These events are far removed from the next chapter in Crispin’s story as he encounters his new adventure. This time it is the serial murders of children, the mysteries of the Kabbalah, and a dangerous golem on the loose in A Conspiracy of Parchment.
And by the way, you can keep track of some of Crispin’s thoughts by going to his blog at www.CrispinGuest.com.
Glossary
ARRAS a tapestry.
BASELARD a slim-bladed dagger.
CAMAIL, or AVENTAIL a netting of ring mail that shielded the neck.
CHEMISE shirt for both male and female, usually white. All-purpose, might also be used as a nightshirt.
COTEHARDIE (COAT) any variety of upper-body outerwear popular from the early Middle Ages to the Renaissance. For men, it was a coat reaching to the thighs or below the knee, with buttons all the way down the front and sometimes at the sleeves. Worn over a chemise. Sometimes the belt was worn at the hips and sometimes the belt moved up to the waist. This is what Crispin wears.
DEGRADED when knighthood is taken from a man, usually because of treason or other crimes against the crown.
FLETCHER a maker of arrows.
FLETCHING the feathered part of an arrow.
HOUPPELANDE Fourteenth-century upper-body outerwear with fashionably long sleeves that often touched the ground.
JETTY/JETTIED the part of the upper floor of a building that juts out over the street.
GIRDLE a belt.
GONFALON a banner ending in long streamers.
SENNIGHT a period of seven days, a week.
SHRIVE/SHRIVEN to make confession in the penitential sense.
STOTT an inferior horse.
SUMPTER a baggage horse.
TRAPPER a colorful covering on a horse as one might see at a tournament or in battle, presenting the knight’s colors.
TUN a large cask for wine, beer, or whatnot.