Are these rules more ok with you guys?
(I added some too.)
Code of Nobles
These are the rules of the noble class,
that all of royal blood should study and obey.
Battle
That in battle, you must first look your enemy in the eye before
striking him, but only if he too is of noble blood. Thus he has a
chance to defend himself. Therefore you see his face, and may respect
him as a man, not a monster of metal.
That in battle, Nobles are banned from using the sport of the bow. For
if you are to kill another man, he deserves to be defeated fairly,
through your own might, and with his to defend himself. Crossbows
especially are forbidden, and it is viewed un-right, though tolerated
for a lord to allow his subjects to use crossbows.
However, use of the bow in tournaments is accepted, and a Noble may study in the art for skill to use in these tournaments.
That in battle, nobles are forbidden to run down their enemy as they
flee. They are to use every method possible to capture or contain
their riot, but they cannot attack them from horseback. It is fair to
fight them on foot however, as you are both then on a level field, and
that is important against a man who has lost heart.
That in battle, if a man chooses to surrender, he is to be given fair
treatment. He shall be received and his weapons taken and stored, for
should he pay a ransom he is to be handed back unharmed with his
weapons and armor (if the payment for the ransom includes these).
Ransoms shall not be too large that one cannot pay it. A ransom should
be equal to the man's status and coffer size, and on the offenses he
has committed in battle. More may be added to pay for the armor, which
will be judged by its condition, as will be his weapons.
A ransom does not have to be limited to cash. It can encompass any kind of trade, be it land, or ore, or livestock.
If he does not pay ransom, or cannot, then he shall be tried as a man
of the kingdom in the court of law, and his fate shall be decided by
the ruling of the court.
A man cannot be tried for killing men in battle, for it was his own
duty to his country. Instead he must be tried as one who has or has
not followed the Code.
If he is found not guilty of any charges, he is to held in the castle of the one whom captured him until a ransom has been made up and can be paid.
Peasants and common folk are to pay only the smallest ransom allowed.
If one is captured and cannot pay, then he is not to be tried, for a
peasant is not bound to the Code, and therefore cannot be tried by his
actions following it.
If a peasant is captured and cannot pay, he therefore shall work for
the man whom captured him,
Or for the lord of the man whom captured him.
That in battle, if a man is told to break the code by his lord, he is
to do so, but cannot be bound to the offense as it is his duty to
follow his lord, and therefore his lord should be the one punished.
Executions of a lord are to be done in the fashion of his choosing.
Trial by combat is acceptable, however, a lord may veto this one
choice for execution, as it is possible for his own men (who have
committed no offenses) to be killed or injured.
It is against the law of the Code to pit two condemned men against
each other for the sport of others. Such practices are considered
barbaric and the lord who conducts such sports is to be tried in
court, and if found guilty, put to death.
Court
Heralds are protected by any violence or mistreatment, even in hostile
or warring kingdoms. The law of the herald is sacred, and should this
law be broken, the lord is to be tried in court and if found guilty,
put to death.
Also, the people of the lord shall replace the dead herald with
another herald, and a number of peasants according to the stature of
the lord whom put the herald to death.
Courts are to be comprised of the peers of the man on trial. Thus if a
minor lord is on trial, only other minor lords can judge him. If there
are not enough peers of the man on trial present to form a proper
court, then a person or people of higher status may be selected to
fill in the spots necessary, but only the spots absolutely necessary,
to create a full court.
Kings therefore cannot be tried, as each king is his own, and cannot be tried by his people, or other kings. But should a King break the code, he and any of his people who conspired with him to do so shall pay by being “excommunicated” by the other kingdoms.
Any and all of his titles are to be stripped, and he shall no longer be considered a knight any longer.
