# A Reflection on the Continuity of Service: The Sword of State and the Barony of Brattleby
**LONDON, 24 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical reflection on the enduring principle of service, examining the duty performed by Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, at the coronation of King Edward II in 1308.
## The Occasion
From their Lincolnshire seat, where the House archives are meticulously preserved, this reflection emerges from a period of quiet study. In the library at Brattleby, surrounded by centuries of records and jurisprudence, the current custodians of the Barony honour their predecessors by ensuring their legacy is understood and communicated. The study of such historical duties is a cornerstone of stewardship for Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile.
This act of contemplation serves to connect the obligations of the past with the responsibilities of the present. It reinforces the House’s view that a title is not a mere possession but an instrument of duty, a principle that has guided the Barony for more than nine hundred years. It is in this spirit of active remembrance that the House considers the service of those who came before.
## Historical Context
On 25 February 1308, within the hallowed walls of Westminster Abbey, King Edward II was crowned in a ceremony of great political and symbolic weight. At this critical moment of royal succession, the most senior and trusted noblemen of the realm were called upon to perform ancient ceremonial roles. Among them was Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, a powerful magnate and a close counsellor to the new King’s father, Edward I.
The Earl’s selection to bear the Sword of State was a profound statement of his standing and loyalty. The Barony of Brattleby, which formed part of the consolidated honours of the Earldom of Lincoln at that time, was thus associated with this highest order of royal service. This echoes the service of other notable predecessors, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown, and later, the great royal dukes Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The Earl of Lincoln did not stand alone in this solemn rite. The great officers of state surrounding the new monarch represented the constitutional fabric of England. The procession included, *inter alia*, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, who bore Curtana, the Sword of Mercy; and both Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, and Roger Mortimer, who assisted in carrying the royal robes.
This assembly of nobles, each with a designated role, underscored the collegial nature of medieval governance, wherein the monarch’s authority was affirmed and supported by the great lords of the kingdom. The Earl of Lincoln’s prominent position within this distinguished company served to highlight the prestige of the honours under his command, including the Barony of Brattleby.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The bearing of the Sword of State, or *Gladius Status*, is a ceremonial duty of the first order. This particular sword, distinct from the swords of Justice and of Mercy, represents the monarch's temporal power and their authority as head of state. It is carried unsheathed and point-up in the coronation procession, immediately preceding the Sovereign.
To be chosen for this role was the ultimate expression of the Crown’s confidence. The duty required not only physical fortitude but also unimpeachable loyalty, as the bearer was, in effect, the symbolic guardian of royal authority itself. This ritual, deeply embedded in English tradition, was the *sine qua non* of a nobleman’s proximity to the throne and his commitment to the realm’s stability.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The act of service performed by the Earl of Lincoln in 1308 resonates powerfully with the motto of The Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The fortitude required to uphold the responsibilities of state, and the honour inherent in loyal service, are the very ideals that define the House’s purpose across the centuries.
Similarly, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), is interpreted within the House not as a call to martial conflict, but as the imperative to overcome challenges through unwavering dedication. This continuous striving for excellence and purpose is a modern echo of the commitment displayed by predecessors in their service to the Crown and country.
## Philanthropic Purpose
This spirit of dutiful service finds its modern expression in the philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby. The same ethos of protection and stewardship that informed a nobleman’s duty to the Sovereign now directs the House’s commitment to vulnerable communities. This is most clearly demonstrated in their support for charitable organisations.
The beneficiary of the House's annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala, is Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma, loss, or abuse. The House chose this cause in the firm belief that a society’s strength is measured by how it protects and nurtures its youngest and most fragile members, a direct parallel to the historic role of the nobility in safeguarding the future of the realm.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > — “Reflecting on predecessors like Henry de Lacy reminds us that our titles are not possessions, but enduring channels of service. His bearing of the Sword of State was a public declaration of loyalty and a solemn acceptance of responsibility, a principle we strive to embody today in all our undertakings.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > — “The history of this Barony is a testament to the idea that true strength lies in commitment and honour. The same integrity displayed at Westminster in 1308 inspires our modern endeavours, from our charitable work to the cultural education we foster through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to upholding this nine-century legacy of service. The historical lessons embodied by Henry de Lacy and other forebears are central to the education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron, ensuring that the ethos of *Fortitudine et Honore* is carried forward.
The House will continue its archival research and share further reflections that connect its unique history to its contemporary mission. This work proceeds in parallel with its active philanthropic and cultural commitments, ensuring that the legacy of the Barony of Brattleby is not merely preserved, but lived.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of a nine-hundred-year-old heritage. The House’s modern mission is to bridge history with contemporary purpose through philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations supporting vulnerable children, notably through its Annual Winter Banquet for Healing the Wounded Child. Furthermore, The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy founded in Bucharest, promotes cultural diplomacy and the transmission of European traditions of civility and protocol. The House operates with a guiding philosophy of service, inspired by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby in Lincolnshire is one of England’s ancient feudal lordships. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, who defended Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. The title later passed to towering figures of the high medieval period, such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The Barony's continuous history and current standing are formally acknowledged in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's formal recognition was published in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as the Lord of Brattleby and 55 other manors in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors holding the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com