Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices From a Medieval Village

Simon tells of his grandfather’s time fighting in the Crusades and his father’s time as a knight. He remembers his father coming home “half-starved, horseless, on one leg” (34) and remembers that they had to sell some of their land.

He reflects that he knew from the age of four or five that he wanted to be a knight as well. He could envision fighting for the glory of God and being “valiant, open-handed / frank, and pure of heart, / courteous—the soul of chivalry” (34). He thinks longingly of the ability to fight and kill “all for the glory of Our Lord!” (35).

However, Simon has been told that because the family has no money, he must become a monk, which he imagines will be tedious.

Schlitz provides background on the Crusades, which were fought between 1095 and 1272 and were waged to determine who would control key land in the Middle East, particularly Jerusalem. Because Christian pilgrims to the city were met with intolerance by Muslim inhabitants, Pope Urban II announced that volunteers were needed to “free” the city from “Saracen” (Muslim) control. Thousands of people, many of whom were untrained, wanted to go on crusade, and because the religious aim of the Crusades was considered to be so important, even villeins (feudal tenants subject to a lord’s rule) were allowed to go despite their obligations to their lords.