Today 1st May, 1707: Act of union England Scotland

The Act of Union between England and Scotland Historic UK

1st May, 1707, England joined Scotland under the name of Great Britain.

The United Kingdom is commonly called, in Romanian, Great Britain, but this is a major mistake as the UK designates only England, Scotland and Wales. However, the United Kingdom should not be confused with the United Kingdom (before 1801; formed by the unification of the crowns of England and Scotland), nor with England - one of the constituent countries, the modern British state being the result of the union between the monarchies of Great Britain and Ireland.

England’s grievances would be addressed by a new Act of Union

After almost a century, in 1800, the parliament passed the so-called Union Law, by which the name of the country was changed again, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This enshrined the passage of Ireland under English control, a process that took place gradually between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries. However, internal dissensions over the way Ireland was governed led to the proclamation of Ireland's independence in 1922, which retained a dominion status. The northern part (Northern Ireland) remained part of the United Kingdom, which changed the name of the state to its current form, by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.





Story source:

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by descopera.ro. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Love and marriage in medieval England

A medieval couple being married by a clergyman. Central miniature, folio 102v. Book IV by Henricus von Assia (13th century). Chapter Archive of Tarazona, Spain. (Photo by PHAS/UIG via Getty Images)

Getting married in the medieval period was incredibly simple for Christians living in western Europe – all they had to do was say their “I do’s” to each other. But, as Sally Dixon-Smith reveals, proving that you were actually married and had not tripped up on the many potential ‘impediments’ to marriage might be another thing altogether

Medieval marriage practice continues to influence ceremonies today – from banns the reading three times of your intention to marry to declaring vows in the present tense. Indeed, the word ‘wedding’ itself even dates from the period.  However, some things were very different…


In the Middle Ages, getting married was easy for Christians living in western Europe. According to the church, which created and enforced marriage law, couples didn’t need the permission of their families or a priest to officiate. However, while tying the knot could take a matter of moments, proving that you were wed often proved difficult. 

Although the church controlled – or tried to control – marriage, couples did not need to marry in a church. Legal records show people getting married on the road, down the pub, round at friends’ houses or even in bed. All that was required for a valid, binding marriage was the consent of the two people involved. In England some people did marry near churches to give greater spiritual weight to proceedings, often at the church door (leading to some rather fabulous church porches being added to earlier buildings), but this still did not necessarily involve a priest.  

Marriage was the only acceptable place for sex and as a result Christians were allowed to marry from puberty onwards, generally seen at the time as age 12 for women and 14 for men. Parental consent was not required. When this law finally changed in England in the 18th century, the old rules still applied in Scotland, making towns just over the border, such as Gretna Green, a destination for English couples defying their families. 


Although the medieval church upheld freely given consent as the foundation of marriage, in practice families and social networks usually had a great deal of influence over the choice and approval of marriage partners. It was also normal at all levels of society to make some ‘pre-nup’ arrangements to provide for widow- and widowerhood and for any children. It was also expected that everyone would seek the permission of their lord, and kings consulted over their own and their children’s marriages. Marriage between people of different classes was particularly frowned on. 

The wedding of saints Joachim and Anne, considered to be the parents of Mary, the mother of God. Codex of Predis (1476). (Photo by Prisma/UIG/Getty Images)

There were various ways in which a medieval couple could use words or actions to create a marriage. Consent to marry could be given verbally by ‘words of present consent’ – no specific phrase or formula was required. A ‘present consent’ marriage did not have to be consummated in order to count. However, if the couple had agreed to get married at some point in the future and then had sex, this was seen as a physical expression of present consent. 

So, for engaged couples, having sex created a legally binding marriage. Consent could also be shown by giving and receiving an item referred to English as a ‘wed’. A ‘wed’ could be any gift understood by those involved to mean consent to marry but was often a ring.  A ‘wedding’ where a man gave a woman a ring and she accepted it created the marriage. 

It is clear that there were misunderstandings. It could be difficult to know if a couple was married and they might even not agree themselves. The statutes issued by the English church in 1217–19 include a warning that no man should “place a ring of reeds or another material, vile or precious, on a young woman's hands in jest, so that he might more easily fornicate with them, lest, while he thinks himself to be joking, he pledge himself to the burdens of matrimony”. The vast majority of marriage cases that came up before the courts were to enforce or prove that a marriage had taken place.

Marriage mix-ups bothered the clergy since, after much debate, theologians had decided in the 12th century that marriage was a holy sacrament. The union of a man and a woman in marriage and sex represented the union of Christ and the church, and this was hardly symbolism to be taken lightly. 

As God was the ultimate witness, it was not necessary to have a marriage witnessed by other people – though it was highly recommended to avoid any uncertainty. There was also a church service available, but it was not mandatory and the evidence suggests that only a minority married in church. Many of those couples were already legally married by word or deed before they took their vows in front of a priest.  


Divorce as we understand it today did not exist. The only way to end a marriage was to prove it had not legally existed in the first place. Christians could only be married to one person at a time and it was also bigamy if someone bound to the church by a religious vow got married. As well as being single and vow-free, you also had to be marrying a fellow Christian. Breaking these rules automatically invalidated the marriage.

The marriage feast at Cana, early 14th century. Below, in an initial letter 'S', the throwing overboard and casting up of Jonah. From the Queen Mary Psalter, produced in England. Illustration from School of Illumination, reproductions from manuscripts in the British Museum, Part III, English 1300 to 1350, (British Museum, Longmans, Green and Co, London, 1921). (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

There were also a number of other ‘impediments’ that should prevent a marriage going ahead, but might be waived in certain circumstances if the marriage had already taken place. Couples who were already related were not to marry. The definition of ‘family’ was very broad. Before 1215, anyone with a great-great-great-great-great-grandparent in common was too closely related to get married. As this rule was hard to enforce and subject to abuse – the sudden discovery of a long-lost relative might conveniently end a marriage – the definitions of incest were changed by the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, reduced to having a great-great-grandparent in common. 

As well as blood kinship, other ties could also prohibit marriage. For instance, godparents and godchildren were not allowed to marry as they were spiritually related, and close ‘in-laws’ were also a ‘no-no’.

Reading the ‘banns’ was introduced as part of the 1215 changes to try to flush out any impediments before a marriage took place. Nevertheless, until the Reformation there was no ‘speak now or forever hold your peace’. 


It is difficult to know how many medieval people married for love or found love in their marriage. There was certainly a distinction between free consent to marry and having a completely free choice. What is clear is that the vast majority of medieval people did marry and usually remarried after they were widowed, suggesting that marriage was desirable, if only as the social norm.

Other articles on the same theme:

• William the Conqueror's victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066

• New Anglo-Saxon precious treasure, discovered by archaeologists in England

• Top 15 most powerful Women in history. They established new era

• Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory remains, with 650 victims the most prolific serial killer in human history.

Story source: 

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Historyextra . Note: Materials may be edited for content and lengt

Top famous Swords in History vs Modern Extreme Edge Hybrid Swords

Updated 11/05/2020

There are several Tactical Katana available these days. The main issue though is not the design, but availability and proof that they actually can deliver the promise of a modern, almost indestructible blade.

The Hanwei Forge made one of the best ones and it was incredibly popular. But it was only available for a short period of time and then mysteriously discontinued..

SBG Tactical Modern Katana Review

Hot on its heels came a cheaper version that is almost a carbon copy made by United Cutlery under their 'Honshu' sub brand. But in the event of a zombie apocalypse, it would not be the sword I would reach for first - when a Tactical Katana SHOULD be the kind of thing you would reach for in the case of a zombie outbreak.

The basic design of this sword can be summed up with a single word: sturdy.

before

And after profiling and heat treat, looks like this

Unlike the other so called Tactical Katana on the market, there is a minimum of moving parts - no habaki or tsuba that can be jarred loose - it is as solid a construction as is possible - with 100% full tang construction. acording to

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of all side arms, the sword was undoubtedly the most cherished and honored tool of death. For millennia, the phrase "To die in battle by the sword" was the preferred way of concluding the worldly reckoning for generations of warriors from all over the world because it is considered by far the most honorable and desirable death.

Throughout history, legendary characters, generals and perfect warriors, conquerors of empires and military leaders, all used swords many with their own name and a personality like the one who wielded the battlefield.

Modern Ninja Extreme Edge Hybrid Sword swordsaxe.com

There is a whole section of history specializing in mapping and searching these noble weapons.So we know, some of the most respected, feared and not all sought during the past swords.

Look them with respect and fear, are matchless weapons that have curtailed some of them, thousands of lives, and true rivers of blood.


Let's start with the sword of General Tomoyuki Yamashita

Tomoyuki Yamashita was not a samurai as you might have expected, but one of the most feared generals of the Japanese Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. It became really feared during this bloody world wars when he won the British colonies in Malaysia and Singapore, and thus deserving of the title "Tiger of Malaya".

Photo of Yamashita Tomoyuki, Lieutenant-General, Commander of the Japanese 25th Army photo: wikipedia

At the end of the war, General Yamashita was judged for war crimes in connection with the so-called "Massacre of Manila" and other atrocities that took place in the Philippines and Singapore. It was a highly controversial process, which culminated in the conviction of General Tomoyuki Yamashita to death. His case has fundamentally changed American law on the responsibility of military commanders on war crimes, adopting the law known as such term Yamashita Standard.

During his military career, General Yamashita had a personal sword whose blade was forged by the famous master blacksmith, specializing in producing high quality Katane,  the sword being forged between 1640-1689. The sword had changed somewhere handle the early twentieth century. 

photo: A History Of War

General and surrendered his sword, along with his troops, on September 2, 1945. The gun was taken over by US General MacArthur, and subsequently filed Museum Military Academy at West Point, where he remained until today. The sword is just one of the many similar pieces seized by Americans in Japan after the war.




Gen. Jose de San Martin

Jose de San Martin was a famous Argentinian soldier career, who lived from 1778 to 1850. For South American nations, it is today honored as a great hero because he was the most important leader of the South American continent.

One of the most precious treasures of revolutionary general, consist of a cavalry sword with curved blade which he bought in London. The general was attracted mainly by the blade  that greatly enhance the manageability and efficiency of the sword on the battlefield. For this reason, he ordered that cavalry swords to be similar, extremely important in a attack. The sword remained in the possession of General throughout his life.

In his will, General San Martin was referring to the sword as "The sword accompany me along the tumultuous War of Independence of South America". In 1896, the sword was sent to the National History Museum in Buenos Aires, where it can be admired today. In 1960, the sword was stolen twice, which is why museum officials kept in a specially constructed box.



The 7 sword blades


Paek-je dynasty once ruled a small kingdom of the same name, year somewhere southwest of South Korea today. At the height of its power, ie the 4th century AD, the kingdom Paek-je control their own colonies in western China and ruled the Korean Peninsula. Paek-je was one of the three major Korean medieval kingdoms, Koguryo and Silla together. In 372, King of Paek-je Geunchogo paid tribute to Nippon Jin Dynasty, and it is believed that they ordered the building of a 7-blade sword as a token of consideration to the Korean king. The sword has a main blade with a length of 74, 9, to which they are attached other 6 blades. The sword was created with purely ceremonial, not at all practical in a real fight.

This replica of the Chiljido is held at the War Memorial in Seoul, South Korea. The sword is important to both the history of Korea and Japan photo: wikipedia

In 1870, a Shinto priest discovered two inscriptions on the sword blade 7.

One of inscription said: "At noon the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the era Taiwa, this sword was forged from hard steel a hundred times. The sword can kill a hundred enemy soldiers. With honor for the king.

The sword is kept today Isonokami from Japan.



William Wallace Sword


William Wallace was perhaps the most famous historical figure in Scotland. Originally it was a Scotsman noble knight  who lived from 1272 to 1305. It is famous for organizing military resistance to the English kingdom  during the war of Scottish Independence in 13-14 centuries. Throughout the period of his life, Wallace was appointed guardian and protector of Scotland . 

He led numerous bodies of infantry were employed successfully in wrestling with horsemen British troops. The most prized weapon of these warriors was obviously bigger sized sword. In 1305, the hero William Wallace was captured on the orders of King Edward I of England, charged with treason and suffered a horrible death. Today, William Wallace is the most important Scottish hero and patriot. His sword is among the most famous and popular in the world.

The Wallace Sword. photo: wikipedia

Today can be seen inside the National Monument in Stirling, Scotland. Only the sword sheath has a length of 134 centimeters and weighs about 3 kilograms. It is believed that Wallace sword was used in the battles of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Flakirk (1298). Sword handle ends in an iron counterweight form an onion.

After the execution of William Wallace, Sir John de Menteith, governor of Dumbarton Castle, was the one who received the sword. In 1505, King James IV of Scotland has paid the sum of 26 shillings for the sword to be wrapped in expensive silks. It is said that the sword has gone through many changes since the English have not reconciled at all with that sword scabbard and belt ( made of peeled skin of Hugh Cressingham )




Tizona

Cid was the most important Spanish folk hero. It was a real historical figure who was apparently born in the year 1040, near Vivar, a small town near Burgos, capital of the kingdom of Castile. Throughout his life, El Cid had numerous military and diplomatic successes. He was appointed supreme leader of the army by King Alfonso IV, is undoubtedly the ace in the sleeve of the king in his military campaigns against the Moors. It was a skilled military strategist and also a feared swordsman.

photo: abc.es

He used many swords during his life, but the most popular weapons were "baptized" Colada and Tizona. Tizona was Cid's sword favorite in its confrontation with the Moors. The weapon is considered to this day one of the most important historical artefacts held in the Spanish patrimony.

photo: abc.es

Tizona was forged in Cordoba, a Damascus steel with special purity. It has a length of 103 cm and weighs 1.1 kg. It is adorned with two inscriptions, one that refers to the date on which it was made somewhere in 1002 and the other Catholic prayer Ave Maria. Tizona can be admired in the Museo de Burgos, the town of the same name.


Napoleon Bonaparte sword

In 1799,  Napoleon Bonaparte grown into military and political leader "de facto" of France, following a coup. Five years later, the French Senate porclama him king. 

Such a complex and fascinating personality had his favorite sword. Napoleon Bonaparte on the battlefields always carried a pistol and a sword. He was an enthusiast of weapons, his private collection comprising great viarietare weapons, from daggers to artillery. His weapons were pieces of high quality, made from the best materials of the time.


The Sword of Mercy

This tool of Death with bizarre names, is a famous sword that belonged to Edward the Confessor, one of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. King Edward the Confessor reigned between 1042-1066, immediately after his death  Normans arrived here led by William the Conqueror.

The left panel of the Wilton Diptych, where Edward (centre), with Edmund the Martyr (left) and John the Baptist, are depicted presenting Richard II to the heavenly host. photo: wikipedia

Mercy has broken sword blade, in 1236 was named Curtana weapon and was used only during ceremonies at court. In ancient times, it was a privilege for any king to come to wield. The story linked to the sword breaking episode is unknown, but according to myths, medieval sword tip was broken by an angel who wanted to prevent such a crime.

Sword of Mercy is today part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, and is one of the five swords used in coronation ceremonies of kings of British. The weapon is among the few who escaped the wrath of Oliver Cromwell, famous for his orders to melt all ancient artifacts, looking for any shred of gold and other precious metals.



Zulfiqar The Sword of Ali 

It is the oldest and most treasured sword of Islam. Historically, he belonged to Ali, cousin and bridegroom of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali led the first Islamic Caliphate, between 656-661. Based on historical evidence, Muhammad himself  handed the Zulfiqar to Ali at the end of the battle of Uhud.

Zulfiqar is a symbol of Islam, being admired today by millions of believers.

Zulfiqar (split-bladed sword), a representation of the sword of Ali, Mughal period India. photo: wikipedia

Technically, Zulfiqar is a Scimitar, a typical sword from southwest Asia, this kind of long curved sword blade was very common in the region during the Middle Ages.

It seems that Ali used the Zulfiqar on siege of Mecca. There are few images of the sword, some of them presenting it with a forked blade and two peaks, while others feature in a classical form of Scimitar. According to the 12 Shiite imams, the weapon is now in the possession of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi. Holy sword of Islam is part of the famous collection Al-Jafr.



Honjo Masamune

Smith Masamune is considered among the best makers of swords in Japan, which immediately turns it into one of the greatest masters of this kind that have ever lived in this world It is not known precisely the historical period in which he lived, but is believed to have worked as a blacksmith imperial sometime between 1288-1328.Weapons created by Masamune have acquired a legendary status over the centuries. In particular type swords katana and wakizashi have emerged from the hands of the master Masamune unrivaled reputation based on the quality and style of these tools of Death. The master sign forged swords rare, so it is very difficult to date and identified weapons that had belonged.

Masamune Portrait photo: wikipedia

The most famous of his sword was called the Honjo Masamune, the Sword  is extremely important for Japan because this object has attained perfection (Represented the Shogunate during the Edo) The sword was handed from shogun to shogun for generations. In 1939, it was declared national treasure of Japan, but remained in the castle  Kii of Tokugawa family. The last owner of Katana Masamune was Tokugawa Hionjo Iemasa.

Hionjo handed it along with 14 other swords of great value to the Mejiro police station somewhere in December of 1945. Shortly thereafter, in January of the following year , the police from Mejiro  handed sword to Coldy Bimore (American sergeant). Honjo Masamune sword then disappeared without a trace, and the location is currently unknown. Honjo Masamune is one of the most important and most precious historical artifacts that disappeared at the end of the Second World War.


Joyeuse

Charlemagne or Charles the Great, was probably the most important French king in history. It was born in 742, is considered one of the most admired military leaders on the Old Continent. He became king of the Franks in 782 and in 800 became king over what was left of the western Roman Empire. During the Holy Roman Empire, it was known under the name of Charles I, being in fact the founder of this empire. During his reign, he has managed unprecedented extension of Frankish kingdom, transforming it into a true empire that encompassed much of central and western Europe. Charlemagne is regarded as the founder of the French and German monarchies and father occientale Europe.

Charles the Great, King of the Franks photo: arthermitage.org 

His personal sword called Joyeuse, is seen as a true object of worship among the majority of medieval chivalric orders. Today there are two swords who claims to be famous Joyeuse. One is kept at Weltliche Schatzkammer in Vienna and the other is the Louvre Museum. Louvre blade of the sword seems to be made part of the original blade of the sword of Charlemagne. This sword forged in separate parts assembled in different centuries. The handle of the sword indicates a production date yet coinciding with the period during which Charlemagne reigned.

Joyeuse has appeared in numerous legends and historical documents. Bulfinch Chronicle claims that the supreme monarch of the Franks would be used Joyeuse to decapitate the Saracen commander Corsuble just like his good friend, Ogier Dane.

After the death of Charlemagne, the sword would have been preserved in the Basilica of Saint Denis, then was taken to the Louvre, where it was used in the coronation ceremonies of French kings.


Other articles on the same theme:

• Top 10 Greatest Historical Warriors close to perfection and invincibility.

• Sasuke's story, first samurai without Japanese origins . It was a black slave

• New Anglo-Saxon precious treasure, discovered by archaeologists in England

• Top 10 Mysterious Artifacts

The horrifying story of Sawney Bean and King James I : The cannibal who killed over 1,000 people

The story of Alexander “Sawney” Bean might be real or a greatly exaggerated legend. However, past stories such as this one, true or not, are more interesting if we believe that they happened. Sawney was a man from Scotland, famous for killing and eating more than 1,000 people somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries.

Early in his life, Sawney realized that he doesn’t have a taste for honest labor and left his home to get married to an atrocious woman who apparently shared the same “taste” for food.

The couple settled their home at Bennane Cave, by Ballantrae in Ayrshire, Scotland.  The entrance of the cave was usually flooded twice a day at high tide. Inside, the cave had many tunnels and passages. The couple remained there for 25 years, together with their 14 children and 22 grandchildren – many of them products of incest.

Entrance to Snib Scotts cave Bennane Head Ayrshire #Scotland Pinterest

Sawney Bean at the Entrance of His Cave. Note the woman in the background carrying a dismembered leg. photo: wikipedia

Since the Beans didn’t know honest work, they robbed strangers in the evenings, killing them and dragging the bodies into the cave where they were dismembered and eaten. Leftovers were pickled, and discarded body parts would sometimes wash up on nearby beaches. The missing people and body parts were of course noticed by the local villagers, but nobody could suppose that murders lived in the nearby cave which entrance was flooded.

Snib Torbett's Cave at Bennane Lea Wikimedia Commons

After a monstrous crime spree that lasted twenty-five unimaginable years, the Bean family had murdered so many people that King James VI of Scotland put together a manhunt to track down the culprits. When their remote cave home was finally uncovered, the inside was reportedly littered with the remains of over one thousand people. photo: gorgon-video.com

As the family grew bigger and bigger, so did their appetite, and they murdered more and more people. Once, as an elderly couple was returning from a fair, the Bean family attacked them and as they struggled, a group of 20 more people also returning from the fair came by. The Beans managed to mutilate the body of the woman but there were 20 witnesses and a husband who went before the Chief Magistrate of Glasgow.

Sawney Bean Inside Cave

After hearing what happened it was easy to connect the long list of missing persons and mysterious pickled body parts with the attackers. King James I himself went to Ayrshire with a small army of four hundred men and a pack of tracker dogs, and together with a band of local volunteers, launched one of the biggest manhunts the country had ever seen. What they didn’t expect to see is what they found in the cave with the help of the dogs.

James I  Biography, Religion, & Facts Britannica

Cave clan Sawney Bean in Ayshire photo: dailyrecord.co.uk

The Bean family fought but couldn’t win against the King’s army, so all the members were arrested and marched off to Edinburgh by the King himself. 

Sawney Bean » Tales of Crime

Even the justice system didn’t have a suitable punishment for the Bean family, so they were all sentenced to death. In the name of justice, the entire family faced the same fate as their victims – their legs and arms were cut off and they were left to slowly bleed to death, watched by their women. The women were burned like witches in huge fires.


Other articles on the same theme:

• 9 unsolved historical mysteries ( Jack the Ripper,Mary Celeste Ship and did Richard III really murder the Princes in the Tower? )

• Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory remains, with 650 victims the most prolific serial killer in human history.

• According to the Smithsonian, The Korowai tribe of West Papua and also other Tribes Still Practice Cannibalism Today

Story source: 

The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Thevintagenews . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Who was Helen Duncan: "The Witch" of Winston Churchill

"Recipe" of a classic ritual

The tradition that great leaders are surrounded by witches or any other kind of people with paranormal powers to benefit from the qualities and their advice has its origins in ancient times, when every leader of a tribe or king had shaman or magician its . 

The custom was perpetuated even in modern and contemporary. Just remember the situation in the former Soviet Union, where despite the atheism of state policy against religion and mysticism, almost all communist leaders from Stalin and ending with Brezhnev had their own 'witch' - most often women certain qualities paranormal took account of whose advice religiously. Even to us, it is notorious case of Elena Ceausescu who often steered to a mysterious witch Buzau area named Laila. 

But who would have expected, however, as Winston Churchill, one of the largest European leaders of the last century have had so much interest on occultism that rely on the advice controversial Helen Duncan, none other than the penultimate woman in England official accused of witchcraft?

Helen Duncan photo: wikipedia.org

Poverty and war

Misty and mysterious realm of Scotland, where early last century still rampant myths of pagan Celtic and Scotland, and belief in the paranormal, occult phenomenology was still common among men, was the birthplace of Helen Duncan controversial. It was born on 25 November 1897 Callander, a small town in the county of Stirling.

According to testimony loved ones, the little Helen had submitted certain psychic qualities since childhood. While he was at school, the girl drew the attention of those around them not only through series of prophecies neşteptat accurate, but also its behavior, often hysterically and uncontrollably.

Between "bullshit" and witchcraft ...


Despite the not very rosy situation, Helen Duncan persevered and engaging all the energy and creativity to perform seances as authentic. Soon, his efforts were successful, and more and more people began to seek, some driven by curiosity, while others were convinced by those who had already been direct witnesses of demonstrations inexplicable during meetings woman coming from the mists of Scotland.




Spiritism its meetings became increasingly bizarre, so attractive. These strange events that culminated in Cosntanta the materialization of large amounts of ecoplasmă coming out of the woman's mouth.

"Ghosts" false cloth made of gauze, which appeared on the eve of Helen Duncan during séances

Domanial ectoplasm of the paranormal is a term that describes the materialization of a substance "externalized" psychic trance when it enters the preliminary invocation of spirits. This material appears bizarre and usually flows from the mouth of a person with psychic role and is used by spiritual beings who wrap their bodies in it immaterial to interact with the physical world, palpable.


According to magicians and witches, so-called ectoplasm (whose existence is seriously negated by scientists) can not appear under day or strong light, very easy for disintegrated. Gustav Geley, a research physicist phenomenology paranormal enthusiast ectoplasm would have a composition very varied, sometimes vaporous, most often as a paste or membrane sails with fringe.

Helen Duncan exoplodat Fame since 1928, when the photographer Harvey Metcalfe made several photos during séances conducted by Helen Duncan. Photos captured on film aşaziselor materialization of spirits, including the emergence of the spirit "Peggy" that Ms. Duncan claimed to be his guide in tenebrosul maze of astral realms. In fact it was the beginning of troubles for the woman medium. 

Ectoplasm (paranormal) photo: wikipedia.org

Three years later, in London Spiritualist Association, a forum where phenomenology seriously investigate paranormal discovered with amazement that ectoplasm materialized Helen, it was actually composed of gauze cloth, paper and egg white ...

One of the tricks women consists of swallowing this mixture, followed by regurgitation of material during the hearing, the material presented as ectoplasm, ethereal substance associated with any seances classic!

To demonstrate that it is only a sham, members of the Association have asked Helen to swallow a small amount of methylene blue before its meetings to prove once and for all if materialized ectoplasm, or its mixture commonly would have the unmistakable blue of methyl.

Cornered, Scottish witch refused. Moreover, he continued undisturbed to his business.

Thus, during a seances in Edinburgh, when the spirit of a little girl had appeared in the room, someone turned on the light in the room and the spirit proved to be a doll made of rags and socks ...

Spiritualistic circle members called police immediately and Helen Duncan was fined on the spot with the sum of 10 pounds.

Churchill's concerns and its abolition Witches

The incident has frightened Helen, who with the help of her husband has resumed. Even if Spiritualist Association members in London have declared a fraud, the interest enjoyed by spiritualism in British society since then, and those few prophets Dunc hit Helen, they have brought her back quickly for people.


During the Second World War, Helen lived in Porthsmout, where he and Starfleet Headquarters British Military famous Royal Navy. Then there was chance that brought Helen attention of Winston Churchill, the most famous and appreciated British prime minister in history. In 1941, during a regular meeting of spiritualism in the dark room appeared, apparently, the spirit of a sailor who said he had just died alongside his comrades during sufundării a battleship Barham entitled.



According to witnesses visual on phantom sailor cap could read signs sale- ship HMS "Barham". Coincidentally or not, exactly the same day, the ship HMS "Barham" was sunk after its torpilării by German submarine U-331 in Mediterranean waters. Under the policy pursued by the British War Council, loss of the ship was officially released just a few months later after the incident, not to influence public morale in wartime and mislead German intelligence services.

HMS's fate "Barham" knew just British secret agents and personal Churchill. Obviously, the British authorities were notified after learning the outcome seance and arrested her on the spot Helen alongside three other people in his audience.

Duncan remained in custody in Portsmouth magistrates on charges formally Vigilance Section 4 of the Act, a law passed in 1824 on charges of practicing fortune-telling, spiritualism and astrology.

The trial was conducted in secret because the Allies were preparing for landing in Normandy, and feared that Helen Duncan, con artist or not, somehow do not find means paranormal date and place of landing of Day Z. How the application of the 1824 law, Helen would have escaped with only a modest fine, the prosecutor asked for the application of paragraph 4 of the famous witchcraft Act of 1735, a code of laws more harshly on witchcraft.

It seems that the prosecutor who handled the case, was so indebted tradition in conservative Victorian asked that sentencing women to death. How were still in the 20th century, the judges decided imprisonment. Some researchers and historians claim that switching imprisonment for a few months would be held after the intervention of Winston Churchill, himself an enthusiast of the occult, member of Order of Old Druids an occult society interested among other capabilities paranormal of Scots. 

The same historians say that during the months when the state closed, Helen Duncan would have communicated Churchill important information regarding the conduct of war, and therefore valuable suggestions for decisions and subsequent actions of the person nicknamed "Bulldog" for strength and proverbial inner fortitude.

According to information sent relatively recently by two researchers from the British Society for the Study of paranormal phenomena, there are documents according to which during its short period of detention, including Marshal Hugh Downing, commander of the famous Royal Air Force would fiparticipat alongside Churchill meetings spiritsm cell of Helena!


Coincidentally or not, immediately after the war, one of the first measures taken by Churchill visa abolishment of "Law Witches" after that was judged and condemned protected its law that the great statesman he considered unworthy, backward and ill British society. The law was changed so Fraudster called the Mediums Act, a series of measures quackery scam condemning those who receive income from activities such as guessing material. 

Witchcraft Act was originally formulated as a collection of laws on which to eradicate the belief in witches and witchcraft.

For many years, public opinion everywhere believed that Helen Duncan was the last woman in Britain who had been convicted on charges that he was a witch. The truth was quite different. Just days after his conviction, a new accused. Her name, Jane Rebecca Yorke, it had also been accused of witchcraft, but because of his advanced age, escaped from prison in return for a modest fines.


Helen Duncan was released from prison on 22 September 1944 and from then until 1956, the year of his death, was occupied solely by spiritsm and "embodiment" of ectoplasm. His descendants who consider not only the last witch of England, but also a national hero, launched a campaign to rehabilitate his name and reputation, which continues to this campaign.

Other articles on the same theme:

• The story of the last witch ( Enriqueta Martí 1913 ) 

• Deciphering the past - 8 writings still unknown

• Tales of horrifying bogeymen like Rawhead and Bloody Bones.

• The legend of Sarah Helen Roberts the Vampire from Blackburn, Lancashire

• Gold foil with spells of 2,000 years ago, found recently.