The Code of Honour
The word of a man of honour is his bond - when a man of honour gives his
word ("On my word of honour...") he means it, since to break one's word is
a dishonourable act. An oath of loyalty or allegiance to someone, once sworn
by a man of honour ("I swear by my honour that I shall...") can only be ended
either: (i) by the man of honour formally asking the person to whom the oath
was sworn to release him from that oath, and that person agreeing so to release
him; or (ii) by the death of the person to whom the oath was sworn. Anything
else is dishonourable.
A man of honour is prepared to do his honourable duty by challenging to a
duel anyone who impugns his honour or who makes dishonourable accusations
against him. Anyone so challenged to a duel who, refusing to publicly and
unreservedly apologize, refuses also to accept such a challenge to a duel
for whatever reason, is acting dishonourably, and it is right to call such
a person a coward and to dismiss as untruthful any accusations such a coward
has made. Honour is only satisfied - for the person so accused - if he challenges
his accuser to a duel and fights it; the honour of the person who so makes
such accusations or who so impugns another man's honour, is only satisfied
if he either unreservedly apologizes or accepts such a challenge and fights
such a duel according to the etiquette of duelling. A man of honour may also
challenge to a duel and fight in such a duel, a person who has acted dishonourably
toward someone whom the man of honour has sworn loyalty or allegiance to
or whom he champions.
A man of honour always does the duty he has sworn to do, however inconvenient
it may be and however dangerous, because it is honourable to do one's duty
and dishonourable not to do one's duty. A man of honour is prepared to die
- if necessary by his own hand - rather thaan suffer the indignity of having
to do anything dishonourable. A man of honour can only surrender to or admit
to defeat by someone who is as dignified and as honourable as he himself
is - that is, he can only entrust himself under such circumstances to another
man of honour who swears to treat his defeated enemy with dignity and honour.
A man of honour must die fighting, or die by his own hand, rather than subject
himself to the indignity of being defeated by someone who is not a man of
honour.
A man of honour treats others courteously, regardless of their culture, religion
and race, and women gallantly, and is only disdainful and contemptuous of
those who, by their attitude, actions and behaviour, treat him with disrespect
or try to harm him, or who treat with disrespect or try to harm those he
has personally sworn loyalty to or whom he champions.
A man of honour, when called upon to act, or when honour bids him to act,
acts without hesitation and if necessarily quite ruthlessly provided always
that honour is satisfied.
A man of honour, in public, is somewhat reserved and controlled and not given
to displays of emotion, or to boasting, preferring as he does deeds to words.
A man of honour does not lie, once having sworn on oath ("I swear on my honour
that I shall speak the truth...") as he does not steal from others or cheat
others for such conduct is dishonourable. A man of honour may use guile or
cunning to deceive his sworn enemies, and his sworn enemies only, provided
always that he does not personally benefit from such guile or cunning and
provided always that honour is satisfied.
A man of honour strives to dress in a clean, discreet way in practical clothes
devoid of ostentation and suitable to the task in hand.