(Updated Hréðemónaþ 2025)
Ealdorman
We hold it to be a great and worthy thing that one should turn to the good and holy manygodded belief of their fore-elders. Such folk, who honor the deepest bond of kinship, we gladly welcome into the fullness of our fellowship.
Leornere
I [name] by my Free Right do give an oath of sooth hold, on holy ring, before gods and the world, to the folk of this fellowship. [i] I thus pledge my word that I shall keep the trow and thew of the Ealdríce Théod and Háliggyld. As my fore-elders who came before me, I will give worship to the Þéodisc gods and good wights. As the Year-wheel turns, I will hold to the holy-tides, faining them in guildship with the Ealdríce Théod. Ever will I work to worth within myself the joys of Wisdom, Wealthdeal, and Worthmind. And, with a Right Good Will toward my fellow folk, I will ever seek to speed frith within the Ealdríce Théod. May the gods, good wights, and fore-elders bear witness to my words.
Ealdorman
I [name] do aver that I hear your oath and am glad to hear it, wherefore I do recall the guild-oaths sworn by each and every guildsman and, as we have given each other our hold, so too do we give you our hold, that we shall henceforth love and keep you, and further you in your own calling as earnestly as we would do ourselves in our own.
Thou who knelt down as (name, Leornere) rise up now as (name, Gegilda of the Ealdríce Théod and Céorl of the Wínland Ríce).
[i] That a hold oath was given within guilds is witnessed by the charter of Þegna Gilde on Grantabrycge, the Thanes’ Guild at Cambridge:
Her is on þis gewrite siu geswitelung þære gerǽdnisse þe þius geferrǽden geræd hæfþ on þenga gilde on Grantabrycge. Þæt is þonne ærest, þæt ælc oþrum áþ on háligdóme scealde sóþre heldrǽdenne for God ⁊ for worulde ⁊ eal geferrǽden þæm á fylste þe rihtost hæfde.
Here in this writ is the abanning of the agreement that this fellowship hath resolved in the Thane’s guild at Cambridge. That is then erst, that each give to the others an oath of sooth hold, on holydom [a relic or oath ring] before god(s) and the world and that all the fellowship ever aid he who, the most right, haveth.
Wended by Þórbeorht
Ealdríce Théod 