The Third Book of the Chronicles of Eoforwic

Page 6 of 6

21 January, A.S. X, A.D. MCMLXXXVI

To all unto whom these presents shall come does the Lord James MacAndrews send his Greetings.

I make the following proposal for Ealdormere.

§ I propose that the Crown of the Middle Kingdom create a Crown Principality with borders contiguous with the borders of H.M. Elizabeth II, the Queen of Canada's Province of Ontario.

§ This principality, to be called Ealdormere, will be a principality whose officers shall report to the appropriate officers of the Middle Kingdom.

§ Ealdormere's prince shall be the Sovereign of the Middle Kingdom, who shall add "Prince of Ealdormere" to his other titles and styles. The Queen of the Middle Kingdom shall be additionally styled Princess of Ealdormere.

§ It might also be done that the Crown Prince of the Middle Kingdom be styled the Prince of Ealdormere either by courtesy of his predecessor or by right, with his consort styled the Princess of Ealdormere.

§ Ealdormere's prince shall call a great tourney, at which the yeomen, squires, and chivalry of Ealdormere shall contend in a manner approved by the Moot of Ealdormere. the winner of this tourney shall be appointed by Royal warrant to be the prince's Viceroy of Ealdormere. The Viceroy's lady shall be appointed by Royal warrant as the Vicereine of Ealdormere. In the event that a lady shall win this tournament, the styles shall be reversed, with the winner of the tourney styled the Vicereine and the lord she champions styled the Viceroy.

§ The Viceroy shall embody the Crown. His voice shall be the voice of the crown, as shall the voice of his Trillium Herald. the office of the Viceroy shall carry with it a Grant of Arms, placing the Viceroy in the Order of Precedence just ahead of the territorial barons, and just behind the peerage. The viceroy shall be styled "his Highness the Lord Blank of Blank by Right of the Crown Viceroy for his Majesty (or Royal Highness), the Prince of Ealdormere."

§ The Viceroy shall have the power to award, grant or issue by letters patent arms on the authority of the Crown. The Viceroy shall have the power on that same Crown authority to elevate into Kingdom orders, or confer Kingdom awards. On specific orders of the Crown, the Viceroy shall grant peerages.

§ The power of the Barons of Ealdormere shall devolve from the Crown, through the Prince of Ealdormere, and through the Viceroy. This shall not restrict the feudal rights of barons to directly advise the king and to expect direct aid and succour from the king in times of trouble, for the Viceroy will not hold Ealdormere in fief from the Prince of Ealdormere, but rather will merely embody the sovereign of Ealdormere.

§ The Viceroy shall be the ceremonial head of the Crown Principality of Ealdormere, and thus shall bear the arms and honours of the Crown Principality during his tenure.

§ Upon stepping down from the Viceregal throne, the former Viceroy might be entered into a kingdom-level order comprising exclusively those who have served as Viceroy or Vicereine of Ealdormere.

§ The current awards for service to the Champion and Consort shall become Crown principality awards for service to the Viceroy and Vicereine. The Crown Principality might confer its own awards on the direct authority of the Viceroy and Vicereine in their capacities as ceremonial heads of the Crown Principality. the Crown principality will continue to maintain the Orders of the Middle Kingdom.

§ The Ursus, now the journal of the Region of Ealdormere, will become the journal of the Crown Principality.

Submitted under my hand in my personal capacity as a noble of the Region of Ealdormere in the Middle Kingdom, at the House of the Five in Eoforwic, Septentria

James Mac Andrews

This is copied precisely from the Pale, including many errors in syntax and spelling. The torturous language seems to indicate haste in preparing the announcement.

>From the Crown

At the Curia Regis held on March 8, A.S. XX in the March of Gwyntarian, the main topic of discussion was the undesirable effects which have been occurring because of "Regionalism" within the Kingdom. The Crown recognizes that most of what has been done in the attempt to develop "Regions" has proceeded from the best of motives. We support any efforts to foster cooperation among groups for the benefit of the Kingdom and the Society, however events have demonstrated that the deveopment of "Regions" with their own names and officials outside of the official structure of the Kingdom often leads to results which are detrimental rather than beneficial regardless of the desire of most people in the "Regions".

The foremost of these detrimental effects is factionalism, beside the geographical area with its own name which creates the impression of a real group, however "unofficial" promoters profess it to be. The "Regional identity" which a name fosters has been misused as well. In the past it has gone as far as "Regional official" urging the people within their region to devote their talents and energies exclusively to the region rather than to benefit the Kingdom as a whole.

The second detrimental effect is that of the spread of misinformation as to the way that the Society and the Kingdom work and what groups are official. Several newsletter inform their readers that the groups are part of the "Region of X" and list the "Regional officers". Recently a "Regional Championship" has caused problems in two separate areas, with the "Regional Champion" being claimed to posess more power and prerogatives than consistant with Kingdom Law and Corpora. The danger in these claims lies to a great extent in the dissension they cause and offcers seeking to uphold Kingdom Law must inevitably conflict with those propounding such claims.

Accordingly a NEW KINGDOM LAW is now in effect:

Article XV 550 - No geographic area other than a group officially recognised by the Kingdom Seneschal may use a name or have a champion. (All groups currently listed in the Middle Kingdom Collegium Seneschallorum are officially recognized by the Kingdom Seneschal).

The possibility of merely defining what a "Region" could or could not do was discussed, however to do so would be to give official status to the "Regions" and it was decided that the dangers of this far outweigh the advantages which would come from the "Regional identity," increased cooperation within the "Region." The Curia strongly feels that cooperation between groups is possible within the present Official Kingdom structure and that just as much can be accomplished this way as could be in a "Region" but without attendant dangers.

Again, be it known that we wish to encourage cooperation between groups, especially in forming large fighting units for the Pennsic War. However this cooperation must be done within the official structure of the Kingdom.

For the Middle,

Elegil Isabella R.

Note: The above kingdom Law was listed in the Laws of the Middle Kingdom, Eliahu II, as XIV-700, with slightly different wording. No data is available as to when either version was proclaimed. Per Law II-101 laws must be proclaimed in court as well as published in the Pale, but no requirement exists for publishing the data of the court proclamation in the newsletter. -- Hyrcanos

XV-600: Prospective Principalities must reach and maintain a level of at least 125 sustaining plus 50 additional memberships.

Elegil Rex Isabella Regina Genevieve Seneschal

Note: The above Kingdom Law was listed in the Laws of the Middle Kingdom, Eliahu II, as XIV-600. This is a reduction of the minimum Midrealm requirement for principality, though the number continued to exceed the Society's minimum. -- Hyrcanos

Many tales are told of the young hero Ealdormere, but the strangest tale told is the tale of her birth; for they say that she did not come to be in the usual way, but that this was the way of it:

The wise and mighty of the land desired to draw together the people, to make their land strong and glorious. For this they needed a hero, yet none was in evidence, and the omens foretold none to be soon born. Thus they resolved to create their own.

They drew her spirit and flesh from the land itself, from its wide skies and waters, from its forests and fields, and from its hard, enduring stone and soft, fertile earth. Each woman and man of them gave of their own strength, and at length a perfect infant lay before them.

All the people were called to her naming, and from the highest lord to the lowest churl they came. Not only the people, but also the hare, the wolf, and the bear came to represent the beasts of field and forest. Then each gave a gift that suited their means. the hare gave her cunning and fleetness of foot, the wolf gave his unstinting loyalty, and the bear gave his slow wisdom and great strength.

But while the people rejoyced, the first of the Three who sit by the well and work the loom of the World called to her sisters, saying, "Look, here is a hank laid ready for spinning that I never carded. Someone is joggling our elbows." Then they grew angry, and cast about for the mischiefmaker.

At length they noticed the people celebrating, and marked the newborn babe. The youngest of the Three said, "Here are those who would make themselves our equals. Sisters, let us teach them a lesson. I see that they are giving gifts. Let us each give a gift also, and gifts that they shall rue."

Thus it came about that Ealdormere received three bright gifts and three dark gifts all on the same day.

The first bright gift that the wise and mighty gave was a good mind and a steady hand, that she might be a great artisan; the first dark gift that the Three gave was this: Though she might create great wonders, yet nothing she did would outlast her.

The second gift was a strong back and a keen eye, that she might be a great archer; the second dark gift the Three gave was this: However true her shafts might fly, they would never diminish the number of her enemies.

the third gift the wise and mighty gave was a glad heart and a generous hand, that she might always have friends; the last and bitterest dark gift was this: Though she might have a multitude of friends, yet none would stand by her I her hour of extremity.

This is the tale of her birth and many more are told of her youth; how when she could barely walk she had grown too large for any house, and that while still a maid she had followed her King to war and done valiant deeds.

They tell how her people loved her, for she was not haughty, but noble and worshipful; and her honour was bright like a mirror, wherein they saw their own honour reflected bright.

Of her end no one knows the true tale, but only that on a day in that season when the hint of Spring first raises hopes and the fast following frost dashes them, word came from the king that Ealdormere was no more.

Some say that in her youthful rashness, she sounded her challenge before the gates of the bright gods themselves and was cast down in ruin; but one among the gods took pity on her brave heart and her beauty and raised her to the heavens. They say that on a winter night, when the clear sky brings biting frost, you can see her high in the southern sky, her sword at her side, guarding the borders of the land that she loves.

Others say that she was not slain at all, but laid under an enchantment of sleep, wherein she does not age, and at their hour of greatest need she shall awake and lead her people.

However true these tales may be we cannot know, but we do know that one thing is true. Before Ealdormere left, she drew forth her secret heart, and breaking it into a multitude of pieces, she gave a bit to each of her people to safeguard. And whenever a person is moved to speak of Ealdormere, and whenever the listeners are moved by what they hear, it is one piece of her secret heart that speaks, and the others listen.

Aedan

>From Their Majesties

We, Corwyn, by right of arms and law Sovereign of the Middle kingdom and Master of the Noble Order of Chivalry, ruler from the frozen banks of the Ottawa unto the mud of the Great River and Shana, Queen of Love and Beauty, our Consort and Patroness of the Arts and Sciences, sitting in Court and Council and upon the considered advice of our Heirs, Prince Reynard and Princess Brynhildr, Our noble peers, Duke Talymar and Duchess Eislinn, Duke Eliahu and Duchess Elen and our Great Officers of State do issue by these presents a Charter of Command and Consent.

Recognising the unity of purpose and contributions that the people of the northern reaches have given unto our Kingdom, by our command and consent do we create the land comprising the Barony of Septentria, the Barony of Skraeling Althing and the Shire of Noergate, and any baronies, shires and colleges that may in future be created within those lands as the Crown Principality of Ealdormere. They shall stand in fealty and homage to the Crown of the Middle.

By our command and consent do we, as King and Queen of the Midrealm recognize ourself and our queen as Prince and Princess and Sovereign of the Crown Principality of Ealdormere.

By our command and consent do we assign by courtesy the titles Prince and Princess of Ealdormere to our heirs, the Crown Prince and Princess of the Middle Kingdom.

By our command and grant will we create a Lord and Lady Lieutenant to administer Ealdormere in our names and at the Crown's pleasure. Upon completion of their service, at the discretion of the Crown, we shall award unto them a Grant of Arms.

By our command will the Lord and Lady Lieutenant, in consultation with our Officers of State create a Council of the Crown in Ealdormere, to include those deputies of Kingdom Officers whose purview includes Ealdormere, and our barons and baronesses and peers who reside within its boundaries.

Done to the greater glory of the Middle Kingdom and the Society, in the name of Chivalry, Courtesy and the ideals we hold dear, in this our Court and Council, this 20th day of August, in this the 23rd year of the Society in testimony whereof we have affixed our seal.

Corwyn Rex Shana Regina