ABJURATION: A renunciation, under oath, of heresy to the Christian faith, made by a Christian wishing to be reconciled with the Church.

ACHIEVEMENT: A full display of armorial bearings.

AKETON: a padded and quilted garment, usually of linen, worn under or instead of plate or mail.

AMERCEMENT: A financial penalty inflicted at the mercy of the king or his justices, for various minor offences. The offender is said to be "in mercy" and the monies paid to the crown to settle the matter is called "amercement."

ANELACE: A heavy, broad-bladed, sharp-pointed, double-edged knife.

APOSTATE: One who leaves a religious order which was considered a serious crime in the eyes of the Church, being not only a breach of faith with God but also with the founders and benefactors of their religious house.

ARBALEST: A crossbow with a steel box stave.

ARGENT: The heraldic color (tincture) of silver/white.

ARMET: a closed helmet consisting of the rounded cap of the bascinet with two cheek pieces overlapping at the front when closed.

ARMIGER: A person entitled to bear heraldic arms.

ARMING CAP: A small quilted cap worn under a mail coif that offered protection against blows and the friction of mail against the head.

ARMING DOUBLET: A quilted garment worn under armour from the early 15th century, equipped with points to attach mail gussets and pieces of armour.

ARPENT: A measure of land roughly equal to a modern acre.

ARTILLATOR: Maker of bows, arrows, and other archery goods.

ASSART: To turn woodlands into pasture or cropland. To "assart" lands within a forest without a license was a grave offense.

ASSIZE: The meeting of feudal vassals with the king, or the decrees issued by the king after such meetings.

ASYLUM (Right of): The right for a Bishop to protect a fugitive from justice or to intercede on his behalf. Once asylum was granted, the fugitive could not be removed for one month's time. Fugitives who found asylum had to pledge an oath of abjuration never to return to the realm, after which they were free to find passage out of the realm. If found within the borders after a month's time, they could be hunted down as before, with no right of asylum to be granted ever again.

AVENTAIL: 1. a mail garment protecting the neck 2. a "curtain" of mail to protect the neck, suspended from the helmet and reaching to the shoulders.

Home | Subscribe! | Back Issues | Ye Olde Book Shoppe | Medieval Products for Sale

Music & Movie Reviews | Medieval Links | Medieval Glossary of Terms | Faire List

Directory | Newsletter | Submission Guidelines | Ad Rates | Who We Are | Web Rings

One Controls Dr
Shelton, CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax

All material contained within the entire Renaissance Magazine web site is © 2008 Renaissance Magazine and cannot be reproduced in any way without the expressed written or verbal consent of the Editor and Publisher of Renaissance Magazine.