Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: chainmail

The "Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and Mother of Him Who Hung Thereto" is the parish church of Crediton. Crediton having been chosen as the site for the Cathedral of Devon and Cornwall in the early 10th century. Today´s church was built on the site of the former Bishop´s cathedral. However, in 1050 the bishop's see was moved to Exeter and just a college of canons remained in Crediton. Construction began on a Norman church on the present site and a collegiate church was built there. The church was extended in the late 13th century with the addition of St Mary's Chapel and the chapter house. A medieval will stipulated that the Norman nave was to be demolished and rebuilt in the perpendicular Gothic style at the beginning of the 15th century. After the college was dissolved during the English Reformation, the Crediton Church Corporation bought the church, which was threatened with demolition, for the parish in 1547. The tomb of Sir John Sully (detail) While the average life expectancy may have been 35-40 in the 12th century, Sir John Sully reached the remarkale age of 105. He spent a great part of his life in the field, and that he was the "hero of a hundred battles." He was at the Battle of Halidon Hill in Scotland (1333). In 1338, he was in France, in the retinue of the Earl of Salisbury and was present at the Battle of Crécy in 1346. In 1350, he was at the Battle of Winchelsea under King Edward III, when a victory was gained over the Spanish fleet. Sully was in Gascony with the Black Prince in 1355 and 1356. In 1356, he shared in the honours of the Battle of Poitiers and letters of protection were granted to him in 1359. In 1361, he obtained the following singular grant from the King: "That he might once in every year during his life, in any of the royal forests, parks, or chases in the realm, have one shot with his bow, one course with his hounds, and one chase for his dog called Bercelette". The merits of Sir John Sully were about this time rewarded in the most striking manner. On the feast of St. George 1362 he was elected into the Order of the Garter, in the ninth stall on the Prince's side. Sully again accompanied the Black Prince to Gascony in 1365, and in 1367 was at the Battle of Nájera. Three years afterwards, in 1370, he again received letters of protection, being about to serve in Acquitaine and as he was then nearly ninety years old, it is not surprising that his name does not afterwards occur in public records until his appearance as a witness in a court case. Sully probably died in about 1388 as he is not mentioned in the records of the Order of the Garter after that year.

Around Aulnay are a couple of small church, that are often underestimated, as "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is such overwhelming, that it shadows everything around. But the craftsmen, that created "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" did not only work there, but they also found jobs in the area. Notre Dame in Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne, located only 7 kms west of Aulnay, is an example of this. The small church was erected in the 12th century, same time as Aulnay. Depicted on the outer archivolt are the Magi, who were adored by all pilgrims at that time. The Magi had followed the Star of Bethlehem on their long journey to Bethlehem, just like the pilgrims following the "chemin" to Santiago. From Aulnay it was a walk of less than two hours to see the Magi here. A knight (Saint George?) in chainmail fights a dragon.

Around Aulnay are a couple of small church, that are often underestimated, as "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is such overwhelming, that it shadows everything around. But the craftsmen, that created "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" did not only work there, but they also found jobs in the area. Notre Dame in Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne, located only 7 kms west of Aulnay, is an example of this. The small church was erected in the 12th century, same time as Aulnay. Depicted on the outer archivolt are the Magi, who were adored by all pilgrims at that time. The Magi had followed the Star of Bethlehem on their long journey to Bethlehem, just like the pilgrims following the "chemin" to Santiago. From Aulnay it was a walk of less than two hours to see the Magi here. The scenes do not follow a chronological order. The left side starts with the "Massacre of the Innocents". A mother, who tries to protect her baby, is attacked by two soldiers. One holds a club, the second (in chainmail) holds a sword. The scene is watched by Herod.

Notre-Dame is the parish church of Biron, a village 6kms east of Pons. Once the church was dedicated to Saint-Eutrope as a relic of "Saint Eutropius of Saintes", who came to the region to evangelize the Gauls in the 3rd century, was kept here. Erected within the 12th century the church got fortified soon after. I had been in Biron a couple if times before. This time I focussed onto the graffiti inside and outside the church. A man in a chainmail? To the left an animal