Robert The Bruce, Before Bannockburn

Set against the backdrop of Edward I "The Hammer of Scots", Scotland's freedom was in danger!

Robert the Bruce, known as the Good King of Scots was born 11 July, 1274 at Turnberry Castle, Scotland. When Alexander III, King of Scots, died unexpectedly in 1296, without an heir, young Margaret of Norway, Alexander’s granddaughter was invited to take the throne. She departed Norway and, on her voyage to Scotland, fell ill and died. King Edward I was asked to intervene and help choose from the remaining eligible claimants.

Three competitors stepped forward to lay claim to the throne:

•John Balliol

•John Comyn

•Robert the Bruce

Edward installed the weak and wavering John Balliol, receiving homage from him as a vassal of England that next Christmas, to the disgust of the Scottish nobles. After John Balliol abdicated the throne in 1296, Robert realized that if the country wasn’t unified behind one King, England would soon take the tiny country to itself.

Exasperated, Robert approached John Comyn with an offer of truce on 1305. "Help me to be King and I will give you my estates, or give me your estates and I will help you." John preferred the Crown, and they made an exchange of signed and sealed documents to that effect. Later John Comyn exposed their pact to King Edward. As a result, Robert had to flee England for his life.

Robert convinced John Comyn to meet him at Greyfriars Church in Scotland. John and Robert withdrew to the high alter at which Robert confronted John with his treachery. They argued violently. Both drew their daggers, and Robert struck the first blow, leaving John wounded at the alter, but alive.

Joining Bruce's followers outside, Roger Kirkpatrick saw Bruce's agitation and the blood on his clothes. Robert simply replied,” I doubt that I have slain Red Comyn."

"Do you doubt?" asked Kirkpatrick, "Then I will make sure!" He entered the church and dispatched Comyn.

Most historians have called this the murder of John Comyn, but the circumstances seem to raise questions. With Bruce ranking as one of the three best knights in Europe, surely he could have finished Comyn himself if he had chosen to. He certainly wouldn't have left him wounded if he had wanted the man dead. Weight must also be given to their temperaments as well. Comyn was known for his fiery rage and Robert for his generosity to friends and supporters, but more importantly, his mercy toward his enemies.

Whether Robert was defending himself or not, the incident left Bruce with only two choices. He could run to Norway and seek asylum at his sister's court, or hazard all in the final pursuit of the Throne of Scotland. During those years of fighting for Scotland’s freedom, Bruce’s wife and daughter were taken prisoner, and held for 12 years by the English, and several of his brothers were killed. This was a deplorable situation for a man who frequently offered forgiveness to his captives, and even a place in his own army.

Hiding in a cave one rainy afternoon, disappointment and weariness taking their toll, he saw a small spider struggling to build a web. When finally the spider reached its mark and attached its web, Robert fashioned the famous phrase, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

On a gentle hill near Stirling Castle,in June of 1314, at Bannockburn, he was finally triumphant. With an army numbering about 6,000, he faced Edward's army of more than 20,000. Outnumbered and lacking sophisticated weaponry, he none-the-less led that tiny army to an unexpected and glorious victory; he would be Scotland’s hero for many years to come.

Medieval Apocalypse: Black Death, What was the plague?

Were rats really responsible for the death of nearly 1/3 of Europes population?

The Black Death or the Plague seems to appear literally out of nowhere. Looking for a scapegoat, many Europeans blamed the Jews for poisoning the wells, or they looked upon it as a judgment from God. Barbara F. Harvey (Introduction: The Crisis of the Early fourteenth Century) "Once it had struck… it set Europe on a new path almost totally unrelated to its late medieval past".

An Italian chronicler in Chronica di Matteo Villani gives this narration of the plague "They began to spit blood and then they died-some immediately, some in two or three days, and some in a longer time. And it happened that whoever cared for the sick caught the disease from them, or infected by the corrupt air, became rapidly ill and died in the same way. Most had swellings in the groin, and many had them in the left and right armpits and in other places, one could almost always find an unusual swelling somewhere on the victim’s body.”

One of the problems facing the researcher is that neither the plague nor the victims can be directly studied. Either way, we know that three kinds of plague existed. The Bubonic affected the glands and was not passed human to human; Pneumonic could be spread from coughing, sneezing, and person to person contact. Finally there was septicemic, where the bacilli enter the bloodstream and multiply and destroy the patient so quickly that buboes can’t form. In this septicemic invasion the patient typically dies within 24-36 hours. This form of the plague can’t be passed from human to human either. The only one capable of doing so was the Pneumonic Plague. The cause of Pneumonic plague, is an untreated case of Bubonic Plague that has progressed to the lungs. When it reaches that point, one person is capable of infecting everyone he comes in contact with. So while rodents and rats are the carriers, they were likely not the biggest culprit in the spread of the plague. It would have been infected patients fleeing the plague that might have struck their family, or neighbors, or the infections caused by caring for sick patients.

Joan of Arc: The Maid of Orleans, What was this "cow girl" really like?

Joan of Arc, a familiar name in late medieval history; her military exploits in saving France from the English are legendary, but the question remains, what was she really like? Can we discover her personality and learn something more from historical records on this subject?

Living in the midst of the Hundred Years War, the two contending sides were:

•The English, aided by the French Burgundians, of whom Joan once said in her trial, "I only knew one Burgundian and I could have wished his head cut off-however, only if it please God"

•The remainder of France's citizens and nobility

She held her own very well for having no formal education. During one day of her inquiry, after her capture, one of the clergy asked her if she wasn’t being disobedient to her parents when she left them behind and traveled with the army. She persistently declared “…Since God commanded it, had I a hundred fathers and a hundred mothers, had I been a King’s daughter, I should have departed.

She was loyal to a fault, and encouraged an ambivalent Dauphin that it was time to claim his throne. “I tell thee… that thou art true heir of France..."

Her compassion transferred into the field also, once when she saw a fellow Frenchman leading away some English prisoners, he struck one of the Englishmen so hard on the head, that they left him for dead. Upset and angry she alighted from her horse, and knelt down next to the dying Englishman. Cradling his head in her hand, she heard his final confession and consoled him in his pain. She cried easily when soldiers died without confession or the last rites. She also sent away the followers of the armies, the women of ill-repute. She explained her decision saying, “…it was for those sins that God allowed a war to be lost" To her, things were simple, she believed in being good, and in doing good.

At one point she was counseled that the nearby city under siege was well provided for and that all of the military leaders at the time believed that they should not try to take the city because their numbers were few, that they would wait for a better time to do so. Angry at their lack of faith in her counsel, not being included, she replied “You have been at your counsel, and I at mine, and I know that my Lord’s counsel will be accomplished and will prevail and that your counsel will perish."


When struck by an arrow, she cried. When the English replied to her letters that demanded their surrender with taunts of being a whore, and a “Cow girl”, she cried. When soldiers were killed on the field, she cried. She had the tender heart of a young 17 year old girl.

In one case several women carrying various religious articles came and asked Joan to touch them, believing her touch would bless them. Joan laughed and told them, “Touch them yourselves; they will be as good from your touch as they are from mine!”

At the beginning of her leadership near the city of Orleans, the generals and other military leaders purposely mislead her to think that they would be somewhere different than they were. When she discovered the duplicity, she immediately went to where they were and exclaimed with great indignation, “In God’s name, the counsel of the Lord your God is wiser and safer than yours. You thought to deceive me and it is yourself above all whom you deceive, for I bring you better succor than has reached you from any soldier, in any city; it is succor from the King of Heaven!"

Perceval de Boulainvilles writes of her, “This maid has a certain elegance…she has a pretty woman’s voice, eats little…greatly likes the company of noble fighting men, detests numerous assemblies and meetings, readily sheds copious tears, has a cheerful face, bears the weight and burden of armor incredibly well, to such a point that she has remained fully armed during six days and nights."
The picture we gain as we study her is that of a well grounded and street-smart young woman. The story gets better as the stakes rise, and Joan unafraid answers the best lawyers, university trained clergymen, and important men of her day in England.

Joan of Arc, The Queen of France?

Did France really belong to the Maid of Orleans? Delving into Joan of Arc's life leads us to some startling observations about her, some of which are not generally associated with her folklore.

There are some who may argue that Joan of Arc had her own agenda for helping the Dauphin win over France. Was this true, and did she, as Charles the Dauphin feared, want to lead France herself? Charles was often counseled by those nearest him that Joan of Arc was a danger. They even implied that she wanted the throne. What can we believe? Amazingly there is a great deal of evidence that shows her intent very clearly.
Having insisted that Charles take himself to Rheims, and leading him deep into Burgundian territory, right through the heart of English supporting France, she brought him to the sacred and all important Rheims Cathedral to be crowned. The ancient Cathedral had seen the anointing and coronation of Kings for hundreds of years. It was considered to be a crucial location for the Dauphin’s anointing, possibly more so than the fact that he was crowned!

At Rheims he was crowned Charles VII, King of France. Astonishingly Joan made a request found in historical records of her trial at that time, “
“…the said [Joan] asked of the King of France to make her a gift... and she asked then that he give her his kingdom…[she] gave it to God Almighty. After another short time, on the order of God she invested King Charles...with the realm of France,...”
So for a very short time, Joan was Queen of France. What more could she have taken from Charles than this? Yet, she invested it back on his head; a clear message that she didn’t covet nor want his throne and kingdom. Then not surprisingly she made one actual request, that her village of Domremey be freed from taxes forever. After what she could have taken, this appeal must have seemed mild and Charles quite graciously granted her request.

It seems after this point though that Charles makes a distinct turnaround and begins to quietly oppose the Maid. She would continue to fight for him, and he would make life as difficult for her as he could. He gave contradicting orders, commands to destroy bridges behind her, and even as she would have taken Paris, he made a secret truce with the Duke of Burgundy, that gave the Duke time to reinforce Paris; all this, against the maids pleas and advice.

One day after attending to her devotions in the St. Jacques Church, she said to those in attendance “My good friends…I am sold and betrayed. Soon I shall be given up to death." Shortly after she was captured by the Burgundians, and held for ransom; a ransom that Charles neither negotiated, nor tried to pay.

After months of captivity, she was handed over to the English, who quickly with no jurisdiction, or case, condemned her to death, and burned her at the stake. She died bravely, having united many of the French people. Without her the Hundred Years War might have ended differently.

Even her executioner was eventually won over by her dignity and goodness, after her sentence was carried out he cried “…that he greatly feared to be damned for he had burned a holy woman." Joan was always a polarizing figure, and people were won to her side, and some were firmly against her, but never was anyone in between, except for Charles, a sad legacy for a very fortunate King.

Medieval Royalty In Wales, A Life of Priviledge, or Something More Menacing?

Princesses were traded as commodities, Queen's and King's were kidnapped, maimed, and killed. Medieval life for Welsh Royalty was far from luxurious.

The common practice of medieval Wales was to put sons into fosterage. There they were raised and trained by noble, adoptive families. The results of this were two fold.

•Each child was trained in kingly pursuits, such as sword-play and horsemanship, as well as a host of other pursuits.

•A loyalty grew for the adoptive families, rather than their own fathers, mothers, and siblings.

This created problems of family loyalty when the young prince was returned home. Often he felt alienated and as a result he felt no remorse in taking over his father’s kingdom, no sorrow for killing his brother to gain more land, and in turn, having been reared the same way, no guilt on the part of his brothers in taking his life to further their own ends.

In the book, Medieval Wales, by David Walker, an example is given:

•In 814, Griffri ap Cyngen was slain by the treachery of his brother

•In 904, Merfyn ap Rhodri of Gwynedd was killed by his own men

•In 696, Ieuaf ab Idwal of Gwynedd was seized by his brother Iago and imprisoned

•In 974, Meurig ap Idwal was blinded.

One of the most prominent of Welsh rulers was Gruffyd ap Llywelyn, and his nephew accused him of smothering one heir, stabbing another, and pushing yet another over a cliff. Llywelyn showed no remorse, and justified many other killings by saying that “…I blunt the horns of Wales, lest they hurt their mother.”

A princess of Wales might be considered ready for marriage by twelve. A marriage decided by her parents according to the needs of their country at the time. Usually she was traded with a dowry or as a pact between royal houses. Worse, she was usually excluded from the loop of knowledge in her husband’s daily working life, and rarely consulted otherwise. Only upon the death of her husband, did she have any choices in marriage, or with her dowry.

Her daily life was comparable to that of her tenants, she worked hard making candles, directing food for the day (a feat in itself), and caring for the arrival of guests. She would make sure that guest quarters were clean, and then feed them as well. Sadly, her children were taken away for fosterage at the very young age of five to eight, by the time she saw them again they might not remember her. She would watch her daughters marry young, knowing it was likely she'd never see them again. Life was hard for a medieval queen.

War also accounted for the death of many prominent Kings and nobles. Those battles were bloody even when they were over, one King taking another for ransom, blinding him, before sending him home, then he, himself being sent to some dungeon to languish and die. It was a constant battle back and forth between one power and another. Royal life in Wales was no picnic.

The End of the Druids, and Romes Destruction in England, Scotland, and Ireland

What do we know of the mystical Druids so steeped in confusing and foggy history? More than you might think!

Druids were often the philosophers, scientists, lore-masters, teachers, judges and counselors to the kings and leaders of the British Islands and had been for nearly a millennia. Then Nero began his campaign to destroy the Christians of Britain, and the Druids, whose motto “The Truth Against the World” now joined the battle against the great Roman war machine.

Before Rome’s attack on the Islands, it had been a well established seat of learning for many generations, taught by the Druids. By 38 A.D., Julius Caesar tells us in his book Gallic Wars, that there were at least forty universities in England and he mentioned that they were reputed to have had an enrollment of sixty thousand pupils from around the world!

English legend tells us that Pontius Pilate attended these Druidic Universities, as well as many of Rome’s greatest historical generals. J. O. Kinnaman,D.D., in his work on Archaeology said that "Pilate was not a Roman by nationality, but by citizenship. He was born a Spaniard… Then he went to Britain to study in the universities … under the administration of the Druids … it was Pilate's ambition to become a Roman lawyer and the future governor of Palestine…”

Later after the invasion of the Romans, one Roman general by the name of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, destroyed the Druids largest and most precious centers of learning and its library at Anglesey in AD 60.

Once the Druids centers of learning were ruined, then came the beginning of one of the most famous of all historical spins. With so many records and histories lost in the destruction of these schools, Rome could make any claim, put forth any statement of “fact”, and they did. Sadly they are still in play today. Rome laid claim to the Druidic undertaking of:

•Road Building

•Establishing civilizations and cities

•Creating centers of study

•Fostering the Christianizing of England

Although in fact they were the destroyers of it all.

Finally in one last historic push, the end of the Druids came in the fourth century. Rome accused them of horrendous acts of violence and murder at Stonehenge, in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Then the remnants of the Druids were attacked in their last stronghold. St. Fiacc records the work of St. Patrick in Britain. "St. Germanus, with a group of priests that included St. Patrick, travelled through Britain convincing people to turn to God, throwing out the false priests of Pelagius known as snakes." The same would hold true in Ireland. Their symbol, the serpent, was the symbol of the Tribe of Dan. There they were murdered and destroyed by St. Patrick, who is remembered today, as having driven the snakes out of Ireland.

From that point forward most of Britain was firmly under the control of the Romans, as well as their new “fractured history”.

Friday the 13th, The Death of the Templars

King Phillip of France ordered all Templars to be destroyed on Friday the 13th, what were his reasons for doing so?

In France, King Philip le Belle was struggling at the beginning of the 14th century. He was in great debt to the Templars, and there was no desire or ability to repay them. To extricate himself from the situation he hatched a plot that was as sinister as it was clever.


The opportunity for his plan to swing into operation came when he managed to get one of his close friends, Clement V, onto the papal seat. With a friendly Pope that owed him a favor for getting him where he was, the scene was set. The king had managed to extract from the Pope a decree that accused the Templars of being heretics.



King Philip knew that to defeat the Templars he would have to use cunning. On the grounds of discussing a pressing matter Philip invited the Grand master of the Templars, Jacques De Molay ,and his Hospitallier counterpart to visit him in Paris.



Either De Molay had no inclination of what was in store for him or he walked into the trap, sacrificing himself for the sake of the many knights that would escape what was to come. Once in the king’s hands, the rest of the plan was put into action.



On the night of the October 12, all seneschals (stewards) throughout France would open sealed instructions at the same time. The instructions were that on the morning of Friday the 13th, all Templars in their district should be arrested and charged with heresy.


The shocked regional authorities did as they were told and on Friday the13th of October, all Templars were arrested and thrown into prison. The king's guile appears to have caught them off guard. Or were they? For this is where more anomalies appear.



Part of the king's plan was to seize the Templars treasure from the Paris preceptory, but oddly enough there was none when he got there. Also odd, the Templar fleet melted into history, with no treasure falling into the hands of the king.



There are unsubstantiated stories that some of the Fleet left La Rochelle in France the night before the arrests, joining the ships that had been anchored in the Seine and disappearing with the treasures from Paris to Scotland and parts unknown.



When the total number of knights arrested, was calculated, only a relative handful had been captured. So where had everything and everyone gone? This is a mystery that still holds until this day, although the Templars did make a crucial appearance in the Battle of Bannockburn turning the tide, it is still a mystery that is being solved in parts.



Charged with spitting on the cross, worshipping a head named Baphomet, and sodomy, the Templars were questioned by the Inquisition and King Philips henchman, De Nogaret.



All methods known to the inquisition were used, no torture was ignored in the attempt to extract confessions, but few were forthcoming. The cruelty expended upon the unfortunate knights was immeasurable. Stories such as that of the knight that appeared in court carrying a small bag containing the bones from his feet, lost, after having them roasted over a brazier, were not uncommon.

The Origin of King Arthur

In Hrolf Kraki, The Volsung Saga tellsof Britain's famous medieval King In ancient poetry there are some interesting parallels to the famous medieval legend of King Arthur.

Found in the Icelandic legends of the fourteenth century, The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki gives us an early look at Arthuria, this legend of the son of Uther, the “Battle Bear" of medieval times.

The Saga of Hrolf Kraki:  In this story, there was a farmer’s daughter named Bera, who fell in love with the Kings son, Bjorn. The Queen, a stepmother to Bjorn, wanted an affair with Bjorn, but the King's son refused to grant it. In anger she cursed him with being a bear which would feed on the king’s cattle.

With Bjorn’s disappearance, Bera was despondent, but upon seeing a larger-than-normal bear, which refused to leave or attack her, she recognizes him as the king’s son and follows him to his cave. She there finds Bjorn the man. He explained the curse he was under; a bear by day and a man by night. They spent many days together sharing their love.

Bjorn, as a bear has meantime killed many of the king’s livestock, and the wicked Queen knowing who it is pleads with the King to kill it. One night, Bjorn tells Bera that he will be hunted and trapped on the morrow, and that she will have three sons.

Upon his death, she gives birth and raises the three boys to adulthood. Upon their leaving home, she takes them to the cave where they might be given their inheritance. The first is allotted the smallest portion. Upon seeing a long sword in the rock wall of the cave that is associated with the birthright, he tries to free it and is unable.

The second likewise tries to free the sword, but must leave with his inheritance only.

Finally the third and youngest son comes for his legacy. He is not only given wealth, but he is able to pull the sword from the stone wall.

The Volsung Saga:  In this epic, Odin, eerily similar to Merlin of the Arthur tales, places to the hilt, his own sword in a tree. Each man at the wedding of the bridegroom makes an attempt to pull the sword from an apple tree. They find the only man among them that is capable of pulling it free, is Volsung. He does so and inherits the Kingship that belongs to the sons of Odin.

Each of these is obviously reminiscent of the Tale of King Arthur. Each of the young men descends from someone that offers ultra-human abilities, intermingled with purely human ones; each is offered, just on the cusp of manhood, an inheritance far larger than originally believed.

Many of the worlds most famous legends have been hidden all around us in the leaves of ancient manuscripts, between the lines of well known poetry, stories, and psalms. As the inheritors of these great treasures of the past, and with greater access than ever online, we owe it to those who have given so much, to preserve history, our attention.

Sigrid The Haughty, Courting The Queen of Sweden

A Viking woman was never to be trifled with, as her own story tells. If Sigrid the Haughty, a Queen of Sweden, put her mind to something, nothing could stand in her way

Sigrid the Haughty, believed by some to be an amalgamation of several women, has none the less a fierce reputation in history books.

Suitors were a dime a dozen for Sigrid, the Queen of Sweden. She enjoyed the company of raucous men, drinking and if tales are to be trusted, shamelessly flirting with them. Her greatest trial in life was deciding who was worthy of her hand in marriage.


At first she leaned towards a massive man named Harald the Greenlander. He coaxed, soothed and flattered her with his attentions, and she seemed to return his ardor. Of course he was married and this was a wrench in the works, but after a particularly amorous night he offered to leave his wife and marry Sigrid. After all, his wife’s pedigree was rather base and low-born, he mentioned to her, forgetting his own wasn’t particularly spectacular. That was when Sigrid decided she’d rather not accept his hand, and he went away dejected. Unluckily for him, he couldn’t stay away and returned to her one last time.

It just so happened that a Russian prince came courting Sigrid at the same time as Harald’s return. Tired of these petty Kings with shoddy pedigrees, Sigrid invited them into her beer-hall, then barred the door and burned it down. She gave her soldiers orders that if anyone crawled out of the fire, “Kill them!”


One such suitor that came Sigrid’s way was Olaf Trygvesson. Maybe not daring to pursue the Queen personally, he none the less sent a beautiful golden ring, to soften her up. That worked nicely until her goldsmiths discovered the ring was copper inside. He began to win her over anyway once she saw him for the first time. He was a handsome specimen with the excellent inducement of Norway as his wedding present. Negotiations began, and all things were smoothly ironed out until Olaf said he had one demand. She must convert to the true faith, and leave her Viking Gods behind. She refused, and Olaf reached up with his glove and slapped her across the face with it. Coldly she spoke to him “This may well be the death of you!” She was right.
Gathering her own armies and bringing on board Denmark and her King Svein Forkbeard, who was also enamored with Sigrid, Olaf Trygvesson was pursued and almost captured. He jumped into the ocean, preferring to drown, rather than taken captive. That was probably a good choice.

Svein Forkbeard returned to marry Sigrid the Haughty, who had at last found her equal.

Donald Oig "Liberator of London" England's King Calls On A Scotsman To Free London

Legend abounds in Scotland, and the story of Donald Oig who defeats an Itallian for the English in London, is a fun classic.



Now Donald Oig was often called “The King’s Man”, his loyalty to King Charles I was already proven at the Trot of Turriff. Donald had gone to London in the year 1640 of his own accord not knowing that King Charles, in desperation, was also requesting his help in that same place, and offering a purse full of gold for help with an Italian swordsman. It was during that trip that he was waylaid by a drummer on the streets of London. The servant issued his Italian master’s challenge to all within the sound of his voice to battle. It was said that none could defeat him. In fact it was reputed that he was the greatest swordsman in Europe.

Living like a prince at the expense of the town, since according to the rules of chivalry they must provide for him until someone came along that could defeat him; the people of London lived in fear of this reputed Italian wizard, whom no one seemed able to kill.

Disgusted by this braggart of Italy and his raucous drummer, Donald Oig cried with great gusto, “Hae deen wi’ yer din!” Then promptly ran the drummer through. With the crowd applauding wildly, the angry Italian swordsman challenged Donald Oig to a duel. Arrangements were made for their contest the following morning. Donald was doubly pleased when he learned that the King had sent for him to accomplish this very thing.

That night at dinner, Donald Oig made the acquaintance of the Italian’s manservant. With a little prodding, and some pleasant conversation, he learned the Italian’s secret.

In league with dark forces, the Italian was promised that to any challenger, it would appear there were two more assailants on either side of him. Even if pierced with a sword, he was told he would heal as soon as the blade was withdrawn.

Armed with knowledge and a good arm, Donald met the Italian in combat. As expected Donald was faced with what looked like three opponents. Remembering the servant’s words he gave his whole attention to the antagonist in the middle.

Spectators stood in awe, as Celt and Italian would thrust and parry with dazzling speed and agility. Then almost faster than the eye could follow, the Scotsman drove his practiced sword through the center of the brash Italian. Not yet realizing the danger the man cried out, “Remove thy sword!” But contrary to what he expected Donald Oig smugly said, “Let the spit stay with the roast!” The Italian crumpled dead to the ground.

The promised gold was duly rewarded, but the traitorous townspeople, already forgetting their debt to Donald Oig wailed, “See the Scottish beggar pocketing our English gold.”

Disgusted with the people, Donald threw the gold by handfuls into the air, and smirked at the sight. “See the English dogs gathering up the gold they could not earn for themselves…but a Scot won for them!”

Pelagius, The Welsh Monk, An Understanding of the Pelagian Heresy

Pelagius was a monk who challenged the great machine of the Roman Catholic Church. His beliefs and followers were so wide spread that he could not be ignored.


Pelagius was generally labled a monk, but it is unknown whether or not he was a Roman Catholic since his teachings were so generally Celtic Christian in nature. What we have of Pelagius writing and life are sparse. Born in Wales, this one man created a wave of revolution in the land of the Gauls (modern day France), Scotland, Wales and most of Europe.

The time of Pelagius was filled with a great deal of unrest, the volcano Krakatau erupted causing widespread chaos. John of Ephesis, a Syrian Bishop said of the time, " The Sun became dark and...was only a feeble shadow." Comets were seen in the heavens, and drought was followed by the appearance of the Black Death and other plagues. The people began looking for understanding in the seeming destruction all around them; they saw God speaking in the elements. They were hungry for the right kind of changes, and men such as Pelagius, who while affirming his own faith also began calling The Roman Catholic Church on the carpet for it's moral apathy. His writings make it clear that he was seeking to clarify simple doctrines. Pelagius beliefs that clashed the views of the main church were these:

•Man has free agency, a right to choose between good and evil.

•Works and deeds must be accompanied by faith in God to save man.

•Men are punished for their own sins-not because Adam fell.

•There is no predestination. Our fate is firmly in our hands as we choose good or evil.

•We are accountable for our choices.

•The body must be controlled-not broken.

Soon his followers were so numerous that Rome had to take notice. Not to mention a feud had that been heating up between Pelagius, and one of the church's most brilliant orators, St. Augustine. The same man might rival our best politicians for his ability to “spin” for the church in his day. Interestingly enough, this arch enemy of Pelagius once remarked that he was "a holy man, who, I am told, has made no small progress in the Christian life."

In contradiction Pelagius spoke of Augustine's teachings, “The theory of human depravity is a cowardly shifting to God [for] man's sins.”

Teaming up, Augustine and another bishop named Gerome, began systematically trying to destroy all of Pelagius arguments, and with some success they and 3 other Bishops succeeded in getting Pelagius tried for heresy. Funny thing though, the trial was carried on without Pelagius! It was no surprise to find that he was also condemned by Pope Innocent I at that time.


Almost imediately he fired a letter back to the Pope, defending himself. Luckily for him, Innocent had died and Pope Zosimus rescinded the papal order and found him innocent of heresy.


Infuriated that the monk was not condemned, Augustine and Gerome worked to have Pelagius tried for his beliefs yet again in the Councils of Carthage. They agreed that Pelagianism must be condemned for it's teachings for the good of the Church as a body, and as a political engine.

In the the end we are left with a great deal of speculation, as Pelagius literally dissapears off the pages of history. There are rumors of his death, and rumors of his wherabouts for twenty years or better. Was his movement quietly extinguished? Perhaps, but his spirit lives on.

The Cursed House of Astolot, Was the death of the "Lady of Shalott" just the beginning?

Lady of Shalott is a famous poem chronicling the life and death of Elaine, fair maid of Astolat. Less known is the story of her brother, and his children, Jack and Jill.

The Water Carriers is more commonly known to us as the lengthy version of the nursery rhyme,

Jack and Jill went up a hill to fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down and broke his crown, and Jill came tumbling after.

This is the story of the Lady of Shalott's brothers, the great Knights Torre and Lavaine. Torre is the elder, Lavaine the younger. They hail from the ruling house of Astola, their sister the doomed maid of Shallott. A semi-royal family of no small reputation in Surrey, England.

It begins in the heat of King Arthur's last battle, and Sir Lavaine takes a terrible blow for Arthur where he collapses and his brother, Torre, comes to his rescue carrying the unconcious knight to safety. He promises himself that if he lives through the battle he will return for his injured brother. Torre also seems to realize that one of them must live, as their father Bernard, and sister Elaine, are all dead now. These two men remain alone to carry on the noble name.

Torre appoints a squire to care for Lavaine until his return. Sadly the squire deserts the incoherant Lavaine. Both the Squire and Sir Torre are killed in combat. This leave Sir Lavaine only of his family still alive. He is taken in by a hermit. Inconsolable, it takes many months before his body heals, but what takes longer is his broken mind.

Finally the old hermit points the way to Cornwall, and Lavaine knows it is time to rejoin the world and make peace with his lot and life. He ultimately settles in Cornwall and marries. Life returns to normal, and joy slowly creeps back into his life.

Lavaine's two children are the joy of his life. One is a boy named Jack and the other a girl by the name of Gillian. At eight years old they find their dear father sick, and loving their father as much as he loves them, the poem quotes, "Gillian pityingly came and said with tears, Sure I am that one thing would cure this deadly fever..."

Gillian reminds her father of a well that has been rumoured to have restorative powers. Tristram and Iseult drank from this well, she argues, as well as Sir Percival in his quest for the Holy Grail, Pelleas the boy knight, good Sir Bors, the false Gawain, and the pure Sir Galahad.

Finally, Lavaine relents and gives his permission for she and her brother to go up the hill, to the gloomy tower, and the old well, for his sake. Who knew but what he would be healed?

Carrying the silver vessel between them, they laughingly hike to the tall tower. Filling the silver vessel with water, they skip down the steep hill, with Gillian singing the words, "O light, if death be near him, let me die..."

Jack who seems to be a little scatter-brained at times, can't carry water if Gillian is singing, and he slips on some shale. He begins to tumble taking Gillian with him. So laments Oscar Fay Adams, "All of a horror of loose stones and dust and flying limbs and broken bones and crowns, far down the steep side of that rocky hill. So perished those two of the fated house of Astolat."

Sir Lavaine waited in vain for their return all that day and into the next night. With the morning's light Lavaine finally slipped away to his final judgment, and I'm sure to his joy, a reunion with Jack and Jill. So ends the bloodline of the House of Astolat.

For the full poem, please go to http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art005.htm

Dynamics of Mary & Elizabeth

Mary of Scots is a tragic figure-was Elizabeth of England the same?

While the tragic story of Elizabeth I condemning the beloved Scottish Queen tugs at our heartstrings; the emotionally broken Queen of England may have felt she could not show mercy.

We have to know something about Elizabeth's formative years, to understand the years of her reign, as Elizabeth I.

Her father, King Henry the VIII maligned and divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Outdoing himself with the second, Anne Boleyn, the mother to tiny three year old Elizabeth; she was beheaded.

Elizabeth must have considered his third wife, Jane Seymour, lucky when she died. His fourth wife, Anne of Cleaves, wasn't as pretty as Henry said her painting made him believe, and so he annulled that marriage!

Fifth, and not done yet, Henry married Anne Boleyn's cousin, Katherine Howard. She proved unfaithful to him, and with perhaps a bit of reluctance, if not love, Henry signed for her beheading. Finally, he married a very spirited and smart woman, Katherine Parr, who only narrowly escaped Katherine and Anne's fate by appealing to Henry in his favorite place-his self absorption. And lucky for her, Henry bought it.

So the childhood that Elizabeth experienced taught her one thing. Family ties meant nothing.

On the other hand, Mary, Queen of Scots, was a pampered, well taught, and dare we say it-a little thin in the common sense area. She was raised amidst the glitter and gilding of France's luxurious surroundings, and made to feel that her smallest acts deserved all merit.


So when Mary came to Scotland, she was anxious and feeling a bit lonely. In her mind, the most natural thing in the world was to reach out to family when she needed help. And since she'd managed to antagonize most of the nobles of Scotland, she turned to Elizabeth.

Poor Elizabeth, who could not have believed for one minute that her family wanted a friendship, must have immediately run to her advisors. What was this upstart Queen doing? What did she want?

It didn't take long before the rumors were flying of plots to kill Elizabeth. The woman who sat on the throne because her murderous father died prematurely, could only base her decision off of past experience, she would have been foolish to ignore the threat.

On the other hand, for Mary, what really caused her death was that she believed family stuck together, that all people were innately good.

Most women have the innate sense about the person they converse with. A simple meeting might have prevented the ultimate ending of this relationship. But there was no meeting, maybe by chance, maybe by design.

Elizabeth had kept Mary locked up for many years, trying to avoid becoming the person her father was, by condemning this member of the royal family. Yet, when traitorous rumors, and Mary's desperate acts for self preservation were known, Elizabeth had no choice, in her mind. That decision brought Mary and a signed petition for her beheading to Northampton, England. There she prayed, and fasted for deliverance and mercy, for herself and Elizabeth. She died quietly and nobly.

Conversely, Elizabeth spent a quiet day in solitude and thought.

So the question remains of why did this have to happen? In the end, it can only be that sometimes we look at life from our own perpective, rather than broadening our view. Sometimes the judgement we make will be a somber mistake.

There is a lesson to be learned from these two. Sometimes, we need to face our enemy, and if we are lucky, that enemy could be replaced by a friend.

Naming the Blade:The Origin of Christening a Sword

Some swords were named, most were handed down for generations. Given by a priest, angel, or other holy figure seems to generally weave itself into the legend.

As early as Biblical times there are references to named swords.

•Methuselah inscribed his sword with “God's name”, and slew an incredible number of demons with it. Even more impressive is when we hear of this sword again, it is in the hands of Abraham, who has inherited it. According to Daniel N. Rolph, "Esau thus received it, as an heirloom, from Isaac, since he was the first born. This sword passed to Jacob when he purchased the birthright."

•David, the shepherd boy, who used Goliath's own sword to cut his head off, later retrieved it from the priest Ahimelech, from behind the alter of the church. After wielding it in battle for many years, it was passed down to his son, Solomon.

•Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi was a Japanese sword. It meant "the gathering clouds from heaven". In legend it was given by a goddess, to destroy an evil eight headed serpent; very similar to the Greek myth of Perseus who beheaded the serpented tresses of Medusa with his sword from the goddess, Athene.

•Joan of Arc, visited by an angel, was told of the sword God had hidden for her in the chapel of St. Catherine de Fierbois. Surprising even the monks, it was dug up behind the alter, and presented to Joan.

•The reverential Lady of the Lake presented King Arthur's sword, Excalibur, to him from the depths of a lake. In some versions, he pulls the sword from the stone, just as Sigurd in the Volsung Saga pulls his sword, “Gram” from an oak where Odin has driven it.

•"The Will of Heaven" was the name of the sword brought up from the depths of the ocean, by a fisherman, in the story of Le Loi of Vietnam. Le Loi used it to free the Vietnamese people from the Ming Dynasty of China.

•In Beowulf, the sword is named “Hrunting”, and is given by a mighty Thane to the hero to kill the mother of Grendel.

•Another of the most famous swords, is “The Answerer”, given to Cúchulainn by the god Lugh, and later gifted to Conn of a Hundred Battles by the same god.

In the stories of the Romans, of India, the Vikings, Ireland and Gaul, we find wonderful names for swords such as Leg-Biter, Moon blade, the Sword of Life, Croceas Mors or Yellow Death, and Joyeuse, The Sword of Charlamagne. Clearly these swords were meant to indicate authority, inheritances, and lasted more than just one lifetime.

"The Truth Against the World" A Song of Freedom for the Druids

Rome destroyed much of what we might have known of the Druids. What they can't change is the actions of good men and women, who give us an insight into their lives.

Druidic Culture for most of us conjures up Rome's spin of Stonehenge, and even mystically cloaked creatures flitting through foggy woods. With so little of who they were after Rome had rewritten their history, an easier avenue might be to discuss the lives of Druidic followers. Those who fought under it's banners in the years of the Roman conquest of Britain. As is so often the case, the best evidence of their beliefs can often be discovered in the conduct of their personal lives.

Beginning with a figure who looms large in British history, Boadicea, Boudicca, or Boudica, fought under the banner “The Truth Against the World.”


A knotty problem at that time was the tiny nation of Britain. Through treaties Rome had managed to carve up the nation between tribes in an effort to keep them from uniting. One of it's vassals was the Icenii Tribe. Due to a treacherous turn of events on Romes part, the Queen of the Icenii was whipped, her daughters ravished and humiliated. Outraged she led not only her own people, but rounded up the support of the Druids and a massive army of disgruntled Brits. Her speech to them on the eve of battle, gives us a good idea of what these people placed their value on.



"You have learned by actual experience how different freedom is from slavery. ..you have come to realize how much better is poverty with no master than wealth with slavery. “


Another of the leaders of that time was a man of large stature, and large heart. He was the elected “Pendragon.” With so many tiny kingdoms, it was necessary in times of crisis and battle, that someone impartial, declare a leader among those kings. The Druids were given that honor. Caractacus led the tribes in many successful unified battles, but as is so often the case, what Rome can't get by sheer force, it will take by treachery. Caractacus was captured by the duplicity of his cousin, Cartimandua, and taken back to Rome with his wife and daughter in chains. Before Nero and the Roman Senate , Caractacus spoke with quiet dignity, in latin none the less, proving he was no barbarian.


“I had men and horses, arms and wealth. What wonder if I parted with them reluctantly? If you Romans choose to lord it over the world, does it follow that the world is to accept slavery?



Further north, the Romans were forced to flee the land of Caledonia, a stronghold for the Druids. Guerrilla warfare was the name of the game up that way, and it didn't take the Caledonians, a combination of both Celts and Picts, long to demoralize the Roman soldiers, so far from home. They eventually withdrew from the upper Antoine Wall, leaving it to the barbarians, whose descendants we would see again as they fought for their freedom under the Banner of Wallace and Bruce more than a millenia later. The thirst for freedom still strong, and those guerrilla tactics still successful.



Interestingly enough, we still see that “Truth against the World” mentality when many of the leading men of Scotland sent the Pope a declaration of independence from Arbroath. Speaking of their forefathers, they said,



“The Britons they first drove out, the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all bondage ever since.”



Clearly, the Druids were a people who believed in national sovereignty and freedom. On that score alone, they align themselves with some of the best men in history.

King Arthur of Britain or Scots? Who was the leader behind the Arthurian legend?

References to King Arthur abound in the British Isles, but some claims may have a stronger case than others.


There are as many theories about who King Arthur was, as there are historians. Some of those theories hold real promise, while others seem to be about legends and possibly tourist dollars.

Welsh tradition lays claim to Arthur as their fellow countryman. Scotland also claims Arthur as their own, and the Round Table as an acutal place near Bannockburn. Where the truth lies is perhaps only to be found within the hearts and minds of those who still seek after this fabled King.

•The Glastonbury legends claim that in the year 1191, a grave was dug up that belonged to King Arthur and Guenivere (or Gwenivere). The monks of Glastonbury claim that they found a cross with Arturius Rex (or King Arthur) on the inscription. The glitch here is that Arthur was never known as a King, just an appointed leader in battle. Even today, the pilgrimage to Glastonbury Abbey, and Winchester Castle is almost a requirement if a tourist finds themselves in Wales. They claim to display the round table and many artifacts connected to Arthur and his Knights.


•Graham Phillips, speaks of Owain Ddantgwyn, or Owain “The White-toothed, as a possible contender. This fifth century king, lived in the traditional setting of Wales, in Gwynedd (pronounced gun-eth). His theory holds that the name is a title, Arth, which translates in Welsh to Bear. So in this case, he would be called “The Battle Bear.” Phillips claims his son Cuneglases was called The Bear, and that he might have inherited it from his father. In his book, “King Arthur: The True Story” he outlines his thoughts painstakingly, and with some persuasion although there are other possiblilites that carry more weight.

•A guantlet has been thrown down by David F. Carroll, who claims that the true Arthur was a King in Scotland by that very name, Arthur McAeden, a Pendragon, or leader in battle. He tells us of the early use of the name Camelot near the Antoine Wall in Scotland. He points out that this Arthur died fighting the Picts, or pagans, as the Roman Catholic Church would have called them, and that he had a sister named Morgan (or Morgain). This Arthur died in battle in 582, leaving the biggest problem between the theories as the timelines, which don't match up as well. None the less, it is a very convincing argument, and will prove to be a thorn in Glastonbuy's side for many years to come.

Each of these ideas, as well as the numerous reasons each author and place has a claim to Arthur is worth examining in full. Perhaps the only way we can ever know the truth, is when tourist attractions cease to be the default home of King Arthur, and archeologists are willing to begin a search that is based on real evidence that has been examined and either proven or disproven.

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The copyright of the article King Arthur of Britain or Scots? in Medieval History is owned by Anastacia Prisbrey. Permission to republish King Arthur of Britain or Scots? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Arthur's Round Table, Gwenivere's Dowry of Legend

Where was the Round Table, where Arthur's Knights met as equals?

As a symbol of equality, the Round Table was reputed to have no head, and no foot; therefore no Knight was lifted one above another. Considering the time of Arthur, this table would have flouted conventional medieval rules of hierarchy. Traditionally we would see at any table, be it dinner or meeting, the most important and honored guest, usually the King or Lord of the Castle, seated up front, and then according to rank, all members and guests are seated accordingly down the row. Those of highest rank were near the front, and those of the lowest would be seated at the back. The Round Table of Arthurian legend has been portrayed in movies as a meeting place for Arthur and his Knights, in plays as sturdy wooden platforms, and even displayed as a wall hanging in Winchester Castle. The legend further states that the Table was a gift from Gwenevere's father upon her marriage. A sort of dowry. Ordinarily, a dowry would consist of wealth or land, not a piece of furniture. There are two places that claim to have the round table, Winchester Castle and Edinburgh.

•Winchester Castle

Beginning at Winchester Castle, we now know that the mighty table, hanging on the aged stone walls and painted in the Welsh tradition of the red and white rose of the Tudors, the great “Round Table” that laid claim to ownership by Arthur was built in the 14th century, nearly a thousand years after Arthur would have lived. So this Round Table is ruled out as belonging to the real King Arthur.

•The King's Knot at Stirling Castle

The next cadidate we have makes a little more sense. There is a beautiful park near Stirling Castle and Bannockburn in Scotland that the poet John Barbour wrote of,

“An besouth the Castill went they thone,

Rychte by the Round Tabill away...”

He is speaking of what is commonly known as the Kings Knot near Edinburgh. It is just under a mountain known as “Arthur's Seat”, and near what was then known as Camelon (more commonly today as Camelot) in the early middle ages.

It just so happens that a battle leader, or Pendragon, by the name of Arthur McAeden died fighting the Picts at that time. Chances are, this is the Round Table of legend. It truly would have been a place of meeting for Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, and they surely would have maintained equal status on the field of battle. So maybe the tales are not far off from the truth. Whether this piece of land happened to be the wedding present from the father of the bride, to his son in law is unknown, but it would have made a fine gift.

Where was the Round Table, where Arthur's Knights met as equals?

As a symbol of equality, the Round Table was reputed to have no head, and no foot; therefore no Knight was lifted one above another. Considering the time of Arthur, this table would have flouted conventional medieval rules of hierarchy. Traditionally we would see at any table, be it dinner or meeting, the most important and honored guest, usually the King or Lord of the Castle, seated up front, and then according to rank, all members and guests are seated accordingly down the row. Those of highest rank were near the front, and those of the lowest would be seated at the back. The Round Table of Arthurian legend has been portrayed in movies as a meeting place for Arthur and his Knights, in plays as sturdy wooden platforms, and even displayed as a wall hanging in Winchester Castle.

                 

The legend further states that the Table was a gift from Gwenevere's father upon her marriage. A sort of dowry. Ordinarily, a dowry would consist of wealth or land, not a piece of furniture. There are two places that claim to have the round table, Winchester Castle and Edinburgh.

•Winchester Castle

Beginning at Winchester Castle, we now know that the mighty table, hanging on the aged stone walls and painted in the Welsh tradition of the red and white rose of the Tudors, the great “Round Table” that laid claim to ownership by Arthur was built in the 14th century, nearly a thousand years after Arthur would have lived. So this Round Table is ruled out as belonging to the real King Arthur.

•The King's Knot at Stirling Castle

The next cadidate we have makes a little more sense. There is a beautiful park near Stirling Castle and Bannockburn in Scotland that the poet John Barbour wrote of,

“An besouth the Castill went they thone,

Rychte by the Round Tabill away...”

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The copyright of the article King Arthur of Britain or Scots? in Medieval History is owned by Anastacia Prisbrey. Permission to republish King Arthur of Britain or Scots? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Brythnoth of Essex, Man of Valor, An Example Of Bravery Against The Vikings

Fight or Flight, every man faces it in his lifetime. In that choice we define the rest of our lives. For Brythnoth that moment was 993 AD, against the Vikings.


The Long Serpent made it's appearance over the horizon despite the prayers of the British, on the Essex Coast, “Save us, O Lord, from the fury of the Northmen!” A prospering country, divided into tiny kingdoms that were undermanned and under defended, stood a ready prey for the Vikings of the 10th Century.



Already a victim of raiding Northmen, the forays into Britain's coast had increased both in number and intensity. The people fearing not only for their lives and their country, had sacrificed enough gold, food, and men to last a lifetime. It was time to stand against the Sea Dragons, or War Wolves.



It was the year 993 AD, and this resounding defeat at the Battle of Maldon, resonates down to our day for it's meaning of what men everywhere consider to be their greatest possession, their freedom to live in peace and follow the dictates of their conscience.



It began that morning with the arrival of just under a hundred Viking ships. The day erupted with decorous threats from the Vikings. “Swift striking seamen...bid me say...send them rings and bracelets...rather than engage us in cruel combat...we offer a truce in exchange for gold! ...Render to the Vikings what they think is right...and we will... hold you as friends.” Friends indeed!



Brythnoth, the Earl of Essex, was ready to defend his land to the last man. Being of Viking descent himself, he called back to those “Sea Wolves” with these words. “Hear Sea Wanderer what this nation says. These men will give you spears as tribute...it would be a pity if you were to take our riches without a fight...first point and edge will sort things out between us!”









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The Templars Genealogy Quest, What was so valuable under Solomon's Temple?

If it wasn't gold and silver the Templars were searching for, what was it?


One of the greatest mysteries surrounding the original nine Templars, was their mission. They weren't on the highway's protecting pilgrims, nor did they fight a single battle. Instead records show that they spent their time under Solomon's Temple Mount.



While speculation is rampant over the years of what is was they looking for, legends have sprung up around those possibilities leading to stories of fabulous treasure. Clearly the Templars were looking for something during those days, but the nature of the search remains unknown.



As a working theory, is it possible that the items they were looking for were of greater value than gold or silver? Was there something else hidden beneath the Temple Mount that the Templars had to retrieve and protect? For this possibility our search must begin before the birth of Christ, in Palestine.



Eusebius, an early historian spoke of a inner battle that existed there between Herod and the Sanhedrin that may have some bearing on our search for this “treasure.”



Herod, the son of Antipater, was named king of the Jews by the Roman Senate. On the other hand the Sanhedrin, ruling body of the Jews, claimed that they were the legal heirs to that land by virtue of their genealogy. They claimed the legal right to rule as descendants from the House of Israel and King David, and marked Herod as the usurper. Eusebius said that Herod, “...goaded by...his ignoble extraction (or birth)...committed all these [families] records ...to the flames. ...No one else would be able to trace his pedigree by public records, back to [the] Patriarchs.”





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Orde Charles Wingate, A Friend to Israel, and Father of the Israeli Army

He trained Israel's future leaders, and helped that tiny country on it's path to freedom.



Orde Charles Wingate, often known as The Friend or Hayedid, to the tiny country of Israel, was born in British India. Raised the son of a Scottish officer and a mother who told him “Lawrence of Arabia” stories, discilpine was tight. As a boy he was expected to memorize scripture. His favorite Bible Story was that of Gideon, who with a tiny army of 300, overthrew the Midianites.



His Childhood

His childhood was spent on long exhausting walks that later prepared him physically and mentally for his military role in life. He was to become a mighty man as a British Officer.



In Palestine

What he found as he arrived in Palestine was different than he had imagined. Within a relatively short time he saw the disparity between what Britain was saying concerning their support for a Jewish State and what they were enforcing. Even worse was what he saw of the Jewish people. Tactically the Jews were waiting for the Arabs to come to them. There was no offense. Nor were they particularly sucessfully at their defense. Nor was the Jewish population allowed to have weapons; just building ammunition carried the death penalty. Meanwhile the Arabs were being armed with no restrictions.



He became angry on behalf of his new Jewish friends because of an innate love for the underdog and decided it was time for them to learn to defend themselves. He believed that no one could prosper as long as they followed the beaten path. If Israel wanted to exist, she had to carve her own road without assistance. He was their natural leader.



Night Raids

Among those in his night sqauds learning guerilla warfare were many of the future leaders of Israel, such as Moshe Dyan, and Emmanuel Wilenski. What Captain Wingate taught them in those night raids would be the beginning of the Israeli Army, and his tactics, those of the freedom fighters in Israel.





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The Cathar & Albigensian Crusade, The Death of the Langue d'Oc

When the Roman Catholic Church was threatened with the usurpation of it's influence in matters of knowledge and learning, it began the first crusade against local Europeans.


Golden cereal grain, and red grapes flourished in the fields of the Langue d'Oc. A vibrant area in and around Toulouse, France that paralleled the Spanish-French border, with the Pyrenees Mountains dividing them. With open azure skies and sunshine year round, it should have been lovely that year. Instead it's ancient abbeys villages and castles built into the hillsides of massive mountains like the Montsegur, saw an accumulation of crusaders sent by Pope Innocent III to destroy this vast center of learning.

Until now, among this people, you might have found a Jewish Mayor, a Christian farmer, or the nearby neighbor who was a Catholic, as your local marketeer or priest. It didn't matter. All were welcome in the Carcassone Valley. Poetry and Romance languages were the highlights of the day, and the arts flourished and grew. In fact, the area as a center of learning and knowledge was so quickly expanding that it threatened to engulf nearby countries and nations with it's influence. Less than welcome news for Rome.

We know the year as1208. It was the beginning of the Albigensian Crusade. The Cathar's knew it as Hell on Earth, with hundreds of thousands wading through indescribable death and torture.

The Tolerance of the Langue d'Oc of that day was affecting Rome. If the Carcassone was considered to be the center of knowledge and learning, then how could Rome make the same claim? The Langue d'Oc needed to be brought under control.


Before that fatal day, many of the nobility, royalty, and hundreds of thousands of commoners called themselves by the name of Cathar. Their name denoted intentions of becoming pure from the blood and sins of the world. Beyond that, the only thing that really survived to tell us of the Cathars were the writings of their enemies.


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Hebrew Letter: Beit or Beth

In Hebrew, the letters will generally look like what they are symbolizing.  That is so true of the letter 'Beit' more commonly known as 'Beth', as in Bethlehem.  Beth meaning house, and lehem, roughly translates to bread.  So Bethlehem is The House of Bread.  So here is the Savior being born in a stable in Bethlehem.   How ironic, or symbolic, that Christ would say, "I am the bread of life..." (John 6: 33-58).  Or "Eat and drink of the bread and water of life...", (Alma 5: 34). And another, "Bread is in remembrance of Christ’s body," (3 Ne. 18: 5-7).  And finally, "Bread is an emblem of Christ’s flesh", (D&C 20: 40, 77 (Moro. 4: 1-3). (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/gs/b/39?sr=1)     The   So, here we have the Bread of Life being born in the House of Bread.  How appropriate.

The letter Beit , is symbolized by the number 2, and can mean a variety of ideas that would invoke a sense of home, or as the home often means, a place of safety, a place where God would dwell if invited, and hundreds of similar words and ideas.

Lets keep it simple.  Today it is a house or a temple.  In first Nephi he says, "And my father dwelt in a tent." (1 Nephi 2:15)  Why include such a statement.  Of course he dwelt in a tent, we all know that without being told really.  So why did Nephi, ever concious of the limited space on those plates, mention it?

Because it tells us something about Lehi, and his righteousness. (see the tent on the right, which would have been similar to the one Lehi and his family dwelt in.  (Copyright nephiproject.com )


The tent symbolized several things.  It is home, of course, but it would have also become the place where communing with the Lord was paramount!  In fact, when erecting a tent such as Lehi's, that center pole (or center stake) becomes the center of the world.  The center of the world was a place, a temple, where heaven and earth meet.  It was two places in one.  So we know that Lehi was faithful to his temple covenants, that he was a righteous priesthood holder, and that he communed with the Lord. 
Remember how King Benjamin had everyone with their tent doors open, and facing him?   For Lehi to dwell in a tent, simply meant that he was a faithful, honorable priesthood holder.  Simply because a tent with it's door open, is facing God symbolically, as a worthy Son of God. 

Just a little aside.  This is found in Chapter two, a home, a temple, will be spoken of, if it is translated correctly, and it always is.  But notice the verse 15.  In Hebrew there is a game played where you add the numbers all together, and you get a deeper meaning.  So by adding 1+5=6, 6, is the Hebrew letter Vav, which is in part, representing the Power of the Priesthood.

So all the numbers, all the meanings add up, and once again Joseph Smith hits the nail right on the head.  Pretty fancy for a third grade education!

For a copy of the Hebrew letters and their meanings, so that you can begin to apply them in your scripture study, you'll find them below.  So enjoy!

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