N.B.: (a) Italic type indicates words or phrases which may need to be adjusted for gender or number; and (b) horizontal rules mark off optional portions of the ritual
I. FORMING THE COUNCIL
After processions of (1) the Peers; (2) Great Officers of State not Privy Councillors; and (3) the Privy Council,
Regalia, Regent and Lord Great Steward,
The LORD PRESIDENT shall take the Chair.
LORD PRESIDENT: My Lords, My Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen, pray, be seated.
The COUNCILLORS-GENERAL shall sit.
The LORD PRESIDENT shall rise and bow to the Steward.
LORD PRESIDENT: My Lord, the Peers of the Realms and the Commons have assembled.
STEWARD: Read the Writ of Summons.
OSBILIATH or another herald shall stand in the well of the chamber.
OSGILIATH: All rise. [He reads the Writ, then turns to the peers on the Steward's side of the chamber] My lords, my ladies, have you come here in reply to this summons?
PEERS ON STEWARD'S SIDE: We have.
OSGILIATH: [turning to the peers on the other side} My lords, my ladies, have you come here in reply to this summons?
PEERS ON REGENT'S SIDE: We have.
OSGILIATH: [turning to the Mayor of the Shire and Reprosentatives] Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen, have you come here in reply to this summons?
MAYOR & REPRESENTATIVES: We have.
OSGILIATH: [addressing the Mayor or the senior representative} Sir, have you examined the Certificates of Election of these citizens here present, and are you satisfied that they have been duly elected?
MAYOR: I have examined the said certificates, and am satisfied.
OSGILIATH: My Lords, My Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen, please be seated. My Lord President, certain of the Right Honourable members of this body have not previously sat as Peers in the Council-General.
LORD PRESIDENT: Pray, present them.
The HERALD shall then announce the names and styles and titles of each of the Peers concerned.
OSGILIATH: My Lords, My Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present unto you ... [style, name, titles].
The EARL MARSHAL accompanies the new Peers to each side of the chamber, beginning at the Steward's side, thence to the Regent's side, thence to the Commons, and finally to the LORD PRESIDENT, who shall take each new Peer by the hand as a sign of recognition and welcome. The new Peers shall bow at each side of the chamber.
OSGILIATH: My Lord President, the Council-General is formed.
LORD PRESIDENT: I yield to the Lord Chancellor.
II. BUSINESS
The LORD PRESIDENT shall vacate the chair and the LORD CHANCELLOR, or Keeper of the Great Seal, or the peer chosen to preside, shall, after bowing to the Council, shall take the chair.
LORD CHANCELLOR: I declare the Council-General of 75-- open. My Lord Steward, why have you summoned us here?
The LORD GREAT STEWARD shall then address the Council. Following the Steward's Address, the Chair will recognize: (a) the LORD PRESIDENT to move the Government Programme, if any; after the debate on which, (b) other members wishing to introduce motions in response to the Steward's address.
There being no further such motions, the Chair will accept other Motions.
The Chair will then recognize THE REGENT, who may address the Council. Following the Regent's address, the Chair will recognize members wishing to introduce motions arising from the address.
III. ELECTIONS
The Chair will ask for a report from the Accession Council.
LORD CHANCELLOR: Is there a report of the Accession Council?
THE MAYOR of the Shire or other secretary of the Accession Council shall rise.
MAYOR: My Lord, there is. I do certify that inasmuch as the Accession Council have met and determined that no legitimate claimant to the Throne has come forward, His Grace the Duke of Numenor is to continue in the High Office of Regent of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor Until the King Return. [Bows and sits.]
LORD CHANCELLOR: [Addressing the REGENT, who shall rise.] Is your Grace willing to continue in this High Office, and to reaffirm the promises with which your Grace assumed it?
REGENT: I am.
The STEWARD will rise and face the Regent.
STEWARD: Will you promise to uphold the honour of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in all your doings?
REGENT: I will.
STEWARD: Will you to your power promote justice and mercy and truth and virtue and peace and the King's Majestie in all your dealings with the nations of the world?
REGENT: I will promote them.
STEWARD: Will you likewise suffer no diminution of His August Majestie's might, dominion, and power beyond his borders?
REGENT: I will suffer none.
The EARL MARSHAL will then escort the REGENT to the Throne, where the REGENT will place his right hand upon the Throne, and facing the Chamber, say:
REGENT: All the things I have promised to do, I will do, as these Ancient Symbols are my Witness.
The Council-General may signify its approbation. The REGENT and EARL MARSHAL return to their places.
LORD CHANCELLOR: I shall accept nominations of candidates for election to the office of Lord President of the King's Councils.
The Council-General shall elect a Lord President.
LORD CHANCELLOR: I shall accept nominations of candidates for election to the office of Lord High Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal.
The Council-General shall elect a Chancellor or Keeper. The elections being completed, the STEWARD shall stand and address the ministers-elect:
STEWARD: Sirs, do you accept your elections?
MINISTERS-ELECT: I do.
STEWARD: Will you to your power faithfully execute the duties of the Great Offices to which you have been elected?
MINISTERS-ELECT: I will.
STEWARD: [to the Council] I declare that N. has been elected Lord President of the King's Councils, and that N. has been elected Lord High Chancellor and Keeper of the Great Seal of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
The former President and Chancellor will yield the symbols of their Offices to their respective successors. The EARL MARSHAL will escort the new LORD PRESIDENT to the Chair.
EARL MARSHAL: Sir, I do induct and install you in the Office of President of the King's Councils.
IV. CLOSING
LORD PRESIDENT: My Lords, My Ladies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I declare these proceedings closed, and I summon His August Majestie's Most Honourable Privy Council into session until the Council-General of 75--. May the King Soon Return!
OSGILIATH [signalling the Musicians to begin]: All rise.
The Assembly shall sing a Patriotic Air, as:
Kings of the West, who reigned in Numenor,
We raise your Standard on a foreign shore
Where it will fly in glory evermore:
We shall defend it, Until the King Return.
If we face soldiers fierce or warfare long,
We still can hear your ancient triumph-song:
Our hearts grow brave again, our arms grow strong:
We shall fight nobly, Until the King Return.
And when the battles end, and swords are sheathed,
If we as victors be with laurel wreathed,
Still this high motto ever shall be breathed:
"Let us rule wisely, Until the King Return."
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