Manzala Ridge, the place where the diary writer says he and his shipwrecked companions came ashore, surrounds a brackish lake, sometimes called Manzala Bay, near Damietta on the coast of Egypt near the mouth of the Nile.
An Escheator decided what would happen to a property when the nobleman died without immediate heirs, based on the feudal custom that the king owned all the land and it automatically reverted to him. Usually land went up the hierarchy to the next highest noble in the area or to a relative somewhere else if he was willing and able to manage it.
Jack in Cormoran’s kitchen is a reference to one of the many variations of the fairytale Jack and the Beanstalk. Cormoran was the name of the giant whose house Jack found at the top, according to English tradition.
A hundredweight is a measurement of weight, between 100 and 112 pounds, based on the English stone, which is 14 pounds.
The oyster fair at St. John’s Abbey described in Chapter One took place in Colchester in the fall, in celebration of the oyster harvest from about 1104 until Henry VIII closed the abbey in 1538. The abbey could raise money by charging a toll to those who had booths. A fair was like a large annual market.
St. John’s Abbey was a Roman Catholic monastery, where Franciscan friars lived. Unlike cloistered monks, friars went about preaching. St. Botolph’s Priory was a smaller monastery, and St. Mary Magdalene’s was a lepers’ hospital. Hope mentions making the rounds of these places to say prayers for her cousin Richard’s safe return. Hope also uses the term orison to describe fervent prayer.
A medieval manor normally had its own chapel and a nobleman was supposed to pay for the upkeep of a priest to tend to the church-prescribed spiritual needs of his family and those who lived on the estate.
The medieval Roman Catholic Church gave the priest much power over people’s daily lives. A priest was supposed to be summoned whenever a doctor was sent for. The use of indulgences (payment to the church for forgiveness of sins before and after death) was officially restricted. The practice and belief of the time indicates most people believed paying indulgences resulted in sins being forgiven and souls being freed from Purgatory.
Baron John refers to Hope and her mother having “met none of the Hundred” as they plan to go to the fair. A hundred was a unit of local government, a subdivision of a shire. The hundred was, initially, a collection of 100 hides (a hide was 120 acres around this time period). Each hundred had a court that met once a month, usually in the open air, at a well-publicized time and place. There both criminal matters and private disputes were settled. All residents of the hundred were expected to attend the hundred court in the beginning, but over the centuries attendance was restricted to the tenants of specific lands. Regular attendees acted as judges, except when the sheriff filled the role on his twice-yearly visits. The Hundred sometimes met in a Moothall, originally a circular earthenwork area, later enclosed, covered or turned into an actual building. Sometimes officials were called Burgesses, originally meaning freemen of the boroughs, or towns.
Sir Chris’ mention of Houris in reference to Sadaquah’s attitude toward women is a reference to Muslim writings that, in some translations, describe various kinds of beings called Houris, perfect, beautiful, virginal inhabitants of Paradise. Some have expressed a disputed belief that a faithful Muslim will receive 72 virgin companions upon arriving in Paradise.
A Saxon Mead Hall was the home of a lord in the time of Anglo-Saxon England, usually a large, open room where feasts took place and where people could congregate for protection. Gil Gregor’s Red Boar Inn was remodeled from a Mead Hall. Mead is a drink made from fermented honey.
Sir Chris calls Gil Gregor Gil Mor Gregor, a reference to his Scottish heritage. Mor is similar to Mac, or ““son of,” referring to the clan or family of a Scotsman. Clan Tartans, long pieces of woven wool in plaid patterns of various colors, were not officially distinguished until the 1700s but similar garments existed long before that.
The staff Gil carries is sometimes called a quarterstaff in the story. Fighting sticks in England went by various names (short staff or long staff were common) and ranged from 6-12 feet in length. The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the name probably came from the practice of making a staff by splitting a tree trunk into quarters. It is distinguished from a less sturdy type of staff made from a tree branch. Others say the name comes from methods of holding it, with hands a quarter of its length from each end. Though one source says this term did not officially appear in writings until a later time period it is fairly certain such a weapon existed for centuries before it was officially written about.
Hope says she “rushed floors” when she stayed with Gil at his inn. In medieval times rushes, common marsh plants like reeds, were spread on the floors, especially under tables at mealtimes. Afterward they could be gathered up and disposed of, along with food scraps from the meal. Many medieval customs revolved around keeping a poorly-insulated building warmer and this may have served that purpose as well.
A major industry in Medieval Colchester was processing wool. This is also described while Hope stayed at Gil Gegor’s Red Boar Inn. Wool was woven in Colchester. It was also fulled, meaning it was cleaned and thickened by pounding it in a mixture of water and clay. Wooden hammers powered by watermills did this. When it dried the wool was dyed.
Hope describes the preparations for the arrival of the king’s tribunal at Chelmsford Castle. These arrangements were very common. Nobles slept in hallways and food was cooked in any open fireplace. Hope and the Godwins had rooms to themselves only because they arrived first. They probably would have shared with later arrivals.
People in the Middle Ages wore many kinds of head coverings, sometimes indoors to protect them from cold in poorly-insulated buildings. In the cover graphic of this book, Hope wears a muffin hat. The knight wears a chain mail coif. Wimples were cloth coverings for the head and neck, varying in size and shape. A couvre-chef is a French term meaning “head covering.” A borealis hat may be knitted wool, close fitting or loose and floppy. A stirrup hat is a close-fitting wool-felt cap with side pieces hanging down below the ears, shaped roughly like an upside-down stirrup. A liripipe is a stuffed tube of fabric fitted to the head, sometimes wound around the head and neck, sometimes trailing down the back.
Hope’s lincoln grayne gown is actually the same as the “lincoln green” made famous by the Robin Hood stories, but grayne is really a fine woolen cloth dyed red, not green, made in Lincolnshire at this time.
A surcoat was a form of garment in various styles worn by men and women, an overgarment usually sleeveless and often falling to the ground. It was worn by knights and noblemen and displayed the coat of arms. Frequently it was white, especially in the Holy Land, to deflect the heat from the coat of mail. Colchester did not actually obtain an official coat of arms until 1413, and it had a red background and included a cross. Thus the surcoat Richard wears displaying a coat of arms for the House of Cloyes is imaginary.
A cote is a tunic or gown. A cotehardie could be worn by men or women, It was a close-fitted, long-sleeved full-skirted undergarment today best represented by the “princess” cut gown. Such garments usually laced up the back or later had many buttons. Hope had to have a servant leave hers partly unlaced to enable her to slip quickly in and out of it, and covered the loose lacings with her surcoat. a tunic is usually an overshirt with short or medium-length sleeves and reaching to mid-calf or below the knees at various times. Braccae or Braes are loose trousers ending below knees or at the ankles and tied there. Often the top was also fastened with a drawstring. Hose could be knitted or cloth and were a covering for the foot and part of the leg, usually supported by garters.
A Bliaut is an outer garment worn by the wealthy, pleated and made of fine material. A Mantle is a cape or cloak of varying length.
Perse is a color, dark blue or bluish gray. A Kirtle is sometimes waisted, sometimes loose, sometimes apron or petticoat-like, worn in various fashions throughout the Middle Ages, over a chemi
se (undergarment) and under a surcoat. Parti-colored refers to the custom of making a garment with panels of different colored fabrics. An example is if the right sleeve and chest area is blue, the left sleeve and chest area might be red. Also the right skirt area might be red and the left blue. The back of the garment might alternate in the same way. Jesters are often described as having parti-colored garments, and even hose can made in stripes or alternating colors as described above.
Damask is a method of weaving used with many kinds of fabric. It produces a reversible pattern, often very elaborate. Satin and velvet were common fabrics so woven for wealthy wearers.
In Greek mythology, Actaeon was a hunter who boasted of his skill. Aphrodite cursed him when he saw her bathing, turned him into a stag, and let his own dogs hunt and kill him. Atalanta, or Atlanta, was a Greek maiden who refused to marry any man who could not beat her in a footrace. Hippomenes did so by casting golden apples along the racecourse, which she felt compelled to chase.
Use of Arabic Language
I have included a few words of transliterated Arabic in the conversations of those who would understand and speak it. This is based on modern Arabic sources just as the English spoken in the book is based on modern speech. A glossary follows. This list of words and phrases comes from a website called “Tradearabia” and any errors in usage are my own.
Sadaquah’s name literally means “righteousness,” and Rasoul’s means “messenger.” Tahira means “pure” and the Arabic word for hope is “raja.” Anywhere within the “diary” sections the Arabic words should be understood to appear in their original script, not transliterated as I have them. These and the diary writer’s references to Arabic songs and Scriptures would be what Hope refers to as being in “a beautiful script” she does not recognize.
Some may take exception to my use of Allah and Arabic phrases using variations of the name to refer to the true God. I believe the testimony of Sir Chris and Sadaquah as well as that found in the diary make it clear that the Christian God is not the same as the Muslim God. I just did not see a better way to refer to the true God that would be used by Arabic-speaking people.
Abadane Never
Al hamdu lillah Thank God
Asre’a Hurry up
Atini Give me
Ayina? Where?
Assalam’alaikoo Greetings (peace be with you)
‘alaikoom Assalam (reply)
Ba’ad Yet
Da’eman Always
Fi aman allah (the one remaining)
Feema Baad Later
Hassib Take care
Hona Here
Honak There
Houri Virgin promised to faithful Muslims in Paradise
Inshaallah If God is willing
Ith’hab Go away
Kull Everything
Kulna All of us
La Oreed I do not want
La No
Laileh sa’eeda tisbah’ala khair Good night
Ma (the person’s name) ka My name is …
La yahum Never mind
Lematha? Why?
Lusto Adri I don’t know
Maabadh Together
Ma’assalama Goodbye (the one departing)
Ma indi I do not have
Mall amr? What’s the matter?
Matha? What?
Marhaba Hello
Masa-el khair Good evening
Masa-el noor (reply)
Matha toreed? What do you want?
Mata When
Mein? Who?
Min Fadhlak (m) Min Fadhliki (f) Please
Na’am Yes
Sabah el khair Good morning
Sabah el noor (reply)
Taffadhal I beg you to
Oatherni, Excuse me
Ondhur See
Waghif Stop
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Other Books and products from Findley Family Video Publications
Antidisestablishmentarianism by Michael and Mary Findley
(Also available in an illustrated version, with over 200 full-page illustrations throughout the book, and in four separate sections, both illustrated and unillustrated versions.)
The Bible is a Book of Science
Secular Humanism is a Religion of Mythology
Secularism in America has occurred in defiance of the founding writings, which spelled out the dangers of Government-Church union. But Christianity wasn’t a contradiction of the so-called “separation principle”.
All the history of the world echoes the message that man cloaks secularism, the worship of himself, in religion. He demands unlimited power for his religion, Secular Humanism.
Secularists have hijacked words like belief, faith, and trust,. Secularists demand that Science depend on presupposition, assumptions, and “deep time. “ The Scriptures themselves prove their scientific nature and worth.
from Chapter 14 What Does the Scientific Evidence Prove?
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.
Samuel Johnson
Christians, unfortunately, believe that science is an enemy. There is good reason, since most who use the word “science” have completely abandoned Johnson’s demand that integrity go hand in hand with knowledge, replacing truth with selective evidence which supports preconceived conclusions. Christians should not develop either an antagonism toward true science or ignore the very real contributions of true science. Neither should true scientists ignore the very real foundation of science in Christianity. Dennis Prager, anthropologist and historian, laments the unthinking reliance on pseudo-science in today’s society.
“In much of the West, the well-educated have been taught to believe they can know nothing and they can draw no independent conclusions about truth, unless they cite a study and ‘experts’ have affirmed it. ‘Studies show’ is to the modern secular college graduate what ‘Scripture says’ is to the religious fundamentalist.”
Empire Saga by Michael J. Findley (Also available as five separates short stories and novellas, including the Space Empire Trilogy)
Look at the future of persecution. One day soon the only refuge for the faithful may be Space. Follow a desperate couple fighting isolation and equipment malfunction to pilot a gas-collecting balloon ship to the outer planets. Michael, crown prince of the Space Empire hopes to save his people from external attack with an internal rebellion and a battle cruiser like no other. His plans are shaken by a forbidden romance, political turmoil, and the discovery of Earth’s Fourth Empire. Michael and his best friend Randolph might save or shatter the Space Empire’s last hope for the future.
Michael’s crystals had their fire change from red to blue to green and back to red again. With each change the fire grew weaker.
“Discovery to Earthpost Q.”
“Earthpost Q.”
“Your father’s quit waiting on the Lord. The Occidental outpost has twelve SSTs assembling a particle beam gun. It’s Imperial, Michael. Your father set us up. I don’t have a chance.”
“Is it operational?”
“Yes, but it’s not fully charged yet.”
“Destroy it.”
“I’m by myself. The only way I can fly and fire at the same time is to route the fire control through the forward directional sensors.”
“Do it.”
“I’ll kill everyone down there. There’s over a thousand people there, mostly women and children.”
Nehemiah, LLC (This book takes place between Sojourner and Empire One: Humiliation in the Space Empire Universe.)
Why doesn’t Tony know what a paper cup is? What is it about a “Glop Drop” that kids can’t resist? How can Joan keep the goats where they belong? And, most important of all, can Tony and Joan make the launch window to see the Sojourner on its way to the outer planets?
No light sabres. No warp drive. It’s more like the real thing
-- an Apollo mission plus floating farms plus Martian underground parks. “It won’t fail because of me” takes on a whole new meaning.
from Chapter Nine: The Task
“So we can move people in three or four days?” asked Anthony.
“Well, after we finish sandblasting...” said Joan.
“So this is sandblasting?” asked Anthony.
“Well, he can say something besides ‘How long will this take?’” said Joan. “You spend your entire life dreaming up ways to give other people work. Stick around and do some of the work yourself. Let me give you a list. We could do more sandblasting. There are at least a hundred projects that need enlargement. If that’s not to your taste, we could fill with foam insulation, finish rooms, weld, install furniture, work on making the roof of the production area open to the surface, enlarge the life support systems to cover the new area, synthesize more air and water, transport materials…”
“I really like one thing you said,” interrupted Anthony. “That’s the ‘we could’ part.”
The Baron’s Ring by Mary C. Findley
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Hope and the Knight of the Black Lion Page 21