medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> From: Madeleine Gray <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > Charitable bequests in late medieval wills often include black gowns
> > for
> poor mourners at the funeral. On the other hand I wonder if they were
> really black - my understanding is that true black dye was pretty
> expensive.
>
>
> among the most extensive --and facinating-- economic records of the N.
> European nobility are those which survive for the 14th-15th c. Dukes
> of Burgundy, and i wouldn't be surprised if the expense accounts for
> their family funerals would bare your supposition out.
Richard Vaughan's biography of John the Fearless begins with a rather extensive account
the funeral of his father, Duke Philip the Bold, which was so elaborate that a separate
account book was opened for it, and agents were immediately dispatched to several cities to
buy cloth (black, I believe) to make up clothing and decorations for the cortege, which
journeyed from Flanders down to Dijon. I can't seem to find my copy right now, so I can't
give any more details than that, but its worth looking up.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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