RomanceEverAfter

Romantic Tales - Medieval

The Vows of Knighthood

The charm of the knights of old is closely associated with their honor and the promise to serve and defend.  The vows made by a knight were sacred and consisted of seven specific promises.

Vow #1:  A knight was never to put aside his arms except when he went to sleep at the end of the day.  The knight was to always have his weapon at the ready.

Vow #2:  A night, during a quest or adventure, was never to bypass a dangerous trail for "fear of meeting powerful enemies" or meeting with "monsters, savage beats or spirits."  In short, a knight was to be a fearless warrior who never cowered in the face of danger.

Vow #3:  A knight was committed to defend a lady even unto death.  Nor was a knight to leave or desert a lady, particularly one in need of assistance.

Vow #4:  Punctuality was a virtue.  A knight was never to be accounted late when engaging a fellow knight.

Vow #5:  A knight promised that upon his return from any quest or adventure, he was to provide a detailed account of his activity whether good or bad.  If a knight did not adhere to this vow, he could forfeit his knighthood.

(For those of you who have seen Bing Crosby in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," the knight that "captures" Crosby's character tells of the adventure, exaggerated of course, to the Court.)

Vow #6: Following a loss at a tournament, a knight can not fight again without the approval of the knight who won against him.  In addition, the conquered knight at the tournament is required to turn over his warhorse and arms to the victor.

(A good example of such a fete occurs in Amanda Quick's novel, "Mystique".  The hero, Hugh the Relentless (Scarcliffe), is a knight who shows great prowess as a knight.)

Vow #7:  A knight's final vow is not to fight against one enemy, nor keep two swords on his person without being willing to fight two opponents simultaneously. 

Return to Home Page