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| First Written | 1979 |
| Genre | History |
| Origin | US |
| Publisher | Harper Perennial |
| ISBN-10 | 006090674x |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0060906740 |
| My Copy | library paperback |
| First Read | January 19, 2012 |
Life in a Medieval Castle
Best parts of the book are etymological:
"First came the pantler with the bread and butter, followed by the butler and his assistants with the wine and beer."
So, I learned that the Pantler was in charge of the 'pantry', which is where bread and other food was stored. The Butler was in charge of the 'buttery' (where drinks were kept) ,which is a corruption of the French term boterie - a place for bottles. Fascinating!
Noted on January 23, 2012
A dry read, but full of interesting information about the daily life in, yes, a medieval castle. Turns out they were warmer, cleaner, and more civilized than you were led to believe. A castle was at times a place where master ate at the same table with his servant, where hand-washing was common and a crucial part of good manners, and where toilets included indoor plumbing (of a sort).
Noted on January 23, 2012
At certain times of crisis during the year the lord could call on all of his tenants - free and unfree - to leave their own farming and work for him, plowing, mowing, or reaping. These movable works, called boons or benes, were the longest preserved of all work services. In return, the lord gave food, drink, or money, or sometimes all three. Benes were classified accordingly - the alebidreap and the waterbidreap, when the lord gave ale or water; the hungerbidreap, when the villagers were obliged to bring their own food; the dryreap, when there was no ale.
Quoted on January 23, 2012
At the same time the falconer trained the falcon to recognize a crane's call by slitting a crane's larynx and blowing into it.
Quoted on January 23, 2012
dick jokes from 1200AD:
The threat had no effect on John, who cooly answered that he did not care if his son were hanged, since had had 'the anvil and hammer with which to forge still better sons.'
Quoted on January 23, 2012