Category: 13th Century - Meandering Through Time

Medieval Tithes

7/9/2019

A lovely illustration of labourers tithing grain, livestock and other produce to a priest along with some photographs of my own of the wonderfully preserved tithe barn in the village of Lacock.

In the 13th century Lords were starting to provide their manor with small chapels, or field churches, so those under them could benefit from the services of a priest, in return each member of the village would pay one-tenth of their yearly profits, a tithe, with commodities such as hay, grain, wool or wine, all of which would be held in a tithe barn.

You can read about the subject of tithes in the context of pre conquest Devon on my website at

meanderingthroughtime.weebly.com/meavy-pre-conquest.html

Death of Maud Marshall

27/3/2019

On the 27th March in 1248 the death of Maud, the eldest daughter and co-heir of William Marshall.

Maud had outlived both her husbands, her first husband Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk had died in 1225, he was, along with his father Roger, listed as being the first two men (among twenty-five) to enforce Magna Carta and William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey who died in 1240 was one of the few barons who remained loyal to King John.

This must have put Maud in a bit of a position.

For part of her life, Maud lived at Framlingham Castle in Norfolk, the castle had been granted to Roger Bigod (Hugh's great-grandfather) by Henry I in 1101, however, there is little information about her life there.

Maud Marshall was in her late fifties when she died, she is buried at Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire.

My photographs were taken last year at Framlingham Castle (there was no sign of Maud )

King John Military Campaign Begins

6/2/2019

On the 6th February in 1214, King John sailed for La Rochelle to begin a military campaign against the French but many of his barons refused to accompany him or even send their knights to serve him.

On the 9th July John would send a letter to these barons in regard to this, he wrote:

The king sends greetings to his earls, barons, knights and other faithful men throughout the realm of England. Know that we are in good health and uninjured, and that everything is prosperous and joyous with us through the grace of God. We send thanks to those amongst you who have sent your knights to serve with us, for the protection and winning of our rights. We ask most attentively, as you value our honour, that those of you who have not crossed over with us, come to us without delay to the aid of our land which needs to be defended. We ask that you act from now on in such a way that we will forever owe you our gratitude. If any of you think that we hold hatred in our hearts against you, by coming to our aid this hatred will be removed.

Battle of the Bouvines

27/7/2018

At the Battle of the Bouvines, on the 27th of July in 1214, the forces of King John had suffered a defeat at the hands of the French. John himself was unable to join his allied forces and had retreated to the seaport of La Rochelle.

This victory led to the French regaining some of its lands from England. It is said that following the defeat of the English forces at the battle 'the students of Paris danced and sang for seven days.'

Below you can see John's army at beginning his final campaign to reclaim Normandy from France besieging the castle at Roche au Moine in Anjou and then retreating when support did not arrive.

St Mary the Virgin, Forthampton Gloucestershire

19/7/2018

St Mary the Virgin Parish Church in Forthampton Gloucestershire is stated as being built in the 13th century, yet this rather wonderful arch predates the church by a century?

The porch in which the arch can be found was built in the late 1800's when the church was restored. I wonder was the arch part of the original church or brought in from elsewhere when the porch was constructed?

It is not in a perfect condition but you can see the square-headed keystone and one remaining beast head at the right end of the arch.

Whatever the date, it's rather lovely and maybe a little frightening don't you think?

Death of Stephen Langton

9/7/2018

On this day in 1228 occurred the death of Stephen Langton, arguably the most intelligent man ever to hold the office of Archbishop of Canterbury.

Langton had taught theology at Paris before being appointed by the Pope apparently just to irritate King John. Eventually playing a huge part in the negotiations leading up to Magna Carta, Langton became a key figure during the minority of Henry III, strengthening the English Church against Papal control.

Of Magna Carta Langton said:

"To no one will we sell to no one deny or delay right or justice"

Langton was born in a small village of Langton by Wragby in Lincolnshire which is just a few miles from where I live, his image can be seen here depicted in the village church of St Giles.

Runnymede

10/6/2018

On the 10th June 1215, King John met rebel barons at Runnymede a water meadow that sits on the south bank of the River Thames. Five days later what had been agreed at the meeting was set to paper text and by the 19th June, the barons had renewed their oaths of loyalty to the king and copies of the charter, later known as Magna Carta, were formally issued.

Death of Isabel of Angouleme

4/6/2018

On the 4th May in 1246 occurred the death of Isabel of Angouleme at the Abbey of Fontevrault, where she was veiled as a nun on her deathbed.

Isabel was the wife of Hugh X of Lusignan and one-time Queen of England.

After the death of King John, who she had married in 1200, Isabella left her children, the youngest just a year old in the care of the English court, and made a new life for herself with a new husband in her home of Angouleme.

You can read more about this on my website at

https://meanderingthroughtime.weebly.com/history-blog/isabella-of-angouleme

Edward I takes Berwick upon Tweed

30/3/2018

Today in 1296, after setting up camp at the Priory at the village of Coldstream just a few days before Edward I captured Berwick upon Tweed. The control of this Northumbian town ping-ponged between the English and the Scots for years however the Scottish army would retake the town following the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, but it would be back in English hands by 1298.

In an article on the taking of Berwick in 1296 the author wrote:

"The numbers of people slaughtered vary from 7,000 to 25,000. These figures are greatly exaggerated. Berwick had been the most important town in Scotland, with more money entering the Scots exchequer than that from all the other Scottish towns combined, but that was from exports. It has been estimated that the other important towns at the time - Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Perth would have had populations of only 2,000. It may be that Berwick had a higher population, perhaps 5,000, but then, it is unlikely everyone was killed.

Edward stayed in Berwick for a month. He ordered a stone wall to be built encircling the town with a ditch 80’ wide and 40’ deep on the north and east sides of the town. This was to have an embankment surmounted by a quickly erected wooden palisade which would be replaced in time by a stone wall encircling the town. However, it was many years before this was completed, ironically, by Robert Bruce."

Death of Maud Marshall

27/3/2018

On this day in 1248 the death of Maud, the eldest daughter and co-heir of William Marshall.

Maud had outlived both her husbands, her first husband Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk had died in 1225, he was, along with his father Roger, listed as being the first two men (among twenty-five) to enforce Magna Carta. Maud's second husband was William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey who died in 1240. Warenne was one of the few barons who remained loyal to King John.

This must have put Maud in a bit of a position.

For part of her life, Maud lived at Framlingham Castle in Norfolk, the castle had been granted to Roger Bigod (Hugh's great-grandfather) by Henry I in 1101, however, there is little information about her life there.

Maud Marshall was in her late fifties when she died, she is buried at Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire.

My photographs were taken two weekends ago at Framlingham Castle (there was no sign of Maud)