Random Historical Moments

Margaret of Beverley and Thomas her brother

Margaret's life was recorded by her brother Thomas and shows the extent to which ordinary medieval women might take responsibility for their own lives and for other members of their families. Thomas was eleven years younger than his sister, and, when they were both orphaned, Margaret brought him up. When Thomas had finished school and entered the service of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Margaret returned to Jerusalem, where she had been born while her parents were on pilgrimage. She was in Jerusalem when it was beseiged by Saladin in 1187 and took part in its defence, carrying water to the soldiers and throwing missiles from the walls of the city.

Captured, and released, she made her way towards Antioch:

'I drew apart', she said, 'avoiding the towns and public places. In the fear of being captured, I walked always in hiding. I was garbed only in a sack that I had worn when captive: it was short and light, without colour or warmth; it scarcely covered my nudity; it was a burden at that time not having other clothing. All I had left was a Psalter; it was my one companion in the midst of this wilderness; it was all that I possessed. A loaf of bread sustained me for five days. Hunger then forced me to have recourse to roots of plants. For five days I ate nothing that humans would use to satisfy their hunger; I lived however I could. Alone, troubled, lost, I saw nothing except solitude. I had twelve streams to cross. What to do? Would the fear of dying make me risk the danger of dying? I saw no bridge anywhere. The fords that I tried filled me with terror. I could not turn back. I feared staying there and becoming a meal to the wild beasts. Fear eventually made me bold. I crossed the first river, then I crossed them all'.

posted by Brituncula @ 11:05 AM