=Source.=--Bracton, _De Legibus Anglie_, ed. Twiss, vol. i., p. 632.
(Rolls Series.)
Be it known that he who should do his homage, in view of the reverence
which he owes his lord, should wait upon his lord wherever he may be
found in the realm or elsewhere, if he can be conveniently waited upon;
and the lord is not bound to seek out his tenant. And he should do
homage to him in this wise: the tenant should first put both his hands
between both hands of his lord, which signifies on the part of the
lord protection, defence and warranty, and on the part of the tenant
reverence and subjection, and he should say these words: “I become
your man for the tenement which I hold of you and ought to hold, and
I will bear faith to you of life and limb and earthly honour, and I
will bear faith to you against all men, saving the faith due to the
lord the King and his heirs.” And straightway afterwards he shall make
the oath of fealty to his lord in this wise: “This you hear, my lord
N., that I will bear faith to you of life and limb, body and chattels
and earthly honour, so help me God and these holy relics.” And some
add in the oath, and well so, that faithfully and without diminution,
contradiction or hindrance or unjust delay, the tenant will do his
service to his lord and his heirs at the stated terms.
And homage ought not to be done in private, but in a public and common
place before many persons in the county, hundred or court, so that if
by chance the tenant through malice should wish to deny the homage,
the lord could the more easily have proof of homage done and service
acknowledged.