2. The Code of Chivalry.
Although there was no official Code of Chivalry in England, sources like Cretien De Trois and The Song Of
Rowland, give clues as to the beliefs that all knights had during the time of Richard. From the very beginning of
the play, Bolingbroke and Mowbray, who were knights of the Garter, were forced to chose between their duty to
their king, and their duty to honor.
•A knight took an oath to defend the church, serve God, and protect the weak.
•A knight was expected to serve his lord.
•A knight was never allowed to back down from a challenge.
•A knight who had taken an oath to fight his enemy (as Mowbray and Bolingbroke had done), could never
break the oath by calling off the combat. Such a knight would suffer everlasting shame.
Sources: New Advent.org, http://www.medieval-spell.com/