16th Century
The Grand Siege of Malta 1565 – Part 4
Senglea and Birgu On the day St Elmo fell La Valette received news that a relief force had landed in the north of the island. Under pressure from the Order, the Viceroy had sent two [more…]
Philosophy
Christianity
Shepherds, Kings and Angels – Some Thoughts on the Nativity
We are all familiar with the ingredients of the nativity story: the birth of Jesus foretold. The Census of Caesar Augustus (tax censuses were a regular feature of the Roman Empire and a Quirinus was [more…]
Arts
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Painted in about 1470/75, it is in the National Gallery. One of my favourite carols: Merry Christmas! OldTrout 2019
Christianity
The Paradox of Christ’s Nativity
“In the beginning was the Word. and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was [more…]
Arts
The Holly and the Ivy
The words of the carol occur in three broadsides published in Birmingham in the early nineteenth century. An early mention of the carol’s title occurs in William Hone’s 1823 work Ancient Mysteries Described, which includes [more…]
Arts
The Coventry Carol
The fourth Sunday of Advent. #Love Original spelling Modernised spelling Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child, By by, lully, lullay thow littell tyne child, By by, lully, lullay! Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child, Bye [more…]
16th Century
The Grand Siege of Malta 1565 – Part 3
The Attack on Fort St Elmo The Grand Master assumed that the Turks would continue to attack the forts of St Angelo and St Michael, but two Christian renegades who had become Muslims to save [more…]
Christianity
Christianity
Daniel – a Prophetic Vision Part 4
Daniel & the Dream of the Four Beasts Along with Daniel’s interpretation of dream for King Nebuchadnezzar, of the great statue with a golden head, chest and arms of silver, abdomen and thighs of bronze, [more…]