Canon 42: Rites and Oaths of Sworn Men of the Sword

Here are the rites and oaths to be used by the Clerics, Regular and Extraordinary, of the Church of Westrun in the matter of  Consecrating all of its Sworn Men.

KNIGHTS SECULAR

Inasmuch as it is possible for any monarch, lord or knight to raise a man to knighthood, the number of these sworn men has greatly proliferated in all the known world. While many of these are men of virtue, the Church can neither vouchsafe their honor, nor attest to their fidelity, nevertheless all may properly be known by the honorific, Sir.

As you may have cause to bear witness to such an elevation, it is proper to use the ceremony following.

First, having heard the supplicant commended by his monarch or lord, have him confess his crimes and pay all his lawful debts; then have him kneel in the manner pictured with his hands upon the lord's sword and recite the twelvefold oath using these words:

Here do I, by all that is good and right, swear to develop my life for the greater good. I will place character above riches, and concern for others above personal wealth. I will never boast, but cherish humility instead. I will speak the truth at all times, and forever keep my word. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. I will honor women. I will uphold justice. I will be faithful in love and loyal in friendship. I will abhor scandals and gossip. I will be generous to the poor and to those who need help. I will forgive when possible, that my own mistakes will be forgiven. I will live my life with courtesy and honor from this day forward.

Note that all men elevated by other knights are considered "hedge knights" and remain so, until such time as a lord shall ratify their elevation.

KNIGHTS RELIGIOUS

The matter of Paladins is different than that of a mere knight. Only a Prefect may recognize a Paladin from among the elevated knighthood. Such a one will present himself to the Prefect after the ceremony described above and only after a discerning fast has been undertaken and not broken.

The supplicant will kneel again as shown, but with his hands upon the Prefect's Mace. The Prefect will then cut his hand with a knife of ceremony, and with his bloody palm upon the supplicants brow say these words:

Do you, Sir Knight, of free will and without reservation have further oaths to swear?

The supplicant will answer by these words:

Lord Prefect, I swear by all that is lawful and holy to obey in all things great and small. I will uphold the faith. I will follow the Holy Canons. I will serve you as you serve God until you release me, or death take me, or the world end.

At that moment the knight should be bid to rise and heal the knife wound of the Prefect as testament of his faculty. If the healing faculty is not present, the supplicant shall be bid to go forth and do well without the mantle of the Church to vouchsafe him. But if the faculty is present, the Prefect will then name him Paladin and place the mantle of the Church upon him, and symbol of the church around his neck.

PEERS

No Paladin shall be aspire to a peerage without first being released by his Prefect. But no such release shall be unreasonably withheld when it is petitioned by an Exemplar of the order aspired to. 

The release shall be given as follows:

Here do I,  __________ Prefect of the Holy Church and by the authority granted to me, release you from your former service; and commend you to the service of another.

Upon obtaining the release, the aspirant will swear an oath to the chaplain of that order and undertake the tasks given him to prove his worth

He shall be given the challenge, as follows:

Do you, Sir Knight, of free will and open heart have further oaths to swear?

Aspirants to a peerage will make the following response:

Here do I, by all that is good and holy, swear that I shall freely and openly undertake the tasks put to me; in obedience to the Order of _____; ever keeping with whatsoever is right under the law; or else forfeit my aspiration. So say I, Sir __________.

Once an aspirant has completed his tasks and is to be accepted into the order aspired to, he shall be challenged again and make the following response:

Here do I, by all that is good and holy, swear that I shall freely and openly keep fealty and service to the Order; to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be; to come and to go; in need or in plenty; in peace or war; in living or dying; in obedience of whatsoever is right under the law, from this hour henceforth, until my Lord Captain release me, or death take me, or the world end. So say I, Sir _____, Peer of the Order of ____.

A Peer who is additionally honored by exemplary conduct or service may be invited to the final echelon of his order. If so, he shall answer the challenge by swearing the following oath:

Here do I, by my sacred and proven honor, swear that I shall freely and openly maintain devotion and fidelity to the sacred goals of my Order as they reflect whatsoever is right under the law. So say I, Sir _____, Exemplar of the Order of _____.

When an Exemplar has become the captain and Lord Commander of his order, shall answer the challenge by swearing the following oath:

Here do I, before the witness of the Order of _____, freely and openly promise to fulfill the office of Captain as my most sacred charge, to hear and preside, to charge and defend, to serve and guide; leading by whatsoever is right under the law, from this hour henceforth, until my Order release me. So say I, Sir _____, Lord Commander of the Order of _____.