A Knight's Blog

King Richard The Lionheart on Crusade Somtyme this world was so stedfast and stable That mannes word was obligacioun; And now it is so fals and deceivable That word and deed, as in conclusioun, Ben nothing lyk, for turned up-so-doun Is al this world for mede and wilfulnesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. What maketh this world to be so variable But lust that folk have in dissensioun? For among us now a man is holde unable, But if he can, by som collusioun, Don his neighbour wrong or oppressioun. What causeth this but wilful wrecchednesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse? Trouthe is put doun, resoun is holden fable; Vertu hath now no dominacioun; Pitee exyled, no man is merciable; Through covetyse is blent discrecioun. The world hath mad a permutacioun Fro right to wrong, fro trouthe to fikelnesse, That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. Lenvoy to King Richard O prince, desyre to be honourable, Cherish thy folk and hate ...

Around The Middle East, Muslim nations are protesting and killing Americans. This tidal wave of violence was supposedly incited by a 12-15min film on YouTube by a radical Christian who in his pastime burns Qurans. I frankly don't think the film has anything to do with the revolts. Libya, Egypt, and thirteen other Saracen realms (more are joing the protest as I write this) have all declared death to America. Even the leader of Hezbollah came out of hiding and asked "for sustaining of protests." This isn't over a movie. It's been planned for sometime. The Radical Islamist Jihadists are rising and they intend to destroy Israel and the West. There have insurgents all over Europe and America who are training for Jihad-Akbar (Holy War). We are looking at the return of the Crusades, only this time there are not nearly enough Christians willing to arm themselves and repel these fanatics. In addition to these protests, it has been released that a discover...

Sir Galahad Before Christ, John Howe My good blade carves the casques of men, My tough lance thrusteth sure, My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure. The shattering trumpet shrilleth high, The hard brands shiver on the steel, The splinter'd spear-shafts crack and fly, The horse and rider reel: They reel, they roll in clanging lists, And when the tide of combat stands, Perfume and flowers fall in showers, That lightly rain from ladies' hands. How sweet are looks that ladies bend On whom their favours fall! For them I battle till the end, To save from shame and thrall: But all my heart is drawn above, My knees are bow'd in crypt and shrine: I never felt the kiss of love, Nor maiden's hand in mine. More bounteous aspects on me beam, Me mightier transports move and thrill; So keep I fair thro' faith and prayer A virgin heart in work and will. When down the stormy crescent goes, A light before me swim...

Hamlet, Laurence Oliver (1948) "To be, or not to be, that is the question : Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune , Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them. To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to: 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream— ay, there's the rub : For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil , Must give us pause—there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of dispriz'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th'unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a ...

Alleluia, o virga Mediatrix   Abbesse Hildgard von Bingen wrote the beautiful "Alleluia, o virga Mediatrix" during 12th century. Hildgard lived from 1098-1179. She is a woman who was born the year before the final victory of the First Crusade. In 1099, Godfrey de Boullion, his younger brother Baldwin de Boullion, and the rest of the Franks stormed the walls of Jerusalem and captured the holy city. Therefore this enchanting chant was born during the time of Outremer (The Latin Kingdoms or Crusader Kingdoms). What you are hearing is the music of the Middle Ages and the Holy Wars! It captures exactly what I imagined the Templars listening to as they attended Vespers.