The story of how Thomas Becket stood up to Henry II of England, the king who'd appointed him Archbishop of Canterbury, and how some careless words shouted in rage by Henry spurred four knights to murder Becket at prayer, is a classic true-life tragedy of the medieval era. But what are paintings of the event doing in a church in Soria, Spain? Well, Henry's daughter Eleanor married King Alfonso VIII of Castile, and it seems she commissioned the paintings as a way to ask God to forgive her father.

Find out more about the paintings -- which are endangered and need restoration -- in this video with Danny Wood at BBC News.

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Leslie Luther-Fulton, Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors, reports that volunteers are being sought to serve on a grant-writing committee for the SCA Inc.

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In Atenveldt, Master Yehudah of Nuremburg (mka Larry Baum) passed away on August 8 due to a heart attack. A memorial web page, with information about remembrance services upcoming in the next several days, has been created by friends and family.

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Along the Kinnegad-Kilbeggan N6 route in Kiltotan and Collinstown, Ireland, two pits with evidence of burning were discovered. Activity from one of these pits, which are thought to have been used for smithing, is believed to be associated with some of the early historic ringforts in the area. Radiocarbon dating at another furnace placed the dates of usage in the late medieval to post-medieval era, indicating that metalworking continued in the area for a long period of time.

Find out more in the article at the Westmeath Examiner.

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A Roman cavalry lance head may prove that the legends of King Arthur were inspired by Roman soldiers and sailors. The contos head, dating to the 3rd century, was discovered in Norfolk County, England.

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Leslie Luther-Fulton, Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors, reports that the SCA Inc. is seeking committee members and a chairperson for the SCA Census 2010 Committee.

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A new web site provides searchable databases of the detailed service records of 250,000 medieval soldiers, including archers who served with Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt.

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In Fourteenth-Century England Edward the Black Prince was admired as the epitome of the chivalrous knight, but there was also a dark side to his character.

Bede wrote more than 60 books but despite his immense scholarship, he rarely left the monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow, where he was brought up and spent most of his life.

A team of archaeologists, led by Professor Nikolay Ovcharov, has discovered the walls of what they believe is the the Monastery of the Bulgarian Patriarch in the 13th century in Veliko Tarnovo, the country's medieval capital.

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The ABC sitcom Better Off Ted, which focuses on regular guy who works for company with questionable ethics, combines Fight Club with a fictional living history group for an episode entitled "You Are the Boss of Me."

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Banbharun Siobhan has announced that there will be a Norse Life and Culture Seminar held april 10, 2010 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The event will feature a day of classes and lectures for those interested in Viking/Norse personas.

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Viscountess Elashava bas Riva reports that she has posted photos and video from the recent Warriors and Warlords XVI in the Kingdom of Northshield.

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It was a day for investigating the arts and sciences of the Middle Ages when members of the Barony of Mons Tonitrus (Kingdom of Atenveldt) held an arts and science competition at Cochise College. Bill Hess of the Sierra Vista Herald attended the event to learn more. (photo)

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The historical figure, Count Fernán González of Castile, provides the basis for the famous chivalric poem that bears his name.

The detailed service records of 250,000 soldiers who served during the Hundred Years War is now availa le to view online. The website, sponsored by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), was the brainchild of Anne Curry of the University of Southampton and Dr Adrian Bell of the University of Reading.

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After two centuries, scientists believe that they have found the final resting place of Nicolaus Copernicus, the father of modern astronomy. They also believe he had blue eyes.

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Domai/Kitsu has created an album of photos from the recent XXX Year Celebration in the Kingdom of Ansteorra and posted them on her Flickr website.

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Lord Wulf cu Battell of the Shire of Arenal has crated a website to "help parents and children interested or already involved in Youth Combat to find more information and help further the Youth Combat program."

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The remains of an early medieval mill have been uncovered by an archaeological team in Kilbegley townland in the parish of Moore, Ireland. The mill may be as much as 1300 years old and is one of the best-preserved in Europe.

Mill-races, a mill pond, a flume and the almost-complete remains of the bottom floor of the mill, known as the undercroft, have all survived. Archaeologist Jerry O'Sullivan stated that the remains indicate the people who built the structure displayed sophisticated methods of construction and design.

Find out more in the article by Deirdre Verney at the Westmeath Independent.

Learn more about:

• Medieval Technology
• Medieval Ireland

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