#earl of lancaster

[joanofnavarre]

« Tʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴇᴍɪɴᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏɴsᴏʀᴛs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Hᴏᴜsᴇ ᴏғ Lᴀɴᴄᴀsᴛᴇʀ, ᴘᴀʀᴛ I »

[mediumaevum]

Book of Hours. Use of Sarum.  Flanders or Northern France (St. Omer?), ca. 1325–1330. Illuminated manuscript on vellum.

The illuminated manuscript known as the “Sellers Hours” is the earliest Book of Hours preserved in any Texas collection. Extremely colorful and resplendent with burnished gold leaf, the tiny book features fifteen miniatures and ten lively vignettes of the Labors of the Months in the calendar, each set within pinnacled Gothic niches and surrounded in the margins by elaborate decorative motifs and fantastical hybrid creatures. Illuminated in the vicinity of St. Omer near the Franco-Flemish border, the Sellers Hours was produced for Sarum Use, featuring particular texts and devotions to local saints preferred by English owners, including a rare memorial to St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury.

The Sellers Hours also includes an extremely rare illustration for devotion to the English martyr Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. This provides the earliest possible date for the book itself, as Thomas of Lancaster was assassinated by his cousin, Edward II, in 1322. The Earl’s cult arose circa 1325 but lasted only a few years as efforts to canonize him in 1327 failed, leaving only a handful of such images and devotional texts. View more folios

[archaeologicalnews]

Rare medieval artefact goes on display at Museum of London

Archaeologists from MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) discovered the Thomas, Earl of Lancaster panel, in remarkable condition by the River Thames. Depicting the capture, trial and execution of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, political rebel turned martyr, the panel is a fascinating piece of political propaganda and religious art, and one of the largest and the finest examples of its kind.

Cast in metal and approx 130mm x 90mm, the panel includes scenes that depict a cautionary tale for ambitious politicians, and reveals that Lancaster was elevated to an almost saintly status after his death. Lancaster was a cousin of King Edward II and one of a group of barons who tried to curb the king’s power. Read more.

[ealdgyoswannhnesce]

“I cannot believe it; the greatest thorn in the King’s side; dead!” “Yes, dragged from the church at Boroughbridge whilst praying at the altar!” Grinning, Edmund swept Rhian into his arms and kissed her brow. Dizzy from this unexpected gesture, Rhian laughed and stumbled as he released her. Still clutching the message, she read the rest of the familiar writing: As Lancaster was pushed upon the mule, I thought at first he was going to protest, but Lord Edward, standing tall, had his hands on his hips and with his eyes blazing, watched with an air of satisfaction as though this was an act of revenge. Surely the Earl could not have believed that Lord Edward would save him? As the man stumbled towards the executioner, the snowballs pounding against his ragged hair-shirt, I could have sworn I saw him close his eyes as though in prayer. When he knelt down at the execution block; dried blood staining the once brown wood red, a rumble of cheer escaped the lips of many and within moments, the man who had caused the Lord Edward so much grief, was dead. The worst is over for who else within the realm could be as bad as the cousin of the King? Soon my love, I will take you to Wyndcroft. Your husband, William.

me

[ealdgyoswannhnesce]

July 17th 1313

Safe conduct until Michaelmas for Thomas, earl of Lancaster, the King's kinsman and for his followers and adherents going to and fro throughout the King's dominions on their own business provided that they go without horses and arms and do and receive as is fitting.