The finely-carved Roman gemstone shows a charioteer standing on a racing chariot, with whip in hand, urging on two high-stepping horses

England: Latin Medieval Seal – Reading “+SECRETVM . RICARDI” [with Roman Gem-Stone] Unearthed! (2.2.2026)

The inscription – which reads +SECRETVM . RICARDI – shows the seal was created specifically for a man called Richard.

He would have used it to make a mark in hot wax to seal his letters and documents.

Richard appears to have specifically chosen the carved gemstone, known as an intaglio – possibly as a way of showing he had an understanding of the Classical world, according to Miss Rogerson.

She said: “It definitely would have been an indicator of the owner’s social status as a way of saying, ‘I have the means of obtaining something from a far gone time and place’ and indicated they were quite important – or saw themselves as quite important.”

King Arthur May Well Have Been a Historical Personage!

Glastonbury Abbey – King Arthur’s Grave! (29.7.2024)

The Celtic Church (from Egypt) was probably in Britain from the 2nd century CE onwards – with it being destroyed by the incoming Roman Catholic Church by the 11th century CE. Its monastic nature encouraged not only cloistered monks who lived in draughty stone cells – but also Hermits who lived in natural caves or various other meditation cells. Celtic Christianity did not persecute – but encouraged and accommodated the Pagan beliefs of indigenous people. There was a mutual respect between both groups of believers and this explains why leaders like King Arthur would strive to protect the Church – and the Church to honour him in death. This type of Asiatic respect does not require a slavish attachment to belief to be functional. Freedom of belief equates to respect for difference. There are many theories dating King Arthur from the 6th, 7th and 8th centuries, etc, which include many geographical areas associated with his life and death. We favour Tintagel in Cornwall – a place we have visited many times. King Arthur was a wise man, a compassionate man, and a great warrior!

2024 Shogun Series

Shogun: Exposing & Resisting Disney-fication! (7.3.2024)

On the other hand, if US-born (Asian) actors – pretending to be a) Japanese and b) medieval – presses your buttons then this show is definitely for you. An extra treat is in store if you like random White (European) people pretending to be a) English, and b) Elizabethan. The fact Japan is currently (and deliberately) pumping nuclear waste into the South China Sea has much to do with the manner in which this mini-series has been received. This happens at a time when Japan continues to antagonise China by refusing to acknowledge internationally recognised boundaries – whilst not apologising for WWII atrocities! A positive US decreed media consensus has declared this piece of parody (and Eurocentric mimicry) to be universally a ‘great success’. 

Email: Torquay Museum – Japanese Battle Kite! (29.8.2023)

At the above link I have added a blog post to our family martial arts website regarding this medieval Japanese battlefield ‘kite’! It resides in the Torquay Museum in South Devon and even when we visited – there was not the usual plaque giving the provenance of this piece – other than a description of what it is. I have written to the Museum to see if I can clear-up the mystery as to the origins of this artefact. As maters stand, this is a bamboo and material device that acts as a ‘kite’ able to lift a grown man of the era into the air whilst carrying a bow and supply of arrows! He is barefoot and stands on a single bamboo pole whilst his body is held in place by two crossed baboo poles in the centre of the device!

UK: Father’s Day! (18.6.2023)

and so I have acquired the Box Set of the British TV Series ‘Catweazle’! This was first on our TV screens in 1969 (written by Richard Carpenter) and tells the story of ‘Catweazle’ an eleventh century CE Wizard – who mistakenly manages to travel forward in time to the 20th century! Whatever happens – it is just the ‘next step’ and does not really matter in the greater scheme of things!

Email: Luling Iron Cross Fabrication! (27.4.2023)

My personal opinion is that as ‘Crosses’ were not yet being widely used within Palestine by Jewish-Christian, I see no reason to assume that a ‘Crusader-era’ Cross would a) exist during the 3rd century CE, or b) be transported to China as an ‘act of faith’ and ‘conversion’! All these (hideous) aspects of Christian belief would not infest the teachings of Christ for many centuries to come. As I have said elsewhere, even the 8th century (Nestorian) Christian (stone) monuments preserved within China do NOT possess a single example of a ‘Cross’! 

The ‘Couplet’ was probably composed during the 14th century CE to placate and interest the ‘new’ Sun Wu Emperor – a peasant who had overthrown the (foreign) Yuan Dynasty and re-established Chinese rule of China! This Emperor apparently liked poetry and particularly favoured ‘Couplets’ – so perhaps an over-zealous Minister (who had heard of ‘Christianity’) decided to fabricate the ‘finding’ of a ‘Cross’ (also constructed during the 14th century) – which soon had to go ‘missing’ so as to prevent any serious investigation of the matter – and the entire fabrication being found out! Heads would have rolled!

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