Saturday 31 October 2015

Monthly Round-up

Well, this month's round-up wouldn't be complete without some references to the 600th anniversary of Agincourt on the 25th October.

So, first up is some medieval music inspired by the battle:
http://twirlynoodle.livejournal.com/525937.html

Some commentary on perceptions of nudity in art:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/14/playboy-abolishes-nude-defeat-art-history

Wealthy medieval peep leaden (haha, see what I did there) with health problems:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/smart-news/lead-poisoning-made-medieval-townspeople-sickly-180957021/

Battles more important than Agincourt?
http://www.historyextra.com/article/international-history/9-medieval-battles-more-significant-agincourt

Medieval vampires #clickbait:
http://www.historytoday.com/alyxandra-mattison-and-charles-west/medieval-vampire-adventure#sthash.ZW6zLS4v.gbpl&st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=

And finally, one of the the more exciting (although barely medieval) things to happen this month. Look at this church that's reappeared:


Full details here.


Saturday 17 October 2015

Trial by mob

In 1241 Richard le Vacher and John Dobyn killed Matilda la Daye and sought sanctuary in the church of St Laurence in Reading. John confessed to two royal coroners and swore to leave England. The deal with sanctuary was that in return for your safety, you had to confess to your crime and then leave England ASAP. The leaving England wasn't always that easy however. 

When John left the church, Matilda's daughters and a mob chased after him, captured him and took him to Charlton where he was tried by the men of the hundreds, and the bailiff, and hanged.

Because I'm treating you this week, here's the document that details this. 

Notes 
NA, MS Just/1/37, m.33 r. 
 
Shoemaker, Karl, Sanctuary and crime in the European middle ages, 400-1500 (Ashland, Ohio: Fordham University Press, 2011) p. 112

Saturday 3 October 2015

Monthly Round-up

With much excitement I can announce that a history book of the middle ages, in Lego, is now on sale. Get your copy here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medieval-LEGO-Greyson-Beights/dp/1593276508

Almshouse excavation reveals 50 graves:
http://www.livescience.com/52346-medieval-graves-saint-pilgrimage.html

More burial excitement in excavations at Westminster abbey:
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/23/westminster-abbey-medieval-burial-remains-demolition-new-tower

The intriguing case of Roger Fuckebythenavel (yes, you read that right):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/oldest-f-word_55f65a3fe4b063ecbfa4b9d6

Image: BL, Royal MS 10, E. IV, Folio 47r.