History
A Failed Surprise Gift
“Now Charles had no guess of what was coming; and, though he could not refuse what seemed to have been divinely preordained for him, nevertheless he received his new title with no show of thankfulness.” […]
Religion
Britons and Celts
Ancient Magicks
“This is certainly a barbarous rite, without rime or reason.” […]
Humor
A Bullying Bishop
“Then he snatched the head-covering from his captive and cried to the people: “Lo and behold, all ye people: this lazy fellow is red-headed.”” […]
Humor
An Annoying Devil
“The Pope crossed himself before taking meat, and at that moment Doctor Faustus did blow hard into his face. Every time the Pope crossed himself, Faustus would blow into his face again.” […]
Britons and Celts
Reign of the Pirate Priest
“He then made a descent on the provinces of Scotland, wasting all before him with rapine and slaughter; but whenever the royal army was dispatched against him, he eluded the whole warlike preparation, either by retreating to distant forests, or taking to the sea; and when the troops had retired, he again issued from his hiding-places to ravage the provinces.” […]
Supernatural
A Blessed Massacre
“On the following day the head of the chieftain was set up in the camp, and around it the decapitated bodies of seven hundred of the captives, and also his chief adviser, with his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut off, was left helpless in the midst of the corpses.” […]
Britons and Celts
Buddy, They Won’t Even Let Me Blow on the Fire
“As soon as he was brought there, his mouth was so parched that he drank so much that, while still in their hands, he burst in the middle and died.” […]
Supernatural
God Put to the Test
“The next morning he ordered a bar of iron of great weight to be heated with fire, and then bade the cleric, in defense of the Catholic faith, to carry the glowing iron.” […]
Britons and Celts
Standing Between a Zombie and its Grave
“He sank into the grave, the earth closed over him, the cross was laid upon it and he remained quiet.” […]
History
How to Sacrifice a Cow, Scythian Style
“he bones burn beautifully; and the paunch easily contains all the flesh when it is stripped from the bones, so that by this plan your ox is made to boil himself, and other victims also to do the like.” […]