Her Britannic Majesty

[asakiyume]

The healing angel, who longtime readers of this blog will remember as a child of 9,10, 11... is soon to embark upon new adventures. Rather than going straight to college, he's going to try to work for a bit in the land of his birth--England. To that end, he had to renew his British passport, not used since he was a baby. (He's used his American one several times since then.)

Today it arrived, and wow, the words at the front are redolent with the fragrance of Empire:

Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

Requests and requires. Without let or hindrance! It's the ontological opposite of Movie!Gandalf's "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"

ETA: The American equivalent:

The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.

America, up your game! Where is your require??

Comments

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

So that's where Barrayar got it from.

I think everyone, or nearly everyone, should take a year working after high school.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Do they have passports and such in that series?

(It's among the many things I haven't read--I think I read one short story in the world (it was good))

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. Intergalactic context. It's something the Emperor says in issuing orders, though.

While later books and stories in the series seem to me to be Author's Own Fan Fic, I think you'd like the books a lot.