Now that I have asked one question about the meaning of a phrase in Gratian, I am reminded that there is
another phrase which has puzzled me since I first came across it eight years ago.
The phrase comes from a fourteenth-century York impotence case. The defendant, John Sanderson, is exposed
an investigation by "good and honest women," who attempt to give him an erection. They are unsuccsful, but
during their interrogation one of them says that she put John's member "in flore fratris." There is no
doubt that she is refering to some part of her anatomy. But the question is: Which one? I have asked many
medievalists to look at the original ms and there is general agreement the it must read "in flore
frat(ris)".
Any suggestions?
--
Frederik Pedersen
Department of History and Economic History
Meston Walk
King's College
Old Aberdeen
AB9 2UB
Scotland UK
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