The Laws of Chivalry as Practiced by Ugly, Thieving Little Priests
of Selune'
A Work in Progress!
The Laws
Commandments from the Church to 11th Century crusading knights:
- Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches and shalt obey all her commandments.
- Thou shalt defend the church.
- Thou shalt respect all weaknesses and constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born.
- Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
- Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy.
- Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
- Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
- Thou shalt be generous and give largesse to everyone.
- Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right against Injustice and Evil.
Thou Shalt Play This Way version:
- Thou shalt accept the councels of thy mentor and obey all his commandments.
- Thou shalt defend thy mentor.
- Thou shalt respect all weaknesses and constitute thyself the defender of them.
- Thou shalt be faithful to the mentor who reared thee.
- Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
- Thou shalt make war against evil without cessation and without mercy.
- Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy duties to thy mentor.
- Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word.
- Thou shalt give largly of thy wealth. (But talks about large retinue.)
- Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right against Injustice and Evil.
References:
"Chivalry" by Leon Gautier, pub Phoenix House, London 1965
"Caxton's Order of Chivalry", Oxford University, London 1926
Chivalrous Virtues:
- liberality
- glory
- courtesy
- honor
- unselfishness
- bravery
- good faith
- pride (This is a virtue?)
Code of Chivalry (from Chivalrous Cavelier):
- noble service cheerfully rendered
- defense of any charge unto death
- courage and enterprise in obedience to rule
- respect for all peers and equals
- honor to all above your station
- military prowess exercised in service to your lord
- courtesy to all ladies
- war is the flowering of chivalry
- battle is the test of manhood
- combat is glory
- personal glory above all in battle
- obedience and respect from all beneath your station
- scorn for all those who are lowly and ignoble
- death to all who oppose the cause
- death before dishonor
From description of Garath (CG paladin): "Devout church members, garaths adhere to their god's strictures with absolute conviction. If a garath ever breaks church rule, he loses his garath church rank and becomes forevermore a normal fighter."
"honorable, brave, outstanding in personal deeds, and committed to serve some diety, noble, order or special cause."
The Elven Chivalric Code:
- noble service cheerfully rendered
- defense of any charge unto death
- courage and enterprise in the cause of a worthy goal
- respect for all
- respect from others when deserved
- disdain for those who serve woe
- military prowess exercised to good cause
- courtesy to all
- archery is the finest point of honor
- single combat is the flowering of chivalry
- defense is the greatest test
- contest is glory
- make enemies and allies solely of those most worthy
- misdeeds are measured in lives
- defeat all who contest
- dissolution before dishonor
"The Code of Chivalry" (Sept. '87 Dragon) introduced honor point system with rewards for high scores and loss of knighthood for low scores. This system could perhaps be adapted to Stewart.
From "'Good' Does Not Mean 'Boring'" (Aug 89):
- Death before dishonor
- Dishonor before innocents are harmed
- All women are to be honored
- Be polite and courteous even if insulted
- All challenges are to be met honorably
- Obey your religion and honor its tenets
- obey the laws of the land where they do not conflict with your religion
- respect all oponnents
- avoid all excesses
- care for the sick and aid the distressed
- honor your liege lord and your diety
- do not permit evil to do harm
"a walking reminder of his religion, he must obey its tenets strictly and do penance for any deviation"
