Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday, 24 June 2020

The Battle of Sluys


Last month whilst following the virtual Marian pilgrimage to medieval English shrines of Our Lady I posted Our Lady ‘of Ardenbergh’ at Great Yarmouth. This is about devotion to Our Lady of Aadenberg in Zeeland and originated with English sailors from Great Yarmouth who were a significant contingent in the victorious English fleet in the battle of Sluys, fought on this day in 1340. With that in mind it seems quite appropriate to post the link to the detailed Wikipedia account of the battle which can be viewed at Battle of Sluys.

There is more about the battle and the fate of one of the French commanders at 1340: Nicholas Behuchet, Battle of Sluys naval commander. Hanging a defeated admiral from the mast of his ship, and beheading his co-commander, straight after the battle seems a bit unsporting by later standards I suppose... but then their previous actions had affronted contemporary proprieties in such matters.

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