XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

Lynn

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On 4/13/2023 2:21 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

Probably couldn't have read when they were alive, either.

--
Mark Jackson - https://mark-jackson.online/
Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows
how extremely expensive it is to be poor.
- James Baldwin

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".
--
"In this connexion, unquestionably the most significant
development was the disintegration, under Christian
influence, of classical conceptions of the family and
of family right."

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to
reality?

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe
could read Latin.

--
"We have advanced to new and surprising levels of bafflement."
Imperial Auditor Miles Vorkosigan describes progress in _Komarr_. -------------------------------------------------------
Robert Woodward [email protected]

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

In article <[email protected]>,
Robert Woodward <[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to >reality?

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe
could read Latin.

(Hal Heydt)
There is supposed to be a quote from Charlemagne that he could
read just find, but couldn't get the hang of writing. So...ca.
800.

There are also claims that the literacy rate in pre-Christian
Scandinavia was as high as 80%, but dropped precipitously
post-conversion.

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On 4/14/23 12:00 PM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

That, of course, is Modern English.

“As office boy I made such a mark.
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.”

--
John W. Kennedy
Algernon Burbage, Lord Roderick, Father Martin, Bishop Baldwin,
King Pellinore, Captain Bailey, Merlin -- A Kingdom for a Stage!

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

In article <[email protected]>,
John W Kennedy <[email protected]> wrote:

On 4/14/23 12:00 PM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

That, of course, is Modern English.

“As office boy I made such a mark.
That they gave me the post of a junior clerk.”

(Hal Heydt)
Kudos for the G&S reference. (HMS Pinafore, song by Sir Joseph
Porter accounting how he became First Lord of the Admiralty, so
no one has to look it up.)

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:08:00 -0700, Robert Woodward
<[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to >reality?

Sounds realistic to me.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe >could read Latin.

Ah, but is the Sheriff of Nottingham a "high noble" or of some lesser
grade of noble?
--
"In this connexion, unquestionably the most significant
development was the disintegration, under Christian
influence, of classical conceptions of the family and
of family right."

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On 4/15/23 12:41 PM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:08:00 -0700, Robert Woodward
<[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to
reality?

Sounds realistic to me.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe
could read Latin.

Ah, but is the Sheriff of Nottingham a "high noble" or of some lesser
grade of noble?

A Sheriff is just the head of the county police. It does not confer
nobility, and the office is not normally held by a noble. Nowadays, the
Sheriff of Nottingham remains a real office, but with purely ceremonial
duties (e.g., greeting the king if he visits) and mainly exists so that tourists won’t be upset.

However, I would expect a sheriff to be literate, having to deal with
warrants, etc..

--
John W. Kennedy
Algernon Burbage, Lord Roderick, Father Martin, Bishop Baldwin,
King Pellinore, Captain Bailey, Merlin -- A Kingdom for a Stage!

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XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 14:07:28 -0400, John W Kennedy
<[email protected]> wrote:

On 4/15/23 12:41 PM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:08:00 -0700, Robert Woodward
<[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to
reality?

Sounds realistic to me.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe
could read Latin.

Ah, but is the Sheriff of Nottingham a "high noble" or of some lesser
grade of noble?

A Sheriff is just the head of the county police. It does not confer >nobility, and the office is not normally held by a noble. Nowadays, the >Sheriff of Nottingham remains a real office, but with purely ceremonial >duties (e.g., greeting the king if he visits) and mainly exists so that >tourists won�t be upset.

However, I would expect a sheriff to be literate, having to deal with >warrants, etc..

That's what he has clerks for.
--
"In this connexion, unquestionably the most significant
development was the disintegration, under Christian
influence, of classical conceptions of the family and
of family right."

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* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: rec.arts.sf.written

On 4/16/23 11:57 AM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 14:07:28 -0400, John W Kennedy
<[email protected]> wrote:

On 4/15/23 12:41 PM, Paul S Person wrote:

On Fri, 14 Apr 2023 10:08:00 -0700, Robert Woodward
<[email protected]> wrote:

In article <[email protected]>,
Paul S Person <[email protected]d> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:21:58 -0500, Lynn McGuire
<[email protected]> wrote:

Wizard Of Id: Historical Society
https://www.gocomics.com/wizardofid/2023/04/13

I doubt many medieval soldiers can read.

As the Sheriff of Nottingham (IIRC) says to Robin in /Robin and
Marion/, "books are for clarks" [1] -- not for noblemen, never mind
soldiers.

Are you assuming that a Hollyweird script has a strong resemblance to
reality?

Sounds realistic to me.

Yes, I realize this is about a sign, but reading is reading.

[1] "Clarks" here is "clerks", which in turn is "clerics".

The references I find suggest that by the time of the 1st Crusade, a
high percentage of the royals and high nobles in Western/Central Europe >>>> could read Latin.

Ah, but is the Sheriff of Nottingham a "high noble" or of some lesser
grade of noble?

A Sheriff is just the head of the county police. It does not confer
nobility, and the office is not normally held by a noble. Nowadays, the
Sheriff of Nottingham remains a real office, but with purely ceremonial
duties (e.g., greeting the king if he visits) and mainly exists so that
tourists won’t be upset.

However, I would expect a sheriff to be literate, having to deal with
warrants, etc..

That's what he has clerks for.

I thought of that, but what’s the point of having a Sheriff if he can’t patrol the county all by himself OR do the paperwork?

--
John W. Kennedy
Algernon Burbage, Lord Roderick, Father Martin, Bishop Baldwin,
King Pellinore, Captain Bailey, Merlin -- A Kingdom for a Stage!

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