A new squire contract.
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:36 pm
To the populace of the Known World comes greeting from Vitus von Atzinger, knight of the Middle Kingdom and tenan of the Great House Stahlgeist. May St. Michael guide all good Christian men-at-arms away from evil deeds, and may the pagan gods smile upon those of you who follow another -yet equally glorious- path toward everlasting martial or artistic fame, as we all serve the same noble cause and waking dream.
Well met and a happy time of day to all who read this, or hear it read in churches, within the streets, in camps of war or in the mead halls of the pagan north. Mark me well, for I am well-resolved to raise a yeomen soldier unto the Estate of Esquire.
Mael Colum mac Eoin mec Fearghus ui Niall, Called Maelcolm Mor (or Malcolm the Giant in the common speech) shall be raised, upon his agreement to this contract, into the estate of Esquire, and he shall be guided towards holy knighthood by my guidance and counsel. I here publicly declare what the nature of his service shall be, and likewise what the limits of my authority over him shall be. Let those who would interfere in this matter fear my retribution, as I am a knight of some renown and whose family should not to be roused in anger- our deeds of arms are known widely in the world, and I count many knights and good squires as brothers and cousins. This having been said, I shall now relate how this thing shall be done.
Item- This man-at-arms Maelcolm Mor shall not take the family name of Atzinger, as this is not keeping with his place among his pagan tribe, who do worship heathen gods and follow customs unknown to me, my gracious lady and my retainers.
Item- This Maelcolm Mor shall not attend upon my person, or serve within my war band under the banner of Baron Omarad the Wary, knight, as these labors will interfere with his present role as a warband leader.
Item- Any troops or men-at-arms under the command of Maelcolm Mor shall owe me no allegiance or obedience in any undertaking of arms, whether they be deeds done with arms of peace or deeds done in battle.
Item- Maelcolm Mor shall be required to tirelessly seek after deeds of arms, fulfill any quests assigned to him by myself or my lady, carry private communications from myself to others, read statements to appropriate parties if required and act as my herald if commanded. If acting as my messenger or herald, he shall do his labors in garments of my choosing and design. These garments shall be provided at my expense. I agree to give him ample time to prepare if he is called upon to do these labors.
Item- Maelcolm Mor, if required, shall perform certain chivalric labors for any gentle of my choosing, unless he feels that such labors would bring him dishonor or shame. If he feels thus, he must present his reasons for such refusal and will be allowed to either publicly or privately debate the nature of his stance. I will receive his reasons openly and with no malice.
Item- Maelcolm Mor shall not, upon his agreement to this contract, loose arrow shaft or crossbow bolt at any belted knight of any Kingdom or faith. However, he shall be allowed to hurl all other matter of arms at any man-at-arms of any rank, keeping with the traditions of his culture. If it is found that he has loosed arrow or bolt at any good knight, his arms shall be displayed in my camp inverted until he shall perform such penance as I see fit to give him.
Item- I shall guide Maelcolm Mor toward his goals in the life-in-arms.
Item- I shall give instruction in the discipline of arms to Maelcolm Mor without reservation.
Item- I shall spread his fame and accounts of his worthy deeds among the Kingdoms of the world.
Item- I shall impart to him all that I know of the science of chivalry, which I have learned in my long study of great men of fame, loyalty and prowess.
Upon his agreement to these items, Maelcolm Mor shall be allowed to style himself a squire of the Middle Kingdom, meaning that he may at any time of his own choosing put the blood-colored military belt around his waist, and he may wear it until he is made knight, or unless he or I choose to end this contract- including its responsibilities and obligations. The right to wear the spurs of a squire shall depend upon his performance in certain knightly duties, to be assigned to him at a later date. He retains the right to wear the silver chain of his rank, since he is the sworn vassal of the Crown of the Middle Kingdom.
This contract shall be renewed each year in the month of July, and any changes to this document shall be discussed with him beforehand, allowing him to renew our pact or break our bonds as he sees fit.
I make these declarations openly and in front of the entire Known World, since this Maelcolm Mor has, through his long service to the Crown and to his tribe, shown himself worthy to be raised into the second estate.
These are the words of Vitus von Atzinger, written this day at his castle in the Barony of the Flame, held in fief by Erick der Rochnatten, Baron and his peerless lady Camilla de la Reynard, Baroness. May God and his angels guide them toward ever higher honors.
Well met and a happy time of day to all who read this, or hear it read in churches, within the streets, in camps of war or in the mead halls of the pagan north. Mark me well, for I am well-resolved to raise a yeomen soldier unto the Estate of Esquire.
Mael Colum mac Eoin mec Fearghus ui Niall, Called Maelcolm Mor (or Malcolm the Giant in the common speech) shall be raised, upon his agreement to this contract, into the estate of Esquire, and he shall be guided towards holy knighthood by my guidance and counsel. I here publicly declare what the nature of his service shall be, and likewise what the limits of my authority over him shall be. Let those who would interfere in this matter fear my retribution, as I am a knight of some renown and whose family should not to be roused in anger- our deeds of arms are known widely in the world, and I count many knights and good squires as brothers and cousins. This having been said, I shall now relate how this thing shall be done.
Item- This man-at-arms Maelcolm Mor shall not take the family name of Atzinger, as this is not keeping with his place among his pagan tribe, who do worship heathen gods and follow customs unknown to me, my gracious lady and my retainers.
Item- This Maelcolm Mor shall not attend upon my person, or serve within my war band under the banner of Baron Omarad the Wary, knight, as these labors will interfere with his present role as a warband leader.
Item- Any troops or men-at-arms under the command of Maelcolm Mor shall owe me no allegiance or obedience in any undertaking of arms, whether they be deeds done with arms of peace or deeds done in battle.
Item- Maelcolm Mor shall be required to tirelessly seek after deeds of arms, fulfill any quests assigned to him by myself or my lady, carry private communications from myself to others, read statements to appropriate parties if required and act as my herald if commanded. If acting as my messenger or herald, he shall do his labors in garments of my choosing and design. These garments shall be provided at my expense. I agree to give him ample time to prepare if he is called upon to do these labors.
Item- Maelcolm Mor, if required, shall perform certain chivalric labors for any gentle of my choosing, unless he feels that such labors would bring him dishonor or shame. If he feels thus, he must present his reasons for such refusal and will be allowed to either publicly or privately debate the nature of his stance. I will receive his reasons openly and with no malice.
Item- Maelcolm Mor shall not, upon his agreement to this contract, loose arrow shaft or crossbow bolt at any belted knight of any Kingdom or faith. However, he shall be allowed to hurl all other matter of arms at any man-at-arms of any rank, keeping with the traditions of his culture. If it is found that he has loosed arrow or bolt at any good knight, his arms shall be displayed in my camp inverted until he shall perform such penance as I see fit to give him.
Item- I shall guide Maelcolm Mor toward his goals in the life-in-arms.
Item- I shall give instruction in the discipline of arms to Maelcolm Mor without reservation.
Item- I shall spread his fame and accounts of his worthy deeds among the Kingdoms of the world.
Item- I shall impart to him all that I know of the science of chivalry, which I have learned in my long study of great men of fame, loyalty and prowess.
Upon his agreement to these items, Maelcolm Mor shall be allowed to style himself a squire of the Middle Kingdom, meaning that he may at any time of his own choosing put the blood-colored military belt around his waist, and he may wear it until he is made knight, or unless he or I choose to end this contract- including its responsibilities and obligations. The right to wear the spurs of a squire shall depend upon his performance in certain knightly duties, to be assigned to him at a later date. He retains the right to wear the silver chain of his rank, since he is the sworn vassal of the Crown of the Middle Kingdom.
This contract shall be renewed each year in the month of July, and any changes to this document shall be discussed with him beforehand, allowing him to renew our pact or break our bonds as he sees fit.
I make these declarations openly and in front of the entire Known World, since this Maelcolm Mor has, through his long service to the Crown and to his tribe, shown himself worthy to be raised into the second estate.
These are the words of Vitus von Atzinger, written this day at his castle in the Barony of the Flame, held in fief by Erick der Rochnatten, Baron and his peerless lady Camilla de la Reynard, Baroness. May God and his angels guide them toward ever higher honors.
