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The medieval English did not only speak English – they used French , Latin and Hebrew , as well as other languages
The large-scale witch-hunts and collective paranoid response to the stereotype of the evil witch is not a medieval , but rather an early modern phenomenon , found mostly in the 16th and 17th centuries
You didn ’ t have to get married in a church , those who wanted their marriage ‘ solemnised ’ would usually do so at the gate to the churchyard . But in any case , couples didn ’ t need a church , or a priest , or the banns being read , or any other religious paraphernalia
13 14 15
Everything could kill you , even bread . During summer , grain shortages forced people to make bread from old rye infested with a fungus called ergot . This could cause LSD-like hallucinations and even death
Medieval farm animals were far smaller than their equivalents today . Bulls were a little larger than a modern-day calf , and sheep were a third of their size today
An early version of football played with a pig ’ s bladder was deemed so violent and destructive that King Edward II banned it in 1314
16 17 18
Barbers doubled as surgeons and dentists . They would hang the bandages stained with blood outside their shops ; the sight of these rags twisting in the wind inspired the modern-day red and white barber ’ s pole
The inhabitants of medieval London ( human and animal ) produced 50 tons of excrement a day
In the 14th century , Sherborne Lane in East London was so disgusting that it was officially known as Shiteburn Lane
19 20
It was illegal in medieval London to empty chamber pots out of windows
Many streets became impassable , so muck-rakers were hired to clean them as best they could . Though the job was abhorrent , the muck-rakers were paid much better than the average working man