Last week I was fortunate enough to have been granted special permission by Lord and Lady Berkeley to visit their magnificent home, Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, which is closed to the public during winter. Berkeley has a rich heritage and is perhaps most infamous for the traditional tale of the murder of Edward II, held … More Berkeley Castle: A ‘Murderous’ Prison Cell
Following on from part one, those called to parliament still have much to do and many rules to abide by. The studious clerk who started penning his treatise must have been either very keen, on a good commission or had underestimated the enormity of his task. There are still nine ‘rules’ left to discuss. He … More How to hold a Medieval Parliament: By those who were there (Part Two)
Recently, I was interviewed by the very talented team at ‘The History Geeks’. These are the guys who run the globally renowned history site on Facebook. It was a real blast and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it. Below is what they grilled me on; Nb: where it says ‘see more’, … More My Recent Facebook Interview with ‘The History Geeks’
At some point during the reign of Edward II a studious clerk, most likely between 1316-1324, sat down to work one evening and took his pen to parchment and wrote a treatise. This treatise set out, rather helpfully for us seven hundred years later, the ‘dos’ and ‘dont’s’ of holding a medieval parliament as dictated … More How to hold a Medieval Parliament: By those who were there (Part One)
I am a self-confessed bibliophile. You only have to walk into my study, bedroom, bathroom, or in fact any room in my house to know that I speak the truth. I am surrounded by books in all their glorious shapes, sizes and bindings. There is nothing more reassuring than the smell and feel of a … More Writing Tips #2: Out on Location
Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser the Younger are two names that are synonymous with Edward II. The first, the royal favourite and lover who was brutally murdered for his control of royal patronage and in consequence of his dramatic elevation to the highest ranks of medieval fourteenth century English society, still dominates the popular imagination. … More All the King’s Men: The Forgotten Royal Favourites (Part One)
fourteenthcenturyfiend.com 