Study on the Book of Chivalry - 6

The study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the discussion of the responsibilities of the Warrior.

The author states the following:

And he who bears such a burden should fear lest he let it fall, for with great effort and endurance, in fearful danger and with great diligence, for a long time, stretching over a number of years, he has devoted himself to bearing this responsibility on his shoulders, and in one brief moment he may fall and loose everything,...So it must seem to everyone that such people should strive with the utmost diligence to ensure that they suffer no reproach against themselves nor against the bounties God has bestowed on them.   

The passage mirrors what in today's society calls "honor vs. shame."  What I mean by is that society gives exultation if not near worship to an individual who embodies a certain value or virtue that is celebrated.  However when that one individual does an act of what society considers unlikely or unthinkable from that individual, they hurl shame and disgrace upon that individual even when that individual is penitent.  For the Warrior, this is all the more true.  Therefore the Warrior must be one who is consistent and the same both in public and in private.  The Warrior on that same note, disregard the praise adoration given by the public, the reason being that societal praise can be compared to cheers given at a sport event with no genuine credit given or honor emphasized for the deed or virtue shown by the Warrior.  Humility to the Warrior is what car insurance is to the car driver.

The author then gives a source of where one who draw upon an example to derive how one must conduct themselves with this burden of responsibility/accountability:

We therefore learn from the good knights and men at arms whose great achievements and honorable deeds of prowess and of valor, have been related, described, and told above and which they have accomplished through suffering great hardship, making strenuous efforts, and enduring fearful physical perils and the loss of friends whose deaths they have witnessed in many great battles in which they have taken part; these experiences have often filled their hearts with great distress and strong emotion.

One will ask the question: "Why use the examples of soldiers?"  The answer is this: The Warrior is a soldier who fights the battles within his/her country or outside the country in service of the noble cause of Freedom and Justice (Freedom and Justice defined by both Law and Ideal and not according to current day politics).  The life stories from soldiers instills in the listener the somber reality of life and the renewing of the appreciation for the things taken for granted in regards to life.  For the Warrior, the individual bests learn from the deeds and conduct of soldiers and those who performed deeds of heroism with the intention of applying the lessons he/she has learned.


The author continues with the the value and importance of honor with the following:

....it is to be understood that one should not fail in any way to put great effort into anything which  might improve one's chance of winning an honorable reputation at any moment of the day or night; for the most precious thing there is to loose is time which passes, and cannot be won back nor can it return; and it can happen that such honor is won in an hour which one might fail to find in a year or indeed ever.

In our times when the notion or the concept of honor has come under the microscopic lens of scrutiny or outright attack due to anger stemming from feeling betrayed by a hypocrisy; it is of great importance to the Warrior that his/her Honor is to be guarded as a scared treasure.  True Honor is seen in our times to be synonymous with Integrity (which is true to a degree), however True Honor is Bravery in conduct towards friend and enemy.  True Honor is Self Accountability and Self Introspection which leads the Warrior with the desire for Self Excellence.  Indeed True Honor is in essence, living one's life with Excellence of Self.  Since in today's time, people if not society is quick to judge and even slander with or without cause, the Warrior must take every opportunity, whether it is a simple action or a choice with the positive consequence of making a better impact on people to build and refine his/her Honor.

The author makes this point when he states that:

That means that by your manners, your behavior, and your personal bearing you should so present yourself that your renown may be so good, so noble, and so honorable that you and your great deeds are held in high esteem in your quarters and on the field, especially in feats of arms in peace and in feats of arms in war where great honor wins recognition.

In summation, every action that the Warrior takes; whether it be a simple act of courtesy or a deed of heroism; must be done to maintain and increase True Honor within the Warrior.  The responsibility of the Warrior is the commitment to living by the standard of Excellence of Self, True Honor and Self Accountability. 

Remember this Brave Knight, the Honor that you have today can potentially be lost in a moment.  Guard it well, this is your burden, your mantle for life.