Nobilitatis Virtis Non Stemma

Douglas, by the W Grace of GOD W Prince, St. Michel

de Clermont, Laird of Camster in Caithness, etc.,

Prince Grand Master of the Sovereign & Independent

Order of the Commonwealth;

doth hereby Decree and Commend the following Rule of Life

and Constitution for the Guidance of Officers, Knights and Dames

of the said Order;

the which is a private Order of Chivalry of his Noble House of

de Clermont,

in tribute to the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles,

on this, the 24^th Day of May, in the Year of our Lord, 2001 A.D.,

being the Official Celebration

of The Queen’s Birthday

in Her Majesty’s most loyal

Dominion of Canada.

Given at Victoria,

under the sign manual and Seal

of the Prince Grand Master.

Constitution

Article the First

The motto of the Order is, in recognition of our tribute to the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, and of our adherence to the Ideals of Chivalry and the Noblesse –

in this new Millennium – and for all time;

Nobilitatis Virtis Non Stemma

Nobility and virtue, not just pedigree.

Article the Second

The Prince Grand Master is the Juridical head of the Confraternity of the Order.

The Prince Grand Master becomes a Prince of Rank immediately upon Succession to Office.

It is the Office of the Prince Grand Master which names and appoints all Dignitaries and Officers of the Order - Diplomas of Appointment are issued either motu proprio (those appointed directly by the Person of the Prince Grand Master) or de jure – upon the recommendation of the requisite jurisdictional Officer.

This Office also encompasses that of the President of the Court of Honour of the Order.

As the Order is Sovereign and Independent, its head may establish Diplomatic and Ambassadorial relations with other Orders, Sovereign powers and Nations.

The Prince Grand Master is primarily responsible for the Constitution and successful conduct of the Order, while alive.

It is also the responsibility of the Prince Grand Master to ensure that a Successor –- or a Regent awaiting the majority of the Successor – stands ready within the Confraternity of the Order

to assume Office at the time of the present occupant’s death.

All Insignia and Regalia appertaining to the Order, and the design or alteration thereof, shall be

the sole responsibility of the Prince Grand Master.

Article the Third

All complaints or matters of discipline against

a member of the Order will be investigated

and heard by the Prince Grand Master; whereupon evidence will be received from all concerned parties and full scrutiny given thereto. The Prince Grand Master will have ultimate adjudgement on all

A Rule of Life for the Order

Article the First

I will at all times add Lustre to the Order of the Commonwealth and to the Principality of

St. Michel de Clermont.

I faithfully promise that I will uphold and defend the Declaration of Commonwealth Principles, as laid down in Statute.

I will at all times earnestly promote Chivalry

and the Noblesse, wheresoever I may be.

I vow that I will at all times steadfastly and courageously stand against those who promote

I will at all times defend the weak, the needy

I pledge that I will always lend my support to the Prince Grand Master and to the

Order of the Commonwealth.

I do swear that on the 22^nd day of January of each year I will at some period of the day

observe the Order’s

Day of Affirmation

- and re–affirm my sworn Oath.

I swear that I will always follow the dictates of an informed and moral conscience.

I will at all times defend the values of the Order

I will never retreat from the ongoing battle against all that is wrong.

I will at all times obey the orders of those who are above me, so long as such orders do not go against that which I know to be just and right.

I swear that, upon my pledged word, I will always uphold truth and honesty.

I swear that I will at all times show courtesy

Prepared under the Authority

of the Prince Grand Master

by The Most. Hon. Lord Roland Garfield Beare