Love Is All Around

Dear Members and Followers,

A calligraphic Valentine.

Manuscript Letter

This is probably the oldest surviving Valentine's Day letter in the English language. It was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé John Paston in February 1477.
Describing John as her 'right well-beloved valentine', she tells him she is 'not in good health of body nor of heart, nor shall I be till I hear from you.' She explains that her mother had tried to persuade her father to increase her dowry – so far unsuccessfully. However, she says, if John loves her he will marry her anyway: 'But if you love me, as I trust verily that you do, you will not leave me therefore.' There was a happy ending to the story, as the couple would eventually marry.
The letter comes from one of the largest collections of 15th century English private correspondence, known as the Paston letters. The collection offers a unique glimpse into the personal lives of the Paston family from Norfolk – the family name comes from a Norfolk village about 20 miles north of Norwich.

British Library  https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/valentines-day-love-letter-from-margery-brews-to-john-paston

Writing: Making Your Mark

Dear Members and Followers,

The British Library have an exhibition starting in April that looks like it would be worthwhile visiting.
Called Writing: Making Your Mark, it allows you to discover the extraordinary story behind one of humankind’s greatest achievements: through more than 100 objects spanning 5,000 years and seven continents.

https://www.bl.uk/events/writing-making-your-mark

Quills and Calligraphy Masterclass

Dear Members and Followers,

If you are lucky enough to be in London in January try to book in to this course offered by the British Library.

Learn the art of quill making and calligraphy

Course date: Saturday 26 January

Time: 10.00 – 17.00

This one-day course is a chance for beginners and those with some experience to learn how to write Uncials as in the St Cuthbert Gospel displayed in our Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition. All tools and materials will be provided and ink and broad-edged nibs will be used to create the letter-forms. The course covers the basic principles of calligraphy, and exemplars and worksheets are provided for you to work on during the day and then take home as an aide-memoire or for further study. In the afternoon, learn how to cut your own quill and write with it, how to prepare vellum (calfskin) for writing, and use your quill to write a name on vellum in Uncials.

 https://www.bl.uk/events/quills-and-calligraphy-masterclass

Medieval Hipsters

Dear Members and Followers,

This month many people are celebrating Movember, yet few imagine that one of the most detailed works on beards comes from the medieval period. The Church Fathers had thought about facial hair in moral and theological terms, while medieval theologians and clergymen debated whether communities of priests, monks and other clerics could grow beards at all. By the 12th century, canon law forbade Western clerics to grow beards, as beardlessness came to be associated with the purity and humility of angels. Laymen could grow beards if they wished, but that would mark them out even further from the clergy.
https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2018/11/in-defence-of-medieval-beards.html