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Lord Alured Husher
Appointed as Soothsayer

April 6, 2019 ~ AS53

In Roman times, so We are told, before making important decisions, the Emperor sought the opinion of councilors who were gifted with foresight and could be relied upon to tell truth—even when that truth was not the advice the Emperor wanted to hear. The Emperor might choose to consult an augur (who gained insight by observing the behavior of birds), an astrologer (who charted the course of the stars and planets), or a haruspex (who foretold the future by studying the entrails of sheep).

We, Maire and John, Baroness and Baron of Illiton, believe that We too have need of such council. We have noticed that one of Our subjects speaks his opinions to us with an honesty bordering upon bluntness. We have learned that his words, though occasionally discomforting to Us, carry the weight of wisdom and are uttered for the good of Our barony and its people. Since We, Maire and John, have discovered that one of the secrets of effective rule is to command subjects to do what they were going to do anyway, We choose now to appoint Lord Alured Husher as Our SOOTHSAYER.

As SOOTHSAYER, Lord Alured is granted leave to speak his mind. He is also authorized to investigate the ornithological mysteries, to study the secrets of the heavens and to dissect wooly bleaters as needed. We shall instruct Our exchequer to pay Alured a yearly stipend to cover his expenses for these activities. Furthermore, We give Alured permission to carry a chicken into Our presence—though not a sheep—for We have Our dignity to consider.

So say We, Maire and John, Baroness and Baron of Illiton at Our Celebration of the Rites of Spring on this sixth day of April, AS LIII (53).

John

Maire