Elspet's elevation. If Mistress Elspet is not on this list can someone make sure she sees this, because her good and honest council in this matter is important to Us.
   
  I remain, in Service to Atlantia,
   
  Minowara Kiritsubo no Ason, OL, OP
  Draic Derg Herald
   
  In service to Atlantia and Her people,
   
  Ragnarr
  Rex

 		
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