eed to.

"The principles of our society are six: Legitimacy, Equity, Hospitality,
Chivalry, Chastity, and Courtesy.

"The articles of Legitimacy are four:

"I. Our government is legitimate, and our society is founded on the one
golden rule of right, consecrated by the universal consent of mankind,
and by the practice of all ages, individuals, and nations: namely, To
keep what we have, and to catch what we can.

"II. Our government being legitimate, all our proceedings shall be
legitimate: wherefore we declare war against the whole world, and every
forester is by this legitimate declaration legitimately invested with a
roving commission, to make lawful prize of every thing that comes in his
way.

"III. All forest laws but our own we declare to be null and void.

"IV. All such of the old laws of England as do not in any way interfere
with, or militate against, the views of this honourable assembly, we
will loyally adhere to and maintain. The rest we declare null and void
as far as relates to ourselves, in all cases wherein a vigour beyond the
law may be conducive to our own interest and preservation."

"The articles of Equity are three:

"I. The balance of power among the people being very much deranged, by
one having too much and another nothing, we hereby resolve ourselves
into a congress or court of equity, to restore as far as in us lies the
said natural balance of power, by taking from all who have too much
as much of the said too much as we can lay our hands on; and giving
to those who have nothing such a portion thereof as it may seem to us
expedient to part with.

"II. In all cases a quorum of foresters shall constitute a court of
equity, and as many as may be strong enough to manage the matter in hand
shall constitute a quorum.

"III. All usurers, monks, courtiers, and other drones of the great
hive of society, who shall be found laden with any portion of the honey
whereof they have wrongfully despoiled the industrious bee, shall be
rightfully despoiled thereof in turn; and all bishops and abbots shall
be bound and beaten, [5] especially the abbot of Doncaster; as shall
also all sheriffs, especially the sheriff of Nottingham.

"The articles of Hospitality are two:

"I. Postmen, carriers and market-folk, peasants and mechanics, farmers
and millers, shall pass through our forest dominions without let or
molestation.

"II. All other travellers through the forest shall be graciously invited
to part