Odds & Ends

Just some interesting tidbits I’ve come across.

WARNING:  There is a lot of stuff, so this page may take some time to load!

The word "lord" comes from the Old English hlaford, which meant "keeper of the bread."

"Lady" comes from hlaefdigge, which meant "kneader of the dough."⁶¹

In medieval days, spices were very costly. A pound of ginger was worth one sheep.  A pound of nutmeg traded for 7 oxen.⁶¹

St. John’s gate in Bristol – When was it constructed? It has statues of Brennus & Belinus – legendary sons of Bristol’s founder, said to be a British king.

Crapandia, also known as toad-stone or bufonite, a stone with healing properties. Supposedly a natural concretion found in the head of a common toad.  Thomas Lupton (name) wrote in 1579 A thousand notable things

". . . a toad- stone called crapandia, touching any part envenomed, hurt, or stung, with rat, spider, waspe or any other venomous beast, ceases the pain or swelling thereof."

Shakespeare in As You like it

Sweet are the uses of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous
Wears get a precious jewel in his head.

Gargarice: Mouthwash made of wine, pepper, Honey, vinegar. camphor, cardamom, or other spices.

Tooth-soape: mentioned in Edward Topsell's 1607 History of Foure-Footed Beasts

made" .. of the heads of mice being burned... for scouring and cleansing of the teeth, into which if spikenard [lavender] be added. or mingled, it will take away any filthy scent or strong savour in the month."

Sweethearts kept apples in their armpits until soaked with sweat. To sniff the apple was a token of love.⁸

Rushes were spread on the floors to absorb the debris of human life. They would be watered and were only changed once a year.⁸

Queen Elizabeth stuffed rags into her mouth to puff up her cheeks.  Her favorite hair gel was made from apples and puppy fat.  Her favorite perfume was lavender.⁸