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Brother Ranulph, that is immensely helpful. Thank you so much. :D Another thing that you may be able to clear up is this; elsewhere, someone has asked if by "Augustinian Canoness I mean Gilbertine in an English context?". I have always understood it to be the case that whereas Gilbertine Canons foll...

I'm having real problems finding out what Augustinian Cannonesses wore on their heads. The undyed habit and white wimple seem fairly straightforward but some have a white hood and some black and I'm having an awful job of finding which would be correct. I have been stalking copies of Ecclesiastical ...

It's a difficult one really as I've been looking into this for a while and I have yet to find anything really comprehensive in terms of a soldier's diet from WOTR. What it does seem however is that army logistics in terms of the army having supply trains of food etc were not really used during this ...

Thank you, Brother Ranulph for that. An Augustinian canoness seems then the way forward, as I suspected. I shall look into those books, maybe my local library may be able to track down the book by Mayo on a loan, you never know! I will also look into the other text on the offchance it has something ...

Got to be super quick as at work but did you see my reply regarding canonesses?

I haven't found any primary sources for whisks in the 15th century (but would love to stand corrected). Most later medieval recipes tend to instruct that things be 'drawn through a streynour'. An egg drawn through a strainer basically resembles a lightly beaten egg. Also, most other 14th/15th centur...

Thank you, Brother Ranulf for the comprehensive reply. Though it is a matter of historical fact, it is a shame that it seems a tad prohibitive to portray a professed nun at reenactments as it then makes it an important part of social history that never gets any 'coverage'. As per my initial question...

What 'o, chaps By way of a change and for a breath of fresh air for me as regards my Wars of the Roses living history, I am considering the notion of portraying a nun or sister, likely in the context of providing simple medical assistance to the troops or doing calligraphy (which I already do). The ...

It's a toughie really as mint hybridizes so freely it's difficult to keep tabs! Apocryphally I have heard that peppermint is a natural hybrid of spearmint and water mint but there is a certain amount of consternation as to when it first appeared; some say 18th century whereas some say ancient egypt ...

It may also be a consideration that cockatoos are native to some of the Spice Islands of Indonesia where cinnamon, cloves, grains of paradise and many other popular medieval spices were grown. It is entirely possible that this little bird survived the route the spices took and eventually ended up in...

Sheep were also kept for milking as well as wool and meat as I recall, as a sheep produces a far more manageable amount of milk than a cow (even a medieval one whose milk yields were significantly lower than modern dairy cattle) and they can graze on relatively poor and/or inacessible land and requi...

Now, was there any need for that?

That's brilliant, thanks! Any ideas how the loose quires were kept together? I've seen manuscripts with filing holes and a tacket bound quire in a seperate cover, but nothing for loose leaves (like a folder etc).

It's an interesting thing actually and I've had a couple of interesting finds since posting the original question. The main thing I have found out is that there seem to be no hard and fast rules as regards medieval books, especially the more ephemeral or cheaper kind. I've found a few examples of ta...

Hi Sophia Thanks for that. I was wondering if you'd come across any medieval references or resources for bread making as I've found primary sources rather scarce. I've found reference in Platina (the one where he talks about what sounds like sourdough leaven and says not to bake it the same day) but...

That's fascinating what you say about the 'long fermentation', Sophia. Do you have refs or a book that you could recommend? I'm setting up a bakery for my own living history and this would be enormously helpful as I'm having trouble finding anything solid pertaining to medieval bread. I visited a wi...

And one more question (sorry!). Would the notebook exist as a series of written pages that were then bound (like with more valuable manuscripts) or would they have existed as a blank notebook that was then filled in? If the former was the case then how are single pages bound, since most bindings are...

Thanks so much for that information, very interesting indeed and it has certainly given me some stuff to go on.

So, with that in mind would the 'wallet' type binding be acceptable for say, recipes etc or would that be conjecture?

Hello all I've oft been told apocryphally that medieval 'household books' existed mainly in the form of collections of notes held together in a flap book or wallet-type binding rather than as a single volume. However, I have never seen an example of either such a wallet/binding or the notes for myse...

Hiya I've never seen an example of the canvas topped folding stools or indeed a stool with a canvas top at all, they seem to be a cross between Victorian (and later) campaign stools crossed with the folding medieval savonarola chairs. Practical though they are, I'd be reluctant at this stage to say ...

Thanks for that, any and all information is much appreciated! I'm not jumping straight on a boat really, the Clares have always appealed as I like the Franciscan way of doing things. If it happens that I can protray a Clare as well as just admiring them, all the better! What an odd thing to say for ...

How absolutely wonderful!!!

Saves me dredging the pond

Thankyou again for all the info, it has been a massive help! I am decided once and for all that the Poor Clares are for me... massive amounts of spare wool notwithstanding, they also did work outside the convent with the sick and the poor, which is great for m'living history herbalism setup. Now, if...

Thanks for that, the link is absolutely sterling! As i have an awful lot of grey wool kicking about the place, I may well plump for a Poor Clare (that and they sound jolly good!) As far as I can tell, the clothing consists of a loose tunic with fairly deep sleeves, a wimple and gorget (neck covering...

Thanks for the links!

I was going for the mid/late 15th century. I have some grey wool fabric that I was hoping to use, would that make me a Poor Clare?

I have been toying with the idea of being a nun at least part time for next year's season. I think, in short, it could be a lot of fun! I want to do things properly however so I was wondering if anyone could direct me towards any good publications/websites that would get me pointed in the right dire...

As far as I know there isn't an historical precident for women dressed as women being archers in a battle-type situation, the only resources that I have seen for women practicing archery are either hunting scenes or repelling seiges etc. I am also in full agreement with Jim that the battlefields nee...

I read an interesting snippet of info that the first instance of fondue appears in the Iliad, citing a recipe for a warm sauce made with cheese and wine, and fondue bourgignonne (sp?!) ie. the one with the oil and the meat originated in medieval Burgundy! I'm just trying to find some more evidence f...

Aw no! I am so sorry to hear that you have decided to shut up shop. It must have been a very hard decision and I for one will miss your stall a great deal - it is such a rarity to find quality corsetry for the curvier of hip! I'm glad to hear that you shall still be on the circuit though, so we have...

That is just stunning, it looks like it moves beautifully.

What was the occasion of the ball?