Two modern creatures, spotted in the Middle Ages

An international disarmament conference: Lateran Council II (1139) tries to ban the steel-armed crossbow

“The crossbow had such a force of penetration and was so deadly that its use came under discussion in the twelfth century at one of history’s first disarmament conferences. In 1139 the Lateran Council voted to prohibit it, but like many later civilian disarmament recommendations this was ignored by the military.”

Lateran II c. 29: We prohibit under anathema that murderous art of crossbowmen and archers, which is hateful to God, to be employed against Christians and Catholics from now on.

A nationwide antipollution act: England 1388

“It concerned not only the pollution of the air but also of the waters. It forbade throwing garbage into rivers or leaving it uncared for in the city. All garbage had to be carried away out of town.”

12 Rich. II. c. 13: For that so much Dung and Filth of the Garbage and Intrails as well of Beasts killed, as of other Corruptions, be cast and put in Ditches, Rivers and other Waters, and also within many other Places, within, about and nigh unto divers Cities, Boroughs, and Towns of the Realm, and the suburbs of them, that the air there is greatly corrupt and infect, and many Maladies and other intolerable Diseases do daily happen ... that all they which do cast and lay all such Annoyances ... shall cause them utterly to be removed, avoided, and carried away ... upon Pain to lose and forfeit to our Lord the King xx li.

And that the Mayors and Bailiffs of every such City, Borough, or Town ... shall compel the same to be done upon like Pain. ...

And moreover Proclamation shall be made ... that none ... cause to be cast or thrown from henceforth any such Annoyance, Garbage, Dung, Intrails, or any other Ordure into the Ditches, Rivers, Waters, and other Places aforesaid; and if any do, he shall be called by writ before the Chancellor, at his Suit that will complain; and if he be found guilty, he shall be punished after the Discretion of the Chancellor.

***

Quotations from Jean Gimpel, The Medieval Machine: The Industrial Revolution of the Middle Ages (1976), 64, 87.

Lateran II c. 29 from Norman Tanner, ed., Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils (1990), http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/LATERAN2.HTM.

12 Rich. II. c. 13 from G.C. Coulton, Social Life in Britain from the Conquest to the Reformation (1918), 330.