Preparing for an Elevation Ceremony – Candidates

Introduction

Congratulations on your acceptance to join a Patent Order in Caid! If your current experience has been anything like my offering, you are probably feeling a tumult of emotions, and an ever-growing list of questions of “what do I do now?”

There are other documents and conversations that you will have regarding admittance into your prospective Order – from what it means to be a Peer in general, to what it means to be a Companion of your specific Order, and so on. This guide is meant to help aid you in the many options you face in planning the ceremonial aspects of your elevation, and there are A LOT of options.

There are two main ceremonial events for your elevation: the Vigil and the Elevation Ceremony. While each of these has a historical basis and Kingdom specific traditional significance, both are very customisable to your preferences. The elements of each ceremonial event is outlined below, with notes on what MUST be included, and what can be altered or omitted.

The Vigil

The Vigil can be a time for contemplation, advice, introspection, and encouragement. This is done before the elevation ceremony, and can be done the day of, the night before, or an event/a series of events before. This is entirely OPTIONAL. You are not required to have one, but it has become traditional in Caid.

Communication – Once you have made a decision on the specifics below, it is best to communicate your desires with the Crown and the Secretary of your Order, to ensure their attendance. It is also your prerogative to communicate this information to whomever you wish.
Schedule – When will this take place? Your vigil is not required to take place at an SCA sanctioned event, and can happen anywhere you prefer. Most choose to have this throughout the course of the day at their elevation event (if a day event), or the night before their elevation (if a camping event). You can also opt to have smaller, shorter sessions across multiple events (or multiple days for a multi-day event).
Format – Do you want a sitting vigil, where people come to you, or a walking vigil, where you go to people? Will you do this in a tent, in the open? Do you want a digital/online vigil via Zoom (or other online communication tools)?
Place – Where will your vigil take place at the event? If this is a War, which encampment? Where in the encampment? At a day event, what part of the field? And so on.
Time – What time will this start? What time will this end?
Staff – Who will arrange the sign in sheet, and manage time control? Do you need an attendant while you walk? Do you need guards to guard the entry to your area? Who will be managing their sign ups and shifts?
Herald – Traditionally, the Golden Rose or Crescent Herald will perform the commencement of the vigil, however this is NOT required. The person performing the script for this ceremony does not need to be either, nor do they need to be a herald. This can be performed by anyone of your choice. If this person is not a herald, you should have them coordinate with the Crescent Herald, or an experienced Senior Herald, to prepare for the event and arrange a Kingdom tabard.
Script – Caid has a “standard” text for commencing the start of the vigil, however it is not required. Do you want to use the standard text, or do you want a custom one? What do you want the custom one based off of – culture, time period, historical work, etc? Who will research and compose it? Who will perform it? The Crescent or Golden Rose heralds are available, but it is not assumed they will perform these duties. If you would like a custom ceremony and are not handling it yourself, you may find best results in coordinating with a herald or bard who specializes in period ceremonies/prose. Ultimately, this script outlines the rough duties and expectations of a Peer and asks the candidate to consider whether or not they are ready and capable to assume this burden.
Tokens – Do you want to give out tokens of thanks or of your craft to those who visit you during your vigil? What will they be made of? Who will make them? These do not need to be ornate or expensive, and can be consumable, non-consumable or both!
Notebook – You will be given a lot of advice during this time. How much of this you want to remember is up to you. It is recommended to have a notebook to jot down your thoughts. If you would like time between visitors to do this, let your sign in attendants or guards know.
Preferential Entry – The current Crown and the Crown Heirs traditionally have first priority to speak with you during your vigil. After these two sets, it is up to you to determine the parameters for who comes next. Would you like to have entry given to the order in which people sign up? Do you want to let visiting Crowns cut in line? Territorial Baronage? Peers of the Realm? Those actively volunteering? These preferences need to be communicated with whomever is managing the sign in.
Sign in Accessories – For a sit-down vigil you will need, at the very least, a couple of pens and pages of paper for your list manager to organize and track your visitors. If you would like to leave out a guest book for folks to leave you a note, you may consider buying or making a special one with your armory or peerage order insignia on it. From my experience, this does not need to be a large book – on average less than 50 pages have been used.
Food and Drinks – This is Optional, though encouraged. It gives attendees something to do while waiting in line to speak with you. Who will be arranging food and drinks for the vigil? What would you like served? Do you want hot food, or cold? Hot drinks, cold? Alcoholic (if offering adult beverages, you will want to discuss site restrictions, and provide ID checks to avoid underaged drinking), or no?
Entertainment – Do you want entertainment for people to enjoy while waiting to speak with you?
Clothes – What style do you want to wear? Who will make it? There are some traditions, depending on the order, of having a vigilant wear white during their vigil. This is not mandatory, but does stem from medieval knighting ceremonies.

The Elevation Ceremony

The elevation ceremony is the public declaration of your new rank. As this is an award within the Society, it must occur at an SCA sanctioned event.

Event
Place
Time
Heralds
- Processional
- Ceremonial
Script (Standard/Custom)
- Speakers – You are entitled to have others speak to your worthiness as a Peer of the realm during your elevation. The standard text includes one of each Peerage – Chivalry, Laurel, Pelican, Defense, and Royal/Rose – but these are optional. I can have as many, or no, speakers as preferred (within reason). Speakers are also not limited to Peers – they can be any members of the populace, regardless of rank or title. If you plan to have speakers, it is suggested to ask them to keep their comments short (under 2 minutes) in respectful consideration of the Court attendees’ time and attention.
- Regalia – Each Order has their own set of reserved/restricted regalia. You will have the option to use as many of them as you would like in your ceremony.
  - Medallion
  - Cope
  - Caps
  - Spurs
  - Belts and Baldrics
- Buffet/Coulée – The Buffet or Coulée usually only occurs during an elevation to the Chivalry or Defense. This is a slap or hit made by the Crown to the candidate. This is never a required element. When included, this is up to the candidate to determine who is giving it, how it will be administered, where it will be received, and how hard the impact should be. This preference is communicated in advance with all involved parties. It is a good idea to arrange a person or pair of people to act as “catchers” to help stabilize you after the buffet is given – depending on the force, it can be briefly disorienting for the recipient.
- Dubbing – This is the highly recognized act of “knighthood” – the ceremonial taps of the blade on the candidate’s shoulders and head – and by default is done for all Peers, regardless of Order.
- Fealty – Fealty is not required by any peerage, except those who will be made Knights within the Order of Chivalry. If you plan to swear fealty, there is a standard text that can be used, but as with the ceremony, it can be altered to your tastes and needs. Should you want to use the same wording, but recite it in a different language, that is acceptable. If you want different wording, but recitation in English, that is also acceptable. You can also add oaths to your fealty, or remove some lines from the standard one. Your fealty is yours to give.
Pageantry – There are MANY ways to incorporate your heraldry into both your vigil and your elevation. Since this practice is one of the closest experiences we have in the SCA to medieval practices, it is highly encouraged to display one’s armory to its full extent. E.g. Fly banners, show off your shield, have your herald wear a tabard of your arms, give out tokens with a registered badge.
Scroll – Do you want to commission a scroll for your elevation? While promissory scrolls are often made to have onsite during a ceremony, signed and sealed scrolls are not automatically assigned to scribes and are not usually created until afterwards. Peerage scrolls are a little different, since the recipient is aware of the ceremony beforehand. Do you want your commissioned scroll onsite for the event? Some things to consider: Length and location of an event, size and materials of the scroll, and the weather. All of these things can cause your very fancy scroll to become damaged. If you are elevating at a war, consider bringing a stunt scroll for the ceremony.

Additional Consideration

You will undoubtedly receive a lot of help during the time between your offering and your elevation. Make sure to compensate those who make things for you in some manner. Recognize their contributions, and at the very least make sure to say thank you.

Again, Congratulations! Joining a Patent Order is a wonderful honor, and the next step in your SCA journey. Remember, you are not alone. If you have additional questions, your Order Secretary and cousin Companions, the Crescent Princical Herald, and other Senior Heralds are excellent resources to approach for valuable information.

Happy heralding!

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