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April 15th, 2018 
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 Britain.
What we are referring to is the Medieval literature and legends underpinning the history of Brittany to include the Arthurian literature of legendary and heroic King Arthur. In contrast, the Matter of France focuses on the legends of Charlemagne and the Matter of Rome was derived from classical mythology.
French poet Jean Bodel’s La Chansondes Saisnes or Song of the Saxon first described the matters thus:
“Ne sont que III matieres a nul momme atandant, De France et de Bretaigne, et de Rome la grant.”
Not but with three matters no man should attend: Of France, and of Britain and of Rome the grand.”
Medieval literature could be considered an early form of state propaganda, written to ensure the acceptance of future kings by providing them with written history and pedigrees of lineage. With grand myths of conquest and great deeds, heroic figures such as King Arthur became important early role models so as to provide the common people with a set of noble attributes by which to expect, see, and believe in their leaders; chief among these being chivalry, honour, and courage. Along with the legend of King Arthur, this literature introduced us to Brutus of Troy, King Lear and Coel Hen.  In much of this literature, fact and fiction become blurred as the written word of historians supplemented the myths. Themes of great conquests, adventure, Christianity, loyalty, and love abound in these tales and so does the lesson of negative consequences should one embark upon a darker path in seeking glory.
Among the notable Medieval(12th & 13th centuries) authors of this literature of matters we find Geoffrey of Monmouth, John Milton, Michael Drayton, Thomas Malory, Geoffrey Chaucer, Gottfried Von Strassburg, Chrétian des Troyes, Nennius, Thomas of Britain, and Talisein from the 6th Century. Shakespeare extended the time frame into the Elizabethan Era.
To learn more about Medieval authors and the works that underpin the Matter of Britain, click here.
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February 24th, 2026 
National Literary Matters: Matter of Rome, Matter of France, Matter of England
The three “Matters” were first described in the 12th century by French poet Jean Bodel, whose epic La Chanson des Saisnes (“Song of the Saxons”) contains the line:
Ne sont que III matières à nul homme atandant,
De France et de Bretaigne, et de Rome la grant.
“Not but with three matters no man should attend:
Of France, and of Britain, and of Rome the grand.”
The name distinguishes and relates the Matter of Britain from the mythological themes taken from classical antiquity, the “Matter of Rome”, and the tales of the paladins of Charlemagne and their wars with the Moors and Saracens, which constituted the “Matter of France”. Arthur is the chief subject of the Matter of Britain, along with stories related to the legendary kings of the British, as well as lesser-known topics related to the history of Great Britain and Brittany, such as the stories of Brutus of Troy, Coel Hen, Leir of Britain (King Lear), and Gogmagog. Continue reading Matter of Britain
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April 11th, 2018 
BLACKBERRY WINE
- 5 gallons of blackberries
- 5 pound bag of sugar
Fill a pair of empty five gallon buckets half way with hot soapy water and a ¼ cup of vinegar. Wash thoroughly and rinse.
Fill one bucket with two and one half gallons of blackberries and crush with hickory wood ax handle. Add remaining 2 ½ gallons of berries and crush. Add 2 ½ gallons of well water to berries, cover with muslin cloth and jute twine gardening string.  Allow to stand for 24 hours.
Strain through muslin cloth into second bucket.
Add a pound and a half of sugar to each gallon of juice. Cover with muslin cloth and secure with jute twine gardening string. When fermentation process ends, refine through muslin cloth into second bucket, fine with metabisulfate if needed, bottle and cork or store in wooden cask.
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April 11th, 2018
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 brown mushrooms
- 2 small red onions quartered and sliced
- ½ cup pecan halves
Grease crock pot with olive oil, turn on high heat. Cover bottom with 1 small red onion. Fry bacon in skillet coated with olive oil along with 1 small red onion quartered and sliced and 2 clove smashed and chopped garlic. As bacon begins to cook cut each piece in skillet into 6-8 pieces. Add mushrooms as bacon begins to firm.
Remove pits from 6 fresh apricots and quarter. Sauté in butter and brandy till wilted. Add pecans and sugar. Stir over medium heat for a couple of minutes. In large mixing bowl, combine with bacon mixture, add fresh chopped coriander & coat squirrels. Cook for 4 hours on low heat. Serve with biscuits and creamed corn.
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April 11th, 2018 FRIED SQUIRREL & BISCUIT GRAVY
- 3-4 Young Squirrels, dressed and cleaned
- 1 tsp. Morton Salt or to taste
- 1 tsp. McCormick Black Pepper or to taste
- 1 Cup Martha White All Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Hog Lard – Preferably fresh from hog killing, or barbecue table
Cut up three to four young squirrels into six pieces by using a meat cleaver and splitting the squirrel down the center of the backbone prior to cutting into sections. Continue reading A Couple of Classic Tennessee Squirrel Recipes
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April 8th, 2018
THEÂ FOWLING PIECE, from the Shooter’s Guide by B. Thomas – 1811.
I AM perfectly aware that a large volume might be written on this subject; but, as my intention is to give only such information and instruction as is necessary for the sportsman, I shall forbear introducing any extraneous matter; at the same time, being careful to omit nothing which can be useful even in the remotest degree. That the fowling-piece is an object of the first consideration, will be readily allowed; hence the necessity of being able to form an opinion of its merits prior to laying out a considerable sum of money on this article, as Well as to prevent those dreadful accidents which too frequently occur from causes which at first sight are by no means obvious. Continue reading The Fowling Piece — Part I
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April 7th, 2018 
THE SNIPE, from the Shooter’s Guide by B. Thomas – 1811
AFTER having given a particular description of the woodcock, it will only. be necessary to observe, that the plumage and shape of the snipe is much the same ; and indeed its habits and manners sets bear a great analogy. But there are three different sizes of snipes, the largest of which, however, is much smaller than the woodcock. The common snipe, weighs about four ounces, the jack snipe. is not much. bigger than a lark; the large snipe weighs about nine ounces, but is seldom met with. Some have supposed that the common snipe is the jack’s female ; however, the contrary is now too well known to need a refutation in this place. Continue reading The Snipe
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April 6th, 2018 
The following cure was found written on a front flyleaf in an 1811 3rd Ed. copy of The Sportsman’s Guide or Sportsman’s Companion: Containing Every Possible Instruction for the Juvenille Shooter,  Together with Information Necessary for the Experienced Sportsman by B. Thomas.
Transcript:
Vaccinate your dogs when young with the Cow pox by introducing the matter with a lancet on the fleshy part of the fore leg — taking care to have it effectually introduced and rubbed in, first clearing away the hair, sot that it may not obstruct the Lancet — mind that the pustule stands in duo time, and the disorder has taken effect.
Give a dose of Sulphur every other day for 3 days — immediately after the scab of the pustule is dead.
Mr. Windus has tried it, and has no doubt of it’s proven the distemper in dogs.
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April 5th, 2018 
From A History of Fowling, Being an Account of the Many Curios Devices by Which Wild Birds are, or Have Been, Capured in Different Part of the World by Rev. H.A. MacPherson, M.A.Â
THE RAVEN (Corvus corax) is generally accredited with a large endowment of mother wit. Its warning croak is usually uttered long before an expectant fowler has approached within several hundred yards of its nesting haunt. But even the bird of darkness is sometimes worsted by the craft of its human enemies. The modern Greenlander destroys the Raven with a shot-gun. Continue reading A History of Fowling — Ravens and Jays
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April 12th, 2018 
IN MEMORIAM
JOHN WILLIAMS WHITE
The death, on May 9, of John Williams White, professor of Greek in Harvard University, touches a large number of classical workers who have come into relations with him through his teaching or his writings, and concerns many a student, past or present, who may not have known his name, or a word of the language and literature which he professed. Continue reading The First Greek Book by John Williams White
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April 2nd, 2018 
Muscadine Jelly
6 cups muscadine grape juice
6 cups sugar
1 box Kraft Sure Gel or Ball Fruit Jell Continue reading Muscadine Jelly
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April 2nd, 2018 
This Handbook is Published by SLMA or the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturer’s Association
or click on the link below for a faster download.
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April 2nd, 2018 
I once met a chap, hailed from Harvard
said where’d ye attend school, this here is starboard
On his diploma was a bit more yellow
Than that on the belly of his scholarly fellows
His hat was a good half inch taller
Than his lapels which were narrowly smaller
So I yanked him up by his collar
Whence he commenced to holler:
“Sir you must be quite daft
Release me that I may go aft”
You don’t know your port from your ale
Says I being a good man from Yale
But since you insist on this ride
How about a look at the tides
As I kicked his arse overboard
And reminded him to thank the Good Lord
That he’s peacefully floating at sea
And not here on deck, shipmates with me
For this shirt that hails me from Yale
Belongs to the barrister that posted my bail
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April 2nd, 2018 
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 to take out all feathers and loose particles.
Continue reading Chinese 9 Course Dinner
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April 2nd, 2018
For the somewhat startling suggestion in the heading of this interview, the missionary interviewed is in no way responsible. The credit of it, or, if you like, the discredit, belongs entirely to the editor of the Review, who, without dogmatism, wishes to pose the question as a matter for serious discussion. Since Charles I’s head was cut off, opposite Whitehall, nearly two hundred and fifty years ago, the sanctity which doth hedge about a king has been held in slight and scant regard by the Puritans and their descendants. Hence there is nothing antecedently shocking or outrageous in the discussion of the question whether the acts of any Sovereign are such as to justify the calling in of the services of the public executioner. It is not, of course, for a journalist to pronounce judgment, but no function of the public writer is so imperative as that of calling attention to great wrongs, and no duty is more imperious than that of insisting that no rank or station should be allowed to shield from justice the real criminal when he is once discovered. Continue reading Ought King Leopold to be Hanged?
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April 2nd, 2018 
Are you considering purchasing a copper water pitcher for storing drinking water but have questions about the effects on your health?
The following study may help jump-start your research.
Storing Drinking-water in Copper pots Kills Contaminating Diarrhoeagenic Bacteria
ABSTRACT
Microbially-unsafe water is still a major concern in most developing countries. Although many water-purification methods exist, these are expensive and beyond the reach of many people, especially in rural areas. Ayurveda recommends the use of copper for storing drinking-water. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of copper pot on microbially-contaminated drinking-water. The antibacterial effect of copper pot against important diarrhoeagenic bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae O1, Shigella flexneri 2a, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, Salmonella enterica Typhi, and Salmonella Paratyphi is reported. When drinking-water (pH 7.83±0.4; source: ground) was contaminated with 500 CFU/mL of the above bacteria and stored in copper pots for 16 hours at room temperature, no bacteria could be recovered on the culture medium. Recovery failed even after resuscitation in enrichment broth, followed by plating on selective media, indicating loss of culturability. This is the first report on the effect of copper on S. flexneri 2a, enteropathogenic E. coli, and Salmonella Paratyphi. After 16 hours, there was a slight increase in the pH of water from 7.83 to 7.93 in the copper pots while the other physicochemical parameters remained unchanged. Copper content (177±16 ppb) in water stored in copper pots was well within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. Copper holds promise as a point-of-use solution for microbial purification of drinking-water, especially in developing countries.
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