A Clerk of Oxford

The sharp spire in the picture above belongs to the church of St Wystan at Repton, in Derbyshire. Repton is a fascinating place, whose earl...

I'm going to sneak this poem in before March is over, although since it draws on ' Vexilla Regis ' it's really more appropr...

BL Royal 2 A XVIII, f. 23v Gabriel, fram evene king Sent to the maide swete, Broute hire blisful tiding, And faire he gan hire greten: ...

For those of you new to this blog (hello!), 'Three Thoughts' is a series in which I collect, without comment, three texts or extract...

A pilgrim prepares for his journey ( BL Harley 4399, f.24v ) This is a poem by the Franciscan friar William Herebert (d.1333), with som...

With the British Museum exhibition Vikings: Life and Legend opening this week, Viking-fever is at its height. Naturally I'm enjoying th...

This is a translation of a prayer by Thomas Aquinas ( 'Concede mihi, misericors Deus' ), attributed to Mary, daughter of Henry VIII,...