Post by King Adam Aberdeen I on May 18, 2010 21:21:59 GMT -6
Griffin Castle, Turas Lan
Griffin Castle (rear), Turas Lan
Griffin Castle (rear), Turas Lan
A hereditary peer is a peer whose dignity may be inherited. Hereditary peerage dignities may be created with writs of summons;
Writs of summons summon an individual to Court, with the creation of an hereditary peerage dignity, which is automatically inherited. Once created, a peerage dignity continues to exist as long as there are surviving legitimate descendants of the first holder. Once the heirs of the original peer die out, the peerage dignity becomes extinct.
The order of peerage is:
Arch Duke (is reserved for the King and Queen’s oldest living sibling)
Duke - The senior title signified among the monarchy. Dukes are the rulers of the duchies of the realm and the superiors of the counts in the cities. The highest-ranking peers of the King.
Marquis
Earl
Viscount
Baron
Knight and Dame
Great Officers of State
The Lord High Chancellor of the Gaelic Nations, is one the most senior and important functionaries in the government and custodian of The Great Seal. He is the first, senior in rank, of the Great Officers of State, and is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Lord High Steward. He is the first dignitary of the court. The Lord Chancellor's responsibilities are wide-ranging and include presiding over Parliament, participating in the Cabinet, and heading the judiciary. The Chancellor is the King's Advisor and writes the King's letters and is Keeper of the Great Seal.
The Great Seal - The Seal is always round and made of silver and up to six inches in diameter. It is not a medallion but a mould made in two halves. Softened green or red wax is placed in each half of the mould and the halves are pressed together. Excess wax is shaven off and the waxed hardened in cold water. The wax impression (Seal) is attached to a document by strings or "laces". The Seal is used when Royal assent is given to the election of a Bishop or Archbishop or when power to sign and confirm treaties are given. To protect the wax impression of The Great Seal, it is tied in a woolen or silk bag. The Seal itself was protected in a finely decorated bag and placed in a box made of solid silver; today it is held in a japanned iron box. Wax is always used as the medium for the impression although there have been exceptions.
The position of Lord High Steward, or Great Celtic Steward, is the second of the nine Great Officers of State. Its holder is one of the most powerful men of the kingdom. Lord High steward is an important official of the Royal Household. The office is one of considerable political importance and carries cabinet rank. The Lord High Steward receives his appointment from the Sovereign in person, and bears a white staff as the emblem and warrant of his authority. He is the second dignitary of the court, a permanent officer, and resides in the palace. He also presides at the daily dinners of the sovereign. He is master of the royal households.
In his department are:
Treasurer of the Household, who is responsible for managing and deciding the finances of the royal households and paying the household members their dues, and is the Paymaster of Pensions.
Comptroller of the Household, who manages the furnishing and property of the royal households.
The post of Lord High Treasurer is a government position and is the third of the nine Great Officers of State. The holder of the post functions as the head of His Majesty's Treasury, and is third highest of the nine Great Officers of State. The Lord High Treasurer is responsible for the state finances and deciding on royal revenues. He is also responsible for developing a schedule of tax imposition and proposes to the King to increase revenues. Chancellor of the Exchequer is solely responsible for auditing state finances and responds directly to the Lord High Treasurer and the Sovereign. An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who is in charge of distributing cash to the 'deserving' poor, based upon the advice of the Chancellor.
The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal is the fourth of the nine Great Officers of State. The Lord Keeper is responsible for the Monarch's three 'personal' seals. This should not be confused with the Great Seal of State that is held by the Lord High Chancellor.
• The 'signet' worn by the Monarch as a ring, is the smallest of the four royal seals, and being smallest, was used for the most routine business; for the private letters and order by the king to his sheriffs ordering them to carry out a specific function;
• the 'privy or secret seal' is used for royal orders or briefs, grants of moveable property, and grants of minor office; used to authenticate orders by the king’s court to its functionaries for the administration of the law, in summoning people to court or in carrying out one of the legal diligences against them.
• the 'quarter seal' was used for more routine administrative documents and warrants for the use of the Great Seal;
The Lord Great Chamberlain of is the fifth of the Great Officers of State. The office of Lord Great Chamberlain is distinct as he holds a position in the monarch's household to fulfill duties in the royal household. The Lord Great Chamberlain has charge over the Griffin Castle and the MacRaruri Palace, and technically bears the Sword of State at state openings and closings of Parliament. The Lord Great Chamberlain also has a major part to play in royal events, having the responsibility to dress the monarchs on event day and to serve the monarchs water before and after the event banquets, and also being involved in managing the Brooch of Skye, monarchial insignia of rule. Below are some of the positions the Lord Great Chamberlain is responsible for:
• The Cup-Bearer is an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it is to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the Monarchs’ cups, and is sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it. His confidential relations with the Monarchs often give him a position of great influence. The position of Cup Bearer is greatly valued and given to only a select few. Qualifications for the job were not held lightly but of high esteem valued for their beauty and even more for their modesty, industriousness and courage.
• Master of the Horse is the third official of the Royal Household. The Master of the Horse has the management and direction of all matters relating to the Royal stables and the revenue appropriate to this branch of the Royal Household. He has the privilege of using horses belonging to the Crown, and of being attended by pages and servants attached to his department. In Royal processions and on occasions of state, he usually rides in the same carriage with the Sovereigns, or is in immediate attendance.
• The Poursuivant is the King's messenger or State messenger.
• Sewer of the King is an attendant of high rank in charge of the serving of meals and the seating of guests. The holder is an Officer in the Royal Household and an Office of Ceremony at Coronations. Sewer, Carver and Cup-Bearer and the like where the King is served personally were positions known as 'Yeoman Ushers of Devotion'.
• Master of the Hunt is a royal court officer with responsibility for organizing hunts and guarding royal forests against poachers. Masters of the Hunt also served at the courts regarding violations of the sovereign’s forest.
• Chapelmaster is a person in charge of music-making. The position designates the director or chief conductor of an orchestra or choir, and its involvement in orchestra or choir policy, such as selecting repertoire, concert schedules, choosing guest conductors, as well as conducting.
• Hostarius is the position whose holders had responsibility for the monarch’s doors.
• Falconer is a person who keeps the hunting birds of the Sovereign, ensuring each is fully trained, well-nourished, and ready to hunt at short notice. The birds that the falconer care for are expensive and have to be treated with respect, as they were often both fragile and dangerous. It is the falconer who catch birds of prey from the wild and train them to be handled by humans, whilst retaining their hunting instincts. The falconer make leather hoods and straps, known as jesses, individually for each bird. The job involves acquired skills and is often passed down from father to son.
• Gentleman of the Bedchamber duties involve waiting on the king when he eats in private, helping him to dress, guarding the bedchamber and closet, and providing companionship.
• Lady-in-Waiting is often a noblewoman of lower rank than the one she attends to, and is not considered a servant. Female relatives were often appointed because they could be trusted confidantes to the queen; The duties of ladies-in-waiting at the Griffin court are to act as royal companions, and to accompany the Queen wherever she goes. There are many jobs that require the ladies-in-waiting such as: being proficient in the "modern" dances, languages, instruments, reading, writing letters for the queen, sewing, and embroidery. Usually ladies-in-waiting come from families that are highly thought of in good society, noble families, or trustworthy friends of the family. Ladies-in-waiting are divided into three separate systems:
o Ladies of the Privy Chamber are the ones closest to the queen and thought to be the highest level of unpaid ladies-in-waiting. especially privileged in seeing to the queen's most intimate needs as she readied herself for bed and prepared for the intricate task of getting dressed in the morning.
o Maids of Honour are the single, unmarried ladies-in-waiting; learning the ways of court and there attracting the attention of the King's most eligible courtiers. Mothers among nobility fought long and hard to get their marriageable daughters positions as Maids of Honour.
o Chamberers are the most humble of the queen's personal female servants.
• Pages are noble boys that are trained from about 7-14 years of age to become knights. The training was at first informal training at court, often used as attendants to persons of rank, usually noble or royal. These boys are chosen from aristocratic or "good" families. The tradition begin as boys serving knights as part of their military training and preparation for knighthood themselves. As these pages accompanied the knight they served, they were also present at court and thus had to learn refined manners, as well as fighting skills.
• Pantler is in charge of the bread and the pantry, where provisions were kept and prepared.
• Jesters are employed as entertainers and professional fools, sometimes called licensed fools. Entertainment includes music, juggling, clowning, and the telling of riddles.
• Standard bearer is the person who carries the Monarch’s standards
The Lord High Marshal is the seventh of the Great Officers of State and the supreme officer of the Griffin military. The Lord High Marshal ranks beneath the Lord Great Chamberlain. Martial law is administered by The Lord High Marshal, upon command of the Monarch.
• Lord High Admiral
• Lord High General
• Ranger Elite
• Talon Commander
Privy Counsel - The members are selected by the Sovereign and are drawn from persons distinguished by high office, wisdom and political experience. The council includes the principal ministers of the Crown, some judges, many diplomats, peers and commoners whose services to the state and whose position in it, whether past or present, render them eligible to advise upon public affairs. A privy councillor, even though a commoner, is styled "right honourable".
Griffin Estates, Aberdeen
