Those Who Fought: An Anthology of Medieval Sources. This item is unavailable.Those Who Fought: An Anthology of Medieval Sources

Peter Speed's volume series of medieval sources in English translation includes a wide variety of readings from Britain and the Continent is richly illustrated and provides an ideal introduction to classic sources and new trends in medieval studies for the student and the general reader alike. Chapter topics include: the "three orders"; the first and second feudal ages; the king; the royal court; feudalism in Spain; Richard II of England, 1377-1399; chivalry; jousting, hunting and the duel; relations between the sexes; the household; knights and archers; sieges; Henry V in France, 1415-1422; the new warfare; the victims of war; and the peacemakers. 164 readings include chronicles, histories, documents, treatises, household and manorial accounts, letters, poetry, romances. Preface, introduction, bibliography, and index. 63 illustrations, 5 maps, 5 plans.

Hunting with dogs, especially on horseback, brought a different kind of excitement, that of physical danger to the huntsman. Like jousting, it was seen as a preparation for war. The following description of a hunt is taken from the anonymous epic about Siegfried that inspired Wagner: 97. Brave Siegfried slew whatever animal the hounds started. His horse ran so fast that none escaped him. With his own hands, he killed the first animal of the hunt, a strong young boar. Soon afterwards, he found a huge lion. He shot it with his bow, after which the lion made only three more leaps. Siegfried's companions applauded. Then, in rapid succession, he slew a bison, an elk, four aurochs and a giant deer. He rode so swiftly that neither hart nor hind could escape him. Then the hound started an enormous boar. It tried to flee, but Siegfried barred its way. The boar charged him ferociously, but he killed it with his sword, a feat which almost any other hunter would have found impossible.