I wrote this to beg the boon for one of the very first Masters of Defense of the Middle Kingdom, one of my dearest friends, Clint. This was written September 2016
Sovereigns, may I approach your Royal Presence.
I wish with all my heart to speak upon this grave matter before your Court,
As their Majesties know, I am……. Finicky about the word “Chivalry”. It is a subject to which I have dedicated much of my existence, and in spite of my best efforts, I am still but a beginning student.
The question before the Court is if this man possess the Chivalry required of him to take, and fulfill this oath.
It is a difficult question, for I am still not convinced that Chivalry is something you possess.
Perhaps it possesses you.
I would propose that the intent of this oath, written by our ancestors, puts upon the oath maker the necessity of Franchise, for in my opinion, that is the….. alchemical virtue of Chivalry.
What is Franchise… Yet another lifetime of study is needed to answer that question fully, but suffice it to say that, in crude terms, Franchise is the OBLIGATION of NOBILITY.
You Do what you Do because you Are what you Are. because you can’t help it. because your very being demands it.
Many years ago, Literally 15 seconds after I met this man, I, an untutored, untested and course man of coat armor, was served by him so Nobly that I instantly knew What he was.
Since that time, our histories have been entwined. He has served Masters and Kings, been champion of Queens,
he has gracefully suffered coarse peasants with croaking tongues and hubris bloated gasbags who spew forth rancid words.
he has protected Noble ladies, Steered guile filled thieves to their own ennoblement,
been an exemplar and in fact, been one of the REASONS for the founding of an entirely new Order.
He has made countless children laugh in delight, been the martial test of other men’s spirits. Made beautiful maidens swoon, shed blood for My King. Given shelter to a stricken Knight, fulfilled oaths of word and blood….
Been My friend.
And that is not altogether easy.
Through all of these things, all of these trials and honors and heartbreaks and victories, ever and always he has acted in accordance with Franchise. He has been defined by his Nobility, because he could do not otherwise.
Over the years, He has honed this skill of service to the level of art. If you watch, It seems effortless at times, though it is far from it.
He has served the beloved People for whom I am sworn to protect so well that it reaches the level of Sprezzatura.
That is Mighty.
Your Majesties, This man is Noble, and has great capacity to express Chivalry. I would trust my life, my Honor, and most importantly the well being of your People to his wisdom.
Thus is my council given.