joint-stool: a collapsible seat joined in the middle which opened as a wide X.

*kirtle: lady’s dress, often showing under an outer robe and worn over a *chemise.

Lamphey Palace: summer residence of the Bishops of St. David’s located near Pembroke.

*lance: long *pole-weapon used by mounted men at arms, especially in jousting.

livre: French coin similar to the English crown.

malmsey: a type of grape from which a strong, sweet wine was made. Imported from Spain.

limner: an artist, especially of heraldry, miniatures and illuminations.

March: border-lands between England and the old Welsh Principality, held by English noblemen. At times included the southern counties of Gwent, Glamorgan, Carmarthen and Pembroke.

Maxstoke Castle: one of many held by the Duke of Buckingham, located near Coleshill, east of Birmingham.

mews: accommodation for hawks and falcons. Later a garage for carriages and latterly cars.

minerva: fur trimming taken from the red squirrel for court and ceremonial robes of lesser nobles.

misericord: a row of narrow ‘ledge’ seats in a church choir-stall, allowing support when standing for long periods. (From Latin miserereor = ‘have pity’.)

mullion: stone division between the lights of windows.

ninepins: medieval game of skittles.

Offa’s Dyke: a ditch roughly marking the border between Wales and England, dug in the 8thC.

palfrey: a riding horse, often a mare. Definitely not a warhorse.

pannier: a basket used in a pair, slung over a horse or mule for transporting goods.

pargetting/pargetted: patterned plasterwork often used on timber-framed houses.

park: an enclosed area of land reserved for a lord’s hunting.

pattens: wooden or cast iron hooped soles, which could be strapped to the foot. Raised the wearer above snow, mud, puddles and refuse.

Pembroke: town and castle on Milford Haven. Admin. centre of Jasper’s earldom.

pike: a long pole-weapon with a sharp metal head used by foot-soldiers.

Placentia: name given to the royal palace at Greenwich – cf. Pleasance.

pole-arms: any battle weapon on a long pole – pike*, halberd*, axe etc. Used by infantry. The mounted equivalent was the lance*.

poniard: a small dagger.

Poitiers: location in France of 1356 battle when England was victorious.

portcullis: a defensive iron lattice gate. Also a Beaufort* heraldic symbol.

pottage: a thick soup made with anything available.

psalter: a personal prayer-book, often beautifully illuminated.

readeption: = reattainment (from Latin adeptus = having attained)

*reredorter: a monastery latrine. (rere=behind dorter=dormitory)

quintain: a device for teaching accuracy at jousting.

sabaton: armour for protection of the upper foot.

sallet: a style of helmet not unlike a WW2 ‘tin hat’.

sapper: one who digs to undermine masonry.

St Alban: a Roman Briton who was executed for refusing to deny his Christian faith. St Albans Abbey (now a cathedral) was founded as his shrine.

sumpter: a packhorse, especially that of a knight, carrying his armour.

sumptuary laws: regulating clothing and diet, to prevent people living ‘above their station’. (Nothing to do with ‘sumpter’!)