Medieval Trivia

The Romance of the Rose

"Guillaume de Loris was so profoundly inspired by the dream of a rose reflected in a well, that he wrote a poem in it's honor. The resulting poem, The Romance of the Rose, is one of the most successful books ever written. It exists in 3oo manuscripts and many educators and historians refer to this poem to explain social behaviors and courtly love in medieval Europe." Mistress Isa, Renaissance Magazine, Vol.3 #3, Issue #11

To read more check out the link at the Geoffrey Chaucer website.

The Orders of Knighthood

"Most orders of knighthood were militarized sects which had complex initiations, sacred mysteries, and varying levels of arcane knowledge. Following are descriptions of three orders founded in the Holy Land during the Crusades that were especially colorful, representative, or influential."

"The Knights of Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem- was a clerical order formed by crusaders in the 11th century and attached to a hospital that tended to sick and needy pilgrims in the Holy Land. In the 12th century, the Hospitallers were reorganized and began to also participate in military operations on behalf on the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. They exist today as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta."

"The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, called the Knights Templar, were also organized during the Crusades. Many nobles joined the order, and quickly became a powerful, rich, proficient military organization. Although the Templars only answered to the Pope, a grand master and general council presided over the order, which was divided into knights, sergeants, chaplains, and craftsmen."

"The Brothers of the hospital of Saint Mary of the Teutons, better known as the Teutonic Knights, were founded in Jerusalem in 1190 to serve in a hospital during the siege of Acre during the Third crusade. Despite their origins as a crusader order in the Holy Land, the Knights gained their reputation thousands of miles away, in Germany. Within a decade, the Teutonic Knights had become a military order of nobles who took vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty. In the 13th century, they relocated to Europe and began unrelenting warfare against the pagan peoples of eastern Europe. Moving eastward, the knights conquered and colonized the state of Prussia, helping to spread the German culture and influence." , Cpt. Mikail Warchola of Carpathia, Renaissance Magazine, Vol.3 #3, Issue #11

Castle Life

Curfew Hour

At night, a bell was rung and the doors of the town were shut and barred. No one could then enter or leave until daybreak. The bell was also the signal for the townsfolk to cover their fires with dome-shaped clay pots before going to bed. The pots were called curfews (from the French word couvrefeu, meaning to cover fire).

Mason's marks

Every mason building a castle had his own special mark. He often carved this design into the stone he was working on, a bit like a painter signing a painting. The marks were also used to work out how much each mason should be paid.

Street signs

Few people could read, so special signs were hung outside stores so that people knew what was being sold. For example, a horseshoe hung outside a farrier's, and a green bush was the sign for an inn.

Daily bread

Before it could be made into bread, grain such as barley, rye, and wheat had too be ground into flour. Some castles had their own windmills which were built high on the castle or town walls. There, the windmill's sails would catch the wind and turn the heavy grinding stones inside.

Multi-colored food

Food was not only spiced to help disguise the taste of rotten meat, it was also colored with vegetable dyes and sometimes gilded with gold. Parsley was used for green dye, saffron for yellow, and sandalwood for red.

Medieval Beverages

"Melomel: Mead with fruit or fruit juice as its base.

Methegin: Mead with spices as its base. It was flavored in Wales as a medicinal liquor and according to John Bickerdyke, author of The Curiosity of Ale and Beer An Entertaining History, Methegin was "the most ancient and universally used of all intoxicating drinks among European nations" at the time of Rome's conquest of England.

Hippocras: A mix of wine and spices that originated in the 14th century, but was common and popular in the late 16th-17th centuries.

Usquabach Scotch Whiskey: produced on special order only for royalty and the fortunate few. While the origin traces back to the early 15th century during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, its written tradition begins over 170 years ago. The Usquabach, which derives from the ancient Gaelic uisge beatha meaning "water of life". The closely guarded process of producing Usquabach remains as constant and regulated now as it was at its beginning. Gently rising peat smoke dries and gradually changes fully-ripened barley into a fragrant malt which slowly ferments when later mixed with local waters. The distilled final product is "married" with other selected malts and grains in wooden sherry casks of oak until it reaches its absolute prime." Renaissance Magazine, Vol.3 #3, Issue #11

Recipes

Steak and Ale Marinade

3 cups of ale
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon onion salt
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard

In a small mixing bowl combine ale, brown sugar, onion, Worcestershire sauce, alt, and dry mustard. Place meat in a plastic bag, set in a shallow dish then pour marinade over meat. Close the bag and marinate in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours, turning the meat occasionally. Drain meat before grilling. makes approximately three cups of marinade (enough for 10 pounds of meat).

Scarlet Grilling Glaze for Fish and Poultry

2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
1/3 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh, chopped ginger
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated lemon zest
1 scallion, minced

Set all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Makes 2 cups.

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