User:October1625

''Welcome to my userpage! I hope you enjoy having a look around ...''

Well, hello there! This is my userpage. I have been on Wikipedia quite a while, just leaving my IP address all over the place, so I thought it was high time I got myself registered on here.

After all, being part of a community is lots of fun and everyone on here seems really friendly.

Here you can find out more about me, my interests and see some of the articles I started on Wikipedia. I have also put some of my resources on here, such as translations I have made available under the creative commons license for use on Wikipedia.

Finally, you can contact me, discuss my articles and edits.

I can’t wait to hear from you ... --Alex (a.k.a. October1625) (talk) 01:12, 3 November 2010 (UTC)

=All about me=

Background
Hello there! My name is Alex and I am a barrister practicing at the Bar of England and Wales. I have also done some lecturing and written a few articles for various publications. I specalise in Chancery, Insolvency and Canon law, the latter being more of an academic interest to me, although it was the subject of my D.Phil! I also have a keen interest in history, especially that of the Roman Catholic Church.

I studied at the University of Manchester and compleated my LL.M at Corpus Christi College, Oxford along with my D.Phil. I own a Yorkshire Terrier, want a sausage dog and enjoy translating Latin in my spare time. I like horse riding, shooting and music.

Oh, and I am also dyslexic, so I never take offence if you correct my spelling and typos. Sometimes I slip up when I see lots of HTML.

My interests
I have a keen interest in the following, viz. -


 * Roman Catholic Church history and ritual - which I would say I am rather hot on (even if I do say so myself).
 * The law - I like to think of myself as having a proficient knowledge of criminal law, insolvency law, Canon Law, and Chancery with a bit of constitutional law chucked in for good measure. I really like obscure areas!
 * History - I’m no expert, but I enjoy it, especially the mediaeval period and Roman history.
 * Music - I used to play the piano semi-professionally, but I’m very rusty.
 * Latin - which is my favourite language.

=Articles I started on Wikipedia=

I like to start entries on Wikipedia as well as edit them. Here is a list in date order of all the articles I have begun. I wish them a long and happy life!

2010 UK quango reforms

 * 2010 UK quango reforms - Following the 2010 United Kingdom General Election, the UK Government announced plans to curb public spending through the abolition of a large number of quangos. Here's an entry on the winners and the not so lucky.

Vox in Rama

 * Vox in Rama - Do you like the supernatural? How about being befriended by a curious toad? Check out Pope Gregory IX's papal bull condemning a Satanic cult in 1233 Germany.

Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard

 * Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard - An entry about British peer and expounder of freemasonry in the north east of England.

Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard

 * Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard - A continuation in my series regarding the House of Barnard. This one is the son of Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard and it brings the second recreation of that title up to date. Yey!

Major Hon. Henry Cecil Vane

 * Henry Cecil Vane - The article on all the Barnards is now complete!

Cum universi

 * Cum universi - A papal bull which established an independent church in mediæval Scotland.

Post Miserabile

 * Post Miserabile - a papal bull issued by Pope Innocent III on 15 August 1198 calling for the Fourth Crusade in the Holy Land. More than any other crusading bull, it was not issued in response to any single event, such as setback in the East, but was more organisational in tone, foreshadowing the bureaucratic and administrative changes Innocent would make to the crusading institutions.

=Articles I vastly improved on Wikipedia=

Raby Castle

 * Raby Castle - Rewrote the entire stub, it is now a complete history of the stately pile.

Mos Teutonicus

 * Mos Teutonicus (Latin: the German custom) - Rewrote and referenced the entire stub. Mos Teutonicus was a postmortem funerary custom used in mediæval Europe as a means of transporting, and solemnly disposing of, the bodies of high status individuals. The process involved the removal of the flesh from the body, so that the bones of the deceased could be transported hygienically from distant lands back home.

In nomine Domini
* In nomine Domini (In the name of the Lord) is a papal bull written by Pope Nicholas II and a canon of the Council of Rome. The bull was issued on 13 April 1059 and caused major reforms in the system of papal election, most notably establishing the cardinal-bishops as the sole electors of the pope, with the consent of minor clergy.

=Resources=

I thought it would be a good idea to put some resources that I have made just for Wikipedia on here. Feel free to use them as you will. It's all creative commons after all!

A Latin-English translation of Vox in Rama by Pope Gregory IX
[ The bull begins with the incept and introduction from Pope Gregory, who condemns the heresy and goes on to describe the cult and its practices. ]

The following rites of this pestilence are carried out: When any novice is to be received among them and enters the sect of the damned for the first time, the shape of a certain frog [or toad] appears to him. Some kiss this creature on the hind quarters and some on the mouth, they receive the tongue and saliva of the beast inside their mouths. Sometimes it appears unduly large, and sometimes equivalent to a goose or a duck, and sometimes it even assumes the size of an oven. At length, when the novice has come forward, [he] is met by a man of wondrous pallor, who has black eyes and is so emaciated [and] thin that since his flesh has been wasted, seems to have remaining only skin drawn over [his] bone. The novice kisses him and feels cold, [like] ice, and after the kiss the memory of the [C]atholic faith totally disappears from his heart. Afterwards, they sit down to a meal and when they have arisen from it, the certain statue, which is usual in a sect of this kind, a black cat descends backwards, with its tail erect. First the novice, next the master, then each one of the order who are worthy and perfect, kiss the cat on its buttocks. Then each [returns] to his place and, speaking certain responses, they incline their heads toward to cat. “Forgive us!” says the master, and the one next to him repeats this, a third responding [says], “We know, master!” A fourth says: “And we must obey.”

When this has been done, they [put] out the candles, and turn to the practice of the most disgusting lechery. [They] make no distinction between strangers and family. Moreover, if by chance those of the male [sex] exceed the number of women, surrendering to their passions, [...] men engage with depravity with men. Woman change their natural function making this itself worthy of blame among themselves. [When] thse most abnormal sins have been completed, and the candles have been lit again and each has resumed his [place], from a dark corner of the assembly a certain man come[s], from the loins upward, shining like the sun. His lower part is shaggy like a cat.

[ ''Here a dialogue, similar to the one above, ensues between the master and the creature. The bull then goes on to describe crimes committed against the Eucharist:'' ]

They even receive the body of the Lord every year at Easter from the hand of the priest, and, carrying it in their mouths home, they throw it into the latrine in contempt of the Saviour.

[ ''A summary of the cults beliefs regarding the coming of Satan and the overthrow of God on the Day of Judgement follows. The bull continues with a summary of their beliefs in the eyes of the church:'' ]

They acknowledge all acts which are not pleasing [to the] Lord, and instead do what he hates.

[ ''The bull then concludes with more condemnations and a command to the relevant authorities to stop the practice. '' ]

The Times Obituary for Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard
Here is a resource that some may find helpful if you wish to add to the article on Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard or if you are simply researching his life or the history of his family. I managed to transcribe Lord Barnards obituary from The Times archive in Durham Library today and it reads as follows:

LORD BARNARD

Lord Barnard C.M.C., O.B.E., M.C. died yesterday in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, at the age of 75. He was one of the north’s biggest landowners until a few years ago when he divested himself of all but 1,113 acres of the 53,000-acer Raby estate which includes more than 250 farms. Earlier this year he gave up the Lord Lieutenancy of co. Durham and also resigned from the presidency of the T.A. and Air Force Association. He had been Lord Lieutenant since 1958. He was a former Scout Commissioner for the county.

Christopher William Vane, tenth Baron Barnard, son of the ninth Baron, was born on October 28, 1888, and educated at Eaton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. During the First World War he served in the Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry, winning the M.C. and being wounded. He succeeded his father in 1918 and commanded the 6th Durham Light Infantry from 1926 to 1931.

Lord Barnard was M.F.H. of the Zetland Hunt from 1920 to 1963 and was also a keen horticulturist.

In 1920 he married Sylvia Mary, only daughter of Herbert Straker[.] They had two sons and one daughter. His elder son, the Hon. Harry John Neville Vane now succeeds to the barony. .

List of the Lords of Raby Castle
A complete list of all the Lords of Raby castle from the earliest times to the present day. There have been twenty-six lords of Raby Castle from the time of the first building on the site until the preset day.

The Houses of Gospatric and FitzMaldred
 * Uehtred, son of Gospatric
 * Dolfin
 * Maldred
 * Robert FitzMaldred

The House of Neville
 * Geoffrey Neville
 * Robert Neville
 * Robert Neville [II]
 * Robert Neville ‘Peacock of the North’
 * Ralph Neville
 * John Lord Neville
 * Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland
 * Cicely Neville ‘The Rose of Raby’


 * John Neville, "knight of England"
 * Charles Neville

The Crown After Charles Neville was deprived of the castle and its estate for the ill-fated Rising of the North it became the property of the Crown by Act of Parliament in 1570 for forty-three years, the monarch becoming the lord of Raby. The castle's lordship was then translated to James II's favourite, Robert Carr.


 * Elizabeth I
 * James I

The House of Carr
 * Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset

The Crown (reverted) Carr had the castle removed from him after falling out of favour with the king. The castle was reverted to the Crown and subsequently was "divested for [...] the augmentation and support of Charles, Prince of Wales, to Sir Francis Bacon and others, for ninety-nine years, with power to lease for three lives [...]"


 * James I (reverted)
 * Charles, Prince of Wales
 * Sir Francis Bacon (by proxy)

The House of Vane
 * Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington
 * Henry Vane, 2nd Earl of Darlington
 * William Henry Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland
 * Henry Vane, 2nd Duke of Cleveland
 * William John Frederick Vane, 3rd Duke of Cleveland
 * Harry George Powlett, 4th Duke of Cleveland
 * Henry de Vere Vane, 9th Baron Barnard
 * Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard
 * (Harry) John Neville Vane, 11th Baron Barnard

List of artworks at Raby Castle
Private apartments There are several works of note in the private apartments of the family, including two depictions Venetian scenes painted by Canaletto and Marieschi as well as several family portraits executed by notable artists of the day. The apartments also contain a selection of fine Chinese porcelain, including vases and plates.

Library The pictures in the library, with the exception of two architectural pieces executed by Panini above the fireplace, are all portraits of the family or figures associated with them. Of note are depictions of the younger and older Sir Henry Vanes wearing the Order of the Garter. The room also contains a pastel drawing of the former Lady Barnard by Ellis Roberts which she considered to be her best work.

Anti-Library The pictures in the Anti-Library are chiefly of the Dutch school of painting with some notable examples by Lorrain and Titan. The room also contains portraits, mostly members of the family.

Dining Room The dining room contains some of the castle’s most impressive paintings, such as Joshua Reynolds, Anthony van Dyck and Rembrandt. The subjects of the paintings in this room are mostly of portraiture of members of the family or associates and still lives.

Interesting articles, books and resources on mos Teutonicus
An interesting set of resources on one of mediæval Europe's most mysterious burial practices.



Post Miserabile bull - translations
Here are two passages which I have recently translated for an article on the bull Post Miserabile which I couldn't find in the public domain.

"Already we have weakened and shattered the spears of the French, we have crushed the efforts of the English [...] in fact, your kings and princes who we drove out of our lands of the East a little while ago, they disguise their fear by acting boldly, returning to their hiding places, we will not say ‘kingdoms,’ they prefer to fight each other in turn than to experience once more our might and power."

and:

"And why they persecute each other in turn with inexotable hatred, while one strives to avenge his injuries agains the other, none is moved by the injury to the Crucified One. They are not paying attention to how our enemies persecute us."

=Contact me=

You can email me by clicking on this: Special:EmailUser/October1625, leave something on the User_talk:October1625 this page, or add to the discuss part of this page. I would love to hear from you ... about anything really.

=References=