“indeed, the realization that she was coming to the end of a period of lengthy stress must have been a cathartic one.”

This struck me because despite this sentence because despite it being near the beginning of the book, it foreshadows how much Anne is going to go through. I thought of this throughout my time reading the book, and would often think back to how relieved she might be at any time just to have the whole lengthy process she was going through end at any time, for better or for worse.

“ I hope you will be faithful, loyal, and serviceable, to the Queen’s Majesty, my Sovereign, who to me, under God, is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” pg. 123

To me these words from Earl Gilbert Talbot show just how important Elizabeth was even before her death. She was monarch worthy of respect, and to many like Gilbert the question of her gender simply did not matter. 

“The abbot’s repurchase of the manor of Mildenhall for as little as little as 1,100 marks of silver, the expulsion of the Jews from the St Edmund’s town, and the foundation of the new hospital at Babwell are all signs of his great goodness.” (pg. 41)

I found this quote rather interesting because while talking about the abbot’s “great goodness” the expulsion of the Jews is just thrown in there. The expulsion of the Jews being counted towards something truly good seems to be indicative of the times, as Jewish people have been scapegoated throughout the middle ages and a great deal of history beyond as well. Also the fact that buying a manor for cheap is good also seems somewhat strange. While it is true that property and finance were a key part of the abbot’s duties and the culture at the time, it is still very weird to hear it being said that because somebody got a great deal on piece of land they therefor must be one of the greatest people that ever lived. The hospital being built does seem to lead towards Samson being an actually good person, however the other two examples could just as easily be chalked up to boot licking or idolizing of Samson rather than anything substantially good.

“Then Cú Chulain began to grieve and lament for Fer Diad, and spoke these
words: ‘Ah, Fer Diad, it was a sorry thing that you didn’t speak with those who knew my high, brave deeds, before you came to fight me. ”

Cú Chulainn speaks of Fer Diad like a brother, yet he himself is the one who killed Fer Diad, and in a rather horrific fashion using the Gae Bolga. There seems to be a sort of disconnect between what is done on the battlefield and what the warriors think to themselves personally, since Cú Chulainn didn’t seem all too broken up about using his secret technique in battle, but as soon as it was over he shows signs of grief at Fer Diad’s death. It could also be that Cú Chulainn sees Fer Diad’s death as tragic, but altogether necessary. After all his death would protect both Ulster and Cú Chulainn’s honor, so in a certain sense he might simply see it as a price he has to pay for what needs to be done.