I'm asking this question in the context of the Jian Ghomeshi sexual assault trial here in Canada. Many critics of yesterday's decision are outraged that he was not forced to testify during the trial, while the complainants were subjected to withering cross-examination. I know that this is a long standing principle in British common law (the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution stipulates that no person "shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself"), but where does it come from? Does it have its roots in the Magna Carta or does it have a more recent origin? Were there particular trials in which this principle was established?

And just to at least try to head off inappropriate posting, please remember THE RULES, especially "We will not tolerate racism, sexism, or any other forms of bigotry," the violation of which is a FIRST-OFFENSE BAN in this subreddit, and the "no soapboxing" rule. Do not post unless you are a qualified historian!

Hello! I am in the middle a research Project studying Prismatic Lead White, a type of lead white that presumably appeared during the 1850s. In dispersion and observed with Polarised Light Microscopy, it produced characteristic little prisms. It was apparently a pigment used by Turner. Lead white has been used since the Antiquity and we tend to overlook it in painted works, but this particular one appeared later and can help us date paintings as well as detect forgeries. See: http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/making-art-in-tudor-britain/case-studies/matb-case-study-5.php At the moment, I am having difficulty researching on it as I do not know the name under which it was sold at the time. Definitely not Prismatic Lead White! Getting a name for it would help me search for the manufacture process and understand in what aspect(s) it is different from lead white. If you have the slightest idea, I would be happy to hear it. Cheers :)

Previously

Today:

You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.

As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.

http://postimg.org/image/8pdtx7j39/

http://imgur.com/aEi6ZHb

Edit: ty for imgur link /u/cfx99

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