Chapter VII: The Oath of Submission

It may interest some readers to see the exact terms of the oath taken on a man's return to his allegiance, as recorded upon the Close Roll for 1469.

"Sovereign Lord, I, Herry Percy, becom your subgette and liegeman, and promyt to God and you that hereafter of faith and trouth shall bear to you, as to my sovereign liege lord, and to your heirs, Kings of England, of life and limb and of erthlye worship, for to live and die ayenst all earthly people; and to you and to your commandments I shall be obeisant, as God me help and his holy evangelists."

For a man to swear this unconditional oath was styled "putting himself in the King's mercy."