The Great Charter of the Company of the Lion and the Rose
May all know hence, by this present charter, that we the Company of the Lion and the Rose do swear and declare before Our Lord our faithful and reverent obeisance unto the noble arte of arms.
Whereas we put forth that the true joy and spirit of combat comes forth not from the basest of spirits of pride, nor of vainly striving one against the other, but in sooth only from honour, and the showing of honour to thine noble opponents.
We henceforth proclaim that with the glorious grace of Our Lord, this Company shall never cease to endeavor to increase, advance, support and uphold the banner of chivalry, as was practiced by our most noble of ancestors, and putting forth our troth and solemn oath to do the same do we henceforth ordain the following maintenance�s:
That every member of the Company shall strive through speech, manner, and appearance to put forth and present the very mirror and example of a gentleman of Christendom.
Also, that every companion shall revere such goodly artes and mysteries of days past omitting neither their practice nor the patronage of such.
Also, that every companion shall take such care of his arms, harness, and raiment and all appearances that be in accordance to his beliefs and conviction that neither shame nor stain shall befall the Company. And he schall accept such guidance and counsel in regards to the above as seems to meet the same.
Also, that every companion shall endeavor to better himself in the use of arms and in all the pursuits of a gentleman.
Also, that any whom may become a companion may be in some way known to the Company that his merits will be known to all. This shall be done by the initiation of new companions in accordance with the laws and traditions of the right noble company.
Be it known also that the companions shall gather no less than once a year for a special feast, with their consorts, to address the company and to administer to the same, and to share their agreement together, by custom being the feasts of St. Crispain and St. George.
And stating such intent, that the companions shall be known by a Gules garter worn below the left knee bearing in Or the motto, �UT UNAS VALIDUS� (When One Mighty Be). And/or a Gules cloak bearing the badge of the Company a sun in splendor Or eclipsed by a rose proper Argent worn upon the left shoulder.
May Our Lord in His infinite grace and wisdom serve us in our endeavor. Done this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord Thirteen Hundred and Ninety Four of our salvation at the Hunt of the Tyger.
The Company of the Lion and the Rose has grown such in it�s merits, deeds, and requirements that the Lord and Lady have determined to choose from amoung their number several officers, that the needs of the Company be better attended to and that responsibilities might be known.
The Lord and Lady of Leon henceforth name the following officers:
That the following noble companions are henceforth bestowed the rank of Captain. This rank shall be held until the recipient no longer desires to maintain this rank within the Company. This rank shall be inferred by order of precedence, and shall henceforth be always reserved and passed unto the companion with the longest tenure in the Company.
Henceforth, do His Lordship and Her ladyship name the following goodly gentles as the Captains of Foote for the right noble company.
Lord Brennan Hamilton Lochlan MacGregor
General Ordinances Concerning Officers of the Company
The Knight of Honour
That the Renown of the Company might be better guarded, Her Ladyship hath determined that one of Her number shall serve as the Knight of Honour, in the spirit of the same in the tournaments of our ancestors. Once chosen, the Knight of Honour shall serve until the Feast of Beltane the next year, and recorded by the Clerk of the Company. At the end of his term, the Knight of Honour shall call forth all of worth to a great tourney and feast, to select a replacement for the following year from the ranks of the companions. One who displays prowess, courtesy, grace, and other such virtues as to contribute to the renown of the Company shall be awarded the grace of this office.
At tournaments, the Knight of Honour shall attend to the gallery, gathering their advice and offering their knowledge for the entertainment of the gallery. They should also determine a lady of the gallery who will take a lead role in the speeches of the day, if any are required, and beseech her assistance where appropriate.
During the elevation of a new companion into the Grand Company, they shall pose a chivalric question, a question recorded by the Clerk of the Company.
Any complaints that are made against companions to be heard for justice, the Knight of Honour must hear all evidence and determine whether there is merit to the complaint. The Knight of Honour may suspend any companion for one day, or recommend that the Officers Court hear the case. All this is done to protect the honour and renown of the Company, and that our endeavors encourage chivalric knightly conduct, demeanor, and that authenticity not be destroyed.
The Knight of Honour may determine that a companion�s harness and rainment fails to support the quality to which the Company aspires. He might suspend the companion for one day, or require penance during the tournament at his pleasure.
Captain of the Regiment
As to have the men well disciplined in battle, His Lordship has taken from the companion order, one Captain. The Captains terms shall be at the length of His Lordships whim, or until the recipient no longer desires to hold this rank within the company. Upon the loss of a captain to the Company, the Officers Court shall hold a conclave in which the remaining officers shall bring forth the likely candidates for replacement of the position. The office of Captain shall always be offered first and reserved unto the member of the conclave with the longest tenure and most seniority within the ranks of the company. If this companion releases the position, it shall be offered to the companion with the second longest tenure, and then so forth until a companion is accepting of the rank. When accepted, the companion presents their banner before the Officers Court, and declares their desire to ascend to the position. The Lord, Lady and fellow officers then present them with their belt of office.
The Captain shall be responsible for the well being of the retainers of the Company, both in times of peace and upon campaign. They must maintain the readiness of the Company for service to the Crown in times of war, and be ready to command the Company upon the field of battle. The Captain holds the right to carry a banner of the Company upon the field of battle, and to represent the Company upon the field of battle, or in any necessary gathering in which the Company may be called to military service.
The Captain must also be responsible for the maintenance of the Officers Court, and its responsibilities.
Sergeants at Arms
As to ease the burden of command upon the Captains, His Lordship has taken from the companion order, two Sergeant at Arms. The Sergeants term shall be at the length of His Lordships whim, or until they lose the confidence of the Company of men to whom they serve, or retire themselves form the Office.
It is the duty of the Sergeants to maintain the readiness of the Company and its regiment. To maintain the arsenal of the Companies regiment and the baggage train. The Sergeant at Arms duties also shall include requisition of company resources from the Seneschal for the aid and completion of tasks and projects for military equipment for the company, and the count of all military equipment in the company�s possession. It is also the duty of the Sergeants to assure the martial prowess of the men, and prepare them for any service the Crown may require. It is the duty of the Sergeant at Arms to seek out all avenues of service that the company may be needed for by his Lordship or the Crown, and makes it so that these duties are provided for and met.
Seneschal of the Company
As to assure the Company retainers of pay for their services, His Lordship has taken from the companion order, one Seneschal. The term of the Seneschal shall be at the length of His Lordships whim.
It is the duty of the Seneschal to collect all tax due the sovereign, and be sure all treasure and booty claimed in time of war be divided fairly to all companions. It is duty of the seneschal to judge fairly all ransoms, and make certain that all ransoms due to others are fulfilled.
The Seneschal shall also collect monies from the members, keeping records of the same, and reviewing those records at the request of an Officers Court. They shall solicit fees at tournaments sponsored by the Company, and request donations from companions to meet additional costs incurred by the company for the production of projects or events to increase the renown of the company.
Steward of the Company- Quartermaster of Scullery
As to insure the ability of the Company to war at the whim of His Lordship or the Crown, and to insure the well being of the Household, His Lordship has taken from the ranks of the companions, one Steward.
The term of the Steward shall be at the whim of His Lordship, or until the Steward has lost the confidence of the Company of men to whom they serve, or until the companion retires from the Office.
It is the duty of the Steward to insure the discipline of the Household, the well being of the men of the regiment and the steady order of the camp when on campaign. The Stewards duties also shall include requisition of company resources from the Seneschal for the aid and completion of tasks and projects of the encampment, or for the needs of the scullery.
It is the duty as Quartermaster of the Scullery to maintain the meals of the household, and the rations of the regiment on campaign. The Quartermaster of the Scullery has the power to procure rations in the name of His Lordship for the Company. In addition, as Quartermaster, the Steward has the power to retain members of the Company to perform duties of scullery.
The Steward of the Scullery has the authority to call an Officers Court to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the encampment.
The Steward has the power to call an Officers Court to maintain the discipline of the Household, and the safety of the encampment.
The Steward also has the power to retain members of the Company to fulfill duties of the household and necessities of the encampment when on campaign.
General Ordinances Concerning Chatelaines of the Company
To aid the grand company in its stewardship, deeds and requirements that the Lord and Lady have determined to choose from their number several Chatelaines, that the needs of the Company be better attended to and that their responsibilities be known:
� Clerk of the Company: Records the deeds of the companions and challengers of note.
� Roi Grand Company of the Lion and Rose: Sees that word of the Company and its member�s deeds are heard far and wide. Performs functions of Company Herald.
Clerk of the Company
That the deeds of the Company are kept, and the honours of its members are held to hand to future companions, Her Ladyship has taken from the companion�s order, one Clerk. The term of the Clerk shall be of Her Ladyships pleasure, or until the Roll of Honour is no longer maintained.
The duty of the Clerk is to keep the Roll of Honour, and for recording important deeds of the companions and challengers of note.
The Record of the Roll shall be read at each feast, increasing the renown of the companions, and noble mentions of others whose service to the ideals merits inclusion in our Roll.
Roi of the Grand Company of the Lion and Rose
That the deeds of the companions are cried hither and yon, with spirit and vigor, Her Ladyship has taken from the ranks of the companions, one King of Arms. The term of service of the King of Arms shall be of Her Ladyships pleasure, or until needed by the tournament companions.
It is the duty of the Roi King of Arms to insure the word of the honour of the Company is spread hither and yon. Also that the deeds of its companions are relayed to opponents in passes of arms a�plaisance, and to relay the ferocity of those same companions in duels la�trounce. The King of Arms also is to ensure the presence of heralds at all points deemed necessary and appropriate to the company.
Concerning Disciplinary Actions
At the will of His Lordship and Her Ladyship, the ability to punish members of the Company for violations of its Ordinals has been set forth. The Lords family retains the right of justice in all cases, save authority of the Crown, or those subject to the Kings Law.
That no stain befalls the Company or Household, any lady or gentleman of note might bring a complaint against any companion. These grievances are brought forth in letter penned to the Lord and Lady, and presented to the Knight of Honour.
The Knight of Honour, as guardian of the Companies renown, must hear this complaint and determine if it bears merit. Should they find merit in the complaint, or doubt, and then they shall convene an Officers Court. The Officers Court is presided over by His Lordship, and includes His Captain, Seneschal, Sergeant�s at Arms, and the Knight of Honour.
The court shall hear all appropriate evidence, then return an opinion to the Knight of Honour, who determines whether the opinions of the Court are sufficient to warrant suspension. By unanimous consensus only may a companion or cadet be suspended from the Conclave. Proceedings of any court shall be held closed to all companions and errants, and none but the Lords and Officers may speak.
Also, companions whom are suspended have one year to seek release of the suspension or they are dropped from the rolls for inactivity without prejudice. It is the job of the Knight of Honour to go over the rolls of suspension and to determine if such amends as are appropriate, reporting them to the Officers of the Company, or to His Lordship.
Companions who are suspended for gross violations of the Ordinals of the Company, contemptible behavior, or disgracing the Company and its companions shall be suspended from the Company with prejudice. This act must be done with the complete vote of the Officers Court and must be unanimous and without contest. Removal of the Roll's with prejudice forever bars the Companion from future induction into the company, as well as loss of all rights or priviledges of membership in the noble company.
Suspended members of the Company should not wear any company regalia, but may still attend functions of the Company. Regalia shall be forfeit to the Seneschal at time of suspension for reimbursement to the companion of all monies the regalia cost, if applicable. Shields of war must be covered with black soot, or purchased by the Seneschal from the coffers of the Company.
Companions suspended from the Roll of Honour may not attend Officers Courts, nor may they vote in any matter before the conclave.
In order to reinstate a companion dropped from the Roll of Honour with prejudice, the Knight of Honour must hold an Officers Court to hear the amends attempted by said former companion. Should the Officers Court or His Lordship determine the amends sufficient, regalia may be once again worn, or returned as the case may be.
Monthly Officers Court
That on the first Saturday of every month the Officers of the Company meet in a location set by the Seneschal to discuss issues of importance to the company.
The court, presided over by the Lord of Leon, should hear reports from each officer concerning progress or failure. The court should recommend appropriate courses of action to the Lord of Leon. The results of this meeting, kept by the Clerk of the Company, should be sent out to every companion and cadet of the company within seven days. The court should be open to all interested Companions and Errants.
Special Officers Court
At any event, any companion may determine to call a Special Officer�s Court, whenever the honor or renown of any companion is threatened, or when business needs to be attended to. Any companion may petition the Lord of Leon, and his Captain to hold such a court, and the Lord of Leon, and his Captain must comply, though the Officers of the court may by simple majority vote to cancel or postpone the court to a more appropriate time. With the consent of the majority of officers, a Court can be called at any time not at an event, for the same reasons.
At any event, any companion may determine to call a Special Officer�s Court, whenever the honor or renown of any companion is threatened, or when business needs to be attended to. Any companion may petition the Lord of Leon, and his Captain to hold such a court, and the Lord of Leon, and his Captain must comply, though the Officers of the court may by simple majority vote to cancel or postpone the court to a more appropriate time. With the consent of the majority of officers, a Court can be called at any time not at an event, for the same reasons.
