The Pre-Court Checklist

When you're the herald in charge for an event, you will be expected to meet with the Crown to go over the court before you all stand up on the dais and start the show. This meeting can be very pressed for time, as the Crown often always uses this time to get dressed, sign scrolls, and meet with other folks who have business for court.

It's your job to make sure that you cover everything that you need to know, so that you can present Court in the manner that the Crown wishes. It is their show, after all!

This rushed air can be nerve-wracking and it's easy to forget stuff that you want to ask and clarify.

I've compiled a list of things that you may want to ask the Crown during this meeting, so that you can make the most of your time with them.

Sometimes you just have to get it off your mind and on paper!
(Sloane MS 1977, f. 2r)

You should check in with the Crown early in the day to introduce yourself, let them know that you will be in charge for them today. Ask at that point if there will be any courts other than the main one in the evening, so that you can be prepared. Also ask them if there are any elevations planned for the day, so that you can check in with the vigilant and make sure that you are prepared for that.

Here are some things that you should think about asking the Crown during your meeting with the Crown before court.

• Confirm the nobles who will be joining the Crown on the dais. You're going to want to make sure before Court that the thrones are arranged properly.
   
• Will there be Oaths of Fealty taken? Which ones?
   
• Get the list of business and the awards to be given. Make sure you have the appropriate order. You are going to want to make sure that the Signet also knows this order, so that they can prepare the scrolls.
   
• What does the Crown want done with scrolls whose recipients aren't there to receive them? Common options include "someone to accept for them", having the recipient's local Baronage or Seneschal accept them, or returning them to the Signet for safe keeping.
   
• Will there be a Baronial Court? If there will be, make sure to check that the Barony has their own herald lined up.
   
• If there will be elevations, is there a particular herald that the vigilant wants? Will there be a script that's different from the standard one?
   
• Are there tourney results to announce? Who should you call up for that?
   
• DOUBLE CHECK to make sure that you have the names of the Royals pronounced correctly. Trust me, they would rather you check in private than mess it up in court! You may want to write it down phonetically, especially if you have other heralds joining you. Before Court, make sure that you double check that each one can pronounce the names of the Crown (and Heirs, if sitting) properly.
   
• Check the wording of your planned boast to announce the Crown at the beginning of court, especially if it's particularly flowery or non-traditional. At the same time, you should check to see what titles the Crown prefers. They may want something that is specific to their persona, and you will want to know how to pronounce that, too.
   

After you are done talking with the Crown, you have a few other things that you may want to do.

• Meet with the Signet and make sure you can read all the glosses on the back of the scroll. You will want to make sure that each scroll has a gloss. This is usually done by the signet, but you're the one who looks silly if you can't read a scroll text, so double check it for yourself!
   
• Practice the names of the awardees, especially if any of them have names that are tricky, or in an unfamiliar language.
   
• Get a list of scribes from the Signet.
   
• Note your Seneschal in your notes, the date, and location of the court.
   
• Head over to the dais area, and double check to make sure that it looks good. Stand back in the audience to get a view from back there. Hide anything modern that you can see. Straighten banners and rugs. Check the kneeling cushion. Make sure there's space between the thrones for your body.
   
• Double check your own personal appearance and regalia. You're a representative of the Crown, and court is a formal occasion. Remember that you're going to appear in a lot of pictures!
   
• Finally, wait with the signet on the dais for the Crown's signal to start.
   

I've prepared a short printable pdf that has much of this advice, so that you can bring it with you to the event. It's already contained in the Field Book, but in case you have a large format book, you can print one and include it. If it's written down, you won't have to remember, and that leaves more space in your brain for the things that you NEED to remember.

I would tell you "Good luck!" but with adequate preparation, you will do just fine! Take a deep breath, square your shoulders, and START THE SHOW!