![of love and bacon
few are the anecdotes of bacon and of love in which the love described is NOT a love OF bacon. the story of the dunmow flitch is one such anecdote. from the dunmow town website:
In 1104, Lord Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed themselves as humble folk and begged blessing of the Prior a year and a day after their marriage. The Prior, impressed by their devotion bestowed upon them a Flitch of Bacon. Upon revealing his true identity, Fitzwalter gave his land to the Priory on the condition a Flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted. Chaucer alludes to the Dunmow Flitch Trials in ‘The Wife of Bath’s Tale’.
The modern Trial takes the form of a court presided over by a Judge, with Counsel representing the claimants, and opposing Counsel representing the donors of the Flitch of Bacon, a Jury of six maidens and six bachelors, and an Usher to maintain order.
Couples married for at least a year and a day come from far and wide to try and claim the Flitch. Successful couples are carried shoulder high by bearers (humble folk) in the ancient Flitch Chair to the Market Place. Unsuccessful couples have to walk behind the chair to the Market Place, consoled with a prize of gammon [a less desirable cut of bacon (but bacon nonetheless)].](http://16.media.tumblr.com/3FZnoU8PUma7ppb1jibGmLF6o1_r2_400.png)
of love and bacon
few are the anecdotes of bacon and of love in which the love described is NOT a love OF bacon. the story of the dunmow flitch is one such anecdote. from the dunmow town website:
In 1104, Lord Reginald Fitzwalter and his wife dressed themselves as humble folk and begged blessing of the Prior a year and a day after their marriage. The Prior, impressed by their devotion bestowed upon them a Flitch of Bacon. Upon revealing his true identity, Fitzwalter gave his land to the Priory on the condition a Flitch should be awarded to any couple who could claim they were similarly devoted. Chaucer alludes to the Dunmow Flitch Trials in ‘The Wife of Bath’s Tale’.
The modern Trial takes the form of a court presided over by a Judge, with Counsel representing the claimants, and opposing Counsel representing the donors of the Flitch of Bacon, a Jury of six maidens and six bachelors, and an Usher to maintain order.
Couples married for at least a year and a day come from far and wide to try and claim the Flitch. Successful couples are carried shoulder high by bearers (humble folk) in the ancient Flitch Chair to the Market Place. Unsuccessful couples have to walk behind the chair to the Market Place, consoled with a prize of gammon [a less desirable cut of bacon (but bacon nonetheless)].
