Monday, September 17, 2007

A Day to Remember

Today, 17 September is St. Lambert's Day. He was the bishop of Maastricht in Holland and lived from 635 until 705. He died a violent death probably as the result of a blood feud and was thereafter venerated as a martyr. He's referred to in Shakespeare's Richard II. "Be ready, as your lives shall answer it, At Coventry, upon St Lambert's day."

It's amazing that a man could have been remembered nearly 900 years after his death, which is a testament to the organization of the old church. Who from today will be remembered in 2900? Which celebrity will manage to create enough interest to have men and women pass down their names through generation after generation?

The source of this information? Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, one of the most interesting books in the English language.

2 comments:

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Yes, amazing. Thank you for reminding me of "Brewer's".

James Higham said...

...testament to the organization of the old church...

Yes, that is certainly so. Love your trick question near the end. Ans: we're not going to have a a world in another generation. Kaboom!