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Author
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Topic: what should we all know how to do?
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Doug Strong
Member
Member # 159
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posted 04-30-2001 10:28 AM
    
Anybody want to sound off wiht this question. Presuming I am a 1380s soldier on campign. What skills should I have which my modern self probably does not possess? Do these skills change if I am a lesser Knight? -------------------- Doug Strong
doug-strong@comcast.net http://armourresearchsociety.org http://talbotsfineaccessories.com
Armour patterns, shoemaking books, reproductions buckles, jewelry and accessories. Historical antiquites and artifacts from every period starting at one dollar ($1)
Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
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Anne-Marie
Member
Member # 8
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posted 04-30-2001 10:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Talbot:
Anybody want to sound off wiht this question. Presuming I am a 1380s soldier on campign. What skills should I have which my modern self probably does not possess? Do these skills change if I am a lesser Knight?
one of my biggest soapboxes is that medieval people are much more closely tied to where things come from than modern people. Do you know what happens to get your meat from the field to your table? Do you know how that wool fabric gets converted from sheep? Do you know how your salt gets to you table? Do you know what activiteis happen in what seasons in the fields? that kind of stuff. Not that you neccessarily have to do it yourself, but if you're well to do enough not to do it yourself, you need to know enough to tell SOMEONE ELSE how to do it  . hope this helps,
--Anne-Marie -------------------- "Let Good Come of It"
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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AnnaRidley
Member
Member # 97
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posted 04-30-2001 02:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Anne-Marie:
Do you know how that wool fabric gets converted from sheep?
Hmm, I'm not convinced that the average soldier would know the ins and outs of textile production. He might know that it goes something like sheep, shear, fleece, spinning, weaving, fulling, finished fabric. I don't know that he would necessarily know the difference between combed and carded wool, what grades of fleece result in what qualities of fabric, or how to recognize different types of weaves. I do think that a lady responsible for purchasing fabric should know these differences. And the more I think about it Margaret Paston was asking her husband to purchase fabric so maybe he should know this. Okay, now that I've shot down my orignial thought, I definately agree, I think there are lots of basic skills that modern people are removed from today. A short list that I can come up with off the top of my head is:
How to use a shovel without wrenching your back or getting tired in 10 minutes.
How to break up ground with a maddock.
Generally how to do physical labor at such a pace as to be able to do it all day.
Harvesting tasks.
How to delouse oneself.
How to start a fire without accelerants.
How to spilt wood.
How to forage for food without killing yourself with what you find. Other bits of knowledge that i can come up with:
What food is in season (I should not be limited to the same 7 vegetables that are available year round! -grr)
What wood is good to burn and what would be better used for some other purpose.
All manner of knowledge about horses - at least as much as we know about driving a car. You may have a groom who really knows horses better than you like your car mechanic but you know how to feed, ride, and perform basic care for your horse.
Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged
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Fire Stryker
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 2
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posted 04-30-2001 07:11 PM
I think that if he is the lord of a manor, he should know the basics of how one runs else he will be taken to the cleaners by his underlings.  Granted he is not going for the persona of someone like his Grace the Duke of Burgundy, but Charles took and active part in the accounts of his territories and would not quit until the books balanced. One of the reasons he was called the "Industrious" by his Dutch subjects. As Brent points out, I think it all depends on how educated you want your persona to be. Might be interesting to have as part of your persona complaints about the help possibly "skimming off the top". However, if he is a lesser knight he may be an administrator for a greater lord or he may even be a lawyer. As a knight, you should be versed in the basics of etiquette (I think that was the word you were looking for Brent  ) unless it is part of your persona to be a boor . It would probably serve you well to read Castiglion's "Book of the Courtier" to get an idea about the mannerisms and the accomplishments that were expected of a gentleman. Hope this helps. [ 04-30-2001: Message edited by: Fire Stryker ] -------------------- ad finem fidelis
Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged
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Doug Strong
Member
Member # 159
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posted 05-01-2001 09:19 AM
babes book seems a much more appropriate source for my period. I have read both and Castiglione is (If I remember correctly) also far above my social standing as a townsman or lesser Yorkshire knight far removed from the royal court.-------------------- Doug Strong
doug-strong@comcast.net http://armourresearchsociety.org http://talbotsfineaccessories.com
Armour patterns, shoemaking books, reproductions buckles, jewelry and accessories. Historical antiquites and artifacts from every period starting at one dollar ($1)
Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
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Yeoman
Member
Member # 164
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posted 05-07-2001 02:34 AM
I have asked the same questions of myself in seeking to portray a Wars-of-the-Roses era soldier. Because it is my groups style to include a lot of character play-acting & improv, I have been ambitious to learn alot more about period culture---but not very successful on the follow-through .I would like to be prepared to discuss local & worldwide politics, know the canonical hours by heart, be more familiar with the Church calendar, memorize a few prayers, etc. Well ---sigh--- maybe I'll get there someday. -------------------- Tim Finkas (aka Henri le Brassey)
The Company of Yeoman Archers
The Historical Forgerie
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Fire Stryker
Admin & Advocatus Diaboli
Member # 2
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posted 05-07-2001 08:24 AM
Hey Sir Dan,He is referring to the Babee's Booke of Manners. Somewhere in one of the Forums I think either Gwen or Brent posted info about them. Let me take a look around and I will 'x-post" the link. Jenn -------------------- ad finem fidelis
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