The Code of Honour
The word of a man or woman of honour is their bond - for when a man or
woman of honour gives their
word ("On my word of honour...") they mean it, since to break one's
word is
a dishonourable act. An oath of loyalty or allegiance to someone, once
sworn
by a man or woman of honour ("I swear by my honour that I shall...")
can only be ended
either: (i) by the man or woman of honour formally asking the person to
whom the oath
was sworn to release them from that oath, and that person agreeing so
to
release them; or (ii) by the death of the person to whom the oath was
sworn. Anything
else is dishonourable.
A man or woman of honour is prepared to do their honourable duty by
challenging to a
duel anyone who impugns their honour or who makes dishonourable
accusations
against them. 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
they challenge their accuser to a duel and fight it; the honour of the
person who so makes
such accusations or who so impugns another person's honour, is only
satisfied
if they either unreservedly apologize or accept such a challenge and
fights
such a duel according to the etiquette of duelling. A man or woman 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 or woman of honour has sworn loyalty or
allegiance to
or whom they honourably champion.
A man or woman of honour always does the duty they have 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 or woman of honour is
prepared to die
- if necessary by their own hand - rather than suffer the indignity of
having
to do anything dishonourable. A man or woman of honour can only
surrender to or admit
to defeat by someone who is as dignified and as honourable as they
themselves are - that is, they can only entrust themselves under such
circumstances to another man or woman of honour who swears to treat
their defeated enemy with dignity and honour.
A man or woman of honour must die fighting, or die by their own hand,
rather than subject themselves to the indignity of being defeated by
someone who is not a man
or woman of
honour.
A man or woman of honour treats others courteously, regardless of their
culture, religion, status,
and race, and is only disdainful and contemptuous of
those who, by their attitude, actions and behaviour, treat they
themselves with disrespect
or try to personally harm them, or who treat with disrespect or try to
harm those whom the individual man or woman of honour have personally
sworn loyalty to or whom they champion.
A man or woman of honour, when called upon to act, or when honour bids
them act,
acts without hesitation and if necessarily quite ruthlessly provided
always
that honour is satisfied.
A man or woman of honour, in public, is somewhat reserved and
controlled and not given
to displays of emotion, nor to boasting, preferring as they do deeds to
words.
A man or woman of honour does not lie, once having sworn on oath ("I
swear on my honour
that I shall speak the truth...") as they do not steal from others or
cheat
others for such conduct is dishonourable. A man or woman of honour may
use guile or
cunning to deceive sworn enemies, and sworn enemies only, provided
always that they do not personally benefit from such guile or cunning
and
provided always that honour is satisfied.
A man or woman of honour strives to dress in a clean, discreet way in
practical clothes
devoid of ostentation and suitable to the task in hand.
DWM