lumineaux

Today, Baron Diego Miguel Munoz de Castilla was inducted into the Order of the Golden Rapier by Their Majesties Edward and Marguerite.

Scroll text:

Edward Rex and Marguerite Regina, to all people to whom these presents shall come, greetings. It is a common but nevertheless true saying which has long been repeated by intelligent men that punishments and rewards are the two most important instruments of government in a realm. It is certain that, whatever else one may do in governing Kingdoms, one must be inflexible in punishing those who fail to obey, and scrupulous in rewarding those who perform notable service. The rod, which is the symbol of justice, ought never to be idle. But We are not called upon today to invoke the royal justice; instead of Our own will and upon the advice of persons of knowledge and wisdom, We extend the benevolent hand of reward to one whose service to Ourselves and to the Art of Defence has proven to be exceptional, noteable, singular and long-lived. In acknowledgement whereof, by these Our letters, We, Edward and Marguerite, of Our especial grace, certain science, and mere motion, do give and grant to Our well-beloved servant Diego Miguel Munoz de Castilla the license, estate, status and renown of a Companion of the Order of Golden Rapier. We do further afford and endow the said Diego with the insignia, tokens and emblems of the aforesaid Order and instruct him to display the said insignia, tokens and emblems as is fitting, just and appropriate for his station. Given under Our signet upon the fields of Pennsic, in the 45^th year of Our Society.

The source text is the Political Testament of Cardinal Richelieu. It's in the SCA's "gray period," but it has great personal significance for Diego. Richelieu is his hero and idol. So it's only fitting to use Richelieu's manual of instructions on how to be a good king as the source text for Diego's scroll.