Re: Codex Argenteus - the Silver Bible

From: Martin Reboul (martin_at_spamfukreboul1471.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: 07/31/04 

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 00:13:20 GMT

"Jim Webster" <Jim@zerospam.mok.net> wrote in message
news:ceedft$n81$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> "Martin Reboul" <martin@spamfukreboul1471.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:Y3zOc.230$N57.133@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> >
> > "Jim Webster" <Jim@zerospam.mok.net> wrote in message
> > news:cee9pk$ta7$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
> > >
> > > "Martin Reboul" <martin@spamfukreboul1471.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in
> message
> > > news:1KyOc.221$N57.147@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
> > > >
> > > > "Robert Stonehouse" <ew65@bcs.org.invalid> wrote in message
> > > > news:4109f5e5.4246146@news.cityscape.co.uk...
> > > > > On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 04:21:36 GMT, "Martin Reboul"
> > > > > <martin@spamfukreboul1471.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> > > > > ...
> > > > > >All that matters (to me) is doing the right thing. The Greeks, our
> > > great
> > > > friends
> > > > > >and loyal allies for centuries, are rightly hurt by what appears to
> be
> > > > British
> > > > > >reluctance to return a very important national treasure (what if
> the
> > > Crown
> > > > > >Jewels were pinched, then sold to a Greek - same thing).
> > > > > ...
> > > > > Incidentally, does anyone know where the Crown Jewels are now? The
> > > > > pre-Restoration ones, I mean: those in the Tower mostly date from
> the
> > > > > 1660s.
> > > >
> > > > Sadly, most were melted down and broken up by Puritan zealots shortly
> > > after the
> > > > Civil War. At the time this was fiercely opposed by many, and some may
> > > have gone
> > > > 'missing'.
> > >
> > > remember there was an army to pay at the time. Armies owed large sums in
> > > back pay are fractious creatures at best
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > One piece owned by the Crown since 1471 definitely survived, the ring
> > > taken from
> > > > the body of Warwick the Kingmaker after the battle of Barnet (now in
> > > Liverpool
> > > > City Musuem), but that was hardly a 'crown jewel'.
> > > >
> > > > What survived exactly, I have no idea - someone will know. It was a
> > > tragedy, and
> > > > an unconscionable act of vandalism.
> > >
> > > hardly that, we didn't need it, but we did have to pay off the army and
> > > demobilise large chunks of it
> >
> > That is true, but they were worth little in scrap, something pointed out
> at the
> > time. IIRC, there was quite an argument about whether Henry V's crown (I
> think?)
> > c/w battle damage from Agincourt, should be melted down. It doesn't exist
> today
> > AFAIK.
>
> isn't it still on his tomb?
>
>
> >
> > We didn't need them of course, but more to the point, they were highly
> symbolic
> > of the 'eternity' and majesty of the Crown, I think that's why they 'had
> to go'
> > more than for any financial reasons. The terrible damage done to stained
> glass
> > and ancient funeral monuments by zealous Puritan idiots at the time
> produced
> > little or no financial gain, it was just pure vandalism for the sake of
> it. Damn
> > them I say!
>
> of course, but if people hadn't destroyed things in this country we wouldn't
> have room to move. Imagine London if there hadn't been the fire. Or if
> nothing had been demolished after 1700, or 1800
> Not only that but it is only when they knock something down we realise how
> wonderful it was :-)))
>
> I think we just have to treasure the bits that survive

I agree... and hope the odd interesting bit might turn up to delight us from
time to time!