Letters Creating of the Most Noble Order of the Act
JR
JAMES, by the Grace of God of Hanover and of Our other Realms and Territories King, Emperor of Calormen, Head of the Commonwealth to All Our Loving Subjects Whatsoever to Whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
WHEREAS it is fitting that we shall have at Our disposal a means for honoring those of Our subjects who have offered notable service to King and Country, and for honoring those of Our friends who have ever been faithful,
WHEREAS it is meet that such honored subjects and friends should be united within a bond and brotherhood of chivalry according to ancient custom and venerable tradition,
LET IT BE KNOWN that it is Our Will and Pleasure that the
MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE ACT be created and established within Our Realm,
AND WE DO FURTHER subject this Noble Order to Our own constitution to be maintained in perpetuity, the articles being
1. That the Most Noble Order of the Act shall be secular in character, having no patron other than the Sovereign of the Order, neither shall there be a religious code, nor shall a chapel be established,
2. And that the Monarch of Hanover shall be the Sovereign of the Order and shall alone enjoy the right to enroll persons in the Order,
3. And that if the Sovereign shall deem any of his subjects fit to belong to the Order, he shall be at liberty to enroll him,
4. And that the Sovereign shall be at liberty to enroll foreign persons of distinction into the Order,
5. And that there shall be but two classes of Knights of the Most Noble Order of the Act. Firstly, those subjects of the King of Hanover shall be determined as of three distinctions being the Knight Commander, Knight Companion and Knight. Secondly, those foreign persons of distinction belonging to the class of Knight Stranger.
(1)
6. And that no member of the order shall be compelled to swear an oath, neither shall an oath be composed,
7. And that no secret codes or agendas shall be created, followed or permitted,
8. And that the Sovereign of the Order may expel members for reasons which he deems grave and substantial,
9. And that the motto of the Order is "Actions speak louder than words,"
10. And that the insignia of the order shall consist of a sword, a cap, a cape of royal blue, a sash of royal blue worn over the left shoulder, a collar, a badge and a breast star featuring the motto and the symbol of the Order,
11. No Knight shall advance to Knight Commander without first being Knight Companion. No Knight shall advance to Knight Companion in less than three months time. No Knight Companion shall advance to Knight Commander in less than six months time,
(2)
12. And that symbol of the order is the letter "A", and that said symbol shall grace all of the insignia of the Order.
THEREFORE we do now, by these presents create and establish the Most Noble Order of the Act and its Constitution,
AND WE DO THESE THINGS ALL at Our Court at Marchmain Palace on this Twelfth day of May in the Year of Grace 2003, the Second of Our Reign.
James R