Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne As the messenger, I told Alcuin only that the Norse raiders had a ready market for fine fabrics. The scholar wrote, “Do not glory in the vanity of dress; that is cause for shame, not boasting, in priests and servants of God.”[footnote] The richly dressed patrons seated inContinue reading “#72.10, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025”
Tag Archives: #Bishop Higbald
#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The purpose of this gathering is to hear the letter read from the bishop’s friend, the scholar for the court of the Frankish King Charles, who, at this time, seems to be a greater king rising over all the kings of Francia and maybe even Northumbria and all theContinue reading “#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025”
#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne I arrive back at Lindisfarne to find Brother Ealdwin and several of the others still chipping images into sandstone to make markers for the graves of the monks who were slaughtered in the raid. They don’t allow my intrusion to stop their work. Even though the work they areContinue reading “#72.1, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025”
#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Returning across the North Sea, I have passage on a merchant ship, an old-styled galley, not as fast and fit as the ships of the marauding Norsemen but crosses the waters then hugs the coast all the way back to Lindisfarne. Arriving on the island, I find theContinue reading “#71.12, Thursday, August 28, 2025”
#71.5, Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier on the Loire Tonight, I’m staying in a guest room at the monastery near the shrine of St. Martin of Tours waiting here for the king’s scholar, Alcuin, to prepare his answer to Bishop Higbald’s letter with news of the Lindisfarne raid. It is the dark of morning,Continue reading “#71.5, Wednesday, August 13, 2025”
#71.4, Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Marmoutier on the Loire Alcuin, one of the king’s chosen intellectuals, receives the letter I am delivering from Lindisfarne, now shadowed in tragedy. He seems hesitant to open the seal of his friend the bishop. He holds it in his hand and studies the seal and folds of the envelope.Continue reading “#71.4, Tuesday, August 12, 2025”
#70.12, Thursday, July 24, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Francia With the good fortune of finding a ship and fair winds I am a passenger on a trade vessel. It is less arduous than was the clandestine journey to Lindisfarne on the Longship — catching only storm winds, and rowing much of the way. Now, fully into the summerContinue reading “#70.12, Thursday, July 24, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 