ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN: Sheriff of Nottingham What is any good story without a villain to drive the plot? The Robin Hood mythology provides the template for all great villain roles. In the movies, the truly great actors, … Continue reading
Robin Hood’s Merry Men: Little John As a companion to my blog series on the Magna Carta, I’m venturing forth with some character sketches of Robin Hood’s Merry Men. Let’s start with Little John, one of the oldest and most … Continue reading
BLOGGING THE MAGNA CARTA #24 By Phyllis Irene Radford Charter of the Forests, 1217 The Magna Carta accomplished many good things and should be taught in Civics classes. Possibly the most important purpose of this document was that it established … Continue reading
Blogging the Magna Carta #23 Other versions of this document break up the last clause into five separate paragraphs that lump together a number of political issues. I have broken them with my comments for easier reading. Numbering the clauses … Continue reading
by Phyllis Irene Radford Over the decades of Plantagenet rule, many fines had been levied and lands confiscated, justly and unjustly. Now the barons want the money back. But some of it had been just punishment for crimes committed. Here … Continue reading
Blogging the Magna Carta #21 As part of his reconciliation with the Pope, King John promised to lead a crusade once peace returned to England. A crusade was a sacred vow. All members of Christendom were expected, on pain of … Continue reading
by Phyllis Irene Radford During the five or more years leading up to the Magna Carta, England was entrenched in a civil war; the barons against their king. During war in medieval times the taking of hostages was an honorable … Continue reading
by Phyllis Irene Radford The Roman Catholic Church owned almost as much land in England as the king. And men of wealth and power kept giving them more! Part of this was a hope that by founding an abbey they’d … Continue reading
by Phyllis Irene Radford We’re back to inheritance laws. Escheat is the reversion of land to an overlord or the state from whom it has been held in Tenure by a Tenant dying without heirs. Does that make sense? Baron … Continue reading
by Phyllis Irene Radford Sometimes we forget how well-traveled people were in the 13th C. In the previous century, the Crusades opened trade routes as well as pilgrim trails all through the Mediterranean and the Middle East and thus access … Continue reading
