Oath of Fealty

[Stephen Fischer]

quoth Nancy Bradford-Reid:
| 
| >... They still have the oath of fealty lifted
| >straight out of Lord of the Rings (To do and to let be, to speak and to be
| >silent... until my lord release me, death take me, or the world end) that I
| >would like to see go away ....
| 
| FYI--I checked with one of our medieval scholars here at The University of
| Texas, and that oath IS period and dates back to the 13th or 14th century
| and so is perfectly appropriate for us to use.  It actually has a latin
| name, which I cannot recall at the moment, but will look up if anyone is
| interested.  Prof.  Kaulbach can also get me period latin and French copies
| of it.  He is both a Medievalist and a Tolkienist and knows his stuff
| backwards and forwards.
| 
| Catherine

Interesting.  I guess I can't complain as much anymore.  However, the fact
that I have read LoTR several times spoils it for me and it grates every time
I hear it.  It wouldn't be so bad if other ones were used as well, but that
doesn't seem to happen too often.

The latin and French copies would be wonderful.  If I ever have to use it,
at least I have it in a language that Etienne would use.

When Mistress Gabrielle della Santa Croce took her Laurel vows some years
ago here, she did it all in Italian.  Seemingly it worked quite well.

Ciao,
Etienne

-- 
So, we'll go no more a-rovin'
So late into the night.
Though the heart be still as loving
And the moon be still as bright.