Britons and Celts
The Bodies Keep Piling Up
THE SCENE: In this passage, King Hakon IV of Norway describes to his son the wonders of the undead residents of Ireland. THE TEXT: There is a little island in Ireland. Which the natives call […]
King’s Mirror
Medieval Mentality
The Land of Beer Abundance
It is told about this spring, or the water flowing from it, that it tastes exactly like ale and is very abundant. It is also said that if drunk to excess, it goes into one’s head.” […]
Supernatural
Alien, Airship, or Mass Hallucinations?
“They saw a ship with men on board floating before the anchor cable; and soon they saw a man leap overboard and dive down to the anchor as if to release it. The movements of his hands and feet and all his actions appeared like those of a man swimming in the water.” […]
Supernatural
Meet the Mer-MAN
“This monster is tall and of great size and rises straight out of the water. It appears to have shoulders, neck and head, eyes and mouth, and nose and chin like those of a human being; but above the eyes and the eyebrows it looks more like a man with a peaked helmet on his head.” […]
Supernatural
A Comedian in His Bones
Long time ago a clownish fellow lived in that country; his name was Klefsan. It is told of this own that there was never a man who, when he saw Klefsan, was not compelled to laugh at his amusing and absurd remarks.” […]
Supernatural
The Werewolves of God’s Wrath
“Later these clansmen did suffer a fitting and severe though very marvelous punishment, for it is told that all the members of that clan are changed into wolves for a period and roam through the woods feeding upon the same food as wolves, but they are worse than wolves, for in all their wiles they have the wit of men.” […]
Medieval Mentality
One Hell of a Pinch
“Then Saint Lawrence gripped Stephen in the side and pinched him very hard.” […]
History
The Role of a King
“Nevertheless, a king must be allowed to seek diversion now and then, either with hawks, hounds, horses, or weapons, so that his health and agility at arms or in any form of warfare may be preserved.” […]
History
Humble Servants of the King
“Some prefer being at court to living in the country (though in the king’s service their labor is as burdensome, or more so) because, though they are of excellent kinship, they have little wealth and cannot engage in trade on account of their poverty.” […]
Medieval Mentality
Lucifer Makes His Move
“”Inasmuch as I am now an invisible spirit, I cannot visibly come to have speech with physical man, unless I adorn my ugly countenance with a certain corporeal beauty. I shall therefore enter this serpent which God has created with the face of a maiden and which most resembles man in beauty; and I shall speak with his tongue to Eve.” […]