Published in Pikestaff, Volume 2 Number 4, 25 July 1973
Footnote is in the original.

VI.  DE JURE FAMILIARUM

We have of late been much troubled by certain claims in matters
of households.  So far as we are officially aware, there are no
laws, either Imperial or Royal, on the subject.  (We have been
told unofficially that Imperial laws on the subject may exist,
but if they do they have not been sent to us, and we are there-
fore, under a recent Imperial directive, not bound to enforce
them.*)  The following definition is therefore offered as a
codification of custom:

        A household consists of a lord or lady, and his or her
retainers (in some cases, a lord and lady and their retainers),
together with such friends and allies as may have a recognized
place in the household.
        If a household considers itself of such a nature that it
requires considerable internal organization, which should not be
the case unless it is:
        A.  Fairly large (over four members)
        B.  Fairly permanent (expects to last - preferably, has
        already lasted - at least six months)
then it may apply to the Crown for a Charter specifying the
duties and obligation of its members.  After the grant of such a
Charter, which shall be drawn up by the head of the household
with the consent of all the members of the household and with that
of the king, it is bound by the said Charter, save that it may
amend the Charter by such amendments as may be made in the same
fashion, until and unless a majority of the members of the
household request of the king the withdrawal of the Charter, or
the king revokes the Charter for treason, for failing (over a
considerable period) to represent a sufficient number of people
(as specified above), or for other serious failures.
        If members of a household, chartered or unchartered, wish
to swear fealty to their lord or lady, they should do so in open
court before and by the leave of the king or his representative
(the baron, seneschal, or bailiff, or other authorized person).
The persons swearing and accepting fealty are then bound by
their oaths, unless release from them is sought and granted, and
these oaths shall be respected by the officers of the Crown.
        The responsibilities and duties of unsworn members of
unchartered households (which we anticipate will be the greatest
number of persons concerned with such things) are to be settled
among themselves, with no recourse to the law.

*Confirmed by the Imperium, 5 December A.S. VII