Fake News

A trip to Ludlow Assembly Rooms this afternoon to see Conclave which gave me an excuse to have another look at the 15th century Palmers' Window in St Laurence's church. Its a wonderful piece of medieval craftmanship and storytelling. My blip shows the top half of the window which is read from left to right. The first light tells of two pilgrims  (Palmers) who set sail for Jerusalem. The second shows Edward the Confessor giving his ring to a beggar, St John the Evangelist in disguise. The third shows St John giving the ring to the two Palmers with a message that the King will be dead within six months. In the final light the pilgrims give the ring, and the message, to the King. Fake news of course. Edward did die in 1066, but the Palmers' Guild was not established until the late 13th century. Nevertheless the story was important in securing their prestige and influence.