Herald: Your Excellencies, some of the Officers of Madrone beg leave to approach, that they may retire from their offices.
Baron: Let them approach, with witnesses.
Herald: Their excellencies call before them all retiring officers of Madrone, with any other pressent officers to witness.
[The officers approach, with their regalia. Retiring officers kneel in a group before the Thrones. (If possible, the leader of the group should present a document to the Herald who reads it: )]
Herald: Unto our Baron and Baroness, Fiach and Anne-Marie, do we, the Officers of Madrone, present ourselves. We have served you and your people and land, and now the service we swore has been completed. We beg your leave to honorably retire from these Offices and duties with which you have entrusted us. So say we
[Officers state their names.]
Baroness: It is with sadness and with pride that we release you from our service and from the responsibilities you have borne so well. We trust that your experience and example will continue to help the Barony grow and prosper.
Herald: Their Excellencies call forward the new Officers of Madrone.
Baron: My Lords and Ladies, the Officers of the Barony have commended you to us for the filling of the Offices they leave behind. Are you willing to take their places, and serve as Officers of the Barony of Madrone?
[New officers respond as they will.]
Baroness: Then assume your Tokens of Office and the responsibilities that go with them. Strive to maintain and to serve the Barony as did your predecessors.
[Retiring Officers garb their successors in Regalia and Tokens of their Offices, then depart.]
OPTIONAL!!!
Herald: Their Excellencies call forward all of the Officers
of Madrone.
[All continuing Officers come forward in their regalia, and kneel with the new officers.]
Herald: Do you, _______________________, swear an oath of service to the Barony of Madrone, that you will obey their Excellencies' lawful commands in all matters concerning this land; and mindful that the harmony of An Tir springs from your own deeds, that you will deal courteously and fairly with those of every degree, until you are released from this Oath, or the Baron and Baroness depart from these lands.
subject: I so swear.
Baron: We do hereby accept the homage that you have offered unto Us. And We, for Our part, do return this honor unto you, and those of your household, so long as we hold these lands Madrone.
Baron: So Say I, Fiach, Baron of Madrone.
Baroness: So Say I, Anne-Marie, Baroness of Madrone.
ct 25 APR, 02