Both these figures are taken from an Old English calendar of the eleventh century (after Strutt). Cott. MS., Julius A. vi.
This calendar is arranged as in a modern almanack, with a page to each month and a line to each day. At the foot of each page there is a drawing, typical of the work carried on during that month.
(Fig. 1): _January_. This month was called by the English, when heathen, "Wolf-monath," because the wolves were most troublesome at this period of the year. When the English became Christians it was called "Aefter-Yule," i.e., After-Christmas. Here there is a ploughing scene. Four oxen yoked together in couples are drawing a plough of a very solid-looking type. (In those days horses were not employed in farm work.) A farm-hand, bare-headed, bare-footed, and wearing only a single garment, is goading the oxen with a sharp-pointed ox-goad, similar to a long spear in appearance. A man in superior attire is guiding the plough, while another is scattering seed as the plough passes. A good representation of the plough of that period is shown here. (Fig. 2): _August_. This month was called by the English "Arn-moneth" or "Barn-moneth," i.e., "harvest-month." This drawing gives a representation of a farm wagon of good construction, and of the costumes of the workers, who appear to be of at least two grades--some bare-footed, wearing a single garment, while others have better-cut garments, and wear shoes and stockings in addition. At the head of a party is a man with a spear in his right hand, blowing a horn, who may be either superintending the work or may be the "advance guard" of a hunting party entering the field. The implements, sickles, and forks appear to be very similar to those in use at the present time.]
(Fig. 1): A long Saxon drinking glass, ornamented with raised and decorated ribbons of glass. The bottom is rounded, so that when filled with liquid it had to be emptied at one draught. (British Museum.) (Fig. 2): Another form of Saxon drinking vessel. (British Museum.) (Fig. 3): Old English bronze vessel found in a barrow at Taplow, in Bucks, in 1883, now in the British Museum. (Fig. 4): A silver spoon (Anglo-Saxon) found at Sevington, in Wiltshire, in 1834. (British Museum.) (Fig. 5): Great Seal of Edward the Confessor. The King is represented crowned and seated upon the throne, bearing the sceptre in his right hand and the orb in his left. Edward here calls himself "By the Grace of God, King of the English," using the Greek and not the Latin term. (Figs. 6 and 7): A silver penny of Alfred the Great, minted at London--(6) the obverse bearing Alfred's portrait and name; (7) the reverse with the word "Londini" (as a monogram). (Figs. 8 and 9): A silver penny of Edgar the Peaceful--(8) the obverse; (9) the reverse. (Figs. 10, 11, and 12): Three views of King Alfred's jewel. This was found near the site of Athelney Abbey, Somersetshire, in 1693. Fig. 10, the obverse, is faced with an oval plate of crystal, having under it a miniature of a man, in enamelled mosaic (probably St. Neot, Alfred's special protector), holding in each hand a fleur-de-lys. Fig. 11, the reverse, is a detached plate of gold bearing a fleur-de-lys ornament. Fig. 12, the edge, on which is inscribed "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred bid me be wrought). The stalk end bears a grotesque figure, apparently the head of a sea monster. It may have been the head of a stylus or pen, or have served as a standard in battle. (Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.) (Fig. 13): An ornamented fibula or brooch at Goldsborough, Yorkshire. (British Museum.) (Fig. 14): An Anglo-Saxon comb--St. Cuthbert's comb, at Durham Cathedral.]