For those little monents around camp when you pick up a hot skillet, or drop a pole axe on your foot, that kind of thing!

Also what about Prayers?

In strongly catholic areas i have noticed people often say small prayers by way of "apology" for small wrong doings.

Should the Strongly relgeious(sp) medevial man/woman be adopting a similar attitude?

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I think somewhere on the board, maybe elsewhere in this forum, there might be some prayers mentioned. I seem to remember the topic of paters coming up and then related prayers.

I look around.

Jenn

http://www.wolfeargent.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=000094

The prayer is at the beginning. I am sure there are discussions else where, but don't remember what the original topic might have been.

"By our lady" is in use in its full form and contracted to "Bloody!" throughout the middle ages.

Yes. I have read regarding the subject. The problem is I cannot remember which source I got this information from (whether it was a social or a religious history), although I can give you a source for documenting the style of swearing.

It is my understanding that there are two forms of swearing, the split between forms occuring during the reformation. Modern profanity is Protestant in origin, a rejection of the traditional and Catholic blasphemy/swear. The Protestant cannot call on, or swear by Saints - which being a horrible blasphemy in the Catholic tradition, makes the curse effective.

A good sample of a 'Catholic' or traditional curse, would be to swear by a Saints wounds, the instruments of their mayrterdom, or by their bodily parts - truely a shocking and terrible thing to the devout. I like to use, as a 'soldier' "By the bleeding wounds of St. Sebastian!". So Sh**, F***, even D*** are pale obscenities in comparison. The Reformation has taken away our cursing eloquence, and has replaced it with banal obscenity.

As for a historical example, I would give to you 'la Hire' - one of Joan d'Arc's steadfast companions. His blasphemy was legendary, swearing on the holy family, all the saints, and worse. It is a credit to the charisma of Joan that she was able to take this grizzeled old warrior and get him to swear by his marshals baton instead. Any good biography of Joan, and the transcript of her rehabilitation hearing ought give la Hire's example.

...'And may the Devil damn your hide if you follow his example'

[ 10-04-2001: Message edited by: chef de chambre ]

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Go Smiggins Holes 2010!

Egfroth

On the home page of the Company of Saynte George are download versions of their formerly internal papers, entitled "Dragon".
In one of the issues is n article on 15th century curses and uedul phrases.
Regards

Ivo

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