Cathay/Oaths
Between a knight and his lord:
Boldfaced portions only apply to new knights.
In the name of (chosen deity / my ancestors) I, (name), (titles), in the presence of (witnesses) have come to this (palace/temple/field of honor, etc.) to honor the Crown / Wreathe / Coronet of (Cathay / Duchy / County). Since (lord), the bearer of this (crown / wreathe / coronet) has asked me, in the presences of those mentioned, to acknowledge to Him the fealty and homage for the estate which the patrons, my ancestors, held from Him and His predecessors as a fief, and which I ought to hold as they held, I have made to the (King/Duke/Count) acknowledgment and homage as I ought to do.
[ The knight then takes his knee, and presents his sword ]
Before (witnesses), I, (name), hereby do swear my undying fealty to my liege, (liege), and his lands, (lands), in the eyes of (deity / my ancestors). I swear to never do deceit unto my Lord. I swear to render unto my Lord whatever services he does require, to be forever faihful unto him, to live as he permits and to die as he commands. I swear to protect his fief with my life and all else. I pledge my swords and levies to his service. I swear all these oaths at cost of my life, honor and lands. I swear these oaths until the sun does rise in the west or until such time as my Lord relinquishes me from servitude.
[ The lord then accepts the knight's sword, and responds ]
I, (name), (title) do hereby reaffirm this solemn oath, in the eyes of (witnesses) and (my deity / my ancestors). I swear to defend your lands and titles with mine own. I swear to do be a good and rightwise liege-lord as far as such things are concerned. I do hereby recognize your noble birth and will defend with my levies and sword that recognition.
[ The lord lightly taps the flat of the sword against the cheek of the vassal ]
These are the first and last blows you will take as a knight without swearing vegeance, and the last insult to your honour you will sustain without a response in kind. Never again as a man of affirmed noble birth will you allow dishonor against your name or person without rightwise retaliation, or elsewise be stripped of nobility and lands.
[ The vassal is then presented again with his sword, as well as his new gilded spurs, the recognition of his knighthood. ]
Rise now as my loyal knight, from this time until the end of time.
Made in the (season) of the year (year), in the reign of (Sovereign). Seal of (knight, lord, witnesses) who have accepted this acknowledgment of the homage of the said knight.
Between a lord and his Duke:
In the name of (chosen deity / my ancestors) I, (name), (titles), in the presence of (witnesses) have come to this (palace/temple/field of honor, etc.) to honor the (Wreathe) of (Duchy). Since His Grace, the bearer of this wreathe has asked me, in the presences of those mentioned, to acknowledge to Him the fealty and homage for the estate which the patrons, my ancestors, held from Him and His predecessors as a fief, and which I ought to hold as they held, I have made to the Duke acknowledgment and homage as I ought to do.
[ The lord then takes his knee, and presents his sword ]
Before (witnesses), I, (name), hereby do swear my undying fealty to (his grace the duke of ___, and the lands he holds in fief), in the eyes of (deity / my ancestors). I swear to never do deceit unto His Grace. I swear to render unto His Grace whatever services he does require, to be forever faihful unto him, to live as he permits and to die as he commands. I pledge my swords and levies, and those of my knights, to his service and to the protection of his fiefdom and domain. I swear all these oaths at cost of my life, honor and fiefdom. I swear these oaths until the sun does rise in the west or until such time as His Grace relinquishes me from servitude.
[ The lord then accepts the lord's sword, and responds ]
I, (name), (title) do hereby reaffirm this solemn oath, in the eyes of (witnesses) and (my deity / my ancestors). I swear to defend your lands and titles with mine own. I swear to do be a good and rightwise liege-lord as far as such things are concerned.
[ The vassal is then presented again with his sword ]
Rise now as my loyal vassal, from this time until the end of time.
Made in the (season) of the year (year), in the reign of (Sovereign). Seal of (lord, duke, witnesses) who have accepted this acknowledgment of the homage of the said lord.
Between a Duke and his King:
In the name of (chosen deity / my ancestors) I, (name), (titles), in the presence of (witnesses) have come to this (palace/temple/field of honor, etc.) to honor the Crown of Cathay. Since His Majesty the King, the bearer of this crown has asked me, in the presences of those mentioned, to acknowledge to Him the fealty and homage for the castles, manors, and places which the patrons, my ancestors, held from him and his predecessors as a fief, and which I ought to hold as they held, I have made to the King acknowledgment and homage as I ought to do.
[ The vassal then takes to his knee, presenting his sword. ]
Therefore, let all present and to come know that I the said (name), (titles), acknowledge verily to thee my King, by the grace of (deity / my ancestors), King of Cathay, and to thy successors that I hold and ought to hold as a fief in (duchy) the following: that is to say, (my holdings); for each and all of which I make homage and fealty with hands and with mouth to thee my lady King Galiard and to thy rightwise successors, and I swear upon mine honor and (my deity / my ancestors) that do guide it that I will always be a faithful vassal to thee and to thy rightwise successors in all things in which a vassal is required to be faithful to his lord, and I will defend thee, my lord, and all thy rightwise successors, and the Crown and all your men and their possessions against all malefactors and invaders, at my request and that of my successors at my own cost; and I will give to thee power over all the castles and manors above described, in peace and in war, whenever they shall be claimed by thee or by thy rightwise successors. Moreover I acknowledge that, as a recognition of the above fiefs, I and my successors ought to come to the Crown, at our own expense, as often as a new Monarch shall have been made, and there do homage and return to him the power over all the fiefs described above. And when the King shall mount his horse I and my heirs, Dukes of (duchy), and our successors ought to hold the stirrup for the honor of the dominion of Cathay; and to Him and all who come with Him, to as many as two hundred beasts, we should make the Queen's purveyance in the (fiefdom) proper, the first time She enters (fiefdom), with the best fish and meat and with eggs and cheese, honorably according to Her will, and pay the expense of shoeing of the horses, and for straw and fodder as the season shall require.
And if I or my sons or their successors do not observe to thee or to thy rightwise successors each and all the things declared above, and should come against these things, we wish that all the aforesaid fiefs should by that very fact be handed over to thee and to the said Crown of Cathay and to thy rightwise successors.
(to which the liege replies)
I, therefore, the aforesaid King Galiard, by the grace of (my deity / my ancestors) receive the homage and fealty for all the fiefs of castles and manors and places which are described above: in the way and with the agreements and understandings written above; And I promise to thee and thy heirs and successors, Dukes of (duchy), under the religion of my order, that I will be good and faithful lord concerning all those things described above.
Made in the (season) of the year (year), in the reign of King Galaird I Scarlett. Seal of (vassal, witnesses); seal of His Majesty the King, who has accepted this acknowledgment of the homage of the said Duke.
Traditionally, though this shall not be legally binding, a vassal's name is carved into some stonework where he swears fealty- usually the walls, fortifications or local castle, in order to represent his ties to the land. Should he serve out his oath dutifully, the carving will remain untouched until the end of time. A traitorous vassal, however, will have his name scratched out and defiled.
