Kentish lore
Translations of laws, customary lore and practices attested in Kent.
Customs | Dialect | Material | Medical | Motifs
Medical recipes against strangury and dysuria, 13th century
Two medical recipes written down by a monk-scribe of St Andrew’s Priory, Rochester, are today part of the single bound volume known as Custumale Roffense (c. 1235), or the Rochester custumal. Read
Human body and soul, c.1230
Gabriele Macelletti provides an introduction and translation of a section in the Rochester Bestiary on the human body and soul. Read
Human senses, c.1230
The section of the Rochester Bestiary on humans continues with a description of the five known senses. Read
Human anatomy, c.1230
The section of the Rochester Bestiary on humans includes a long description of various parts of the body from head to toe. Read
Human reproduction, c.1230
The section of the Rochester Bestiary on humans and the human body concludes with a discussion of reproduction. Read
Calendars for bloodletting, 13th century
Medical recipes are not typical texts for a custumal. For some reason Westerham decided to preserve them in his register, perhaps because they would be readily available. Read
Provisions for the sick of Saint Bartholomew's Hospital
Here is what is owed to the sick brothers of Saint Bartholomew at Rochester. Read
Duties of St Andrew's Priory infirmary attendants, c.1225
Dr Christopher Monk provides an translation of the duties of the infirmary attendants of St Andrew's Priory, Rochester, as recorded in the c.1225 Custumale Roffense. Read