Category Archives: medieval

“Murder of a Bastard Child,” an Historical Crime Against Children

Posted on May 7, 2018 by

In the 18th Century in England, what was the fate of a child born to a young woman pregnant out of wedlock? Alan Taylor in the British History Georgian Lives Facebook Group tells us, “The most common capital offence for … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, family, history, medicine, medieval, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Theatre-Loving Fore-Runners of Shakespeare ~ Part I

Posted on November 3, 2017 by

 With the rediscovery of the works of Seneca, Plautus, and Terence, the renaissance of 16th Century England began. First edited in 1308 by an Nicholas Treveth, the tragedian Seneca remained unnoticed for some time by those in England, for Treveth … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Normans, British history, drama, England, kings and queens, medieval, playwrights, theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mappa Mundi, the World’s Largest Medieval Map

Posted on August 9, 2017 by

Housed in the Hereford Cathedreal, the Mappa Mundi is believed to the be the world’s largest medieval map. England specialized in world maps of the Middle Ages. They were drawn upon cloth or walls or animal skins.  Only those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Age of Chaucer, British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, medieval, real life tales | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Oxfordshire St. George Play

Posted on July 20, 2017 by

Closely related to the Morris and Sword Dancers, the Oxfordshire St. George Play is considered a kind of Mummers Play. As well as possessing close elements of kinship, the characters in all these plays are largely interchangeable. That being said, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, literature, medieval | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Second Shepherds’ Play, England’s “First Comedy”

Posted on May 30, 2017 by

  The Wakefield mystery play cycle included The Second Shepherd’s Play. The author is unknown, but the play is commonly attributed to the Wakefield Master. This play dates from the latter half of the 15th Century. It is written in Middle … Continue reading →

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17th Century Witch Hunter, Matthew Hopkins

Posted on May 5, 2017 by

 Matthew Hopkins was born in Wenham Magna, Suffolk, England. He was a Folk Figure, becoming England’s notorious “Witchfinder General,” active during the English Civil War. He was said to have exploited the fear and unrest of the times for his … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, gothic and paranormal, legends, medieval, mystery | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Quem Quaeritis Trope, the Roots of Liturgical Drama

Posted on April 13, 2017 by

 The first Easter or Quem Quaeritis trope had its beginnings in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Gall, Switzerland. (The script of this first trope and an accompanying translation can be found below.) The Easter trope became the model for similar … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, drama, medieval | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment