Strong and Stable

Tags

stable government, Theresa May

(Vigiles du Roi Charles VII: Wikipedia)

 

Theresa:

 

It’s time for

a strong and stable

government.

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Too late

 

Trying to

shut the door when it

is too late.

En Suite

Tags

en-suite, Nat Library of Poland, Roman de la Rose

(Roman de la Rose: Master of the Policratique,

Nat Library, Poland)

 

This en suite

turned out a god send,

adding value!

A Head Start

Tags

British Library, Harley MS, La Carolle in the Garden, Roman de la Rose

(3L Harley MS 4425, British Library.  Wikimedia Commons.

The Carolle in the Garden: Roman de la Rose; Master of the

Prayerbooks)

 

Yes, if you

want to get ahead,

wear a hat.

Chelsea Winner

Tags

Alan Titchmarsh, Chelsea Flower Show

 

 

 

Gaston ‘digs’

genetically

modified.

Blind Date

Tags

Blind Date, British Library, Roman de la Rose

(British Library MS 4425 Roman de la Rose)

 

There’s no chance

of having a blind

date round here.

Iron Lady II

Tags

Bibliotheque Sainte Genevieve, Iron Lady, Roman de la Rose

 

( Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve MS 1126.  Roman de la Rose)

 

The lady’s

not for bending, but

her sword is.

The Ballad of the Twice-Hanged Man

Tags

ballad, Downside, Hereford, Lazarus, leper, pilgrimage, Prime, Santo Severo church, Swansea Castle, Terce, Thomas Cantelope, Trahaern ap Hwyel, twice-hanged man, veneration, Wassail Gate, William Cragh

(tomb of Thomas Cantelope in Hereford

Cathedral: Wikipedia)

 

William Cragh was a warrior bold;

rebelled against the king.

Thirteen men were slain by him

and so he had to swing.

 

Outside Swansea Castle stood

the gibbet where he’d die.

Trahaern ap Hywel broke the beam

(they’d swung him up so high.)

 

Both were hanged again, it’s said,

from Terce until Prime.

Lady Mary* claimed his corpse

for burial in due time.

 

William’s eyes were bulging out;

his face was black as coal.

They wheeled him to Tom Mathew’s house,

while she prayed for his soul:

 

Bishop Thomas Cantelope,

hear me when I pray.

Restore to life this rebel here

and wash his sins away.

 

Her ladies took a silken thread,

to span the dead man’s length.

A candle of such size I’ll make,

as measure of faith’s strength.

 

The dead man’s feet began to twitch;

a fortnight later stood

and walked right through the Wassail Gate,

among the great and good.

 

The executioner and priest;

a thirteen year old youth;

Lady Mary’s son to boot

witnessed to the truth.

 

In English, Latin, French and Welsh

all doubts were then erased.

For each confirmed they felt the same:

William had been raised!

 

Will left his effigy in wax

and placed it on the grave

of Cantelope, in Hereford

and, steadily a wave

 

of veneration then arose;

priests were soon advised

of miracles and so they pressed

to have him canonised.

 

Will lived a further eighteen years,

till, Lazarus-like, he died,

but the tongue that swelled to choke him once,

on pilgrimage testified

 

that some recovered speech and sight

and lepers had been healed,

yet he alone was a twice-hanged man,

whose death had been repealed.

 

In Santo Severo church, the flesh

of  Cantelope rests still;

his bones in Hereford reside –

in Downside lies his skull.

 

 

 

 

Diesel Recall

Tags

Bodleian, diesel, Douce, re-call, Venus, Volkswagen

 

 

(Venus Rides her Chariot: bodl_Douce 195; orig

uploaded by Tony Harrison)

 

Volkswagen

managed to adapt

their diesels.

Desperate Measures

Tags

butt, Hunterian BW 3.6, selfie

 

(Hunterian BW 3.6  Roman de la Rose)

 

Kim:

Simply must

pare my butt ere

next selfie shot.