I was lying in bed last night reading an old travel journal from a trip to Scotland when I came across this story, the kind of historical anecdote that makes me giggle:
Way back in 1507, a French monk named John Damian decided to find favour with and impress the King of Scotland, James IV. The monk told the king that,through a holy miracle he, Brother Damian, would be able to fly. In fact, he would fly all the way to France from Stirling, Scotland.
It was the 16th century and there was a distinct lack of airplanes, so the good brother instead ascended the dizzying heights of the Stirling Castle walls and jumped from the craggy ramparts with make-shift feathered wings.
There WAS a miracle of sorts.
He somehow survived the "flight" by landing in a dung heap and sustained only a broken leg.
Well, the king inquired as to what had gone wrong with the miracle. Fortunately, the monk came up with a good explanation.
"You see, sire, I made a very simple oversight. I should never have used CHICKEN feathers to soar to the heavens. I mean, after all, your majesty, chickens can't fly. Perhaps if I'd used eagle feathers..."
Luckily for the monk, the king was amused.
True story. Poor Brother Damian. As well as lacking any flying ability, he was also a rotten alchemist, failing totally to turn any of the king's lead into gold.
2 comments:
Silly monk, flying is for the birds!
The monk was trying the wrong type of alchemy. He should have turned wheat into liquid gold. That would win him the King's favour.
Great story, the Monk must have a chemistry set like mine, it never worked .
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