Marche of Alderford - Medieval History

Masque of Courtly Love 9.1: A Medieval Science Fair

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:13:58 -0400

The Marche of Alderford is pleased to present "Masque of Courtly Love 9.1: A Medieval Science Fair" on February 18, 2006, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in North Canton, Ohio.

Wassail! Wassail!, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:53:30 -0500

The celebration of the Christmas season brings most of us together to enjoy customs and traditions that have been passed down for generations. Those of us in the SCA know that many of these traditions go back much further than our American colonial ancestors. The Middle Ages and the Renaissance saw the creation of a number of the customs we hold dear during the Christmas season.

The Saint Hubert Hound, by Ofria Pinkhand

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:53:09 -0500

Hubert (656-727), son of the Duc de Guienne, like most nobility of the period, was a happy-go-lucky young man and extremely fond of hunting with dogs.

Two types of hunting dogs were used then. Sight hounds (gaze hounds) were swift, courageous hounds used along with huntsmen on horses to run down and kill large game. Scent hounds were those that tracked smaller game by following its trail through the brush. These dogs were steady and deliberate trackers who routed game back towards the huntsman on foot.

The Medieval Scribe, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:52:51 -0500

All that have pleasure in this booke to reade,
Praie for my soule, and for all quicke and deade
In the yeare of Christ MCCCC seaventie and seavene
This worke began. Honor to God in heavene.

Colophon at the end of a fifteenth century manuscript

It is to the scribes of the Middle Ages that modern scholars owe a debt of gratitude. Without them, little would be known of the life and times of the people of the medieval world.

The Legend of Saint Christopher, by Malachi

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:52:27 -0500

In the East, Christopher is known as Reprobus, a converted pagan warrior, who died by torture rather than deny his faith. In the West, there is a more elaborate legend:

The Craft of the Mason, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:47:52 -0500

He addressed himself in procuring the stone beyond the sea. He constructed ingenious machines for loading and unloading ships, and for drawing cement and stones. He delivered moulds for shaping the stones to the sculptors who were assembled, and diligently prepared other things of the same kind.

William of Sens, master mason of the new choir of Canterbury Cathedral

Surely You Jest!, by Gilder the Jester

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:47:19 -0500

I being the only member of Alderford that dresses as a fool, was asked to write an article. I say dressed because I am not the only fool, just the one that displays it with his/her clothes. We all know what fools are and do, because in some point in the day each of us is one. The common expressions we use show this. Some "play the fool", and some "get played as a fool". Others just "fool" around, and act "foolishly".

Michaelmas, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:52:03 -0500

St. Michael the Archangel: Feast-day, September 29. Patron saint of Brussels, the sick and battle, invoked when tempted, or when storm-tossed at sea.

Medieval Spring, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:51:47 -0500

"When April with his showers hath pierced the drought Of March with sweetness to the very root, And flooded every vein with liquid power That of its strength engendereth the flower; When Zephyr also with his fragrant breath Hath urged to life every holt and heath New tender shoots of green, and the young sun His full half course within the Ram hath run, And little birds are making melody That sleep the whole night through with open eye, For in their hearts doth Nature stir them so, Then people long on pilgrimage to go,"

Geoffrey Chaucer, Prologue to The Canterbury Tales

A Good Summer Read, by Milica of Varna

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:51:21 -0500

"Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book."

Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) German monk, mystic

For many, summer is the time to catch up on all the reading they have been unable to fit into their busy schedules the rest of the year. In the SCA, it is often a time to do research on a favorite country, craft or time period.

A Byzantine's Tale of Agincourt, by Iustinos Tekton

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:50:20 -0500

Greetings to all in this time of dread, as we of Byzantium gather in the moneychangers' halls to pay our annual taxes in support of the Empire. This year, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has adopted a very simple formula by which a merchant such as myself may determine his taxation. One must first ascertain how much coin was taken in throughout the previous twelve months. Next, one divides by ten to signify the Emperor's concern that not too much is taken. Finally, one multiplies by ten to signify one's voluntary desire to support in every way His Imperial Majesty's programs to advance our Empire. Ah, what joy I take from patriotism, and it is with pride that I shall starve to death in the streets of Constantinople, knowing that it is in service to my Emperor!

Some Archery History, by Olaf the Grey

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:54:47 -0500

Greetings and well-met fellow toxiphiles. Today I would like to share a brief story about the importance of the bow in ancient warfare. I will illustrate this by giving an account of the Battle of Crecy, France in 1346 during the Wars of The Roses and the Hundred Years' war.

The Meading Corner: Part One, by Fernando Calderon de la Cruz

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:49:39 -0500

Welcome to the first installment of what I hope will be a continuing column. It is my wish for this to be a forum where we can all trade information on mead, wine, and all forms of brewing and vinting, so to start it all off, I'll begin with the various styles of mead and a brief list of ingredients for those styles. I'll finish with a recipe.

The Herbalist's Kitchen, by Francesca de Onorati

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:49:10 -0500

As we do research into areas that fascinate us, we discover any number of related areas that also become interesting. As I do research for recipes in my time period I have become fascinated by herbs and spices, and their usage in curing various illnesses (real and imagined!).

Educational Articles

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:56:35 -0500

Members of the Marche of Alderford have written a number of articles on the educational aspects of the SCA, both the actual Middle Ages and the Current Middle Ages as we recreate them.