Lest We Forget: Fourth of July

Many people, most people if you are talking about Americans, think of fireworks and the Declaration of Independence, of picnics and the old red, white and blue, when they hear "Fourth of July". Of course the day existed long before 1776, which may as well be the realm of science fiction as far as I am concerned. Here are some other events that took place on the day in a more familiar time period.

836 – Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples

907 – Death of Luitpold, Margrave of Bavaria


943 – Death of Taejo of Goryeo, ruler of Korea (b. 877) (pictured)

965 – Death of Pope Benedict V, Italian Roman Catholic Pope (b. unknown)

973 – Death of Ulrich of Augsburg, German bishop (b. 890) (statue pictured)

993 – Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is canonized.


1054 – A supernova is observed by the Chinese, the Arabs and possibly Amerindians near the star Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula. (pictured: a supernova)

1120 – Jordan II of Capua is anointed as prince after his infant nephew's death.

1187 – Death of Raynald of Chatillon, Prince of Antioch (pctured left)

1187 – The Crusades: Battle of Hattin – Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem. (pictured right)

1253 – Battle of West-Capelle: John I of Avesnes defeats Guy of Dampierre.

1330 – Birth of Ashikaga Yoshiakira, Japanese shogun (d. 1367) (pctured)

1359 – Francesco II Ordelaffi of Forlì surrenders to the Papal commander Gil de Albornoz.

1456 – The Siege of Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade) begins. (Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe) (pcitured)

1534 – Christian III is elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye. (pctured left)

1541 – Death of Pedro de Alvarado, Spanish explorer (b. 1495)

1546 – Death of Hayreddin Barbarossa, Admiral of the Ottoman Navy (b. 1478) (pctured)

1546 – Birth of Murat III, Ottoman Sultan (d. 1595)


1569 – The King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Sigismund II Augustus finally sign the document of union between Poland and Lithuania, creating new country known as Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. This is the flag of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Source: Wikipedia

Forsoothly Translations

Just for fun

After yesterday's questions about how much archaic language is too much in a novel, time to play.

Identify or add to these forssothly translations of famous line.

"Fear we not but that which is calléd by that very name."

"Prithee proceed, Varlet, to ensure the fullness of my day."

"The answer, O companion mine, wafts on the wings of fair Aeolus."

"Aye, our endeavours may bear sweet fruit!"

"Anon do I gaze on thee, lass."

"Alas, did I the importunate deed once more."

"Longeth I to enclose thy sweet hand in mine own."

Or...

"We have nother to fear but fear itself."

"Go ahead, pubk. Make my day."

"The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind."

"Yes, we can!"

"Here's looking at you, kid."

"Oops, I did it again."

"I wanna hold your hand."

Your turn!

Writing Forsoothly... When Is It Too Much?

My two submissions so far in a writing practice group have resulted in some minor culture shock for me.

The critiques I have gotten have mentioned discomfort with my tendency to write in what they see as an archaic cadence, not just in terms of word choice (e.g.. wicket, porteress, wonted) but what they characterized as assumptions about the reader. I sat up and took notice! Not only do I write like that all the time, sometimes even in my daily life, but I immerse myself in reading mostly historical novels set in the Middle Ages.

I wonder if I have programmed myself to think and write "forsoothly", as one reenactment group calls it. The bect question is, does it matter? Would readers unfamiliar with and possibly uncomfortable with such prose read my books anyway? Is there a plus to writing this way, making it part of setting the scene?

I am calling on other historical novelists to register your opinions on any or all of the following questions:

1. Does an archaic tone to a novel's narrative or dialogue help or hurt it?
2. What is too much when it comes to archaic usage?
3. Someone I know finds you can be too modern as well, using expressions like "I'm just not into him." What do you think?
4. Since any novel that takes place before the Tudor era in England and in any other place where English was not the language is essentially a translation, does it really matter what words an author chooses?
5. I am well known for pointing out that just because a particular word was not recorded does not mean it was not in use in the time about which one is writing, my example being "pitcher". But other writers point to words like "masochism" and "sadism" that came from the names of specific people who were not born yet definitely is outside the reasonable. My question here is why the author can't just write "self destructive" and "deliberately cruel"? Your opinion?

Please click on Comments below to chime in on the topic.

My thanks, gentle reader! (See?)

TOMORROW- Come back and play with some forsoothly translations.