Rites of Normandy

A. Underfon Bede (Prayer of Undertaking)

Trust Teiwazfader to wax us the Wisdom to discover the right

Aye Ing-Freyr good grant us the Will to choose it.

And Asa-Thor sure us the Strength to make it endure.

Normannii a on ecnesse (Normandy forever)

B. Swearing of the Norman Hold Oath

(Lord seated on giftstool, thrall kneels with head on left knee of lord)

Thrall:

My Lord XXXX, if you will have me, I swear from this day forth, I shall be your man, to love what you love and hate what you hate. To always bare Normannii Thiu on your behalf and cleave to the Tribal Grail.

And where so ever you fare in thick and thin, be it always Recht and in no ways unseemly, you shall ever find me and mine fast by your shoulder. And in the fray [I shall ever ward your life, even at the cost of mine. And] if to enemies you should fall, I swear- I shall not leave that field alive unless I have avenged you.

That while I live I shall never raise voice, nor hand, nor weapon against you or yours, save in self-defense, nor abet or abide any who does so on anything less than thine own deeming. With high XXXXX (patron deity)- and before Tiu I swear, so wise Vara may hear, for faith, and Folk, hearth and home, unto you and Normandy. I plight my troth, if you will have me.

(lord’s sword placed upon the left shoulder of thrall)

(thrall takes head off knee, but bowed, still kneeling before the lord)

Lord:

XXX, we have heard your plight and are glad for it and may we both be lucky in it. You shall be our man, to bear our Thiu and cleave to our Grail. I hereby swear that I shall hold this Troth with you:

I shall ever love and ward and keep you. I shall never betray you or yours in body, deed, or land and ever will I speed you in your career as if it were my very own. I shall weave your doom in mine and provide for you, as your lord from this day forth.

Cattle die and kinsmen die, but there is one thing that shall never die, the honorable name crafted from the holy bonds of thiu, between men in the Web, borne upon the shoulders of Honor, forged in battle rain, and tested by the mains of Osgard and Wenheim the Alfar and Idisir. Before Tiu, as Vara hears, you who knelt down as XXX Skalk [Fohten], rise now as XXX Gebur [Aescmann].

(sword moves to tap left shoulder, right, and left again)

(thrall rises now freed- sword is handed to page who sheathes sword)

(freedman hands his abraid shot to lord, left hand to left hand, clasps right above left hand in an upward hold)

(Ale wench hands lord horn, lord drinks, hands to wench who hands to freedman, who drinks, hands to wench who pours into blot bowl)

Herald:

Hail XXXX Lord [arrung], hail XXX Gebur [Aescmann]

Folk:

Hail XXXX Lord [arrung], hail XXX Gebur [Aescmann]

C. Knights installation Oath -Ceremony for peerage- Thainship

Elevation

Lord:

Midgard is an uncertain realm filled with danger. Honor undermined by the pursuit of power, freedom sacrificed when force is used merely to oppress the weak by the strong, troth destroyed, and the bonds of frith laid waste. Yet there are those who oppose these powerful forces, who devote themselves in service to our Gods and Folk. Are you ready to meet that shild?

Candidate:

Aye my lord, I am ready

Lord:

Then kneel.

In the Name of High Teiwaz, Ingvi-Freyr and Asa Thor I give you the right to bear arms and the power to meet justice.

Candidate:

That duty I will solemnly uphold, as peer of this Realm

Lord:

These men are bound in the Band forged by Fire, rise XXXXX Thain and join your brothers of the Fyrhring.

Candidate:

Aye ways my Lord

Knight's Charge of Arms -done after elevation

(ONLY Fyrhring Thains and Lords - assemble according to rank and station in a circle, facing inward. Candidate is placed inside the ring with his guide. Guide faces candidate, places left hand on the left shoulder of the candidate, and says):

Guide:

Brother to Brother- Yours in life and death

Candidate:

Brother to Brother- Yours in life and death

(Candidate then approaches first Lord in the circle waits for lord to grasp his shoulder, then does likewise; Lord states the Charge, and candidate repeats. This process repeats until all in circle have taken "arms" with each other.)

Thain's Rede

A Knight is sworn to valor
His heart knows only virtue
His might gives others courage
His blade defends the weak
His words speak only truth
His wrath undoes the wicked
His deeds keep deepest troth
Always vanguard the Grail.

D. Taking Ceremony

When a peer takes a wife who was not present when the hold oath was sworn to the peer, to establish the loyalty of the Thain to their lord’s lady:

(gesith kneels before giftstool, takes right hand of lady, with left hand under, and right hand over)

Gesith:

I swear to love XXXX my true and rightful Lady, and defend her honor as mine own.

Lady:

As my lord has it with you, so do I, you have our love and let, this day forth.

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