The Oath of Office of a Herald c.1680
Posted: 21 Oct 2020, 14:52
THE OATH of a Herauld of Armes at the time of his creation
"First, ye shall swear, to be true to the most High and Mighty Prince our Sovereign Lord the King that here is; And if ye have knowledge or any imagination of Treason in Language or word, that moves to the derogative or hurt of his Estate or Highness, who God defend, you shall in that case, as honestly and as soon as shall be possible discover and shew to his Highness or to his Noble and discreet Councel, and it, in no wise conceal.
Secondly, ye shall promise and swear, That ye shall be conversant and serviceable to all Gentlemen; to do their commandments, to the worship of Knighthood; and to excuse their Worship by your good Councel that God has sent you, ever ready to offer yourself unto them.
Thirdly, ye shall swear and promise, To be secret, and to keep the secret of Knights, Esquires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as a Confessor of Armes; and not to discover them in no wise, except it be Treason as aforesaid.
and so it goes on;
"Seventhly, ye shall promise and swear, To be true and secret to all Gentlewomen, Widdows, or Maids; and in case be that any man would do them wrong, or inforce them, or disherit them of livelihoods, and they having not goods to pursue their Rights, if they require you of supportation, you shall help them with your goods, wisdom, and counsel, and shew their griefs to the Prince and Judges.
Eighthly, ye shall swear and pronounce. That ye shall forsake all places dishonest of hazardy, and dayly going to common Taverns and places of debate, and all manners of vice, and take you to vertues to your power.
These Articles, and all other Articles above said, you shall truly keep. So God you help, and by the cross of this Sword, that belongeth to Knighthood.
So no going out to the pub at lunch-time! Strangely the herald was supposed to help people to pursue their rights not just with wisdom and counsel but financially. A veil was rapidly drawn over this requirement methinks.
"First, ye shall swear, to be true to the most High and Mighty Prince our Sovereign Lord the King that here is; And if ye have knowledge or any imagination of Treason in Language or word, that moves to the derogative or hurt of his Estate or Highness, who God defend, you shall in that case, as honestly and as soon as shall be possible discover and shew to his Highness or to his Noble and discreet Councel, and it, in no wise conceal.
Secondly, ye shall promise and swear, That ye shall be conversant and serviceable to all Gentlemen; to do their commandments, to the worship of Knighthood; and to excuse their Worship by your good Councel that God has sent you, ever ready to offer yourself unto them.
Thirdly, ye shall swear and promise, To be secret, and to keep the secret of Knights, Esquires, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as a Confessor of Armes; and not to discover them in no wise, except it be Treason as aforesaid.
and so it goes on;
"Seventhly, ye shall promise and swear, To be true and secret to all Gentlewomen, Widdows, or Maids; and in case be that any man would do them wrong, or inforce them, or disherit them of livelihoods, and they having not goods to pursue their Rights, if they require you of supportation, you shall help them with your goods, wisdom, and counsel, and shew their griefs to the Prince and Judges.
Eighthly, ye shall swear and pronounce. That ye shall forsake all places dishonest of hazardy, and dayly going to common Taverns and places of debate, and all manners of vice, and take you to vertues to your power.
These Articles, and all other Articles above said, you shall truly keep. So God you help, and by the cross of this Sword, that belongeth to Knighthood.
So no going out to the pub at lunch-time! Strangely the herald was supposed to help people to pursue their rights not just with wisdom and counsel but financially. A veil was rapidly drawn over this requirement methinks.