Nil nos tremefacit,
Yes, I remember the heirs and successors bit. I was sixteen at the time. I don't remember any conditions attached, and as far as I am concerned, nothing has changed. I am still bound by that oath. That probably makes me old-fashioned. Sobeit.
If I may have an old joke (they're sometimes the best) at your expense:
I'd rather swear an oath to Liz than Tony Blair and his cronies. That would require a pay rise of monumental proportions.
A chap went to a party and met a lady who was obviously way above his station in life. He really fancied her, and he introduced himself, and drew her to one side. After a couple of suitable compliments on her beauty etc., he says, "I must ask you a question. Please do not be offended, and think very carefully before you answer. Would you go to bed with me if I gave you £100,000?"
The lady is suitably shocked, but as requested, she thinks for a while, before replying in the affirmative. After all, that's an awful lot of money.
"Great," says our hero. "Would you go to bed with me if I gave you £50?"
"£50! Certainly not! What do you think I am?"
"We established that with the first question. Now we're negotiating the price."
So, Nil nos tremefacit, what's your price? Similar to mine, I would guess.
Rakshasa,
Would you mind explaining the bit about Charlemagne, and back into which particular peninsula he shoved us?
Farmer.