A Podcast Exploring the Wit and Weirdness of Medieval Texts

MDT Episode 02: Concerning Another Cure for Extreme Swelling, a Sinful Clerk, & Some Lightning Bolts

On this episode, we look at an example of the kind of odd incidents you might find preserved in a medieval chronicle — in this case, the Lanercost Chronicle. We have three short episodes from the account of the year 1288, and then one spectacular lightning strike from 1291.

Luttrell Psalter Monster f.192r

This episode’s text: The Chronicle of Lanercost: 1272–1346. Trans. Sir Herbert Maxwell. Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons, 1913.

Correction: The chronicle is not fully available on Google Books, as stated in the podcast, but you can get it from archive.org.

Image: Luttrell Psalter, Diocese of Lincoln, c.1325-1335, London British Library, Add MS 42130, fol 192r.

1 Comment

  1. Johnny

    Wow, what an interesting chronicle! And such a bizarre and gruesome description of the lightning’s effects. Like you said, it’s intriguing that they didn’t try to ascribe any religious meaning to the lightning striking the church and damaging it. We really do need to sit back and question things.

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