A Famous Cookbook from the Middle Ages!

Our Medieval Banquet and Faire is almost upon us, and it will be a day when we celebrate our year-long study of the Middle Ages. On this special day you will use what you've learned all year to step back in time and take on the role of a person who lived during this time period. However, what do we know about the food or the table manners of people who would have attended a banquet? Food historians might use another interesting document that has survived  from this period, The Frome of Cury. This is one of the oldest cookbooks written in the English language, and it is believed to have been written by King Richard II's master cooks. It is written in the form of a roll.

If you want to know more about King Richard and food fit for a king, here is a video that you might find interesting, although it is a little bit long.

Calling all Kings, Queens, Heralds, Bishops, and Knights!

We talked a couple weeks ago about other roles you can have at our Medieval Banquet and Faire. Read about the roles below and use Exit Ticket #14 if you want to apply for one of the roles. Each role has different requirements, so read the information below carefully!

Medieval Banquet Ballot

Write your speech, name, and banquet role that you’d like in Exit Ticket #14.

You may try out for multiple roles. This is due next week!!!

Kings and Queens:   You write a speech that honors the visiting principals, welcomes guests, thanks the kings and queens for their support, congratulates the guildsmen and/or praises the performers. The speech should be 3-4 sentences and you are welcome to find examples on the internet. You will recite the memorized speech at the banquet. Only a few of the most well written and medieval sounding speeches will be chosen, resulting in a seat at the head table.
Herald:   You will be the master of ceremonies at the banquet, introducing guests and performers. You will read from a script frequently during the banquet.
Bishop:   You will write a 3-4 sentence blessing of the food. You should include medieval language. You will memorize the blessing, recite it before the feast begins, and you will sit at the head table.
Knight:   Write one paragraph that explains how you demonstrate chivalry. You need to describe how you go above and beyond normal expectations to show great character. You may find information about chivalry on the internet. You will be dubbed a knight at the banquet and sit at the head table.

Musicians in the Middle Ages

The life of a musician (also called a minstral) in the middle ages was generally seen as a desirable one. Minstrals might wander from town to town, playing at village squares or in ale houses, or they might be employed by a wealthy or royal family to play at a lord's feast or at a gathering at the royal court. Minstrals told stories through song, the most popular stories and tales being related to romance or the life of a knight. When traveling, minstrals might use light weight instruments like a fiddle or lute. If employed by a wealthy household or at the royal court, a musician might play heavier instruments like a tabor, clarion, or even bagpipes.
One interesting instrument from the middle ages is the hurdy gurdy.

How to play a Hurdy Gurdy from English Heritage on Vimeo.

You can see more pictures of this instrument and listen to some audio clips at this web site: http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/hurdy.htm

Medieval Market then and now!

http://www.norwich-

There is an interesting town in England called Norwich. It was once a Saxon town and a thriving trade center. It became a Norman town under William the Conqueror and he founded a castle there between 1066 and 1075. Interestingly, the market still exists in Norwich today, and there are over 190 stalls with people selling all sorts of things from food to clothing and more! Here is a link to an interactive map of what the market place looked like in the year 1300: http://www.norwich-market.org.uk/Medieval/wares.shtm . Roll your cursor over the pictures bordering the map for more information! Here is a link to what the market looks like today: market.org.uk/stalls/stalls_videos_WMV/stalls_WMV.shtm  Roll your cursor over the numbers on the booths for information about what is being sold there today!