My novel, Grace, Lady of Cassio, The Lovages of
Cassio, Book Two, sequel to Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, begins in the reign of
Edward III. It will be published in October 2021.
At heart I am a historian. My novels are rich in
historical detail which requires intensive research, some of which I am sharing
in this blog.
At fourteen a page* became a squire and trained to
fight with a lance and sword, to be adept at horsemanship, hunting and hawking.
and master the complicated rules that governed heraldry and jousts. A squire
accompanied his lord to war, armed him before a joust or battle and led his
horse into battle. In earlier medieval eras he held the reins while war was
fought on foot. It was a dangerous occupation in which and many squires were
injured or killed.
Squires also studied the seven ‘liberal arts’ Grammar.
Logic, Rhetoric, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astronomy and Music so they would be
well educated as well as accomplished warriors.
At meals retainers brought fowl and meat to the
squires to be carved. Even the king’s sons were required to perform this
service as part of their education to become knights. In addition, he served
his master to his master on bended knee and in the king’s household tasted food
to make sure it was not poisoned.
A squire of the bedchamber fetched whatever his lord
required and was available to convey messages. In the afternoon and evening he
served in the private apartment and entertained people by talking, singing or strumming
a musical instrument. He played chess or backgammon indoors. Outdoors he took a
minor part in various pastimes, for example such flying hawks and hunting.
When he completed his education, he became eligible to
become a knight.
Knights and a squire at the Malbork Castle, a historical re-enactment
http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary
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