In this the birth year of Our Realm Of Northshield, which We proudly helm, We King Siegfried, and Bridei Our Queen, Greet all by whom these words are seen. Witting full well the worth of arts That move and mellow all mortal hearts, And holding among these in high regard The ancient and honored craft of the Bard, We confirm the words set down afar By the Midrealm’s Catherine and Jafar, That chartered the Northshield Bardic College To take and teach this worthy knowledge. Not only Bards but all deserve To practice arts, and thus preserve And pass them to posterity. For this We grant authority To foster Bardic Arts events And bear its badge without hindrance Its own officials to select And all its members to protect. Thus no other may demand Punishment for verse ill-scanned For meter mangled, rhymes mislaid Or satires at the mighty made. Members shall be answerable, For such actions liable, To the College of Bards alone; The College answers to the Throne. That skill in crafting all may seek, Without ambition for a clique, Be students ’rolled, and teachers named, But let no other rank be claimed. Though “Master” and “Prentice” some may use, Only between a pair who choose In apprenticeship to teach and learn, No rank’s conveyed by either term. We charge the members let no fools Administer the College rules, But name a Council made of four Whose terms shall last two years, no more. Let them in turn appoint a Chief Whose vote in ties provides relief; Who shall for one year be their voice In public, at the Council’s choice. Let all who seek to be a Bard Beware, the duty can be hard — To sing the praiseworthy to fame And give the blameworthy their blame. A poet’s justice must you give, And by the ancient creed must live: “Y Gwir Yn Erbyn Y Byd”, which says: “The Truth Against the World” — always. Let all give heed, and hence remember! Done this fourth day of December In the thirty-eighth year of the Society At Our Court in Caer Anterth Barony.