#af956

The Priory of Bricett

The prior, with a great number of other priors of alien houses and cells, was summoned to appear before the council at Westminster, on the morrow of Midsummer, 1346, 'to speak with them on things that shall be set forth to them,' upon pain of forfeiture and the loss of the priory, lands, and goods.

Are you a fan of The Canterbury Tales?

Did you know that on Midsummer’s Day, the Plowman joined them in their pilgrimmage?

With him his brother came, a PLOWMAN who Had carted many a load of dung. A true  And well-intentioned laborer was he, Who lived in peace and perfect charity.

Midsummer seems a bit late in the planting season, and so thought one particular farmer back in the 6th century.

St Columba had sent him six measures of corn to sow as a thank you gift, but the farmer looked at the grain and said “what good can any corn do when it is sown after midsummer?”

But his wife admonished him, saying that they were the gift of a saint, and had his blessing, and therefore should be sown. Lo and behold, when August came around, the corn was ready to be reaped, much to the astonishment of the farmer’s neighbours (and the farmer himself, we can imagine!).