Unofficial Court Report: Last Court of Brion III and Anna III
On the 1st of April, A.S. LI, also numbered 2017 in the common era, Their Majesties Brion III and Anna III traveled to the Barony of Dragonship Haven, there to witness the Coronation of Their Heirs. That morning, Their Majesties opened their Last Court of the reign.
Lord Alexandre Saint Pierre was called forward. Praising his skills as a calligrapher and artist, Their Majesties called for the Order of the Laurel and bade Alexandre to sit vigil and contemplate whether he would accept a place in that Order, his answer to be given that evening.
Cosimo de Venezia and Lady Elaine Howys of Morningthorpe were called forward and recognised as Master Bowmen.
Mistress Mercedes Vera de Calafia was called forward. Though she was absent, Her Majesty bestowed upon Mercedes her Queen’s Award of Courtesy for her exemplary behaviour as Kingdom Seneschal.
Their Majesties called for Lord John fitz Thomas and Lady Janna von Guggisberg. For their good works as event stewards for King’s and Queen’s Bardic and Arts & Sciences Champions, they were awarded the Order of the Burdened Tyger.
Laurence Vaughn was summoned before the Throne. In recognition of his skills as a fighter and winner of the year’s Novice Tourney, in addition to service to multiple baronies, he was awarded the Order of the Silver Tyger. A scroll will be forthcoming.
The Crown called for Baron Duncan Kerr. They praised his skill with horses and at the equestrian games and named him the premier of the new Order of the Silver Mantle. He was given a scroll calligraphed by Mistress Nest verch Tangwistel with illumination by Melina al-Andalusiyya.
Mistress Eloise of Coulter was called for and Their Majesties spoke of her attention to detail in researching and practicing her clothing, lifestyle, and mannerisms and awarded her the King’s Order of Excellence. She was given a small girdle book created by Mistress Sarra the Lymner with words by Sir Jan Janowicz Bogdanski.
Master Rowen Cloteworthy and Mistress Suba al-Hadid were announced as the next Baron and Baroness of Bhakail.
Their Majesties called for Lady Nastassiia Ivanova Medvedeva called Tasha. They spoke of her work as record-keeper and webminister for the reign and for that and more gave her a Court Barony. She was given a scroll created by Mistress Saerlaith ingen Chennetig with words by Sir Lucius Aurelius Varus.
Mistress Kayleigh MacWhyte was summoned and praised by the Crown for her work as royal scheduler and scribe. She was given an Augmentation of Arms and a scroll created by Lord Vettorio Antonello.
The Crown next called for Mistress Lucie Lovegood and Baroness Isabelle de Montreuil sur Mer. They were each given a small gift.
Before she was dismissed, Their Majesties had further words for Baroness Isabelle de Montreuil sur Mer. For her excellent work as Head Lady in Waiting, she was given an Augmentation of Arms, with a scroll illuminated by Lady Palotzi Marti and calligraphed by Mistress Eleanor Catlyng.
Their Majesties called for Duchess Katherine Stanhope and Duke Randall of the Dark, thanked them for their friendship and gave them gifts as a token of that friendship.
Lady Anne de Basillon, Lady Audrye Bennett, Lord Hugh Tauerner, Rhiannon Grimolfsdottir, Lord Robert of Angelspur, and Baron Robert dwe Makmayane were called before the Crown. For their efforts assisting the reign, they were each presented with tokens of the Queen’s Award of Esteem.
Next, King Brion called for Elian of the Fellswood, Lady Marian Kirkpatrick, Agnes de la Court, and Baroness Alana of Skye. For each of their efforts, they were given tokens of the King’s Award of Esteem.
His Majesty called for Lady Cellach Dhonn Inghean Mhic an Mhadaidh, Baron Cristoff Gockerhan von Loch called Clockwork, Master Ryan McWhyte, Duchess Aikaterine Fitzwilliam, Baron Duncan Kerr, Baroness Jeanne de Robin, and Master Rowen Cloteworthy. For their service to His Majesty and the reign, each was awarded the King’s Cypher.
Queen Anna then called for Lady Serafina della Torre and Lady Fortune St. Keyne. For their service to Her Majesty, they were awarded the Queen’s Cypher.
King Brion called Lady Clarice d’Allaines le Comte and Lord Corwin Blackthorn before the throne. In recognition and thanks for their service, they were awarded the King’s Cypher.
Thereafter, Her Majesty called for Lady Sitt al-Gharb ha-niqret Khazariyya called Raven, Lord Johannes Mikkinen, Lord Grimolfr Skulason, Lord Alaric Godricsson, Lord Hassan ibn Abd al-Malik, and Lady Yasemin bint al-Hajjar. For all their service to the Queen and the reign, they were each awarded the Queen’s Cypher.
The Crown asked for the attendance of Lord Agapios Cargos. For his exemplary service and comportment on the Queen’s Guard, he was presented with a Court Barony and Granted Arms. He was given a scroll to commemorate this, created by Mistress Fiona O’Maille ó Chuan Coille.
Finally, Their Majesties called for the Princes Royale, Lord Duncan Tarragon and Lord Nigel Tarragon. In recognition of all the young men gave, and gave up, for their parents’ reigns, each was given a Court Barony and a Grant of Arms. Both received scrolls crafted by Brion Rex and Anna Regina.
The main business of Court concluded, Brion turned to Anna and sang “You Will Always Be My Queen”. The audience could be heard quietly singing along with him on the chorus. Her Majesty was moved to tears.
Her Majesty then dismissed the retainers, ladies-in-waiting, and Queen’s Guard. The royal household now dismissed, the Crown called for Their Heirs. Prince Ioannes walked in by himself, then waited as his Princess, Honig, processed in with her retainers and ladies to the sound of drumming and a recorder solo by Lord Arne Ulrichsson. With Ioannes and Honig kneeling before them, King Brion then took the crown from Queen Anna’s head and he and Anna crowned Honig Empress. Brion then took the crown from his own head and he, Anna, and Empress Honig crowned Ioannes Emperor of the East. Now Duke Brion and Duchess Anna withdrew to much applause and thus began the coronation ceremony of Ioannes and Honig.
These are the events of the Court as I recall them. My thanks to all the heralds who helped with this reign, and all those other retainers, ladies in waiting, guards, scribes, and all those others who made the day and the reign the wonderful time it was.
Long live the King! Long live the Queen! Long live the East!
Pray know I remain,
For Crown and College,
– Master Rowen Cloteworthy