FURRY FRIENDS in the Middle Ages: Were Pets a Part of Medieval Life?

[@ModernKnight]

Thanks for watching. Don't forget that I have a new novel that's about to go on Kickstarter. If you are interested in taking a look, here's the link to register interest. It's a Medieval Fantasy novel called Lord of Blackthorne. www.kickstarter.com/projects/modernknight/lord-of-blackthorne

[@robingray5037]

I'm on the waiting list to be notified. Looking forward to the new adventure.

[@susanwoodcarver]

Wonderful! Going there right now. Would hope that your donkey ... or was it mule ... with no name has had a name given to him. Would be lovely if he made an appearance in your novel. I don't know why, but every time I watch your channel, he comes to mind. Thanks for this one. It was a fun and fascinating one. I do remember a few years back you recommended a medieval book, I think a friend of yours wrote. To support you and him, I bought them and thoroughly enjoyed the series.

[@LynneFarr]

On the waiting list too.

[@LuxisAlukard]

Does it have anything in common with SNES bage Blackthrone? :-)

[@blackeyedlily]

I hope you consider having an audio version!📖

[@frauleinhohenzollern]

I like that old roman book some guy wrote about how to take care of dogs. He lists a bunch of examples of names to give dogs, it's a proper hunting manual. But then he just randomly starts talking about how awesome his dog is, how it won't even walk too far up the road away from him, how it's always so happy to see him return home even if he was only gone for a few moments. Some things never change

[@GreenHearthHomestead]

I would love to know the name of this book? it sounds brilliant haha

[@SweetuPatel72]

@@frauleinhohenzollern horme ❤️

[@VictoriaJ402]

What is the name of the book please?

[@AlphabetSoupParty]

The name of the book is The Master of Game by Edward the 2nd Duke of York

[@jameskelleher4535]

The book is “Cynegeticus” by Xenophon. A KZbinr called Historia Civilis spoke about it a bit in the video “Bird Mania, Strongboys, and Tunnel Bears”, highly recommend watching it.

[@Swedishmafia101MemeCorporation]

A priest keeping a pet bear sounds like a table-top RPG character lmao

[@brassbuckles]

Isn't that basically what a druid is in D&D? Just a nature priest who may have a weird pet?

[@lexicornfell7361]

@@brassbuckles In D&D rangers have animal companions. A druid would be able to become a bear.

[@brassbuckles]

@@lexicornfell7361 Got 'em mixed up somehow, I've played before once but didn't play ranger or druid!

[@brassbuckles]

@@lexicornfell7361 In 3.5 and Pathfinder, druids did have animal companions, which is the version I played and why I got a bit mixed up.

[@MannyBrum]

@@brassbuckles Only a druid if you never see the monk and his "pet" in the same room together. If you do he's a ranger.

[@suburbanbanshee]

St. Hugh of Lincoln (the bishop who protected Jews), aka St. Hugh of Avalon (the Burgundy one, sigh), was famous for having a swan that he had befriended, and that followed him around. This was the famous Swan of Stow. He was a fierce, unusually large cob that was gentle only to St. Hugh, and to a bailiff who fed him whenever St. Hugh was away. Everybody else he attacked, which was kind of embarrassing, but definitely kept St. Hugh from being overworked. The swan lived with St. Hugh for 15 years, whenever St. Hugh wasn't traveling; and the swan outlived him by several years. He is one of St. Hugh's attributes.

[@isoldam]

That's a wonderful story. I'd never heard of St. Hugh before. Thank you!

[@alexk7973]

the swan might have chosen him as its mate. They are notoriously monogamous and lifelong partners and it‘s not unheard of for them to link to a non-swan this way. I‘ve heard of swans falling for paddle boats and the like… they had to remove the boat for the swan to stop protecting it and move on with its life …

[@spazemfathemcazemmeleggymi272]

Why'd he go and do a thing like that?!

[@tamarakonczal6350]

Love this!!

[@SMTRodent]

I've heard of St Hugh but never about the swan, that's brilliant!

[@Gravuun]

A monk with a pet bear sounds absolutely brilliant and I want a movie about that

[@spoonerbooner]

@@Gravuun and his clumsy mate with a pet squirrel?

[@kyltredragmire4939]

sounds VERY Russian Orthodox, doesn't it?

[@MannyBrum]

He took a couple levels in ranger.

[@fantasyhaven3900]

That honestly sounds like average orthodox or catholic monk. Some of them were said to tame many forest animals, even wolves and St. Francis preached to animals and callem them his brothers.

[@vaclav_fejt]

Francis of Assissi is a Disney princess.

[@krab9479]

For anyone who can't get enough of Jason, I highly recommend listening to his podcast "Future Imperfect". He has tons of brilliant guests on to discuss topics of Medieval life and how it all relates to our lives today. I always listen to it during my morning commute and it's such a great start to my day when there's a new episode. Thanks for all you do, Jason!

[@ModernKnight]

my pleasure.

[@megans788]

Wonderful ! Thank you

[@j.g.elmslie9901]

for early medieval monastic pets, Pangur Ban: Pangur Bán and I at work, Adepts, equals, cat and clerk: His whole instinct is to hunt, Mine to free the meaning pent. More than loud acclaim, I love Books, silence, thought, my alcove. Happy for me, Pangur Bán Child-plays round some mouse’s den. Truth to tell, just being here, Housed alone, housed together, Adds up to its own reward: Concentration, stealthy art. Next thing an unwary mouse Bares his flank: Pangur pounces. Next thing lines that held and held Meaning back begin to yield. All the while, his round bright eye Fixes on the wall, while I Focus my less piercing gaze On the challenge of the page. With his unsheathed, perfect nails Pangur springs, exults and kills. When the longed-for, difficult Answers come, I too exult. So it goes. To each his own. No vying. No vexation. Taking pleasure, taking pains, Kindred spirits, veterans. Day and night, soft purr, soft pad, Pangur Bán has learned his trade. Day and night, my own hard work Solves the cruxes, makes a mark.

[@h0rriphic]

I adore this!

[@suburbanbanshee]

Pangur Ban means White Bleacher, so he was a white cat. Very very white. The book in which the poem was found has been digitized, too! I will also note that in both the Greek LXX and Vulgate Bible versions of the Book of Baruch, cats were noted as one of the animals that would walk fearlessly on top of idols and sit on their heads. Thus proving that nature's creatures didn't worship false gods. :)

[@MachaMongRuad]

​@@suburbanbanshee Never heard that about cats in the Book of Baruch! I love it!!

[@terfalicious]

Excellent inclusion, thank you for making my day more beautiful! 💖

[@MrEvanfriend]

I read that same poem, translated differently, and it immediately sprang to mind when I saw this video

[@brassbuckles]

If I am not mistaken, many monks kept cats for pets (not pest control), even though they weren't supposed to. You see a lot of illuminations of cats doing standard cat-things in marginalia (not just allegorical situations), likely at least in part because the monks were including their favorite kitties in the art.

[@OddLeah]

Cats were probably easier to 'hide' lol. They were quiet, took care of their own toileting needs, could slink around and vanish if necessary, and at least partially would have taken care of feeding themselves.

[@brassbuckles]

@@OddLeah It's probably more that cats were already there for pest control purposes, so even though they weren't supposed to be coddled, fed treats, and sat on monks' beds and laps, they ended up there anyway. They were cats, after all. Cats are gonna do what cats want.

[@hildahilpert5018]

Nuns had cats too.St.Gertrude of Nivelles is the patron saint of cats

[@argentisdraconis]

@@brassbuckles there's a few manuscripts with cat paw prints in them!

[@MasterMalrubius]

@@argentisdraconis Because . . . cats.

[@wickedguitarist1]

Man, I miss when you posted videos on the regular... Thanks for this.

[@MyVanir]

I imagine it is harder to find original topics to cover by now.

[@Gabu_]

I mean, the alternative to a spaced out release schedule is something like PBS Spacetime, where, unless a new paper was released that week, they just cover the same topic as a previous video.

[@GrandPrixDecals]

He’s got a day job too i think

[@pacmonster066]

...I mean his day job is the CEO for a moderately sized game company, so I think we can forgive him for not focusing on his side project/hobby youtube channel

[@plastikmaiden]

​@@GrandPrixDecals Just a side gig, shouldn't take up too much time.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

There is something about humans that is so attracted to animals that even the homeless and starving have pets. I knew a man once who always fed his little dog, even if he didn’t have food for himself. Most of us just love animals. Sometimes, when I’m looking for a reason not to give up on humankind, I hold onto to that.🤗❤️🐝

[@h0rriphic]

Frankly, I feel like any homeless person that can adequately care for a dog- and the dog genuinely enjoys the company of the transient individual, should have a dog. It helps keep them safe and provides the most marginalized, vulnerable people in our society with companionship and the unconditional love every human truly needs. Whenever I see a homeless person w/a dog and I can manage it- i will swing back by w/some food, toys, and other useful doggy supplies that they can easily carry w/them.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Some painters were really serious about pets and animals.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@h0rriphic I agree🐝❤️🤗

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

@@PROVOCATEURSK Yes they were🤗🐝❤️

[@peztopher7297]

I was acquainted with a vegan man who fed beef to his (illegal) pet mongoose.

[@earnestwanderer2471]

Ha! One of the priests in our parish brings his dog to Mass. An older dog, large mixed breed. The dog lies quietly at the back of the chapel during the service.

[@clareu9539]

We have a person who brings their small dog to Sunday services. It joins in with the hymns but is quiet during the quiet parts. It very quietly follows her up tot he rail for her to take communion, and then quietly follows her back. It's a tiny village church so no one minds and I love that he joins us

[@gretchenkiley6615]

@clareu9539 I love both of these and would love to take my dog to mass- maybe I should ask? He would want to join the priests in greeting everyone as they're leaving 😊

[@tanikokishimoto1604]

​@@gretchenkiley6615 confirm how he behaves with a crowd of people, some he may not know. Then, ask.

[@Mtonazzi]

I like how, since times long lost to memory, humans went "This creature is not the same species as I am, but I will keep it around and love it"

[@Morna777]

Some archaeologists think we domesticated dogs before we were anatomically modern humans. It's very possible that Neanderthals had pet dogs.

[@drinkwoter]

Coop is very effective strategy in survival and seen throughout many species

[@DoomWalker42]

Exeter Cathedral in Devon, UK is said to have had the earliest known cat flap built in 1598. Bishop William Cotton is said to have ordered the hole to be cut in the door to allow local cats used by the cathedral to catch vermin. The door is allegedly 400 years old!

[@NeillWeston-z7z]

This cat door predates Sir Isaac Newton (the 🍎 on head guy) coz he's often said to have invented the cat flap 🐈 🚪

[@KamikazeKatze666]

There is a famous poem by a medieval Irish monk about his cat, Pangur Ban: 1. I and Pangur Bán, my cat,   'Tis a like task we are at;   Hunting mice is his delight,   Hunting words I sit all night. 2. Better far than praise of men   'Tis to sit with book and pen;   Pangur bears me no ill-will,   He, too, plies his simple skill. 3. 'Tis a merry thing to see   At our tasks how glad are we,   When at home we sit and find   Entertainment to our mind. 4. Oftentimes a mouse will stray   In the hero Pangur's way;   Oftentimes my keen thought set   Takes a meaning in its net. 5. 'Gainst the wall he sets his eye   Full and fierce and sharp and sly;   'Gainst the wall of knowledge I   All my little wisdom try. 6. When a mouse darts from its den,   O! how glad is Pangur then;   O! what gladness do I prove   When I solve the doubts I love. 7. So in peace our task we ply,   Pangur Bán, my cat, and I;   In our arts we find our bliss,   I have mine, and he has his. 8. Practice every day has made   Pangur perfect in his trade;   I get wisdom day and night,   Turning darkness into light.

[@minerwaweasley1008]

Yes! I love Pangur Ban.

[@a.mie.533]

Oh, how lovely! 😊

[@katarinatibai8396]

❤🤗🤗🤗 Beautiful 😊

[@cimmerianj8997]

I remember reading this fantasy series by Faye Sampson when I was a kid, I didn't know about the historical text her character Pangur Bán the white cat was based on. Thanks for sharing 😺

[@rhys1264]

So apparently Pangur losely translates to 'fuller', which is basically beating woven cloth while wet -- was this the equivalent of naming his cat Biscuts?? Like making biscuts??

[@shakescan]

I keep ferrets as companions and have visited them as working ferrets (rabbit hunting) in Scotland. I have read that ferrets weren't written about much in medieval periods because they were so common everyone already knew. There was a ferret guild and a "business of ferrets" would go to a barn or wharf or wherever there was grain and rats, and chase out the rats. Ferrets can kill rats but often farmers with spades and torches and terrier type dogs would finish the job. They would coral the rats to a killing area. If not for ferrets, rats would have eaten all the grain in Europe. Yes cats are important too for that reason. I like meeting the rabbit hunting ferrets. Rabbits are also a problem for farmers of course, they'll eat everything if not checked.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

As gods intended? What if gods want people to starve?

[@MyGetcarter]

I still work my ferrets at rat and rabbit down here in Somerset, they've been domesticated since at least the iron age, first to deal with rats amongst food store for winter then as rabbiters after their introduction. I believe from my research Fitch to be the oldest English term for a ferret, fitchet is still used today to describe a polecat coloured ferret. They are truly man's best friend, but then again I'm biased.

[@brassbuckles]

Thing about cats is, they are much better at taking down mice and birds than rats. They may hunt young rats, but many cats will not tangle with an adult rat. Ferrets, however, will... but ferrets are mustelids, and most of the weasel family and their kin--badgers and wolverines included--are super fierce for their size. So I'd place more importance on ferrets than cats in terms of rat control, though cats definitely would've played a role since keeping the young rat population in check prevents those rats from growing up and reproducing.

[@oldharpydisguised709]

@@brassbucklesI’m sure that there is a very good reason that ferrets are at the top of the list of most popular pets among apartment dwellers. That snippet of information is from the US, where the urban rat is a serious problem. I don’t know if it applies to the UK.

[@melhawk6284]

Ferreting always sounds like fun, when I hear about it! There's a fella using American Mink off of fur farms even now for pest control. Little SAVAGES that can take down Muskrats at least as big as they are!

[@broadwaybaby348]

A Medieval Irish monk scribbled a note praising his cat Pangur into the margin of a manuscript he was copying. The note was later translated by W.H. Auden into a poem, which then became a delightful song by Samuel Barber, "The Monk and His Cat".

[@leemasters3592]

I remember reading a children's novel based on the poem.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Isn't there also a book with a cat print in it, from when the cat ran over the fresh ink.

[@Savyjanep]

Thank you for making your videos. I love how you wear historical clothing and how you are always standing outside. Your videos just bring me happiness whenever they are playing. So thank you 🌸

[@DennisNeijmeijer]

Great to see you again! Thanks for the video!

[@innocentBystander19]

In America we call it a barn cat. Very common on farms. Not particularly friendly, you don’t usually pet them. I do believe it’s said that the Norse would give cats as a wedding present at one period? Essentially saying, you’re getting your own house, you’ll need one of these.

[@susanohnhaus611]

Freya's chariot is pulled by cats.

[@charlespickering2726]

Yup semi feral they know people mean some food and some basic shelter in the barn but most won't let you touch them although I have met some very friendly barn cats. Generally treated well enough to keep them wanting to live in the area but not any kind of house pet.

[@slackyogurt]

We call them barn cats in Canada too! I was just about to type this! I agree - they aren't "pets". They are useful on a farm though!

[@psilynt1]

Had a couple 'barn cats' growing up. They were socialized enough to be friendly but spent their days outside and keep the mice under control. They had their own cat house with a small heater turned on winter.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@psilynt1 in the evening the cat comes in to sleep in the warm house, in the morning it leaves and does what cats tend to do.

[@adamw7754]

I had a Corgi and not many people know they are a working breed. They were (and still are) used as droving dogs to move cattle.

[@lmonk9517]

@@adamw7754 wouldn't the cows step on the corgi's. Surely you need a bigger dog to drive big animals.

[@derphurr8814]

The idea t is they're small and agile enough to avoid being stepped on.

[@lmonk9517]

@@derphurr8814 smart

[@adamw7754]

@@lmonk9517 They were bred to be short so that when they nipped at cows heels to move them along it was under the height that a cow would kick. They are study little buggers too and low center of gravity to boot. And my personal favourite fact is that the white tip on their tail (and on border collie's) is called a shepherd's lantern. After the work for the day was done and the sun had set the used to tell them to go home and follow the white tip of the tail home.

[@MrBigCookieCrumble]

The Corgi (we have one too!) is said to be related to the swedish "Västgötaspets", very similar in physical shape but shorter hair and almost wolf-like in appearance. Also bred for herding cattle! :)

[@Cat-ew1io]

There is a Franciscan Monastery in Bolivia that adopted a little schnauzer into there order. His name is Brother Mustache in Spanish Fray Bigotes.

[@render1802]

Hahaha, that is a wonderful name for a schnauzer!

[@LadyBeyondTheWall]

Haha, google translates that as "Friar Whiskers", which is awesome. Reminds me of Tommen's cat in Game of Thrones, Ser Pounce. I always appreciate when a pet has a title.

[@fantasyhaven3900]

Haha of course that is such a franciscan thing to do.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Fantastic.

[@suburbanbanshee]

Re: menageries, you might be surprised. A lot of these acquired animals came with instructions, and some of them even came with keepers (or people intended to train a new keeper, and then go back). If you had a leopard or a cheetah, he would come with a huntsman/keeper who had probably trained the cheetah himself, and was bonded with him. Charlemagne's elephant came with an elephant keeper. And so on. A lot of Magi pictures are also pictures of some local magnate's menagerie and keeper staff, standing behind the Magi with all their various critters as well as the standard hunting dogs. Many of them have cheetahs sitting on special cheetah saddlepads, or down on the ground ready to hunt.

[@JohnyG29]

I agree, I think they were pretty well kept. I believe they even used to let the polar bear at the Tower go swimming and fishing in the Thames now and again.

[@johannesbengtsson]

I have missed these kind of videos Jason. I relly like your videos and always watch them as fast i can. Greetings from Sweden.

[@Mammothbronco]

Thanks for the chat and walk through the wood!

[@hillockfarm8404]

Here in some towns the law was that every household needed to have at least 2 cats to help with pest control. Having a dog would be taxed for its use in helping the owner earn money (like by pulling a cart).

[@satu4387]

I watched a YT video some time ago explaining how much money good (=mouser) cats cost in the Medieval times. Our family cat would not fetch much, I am afraid.

[@DragonTigerBoss]

​@@satu4387Haha. I don't think I've ever had a cat that could actually work as a mouser. They always looked at any vermin in the house as an extraterrestrial species.

[@erinmac4750]

I had a cat that would just play with the mice. 😸

[@4B4Me]

I've had three cats who were ferocious hunters. It's sort of horrifying to see your precious baby going medieval (so to speak) on a small wild animal.

[@suburbanbanshee]

@@satu4387 - Cambrian Chronicles, I think? All about the Welsh laws about cats.

[@Astro_Guy_1]

I started watching you since you only had a couple thousand subs, and I am so happy to see how much you have grown as a channel and content creator. I am excited to see where this journey will continue to go!

[@JustGrowingUp84]

Mayhap one of the reasons why some priests were more fond of exotic pets was because they couldn't marry and have children, so some lavished their parental love on animals. At least when it comes to Catholics and monks. Here in the East, regular priests could and usually should marry, and most lived like regular commoners. Especially a country priest would have dogs, cats, and farm animals, and they pretty much lived like regular peasants, outside of their priestly duties.

[@isoldam]

Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic rites allow men who are already married to become priests. However, neither allows men who are already priests to marry. So if you became a priest while single, you must stay single, and if you are widowed, you may not marry again. Bishops are only chosen from the ranks of single priests. The rules have been the same since the early church. The only difference in the Western (Latin) Catholic Church is that usually only single men can become priests (there are some exceptions). St. Paul's advises celibacy for priests, and the Western Church decided to do that as a matter of discipline.

[@Gabu_]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="388">6:28</a> 'Cambrian Chronicles' has a very interesting video on the keeping of cats in Wales which I recommend people check out after watching this :)

[@kathleenorr9237]

So interesting, seems that ‘pets’ had a purpose and earned their keep as it were. Watching my elderly cat snoozing on her heated pad thinking she’s lucky to be a modern day house cat!

[@thekaxmax]

@@kathleenorr9237 job: be companion. Working hard.

[@Lostboy811]

Stress relief by petting job secured

[@patricianunes3521]

@@thekaxmax😅

[@LadyBeyondTheWall]

We got a heating pad for our cat about a year ago and I've been kicking myself since, wondering how I never thought of looking for one sooner! Of course cats would love heating pads! 😂

[@Nscladyweareamused]

@@kathleenorr9237 mine has one too

[@armandocampamartinez8307]

There’s a type of dog I also imagine would be very useful in medieval times. Until not long ago small dogs (think a toy poodle) were kept in fishing ships. They would keep pests like rats from entering the vessel and act as an alarm when the sailors were away. They’d feed on fish scraps (or I guess whale in whaling vessels). They could also be entertainment for the sailors while at sea if they were not needed in any particular task. My guess is they could be a very useful animal in medieval vessels, especially those that went for days or months to sea and would dock in many different ports.

[@erinmac4750]

@@armandocampamartinez8307 I knew cats were kept on board ships, but I didn't know about the dogs. Little guys earning their keep! 😸

[@CanalTremocos]

I think you're describing ratter dogs. There were dozens of terrier, pinscher and schnauzer breeds selected for hunting rats. Cats are nice when there's a managed population, but when there are many large rats nothing like a terrier. You also have water dog retrievers like the Portuguese and Spanish water dogs. Fishermen used them until very recently to retrieve lost items that fell overboard.

[@squaretriangle9208]

The netherlands' keeshond was used on their barges, he was small, black and is nowadays often confused with the smaller variant of the German Spitz, although similar but not the same variety

[@armandocampamartinez8307]

@@squaretriangle9208 the perro de aguas cantábrico from northern Spain would be similar to a very white poodle

[@juliepelletier6015]

@@squaretriangle9208 like a Schipperke!

[@howardhavardramberg333]

Stoked about your book, man!

[@Smolstarfish]

Monk bringing home a rabbit: *absolutely not* Monk bringing home a bear: "Whats his name?"

[@mellissadalby1402]

Greetings Sir Knight! I have a mongrel dog. I like rescue dogs the best because their gratitude is never ending. I also have 2 cats, but neither of them is a witch (as far as I can tell).

[@niagara6015]

We are fostering dog and not all dogs have gratitude. This dog is the dog equivalent of a grandiose narcissist that is able to bite. Before anyone talks about past trauma etc, we know the history of the dog, he was not physically abused, we have had him for a period of time and progress with this dog has been very, VERY slow, even behaviouralists say they can't help with his aggression. My other adopted rescue dog is the grateful one.

[@DragonTigerBoss]

Gotta go tell Kitteny Houston that she's a valued member of my household and family. She doesn't speak English or do pest control, but she's cute and fluffy which is good for morale.

[@citricdemon]

I'd like to keep a "small boy" in YOUR "kennels"... if you know what i mean. Do you?

[@nicknickson3650]

Good to see this channel posting again. I love these videos

[@kalayne6713]

Saint Julian of Norwich apparently always had a cat in her little cell next to the church. I believe she also had access to a small courtyard garden.I love her famous quote of ...'All is well. All shall be well. All manner of thing shall be well.' Maybe she should be known as Saint Pollyanna. Hers is a fascinating story. All the best from Australia.

[@andyr4343]

greetings from norwich! just walked past st. julian's this afternoon. amazing that our weird little city is thought of all the way over there.

[@PLuMUK54]

St Julian was an Anchorite, for whom the rules were clear. They were only allowed to keep a cat. Firstly, it was recognised that having a pet would have a positive effect of their mental health (though they would have described it differently). Secondly, as they were sealed into their cell, they needed an animal that would come and go to do what was necessary. They could be let out of the cell via the hatch through which food was delivered, there was no door, and only small windows.

[@mikegould6590]

I love your approach to teaching history. It feels conversational and informal. Educational, and indeed, relaxing.

[@ModernKnight]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@blackeyedlily]

I would think it would be hypocritical for Franciscan monks to be criticized for having a pet, considering the relationship that Saint Francis was said to have had with animals.⛪️

[@NFS0038]

Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker (reposed 687) of Lindisfarne is venerated in the Holy Orthodox Church on March 20th. He is well known for his incredible and often extreme nightly vigils. One night a brother monk followed St Cuthbert and observed his nightly vigil; the Saint stood waist-deep in the North Sea, arms outstretched in silent prayer all night. In the morning when he emerged from the sea, the monk secretly observing him saw two otters come up and rest at St Cuthbert's feet, warming them. St Cuthbert knew the monk was watching, and asked him not to mention what he saw to anyone while he was still alive, for the sake of his humility. Monastics and ascetics can achieve such peace that they relate to animals on a level much more akin to how humans were meant to, like Adam living in peace with them. So imagining monks keeping bears as "pets" is not a stretch, though the connotations of the word pet probably didn't apply to their relationship with the animals. Saint Seraphim of Sarov made friends with a bear, and "treated him like a lamb".

[@purpleporygon]

"Don't eat Bacon!" "Why not?" "He's my pet pig!"

[@raraavis7782]

Pets running around in the church during service is a hilarious thought, though. Thanks for the chuckle - and the all around interesting video!

[@mega_n5803]

My husband and I have an ex-street dog terrier as a pet and we have two great pyrenees outside keeping predators away from our livestock. It's really neat having working dogs and seeing them in action.

[@janeinscotland]

Thank you for this, I'll have to get it once I'm back from middle earth! lol xxx

[@sgtgarcia52]

Oooh, interesting! The only other time I have seen reference to alaunts was in a book by Ann Swinfen, The Novice's Tale, set around Oxford in the 1350s. These alaunts were quite scary creatures used by the villain to attack a young woman. Another type of dog called a lymer was also used, for scent-following rather than attacking, and I understand that these are extinct as well. Thank you for the video!

[@doctordeufall5937]

Amazing attire sir doth hath the drippeth! Nice work

[@stormangel]

The description of the Alaunt breed sounds similar to a modern lurcher or borzoi. Also the anecdote about people bringing their badly trained pets into public spaces just proves Annoying Dog Owners have always been an issue 😂

[@Fluttermoth]

I once met someone at a lurcher and terrier show that had some very odd looking dogs; I asked him about them, and he was rather cagey, but they turned out to be greyhound/pitbull crosses. Very sadly, I believe they're bred for badger baiting, but I bet the aluant was something similar, if you were after bears, something like a wolfhound or deerhound crossed with a mastiff would be a formidable hunter.

[@kray3883]

I'm not sure lurcher would have been the right description...with no breed registry to begin with it's hard to describe anything as partbred.

[@PLuMUK54]

Apparently, there are breeding programmes for the recreation of the Alaunt. There are two breeds so far, the Alaunt Gentil, which has a less aggressive nature, and the American Alaunt, which, surprise, surprise, retains the more aggressive characteristics.

[@stormangel]

@@PLuMUK54 I looked up the page for the Alaunt Gentil breed and it's fascinating! Apparently the fierce and savage celtic dogs were interbred with the 'gentler' breeds imported by the Romans, leading to the somewhat soppier modern Irish wolfhound.

[@lwolfstar7618]

More likely to be a wolfhound or great dane precurser

[@Maike_I.F]

In my town's church, we have a very big cross in the celing which is laying horizontly, one year ago, around eight black and white birds had made their nests in there, so very oftenly we are in the middle of a prayer, or the Priest is talking, and these birds just start flying in circles around the cross, it's really, really beautiful, they came in naturally and the church has them as pets now, leaving food to them close to the cross.

[@shellyirby9828]

Great video Jason! I know you have many projects that you're working on, so i was very excited to get a new video! I definitely think if you have a horse or working animal that you are with all the time, that they could easily become your best friend! The part where you talk about the church chaos reminds me of people bringing thier rowdy pets into stores now (and kids) lol!

[@timseguine2]

Lap dog is a state of mind. I have two 20kg border collies who are absolutely sure they are lap dogs.

[@GreenWoolWitch]

@@timseguine2 As a border collie owner, this tracks for me.

[@intiorozco5063]

My 40+ kg labrador also thinks he's a lap dog.

[@mauricematla8379]

You have never met our "uncle" Sjonnie Johnny for English speakers. 72-75 KG Renaissance Bulldog Looking fierce but lover not fighter and the worlds worst guarddog. Lap sitting putting his chin on your shoulder and so fall a sleep. He even somehow got my dad , a master upholsterer by trade, To make him his own luxurious sofa goosedown pillows and all.... Mind you my mom waited a full decade before he found time to restore a few of her pieces. While the dogs wishes where prioritiezed over paying clients..... He is dearly missed.

[@jaroslavpalecek4513]

Greetings from Czech republic! Love your videos. Hope you and the animals are all right. God bless you ❤

[@dawnmrodgers]

I love the phrase ‘hither and yon.’ Great video. Very informative and interesting.

[@dundeeangel2496]

I'm surprised you didn't mention ferrets, there are many period images of ladies hunting with their ferrets, (and falcons) but also simply posing with them, as though they were also treated like lapdogs.

[@KateVeeoh]

Thanks for this, Jason! I recently watched a video (Cambrian Chronicles) about cat laws in medieval Wales, highly interesting 🤓

[@DestroyEraseImprove33]

It's a great video too!

[@kayemoonflower]

You & your videos are an intriguing breath of fresh air! I used to live in the wilderness with a pack of wolfdogs and now I live in a suburban area (but in the process of moving )--- You re-Mind me in such a good way, thank you!

[@shaunbeauchamp6537]

This is easily my favourite channel on KZbin now. Found it by accident and I just can’t stop watching. Thank you for your hard work in the content.

[@ModernKnight]

welcome

[@wesmaass4669]

I enjoyed this, I would also love to see in more detail about river travel, both commercial endeavors and warcraft.

[@lorisewsstuff1607]

I would like to see that too. I wonder how far back English canals came into being?

[@julienielsen3746]

My great great grandmother who came from England to the United States in the 1880s had a red parrot. Doubt if she brought her from England on a sailing ship, or on the immigrant train across the US to Oregon. Great great grandma loved her animals. She wouldn't even eat her chickens. Just the eggs. Her parrot Loretta, got to sit at the table with her at breakfast and grandma would share her breakfast with her. Grandma insisted on being called Mother, not grandma. So, Loretta called her Mother. I don't know what else she said. Just some things I read about in memories written by her grandchildren. Enjoyed this video about animals.

[@MrEvanfriend]

Some years ago, I read a book called "How the Irish Saved Civilization", that was mostly about Irish monks preserving Christianity and literacy in the British Isles during and immediately after the Anglo-Saxon invasion and conquest. The one thing I really remember about it was that in some book that was meticulously copied by some monk, presumably Irish or of Irish extraction, there was a little poem written in the margins about how the monk hunts words while his cat, Pangor Ban, hunts mice

[@broadwaybaby348]

It was adapted into a poem by W.H Auden in 1916, 'The Monk and His Cat'.

[@justforplaylists]

I recently read "Medieval Pets" by Kathleen Walker-Meikle. That mostly focused on the non-working pets like lapdogs, so it was interesting to hear about the hunting dogs.

[@noldo3837]

In Czech, there is still till today an idiom "It's as cold as in the kennels." ("Zima jak v psinci.")

[@edithallen238]

Thanks for this video. I found it super interesting, as it hadn’t been something that I took special notice of as the artwork (admittedly of nobles/wealthy) individuals often had a little dog, or hunting dog or hunting bird. I figured the non- affluent would have animals that worked for them, and so less of a “pet”. I looked up the Alaunt, which is currently extinct, but interesting, with two types being the molosser type - so large, short hair, big head, heavy and strong - and one a large sight hound - which made me think of the Irish wolfhound. Definitely I would think more of the working type dog than the little dogs of the wealthy. The pets of monks and nuns made me giggle, especially as pets were apparently contraband.

[@monikahasch7441]

Maybe they describe the Molosser for bear hunting?..it's a very old breed already known by the Romans...

[@crimsonclover3643]

@@monikahasch7441 I’m convinced it was a Dane but I don’t know how old the breed is. I’ve read that Great Danes we’re originally bred for hunting large game so it would make sense if they were used for hunting bears

[@ninibansal6745]

This is so heartwarming to me as a person who could not envisage life without a furry friend. Since my infancy I would cry inconsolably if I didn’t have an animal companion. I’m so glad to know such a thing has been a part of human history. Much gratitude owed to you.

[@jennythescouser]

I think there was a now extict breed of dog called a spit-turn. It's sole job was to operate a treadmill like a sort of medieval rotisary. And Yorkshire Terriers were often used as 'ratters'.

[@victorygarden556]

@@jennythescouser I’ll have to look into that, I was recently looking at ploughing, carting, dragging sleds, some weird power generators from raised stones or springs compressed by a Jenny mill. Looked for this stuff when I was working on that, saw nothing but basic accounts without much detail.

[@martinwohlert7803]

@jennythescouser yeah, I was watching and thinking "he didn't mention the spit dog!".

[@cathleenc6943]

It is believed that the Glen of Imaal Terrier was often used as a turnspit dog among other jobs. This breed still exists.

[@BGDSP1121]

I just want to say, I'm so happy to have this channel and grateful for Jason! Your intro cures my depression and your show is very relaxing and informative! I was a kid when Steve Irwin died and you have similar wholesome vibes. Keep it up sir! I love medieval history.

[@Sum_Yousah]

Sir Jason Kingsley, I love how you always blend in perfectly with your surroundings. It's like a beautiful old painting, a perfect whole. Oh, and I want an English Pigdog now, difficult to get one these days I guess.

[@ModernKnight]

Thank you very much!

[@roberthudson1959]

Mr. Kingsley has not been knighted.

[@Sum_Yousah]

@@roberthudson1959 Really? I think this should be done as soon as possible, don't you think?

[@roberthudson1959]

@@Sum_Yousah He was just appointed as a CBE at the beginning of this year. A knighthood won't happen soon, if it happens at all.

[@KatherineHugs]

The algorithm doesn't send me my favorites until they've been up for one day. Love this, thank you!!

[@thedj9553]

Alaunts I believe survive in their descendants, the Spanish Bulldog, which is still extant, and had previously lived on in the Old English Bulldog, now extinct. That said, they appear, based on the name, to have originated with the Alans, a steppe people from the area just north of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and it's believed the Alaunt came to Europe through the Vandals, who raided Europe with Western Alans under them.

[@wendybutler1681]

My dog was engineered during the end of the medieval period. Perfectly engineered. Dachshund. My first hound. Had I known how wonderful the breed is I wouldn't have waited until one found my doorstep after being dumped. He was a pup and charming. That was on 6/6/14. He's got a vet appointment today. The usual check up but I want his ears checked. The dear old boy can't hear a thing. Cataracts, too, and arthritis. It was a revelation to me taking him to a field full of moles. He sensed their underground tunnels and would turn into a digging machine, so efficient in that powerful little body. Part torpedo, part tank, part auger. And the best snuggler EVER!

[@wendybutler1681]

Those first dachshunds look different than today's. Brawny. My Budlee is a longhaired. They came along not too long after the smooth coated. The longhaired were meant for flushing out ground nesting birds and rodents. There is a size between miniature and standard that was bred specifically for rabbits. My Bud is a 16 lb standard. His first year is a mystery but he sure was a charming, good boy. No training, no chip. Never really trained him, he picks up quickly on what displeases me. He's been chipped and tagged since 30 days after he came to me. He's stuck with me! The story of the timeline on which breeds came about when (why and how) is really fascinating. There's a documentary around somewhere that's 2 hours long and tells the story really beautifully. Nat Geo or Animal Planet or Smithsonian---one of the biggies was behind it. Have no more info than that, sadly. I'd LOVE to see it again. Been some years.

[@sejemandhaha]

can someone write the name of that type of "extinct" hound/beast he talks about at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="162">02:42</a>. It's really hard researching when you can't figure out how it's spelled, and it's mysterious too!

[@erika9458]

@@sejemandhaha alaunt I believe

[@Amateur_Pianist_472]

This channel shows that documentaries don’t have to be expensive to be great. I love your content!

[@rileyernst9086]

On exotic pets, there was a beastiary from the 13th century depicting a pet Sulfur crested Cockatoo. I think it belonged to the King of Sicily. In any case it is the first case of an Australaisian animal depicted in European artwork!

[@thelandlord111]

Probably an umbrella cockatoo that is native to Southern Asia.

[@rileyernst9086]

The creature is identifiable as a sulfur crested cockatoo, tge crest feathers being much longer, and sulfur yellow instead of white.

[@chandelballard6427]

Thanks!

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

Pangur Bán ! (the cat) although i think that was before medieval times

[@catzkeet4860]

It was but cats were often associated with monks, particularly those who followed the Celtic tradition, throughout the centuries.

[@internetcowgirl12]

My kind of saint! 🐎I suppose horses or ponies weren't considered pets as a general rule back then.

[@lisawillis8227]

I'm sure people did love their horses and ponies

[@internetcowgirl12]

@@lisawillis8227 Yes, but they were probably more of a necessity instead of a pet. :)

[@charlottekey8856]

I read a medieval history quoting an ex-soldier (I think) in about 14th or 15th century, who made provisions for his horse to have a very nice retirement and to be allowed to live out his life peacfully. Specified the pasture and other details.

[@dansuehath]

Some kept miniature horses as pets…………fabellas🥰

[@seeing8spots]

Both really. Even working farm horses and such were well loved. Valued menber of the family farm for both their work but also companionship. But overall. Horses were working animals yes. But it was common for nobles to have a "favorite" horse that was used for leisure riding and similair activities

[@FanoftheWorId]

I feel so connected to this geographic area and time era, but grew up in Southern California around fake trees and tightly spaced buildings. I don’t have much of an ability to travel at the moment so I really appreciate these videos. Thank you for sharing the history of your beautiful surroundings!

[@cujomojo]

For a noble medieval household to have a Fewterer (the keeper of dogs) would imply they kept dogs. The Alaunt was probably rife in Britain, the Alans came over with the Romans and more than likely brought their dogs with them. What we now call Lurchers are Greyhounds crossed with various other breeds to determine size and ability, a Greyhound x Saluki is much more slender and a lot faster than a heavy set Greyhound x Masiff.

[@lisawillis8227]

From inky paw prints on medieval manuscripts, we know they had cats

[@erinmac4750]

Oh, that sounds cute! I'll have to check that out. 🐾

[@stonedog5547]

About dogs in church. I once saw on tv a program about Antiques in which they showed a large pair of wooden tongs, it turned out these were common in the chapels in the area because the local farmers and shepherds used to bring their dogs that would then fight... These tongs were for separating the dogs and (probably) putting them outside. They commonly come in twos (or is that a 'pair of pairs' ?) Queen Victoria as a girl used to keep Turnspit dogs (a now extinct breed), these would work in the kitchens all week and then be taken to church and used a footwarmers. They are a small pointy nosed breed with a long body and a fluffy tail (there are a few stuffed ones around)

[@videoah1024]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="41">0:41</a>. I spooked for a second there. I thought he's saying "nobles kept-hunting, dogs" instead of "nobles kept hunting-dogs".

[@EdgarStyles1234]

They aren't Chinese nobles

[@dorkydevil]

One of the most underrated channels for years.

[@nevertrustatory9412]

The Woods look especially inviting today.

[@bjarnemuse5827]

Thanks for the video. I heard a funny anecdote in a french village of knife makers dating from the 18th or 19th century, but maybe a very old practice. One of the workers trade was to sharpen the blades, it was done on a huge (2 meters) wet grinding stone powered by a water mill. They spent the whole day lying on a board in front of the wheel grinding the blades in a very, very wet place. It seems each man had a dog trained to lie all day on its masters back, to keep the said back dry and warm.

[@sharp_medicine9858]

Bulldogs of various kinds are probably descended from Alaunts. The Spanish bulldog are still called Alano Español.

[@marcz2903]

I really love learning about the little details of history. The great events of history are fascinating, but everyone talks about those. Very few people talk about the lives of the average person, and I think its great that you do. I think it does a great honor to those unremembered people, and it makes history feel real, present, almost alive again. I can relate to those people, because despite the centuries of separation, we aren't that different from them. Wonderful video!

[@BlackDeej]

So "English Pig-dogs" were a real thing... wonders will never cease, lol

[@lonayork591]

😂😂

[@shireboundscribbles]

So Warlord comics were quite accurate!

[@daniellewis3750]

If Germans have the word "Swine Hund", it must have originated from some where.

[@squaretriangle9208]

In most cases up until now shepherd dogs herd whatever they are told to herd, so it didn't need to be a special dog that herded pigs, e.g. Croatian sheep dogs herded sheep, pigs and cows. Their herding instinct is so powerful that they even try to herd their owner's family😂, they try to round you up and don't want you to leave the herd

[@squaretriangle9208]

​@@daniellewis3750 you're right Schweinehund is a German term and is used in a derogatory manner for a person

[@Blueshirt38]

Man, I absolutely loved this video. Especially the description of what a good dog should be. Courageous and kindly, exactly how we think of our dogs today.

[@jinglejoys]

I have a Giant Schnauzer ( used to herd guard etc) a Cocker Spaniel ( for woodcocks?) and a Lowchen ( often seen in paintings and lying at the feet of knights who died not in battle 🙂)

[@wolfriver9993]

This is why it's important to thoroughly read the title, I first saw "medieval peanuts" and was confused, but this was very informative

[@Flamewolf14]

Mercedes Lackey used the dog boy as a main character or at least the Mc did that a job for the villian for the book the hills have spies pretty interesting it was a historical thing makes sense also the boy in the book has the ability to speak to animals so that was pretty cool

[@pskarnaq73]

I loved that series!

[@sueamos3860]

So happy for this video, I do enjoy them very much. Thank you

[@ModernKnight]

Our pleasure!

[@MidnightBlueOwl]

Hello, I was wondering if squirrels could also be counted as unusual pets the upper class might have had? I recall seeing a Holbein portrait of a lady with what looked like a pet squirrel. Thanks for sharing another informative video! 🤓

[@PLuMUK54]

That's the portrait believed to be of Anne Lovell. She has a squirrel (red of course) in her hands, and a starling on a branch behind her.

[@MidnightBlueOwl]

@@PLuMUK54 Yes, that's the one!

[@brocktoon8]

You, Sir, are an absolute gem! Thank you once again for your wonderfulness! I am so grateful for your existence, your research, and your charming delivery in your videos! I always look forward to the next one! ^^

[@ModernKnight]

You are welcome

[@Vampire123411]

Monk: "We are Franciscans, right? Shouldn't we follow the example of St.Francis, get a few animals here and..." Abbot: "Brother, stop trying to weasel out of your weeding duty."

[@minerwaweasley1008]

Franciscans had no abbots :)

[@frederickheard2022]

That was great! I love your videos about everyday life for people of different status. Too much of popular history is battles and successions, and we never get enough pets!

[@TheDoctorofOdoIsland]

I imagine medieval monasteries would have had animals around both for utility (beekeeping is a well known monastic practice) as well as for scientific purposes, as monasteries were one of the few places in the middle ages where books on natural history were housed and copied. The holy man with two monkeys you mentioned might have fallen into the latter category. There were likely many curious monks who wished to add to their repository of zoological knowledge by direct study of living specimens. There were of course monks who kept common every day pets for pleasure, such as the author of the Old Irish poem Pangur Bán, which he composed out of love for his cat.

[@2380MG]

Yes!! A new upload! Supid YT didnt let me know until now but I will watch right away, of course.

[@Snarkknight5]

I remember one of my lore complaints with the sci-fi game 'Starfield' was that humans in that setting, when they fled the Earth, abandoned dogs, which were extinct by the time the game was set. I can't imagine a scenario where the human species, as a whole, just leaves dogs behind entirely, not even bringing genetic samples to clone later or something. Dogs are not only mind-bogglingly useful for a great many things, but they are just utterly devoted buddies too. While specific breeds may look different today, and there was a stronger emphasis on their working roles in the past, the continuity of the bond between dogs and humans throughout history is an oddly-comforting constant when piecing together the lives of our ancestors.

[@feiryfella]

Yeah, no cats, no dogs, horses, sheep, cattle....Nah, would NEVER happen! Just one more gripe with that game lol.

[@grendelbiter303]

All just to save on 3D models for dogs.

[@Michaelfatman-xo7gv]

As a answer, S.M. Stirling wrote a book where the dogs were embiggened and they used them as cavalry. Good series.

[@Viroh]

Thank you for making videos. I enjoy listening to these at night, relaxing and educational.

[@abigaillilac1370]

Cats are still damn useful at keeping pests away. The only time I ever got a vole in my house was when I didn't have any cats for a year.