King Arthur Legends, Myths, and Maidens

King Arthur, Legends, Myths & Maidens is a massive book of Arthurian legends.   This limited edition paperback was just released on Barnes and Noble at a price of $139.00.  Although is may seem a bit on the high side, it may prove to be well worth its price as there are only 150 copies being printed.   The book has 674 pages and is in a 6″ x 9″ format.

This edition is published by Piranesi Press in collaboration with Country House Essays.  They have put a lot of effort into the layout which book lovers are sure to enjoy.

Copyright Pg.

Title Page

Part I Sub-Title Page

Sample Page

CONTENTS

PART I – The Age of Chivalry by Thomas Bulfinch 7

 

  • Chapter I – King Arthur and His Knights
  • Chapter II – The Mythical History of England
  • Chapter III – Merlin
  • Chapter IV – Arthur
  • Chapter V – Arthur Continued
  • Chapter VI – Sir Gawain
  • Chapter VII – Caradoc Briefbras
  • Chapter VIII – Launcelot of the Lake
  • Chapter IX – Sir Launcelot
  • Chapter X – The Adventure of the Cart
  • Chapter XI – Queen Guenever’s Peril
  • Chapter XII – Tristram and Isoude
  • Chapter XIII – Tristram and Isoude Continued
  • Chapter XIV – Sir Tristraum;s Battle with Sir Laundelot
  • Chapter XV – The Round Table
  • Chapter XVI – Sir Palamedes
  • Chapter XVII – Sir Tristam
  • Chapter XVIII – Perceval
  • Chapter XIX – The Sangreal, or Holy Grail
  • Chapter XX – The Sangreal Continued
  • Chapter XXI – The Sangreal Continued
  • Chapter XXII – Sir Agrvain’s Treason
  • Chapter XXIII – Morte D’Arthur

 

PART II – THE MABINOGEON 179

 

  • INTRODUCTORY NOTE
  • Chapter I – The Britons
  • Chapter II – The Lady of the Fountain
  • Chapter III – The Lady of the Fountain Continued
  • Chapter IV – The Lady of the Fountain Continued
  • Chapter V – Geraint, The Son of Erbin
  • Chapter VI – Geraint, The Son of Erbin Continued
  • Chapter VII – Geraint, The Son of Erbin Continued
  • Chapter VIII – Pwyll, Prince of Dyved
  • Chapter IX – Branwen, The Daughter of Llyer
  • Chapter X – Manawyddan
  • Chapter XI – Kilwish and Olwen
  • Chapter XII – Kilwich and Olwen
  • Chapter XIII – Taliesin

 

PART III – HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE

 

  • BEOWOLF – 295
  • CUCHULAIN, CHAMPION OF IRELAND – 297
  • HEREWARD THE WAKE – 301
  • ROBIN HOOD – 305

 

GLOSSARY – 309

 

PART IV – The Rise of Merlin and King Arthur in Historia Regum Britannae by Geoffry of Monmouth

 

BOOK VI.

 

  • Chapter VII – Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon flee from Vortigern and go to Lesser Britain
  • Chapter IX – Vortigern Makes Himself King of Briton
  • Chapter X – Vortigern takes the Saxons that were new-comers, to his assistance
  • Chapter XI – Henist brings over great numbers of Saxons into Britain, he crafty petition to Vortigern
  • Chapter XII – Vortigern marries Rowen, the daughter of Hengist
  • Chapter XIII – The bishops, Germanus and Lupus, restore the Christian faith that had been corrupted in Britain. Xcta and Ebissa are four times routed by Vortimer
  • Chapter XIV – Vortimer’s kindness to his soldiers at his death
  • Chapter XV – Hegist, having wickedly murdered the princes of Britain, keeps Vortigern prisoner
  • Chapter XVI – Eldol’s valiant exploit. Hengist forces Vortigern to yield up the strongest fortifications in Britain, in consideration of hi release
  • Chapter XVII – Vortigern, after consultation with magicians, orders a youth to be brought that never had a father
  • Chapter XVIII – Vortigern inquiries of Merlin’s mother concerning her conception of him
  • Chapter XIX – Merlin’s speech to the king’s magicians, and advice about the building of the tower

 

 

 

 

BOOK VII.

 

Concerning the Prophecies of Merlin

 

  • Chapter I – Geoffrey of Monmouth’s preface to Merlin’s prophecy
  • Chapter II – Geoffrey’s letter to Alexander, bishop of Lincoln.
  • Chapter III – The prophecy of Merlin
  • Chapter IV – The continuation of the prophecy

 

BOOK VIII.

  • Chapter I – Vortigern asks Merlin concerning his own death.
  • Chapter II – Aurelius Ambrosius, being anointed King of Britain, burns Vortigern besieged in a tower
  • Chapter III – The praise of Aurelius’s valour. The levity of the Scots exposed. Forces raised against Hengist.
  • Chapter IV – Hengist marches with his army against Aurelius, into the field of Maisbeli
  • Chapter V – A battle between Aurelius and Hengist
  • Chapter VI – Hengist, in a duel with Eldol, is taken by him. The Saxons are slain by the Britons without mercy.
  • Chapter VII – Hengist is beheaded by Eldol
  • Chapter VIII – Octa, being besieged in York, surrenders himself to the mercy of Aurelius
  • Chapter IX – Aurelius, having entirely routed the enemies, restores all things in Britain, especially ecclesiastical affais, to their ancient state
  • Chapter X – Aurelius is advised by Merlin to remove the Giant’s Dance from the mountain Killaruaus
  • Chapter XI – Uther Pendragon is appointed with Merlin to bring over the Giant’s Dance
  • Chapter XII – Gillomanius being routed by Uther, the Britons bring over the Giant’s dance into Britain
  • Chapter XIII – Pascentius brings in the Saxons against the Britons
  • Chapter XIV – Pascentius, assisted by the King of Ireland, again invades Britain. Aurelius dies by the treachery of Eopa, a Saxon
  • Chapter XV – A comet presignifies the reign of Uther
  • Chapter XVI – Pascentius and Gillomanius are killed in battle
  • Chapter XVII – Uther Pendragon is made King of Britain
  • Chapter XVIII – Octa and Eosa are taken in battle
  • Chapter XIX – Uther, falling in love with Igerna, enjoys her by the assistance of Merlin’s magical operations
  • Chapter XXI – Octa and Eosa renew the war. Lot, aconsul, marries the king’s daughter
  • Chapter XXII – Uther, being ill, is carried in a horse-litter against the enemy
  • Chaper XXIII – Octa and Eosa, with a great number of their men are killed
  • Chapter XXIV – Uther, upon drinking spring water that was treacherously poisoned by the Saxons, dies

 

BOOK IX.

 

  • Chapter I – Arthur succeds Uther his father in the Kingdom of Britain, and besieges Colgrin.
  • Chapter II – Hoel sends fifteen thousand men to Arthur’s assistance
  • Chapter III – Arthur makes the Saxons his tributaries
  • Chapter IV – Dubricius’s speech against the treacherous Saxons. Arthur with his own hand kills four hundred and seventy Saxons in one battle. Colgrin and Baldulph are killed in the same.
  • Chapter V – The Saxons, after their leader Cheldric was killed, are all compelled by Cador to surrender
  • Chapter VI – Arthur grants a pardon to the Scots and Picts, besieged at the Lake Lumond
  • Chapter VII – Arthur relates the wonderful nature of some ponds
  • Chapter VIII – Arthur restores York to its ancient beauty, especially as to its churches
  • Chapter IX – Arthur honours Augusel with the scepter of the Scots; urian with that of Mureif, and Lot with the cosulship of Londonesia
  • Chapter X – Arthur adds to his government Ireland, Iceland, Gothland, and the Orkneys
  • Chapter XI – Arthur subdues Norway, Dacia, Aquitaine, and Gaul
  • Chapter XII – Arthur summons a great many kings, princes, archibishops, &c. to a solemn assembly at the City of Legions
  • Chapter XIII – A description of the royal pomp at the coronation of Arthur
  • Chapter XIV – After a variety of sports at the coronation, Arthur amly rewards his servants
  • Chapter XV – A letter from Lusius Tiberius, general of the Romans, to Arthur being read, they consult about an answer to it.
  • Chapter XVI – Arthur, holding a council with the kings, desires every one of them to deliver their opinions
  • Chapter XVII – The opinion of Hoel, King of Amorica, concerning a war with the Romans
  • Chapter XVIII – The opnion of Augusel
  • Chapter XIX – They unanimously agree upon a war with the Romans
  • Chapter XX – Arthur prepares for a war, and refuses to pay tribute to the Romans

 

 

 

BOOK X

  • Chapter I – Lucius Tiberius calls together the eastern kings against the Britons
  • Chapter II – Arthur commits to his nephew Modred the government of Britain. His dream at Hamo’s Port
  • Chapter III – Arthur kills a Spanish giant who had stolen away Helena, the niece at Hoel
  • Chapter IV – Arthur’s ambassadors to Lucius Tiberius deliver Pelreius Cotta, whomthey took prisoner to Arthur
  • Chapter V – The Romans attack the Britons with a very great force, but are put to flight by them
  • Chapter VI – Lucius Tiberius goes to Lengriae. Arthur, designing to vanquish him, by a stratagem possesses himself of the valley os Suesia
  • Chapter VII – Arthur’s exhortation to his soldiers
  • Chapter VIII – Lucius Tiberius, discovering Arthur’s design, in a speech animates his followers to fight
  • Chapter IX – A battle between Arthur and Lucius Tiberius
  • Chapter X – Hoel and Walgan signalize their valour in the fight
  • Chapter XI – Lucius Tiberious being killed, the Britons obtain the victory
  • Chapter XII – Part of the Romans flee; the rest, of their own accord, surrender themselves for slaves
  • Chapter XIII – The bodies of the slain are decently buried, each in their respective countries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOOK XI

 

  • Chapter I – Modre makes a great slaughter of Arthur’s men, but is beaten, and flees to Winchester
  • Chapter II – Modred, after being twice besieged and routed, is killed. Arthur, being wounded, gives up the kingdom to Constantine
  • Chapter III – Constantine meets with Disturbances from the Saxons and Modred’s sons
  • Chapter IV – Constantine, having murdered the two sons of Modred, is himself killed by Conan
  • Chapter V – Aurelius Conan Reigns after Constantine
  • Chapter VI – Wortiporius, Being Declared King, Conquers the Saxons
  • Chapter VII – Malgo, King of Britain, and a Most Graceful Person, Addicts Himself to Sodomy
  • Chapter VIII – Britain, in the flame of Civil War under King Careticus, is miserably wasted by the Saxons and Africans
  • Chapter IX – The Author Upbraids the Britons
  • Chapter X – Logria is Again Inhabited by the Saxons
  • Chapter XI – The Britons Lose Their Kingdom

 

Part V – The Legends of King Arthur

  • Chapter I – The Prophecies of Merlin, and the Birth of Arthur
  • Chapter II – The Miracle of the Sword and Stone, and the Coronation of King Arthur – The Sword Excalibur – The War with the Eleven Kings
  • Chapter III – The Adventure of the Questing Beast – King Arthur drives the Saxons from the Realm – The Battles of Celidon Forest and Badon Hill
  • Chapter IV – King Arthur Conquers Ireland and Norway, Slays the Giant of St. Michael’s Mount, and Conquers Gaul – The Adventures of Sir Balin
  • Chapter V – Sir Balin Smites the Dolorous Stroke, and Fights with his Brother, Sir Balan
  • Chapter VI – The Marriage of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, and the Founding of the Round Table – The Adventure of the Hart and Hound
  • Chapter VII – King Arthur and Sir Accolon of Gaul
  • Chapter VIII – King Arthur conquers Rome, and is crowned Emperor
  • Chapter IX – The Adventures of Sir Lancelot du Lake
  • Chapter X – Adventures of Sir Beaumains or Sir Gareth
  • Chapter XI – The Adventures of Sir Tristram of Lyonesse
  • Chapter XII – The Quest of the Sangreal, and the Adventures of Sir Percival, Sir Bors, and Sir Galahad
  • Chapter XIII – Sir Lancelot and the Fair Maid of Astolat
  • Chapter XIV – The War between King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and the Death of King Arthur

 

Click here to purchase a copy from Barnes and Noble

 

Home

Top of Pg.

Highlander Bible

Palermo Wine

Take to every quart of water one pound of Malaga raisins, rub and cut the raisins small, and put them to the water, and let them stand ten days, stirring once or twice a day. You may boil the water an hour before you put it to the raisins, and let it [...] Read more →

Mortlake Tapestries of Chatsworth

Mortlake Tapestries at Chatsworth House

Click here to learn more about the Mortlake Tapestries of Chatsworth

The Mortlake Tapestries were founded by Sir Francis Crane.

From the Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 13

Crane, Francis by William Prideaux Courtney

CRANE, Sir FRANCIS (d. [...] Read more →

Coffee & Cigarettes

Aw, the good old days, meet in the coffee shop with a few friends, click open the Zippo, inhale a glorious nosegay of lighter fluid, fresh roasted coffee and a Marlboro cigarette….

A Meta-analysis of Coffee Drinking, Cigarette Smoking, and the Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

We conducted a [...] Read more →

The American Museum in Britain – From Florida to Bath

Hernando de Soto (c1496-1542) Spanish explorer and his men torturing natives of Florida in his determination to find gold. Hand-coloured engraving. John Judkyn Memorial Collection, Freshford Manor, Bath

The print above depicts Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his band of conquistadors torturing Florida natives in order to extract information on where [...] Read more →

Indian Modes of Hunting – Musquash

Hudson Bay: Trappers, 1892. N’Talking Musquash.’ Fur Trappers Of The Hudson’S Bay Company Talking By A Fire. Engraving After A Drawing By Frederic Remington, 1892.

Indian Modes of Hunting.

IV.—Musquash.

In Canada and the United States, the killing of the little animal known under the several names of [...] Read more →

The Master of Hounds

Photo Caption: The Marquis of Zetland, KC, PC – otherwise known as Lawrence Dundas Son of: John Charles Dundas and: Margaret Matilda Talbot born: Friday 16 August 1844 died: Monday 11 March 1929 at Aske Hall Occupation: M.P. for Richmond Viceroy of Ireland Vice Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Lord – in – Waiting [...] Read more →

How to Make Money – Insurance

Life insurance certificate issued by the Yorkshire Fire & Life Insurance Company to Samuel Holt, Liverpool, England, 1851. On display at the British Museum in London. Donated by the ifs School of Finance. Photo by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg)

From How to Make Money; and How to Keep it, Or, Capital and Labor [...] Read more →

Watch Fraud on eBay

EBAY’S FRAUD PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE

EBay has had a problem with fraudulent sellers since its inception back in 1995. Some aspects of the platform have improved with algorithms and automation, but others such as customer service and fraud have gotten worse. Small sellers have definitely been hurt by eBay’s [...] Read more →

Origin of the Apothecary

ORIGIN OF THE APOTHECARY.

The origin of the apothecary in England dates much further back than one would suppose from what your correspondent, “A Barrister-at-Law,” says about it. It is true he speaks only of apothecaries as a distinct branch of the medical profession, but long before Henry VIII’s time [...] Read more →

Chinese Duck Cooking – A Few Recipes

Chen Lin, Water fowl, in Cahill, James. Ge jiang shan se (Hills Beyond a River: Chinese Painting of the Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368, Taiwan edition). Taipei: Shitou chubanshe fen youxian gongsi, 1994. pl. 4:13, p. 180. Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei. scroll, light colors on paper, 35.7 x 47.5 cm

 

Audubon’s Art Method and Techniques

Audubon started to develop a special technique for drawing birds in 1806 a Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. He perfected it during the long river trip from Cincinnati to New Orleans and in New Orleans, 1821.

Home Top of [...] Read more →

Tobacco as Medicine

The first published illustration of Nicotiana tabacum by Pena and De L’Obel, 1570–1571 (shrpium adversana nova: London).

Tobacco can be used for medicinal purposes, however, the ongoing American war on smoking has all but obscured this important aspect of ancient plant.

Tobacco is considered to be an indigenous plant of [...] Read more →

The Hoochie Coochie Hex

From Dr. Marvel’s 1929 book entitled Hoodoo for the Common Man, we find his infamous Hoochie Coochie Hex.

What follows is a verbatim transcription of the text:

The Hoochie Coochie Hex should not be used in conjunction with any other Hexes. This can lead to [...] Read more →

Clairvoyance – Methods of Development

CLAIRVOYANCE

by C. W. Leadbeater

Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Pub. House

[1899]

CHAPTER IX – METHODS OF DEVELOPMENT

When a men becomes convinced of the reality of the valuable power of clairvoyance, his first question usually is, “How can [...] Read more →

Why Beauty Matters

Roger Scruton by Peter Helm

This is one of those videos that the so-called intellectual left would rather not be seen by the general public as it makes a laughing stock of the idiots running the artworld, a multi-billion dollar business.

https://archive.org/details/why-beauty-matters-roger-scruton

or Click here to watch

[...] Read more →

Mocking Bird Food

Mocking Bird Food.

Hemp seed……….2 pounds Rape seed………. .1 pound Crackers………….1 pound Rice…………….1/4 pound Corn meal………1/4 pound Lard oil…………1/4 pound

 

Home Top of Pg. Read more →

Producing and Harvesting Tobacco Seed

THE FIRST step in producing a satisfactory crop of tobacco is to use good seed that is true to type. The grower often can save his own seed to advantage, if he wants to.

Before topping is done, he should go over the tobacco field carefully to pick [...] Read more →

The Age of Chivalry

KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS

On the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after Christ, the countries of Northern Europe were left almost destitute of a national government. Numerous chiefs, more or less powerful, held local sway, as far as each could enforce his dominion, and occasionally those [...] Read more →

Guaranteed 6% Dividend for Life. Any takers?

Any prudent investor would jump at the chance to receive a guaranteed 6% dividend for life. So how does one get in on this action?

The fact of the matter is…YOU can’t…That is unless you are a shareholder of one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks and the banks under [...] Read more →

A Survey of Palestine – 1945-1946

This massive volume gives one a real visual sense of what it was like running a highly efficient colonial operation in the early 20rh Century. It will also go a long way to help anyone wishing to understand modern political intrigue in the Middle-East.

Click here to read A Survey of Palestine [...] Read more →

Naval Stores – Distilling Turpentine

Chipping a Turpentine Tree

DISTILLING TURPENTINE One of the Most Important Industries of the State of Georgia Injuring the Magnificent Trees Spirits, Resin, Tar, Pitch, and Crude Turpentine all from the Long Leaved Pine – “Naval Stores” So Called.

Dublin, Ga., May 8. – One of the most important industries [...] Read more →

Of the Room and Furniture

Crewe Hall Dining Room

 

THE transient tenure that most of us have in our dwellings, and the absorbing nature of the struggle that most of us have to make to win the necessary provisions of life, prevent our encouraging the manufacture of well-wrought furniture.

We mean to outgrow [...] Read more →

The Kalmar War

Wojna Kalmarska – 1611

The Kalmar War

From The Historian’s History of the World (In 25 Volumes) by Henry Smith William L.L.D. – Vol. XVI.(Scandinavia) Pg. 308-310

The northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, as already noticed, had been peopled from the remotest times by nomadic tribes called Finns or Cwenas by [...] Read more →

The Human Seasons

John Keats

Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of man: He has his lusty spring, when fancy clear Takes in all beauty with an easy span; He has his Summer, when luxuriously Spring’s honied cud of youthful thoughts he loves To ruminate, and by such [...] Read more →

List of the 60 Franklin Library Signed Limited Editions

The following highly collectible Franklin Library Signed Editions were published between 1977 and 1982. They are all fully leather bound with beautiful covers and contain gorgeous and rich silk moire endpapers. Signatures are protected by unattached tissue inserts.

The values listed are average prices that were sought by [...] Read more →

Antibiotic Properties of Jungle Soil

If ever it could be said that there is such a thing as miracle healing soil, Ivan Sanderson said it best in his 1965 book entitled Ivan Sanderson’s Book of Great Jungles.

Sanderson grew up with a natural inclination towards adventure and learning. He hailed from Scotland but spent much [...] Read more →

Snipe Shooting

Snipe shooting-Epistle on snipe shooting, from Ned Copper Cap, Esq., to George Trigger-George Trigger’s reply to Ned Copper Cap-Black partridge.

——

“Si sine amore jocisque Nil est jucundum, vivas in &more jooisque.” -Horace. “If nothing appears to you delightful without love and sports, then live in sporta and [...] Read more →

Gold and Economic Freedom

by Alan Greenspan, 1967

An almost hysterical antagonism toward the gold standard is one issue which unites statists of all persuasions. They seem to sense-perhaps more clearly and subtly than many consistent defenders of laissez-faire — that gold and economic freedom are inseparable, that the gold standard is an instrument [...] Read more →

A Crock of Squirrel

A CROCK OF SQUIRREL

4 young squirrels – quartered Salt & Pepper 1 large bunch of fresh coriander 2 large cloves of garlic 2 tbsp. salted sweet cream cow butter ¼ cup of brandy 1 tbsp. turbinado sugar 6 fresh apricots 4 strips of bacon 1 large package of Monterrey [...] Read more →

Target Practice

Nov. 12, 1898 Forest and Stream Pg. 396

The Veterans to the Front.

Ironton. O., Oct. 28.—Editor Forest and Stream: I mail you a target made here today by Messrs. E. Lawton, G. Rogers and R. S. Dupuy. Mr. Dupuy is seventy-four years old, Mr. Lawton seventy-two. Mr. Rogers [...] Read more →

The Public Attitude Towards Speculation

Reprint from The Pitfalls of Speculation by Thomas Gibson 1906 Ed.

THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARD SPECULATION

THE public attitude toward speculation is generally hostile. Even those who venture frequently are prone to speak discouragingly of speculative possibilities, and to point warningly to the fact that an [...] Read more →

The Preparation of Marketable Vinegar

It is unnecessary to point out that low-grade fruit may often be used to advantage in the preparation of vinegar. This has always been true in the case of apples and may be true with other fruit, especially grapes. The use of grapes for wine making is an outlet which [...] Read more →

Chinese 9 Course Dinner

The following recipes form the most popular items in a nine-course dinner program:

BIRD’S NEST SOUP

Soak one pound bird’s nest in cold water overnight. Drain the cold water and cook in boiling water. Drain again. Do this twice. Clean the bird’s nest. Be sure [...] Read more →

King Arthur Legends, Myths, and Maidens

King Arthur, Legends, Myths & Maidens is a massive book of Arthurian legends. This limited edition paperback was just released on Barnes and Noble at a price of $139.00. Although is may seem a bit on the high side, it may prove to be well worth its price as there are only [...] Read more →

The Cremation of Sam McGee

Robert W. Service (b.1874, d.1958)

 

There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night [...] Read more →

What’s the Matter?

A rhetorical question? Genuine concern?

In this essay we are examining another form of matter otherwise known as national literary matters, the three most important of which being the Matter of Rome, Matter of France, and the Matter of England.

Our focus shall be on the Matter of England or [...] Read more →

The Field of the Cloth of Gold

Reprint from the Royal Collection Trust Website

The meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I, known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold, took place between 7 to 24 June 1520 in a valley subsequently called the Val d’Or, near Guisnes to the south of Calais. The [...] Read more →

Christmas Pudding with Dickens

Traditional British Christmas Pudding Recipe by Pen Vogler from the Charles Dickens Museum

Ingredients

85 grams all purpose flour pinch of salt 170 grams Beef Suet 140 grams brown sugar tsp. mixed spice, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, &c 170 grams bread crumbs 170 grams raisins 170 grams currants 55 grams cut mixed peel Gram to [...] Read more →

A Few Wine Recipes

EIGHTEEN GALLONS is here give as a STANDARD for all the following Recipes, it being the most convenient size cask to Families. See A General Process for Making Wine

If, however, only half the quantity of Wine is to be made, it is but to divide the portions of [...] Read more →

Valentine Poetry from the Cotswold Explorer

 

There is nothing more delightful than a great poetry reading to warm ones heart on a cold winter night fireside. Today is one of the coldest Valentine’s days on record, thus, nothing could be better than listening to the resonant voice of Robin Shuckbrugh, The Cotswold [...] Read more →

Painting Plaster Work and the History of Terra Cotta

The 1896 Victorian terracotta Bell Edison Telephone Building – 17 & 19 Newhall Street, Birmingham, England. A grade I listed building designed by Frederick Martin of the firm Martin & Chamberlain. Now offices for firms of architects. Photographed 10 May 2006 by Oosoom

[Reprint from Victoria and Albert Museum included below on [...] Read more →

The Legacy of Felix de Weldon

Felix Weihs de Weldon, age 96, died broke in the year 2003 after successive bankruptcies and accumulating $4 million dollars worth of debt. Most of the debt was related to the high cost of love for a wife living with Alzheimer’s. Health care costs to maintain his first wife, Margot, ran $500 per [...] Read more →

Glimpses from the Chase

From Fores’s Sporting Notes and Sketches, A Quarterly Magazine Descriptive of British, Indian, Colonial, and Foreign Sport with Thirty Two Full Page Illustrations Volume 10 1893, London; Mssrs. Fores Piccadilly W. 1893, All Rights Reserved.

GLIMPSES OF THE CHASE, Ireland a Hundred Years Ago. By ‘Triviator.’

FOX-HUNTING has, like Racing, [...] Read more →

Preserving Iron and Steel Surfaces with Paint

Painting the Brooklyn Bridge, Photo by Eugene de Salignac , 1914

 

Excerpt from: The Preservation of Iron and Steel Structures by F. Cosby-Jones, The Mechanical Engineer January 30, 1914

Painting.

This is the method of protection against corrosion that has the most extensive use, owing to the fact that [...] Read more →

Proper Book Handling and Cleaning

Book Conservators, Mitchell Building, State Library of New South Wales, 29.10.1943, Pix Magazine

The following is taken verbatim from a document that appeared several years ago in the Maine State Archives. It seems to have been removed from their website. I happened to have made a physical copy of it at the [...] Read more →

Traditional JuJutsu Health, Strength and Combat Tricks

Jujitsu training 1920 in Japanese agricultural school.

CHAPTER V

THE VALUE OF EVEN TEMPER IN ATHLETICS—SOME OF THE FEATS THAT REQUIRE GOOD NATURE

In the writer’s opinion it becomes necessary to make at this point some suggestions relative to a very important part of the training in jiu-jitsu. [...] Read more →

Making Apple Cider Vinegar

The greatest cause of failure in vinegar making is carelessness on the part of the operator. Intelligent separation should be made of the process into its various steps from the beginning to end.

PRESSING THE JUICE

The apples should be clean and ripe. If not clean, undesirable fermentations [...] Read more →

Chantry Chapels

William Wyggeston’s chantry house, built around 1511, in Leicester: The building housed two priests, who served at a chantry chapel in the nearby St Mary de Castro church. It was sold as a private dwelling after the dissolution of the chantries.

A Privately Built Chapel

Chantry, chapel, generally within [...] Read more →

Art Fraud

A la Russie, aux ânes et aux autres – by Chagall – 1911

Marc Chagall is one of the most forged artists on the planet. Mark Rothko fakes also abound. According to available news reports, the art market is littered with forgeries of their work. Some are even thought to be [...] Read more →

The Flying Saucers are Real by Donald Keyhoe

It was a strange assignment. I picked up the telegram from desk and read it a third time.

NEW YORK, N.Y., MAY 9, 1949

HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING FLYING SAUCER MYSTERY. FIRST TIP HINTED GIGANTIC HOAX TO COVER UP OFFICIAL SECRET. BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN PLANTED TO HIDE [...] Read more →

Banana Propagation

Banana Propagation

Reprinted from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA.org)

The traditional means of obtaining banana planting material (“seed”) is to acquire suckers from one’s own banana garden, from a neighbor, or from a more distant source. This method served to spread common varieties around the world and to multiply them [...] Read more →

Proper Wines to Serve with Food

Foie gras with Sauternes, Photo by Laurent Espitallier

As an Appetizer

Pale dry Sherry, with or without bitters, chilled or not. Plain or mixed Vermouth, with or without bitters. A dry cocktail.

With Oysters, Clams or Caviar

A dry flinty wine such as Chablis, Moselle, Champagne. Home Top of [...] Read more →

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika

THE HATHA YOGA PRADIPIKA

Translated into English by PANCHAM SINH

Panini Office, Allahabad [1914]

INTRODUCTION.

There exists at present a good deal of misconception with regard to the practices of the Haṭha Yoga. People easily believe in the stories told by those who themselves [...] Read more →

Sir Peter Francis Bourgeois and the Dulwich Picture Gallery

Noel Desenfans and Sir Francis Bourgeois, circa 1805 by Paul Sandby, watercolour on paper

The Dulwich Picture Gallery was England’s first purpose-built art gallery and considered by some to be England’s first national gallery. Founded by the bequest of Sir Peter Francis Bourgois, dandy, the gallery was built to display his vast [...] Read more →

Of Decorated Furniture

DECORATED or “sumptuous” furniture is not merely furniture that is expensive to buy, but that which has been elaborated with much thought, knowledge, and skill. Such furniture cannot be cheap, certainly, but the real cost of it is sometimes borne by the artist who produces rather than by the man who may [...] Read more →

Pickled Eels

Vintage woodcut illustration of a Eel

 

This dish is a favorite in Northern Europe, from the British Isles to Sweden.

Clean and skin the eels and cut them into pieces about 3/4-inch thick. Wash and drain the pieces, then dredge in fine salt and allow to stand from 30 [...] Read more →

Popular Mechanics Archive

Click here to access the Internet Archive of old Popular Mechanics Magazines – 1902-2016

Click here to view old Popular Mechanics Magazine Covers

Home Top of Pg. Read more →

A Creative Approach to Saving Ye Olde Cassette Tapes

Quite possibly, the most agonizing decision being made by Baby Boomers across the nation these days is what to do with all that vintage Hi-fi equipment and boxes full of classic rock and roll cassettes and 8-Tracks.

I faced this dilemma head-on this past summer as I definitely wanted in [...] Read more →

The Apparatus of the Stock Market

Sucker

The components of any given market place include both physical structures set up to accommodate trading, and participants to include buyers, sellers, brokers, agents, barkers, pushers, auctioneers, agencies, and propaganda outlets, and banking or transaction exchange facilities.

Markets are generally set up by sellers as it is in their [...] Read more →

Clairvoyance and Occult Powers

Vishnu as the Cosmic Man (Vishvarupa) Opaque watercolour on paper – Jaipur, Rajasthan c. 1800-50

 

CLAIRVOYANCE AND OCCULT POWERS

By Swami Panchadasi

Copyright, 1916

By Advanced Thought Pub. Co. Chicago, Il

INTRODUCTION.

In preparing this series of lessons for students of [...] Read more →

The Basics of Painting in the Building Trade

PAINTER-WORK, in the building trade. When work is painted one or both of two distinct ends is achieved, namely the preservation and the coloration of the material painted. The compounds used for painting—taking the word as meaning a thin protective or decorative coat—are very numerous, including oil-paint of many kinds, distemper, whitewash, [...] Read more →

British Craftsmanship is Alive and Well

The Queen Elizabeth Trust, or QEST, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of British craftsmanship through the funding of scholarships and educational endeavours to include apprenticeships, trade schools, and traditional university classwork. The work of QEST is instrumental in keeping alive age old arts and crafts such as masonry, glassblowing, shoemaking, [...] Read more →

English Fig Wine

Take the large blue figs when pretty ripe, and steep them in white wine, having made some slits in them, that they may swell and gather in the substance of the wine.

Then slice some other figs and let them simmer over a fire in water until they are reduced [...] Read more →

Birth of United Fruit Company

From Conquest of the Tropics by Frederick Upham Adams

Chapter VI – Birth of the United Fruit Company

Only those who have lived in the tropic and are familiar with the hazards which confront the cultivation and marketing of its fruits can readily understand [...] Read more →

On Bernini’s Bust of a Stewart King

As reported in the The Colac Herald on Friday July 17, 1903 Pg. 8 under Art Appreciation as a reprint from the Westminster Gazette

ART APPRECIATION IN THE COMMONS.

The appreciation of art as well as of history which is entertained by the average member of the [...] Read more →

King William III on Horseback by Sir Godfrey Kneller

Reprint from The Royal Collection Trust website:

Kneller was born in Lubeck, studied with Rembrandt in Amsterdam and by 1676 was working in England as a fashionable portrait painter. He painted seven British monarchs (Charles II, James II, William III, Mary II, Anne, George I and George II), though his [...] Read more →

Indian Modes of Hunting – Setting Fox Traps

Aug. 13, 1898 Forest and Stream, Pg. 125

Game Bag and Gun.

Indian Modes of Hunting. III.—Foxes.

The fox as a rule is a most wily animal, and numerous are the stories of his cunning toward the Indian hunter with his steel traps.

Indian Mode of Hunting – Beaver

Jul. 30, 1898 Forest and Stream Pg. 87

Indian Mode of Hunting.

I.—Beaver.

Wa-sa-Kejic came over to the post early one October, and said his boy had cut his foot, and that he had no one to steer his canoe on a proposed beaver hunt. Now [...] Read more →

U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act – Full Text

WIPO HQ Geneva

UNITED STATES PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION ACT

TITLE I – PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION OFFICE Chapter Section 1. Organization and Publications . 1 2. Legal Provisions as to the Plant Variety Protection Office . 21 3. Plant Variety Protection Fees . 31

CHAPTER 1.-ORGANIZATION AND PUBLICATIONS Section [...] Read more →

King James Bible – Knights Templar Edition

Full Cover, rear, spine, and front

Published by Piranesi Press in collaboration with Country House Essays, this beautiful paperback version of the King James Bible is now available for $79.95 at Barnes and Noble.com

This is a limited Edition of 500 copies Worldwide. Click here to view other classic books [...] Read more →

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Officers and men of the 13th Light Dragoons, British Army, Crimea. Rostrum photograph of photographer’s original print, uncropped and without color correction. Survivors of the Charge.

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the [...] Read more →

Why Beauty Matters – Sir Roger Scruton

Roger Scruton – Why Beauty Matters (2009) from Mirza Akdeniz on Vimeo.

Click here for another site on which to view this video.

Sadly, Sir Roger Scruton passed away a few days ago—January 12th, 2020. Heaven has gained a great philosopher.

Home Top of [...] Read more →

Napoleon’s Pharmacists

NAPOLEON’S PHARMACISTS.

Of the making of books about Napoleon there is no end, and the centenary of his death (May 5) is not likely to pass without adding to the number, but a volume on Napoleon”s pharmacists still awaits treatment by the student in this field of historical research. There [...] Read more →

Blunderbuss Mai Tai Recipe

Blackbeard’s Jolly Roger

If you’re looking for that most refreshing of summertime beverages for sipping out on the back patio or perhaps as a last drink before walking the plank, let me recommend my Blunderbuss Mai Tai. I picked up the basics to this recipe over thirty years ago when holed up [...] Read more →

JP Morgan’s Digital Currency Patent Application

J.P. Morgan Patent #8,452,703

Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network.

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for conducting financial transactions over a payment network. The method may include associating a payment address of an account [...] Read more →

Abingdon, Berkshire in the Year of 1880

St.Helen’s on the Thames, photo by Momit

 

From a Dictionary of the Thames from Oxford to the Nore. 1880 by Charles Dickens

Abingdon, Berkshire, on the right bank, from London 103 3/4miles, from Oxford 7 3/4 miles. A station on the Great Western Railway, from Paddington 60 miles. The time occupied [...] Read more →

Gout Remedies

Jan Verkolje Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first person to describe gout or uric acid crystals 1679.

For one suffering gout, the following vitamins, herbs, and extracts may be worth looking into:

Vitamin C Folic Acid – Folic Acid is a B vitamin and is also known as B9 – [Known food [...] Read more →

Stoke Park – Granted by King Charles I

Stoke Park Pavillions

 

Stoke Park Pavilions, UK, view from A405 Road. photo by Wikipedia user Cj1340

 

From Wikipedia:

Stoke Park – the original house

Stoke park was the first English country house to display a Palladian plan: a central house with balancing pavilions linked by colonnades or [...] Read more →