The Steward's Code of Chivalry
I. Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind.
II. Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself.
III. Thou shalt
defend the Church, respect its teachings, and promote her cause.
IV. Thou shalt love
the country in which thou wast born and perform scrupulously thy civic duties,
if they be not contrary to the laws of God.
V. Thou shalt live
a life of temperance and humility, staying true of heart and exhibiting manners
and self control at all times.
VI. Thou shalt be
generous, striving always to give largess.
VII. Thou shalt
speak truthfully and never bear false witness.
VIII. Thou shalt
constitute thyself the defender of the weak, the innocent, and the oppressed,
giving mercy unto him that asketh mercy, and succor to women, children, and
others in distress.
IX. Thou shalt not
recoil before thine enemy.
X. Thou shalt never
abandon a friend, ally, or noble cause.
XI. Thou shalt seek
to excel in all endeavors expected of a knight, martial, artistic, and
otherwise.
XII. Thou shalt be
everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice
and Evil.
Adapted from the
Bible, "the code of chivalry" (as compiled by French scholar Leon
Gautier, from his studies of medieval manuscripts), the Oath of the Round
table, (Le Morte d'Arthur, Sir Thomas Malory, 1470), The Exhortation of
Charlemagne, Charlemagne's list of a knight's duties, the Song of Roland, and
other sources.