[Ravensfort] Service to ones Lord and Kiing

[John Reuter]

 Let us look at bad behavior and fealty.

today people have rights and ownership of property and
life through a concept of freedom that most take for
granted. Today we have the right to question ones
actions and the right to free speech and to bear arms
against tyranny and to be free of wrong full search
and seizure and we are all Innocent until proved
guilty. Two hundred and thirty six years ago we were
fighting for that freedom because people BELIEVED in a
DREAM. They believed that certain freedoms and rights
were unalienable and that all people should be free
from persecution and threats to pursue their own
interests and to truly be free men.
One thousand years ago this was only possible if you
were a king or a noble of very high birth and your
borders were not being threatened by those who
believed other wise. Evey one else had to "work for
the man" being in service to one lord at all social
levels. Peasants, craftsmen, merchants, nobles, and
even knights. Fealty is an oath that one person takes
to show ones loyalty or support to a higher authority
or establishment of organization. We see this today
when one is sworn in to office such as a sheriff a
political representative or a judge. Also we see this
when some one joins the military or any large
organization when we sign an agreement or contract. A
contract is like fealty when an individual or one who
represents a group of people promises to abide laws
and do certain things or services or swear to follow
some one and do as they say in return for protection
or limited freedoms. This agreement of sorts is
limited to the borders the higher or SIRES lands and
is subject to his laws and values. 

"I am my Sires subject and I do his bidding,"

So, Meet Joe peasant, one of many, who one day aspires
to be a serf of great value, works the Fields for lord
noble so and so and is given a place to live, build a
small dwelling and care for his family. He is allowed
to do so as long as he tends the land as needed. He is
in service to his lord and he is happy. He has
Purpose. He has food and shelter. His wife and
children are healthy and are all guaranteed a future
in the farming industry. Lord noble so and so has the
lands in his care that were given to him by duke you
know who. This lord noble, one of several in service
to a duke has a small castle or keep that his knights,
squires, archers and men at arms dwell in with his
family and their families. Each year he sends all that
his peasants, serfs, millers, smiths and cobblers
harvest, collects, builds and makes through trade
merchants who sell the flour, grain, livestock and
many other goods from the lands in his care. His
reeves all keep track of all transactions. A large
percentage of the funds made from all this go to the
duke Each year. In the fall the landed noble calls to
the populace to hold a festival to celebrate their
good life and a small break in all the hard work that
they all do to support their duke. The duke, one of
just a few, sends gold, goods and supplies to his king
who he serves well. The duke has a small army that
dwells in the large castle and guards the lands his
king has given him to care for and keep safe from
invaders. His guards patrol the roads and have
outposts to watch for strangers coming and going in
and out of the kings lands and to guard the merchant
caravans along the way. This is all a normal daily
life until one day a missive from the duke's king
tells him to make preparations for war and the duke
sends word to his land lords to make ready for war and
the lords have their serfs and peasants gather to pick
out the strongest and most fit ones to fill the ranks
of his levy. Joe peasant is chosen to be in his lords
levy and is given a helmet, coat of leather armor, a
tabard like the others and a foot mans flail because
that is all he knows how to use. With all the activity
and the slow movement to war, Joe peasant follows not
knowing why or who his king makes war with but because
he is obligated to do so. All he has been given is
through his land lord so he is obligated to follow. If
he chooses not to abide by his lord he would be
imprisoned or even worse, put to the sword for
treason. If a lord chooses not to follow his duke or
king for what ever reason then he to would be punished
and his vassals were obligated to follow him or sneak
away quietly if able. You were not given a choice to
disagree or pick sides. Either you supported your lord
or you betrayed them for all they did for you. That
was the mind set through fealty. Your word was your
honor. If you disagreed with your lord you were not in
position to question their action. On the other hand,
when you break an oath of fealty or betray the lord
who has given you the means to be what you are, you
loose more than just the material value of things you
loose your rights and the sense of honor that others
have bestowed on to you through admiration and
respect. You become a trader and a disloyal subject
who has no rights in the eyes of the king. It is not
much different than being in a big street gang or
crime family. Once you are in your are expected to
commit all to the group. to get in you have to display
an act of loyalty or to commit a murder. To get out is
about the same but you will always be looking over
your shoulder to see if any one will be after you.
Your are usually in a gang for life...........until
you died. Do not confuse my thought here. Gangs are
not good and crime will not be tolerated in our lands.
I love the current middle ages. Thank God for the
freedom of the pursuit of happiness!


Once came a warrior, fresh from the field..........


I apologize for the length, but it needed to be said.

your Baron

Brian du Val