Miscellaneous Oaths

Anglo-Saxon oath, 900-950CE

Hroðwynn

With my hand on this relic, I swear I will be

to the Crown of Northshield faithful and true;

And love all that they love, and shun all that they shun[10];

According to the Kingdom’s law, and the world's principles;

To demonstrate courtesy, kindness, and compassion;

And let no person deny justice to another[11], 

To teach the ignorant and guide the lost.

To serve the needy and shield the weak.

To seek the path and light the way.

And never, by will nor by force,

by word nor by work,

do aught of what is loathful[12]

And to never bend nor break.

Even if the earth’s fields should shake,

I swear I will hold fast, and be true[13].

Here by my honor, my hand, and my heart, swear I, Hroðwynn Brycgentslaga.

Crown

We acknowledge your oath, and will keep you as you deserve[14],

Relying on your faithfulness and wisdom

to help us bend the unrighteous to right[15];

This oath shall be protected and preserved

Inviolable and immutable,

Until the end of the world.[16]

Your enemies shall be our enemies,

your need shall be our need.

But know that any who seek to diminish their oath

Will have their names removed from the land of the living[17]

And be barred from happiness,

And destined for the outer darkness.[18]

Langobardic Oath, 6c-7c CE

Faraulf

I promise that I am and shall be faithful

To my Crown and their heirs all the days of my life

Without deception and without deceit.[27] 

To advance in good works with each step and season

And always be seen to move toward the better.[28]

To safeguard your counsel, [29]

To raise no controversies with evil purpose,[30]

To remain steadfast in my promise,

Inflicting injury upon no one.[31] 

To aid the wronged and seek out the truth[32]

And to illuminate the way.[33]

Crown

We accept your oath.

It is right that he who makes promises to us

should be protected by our help.

And because you, our faithful follower Faraulf,

having come here to our court,

were seen to swear into our hands

that you will teach, serve, and protect our Kingdom

In whatever ways you are able,

we therefore decide and order

by the present letters 

that from now on you will be counted

among the Companions of the Laurel.

And should someone perhaps dare

to do him grievous harm,

let them know that they will now be liable

to pay 600 solidi for his wergeld.[34] 

Let this pledge have unshaken and undisturbed validity,[35]

and may trouble be visited eight-fold[36] 

upon any who would break this oath…

so that they will obtain no joy from it, but only ruin.[37]