"Le Roi lui-même, ou le plus renommé des chevaliers présents, ayant
découpé le paon, se leva, et mettant la main sur l'oiseau, fit un voeu
hardi; Ensuite il passa le plat, et chacun de ceux qui le reçurent fit
un voeu semblable."
In the year 1306, Edward I. of England swore an oath on two swans.
It was also very common from an early period, both in England and abroad,
to swear by one, two, seven, or twelve churches. The deponent went {533} to
the appointed number of churches, and at each, taking the ring of the
church door in his hand, repeated the oath.
One of the most curious specimens of the practice of swearing men by that
to which they attached most importance, is to be found in an Hindoo law. It
says, let a judge swear a Brahmin by his veracity; a soldier by his horses,
his elephants, or his arms; an agriculturist by his cows, his grain, or his
money; and a Soudra by all his crimes.