In Praise of the New Knighthood
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_Words and Music: Bryce de Byram (Duane M. Moore)
Source: http://bdeb.livejournal.com/328472.html and as sung by Fernando
MIDI / NWC / PDF _
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
There is a new knighthood arose in the land,
where Jesus, our Lord left his mark in the sand. 1
It's armour the armour of faith and of steel,
it's sword is of justice's metal to wield.2
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
What use is the war horse? It's might can not save,
It's folly and ruin, and death and the grave. 3
But those who have chosen the mantle of Christ,
are safely assured of eternal life.4
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
Take heed worldly knights, hearken unto this call,
your trinkets, and baubles mean nothing at all.
What use are adornments that won't stop a sword? 5
What cause is more just than in serving the Lord? 6
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
No need for such raiment have true Knights of Christ,
their habit sewn simple of black or of white.
They carry the cross of our savior above, 7
their bath is of valor, and sweat and of blood.8
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
Come join for salvation, for heavenly grace.
Come fight for King Christus, in his holy place.9
His struggle, your struggle, His battle your own.10
His foemen, your foemen, shall reap what is sown.
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
Not for our name, but Yours oh Lord,
to You give all glory11, the richest reward!
Show mercy, oh God, to this heavenly horde,
let never the heathens say "Where is their Lord?"11
_Non nobis Domine, non nobis,
sed nomini tuo da gloriam!_
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*Background:*
This piece is written in honor of the founding of Atlantian Preceptory of
the Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as
the Templars. Crusading songs of this type were quite popular in the 12c.
(for example "Chevalier, Mult Estes Guariz") and were employed by the
secular lords of the day to promote interest in the defense, and later the
attempt to recapture the Holy Land of Outremer from the Saracens.
This song is inspired by scripture and the work "Liber ad milites Templi: De
laude novae militae (In Praise of the New Knighthood.) [1] a letter written
by Bernard, abbot of Clairvaux (later Saint Bernard) [2] to Master Hugues de
Payens, who is considered the founder of the Order. This letter was a tool
for recruitment for the Order, and defense of the Holy Land. In it Bernard
chastises the secular knights of his day, and extols the virtues of the
Templars, and the holy city of Jerusalem they defend. This song is a musical
tribute to "Liber ad milites Templi: De laude novae militae" and the
Templars.
The Chorus is taken from Psalm 115, and was the motto of the Templars. It
translates as "Not in our name, oh Lord, not in our name, but to Yours is
the glory."
*Lyric Footnotes:*
Here are the quotes from Scripture and "Liber ad milites Templi: De laude
novae militae (In Praise of the New Knighthood.") that the Lyrics
are based on. I tried to retain the message of the original pieces, while
conforming to the structure of the meter. My intent was to create a
singable, catchy tune with a refrain that the Brothers can sing as a march.
1 "IT SEEMS THAT A NEW KNIGHTHOOD has recently appeared on the earth, and
precisely in that part of it which the Orient from on high visited in the
flesh."- from "Liber ad milites Templi: De laude novae militae" (Hereafter
referred to as St. Bernard)
2 "He is truly a fearless knight and secure on every side, for his soul is
protected by the armor of faith just as his body is protected by armor of
steel. He is thus doubly armed and need fear neither demons nor men. ."- St.
Bernard
3 "Armies do not save Kings, brute force does not spare soldiers. The
War-horse is a sham; despite its power, it will not save." - from Psalm 33
4 "What a glory to return in victory from such a battle! How blessed to die
there as a martyr! Rejoice, brave athlete, if you live and conquer in the
Lord; but glory and exult even more if you die and join your Lord. Life
indeed is a fruitful thing and victory is glorious, but a holy death is more
important than either. If they are blessed who die in the Lord, how much
more are they who die for the Lord!"- St. Bernard
5 "What then, O knights, is this monstrous error and what this unbearable
urge which bids you fight with such pomp and labor, and all to no purpose
except death and sin? You cover your horses with silk, and plume your armor
with I know not what sort of rags; you paint your shields and your saddles;
you adorn your bits and spurs with gold and silver and precious stones, and
then in all this glory you rush to your ruin with fearful wrath and fearless
folly. Are these the trappings of a warrior or are they not rather the
trinkets of a woman? Do you think the swords of your foes will be turned
back by your gold, spare your jewels or be unable to pierce your silks?"-
St. Bernard
6 But if it is permitted to all those so destined by God, as is indeed the
case provided they have not embraced a higher calling, to whom, I ask, may
it be allowed more rightly than to those whose hands and hearts hold for us
Sion, the city of our strength?"- St. Bernard
7 "Thus they shun every excess in clothing and food and content themselves
with what is necessary." - St. Bernard
8 "Indeed, they seldom wash and never set their hair--content to appear
tousled and dusty, bearing the marks of the sun and of their armor." - St.
Bernard
9 This is the revenge which Christ contrives against his enemies, to triumph
powerfully and gloriously over them by their own means. Indeed, it is both a
happy and fitting thing that those who have so long fought against him
should at last fight for him.- St. Bernard
10 "BUT THE KNIGHTS OF CHRIST may safely fight the battles of their Lord,
fearing neither sin if they smite the enemy, nor danger at their own death;
since to inflict death or to die for Christ is no sin, but rather, an
abundant claim to glory. In the first case one gains for Christ, and in the
second one gains Christ himself."- St. Bernard
11 "Not to Us, O Lord, not to Us but to your name give glory...Why should
the pagans say,"Where is your God?" Our God is in Heaven; whatever He wills,
He does!"- from Psalm 115 I.1
As a final aside, I would be remiss if I did not mention how unusual this
piece would have been in period, as a anthem for the Templars, for as Saint
Bernard said: "As for jesters, magicians, bards, troubadours and jousters,
they despise and reject them as so many vanities and unsound deceptions."
Brother Guilliem-Michel de Byram wouldn't have written such a piece,
however; Bryce de Byram, as a troubadour in the service of Richard
Coeur-de-Lion (the monarch who sold the Templars Cyprus, and traveled home
from the Holy Land with Templars at his side) certainly would.
Resources:
· Hendrik van der Werf: The Chansons of the Troubadour & Troveres: A study
of the melodies and their relation to the poems,1972, A. Oosthoek's
Uitgeversmaatschappiji NV/ Utrecht
· Judith Upton-Ward: The Rule of the Templars, Woodbridge: The Boydell
Press, 1992
· Liber ad milites Templi: De laude novae militae (In Praise of the New
Knighthood): Bernard of Clairvaux, prologue-chapter five, translated by
Conrad Greenia ocso, from Bernard of Clairvaux: Treatises Three,
Cistercian Fathers Series, Number Nineteen, © Cistercian Publications,
1977, pages 127-145
· The Music of the Crusades: David Munrow
· translations by Norman Clare, 1970
· Liber ad milites Templi de laude novae militiae [3]
All text © Duane M. Moore (Sir Bryce de Byram, OL, OP)
Back to Songbook
1: http://www.the-orb.net/encyclop/religion/monastic/bernard.html
2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_of_Clairvaux
3: http://www.scriptorium.it/Scriptorium/De_laude_novae_militiae.html