We are not copying the Herms because Knights have always had a initiation ceremony since the early 12th century or so. It's been made famous in plays, movies, books, etc and I think we should have one as well. Initiation shall take place in either the Clan Hall or the Church in Klein. These two seem the most fitting in this event. We will need a priest to assist in the ceremony and say many parts of the oath. We might have toask a Imm to do it, or if that is not desired, we can either have our GM do some of the talking or have another Knight do it. It would be most respectful if we can have as many knights present at the ceremony as possible asides from courtesy, caring, and chivalrious ways.The new knight shall be taken to the place of initiation with his/herKnightly sword present. No small wooden clubs, small practice swords,small daggers and such. The candidate shall receive sacrament if possible.Then the officiating priest shall say to the candidate to give the priesthis/her sword/weapon. The priest shall ask the candidate some questions: Proposed Knighting Ceremony:
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***********************Modern English***********************"Sir, we ask that it be granted and given to us collectively and individually and all our clergies and peasants and men of England that you will keep and grant the privilege of Holy Church and due law and rightwiseness and defend them as a Knight's oath, that he should in his realm to every bishop and abbot and to their clergies and pesants and men of England. And the Knight shall answer in this way: "With glad will and devout soul I shall keep due law and rightwiseness, defending it in as much as I may.With God’s help as a knight to do in his country to every bishop and abbotand to their clergies and peasants and men of England by right and reason."
***********************Middle English***********************
"Sir, we aske that it be grauntid and pdonidto us and to teche of us and all oure clergies and pepill of engelonde that is yevry and takyn to us ye willkepe and gaunte the privilege of holy chirche and dewe lawe and rightwisnesse and them defende as a knight owith and schulde in his remeto every bisshop and abbot and to ther clergies and pepill of engelonde. And the knight schall answere in this wise."With glad wille and devoute I shall kepe and doo dewe lawe and rightwisnessand defende it in as moche as I may with goddis helpe as a knight owith todoo in his rewme to evy bisshop and abbot and to ther clergies and pepill ofengelonde bi reson and right."
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The priest then bless the sword and return it. The candidate then shall fold his arms and knelt before the presiding knight, who after some questions about his motives and purposes in requesting admission, administered to him the oaths, and grant his request.
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***********************Modern English***********************The Knight's Oath: "Sir, wilt thou keep and by your oath confirm to the people of England the laws and customs granted to them by ancient kings of England, rightfully mine and devout to God; namely the laws, customs and franchises granted tothe clergy and to the people by the glorious Sir ----- to your power." The knight shall answer, "I shall keep them." "Sir, shall you keep to God and to Holy Church and to the clergy to thepeople peace and accord Holy after your power? Sir, shall you do a causeto be kept in all your domains and judgments true and right in mercy andtruth?" The knight shall answer, "I shall do." "Sir, will you grant to hold and fulfill and defend rightful laws and customswhich the commons of your realm shall choose, to strengthen and maintainthem to the worship of God after all your power? "The knight shall answer, "I shall grant and behold it."
***********************Middle English***********************
The Knightis othe."Sir wilt graunt and kepe and bi yowre oth conferme to the pepill ofEngelonde the lawes and the customes grauntid to hem bi auncient kyngisof engelonde rightfull me and devoute to god and namely the lawes customesand fraunchesies grauntid to the clergie and to the people bi the gloriouseseynt ----- to yowr power.The knight schall answere "I schall kepe them.""Sir ye chal kepe to god and to holy chirche and to the clergie and to thepepill peese and acorde holly after yowre power. Sir ye schall doo and dooto the kepte in all yowre domes and Jugementis trewe and even rightwisnessein mercy and trouthe."The knight schall aunswere "I schall doo"."Sir will ye graunte to holde fulfille and behote yow to defende rightfulllawes and customes the whiche the comons of yo rewme schall chese"ye schall answere "I graunt and behote it."
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Some of the knights present, sometimes even ladies and damsels(possiblely unclanned may be present as well which is not possible if we perform the ceremony in our clan hall), handed to him insuccession the spurs, the coat of mail, the hauberk, the armlet and gauntlet, and lastly he girded on the sword. He then knelt again before the president, who, rising from his seat, gave him the "accolade," which consisted of three strokes, with the flat of asword, on the shoulder or neck of the candidate, accompanied by thewords: "In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I makethee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal!"