medieval
western history is generally divided into three periods: classical antiquity, medieval, and modern. the medieval period, also known as the middle ages, roughly lasted from the 5th to the late 15th centuries (years 400-1500s).
"for even he who is most greedy for knowledge can achieve no greater perfection than to be thoroughly aware of his own ignorance in his particular field. the more be known, the more aware he will be of his ignorance." — nicholas of cusa, german theologian, 15th century
i. words and snippets used in medieval times
bawdy bush: a suitable place for intimacy outdoors1
beshrew thee!: a simple curse to invoke general evil2
blush like a black dog: not blush at all1
by these ten bones: (of fingers) a mild oath1
drivel: a lot of talk about nothing2
give the crows a pudding: to die1
hair of the dog: a hangover cure of more alcohol1
pray thee: i ask you please, i.e. "pray thee tell"2
white as midnight’s arsehole: absolutely dark1
ii. occupation titles, possibly obsolete today
pardoner:
one who sells the forgiveness of sins and indulgences2
pinder:
one who tracks the stray animals2
ratcatcher:
one who removes/exterminates rats from places2
reeve:
one elected to represent the peasants2
iii. proverbs
below are medieval proverbs from riley's dictionary of latin quotations, proverbs, maxims, and mottos, classical and medieval (1859)3.
this I know for certain, that when I contend with filth, whether I vanquish or am vanquished, I am always soiled. [p. 151]
honey in his mouth, words of milk, gall in his heart, fraud in his deeds. describes a hypocrite [p. 224]
there is no need to spur a horse at full speed. [p. 282]
no misfortune comes singly. [p. 294]
once an abbot, always an abbot. [p. 414]
not every one is a huntsman that blows a horn. [p. 521]
from a heavy supper great uneasiness to the stomach is produced; that you may enjoy a good night's rest, let your supper be moderate. [p. 112]
iv. book curses
even before medieval times, curses were included in books to deter thieves in a time where belief in curses was in critical effect. stealing a page would result in horrific death by destiny. these curses were often found in the beginning or end of books, illuminated with detail. additionally, the curses and insults of today, which carry much greater power beyond their simple meaning, such as "fck you" and "sht head", would not suffice. the curses of old were elaborate and meant to invigorate one's imagination and fears.
if anyone steals it: may he die, may he be roasted in a frying pan, may the falling sickness and fever attack him, and may he be rotated and hanged. amen.
— the arnstein bible at the british library, germany, c. 1172
peter, of all the monks the least significant, gave this book to the most blessed martyr, saint quentin. if anyone should steal it, let him know that on the day of judgment the most sainted martyr himself will be the accuser against him before the face of our lord jesus christ.
— historia scholastica, northeastern france, 12th century4
for him that stealeth a book from this library, let it change to a serpent in his hand and rend him. Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted. let him languish in pain, crying aloud for mercy and let there be no surcease to his agony till he sink to dissolution. let book-worms gnaw his entrails in token of the worm that dieth not, and when at last he goeth to his final punishment let the flames of hell consume him for ever and aye.
— an imaginative old librarian's almanack, written in 1909 under the guise of an 18th century librarian (not authentically medieval but same emotion and very vivid)5
references
Green's Dictionary of Slang. https://greensdictofslang.com/.↩
Oxford English Dictionary. https://www.oed.com/.↩
Riley, H. T. (1859). Dictionary of Latin quotations, proverbs, maxims, and mottos, classical and medieval: including law terms and phrases, with a selection of Greek quotations. H.G. Bohn. https://archive.org/....↩ Shailor, B. A. (1991). The medieval book. University of Toronto Press in association with the Medieval Academy of America.↩
Pearson, E. Old librarian's almanack. (1909).↩