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APPENDIX A: OATHS

A.1 Freeholder's Oath

A.1.1 To become a voting member, or trothed Freeholder, the following or equivalent should be sworn, if possible, in the presence of at least two trothed Freeholders.

A.1.2 Or the oath may include additional points and may be printed and signed by the new Freeholder, and then mailed to the Witan care of the Freehold’s current mailing address.

A.1.3 The Freeholder's signature will be considered as seriously as a properly witnessed holy oath.

OATH:

The new Freeholder lays down all weapons at the weofod (altar). Before the weofod, lays the strong hand upon the ring and declares the following.

By (Germanic god[s] holy to new Freeholder)
I swear / replight* my troth to the gods, to hold them and their gifts first, before all else, whether all fall fair or foul. And I further swear to abide Freehold law in regards to Freehold functions and events, lest I offend my gods; stand dishonoured before the folk.

* Choose "swear" if the swearer has never before sworn an oath of troth, or select "replight" (meaning "to restate") if the swearer has already previously sworn an oath of troth.

A.2 Fosterman's Oath

A.2.1 To be sworn by a new voting fosterman after acceptance at a thing, Althing or Shire Moot.

OATH:

By (Germanic god[s] holy to new Freeholder)
I swear to keep the peace and abide Freehold law in regards to Freehold functions and events, lest I offend the gods and stand dishonoured before the folk.

A.3 Witan Oath

A.2.1 Where possible, the freyr of freya may act as the host, as described below, or in his or her absence the highest ranking or most senior wita present.

A.2.2 In the event that the Witan cannot convene to witness an new wita’s Oath, the wita may fulfill the swearing of this Oath in writing, on a document bearing his or her signature.

OATH:

Host: With fulls and bedes, the Host makes known all gods, ancestors, honoured fallen, landvaetr, elves and other wights who are to act as witnesses, along with the folk, to the swearing of the oath.

Wita: The oath begins where the newly elected wita introduces the self and brags of his or her accomplishments or merits, and why he or she should be believed in the swearing of it.

Challenge: Another party challenges the wita, asking if they are really up to the job, or raising any issues from the past which may threaten to upset the frith of the Freehold if they are not addressed. This may be purely symbolic, or it may represent some legitimate concern, but it is important this tradition be observed.

Wita: The wita addresses whatever concerns in particular, and counters with a boast about what he or she has done to right the wyrd which may have been upset as a result of past actions, if there is a valid grievance, how reparations have been made.

Host: Expresses his or her satisfaction at the explanation.

Wita: Lays down all weapons at the weofod. Before the weofod, laying the strong hand upon the ring and decries:

Before the Folk of the Freehold, and before the gods of my people, _______(names of Germanic gods sacred to the wita)______, before the ancestors, and all here bearing me witness:

I, (name) , son / daughter of ,
brother / sister of (etc.), from the kindreds of
in the land of , lay my strong hand, as has ever been done, upon this sacred Ring, and swear to you, the folk of the Freehold, this solemn oath.

By (names of Germanic god[s] sacred to the wita)
I swear/replight my troth to the gods, to hold them and their gifts first, before all else, whether all fall fair or foul.

And I further swear to abide Freehold law in regards to Freehold functions and events;

To fulfill the duties and responsibilities of my charge as a wita of the Freehold;

To work to ensure the Freehold fulfills the purposes for which it was formed;

To keep the Freehold ever tru;

To protect the privacy of members in the Freehold Roll Call;

To work to preserve the fame and good name of the Freehold, knowing that by my word and actions I set an example before all people;

To honour and remember the witan who have gone before me.

This I swear lest all worldly strength and prosperity be stricken from me, lest I be left as a wretch in the eyes of the Freehold and the gods of the folk.

Keeping true this holy oath will bring honour to my name, which will be ever told as long as Freeholders gang to the althing.

Host: Hails the wita.

All: A Full is drunk to the wita.

Wita: The new wita gives offers a blot to the sacred fire.