Being the Charter of Portus Viduae Vastae in the Year Of Our Lord, 1226 AD.
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I declare that the trials and fortunes of this covenant are now my own. I stand no more as a magus alone but as one finger of a strong hand. As it is my goal to grow in power and station as a magus of the Order, so is it my aim to advance the covenant. As I consider my wealth of Art and breadth of learning, so is it my concern to improve the covenant's libraries and stores, to promote its alliances and position, to strive against its foes. As I pledge myself to the Hermetic Oath, so do I pledge the covenant also to the Order of Hermes and to the Loch Leglean Tribunal. Where the covenant stands, there do I stand; how the covenant grows, so do I grow; should the covenant fall, then do I fall.
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Each and every member of the covenant is entitled to the following basic rights.
[added 1245AD:] Any member with only these rights is to be termed a Guest Member. These rights may be curtailed or denied to any Guest Member by the appropriate Magister.
Each and every Provisional Member of the covenant is entitled to the following additional rights
Each and every Full Member of the covenant is entitled to the following additional rights
[added 1236AD:] Lord Aethelbald or his chosen representative is considered to be a Full Member of the covenant in all matters mundane and secular.
[amended 1255AD:] Lord Cynhafal and Lady Isadore Cospatric are considered to be Full Members of the covenant in all matters mundane and secular.
[added 1245AD:] The status of Guest Member may be revoked by a majority vote of a Quorate Council.
[added 1245AD:] The status of Provisional or Full Member may be revoked by a unanimous vote of a Quorate Council
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Any member breaking the Code of Hermes will suffer immediate expulsion from the covenant.
If a member should contravene the decisions of the council, by vote or by charter, then the member is censored for an agreed period, with all rights of a full or probationary member revoked. A magus's basic rights cannot be revoked without expulsion.
The titular head of the covenant, termed the Disceptator Benefactae, is cyclic and mandatory, with responsibility rotating in sequence of Hermetic seniority. The Disceptator must preside at all council meetings if present within the covenant's walls. In the case of absence, this responsibility passes to the Disceptator's senior.
Responsibility for all resources is divided amongst the covenant by assignation of seven-yearly custodianships, whose titles and respective responsibilities, for Collection, Reservation and Distribution, are determined by the Houses Astrological:-
The responsibility of the members of this covenant towards its lasting success is dependent upon covenant work. The Council will declare the duties that need to be performed. Covenant work will be paid at a rate commensurate with the time, risk and potential gain to the covenant involved. The minimum payment, for a single season of work at low risk with a low gain, will be two pawns of vis, of the flavour most prevalent in the stores at the time. All payments will be made at the end of the year. If there is insufficient vis to meet the demands of the council, the Magister Mortis may withhold payment for one or more years. Covenant Work may retroactively be declared.
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The council may not declare action except upon behalf of the covenant entire; no actions may be demanded of individuals by council agreement. Conversely, the rulings of the council cannot be overturned by an individual.
Council meetings will be held three days prior to each Quarter Day. In addition, a meeting may be convened at any time, if at least two members agree on the need for one.
A quorum is required for convention of a valid council; this shall be equal to more than half of its current members
Motions must be proposed and seconded and all alternatives should be discussed before a vote can be held.
All votes are passed on a majority of the members present at the meeting, excepting that unanimous votes of a quorate council are required for:
On a tied vote, the Disceptator Benefactae casts the deciding vote, excepting in the case of votes over resources, wherein the presiding custodian has the final decision. The possessor of the casting vote must be agreed before the matter is voted upon.
Any member may request that any vote is made in secret.
Distribution of covenant resources, where a conflict is evident, is drawn by ballot as declared by the presiding Magister, excepting that priority claims that have been advanced and agreed are considered prior to drawing.
At the Spring council is agreed the budget for reward allocation for the year previous and is declared also all necessary duties for the year following.
The roles of the Magistres are determined by vote in the fourth year following each Tribunal. A Magister currently president may declare a disinterest in retaining his position, and the council should respect these wishes
The mundanes of the covenant are assigned the following positions, with commensurate provisions:
The Magister Valetudinis is responsible for ensuring that the mundane folk of the covenant maintain an honest and decent Christian life
[added 1255AD:] Lord and Lady Cospatric have the right to veto any proposed changes to the structure of the covenant buildings and surroundings.