Here’s the thing, even if the oath was correct, even if the bejewelled hat was authentic, even if the stone under the chair was the real stone of scone, it would all still be a fancy dress show.

If you believe in the ritual, it applies to you, if you see the ritual as it really is, a crap magic show, a drama production, a fancy dress ball, you know it’s just a man in a hat that has no power over you.