History

The Founding of the Templars

“By persuasion, prayer and every means in his power, he induced all such pilgrims as were men of arms either to surrender themselves for life to the service of the Lord in that place, or at least to devote themselves for a time.” […]

Britons and Celts

Saxons Take What They Want

“And when the leaders of the Saxon army saw that the land was broad and fertile, and that the hands of the natives were slow to draw the sword, whereas they themselves and the greater part of the Saxons were without secure homes, they sent for an even larger army.” […]

Supernatural

The Mundanity of Magic

“As for the power witches have to darken the moon’s beams, raise tempests, uproot trees and plants, and enfeeble cattle and horses, I let these matters alone, well known as they are to everyone who closely investigates these pointless activities.” […]

Violence

A Kiss or a Kill

THE SCENE: After the Spanish General El Cid defeated the army of King Bucar of Morocco, he pursued the fleeing monarch to the sea. After cornering Bucar, El Cid offered him one chance at surrender: […]

Britons and Celts

A Poison-Proof Isle

“They found toads brought in by chance in the bottom of the holds. They threw them out still living on to the land; but immediately they turned their bellies up, burst in the middle, and died, while everybody saw and wondered.” […]

Supernatural

The Taxonomy of Magic

“It is not surprising that barbarians yields to their weird hocus-pocus and were led into the rites of a debased religion, since even the intelligent Romans were reduced into worshiping similar mortals with divine honours.” […]