Life on a Mediaeval Barony
A Picture of a Typical Feudal Community in the Thirteenth Century
By
William Stearns Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of History in the University of Minnesota
ILLUSTRATED
Harper & Brothers Publishers New York and London MCMXXIII
LIFE ON A MEDIÆVAL BARONY
Copyright, 1922 By Harper & Brothers Printed in the U. S. A.
First Edition G-1
To Ephraim Emerton Master Interpreter of Mediæval History this book is dedicated by an ever-grateful pupil.
Table of Contents
Chapter Page
I. The Fief of St. Aliquis; Its History and Denizens 1
II. The Castle of St. Aliquis 16
III. How the Castle Wakes. Baronial Hospitality 41
IV. Games and Diversions. Falconry and Hunting. The Baroness's Garden 51
V. The Family of the Baron. Life of the Women 70
VI. The Matter of Clothes. A Feudal Wedding 88
VII. Cookery and Mealtimes 113
VIII. The Jongleurs and Secular Literature and Poetry 132
IX. The Feudal Relationship. Doing Homage 146
X. Justice and Punishments 159
XI. The Education of a Feudal Nobleman 176
XII. Feudal Weapons and Horses. Dubbing a Knight 189
XIII. The Tourney 208
XIV. A Baronial Feud. The Siege of a Castle 224
XV. A Great Feudal Battle--Bouvines 241
XVI. The Life of the Peasants 253
XVII. Charity. Care of the Sick. Funerals 275
XVIII. Popular Religion. Pilgrimages. Superstitions. Relic Worship 286
XIX. The Monastery of St. Aliquis: Buildings, Organization. An Ill-Ruled Abbey 312
XX. The Monastery of St. Aliquis: The Activities of Its Inmates. Monastic Learning 330
XXI. The "Good Town" of Pontdebois: Aspect and Organization 343
XXII. Industry and Trade in Pontdebois. The Great Fair 357
XXIII. The Lord Bishop. The Canons. The Parish Clergy 373
XXIV. The Cathedral and Its Builders 393
Illustrations
Life in the Middle Ages Frontispiece
The Castle of St. Aliquis Page xiv
Typical Castle of the Middle Ages " 17
View of the Court and the Donjon " 25
Upper Hall of the Donjon " 31
Interior of a Thirteenth-century Apartment Facing p. 36
A Thirteenth-century Bed Page 39
A Game of Chess " 54
A Game of Ball " 57
Lady with a Falcon on Her Wrist " 58
The Falcon Hunt " 59
Noble Holding a Falcon in Each Hand " 61
A Hunter " 63
The Stag Hunt " 66
Coiffure of a Noblewoman " 71
Cradle " 81
A King in the Twelfth Century Wearing Pellison " 90
Wreath Made of Metal Flowers Sewed on Braid " 91
Felt Shoe " 93
Winter Costume in the Twelfth Century " 94
Headdress of a Man " 95
Costume of a Nobleman " 96
Coiffure of a Woman " 97
A Royal Marriage in the Thirteenth Century " 99
Cooks " 114
Pork Butchers (Bourges) " 115
Servants Bringing the Food to the Table " 123
Young Girls of the Nobility Serving at the Table " 126
A Feast of Ceremony in the Twelfth Century Facing p. 128
Small Portable Organ of the Thirteenth Century Page 132
Acrobats Page 134
Dancer of the Twelfth Century " 137
Thirteenth-century Harp " 139
Listening to a Trouvère in a Château of the Thirteenth Century Facing p. 140
Banner of the Thirteenth Century Page 147
The Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Bretagne (Thirteenth Century) " 148
Seal of the Duke Jean of Bretagne (Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries) " 149
Homage in the Twelfth Century Facing p. 156
Costume of a Nobleman (Thirteenth Century) Page 177
Gothic Writing " 179
A Teacher Holding a Ferule in His Hand " 180
Maneuvering with a Lance in the Thirteenth Century " 185
A Knight at the End of the Thirteenth Century " 190
German Helmets of the Thirteenth Century " 192
A Thirteenth-century Shield " 193
Thirteenth-century Swords " 194
Horse Trappings " 196
A Knight of the Thirteenth Century " 198
A Thirteenth-century Knight " 199
A Thirteenth-century Knight " 200
A Beggar " 201
A Tournament in the Twelfth Century Facing p. 214
Knightly Combat on Foot Page 219
A Combat in the Twelfth Century " 221
A Catapult " 236
An Attack with the Aid of a Tower " 237
A Mantelet in Wood " 238
Attack on a Wall with the Aid of the Sap " 239
Group of Peasants and of Shepherds " 255
Peasants at Work " 260
A Laborer (Thirteenth Century) " 264
Peasant Shoes " 265
A Reaper " 265
A Marriage in the Thirteenth Century " 266
A Plow " 267
A Leper " 278
A Thirteenth-century Doctor " 281
A Thirteenth-century Burial Scene Page 284
A Group of Priests (Thirteenth Century) " 287
A Shrine in the Form of an Altar (Thirteenth Century) in the Cathedral at Rheims " 299
Richard Coeur de Lion Facing p. 302
View of an Abbey of the Thirteenth Century Page 313
The Galleries of the Cloister of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel (Thirteenth Century) " 316
The Refectory at the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel (Thirteenth Century) " 318
A Benedictine Monk (Thirteenth Century) " 320
A Piece of Furniture Serving as a Seat and a Reading Desk " 335
Cloth Merchants " 358
A Commoner (Thirteenth Century) " 362
Money-changers (Chartres) " 365
A Fair in Champagne in the Thirteenth Century Facing p. 366
The Sale of Peltries (Bourges) Page 370
Episcopal Throne of the Thirteenth Century " 374
A Bishop of the Twelfth Century " 376
A Bishop of the Thirteenth Century " 379
A Deacon (Thirteenth Century) " 388
Notre Dame and the Bishop's Palace at the Beginning of the Thirteenth Century " 395
Thirteenth-century Window in the Cathedral of Chartres, Representing Saint Christopher Carrying Christ " 400