History

Prester John and the Golden King

“It happened one day that the Golden King went out for his sport with only a handful of followers, and among them were these seven traitors. When they had crossed a river about a mile distant from the place, and left their companions on the farther bank, the seven henchmen, seeing that the kind had no one to protect him, resolved to carry out the purpose for which they had come.” […]

History

Etiquette for the Great Khan

“Next, every baron or nobleman continually carries with him a little vessel of pleasing design into which he spits so long as he is in the hall, so that no one may make so bold as to spit on the floor; and when he has spat he cover it and keeps it.” […]

History

The Charity of the Great Khan

“When he learns that some family of honest and respectable people have been impoverished by some misfortune or disabled from working by illness, so that they have no means of earning their daily bread, he sees to it that such families (which may consist of six to ten persons or more) are given enough to cover their expenses for the whole year.” […]

History

The Medieval Postmen of Mongolia

“For it takes these runners no more than a day and a night to cover a ten day’s journey, or two days and two nights for a twenty days’ journey. So in ten days they can transmit news over a journey of a hundred days. ” […]

Britons and Celts

Gawain the Virgin

“Good morning, Sir Gawain,” said the graceful lady, “You sleep so soundly one might sidle in here. You’re tricked and you’re trapped! But let’s make a truce, or I’ll besiege you in your bed, and you’d better believe me.” […]

Human Affairs

DJ Viking Rocks the Scene

“He picked up white gloves, embroidered with gold. He struck up the tune called “Headdress Blower”, and all the headdresses flew off the women and danced above the cross-beam. The women and all the men jumped up, and not a thing there stayed still.” […]