Contemplating Medieval Lent, 2015

Last year, the husband and I attempted to do an experiment around Medieval Lent.  It was a last minute decision (not the week before, but close), and we had a lot of exceptions (new world foods were fine, if we were otherwise keeping to the no meat/eggs/dairy strictures; allowing a cheat trade for our one non-lenten feast day a week, etc).  We had a lot of life hit around the mid-point and the whole thing kind of crashed.

Coming in to this year, I have a little more time to think about it.  Alarich is willing to try again if I want to, and I have over a month of planning/prep time.  If we do it again (and I am not 100% sure that we will), I think our guidelines will be as follows:

1) Sticking to old world foods and period recipes as much as possible.  I am already looking through my cook books and compiling a list of possible recipes.

2) Keep the Sunday as feast day idea.  We aren’t 100% sure they did this in Medieval Lent, but we were both a lot happier having one feast day a week where we could have what we wanted.  It usually became our “Let’s have date night” night.  It also makes the calendar count for Lent work (Lent starts on the 18th of February and Runs through, according to the count down, Thursday the 2nd, which gives us 44 days instead of 40).

3) We will eat a normal number of meals.  In period, they would have likely done one meal, and possibly a collation (or, for laborers, a breakfast).  However, Alarich has modern health issues that require regular meals.  And my employees shouldn’t have to deal with me when I am Hangry.

4) The Feast of the Annunciation will be a Feast Day (it’s Alarich’s birthday, and it will be celebrated).

So, like I said, we are thinking about it.  I think we will probably make the call closer to Carnivale whether we will actually do it or not.  It will likely depend on what things look like as I work through the prep process.

My Vigil and Elevation, in 1500 words or less.

So, at Kris Kinder in the Kingdom of Calontir, I sat vigil during the day in preparation for evening court and my elevation to the Order of the Laurel.  In true me fashion, I was working on some stuff until late Friday evening, but I had gotten everything done in time to be abed before Midnight.

My parents made the trip up to see the event, which was neat.  It was my father’s first event and my mother’s third-ish (she had previously been to a local revel of the Barony in the city they live in when I was younger, and to an event where I did feast, where she worked in the kitchen all day).  They had a really good time, and did some Christmas shopping while they were at it.

My vigil began around 9:45.  The room decorations where handled by my Laurel, Baroness Fionnuala, with help from friends.  Food was coordinated by HE Katrei.  Calontir does a very formal putting on vigil ceremony for all candidates for the peerage.  This really is a lovely tradition, because it promotes a sense unity among the three peerages.  I can’t reveal the details, but it was a very moving experience.

The vigil itself was interesting.  I was warned that I might receive weird advice or be told odd things, but that didn’t really happen.  I had a lot of conversations that made me think, and more that made me laugh and smile.  I had the chance to discuss what it means to take associates, to swear fealty or not, balancing the expectations of peerage with the fun of the SCA, avoiding burn out, and so much more.  It was also deeply touching to see how many people came specifically to see me (I am looking at my friends from Ansteorra and Gleann Abhann- thank you for making the trip).  I also received a number of really beautiful gifts, which can be seen here.

My vigil ended around 4 and I had some time to freshen up.  I chose to wear my elevation dress all day, so we straightened that up, and I touched up my hair and make up (my mother, who was a hairdresser in her younger days, helped me get an awesome corona braid hair style for the day).

Then we snuck back into the back of court.  Kris Kinder always has a LOT of business, and this year was no exception. Their Majesties did about an hour of business, concluding with now Sir Cai Dubghlas’s knighting, and then called a brief intermission.  They resumed, and I got to see some really awesome things happen, including a Queen’s Endorsement of Distinction for Chivalry to a very worthy archer, and three Calontir Lilies awarded to wonderfully worthy artisans (The Lily is the Calontir GOA in the field of Arts- in this case, costuming, dance, and costuming).  Congratulations Helena, Wulfram, and Tamar!

And then, my Laurel was called into court.  Nerves hit me for the first time, and the mantra in my head as I prepared to go forward was “Don’t trip, don’t pass out, don’t throw up on the Crown.”  I was proceeded into court by Lady Sibilla Swaine and Lord Osgar of Grimfells, my apprentice siblings, bearing a banner made by Sibilla. My husband HL Alarich escorted me to the stage without incident, and I managed to make it to the kneeler pillows without faux pas. One of the beauties of this site is that it has really great accoustics, so I could hear all my speakers really well.  HE Elianor de Morland spoke for the Order of the Laurel, Halvgrimr Riddari spoke for the Order of Chivalry, and HE Katrei Grunenberg spoke for the Order of the Pelican.  My member of the populace was Hl Konstantia Kaloethina.  My Laurel was then call upon to release me from her service, which she did, taking back the belt she apprenticed me with and joking how in every swan’s life, it’s time to kick the cygnet out of the next (her heraldic charge is a black swan).

I was then invested with my insginia of the order.  HE Beorhtlic Folcwinesone of Ansteorra, who is my husband’s laurel, spoke on the medallion, which was made by my husband with a silver chain made by my apprentice brother Osgar.  Then HE Catalina de Arazuri presented the cloak, made by HE Elianor, and talking about the reminders of the weight of peerage.  Next, HE Mirabel Wynne presented the wreath, which was made by my Laurel, HE Fionnuala.  At that point, it was time to take my oath.  With the help of HE Andixos Seljukroctonis, I tweaked the traditional laurel’s oath, and then Drx translated it into Latin.  I had intended to memorize it (and still need to), but luckily Master Rhodri, who is the Crown Herald, was able to prompt me.

The text, in Latin and English:

Nunc Coronae et Regno Calontiris homagium do et fidem obligo. Ius solemne ita ut effigies, leges et mores nostrae Societatis sustineam, fideliter Coronam et Regnum defendam et extollam, iustitiam tuear et scientiam colam, aliquibus qui petant, artem et disciplinam impertiam, et semper perpetuo dignam sertae Laureae esse do.  Verbo et facto iuro, Aline Swynbroke, Domina Laureae.

(Here do I give homage and swear fealty to the Crown and Kingdom of Calontir. I herewith give my solemn oath to support the ideals, laws, and customs of our Society, to Loyally defend and uphold the Crown and Kingdom, to champion justice and foster knowledge, to share my art and knowledge with any who seek it, and to ever and always strive to be worthy of the Laurel Wreath. By word and deed, thus swear I, Aline Swynbroke.)

Finally, my charter of award was presented.  HE Mirabel created it, and while she is an amazing scribe and illuminator, she also like’s to push herself, and push the definition of “scrolls”.  What I received was a beautiful apothecary’s chest that she had found and painted for me, with the text of the charter, by HRM Gwen, on top, and gorgeous painted details all around it.  Inside, it was loaded with little spices and jars of spices from HRM Gwen.  I was awe struck.  At that point, the order was encourage to escort me out of the presence as the newest Mistress of the Laurel, as they had some final business.

The charter text says: “On the 13th day of December in the reign of King Agamemnon I and Queen Gwen there came into their court a petition from the good men and women of the Worshipful Order of the Laurel, and they presented to the Crown one Aline Sywnbroke, craftswoman, elected by them to be a Mistress of her art, due to her excellence in cooking, research, and various diverse arts, &c.  On which day the same Aline was sworn into this Worshipful Order of the Laurel to the good and faithful control of her said arts by sparing no one through love or oppressing no one through hate, and by presenting shortcomings and victories which they found in the said arts to the crown and laureate, &c.

By our hand and seal this 13^th day of December, AS 49.

Agamemnon, Rex   Gwen, Regina”.

I got a number of whilwind hugs, and then got to see HE Avraham receive an incredibly well deserved augmentation of arms for his many, many good works, the most recent of which was building and giving away 30 wood chairs to people who would promise to banish bag chairs from their SCA experience, in order to help people up their game.  Augmentations are very rare in Calontir, and it is considered a great honor to receive one.

After that court ended, and there was more hugging, and people coming to inspect my charter and insignia.  We then ran back to the rental and got food for Mom (she was wiped out tired) before Dad, Alarich, and I headed to the small pot luck shindig hosted by Katrei and TK for the out of town Ansteorrans (they have both traveled much in that Kingdom and knew most of that party).  After spending a few hours there, Alarich and I dropped my father back at the rental and headed to the official party post revel at Rhodri’s for a couple hours.  We finally made it home around 2.

It was an absolutely amazing day, and the hard work of countless people made it magical for me.  I have tried to name as many people as I could, but I know I am missing many of them.  Suffice to say, I deeply appreciate everyone who helped make it so very special for me.

Sincerely, in Service,

Magistra Aline Swynbroke

What’s in a Title…

So, one of the things I have been thinking about as I approach my elevation next month is how I will style my name after.  Titles can be kind of fraught things, and using one takes…practice.  Perhaps a little back story.

The first award most of us who start the SCA as adults (or adult-ish persons…I started playing at around age 16 locally in the Barony in my hometown) is the Award of Arms, or AoA, which lets a person style themselves as Lord or Lady SCA Name.  Usually this is an exciting event in the life of a new SCA member.  Unfortunately, for a select few of us, the experience of getting your AoA is poorly handled, and it becomes something emotionally fraught.  When I received mine, there was a lot of…weirdness involved which left me feeling less like I had received it on the merits and more like I was a pawn in a game of wider politics.  It wasn’t happy.  I went home and cried on the phone to my now husband.  And on his advice, I stuck the scroll in a drawer and ignored it.  For years.  So I didn’t tend to use the title Lady Aline at all, at least until later, when I received other awards that bore an AoA if the recipient didn’t already have one.

It also has always felt a little bit weird to introduce myself as Lady Aline in person to people.  I’m Aline.  (And occasionally in writing, Alien or Alime if I am tired and typing overly fast..).  Then I received my Grant of Arms as part of being made a member of the Order of the Silver Hammer, and I became Honorable Lady Aline.  Which just seemed…weirder.  So while I tend to write my letters as HL Aline Swynbroke, when I meet people, I am usually still just Aline.

Now, though, I’m being elevated to the Laurel, and as people keep telling me, everything changes.  I’ll be a Peer of the Kingdom, and the Society.  I’ll be someone people look up to.  Expectations will change.

Now, I suspect that when introducing myself, I’ll still be just Aline.  Because old habits die hard, and at the end of the day, that’s who I am.  However, I will need to start signing things with a title, and I’ll probably be getting introduced by it by others as well.

The standard English title for a female member of the Order of the Laurel is Mistress, which is fine.  It works perfectly well, since Aline is English born and bred.  However, Aline is also learned and traveled, and based on her marriage to a German mercenary (thanks, Edward, Prince of Wales), she is probably living on the continent somewhere.  So, the other option is to use the Latin, Magistra.  I like the sound of the title in Latin, and it matches will with what I am doing with my fealty oath (which will be in Latin).

So, it’s something to think about.  And I could always alternate.  But it definitely falls under “Gee, I never thought about needing to think about that before.”

Dressing the Part

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I am being elevated to the Order of the Laurel (the SCA’s highest award for Arts and Sciences).  My elevation is happening in December.

Traditionally, one makes or has made new clothes when one gets elevated.  Currently, Duchess Aislinn, the most recent member of the Laurel before my announcement, is working on a dress for me.  It’s based off this late 14th century style:

From a Tacuinim Sanitatis manuscript from Lombardy, late 14th c.

Right now, I think we are just dagging the sleeves, not the bottom.  The gown will be a a soft, sage tone green fulled wool, with a vivid blue silk lining in the sleeves.

I have an sleeveless undergown that I am going to make some pinner sleeves for that is supportive, and an shift.

I am also working on making new stockings and shoes.

Not sure yet what I am doing with my hair.

P is Pennsic, and also for Peerage….

So I returned home Sunday morning in the wee early hours from my very first Pennsic War.  To say it was a mind blowing experience does not, I think, do it enough credit.

It had been 8 years since the last time I made it to a large, foreign war.  That was long before I moved to Calontir, so this was my first time getting the Purple Pavillion experience.  The feeling of inclusion was kind of indescribable.  From mustering out with the army pretty much every morning to helping pass around chicken soup with the fourth company, to sitting late into the night and singing, brought the Calontiri experience into focus in a way I hadn’t expected.

Other things that made for an amazing war:

I was invited by my friend, Finepopla, cup-wif of Jarl Gunnar Redboar, to visit Trotheim for their boasting ceremony as a gester on Sunday night of War Week.  Trotheim is a confederation of Viking households across two Kingdoms, who try to take the level of their persona as seriously as possible.  This ceremony, and the accompanying toasting at War’s end, were some of the most period experiences I have been given in the SCA.  I was also grateful to be allowed to bring some of my Calontiri friends with me to both nights, because it was a very special experience for them as well.

Wolgemut showing up to play the Calontir camp party on Thursday: this was such a book end to my experience at foreign wars.  Just as I danced like a mad thing to a Wolgemut camp show at my first Gulf Wars, so I did it at my first Pennsic (which given my bum knee, may not have been wise).

People- there are people whom I had met in passing in Calontir, but did not know well, who I left the war thinking of as my brothers and sisters.  There were those from other Kingdoms whom I have not seen in many years, who when met again, it was like no time had passed.  There were new friends made who were thrilled to see me later throughout the war.  The SCA may not be perfect, but it is tribe and family and a place I always feel like I have come home to.

And now, about that other P word…

Prior to the war,  my Laurel, Fionnuala, had been asked by his Majesty to make a court barony coronet for someone. She thought it was for me. During the course of the war, while I was doing retinue duty, they confided in my that she was actually making her own coronet. I then took the liberty of scheduling myself to be the behind the thrones retinue for the royal court where it would be given.

Fast forward to Thursday. We process into court, and their Majesties begin to present a number of very well deserved awards. They get to Fionnuala, and call her up. She presents to coronet for them to give, when His majesty announces it’s for her. Much crying and happiness ensues. I think we are about to process out when his majesty says, “Your Excellency Fionnuala, I understand you have further business with us.” At which point time kind of stopped, because this was unexpected and not on the docket and…wait, is this?

And my Laurel responds with “Yeah, because you owe me here, your majesty….” And then she says something that sounds a lot like loud wind noises and the world gets a little tilty…and apparently as she said my name and elevation to the order of the Laurel, I said “Holy Shit…”

I assume someone pushed me out from behind the thrones, because the next thing I really remember, I was on my knees on the kneeling pillow before their Majesties who were charging me to take good counsel about when the accolade would be given, and then calling for the members of the order present to hug me out of court….

Thank you to their Majesties Agamemnon and Gwen for the honor, the members of the Order for considering me a worthy addition, my laurel Fionnuala for her love and guidance, my husband Alarich  for his love and support and being my taste tester for the last 9 years, and to everyone who has expressed their good wishes. I feel humbled and blessed.

Vigil and Elevation will take place at Calontir’s Kris Kinder event December 13th.  More details to follow.

So yes, definitely the best foreign war event ever.

C is for Court Barony Scroll Text…

So, I have been doing a decent number of texts in the past few months, though they are being given in almost a reverse order to the chronology of me finishing them.  It’s kind of amusing.

Shortly after HRM Agamemnon won, HRM Gwen asked me to write a charter style text for a Court Barony for a lovely lady up in Cum on Iolair who had long served in the SCA in a variety of areas, and who had been very kind to Her Majesty when she first came into the Kingdom.  The result was as follows:

“Gwen, Calon Queen of Grace and Beauty, and consort to Agamemnon, King by Right of Arms, send greetings to all nobles, peers, burghers, and gentles to whom these letters come.  As we have travelled Our Realm and spoken with Our people, we have seen the good works of one who has done much to support Calontir and the Dream.  Our faithful subject, Marguerite des Baux, has shared her skill in the arts, making many beautiful weavings to gladden the eye.  She has given all the gift of music, playing upon her harp and recorder to gladden the heart.  She has nourished the body of our people with wondrous foods, and she has nourished the soul of our Kingdom in her service to all the people of Our Realm.

For these good works, and services, and in recognition of the love and esteem We hold for Marguerite, We do so grant her the rank and estate of Baroness of Our Court with all rights and privileges thereto appertaining.  And further, We charge her in her new estate to continue her work, to wit to ensure the growth and prosperity of her local Shire, and tithe of her arts and graces to all the peoples of our realm as she is so able to.

This is so done and given by our hands on the Feast of St. Bernard, being the 26th Day of August, Anno Societatis XLIX at our Shire of Cum An Iolair.

Agamemnon, Rex                               Gwen, Regina”

 

As an added bonus, the artisan who did the Calligraphy and Illumination, Mistress Suzanne de la Ferte, took a picture of the scroll when she finished it (it lacks TRMs signatures), and has agreed to let me share it.

Mistress Suzanne does truly lovely work, and it’s a pleasure to see words I wrote put into such a gorgeous piece of art.

M is for Miscellaneous…

Projects, that is.

So, my plans to read a book a month have been thwarted by a) life, b) enthusiasm to do much of anything in the summer heat, c) SCA commitments not relating, and d) the ridiculous nature of academic library e-book lending (or, I can download 40 pages a day for keepsies, but I can’t bloody borrow the whole thing electronically for 2 weeks-bad form!).

I am still reading though, and what I have read so far has been interesting. I am going to adjust my target to 1 book every 3 months.

Now, for a project throwback. A couple of years back, I was talking for a friend about why her Viking dresses (gifted to her) were fitting funny, and gore placement, and ended up offering to maker her one. The project got delayed a couple of times because she would lose more weight (happy reason, that!), but I finally buckled down and finished it back in December of last year, just in time for Calontir’s Kris Kinder winter market event.  It’s not perfect, but I was pretty darn pleased with it.

The under gown is linen trimmed in hand-embroidered silk, while the overdress is gold wool crepe with embroidered seam finishing and trim around the top.

And speak of Scroll Texts, now that the first one has been given, I am comfortable sharing the Leather Mallet (Calontir AOA level science award) text I wrote for the reign of TRM Calontir, Agamemnon and Gwen. 

Beginning with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the deeds of

__________________________________, worthy subject of

King Agamemnon, who crossed the lands to the Cliff of Wyverns

And there did make gracious Gwen his Queen. 

As the many bards do tell it, by the work of their hands, did their

Majesties’s true subject, bring to shape such wondrous things,

too numerous to list in this, my verse. 

Quickly, King Agamemnon saw it and pondered,

Too did Queen Gwen espy the varied offerings of their hands,

And such welcome gave they in their court,

The better all should know their gift of their labors.

And so, of the company of the Leather Mallet, this worthy artisan was named one.

Done by their hands this ______ day of ___________, AS______ at their _________ of

_______________________.

 

Also of cool note, the first recipient was a friend of mine, Zack.  Very pleased.

 

Now, I am focusing on getting gear ready for Pennsic and figuring out my fall projects. 

Photos of the finished “scroll”

Here are photos of the laurel charter I wrote and did the calligraphy for.  The decorative capital and pen work are not mine, but were done by the now Mistress Eleanor’s laurel, Master Alan Smyithe of Darkdale.

 

 

 

 

Fun with Scroll Text

A friend of mine in the SCA, Eleanor Deyeson, was announced back at Kingdom A&S for the order of the Laurel, largely for her research.  She approached me about writing her scroll text, because a) I have written a few, b) I tend to write in charter style, rather than period poetic form, and c) I am a trained, if not currently practicing, attorney.

What she wanted was a Carta Ejecutoria de Hidalguia, which were late period Spanish documents that essentially recognized someone’s noble status, rather than elevating them to something new.  In brief, the Hidalguia class were minor inherited nobles with one big advantage: tax exempt status.  The problem was that so many people were claiming Hidalguia status, tax collectors were running short on people to collect on.  So it became common for these tax collectors and municipal officials to challenge the status in court. It was then up to the status claimant to prove it through documentation and/or testimony of people who have known their family for years.  All of that would get written down and if the court found the person did indeed have the status, a writ was added, signed by the king, confirming it.  This would all get bound up in a shiny book and kept by the family as evidence for the future.  Eleanor’s initial research can be found at her blog.

I spent about a month combing through to try to find either a transcription or translation of a full period document, with little success, so in the end, I went with what I could find and descriptions of the contents, while keeping Eleanor’s wishes in line.  This included documenting her SCA lineage and making sure she had the write of beheading as an execution form, in the event she ever commits treason.  The text, combined with testimony from the Calontir Precedence Herald (Blue Hawk Herald) and the words people leave for her vigil book, were combined and then bound on site by another artisan.  The text results are below.

Carta Ejecutoria de Hidalguia of Eleanor Deyeson:

Don Martino, by the Right of Arms King of Calontir and Dona Ariel, his true, fierce, and gracious Queen; Master and Mistress of the Baronies of Three Rivers, Forgotten Sea, Vatavia, Couer d’Ennui, Lonely Tower, and Mag Moor; Lord and Lady of the Shires of Grimfells, Deodar, Flinthyll, Heraldshill, Shadowdale, Bois d’Arc, Carlsby, Dun Ard, Spinning Winds, Westumbria, Cúm an Iolair, Amlesmore, Calanish Nuadh, Crystal Mynes, Lost Moor, Oakheart, Standing Stones, and Wyvern Cliffe; Sovereign of the Cantons of Axed Root, Aston Tor, and Loch Smythe; Patrons of the Colleges of No Mountain and Bellewood; and Magnates of the unassigned lands, to all who these patents come, greetings.

Know that in the Spring of Anno Societatis 48, before the Court of our Order of the Laurel appeared Eleanor Deyeson, resident of the Barony of Lonely Tower, on a claim of right of peerage within our realm.  The same said Eleanor presented documentation on her lineage, to wit; she is apprenticed to Master Alan Smyith of Darkdale, who was recognized by Their Majesties Valens of Flatrock and Elspeth of Stonehaven, 23rd Crown of the Kingdom, as a Peer of the Order.  Master Alan was apprenticed to Duchess Susannah Griffon, who was recognized by Their Majesties William Vatavia and Mamara Leona of Egypt, 7th Crown of the Kingdom, as a Peer of the Order.  Her apprentice sister is Mistress Genevieve de Chambery, who was recognized by Their Majesties Valens of Flatrock and Susannah Griffon, 39th Crown of the Kingdom, as a Peer of the Order.  Her apprentice brother is Master Eadweard Boisewright, who was recognized by Their Majesties Valens of Flatrock and Comyn Hrothwyn af Guilden Acumen, 35th Crown of the Kingdom, as a Peer of the Order.  

Further, the Blue Hawk Herald, keeper of Our Precedence, has given testimony of the honors bestowed by the Crowns of Calontir upon the self-same Eleanor for her good works and great skill.  Additionally, many great worthies of our lands have given testimony to her heritage and graces and those qualities that show her true and noble state, appended hereto.  

Taken together, We find that the evidence of her right to Peerage as a member of Our Order of the Laurel is beyond dispute, and do recognize her thus.  Further, we grant and recognize her right to be free from taxation by local officials in all things, save those which she doth tithe to the Crown and Kingdom of her free will.  And we confer upon her the right to be beheaded, as befits her rank and station, rather than hung, in the event she commits treason against Our Persons, or the Persons of our Heirs in Perpetuity.  We further grant her the right to give us council in future courts as her rank and station demand.

This so done and given on the 19th day of June, Anno Societatis 49, being the common reckoning year of 2014, at Our War of the Lilies, signed and sealed by our hands.

Martino, Rex                                                                                      Ariel, Regina

And, as a bonus, I also wrote the words, for approval, for the Blue Hawk Herald’s testimony:

Unto all to whom these present come, does Honorable Lady Ailith Bystoune, Blue Hawk Herald and Clerk of Their Majesties’ Precedence Send greetings!

Know that by careful examination of the record of precedence of the Kingdom of Calontir, I hereby testify to the following recognition, done and given by it’s Crowns to their subject, Eleanor Deyeson, currently dwelling in the Barony of Lonely Tower.  To wit, that the same said Eleanor was recognized as a Lady of the Court by Award of Arms in the reign of Gabriel II and Hywela II, 14th Crown for Calontir.  That the same said Eleanor was entered into the Order of the Golden Calon Swan by Conn and Cadfael, 16th Crown of Calontir for her skill in costuming.  That the same said Eleanor was made a companion of the Order of the Torse for her service to the Kingdom by the 47th Crown of Calontir, Llewellyn Lorrell II and Cadfael II.  And that the same said Eleanor was elevated to the rank of Honorable Lady by admission to the Order of the Silver Hammer by the 51st Crown, Martino and Ariel, Third of those names.  Thus swear I that this is recorded faithfully from the records of the Precedence, by my order and signed by my hand.

Finally, I did the calligraphy on these two pieces.  I’ll try to get some pictures of that up as I can.

P is for Persona Development

I currently have a lot of projects on a lot of burners (ha ha, cook humor).  But one thing I found myself thinking about lately was medieval mindset, particularly Aline’s medieval mindset.  Bear with me, I am going to get a wee bit philosophical here.

Rebecca, modern, every day Rebecca, has some pretty specific values, goals, and mores.  I wasn’t raised into a specific religious tradition beyond vaguely Judeo-Christian “Do unto others” (my parents are a lapsed Catholic and a Humanistic atheist), and I admit to not having the best exposure to a culture of organized religion.  I generally classify myself as a Deist with Christian leanings.

Aline, however, would have been very tied to her faith and its cultural effects on daily life.  She would have been raised within the church.  If she was educated, it likely would have been at a convent.  The rituals and expectations would have been a living, breathing thing for her.

All of that came home a little last year when the husband and I were gallivanting around Italy, visiting gorgeous period churches and seeing relics as venerated today as they were in the Middle Ages.  For example, this lovely lady is Santa Zita, the patron saint of domestic servants and maids.  Don’t let her dress fool you, she’s had some wardrobe updates.  Zita died in 1272 in Lucca and was canonized formally four centuries later.  In that four hundred year gap, she became part of a popular cult that spread through Europe.  English born Aline would have known her as Saint Sitha.

So, how to remedy this disconnect between what I know and what Aline should?  Time to read more about it.  So for the next few months, I am going to work on reading one book a month on religion in period, and as much as possible, the 14th century.  I am a little flexible on exact dates and locations, since Aline was married off by the Black Prince to one of his favorite German mercenaries, so she is perhaps wider traveled than your standard lady.

First up, I am taking a crack at Robert Bartlett’s Why Can the Dead Do Such Great Things? Saints and Worshipers from the Martyrs to Reformation.  I am also looking at the period Saint’s Calendar here and here and will be reading up on the lives of the saints celebrated that day.

If you have a book you think I should read, please feel free to drop me a note in the comments, or at alineswynbrook@yahoo.com