Beaufort: a castle town in 14thC Aquitaine, which John of Gaunt gave as a surname to the four children he fathered with Katherine Swynford. They were later legitimized.

Bletsoe Castle: held by Margaret Beauchamp, Margaret Beaufort’s mother, located north of Bedford.

bodger: a turner of wood, making bowls and chairs and posts of all kinds and sizes.

bottins: short protective boots – practical rather than fashionable.

bracer: armour for the lower arm – came in pairs, cf. a brace of game.

braies: male underwear, worn under hose.

Caldicot: Jasper’s castle on the west bank of the Severn estuary.

cariad: a Welsh term of affection – sweetheart, darling, love.

chapman: a travelling salesman or pedlar.

chausses: chain-mail trousers.

chemise: a long linen shirt (French) – worn under *kirtle (women) or *doublet (men)

chevauchée: ‘slash and burn’ – a string of raids on villages and crops, a strategy of war intended to destroy the enemy’s resources and morale.

cog: a sailing ship used mainly for cargo up to 200 tons; some also had passenger accommodation.

coif: tight linen cap, worn by men and women, also by a knight under his helmet.

commission of array: officials sent out to assess men aged 16 – 60 for service in the royal army.

coney: a young rabbit – also its fur.

cope-chest: a large half-moon-shaped chest for storing ceremonial church robes.

coppicer: harvester of regrowth from tree-stumps for brushwood, poles and posts.

Crécy: location in France of 1346 battle when Welsh longbowmen were credited with giving England a glorious victory.

crenellation: the ‘gapped teeth’ of castle battlements.

cuirass: armour protecting the torso = a breastplate and backplate fastened together.

dagged, dagging: decorative ‘ragged’ edging, on long sleeves of gowns and doublets, lined with a contrasting colour and often trailing the floor for effect.

damask: an elaborately decorated silk fabric originating in Damascus.

destrier: cavalry horse capable of carrying a knight in full armour – a charger.

Dewisland: area around St David’s in Pembrokeshire. Dewi=nickname for David.

Dinefŵr: pron: Dynvoor. A castle in Dyfyd, much fought over in Welsh wars.

divine right: belief that royal blood imbued kings with a God-given right-to-rule.

dorter: a dormitory in a monastery or attached hospice. cf.*reredorter

*doublet: a gentleman’s jacket, shorter and more fitted than a gown.

droit de seigneur: the alleged right of a lord to deflower a vassal’s bride.

eisteddfod: a festival of the Welsh arts, still held regularly today.

estampie: a vigorous dance from France.

greave: armour protecting the shin.

gauntlet: an armoured glove.

hauberk: chainmail protective tunic.

hippocras: a sweetened and spiced wine-cup.

hogshead: a very large barrel = over 50 gallon capacity.

holland: a coarse unbleached linen fabric, originating in the Lowlands.

honour: a collection of manors held by one lord.

hose, hosen: leg-wear – 15thC gentlemen’s hose was tight and joined at the top with a convenience pouch at the front. Women wore separate hosen like today’s stockings, held up by garters.

hulk: large medieval cargo ship, crude in design but capable of carrying up to 700 tons.