Here’s a scrap of a poem that I found. I hope one day my sons will live this out in everyday life. They are so enamored with knights and duels and fighting and all of that heroism lately.
The True Knight by Stephen Hawes, d. 1523
FOR knighthood is not in the feats of warre,
As for to fight in quarrel right or wrong,
But in a cause which truth can not defarre:
He ought himself for to make sure and strong,
Justice to keep mixt with mercy among:
And no quarrell a knight ought to take
But for a truth, or for the common’s sake.