Hi,
I would like to ask if someone could please have a go at translating an inscription I have come across during my research for a family history project. I am reading about the Battle of Hastings, a famous battle that took place in southern England in 1066 ad. The battle was between the English and the Normans; the Normans won. After the battle, an abbey was built on the site of the battle and an inscription was supposedly fixed on the wall of the abbey. From the context I am interpreting this as a dedication to those who died in the battle. I found the text of this inscription in a book called, "Battle Abbey Roll Vol 1" by the Duchess of Cleveland. The book was published in England in 1889. You can find the book at the internet archive, here:
http://archive.org/details/battleabbeyrollw01battuoft
Before I give the inscription, some (possibly misleading) comments:
1) I fully accept that this may not be in proper latin. I do not speak or read latin and simply have to start somewhere. Given that it was supposedly composed in 1066, and therefore probably written either by a monk or priest or other religious type person I am supposing it is at least mostly latin, but it may also have some Norman and or French influence in it somewhere.
2) I interpret "Calixti" as being Saint Celict, since the legend is that on her feast day each year the roll of honour was supposed to be read out to honour those who had died in the battle.
3) "Sexagenus erat sextus millesimus annus" I think this is the date, 1066
4) "Stella monstrante cometa." I think this refers to Halleys comet, which was visible in England earlier in the year before the battle and may have been interpreted as an omen, good or bad depending on which side you were on.
5) I really appreciate anything anyone has to say, and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Inscription follows:
Dicitur a bello 'BELLUM' locus hie, quia bello
Angligenae victi sunt in morte relicti,
Martyris in Christi festo cecidere Calixti.
Sexagenus erat sextus millesimus annus.
Cum pereunt Angli, Stella monstrante cometa.
Thank you very much.
I would like to ask if someone could please have a go at translating an inscription I have come across during my research for a family history project. I am reading about the Battle of Hastings, a famous battle that took place in southern England in 1066 ad. The battle was between the English and the Normans; the Normans won. After the battle, an abbey was built on the site of the battle and an inscription was supposedly fixed on the wall of the abbey. From the context I am interpreting this as a dedication to those who died in the battle. I found the text of this inscription in a book called, "Battle Abbey Roll Vol 1" by the Duchess of Cleveland. The book was published in England in 1889. You can find the book at the internet archive, here:
http://archive.org/details/battleabbeyrollw01battuoft
Before I give the inscription, some (possibly misleading) comments:
1) I fully accept that this may not be in proper latin. I do not speak or read latin and simply have to start somewhere. Given that it was supposedly composed in 1066, and therefore probably written either by a monk or priest or other religious type person I am supposing it is at least mostly latin, but it may also have some Norman and or French influence in it somewhere.
2) I interpret "Calixti" as being Saint Celict, since the legend is that on her feast day each year the roll of honour was supposed to be read out to honour those who had died in the battle.
3) "Sexagenus erat sextus millesimus annus" I think this is the date, 1066
4) "Stella monstrante cometa." I think this refers to Halleys comet, which was visible in England earlier in the year before the battle and may have been interpreted as an omen, good or bad depending on which side you were on.
5) I really appreciate anything anyone has to say, and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Inscription follows:
Dicitur a bello 'BELLUM' locus hie, quia bello
Angligenae victi sunt in morte relicti,
Martyris in Christi festo cecidere Calixti.
Sexagenus erat sextus millesimus annus.
Cum pereunt Angli, Stella monstrante cometa.
Thank you very much.