Laws of the Principality of the Mists As proclaimed by William and Maythen in February A.S. XIV,
and amended by:
| Maythen and William, | James and Verena, | William II and Jeanette, | Stephen and Sariya, | Caivs and Kathrine, | Sionnaich and Loryna, |
| Leon and Ariella, | Drew and Siobhan, | Robert and Yseult, | Chad and Krysta, | Valgard and Megan, | Fabian and Rosewitha, |
| Douglas and Amanda, | Alfred and Tyne, | Garick and Talitha, | Richard and Anastasia, | Michael and Wander, | Ki Do and Marjorie, |
| Richard II and Elisabeth, | and | Braun and Eliza. |
Section 1 -- Precedence of the Law
The order of precedence of Law shall be as established in the Corpora of the Society for Creative Anachronism.Section 2 -- The Word of the Coronet
Section 2.1
The Word of the Coronet is Law, subject to the Word of the Crown of the West.Section 2.2
Any proclamation of the Coronet of the Mists must be published to become law and is subject to the governing documents of the SCA, the decisions of the Board of Directors, and the Code of Laws of the Kingdom of the West. Any proclamation shall be understood to be in effect from the moment it is spoken, but no subject of the Coronet shall be considered to be breaking the law, through ignorance, until it has been published.Section 2.3
If any officer of the Principality of the Mists receives instructions, directions, or orders, save only routine administrative directives, from anyone not having authority by these Laws to give such, that officer shall take no action until the Coronet of the Mists shall have been consulted to Its pleasure in the matter.Section 3 -- Amendment of the Laws
Section 3.1
Amendments to these laws shall be presented as changes, additions, or deletions to specific articles or sections.Section 3.2
All changes, additions or deletions to the Laws shall be approved by the Crown.Section 3.3 Other proclamations shall have effect only during the reign of the Coronet making them.
Section 4 -- Publication of the Laws
Section 4.1
The Laws of the Principality of the Mists shall be published once each year at Beltane Investiture in the official newsletter for the Principality.Section 4.2
Proclamations of previous reigns not incorporated therein are understood to be rescinded. The Seneschal shall be responsible for providing the official newsletter with the current Laws.Section 5 -- Principality Charter
To ensure the passage of law and the duration of State from reign to reign, the Principality shall have a charter, which shall be read at each Investiture after the new Coronet Sovereign and Consort have attained the Coronet and shall read: <Name>, Prince of the Mists, and <Name>, Princess of the Mists, to the Populace of the Mists, Greetings: NOW KNOW YE that We have conceded and granted and by this charter confirmed to all the Great Officers and the Bard of the Mists, all the concessions, grants, liberties and free customs which <Name> and <Name>, Our predecessors, gave and conceded to them. Therefore, We strictly require that all the Great Officers and the Bard should hold and have these grants, customs, and liberties freely from Us as was borne in Our predecessors time.
Section 1 -- The Process of Achieving the Coronet
Section 1.1
The Princely Sovereign shall have won by combat the lists at a duly authorized Coronet Tournament. The Princely Consort shall have been the inspiration of the Princely Sovereign at that tournament.Section 1.2
The Coronet Sovereign and Consort-elect shall bear the titles of Lord of the Mists and Lady of the Mists.Section 2 -- Other Offices
No Sovereign and Consort of the Mists shall hold any other office in the Principality during Their reign. Offices normally held by Them shall be filled the Their deputies or such other persons as They might appoint for the duration of Their reign.
Section 1.1
The Lord and Lady of the Mists, at their Investiture shall swear Service and Protection to the people of the Principality of the Mists, and to uphold the Laws of the Principality of the Mists and the Laws of the Kingdom of the West, and to insure the succession, and that oath shall be given to the reigning Coronet Sovereign and Consort, or to the Crown in Their place, and be witnessed by any of the following: the Principality Seneschal, the Principality Herald, the Principality Marshal, or members of the Chivalry of the West who have witnessed the Coronet Lists and will bear witness to the validity of the claims of the Lord and Lady of the Mists.Section 1.2
No member of the populace of the Principality of the Mists shall be coerced, forced, or assumed to be in fealty to any Coronet, officer, or person, within the Principality, except the great officers of the Principality who must swear fealty to hold their offices and The Coronets of the Mists shall in no way, by law or fealty, restrict any subject from banding together, or organizing into common groups, associations, or households. Individual subjects within any of these groups are still bound y Principality Law and Kingdom Law.Section 2 -- Rights
Section 2.1
It shall be the right of every subject of the Principality of the Mists, having followed every other avenue of resolution, to address grievances directly to the Coronet.Section 2.2
It shall be the right of every subject of the Principality of the Mists to be warranted or rostered, in order to insure every officer protection under mundane civil law. In all cases no warrant or roster, interim or otherwise, shall supersede or conflict with any issued by the Crown of the West. A warrant or roster issued by the Crown of the West shall always take precedence.Section 2.3
It shall be the right of all officers in the Principality of the Mists to be ruled by their Coronets, and the right of the Coronet to rule for the duration of Their reign. Therefore, no Coronet Sovereign or Consort may enter the Coronet Lists to succeed Themselves, nor may either of Them enter a Crown Lists until They have concluded Their reign.
Section 1 -- Awards
It shall be the right of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort to present any such armigerous awards as may be approved by the Crown of the West.Section 2 -- Orders
Section 2.1 Order of the Pegasus
It shall be the right of the Consort of the Mists to award the Order of the Pegasus, (formerly the P.E.G.G.Y.), to any such children or young persons who have shown exceptional courtesy, chivalry and service to the Principality.Section 2.2 Order of the Corolla Nebulorum
It shall be the right of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort to award the Order of the Corolla Nebulorum to those persons who have in any outstanding way enriched the Principality. As the Crown is the Symbol of the Kingdom and the Coronet is the symbol of the Principality, the token of this Order shall be a Corolla or "little crown." The Corolla shall hang pendant from a single ribbon or multiple ribbons. The colors of the ribbons shall be specific to the sub-order or -orders for which the Corolla was awarded.Section 2.2.1 Corolla Aulica
Awarded for service to the Principality. The Corolla Aulica shall hang pendant from an argent ribbon.Section 2.2.2 Corolla Vitae
Awarded for achievement in the Arts and Sciences.. The Corolla Vitae shall hang pendant from an azure ribbon.Section 2.2.3 Corolla Muralis
Awarded for leadership and achievement in war. The Corolla Muralis shall hang pendant from a vert ribbon.Section 2.3 Princess' Order of Grace
It shall be the right of the Princess of the Mists to award the Princess' Order of Grace to individuals displaying great courtesy and chivalry.Section 2.4 Order of the Princess' Favor
It shall be the right of the Princess of the Mists to award the Order of the Princess' Favor to those who have been particularly helpful to the Princess during Her Reign.Section 2.5 Order of the Dames de la Mer
The Order of the Dames de la Mer shall be awarded to those who have served as Princess of the Mists. Members of this order shall be "henceforth as they have been hitherto" models of honor and grace to all those in the Principality. The token of the order shall be a single pearl.Section 2.6 Order of the Period Encampment
The Order of the Period Encampment shall be awarded at the end of each Reign to an individual or household who has made a great effort to present an encampment with a medieval atmosphere. The token of this order is a pennon in the Principality colors of argent with azure engrailing, with a medieval pavilion in the center. The recipient of this token will display it during the following Reign.Section 2.6.1
Past members of this order are entitled to display a square banner of like design.Section 2.7 Order of the Torse of Honor
The Order of the Torse of Honor may be awarded by the Coronet Sovereign and Consort to an unbelted fighter who has shown particular courtesy, chivalry and/or valor in the Coronet lists. This award is to be given out at Coronet tourney after the lists and may be given once per reign. The token of the order shall be a torse of azure, argent, and Or.Section 2.8 Order of the Silver Ivy
The Order of the Silver Ivy shall be awarded to those who have served as Champion of the Mists and Champion's Consort. Members of this order shall continue to be models of honor and inspiration to all within the Principality. The ex-Champion's token shall be a silver pierce- work medallion with an ivy leaf cut out. The ex-Consort's token shall be a silver pierce-work pendant of an ivy leaf, that should fit inside the token of the ex-Champion. All ex-Champions of the Mists and ex-Champion's Consorts shall be admitted to this order.Section 2.9 Order of the Armure Epatant
The Order of the Armure Epatant may be awarded by the Coronet Sovereign and Consort to those fighters, both melee and missile, whose field appearance is exemplary and recognizable as being from a time period within the scope of the governing documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism. Candidates for this Order must have done a significant portion of the research and/or construction of their armor, garment, and accessories themselves. All members of this Order shall also be charged with maintaining their on-field appearance and encouraging others to follow their example. The token for this award shall be a golden garter, to be worn as the member sees fit.Section 2.10 Champion of the Mists and Champion's Consort
The fighter who achieves the final round of the Coronet List and his or her consort shall be invested as Champion of the Mists and Champion's Consort at the next Coronet Investiture.
Section 2.10.1
The Champion and the Champion's Consort, at the time of the returning of the baldrics at the Coronet Investiture, shall be admitted into the Order of the Silver Ivy.Section 2.11
Princess' Escort It shall be the right of the Princess of the Mists during Her reign to establish a Princess' Escort, naming to it unbelted fighters of competence. It shall be the duty of the Escort to come to the aid of the Princess should it become necessary and within their power.Section 2.12 Princess' Champion
It shall be the right of the Princess of the Mists during Her reign to choose a Champion who shall defend Her honor and come to Her aid should it become necessary and within his/her power.Section 3 -- Publication
Section 3.1
It is the responsibility of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort giving an award to ensure that the type of award, the date it was given and the full name of the recipient be published in The Page within three months of the date the award was given.Section 3.2
Any award not so published will not be entered in the Order of Precedence of the Kingdom or Principality.
Section 1 -- Purpose
It shall be the right and privilege of the Coronet to convene and hold a Curia Principis for the purpose of hearing counsel, and discussing or making pronouncements on any issue of concern to the Principality of the Mists.Section 2 -- Conduct
Section 2.1
The Curia Principis shall consist of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort, who convene the Court and preside over it, any Ministers as may be concerned with the subject of the Court, and other persons as the Coronet may desire to include at a particular meeting of the court.Section 2.2
Any subject of the Coronet of the Mists may attend sessions of this court and may petition the Coronet upon matters relevant and appropriate.Section 2.3
Decisions of the court shall be made by the Coronet Sovereign and Consort after hearing the advice of the Ministers and the Populace present.Section 2.4
When the Coronet of the Mists has declared a Principality investigation complete and the decision final, no Officer may reopen the investigation or overrule the decision, save at the direction of the Crown of the West or the Board of Directors of the Society for Creative Anachronism.Section 2.5
The business of the Principality of the Mists is not secret from the subjects of the Coronet.
Section 1 -- Organizational Matters
Section 1.1
There is established in the Principality an Order of the Bards, the members to be all those persons who have served as Bard of the Mists.Section 1.2
Membership in this Order carries with it an Award of Arms if the person has not already received one.Section 1.3
The members of this Order, being Bards Emeritus, are entitled to wear the badge of the Order as a medallion suspended from the ribbon of six colors.Section 1.4 The Bard of the Mists,
during his or her year's tenure in office, shall be considered the chief of the Order, and act to organize the activities of the Order in the teaching of bardic skills and the bardic traditions.Section 1.5
The Bard of the Mists shall have as identifying regalia the baldric, the mantle of office, and the golden branch of bells.Section 1.6
The Bard of the Mists shall be invested at Samhain Investiture.Section 1.7
The Order of Bards shall have the support and protection of the Coronet.Section 2 -- Duties of the Bard of the Mists
Section 2.1
The Bard shall have a major work prepared for each major Principality event, the works to be collected in a single book handed from Bard to Bard.Section 2.2
The Bard shall have a performance set prepared for each major Principality event at the request of the Coronet.Section 2.3
The Bard shall be prepared to entertain at court and for royalty when so required.Section 2.4
The Bard shall establish and maintain a Bardic history of the Principality, to be added to by each successive Bard. In addition, the Bards shall establish and maintain a file of SCA bardic materials in communication with bards of other regions, in order to be current with trends in the SCA bardic traditions.Section 2.5
The Bard shall preside over the selection of his or her successor.Section 2.6
The Bard shall at all times endeavor by teaching and by example to exemplify the ideals of the ancient bardic tradition.Section 3 -- The Privileges of the Bard
Section 3.1
The Bard shall be part of the Royal retinue and shall attend Their Highnesses at Principality events, sitting at the right hand of the Sovereign.Section 3.2
The Bard shall be served at Principality feasts after the Principality Sovereign and Consort and before the quests.Section 3.3
The Bard may formally give a poem as a gift. Section 3.4 The Royal mantle of service is extended to the Bard.Section 4 -- The Geas of the Bard
Finally, the Bard shall be under the following geas, that is to say, the prohibition of his office: The Bard may not refuse to perform for the Coronet Sovereign and Consort of the Mists, or for anyone under the age of twelve, except that the Coronet Sovereign and Consort shall take precedence.
Section 1 -- Great Officers
Section 1.1 There shall be nine Great Officers of State in the Principality of the Mists.
They shall be the Seneschal, the Seawolf Herald, the Knight Marshal, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister of Arts, the Minister of Sciences, the Chronicler, the Chirurgeon, and the Constable.Section 1.2
These Great Officers shall serve within the Principality in the same capacities as their superior officers in the Kingdom of the West serve the Crown of the West, except that they shall directly obey the Coronet, subject to the ultimate obedience of all subjects to the Crown of the West.Section 1.3
The Great Officers shall inform the Lord and Lady of the Mist in writing of the state of the Principality at least two weeks prior to Their Investiture.Section 1.4
The Seneschal, at Beltane Investiture, shall present the new Coronet Sovereign and Consort a tentative calendar of events for the next calendar year for approval. The Seneschal shall ensure that the approved calendar is then submitted to the Kingdom Seneschal (or Keeper of the Kingdom Calendar) for publication.Section 2 -- Lesser Officer
Section 2.1
The Chatelaine, Minister of the Golden Key, Minister of Lists, Seawolf Scribe, Keeper of the Regalia, Principality Archer, the Chancellor of the Page School, and Minister of Equestrian Arts shall be Lesser Officers of State. They shall serve within the Principality in the same capacities as their superior officers in the Kingdom of the West serve the Crown of the West, except that they shall directly obey the Coronet, subject to the ultimate obedience of all subject to the Crown of the West.Section 2.1.1
There shall be a commission for regalia. Its duties will be to advise the Coronet as to the artistic and practical merit of proposed regalia and equipment, advise the Coronet as to the acceptability of such items, and recommend specific acquisition and requirement of regalia and equipment as needed. All offers of donation and all proposals for acquisition of regalia will be handled through this commission. Any article of regalia given to the Coronet without having first been approved by the commission will be deemed a personal gift to the Coronet Sovereign and Consort to whom it is presented. All items of regalia are considered to be the property of the Principality of the Mists and may only be disposed of with the unanimous consent of the commission. The commission shall consist of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort, the Ministers of Arts and Sciences, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Principality Keeper of the Regalia.Section 2.1.2
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Keeper of the Regalia shall conduct an inventory of all regalia, including its location and condition, to be completed immediately prior to its transfer to the incoming Coronet Sovereign and Consort. A representative of both the incoming and outgoing Coronet Sovereign and Consort must be present. The Keeper of the Regalia shall make a written report to the commission for regalia and both the incoming and outgoing Coronet Sovereign and Consort. The commission shall determine if the outgoing Coronet Sovereign and Consort shall be held fiscally responsible for loss or damage to regalia entrusted to Their care. The incoming Coronet Sovereign and Consort accept custody of regalia to be placed in Their care by signature receipt of the completed inventory.Section 2.2
The Bailiff shall be appointed by the Seneschal as his or her first deputy. He or she shall be a Lesser Officer of State.Section 2.3
Ministers of Music, Dance, or Bardic Arts may be appointed to serve under the Minister of Arts as Lesser Officers of State.Section 3 -- Reports
Section 3.1
All officers of the Principality shall report regularly to their duly appointed superiors.
All great and lesser officers of the Principality shall present written annual reports to the Coronet at the 12th Night Coronation Festival.Section 3.2
Officers shall be warranted or rostered at the recommendation of their superior and upon acceptance by the Coronet and, where appropriate, the Crown of the West.
Section 1 -- Succession
Section 1.1
Should the victors of the previous Coronet Tournament, through no fault of their own, be unable to attend their Investiture Festival, such steps as are necessary and acceptable to them and the Coronet shall be taken that they may achieve their Coronets.Section 1.2
Should the victors of the previous Coronet Tournament not intent to reign, and sufficient evidence of their failure be presented to the Coronet, or should they be unable to reign due to a disaster, a Curia Principis shall be called to make preparation for a Coronet Lists which shall be called at the beginning of the Investiture Festival or, if this date shall have passed, at the soonest date practical. The victors of this list shall be crowned Coronet Sovereign and Consort immediately.Section 1.3
Should the Consort of the Sovereign-elect be unable or unwilling to achieve the Coronet, the Sovereign-elect shall choose another as Consort. If, during the reign, the Consort is unable or unwilling to continue the reign, the Sovereign may, if he or she chooses, choose a new Consort, who shall be invested publicly or privately as Prince- or Princess-Consort, according to Article III, Section 1, of these Laws.Section 1.4
Should the Sovereign become unable or unwilling to complete his or her reign, the Consort shall act as Regent and contain all the power of the Coronet.Section 1.5
Should both the Coronet Sovereign and Consort through disaster or choice be unable to complete Their reign, the Champion shall act as Regent, and shall contain the powers of the Coronet save the granting of awards. The Champion shall then, with all due haste, convene a Curia in the name of the Coronet in which it shall be decided by consensus of the Great Officers of the Principality, subject to the approval of the Crown of the West Kingdom, what action shall be taken to assure the welfare of the Principality.Section 2 -- Scheduling of Coronet Events
Section 2.1 There shall be two Coronet Investitures a year.
Section 2.1.1
The Beltane Investiture shall be held the second weekend in May or as soon thereafter as possible.Section 2.1.2
The Samhain Investiture shall be held the second weekend in November or as soon thereafter as possible.Section 2.2
The Coronet Tournaments shall be held five to seven weeks preceding the Investitures.Section 3 -- Participation in Coronet Lists
Section 3.1
All authorized fighters resident in the Principality have the right to compete in the Coronet Lists of the Principality of the Mists unless they are in violation of the Rules of the Lists, the governing documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., or the Laws of the Principality or Kingdom. All fighters must be acceptable to the Crown of the West and the Coronet of the Mists.Section 3.2
By entering the Coronet Lists, a fighter declares his or her loyalty to the Coronet, the Principality Laws, the Populace of the Mists, and the Crown of the West.Section 3.3
Each fighter, by entering the Coronet Lists, declares that he or she will be able to attend his or her Coronet Investiture, the following Coronet Tournament, and the Coronet Investiture of his or her successor. No one shall compete for the Coronet of the Mists without intending to reign should he or she win.Section 3.4
The conduct of combat, Rules of the Lists, requirements of arms and armor, and rules concerning the use of horses shall be exactly as stated in the laws of the Kingdom of the West except that the Coronet Sovereign and Consort and the Knight Marshal of the Principality shall act in place of the Crown Sovereign and Consort and Earl Marshal where so stated.Section 3.5
All subjects of the Principality of the Mists entering in the Coronet Lists, and their consorts, who must also reside within the Principality of the Mists or acceptable to the Coronets, must be paid members of the SCA, Inc. Memberships must be demonstrated prior to entering the Lists. Anyone not appearing on the Registry's list, or having other acceptable proof of membership, will be deemed unacceptable and not permitted to compete in the Coronet Lists.
Section 1 -- Elevation of Branches
Section 1.1
Elevation of any branch to the status of Barony or Province shall be in accord with the laws of the West and the governing documents of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.Section 1.2
Petition for such status may be forwarded by the branch, through the Coronet of the Mists and the Principality Seneschal, to the Crown.Section 2 -- New Branches
Section 2.1
A new branch below the level of barony or province may be founded within the Principality when such a proposed branch has at least five (5) subscribing members of the Society for Creative Anachronism; has a Seneschal-elect and a Herald-elect; and either a Marshal or Arts/Sciences officer-elect; shall find favor with the Sovereign and Consort of the Mists; and be granted existence by the Crown of the West.Section 2.2
If such a branch shall require proficiency in any office, most especially the Marshallate (due to considerations of safety in combat), it may request that a deputy of that office be sought of the corresponding Principality officer who shall give what aid and training may be practical until a branch member is qualified to receive appointment within that office.
Section 1 -- Charter
Section 1.1 By Our Mouth and Hands, We, Maythen and William, Princess and Prince of the Mists, do charter and establish the Collegium Nebulorum, this eighth day of November, A.S. XVI.Section 2 -- General Requirements
Section 2.1
A full session of the Collegium Nebulorum shall be held at least once annually for the education of the populace of the Mists in all diverse skills, martial and peaceful, practical and philosophical. Participation of the populace of the principality in a Collegium Occidentalis is considered a fulfillment of this requirement.Section 2.2
It shall be the duty of the Great Officers to see that the Collegium Nebulorum is held should a Collegium Occidentalis not be convened in a given year.Section 2.3
Addition sessions of a general nature or given to deeper study of a single topic may be held at the discretion of the Coronet Sovereign and Consort at any time they desire, in order that the needs of the Principality may be met.