culture
-
Here is the second in a proposed series of mediaeval recipes. Figs in a coffin means a pastry filled with figs! Ingredients Royal pastry: 4 cups (500g) of pastry flour 1 teaspoon (3g) of salt 1 1/2 cups (345g) of butter 4 egg yolks, beaten 2-4 tablespoons (30-60 ml) of cold water Fig Filling: 8…
-
6th July was the date of Richard III and Anne’s coronation. English Heritage is celebrating with the Richard III Festival at Middleham Castle on the weekend of 5th – 6th July. Here is a link with more information: Richard III Festival
-
Medieval hawking and falconry for the royals….
100 Years War, Battle of Hastings, Black Prince, Boke of St Albans, Chaucer, Conrad the Younger, Crecy Poitiers and Agincourt, Edward 2nd Duke of York, Edward I, Edward III, falconry, Frederik II.Holy roman emperor, Froissart, Gaston Phoebus, Harold Godwinson, hawking, Henry V, Henry VIII, James I, John Commins, John II of France, Parlement of Foules, Pero López de Ayala, Philip the Bold, Richard Almond, Richard II, Royal Mews Charing Cross, William I“….To authors on works on hunting, [men] such as Gaston III, compte de Foix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaston_III%2C_Count_of_Foix) and Edward, Duke of York (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward%2C_2nd_Duke_of_York), hunting was not just a sport or pastime, it was the essence of life itself….” So writes Richard Almond in the Introduction to his book Medieval Hunting. And as you read this work,…
-
On Saturday, June 14, at 2pm, in Holy Innocents Church, Kidderminster, there is to be a talk by Eddie Smallwood exploring “….the history, traditions and mishaps of English coronations, from their medieval origins to modern-day ceremonies….” I know about the events from this link: https://tinyurl.com/4azh2eus. Organised by the Worcestershire Branch of the Richard III Society,…
-
Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a fascinating and infamous medieval herb! You may have heard of it through Harry Potter these days, but it is real and had some strange tales attached to it. Here are some interesting facts about mandrake: Magical and Superstitious Uses Protection and good fortune: Mandrake was believed to offer protection and…
-
“….There is one line in Josephine Tey’s magnum opus, ‘The Daughter of Time’, that chills to the bone: “Tomorrow, a whisper may destroy you.” In the novel, these words ring true for Richard III, whose reputation is decimated by Tudor propaganda….” Oh, yes, how true, especially when the whispers come in a thunderous stage-managed torrent. Because…
-
This is the sixth You Tube video that the Richard III Society has posted, debunking some of the myths regarding Richard. They are quite short, between five and just over ten minutes long. This is the sixth one:
-
Here is an interesting post from History Today about Jane Austen and her opinion of Richard III, Edward IV et al. Click here: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/out-margins/jane-austen-partial-and-prejudiced-historian?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ9lZJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHhBW9NHWcCBbkA7_np2zM2oILJEpqNrn6FVprI3W6RcWJj16A0nq63uGe6on_aem_xIQfestwVYYsngBFMYvS2A As she says, she wasn’t a historian but she was obviously a sensible person!
-
This is a new research paper about the popular perceptions of Richard III, by Olga Prokopis. It’s titled Un-disabling the King: Richard III and the ‘New Evidence’. It investigates the popular perceptions about him, the reasons for them and whether they are true, going on to address the new, equally false narratives, but the title…
-
Betony (Stachys officinalis) is a perennial herb that has been used for centuries in medieval medicine, cooking, and even magic! Here are some fascinating facts about betony: Medicinal Uses Culinary Uses Magical and Superstitious Uses Other Interesting Facts Overall, betony was a highly valued herb in medieval times, and its uses ranged from medicinal and…
The New Murrey and Blue blog 