Real Britain Company News…

Following on from my musings about the term ‘medieval’ I moved on to the term ‘gothic’ as in architecture. I found this definition:

noting or pertaining to a style of architecture, originating in France in the middle of the 12th century and existing in the western half of Europe through the middle of the 16th century, characterized by the use of the pointed arch and the ribbed vault, by the use of fine woodwork and stonework, by a progressive lightening of structure, and by the use of such features as flying buttresses, ornamental gables, crockets, and foils

Source: Dictionary.com

From this description I can recognise many beautiful cathedrals here in the UK as ‘Gothic’ however the term ‘goth’ was originally adopted by the Romans as an insult. The name came from the Germanic Goth tribe which the Romans regarded as barbaric and uncultured, much like the Vandals. ‘Gothic’ was later applied to this particular style of medieval architecture by critics who regarded it as similarly barbaric and uncultured (something similar happened with the term “Vandal”). Who would ever consider the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge, for example, as barbaric?

Source:

I have long wondered, on and off, about the origin of the term ‘medieval’ and exactly to which period of history it refers. So I decided to look it up and here is what I found.

‘Medieval’ comes from the Latin for ‘pertaining to the middle ages’ and refers to that period in history. So what are the Middle Ages? This term is applied to the years in the middle between the ancient and modern era. When it starts and finishes is a matter of opinion but most commonly spans the 1000 years from 500 – 1500 AD.

Source: About.com

Clasisical music concerts do not usually feature on mainstream televion. Tonight is the exception when the last Prom concert (The Last Night of the Proms) will again be on prime time TV. As always it will end with a rousing rendition of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D major, ie. ‘Land of Hope and Glory’, oft considered a better ‘National Anthem’ than God Save the Queen.

Almost everyone in Britain knows the first four lines, but how many know the whole thing? Here it is in full.

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?
Wider still, and wider, shall thy bounds be set;
God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet!

Truth and Right and Freedom, each a holy gem,
Stars of solemn brightness, weave thy diadem.

Tho’ thy way be darkened, still in splendour drest,
As the star that trembles o’er the liquid West.

Throned amid the billows, throned inviolate,
Thou hast reigned victorious, thou has smiled at fate.

Land of Hope and Glory, fortress of the Free,
How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee?

Hark, a mighty nation maketh glad reply;
Lo, our lips are thankful, lo, our hearts are high!

Hearts in hope uplifted, loyal lips that sing;
Strong in faith and freedom, we have crowned our King!

While researching the Battle of Britain for the recent post I wanted to get Churchill’s quote exacty right and came across a whole load of the great man’s words. They make fascinating reading. He really was a witty and wise man. This one in particular struck home:

Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events.

Oh if only this lesson was heeded more often…………….

Plucked, with thanks, from the web site www.quotationspage.com

I was reading the other day that the Nature Reserve on Brownsea Island in Dorset has all seven British Reptiles.
SEVEN! I got as far as the adder and the grass snake and ran out.

Is there anybody out there who knows the other 5?