"Few documents that survive from #medieval Europe were written by women or even dictated by women. Those that do are often formulaic, full of legal and religious language. Yet the wills and censuses that survive, and which I study, open a window into their lives and minds, even if not produced by women’s hands. These documents suggest that medieval women had at least some form of empowerment to define their lives – and deaths."
@yvonne Thanks for that interesting article by Prof Joëlle Rollo-Koster, which draws attention to the documentary treasures in store for a new generation of historians while perhaps understating the wealth of evidence accumulated by her own!
The will of one famously independent woman in medieval England is available in the original French with translation & analysis on the resource page at https://barnes1.net/FHGE/
64lbs of costly candle wax was allocated to the #ClareCastle chapel for the feast of #Candlemas, a favourite of the #LadyOfClare, when light blazed in midwinter & candles were brought to be blessed.
She would have been familiar with this #CanterburyCathedral window depicting the Presentation of Christ in the Temple - very tall candles here!
🙏 for mentioning the biography by Frances A. Underhill, 'For Her Good Estate'. I edited the expanded 2nd edition. The booksite at https://barnes1.net/FHGE/ includes a resource page with many free downloads, & an account of the Lady's insistence on choral music at #ClareCollege. Book sales support this! the hardback more so.
Today is the feast of St John the Apostle, seen here with eagle and palm in the silver seal matrix of #ClareCollege (the half-figure is 8mm high), & in the sumptuous Breviary of Marie de St Pol, best friend of the #LadyOfClare. 🧵 1/3
For #FediBookFair, two books about the #LadyOfClare: her roller-coaster biography, & the many stories perpetuated in the tiny silver seal that she gave to #ClareCollege in 1359.
@medievodons, does anyone know about #rabbits in #14thCentury England? I read that a coveted royal licence of 'free warren' was required to keep & hunt rabbits. However, the accounts of the #LadyOfClare record in 1338/9 the receipt of rabbits from various manors which had no such licence. More details available but... would the rabbits have been caught legally? on what terms? or domesticated? Thoughts welcome! #medieval#rabbit#question
The skill of the medieval silversmith & the modern stonecarvers was celebrated in a third medium with our project mementos! These were made by Cameron Newham FSA, using photogrammetry, 3D-printing, & handpainting. Tiny medieval treasures & large stone sculptures are both hard to move: these small replicas are a delight!
The skill of the medieval silversmith & the modern stonecarvers was celebrated in a third medium with our project mementos! These were made by Cameron Newham FSA, using photogrammetry, 3D-printing, & handpainting. Tiny medieval treasures & large stone sculptures are both hard to move: these small replicas are a delight!
The seal, first used in 1359, is "an extraordinary depiction of female vision, & female faith in the importance of education, & a woman's power & ability to accomplish that vision... We have one of the world's greatest stonecutters a mile up the road, who also happens to be a woman."
Informative & entertaining talks by Jackie Tasioulas, & Lida & Roxanne Kindersley, preceded the unveiling of the sculpture, & are online at https://stories.clare.cam.ac.uk/unveiling-of-lady-clares-seal/ #LadyOfClare#StoneCarving#ClareCollege
In 2020 we published a 2nd edition of the definitive biography of the #LadyOfClare - & then we learned more about the evolution of her heraldic & visual identity. New insights came from archaeology, from archives, & from drawing & carving which brought details from hands to eyes. Two books now available at #ClareCollege: booksites https://barnes1.net/FHGE/ & https://barnes1.net/seal/
I'll post about the life, times & legacy of Elizabeth de Burgh, #LadyOfClare, a spirited English noblewoman of the #14thCentury whose legacy includes #ClareCollege & #ClareHall at #CambridgeUniversity. She & her remarkable network of friends were influential patrons of books, music, institutions & all the arts in a #GoldenAge for English craftsmanship.