Ren Faire History Snobs's topics - tribe.net

Re-enactor fest VI

Pax — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:14:52 GMT

A friend who lives in Chicago posted this today:
http://reenactorfest.com/index.php

Anyone back east been to these? It looks pretty darn cool especially with so many different period re-enactors attending.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 13 replies

OT: Ghoulish Portrait of Elizabeth at Big Box Store

Sasquatch — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:24:47 GMT

I was in the halloween department at Target today and saw this cool portrait of Elizabeth I. When you moved to one side she turned....evil in a too many big teeth way.

$12 for this prime hooch decor.

Sas

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 13 replies

New Book: Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe

Pax — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:50:51 GMT

from www.artbooks.com

Item Number: 101502
Title: Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe : Proud Lookes and Brave Attire
Author: Patterson, Angus
Price: $30.00
ISBN: 9781851775811
Description: London: V&A Publishing, 2009. 26cm., hardcover, 112pp., 98 color plates. Publisher's summary : Of all the riches of the sixteenth-century European nobleman, none spoke more powerfully of his heroism, wealth, and taste than his armor, clothing, and weapons. Drawing on the Victoria and Albert Museum’s popular arms and armor collection—which includes the armor of such notables as Henry IV of France and Philip III of Spain--Angus Patterson looks at the suits designed to kill, protect, and impress. Here are parade suits, lavishly embossed and gilded, decorated with plumes of ostrich feathers, and draped with colorful silk sashes, as well as swords, daggers, pistols, and gunpowder flasks slung from elaborate belts. Paintings, sculpture, and beautiful new photographs—including many close-up details—bring this very particular aspect of Medieval and Renaissance fashion to life.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

tent 4 sale

Mary Ann — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:35:33 GMT

its a 16 x 20 ft sunforger tentsmith its a tent not a pavillion i bought it by accident without looking at it first and its a beautiful tent with all the poles. ironwork ect. great 4 your encampment located in so cal must see to appreciate

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

NCRF

Rydell — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:01:24 GMT

I've been seeing the usual raves from participants on various forums about how much fun they're having, what cool parties they're going to, the various memorials, how happy they are to be with their family / community, what they plan on eating and pretty much everything besides the process of presenting history to the public in an engaging and entertaining fashion.

How are the Snobs finding it from a historical / theatrical standpoint?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 41 replies

Ren Faire research help?

Emily — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:08:13 GMT

Hello-

I'm a graduate student doing some research on themed environments, living history displays and historical reenacting. Specifically, I'm interested in the issue of historical accuracy and authenticity at Renaissance Faires. I would very, very much appreciate it if you would take a minute or two to answer a survey; I'm trying to supplement on-site interviews conducted at King Richard's Faire in Massachusetts with the various perspectives of Ren Faire enthusiasts from across the country. You're clearly all passionate about and invested in this topic, and I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. If you're interested (have I begged enough? Because I'm certainly not above groveling...) please email me and I'll send the survey to you posthaste.

Thank you in advance,
Emily

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 11 replies

New Book: CRANACH und die Kunst der Renaissance

Pax — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:31:33 GMT

Item Number: 101676

from www.artbooks.com

take a look at the cover of this book that pic alone is awesome.

Item Number: 101676
Title: CRANACH und die Kunst der Renaissance unter den Hohenzollern : Kirche, Hof und Stadtkultur
Author:
Price: $77.50
ISBN: 9783422069107
Description: Hrsg. Stiftung preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg und Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Petri-St. Marien. München: Deutscher Kunstverlag, 2009. 27cm., hardcover, 368pp., 320 color, 54 b&w illus. Exhibition held at Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin. An exhibition focusing on courtly and clerical art and culture in Renaissance Berlin.When Prince Elector Joachim II decided to move his residence to Berlin, he commissioned Cranach the Elder and other artists with the conversion and decoration of the palace and the cathedral.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

The color Purple and faire clothing

Kimiko — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:38:56 GMT

I am thinking ahead to making a new outfit of a middle class sort, and the color purple is playing in my creative mind. Why? Because it is that color that everyone avoids in every shade and fiber, even if the historical basis is "None shall wear in his apparel cloth of gold or silver tissued, *silk of color purple* under the degree of an earl, except Knights of the Garter in their purple mantles only" (emphasis mine).~ From Elizabeth I's Decrees (1597 statue of apparel) (Note that Henry VIII's statute that I've found somewhere in my books also includes blue silk.)

I am thinking a purple wool for a kirtle or gown, tending more to the red than the blue, but purple none-the-less. In my area most groups subscribe to the NO PURPLE rule of CIRGA, and while I do have a lovely purple silk damask, I do not plan on wearing purple silk, just purple wool.

Why I bring this up here is... this is one area where we have not corrected the misperceptions at any event I know of. The theatrical perspective is NO on Purple, except for the Monarch. But rarely do I see the Monarch wearing purple, and it is usually purple velvet sometimes silk, and it is obviously the Monarch from all the bling on said monarch.

Is this something that you folks think can be finally dispensed with? We have the Tudor Tailor book, and there is a great image of ladies doing their wash (pg 47), and one is wearing a purple gown, another with a purple skirt (or perhaps it is a shade of violet). They even discuss the color of purple being made with woad and madder for the humbler folks, or a finer version dyed "in grain" using either kermes or cochineal (pg 41). Or is this more a theatrical decision that shall remain among those who enforce theatrical fabric choices?

I await your thoughts and discussion on this.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 11 replies

Just for Rydell

Rory — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:46 GMT

http://www.philipmould.com/catalogue.php?p=a6&sid=2539

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 8 replies

Painting may be oldest depiction of a watch

Pax — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:01:22 GMT

Forwarded from Tom from southern faire:

The BBC reports on the finding of a watch in a portrait which, could very well be, the oldest depiction of a watch.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8313893.stm

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 8 replies

New play from the Bard

Glen — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:29:42 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091020/us_time/08599193097100

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

The Counter Reformation never really ended

Rydell — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:49:49 GMT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/20/AR2009102000504.html?hpid=topnews

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

Elizabeth's virginity certified?

Gereg — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:28:19 GMT

I seem to recall that one of Her Maj's suitors had his physician certify her virginity. I can't recall which it was, although it seems to me it might have been a Spanish contender. I''m not even dead sure I remember the basic fact correctly.
Snobs to the rescue?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

Compact mirror and Tudor manbags: Mary Rose gives up her treasures

jwalkmagic — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:52:54 GMT

This was posted on another Faire related tribe but I thought it should go here as well.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6870368.ece

This is my favorite line:

"The Tudors were bling merchants. They thought: if you’ve got it, flaunt it.”

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

semi-OT - "Catholics not Christian" fallacy

Gereg — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:01:03 GMT

Okay, the family with whom my wife and I are staying has a group of profoundly Protestant relatives coming into town for a wedding next week, and I am just about certain I'm going to need footnotes in the course of the all-but-inevitable discussion. I believe it was on this list that someone cited the originator of this fallacy. (As I recall, an early-20th century Protestant agitator.)
History snobs? Please remind me. Otherwise I'm liable to start clicking my heels together and muttering "There's no place like Rome. There's no place like Rome. There's no place like Rome."
And while that might satisfy my sense of cosmic irony, it wouldn't really enlighten anybody.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 25 replies

What kind of prep does your cast do for faire?

velvet brick — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:54:05 GMT

I am interested in learning about what the pre-faire prep/training practices are for the faires you all work.

At my faire, which is an historically based Elizabethan faire that runs for one weekend in Oct., we have auditions and hold new cast member history/costuming boot camp in Jan/Feb, the guilds start their individual training workshops in March (each guild holding a workshop per month) and we have 2 or 3 full cast dress rehearsals in the month before our faire. Our guilds teach all aspects of character to their people including costume, character research and development, acting, music, dialect, history, etc. We have one grand storyline for the faire that all of the guilds participate in but each guild works out what their best way to contribute to that storyline will be and we then integrate it all into one show.

SO, what type/duration of event is your faire and how does your cast prepare for it?

Thanks,
Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 12 replies

Ballads and Broadsheets

hsifeng — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:18:19 GMT

Has anyone posted the link to the Bodleian Library broadsides and ballads project database yet? If not, here it be: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/ballads/ballads.htm

I think there are some folks on here that might find it of interest. Enjoy!

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

What to Do

jwalkmagic — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:01:29 GMT

As some of you know I do the Connecticut Renaissance Faire each year. While I as a snob spend a great deal of time biting my tongue the people there are very friendly and in general I have a good time.

Now the word has come that management is considering a transition to a more historic Faire. This year one group has formed a guild of Landsknechts who are trying very hard but still have some costume and style issues. I'm pretty sure that felt was not much used by Landsknechts but they are working on a limited budget for now.

One of the things I am running into is a feeling that a historic Faire will not be as much fun as the fantasy King Arthur meets Jack Sparrow meets the Renaissance Faire that has developed here. Fortunately there are some who have experienced the California Faires as customers back in the day but most only know the New England or other East of the Mississippi Faires.

I do what I can to convince them of how much fun can be had creating a proper character and keeping in it for an entire day. How much of a learning experience it can be. But most have so much invested in how they portray themselves that they fear a big change.

Where can I point them to see what the possibility's are? Is it better to make a quick change or will a slow transition work better? Is an independent guild system the way to go?

What other challenges am I overlooking? I think it is worth the effort as the main competition is from King Richards Faire - a Faire that is determined to be as non historic as possible.

Any and all suggestions welcome.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 13 replies

Ohio Renaissance Festival: a snob's review

Gereg — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:28:29 GMT

Just visited the Ohio Renaissance Festival yesterday. Aside from stage acts, there appeared to be about ten performers on the streets. It was deadly dull, and the only interaction my wife and I got was a conversation we struck up with one woman in a creditable German dress – it looked as though she’d been looking through _Tudor Tailor_ based on the wire-framed coif-y thing, and as it turned out she had - and a few booth folks who were very complimentary regarding the authenticity of our suits. No real attempts to establish or remain in character from much of anybody.
NO street theatre. Apparently they’ve cut their cast dramatically over the past few years. The court consisted of a woman I have to assume was supposed to be QE1 (the plum-hued dress looked noble, but far from royal), two guys in approximate Beefeater suits (closer to the real livery than the Yeomen of the Guard , I have to say), and a couple of Distinctly Furrin types in black. A couple of years ago, I’m told they had twenty in Court, and I got the impression they were paid performers.
Nice site – permanent buildings and such. (Love to see a roaming production of, say, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” or "Much Ado" there, with the audience following the action around.) (Actually, "Merry Wives" would be delightful there, but I'm not sure how well it would play).
Their innyards – selling both food and ale – had musical acts playing. That was a nice touch too. Of course, it was mostly Irish bands, but from a let's-sit-down-and-dine POV, it's a good idea.
If I had time to spare, I’d get involved, just to see what kind of change they’d be open to seeing. There seemed to be only one group approximating a guild, a party of landsknechten who huddled in their tent most of the day with their backs to the world. Apparently they do a live chess game a couple of times a day, but we missed it.
Same tired bawdy jokes from the hawkers; a live joust with no sense of history or honour – just an extreme sport. The standard cheer-leading repartee for that group was the most interaction with the crowd that we saw from any event or group there. One "knight's" joke about backing a horse up to the "other knight's" side of the audience because "he had Taco Bell lat night and I'm waiting for him to fart" was pretty typical. While people around us were shouting "Marcus", I was shouting "Honour!", which did not surprise me by going unnoticed.
A booth labelled "Authentic Gear" lied in its boothic teeth.
Tails, tails, tails. The low-comedy highlight of the day for me was a woman with a blue-tipped white tail. Looked as though it had been dipped in a privy. . . and when I sounded her out, it turned out that was exactly what had happened. She seemed unconcerned about continuing to wear it, which is a comment either on her standards or her fortitude – take your pick.
Pictures at 11:00 (our time, which is about as soon as I can post them).

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 23 replies

What are your group's NON-costume standards?

velvet brick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:24:22 GMT

What are your group's NON-costume standards? And how are they enforced?

Does your group/guild/faire have a manual or set of guidelines that covers what the group/guild/faire's expectations are re: participant/cast member behavior toward patrons and each other? Are these hard and fast rules that outline appropriate behavior or just suggestions that everyone play nicely?

If you have such rules, how are they enforced? Does your guildmaster/director have sole discretion when it comes to disciplinary action or do the guild/cast members take a vote on how to deal with infractions?

Are things like failure to stay in character, failure to meet costume expectations on faire days or using cell phones where patrons can see you part of these guidelines?

If a guild/cast member breaks several rules or does something so bad that others feel they need to be removed from the guild/cast, how does your group deal with that?

Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

What kind of prep do you wish your group would do?

Rydell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:39:57 GMT

Primarily a question for the foot soldiers rather than the directors.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

Nice Mary Rose Artlcle

jporter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:04:27 GMT

Now this is the sort of thing that gets my snobbish heart beating.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/8301529.stm

High tech Tudor style.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

What are your group's costume standards?

Rydell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:14:23 GMT

And how are they enforced?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 36 replies

OT: Facebook followup

normanb — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:32:45 GMT

Evidently I'm not alone with my access problems. The message has changed to indicate that they are working on it.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

Did you nail it?

Glen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:37:58 GMT

Historical question...

couple weeks back I was gaming in the streets (as I am often doing). Now, while I have my own bag of coin (because as a knighted ploughboy with a title, so I was given coin (yeah yeah yeah.. lets not go into THAT) My opponent had a bag of hand made nails. Would they have ever been used as "Currency" for wages... sure they have value, but back then...how MUCH value? would it have been worth the equivalent of coin and if so which coin? just curious.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

An article from '98 on RPFN

Sasquatch — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:51:17 GMT

It's on RPFN specifically but the losses and causes as related are a good match for southern.

http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.06.98/ren-faire-9831.html

Sas

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

Shakespeare, Interrupted by Michael Shermer

jwalkmagic — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:22:48 GMT

http://www.michaelshermer.com/2009/08/shakespeare-interrupted/

"The anti-Stratfordian skeptics are back, and this time they have a Supreme Court justice on their side"

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 24 replies

Identify Yourself IV

Rydell — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:32:42 GMT

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Tribe, the last introduction thread has had 117 posts to it. Here's a new one.

If you have joined the group and have yet to introduce yourself in the previous introduction thread, please take the time to do so now.

I'd like to find out more about who's in the group and why.

Please take some time to let us know who you are, what Faires you work, your history with the Faires, if you're are or have been a director and other interests and experience you might think pertinent to the group. What's your reason for joining the group?

If you're a patron, that's cool too. What is your interest in the Faires? What do you hope to gain from membership in the group?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 128 replies

Something to consider

Pax — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:39:01 GMT

The following I realize is off topic but, is obviously something that we all deal with.

http://futurity.org/society-culture/separating-historical-fact-from-film-fiction/

The link is a small blurb concerning the learned information taken from books and historical dramas or, lack there of.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 15 replies

Booker prize winner: A huge novel about Thomas Cromwell!

MaggiRos — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:38:01 GMT

http://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Hall-Novel-Hilary-Mantel/dp/0805080686/

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

One to make Rydell's teeth itch

Rory — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:48:21 GMT

http://offbeatbride.com/2009/09/foxtail-wedding#referrer

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 19 replies

chirp chirp chirp

Rydell — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:36:08 GMT

Hello?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 28 replies

Henrician Abbey Dissolution - cross-posting

Gereg — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:13:28 GMT

I’m hoping to capitalise on the collective resources of you lot, and get a point of research nailed down for an historical novel I’m working on. We all know that Henry VIII’s commissioners claimed to have found all sorts of corruption in the English Abbeys, and it’s generally agreed that at least in some cases, it was really happening.
What I’d like to find out is the name of an Abbey that really was corrupt – gambling, surreptitious wenching, fake relics, the Animal House of England: the sort of dissolution that earned its Dissolution, so to speak. One of my characters emerged from one such in the course of the Dissolution, and a real name would be hugely helpful. I’d hate to blacken the name of a perfectly legitimate house of monastic worship.
Anyone who can point me to a good source for investigation, or who happens to have an answer ready to hand, would earn my undying gratitude. (Which basically means, assuming I can get this thing finished and published, a credit in the acknowledgements.)

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 10 replies

New Book: Cammillo Agrippa's Fencing Treatise english translation

Pax — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:44:08 GMT

Forwarded from Swordforum;

http://italicapress.com/index311.html

Dear everyone,

I'm pleased to announce that my Agrippa translation is now ready for ordering. This is the the fundamental rapier text, and I not only made full use of my historical and fencing knowledge in this work, but also did extensive research to try to place Agrippa and his work in the proper sociocultural context. As Jeffrey Forgeng has stated:

“Mondschein has at last made available to English-speaking readers one of the most important texts in the history of European martial arts. Agrippa marks a turning point in the intellectual history of these arts.… Mondschein’s introduction to his work helps the reader understand Agrippa — and the martial practices themselves — as pivotal agents in the evolving cultural and intellectual systems of the sixteenth century.

Above all, Mondschein’s translation is refreshingly clean and idiomatic, rendering the systematic clarity of the Italian original into equally clear modern English — evidence of the author’s familiarity with modern fencing and understanding of the physical realities that his author is trying to express. Mondschein’s contextualization of his topic points the way for future scholarly exploration, and his translation will doubtless be valued by both students of cultural history and practitioners of modern sword arts.”

The 234-page book, available in paperback and Kindle, includes a lengthy introduction, glossary, notes, bibliography, 67 illustrations, and a table of sword weights and balances from examples at the Met. The cost is a mere $20, and all of my cut goes to keeping me fed so I can translate Alfieri's spadone and Florius.

Please feel free to post this on other forums.

Yours,

Ken Mondschein

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

An exciting time to say 'Forsooth!'

Jeckle — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:06:00 GMT

Had to share an amusing little comic about the development of the English language.

http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1548

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

Blue Doublets? (X-Post from Elizabethan Clothing)

Dan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:08:47 GMT

Does anyone have any sources for blue doublets being worn by the lower and middle classes? A lighter shade of blue that could easily be obtained with woad and/or indigo to be specific.

I'm considering making a blue doublet, but having seen very few sources, I'll probably go a different direction.

Thus far, I've only found a small figure in one of John White's watercolors of Frobisher's journeys in the New World ( http://tinyurl.com/djp22g )
-The image is very small, I'd be eternally grateful if anyone has a larger copy- and some coats worn by peasants in Pieter Brughel the Elder's paintings.

Thank you!!!

-Dan

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

Commedia Volante and Serenata premieres new shows this weekend

Roxanne — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:06:31 GMT

Come see Commedia Volante's newest show - Isabella's Folly

Premiering this weekend at the Northern California Renaissance Faire

12:15 and 2:15 at the Royal Garden Main Stage

www.norcalrenfaire.com

Also SERENATA will be performing their gorgeous music, at 4:15 at the Royal Garden Main Stage. Come pick up a copy of our CD - Great period music for you

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

Book about QEI

Rebecca — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:01:35 GMT

If you were asked to recommend ONE book about the courts of Edward, Mary and Elizabeth, that was impeccably researched, not religiously biassed, somewhat interesting to read, dealt with both social and political history, and didn't insist that Elizabeth slept with Leicester, and under 1000 pages, what would it be? Hmmm?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 22 replies

period eyeglasses

Groomporter — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:24:51 GMT

I may have posted this before about this ship wreck, but was sharing it with someone else recently and it brought to mind a question.

The excavation of a 16th century ship wreck revealed twenty little wooden boxes that were recovered in 1968, each containing a dozen leather-framed spectacles likely made in Nuremburg, Germany. The discovery of 240 sets of eyeglasses in one place would tend to suggest that eyeglasses were more common than people often think
http://www.antiquespectacles.com/topics/discoveries/shipwreck/shipwreck.htm

I've always assumed the earliest eyeglasses were probably just magnifiers, like the cheap non-prescription "reading glasses" that you can buy in a drugstore. Does anyone know when they actually started to specifically tailor lenses to your needs i.e. design something approaching a prescription lens for a customer?

Since I recently lost my antique set with my prescription in them I was shopping around and noticed Jas Townsend now has video intro to the 18th & 19th century eyeglass frames they carry that might be useful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKYGjhj9DfQ -Unfortunately they no longer carry the 1500's style frames they used to sell.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

Fabulous Reenactment Series

Claudia — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:31:38 GMT

Just finished watching "Tales from the Green Valley" a BBC series that takes actual historical experts who work an early 17th c. farm for a full calendar year. The entire series is sublime and I highly recommend it for purchase. You can google the title and find the site that sells it. There is also an 8 minute clip available to view online.

Such a great source of information to recommend to snobs everywhere...

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 10 replies

Question from another Tribe

Rydell — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:21:49 GMT

http://tribes.tribe.net/renfairecharacterworkshop/thread/e4db276c-d752-40d2-b341-1bdaf4886318

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

Origin of Queen's Round?

velvet brick — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:53:43 GMT

HI Folks,

Does anyone know the origin of the "Queen's Round" that is sung at several faires? The lyrics are as follows:

Long may she reign
in majesty glorious,
ever victorious,
God save the Queen!

I have heard that it is period, I have heard that it is not, and I have not been able to locate any documentation on it so far...

Does anyone know where this round came from and/or if it is period?

Thanks,
Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

New Book: The Dance of Death in the Middle Ages. Image, Text, Performance

Pax — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:01:29 GMT

For those really interested in the Danse cuz it's expensive.

from www.artbooks.com
Item Number: 102888
Title: The Dance of Death in the Middle Ages. Image, Text, Performance
Author: Gertsman, E
Price: $140.00
ISBN: 9782503530635
Publication scheduled for November 2009
Description: Turnhout: Brepols, 2009. 28cm., pbk., 300pp., 18 color, 76 b&w illus. Summary: This book introduces readers to the texts and imagery of the Dance of Death, a subject that first emerged in western European art and literature in the late medieval era. Depicting a long procession of representatives of different classes and ages, seized by prancing skeletons, the Dance eloquently communicated the message of the inevitability of death and the futility of human ambition. The image was frequently accompanied by verses, written in the vernacular, which comprised a dialogue between Death and its victims. The volume inquires into the theological, socio-historic, literary and artistic contexts of the Dance of Death, exploring it as a site of interaction between text, image and beholder. The first part of the book outlines the structures of visual, textual, aural, pastoral and performative discourses that informed the creation and reception of the Dance of Death images. The second part proposes different modes of viewing for four particular Dance of Death paintings, each of which—shaped by its artist, patron, local context and local audience—offered the beholder an active, kinesthetic experience necessarily predicated on movement. (Studies in the Visual Cultures of the Middle Ages, 3.)

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

Hey, I tried to be a snob.

Glen — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:33:03 GMT

Last weekend, I heard someone ask: “How was your day about the shire?”

After answering, I quietly informed them of the correct definition but was met with the response: “Oh who cares, we have been saying shire forever, and it just sounds better”

I shrugged and walked away slightly frustrated. I blame you all.

I wouldn’t consider myself a snob, but I would like to think myself educated… or at least some semblance of it. I have always been frustrated with people who refuse to learn or change because “That is the way it has always been done”

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 30 replies

"Faire the Movie" at Casa?

velvet brick — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:38:17 GMT

Hi Folks,

I have recently heard that an indie film called "Faire The Movie" was partially shot at and will be released at Casa.

Does anyone know anything about this production? Is it a reasonably accurate depiction of faire and its history or is it something else?

Is this something that you would want to show to someone who has never seen a ren faire as a way of explaining what faire is and how it came about?

Here is a link to the movie's site if you are not fmiliar with it.: http://www.fairethemovie.com/

They have a trailer posted but I found it hard to tell by watching it what the focus of the movie is intended to be - is it a history of how faire got started? A film about the development of faire from start to today? or the movie "Trekkies" but with "Rennies"...

Anybody know?
Thanks,
Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 14 replies

Things you find on the net

Pax — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:43:49 GMT

Perusing as I do, I found this interesting medical tidbit:

The "infertility" of Catherine de Medici

Nice little read:
http://www.canjurol.com/pdfs/DrGordetsky.pdf

If, like me you don't know what Henri's medical condition was be warned that looking it up on Wiki will give you a NSF work image of said problem. yeeeeaaaahhh!

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 14 replies

New Book: Music in Art

Pax — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:03:14 GMT

From www.artbooks.com
Item Number: 101310
Title: Music in Art
Author: Ausoni, Alberto
Price: $24.95
ISBN: 9780892369652
Description: Los Angeles: Getty Publications, 2009. 20cm., pbk., 384pp. prof. illus., most in color. American edition. Publisher's summary : This abundantly illustrated, full-color volume provides an overview of the topic of music, musical instruments, and musical performance throughout the centuries, as depicted in Western works of art ranging from ancient sculpture to Renaissance paintings to modern art. It serves as a handy guide for anyone desiring a comprehensive, yet succinct, answer--a first source for the academic scholar, university student, or educated layperson. It features sections devoted to individual instruments and sections focused on more general concepts, such as musical symbols and allegories and the instruments used in religious contexts. A fascinating musical, historical, and art-historical narrative accompanies the full-color works by artists including Anthony van Dyck, Hieronymus Bosch, Gustav Klimt, Francisco Goya, Marc Chagall, Man Ray, and the Antimedes Painter. The appendix contains lists of subjects and of artists and includes a glossary. (A Guide to Imagery)

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

New Book: The King's Servants: Mens dress at the accession of Henry VIII.

myladyswardrobe — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:48:24 GMT

Hi Folks.

The last couple of months have been rather hectic what with our "Seymour Household" at Kentwell (3 weeks in a pavilion - albeit a lovely tapestry hung one with bed, furniture and separate kitchen/service tent) and also my recent visit to Van Nuys to teach at Costume College.

Anyway, I had intended on posting this BEFORE I went to CoCo but my laptop got rather sick so I couldn't. I have looked through past posts on this list and it doesn't seem to have been mentioned so perhaps you all won't mind my giving this book a review?

In between all the manic preparation for Kentwell, the stint there itself and the ongoing preparation for Costume College, I've had a wonderful chance to take a look at The Tudor Tailor team's latest book:

The King's Servants: Mens dress at the accession of Henry VIII.

Though I am unlikely to be making much from the book - as I don't make any of my husband, Edmund's, costumes - I have found it very interesting and it will be very useful to me as a costumer and also when I help participants at Kentwell make up men's clothing of the earlier Tudor Period.

The sources used are fascinating. They bring to life the court and the day to day minutiae in vivid and glorious detail. Using the small references to clothing for a specific servant and then creating that very outfit is like finding the outfit in a trunk hidden in Hampton Court Palace.

A couple of things really struck me about the book in contrast to the first Tudor Tailor book. Its where the individuals described in the contemporary sources are first drawn with all the clothing allocated to them from the lists (drawn by the excellent Michael Perry) and then the SAME drawings recreated in the fabric. It really helped visualise what a person - in this case a Servant to the King - would be wearing. I would think it is then much easier to take this and apply it to a character/persona that a re-enactor has created for themselves.

Likewise, the patterns to make these clothes are clearly laid out (in period style and modern use). Some patterns are repeated from TT itself but thats not a problem in my view.

I suspect that this new layout is thanks to the Tudor Tailor Team self publishing - and I think the subject matter is all the better for it!

Can I also say how much I absolutely LOVE the little bookmark that gives very useful information that people in that time would know:
- 16th Century currency and how its written;
- 16th Century measurements
- 16th Century numerals.
(And the lovely photographs of the weepers too!! Exquisite!).
I really must try to memorise all these!

Even if you don't tend to make clothing for men of this period, I really do recommend it as a book to sit on the bookshelf!

Thank you to the Tudor Tailor Team for this fantastic new resource. I am looking forward to other offerings in this style as well as the next Tudor Tailor volume.

http://www.tudortailor.com/bookshop.htm

All the best and thanks for reading.

Bess.
(Who is having a teeny tiny rest from sewing before this weekend when she has to start again so as to complete the sideless surcoat she should have finished for CoCo to wear with her 15th century cotehardie and the silver fleur-de-lys coronet)

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

Rapier and Dagger Class at Davenriche European Martial Artes School on Aug 16

Steaphen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:59:57 GMT

Hello my friends,

It is time for another weapons seminar at Davenriche European Martial Artes School.

On Sunday, the 16th, we will be looking at the use of the rapier and dagger as it was used in the early 17th century. We will be using the treatise written by Joseph Swetnam in 1617. The treatise is called The Noble and Worthy Science of Defence.

Swetnam was the fencing master to the Prince Henry, Duke of Wales and heir to the throne of England until he died of Typhoid in 1612. When he died, his brother Prince Charles became the heir and he was Charles 1 of England. In his treatise, Swetnam says that he studied for over 30 years to learn his art. That means that he was studying his art in the reign of James 1, too.

In this class we will be looking at;

the use of the dagger as a defensive tool
the rapier as defense and the dagger offensive
the guards of the rapier and dagger
and the strikes of the rapier

WHEN: Aug 15, 2009
WHERE: 650 Nuttman Street, #109
Santa Clara, CA 95054
TIME: 9:30am - 2:00pm
COST:$40.00

I hope you can join us, and I look forward to seeing you at the class.

Steaphen Fick
Davenriche European Martial Artes School (DEMAS)
650 Nuttman Street, #108
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-776-6808 Message
408-857-0120 cell
408-776-8188 fax
www.knight2day.com

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

How to do it

Rydell — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:49:02 GMT

On this group we've lauded the efforts of The Tudor Group in England, but folks new here may not be aware of them.

So I offer this link. Look at the galleries and you will see the finest, most accurate representations of Elizabethan clothing that exist. Pay special attention to the lower classes.

http://www.tudorgroup.co.uk/

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 79 replies

Wenches get their own magazine

MaggiRos — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:34:55 GMT

Yes it's true. for every interest, no matter how narrow, someone is willing to print a 4-color cover. :-)
http://www.wenchmagazine.com/

Also from the web page:
Writers - if we run your editorial or short fiction piece you'll be paid $50.
Book/Movie reviews earn $25 each.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 11 replies

Too Funny Not to Share

jwalkmagic — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:42:50 GMT

I stumbled on this and thought I just had to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTXCrk0mA78

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-HUG8SIHbE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3cnOpWbKr4

It goes on but you get the point.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 7 replies

New Book: Rich Apparel: Clothing and the Law in Henry VIII's England

Pax — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:39:49 GMT

For all you Henrician clothing fans out there. This one sounds pretty damn awesome!

From www.artbooks.com

Title: Rich Apparel : Clothing and the Law in Henry VIII's England
Author: Hayward, Maria
Price: $124.95
ISBN: 9780754640967
Description: Aldershot: Ashgate, 2009. 25cm., hardcover, 422pp. illus. English dress in the second half of the sixteenth century has been studied in depth, yet remarkably little has been written on the earlier years, or indeed on male clothing for the whole century. The few studies that do cover these neglected areas have tended to be quite general, focusing upon garments rather than the wearers. As such this present volume fills an important gap by providing a detailed analysis of not only what people wore in Henry's reign, but why. The book describes and analyses dress in England through a variety of documents, including warrants and accounts from Henry's Great Wardrobe and the royal household, contemporary narrative sources, legislation enacted by Parliament, guild regulations, inventories and wills, supported with evidence and observations derived from visual sources and surviving garments. Whilst all these sources are utilised, the main focus of the study is built around the sumptuary legislation, or the four 'Acts of Apparel' passed by Henry between 1509 and 1547. English sumptuary legislation was concerned primarily with male dress, and starting at the top of society with the king and his immediate family, it worked its way down through the social hierarchy, but stopped short of the poor who did not have sufficient disposable income to afford the items under consideration. Certain groups - such as women and the clergy - who were specifically excluded from the legislation, are examined in the second half of the book. Combining the consideration of such primary sources with modern scholarly analysis, this book is invaluable for anyone with an interest in the history of fashion, clothing, and consumption in Tudor society. Contents: Preface; Introduction: signs of self definition: textiles in Henry VIII's England; Part I Sumptuary Legislation and the Tudor Social Structure: Costly array: the Henrician sumptuary laws; The body politic: the Tudor social structure. Part II Cloth and Clothing: Production: the English textile and clothing trades; Consumption: material choices; Rich apparel: clothing and accessories; Livery: symbol of royal, noble and military service. Part III Living Within the Law: the Landed Hierarchy: Defining the House of Tudor: the king and his family; The nobility: dukes, earls, marquesses and lords; The gentry; knights, esquires and gentlemen; The middling and lower sort: yeomen, husbandmen and labourers. Part IV Living Beyond the Law: the Exceptions: Women: wives and spinsters, vowesses and widows; The ecclesiastical elite: cardinals, archbishops and bishops; The parish clergy: priests, parsons, curates and chantry priests; Living by the rule: the regular clergy; Entertainers: players of interludes and minstrels; The secular professions; academics, lawyers and doctors; The urban elite: civic livery and the mercantile community; Conclusion: the Acts of Apparel: clothing choices and social definition; Documents; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

Sword belts

Rydell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:08:16 GMT

Anybody have an "off the rack" source for sword belts like these, or MUST I have custom work done?

http://tribes.tribe.net/elizabethan_clothing/photos/cfa3ec5e-0e23-4621-8cb9-9e41cb9d4df4

http://tribes.tribe.net/elizabethan_clothing/photos/956e0b9e-80fe-4dd9-87e2-5347e5efaa29

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 44 replies

Victoria and Albert: Renaissance Thimble

Pax — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:09:20 GMT

The V&A has a thimble for sale in their store:

http://www.vandashop.com/product.php?xProd=3848&xSec=16&navlock=1

they also have Three Musketeer finger puppets but, well......thats out of period :)

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 5 replies

New Book: Inventory of King Henry VIII: Textile and Dress

Pax — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:15:23 GMT

from www.artbooks.com

Okay I know this one is seriously pricey but, ya know it just sounds like there is some really good stuff in there!

Item Number: 102426
Title: The Inventory of King Henry VIII: Textiles and Dress
Author: Haywayd, Maria ; Philip Ward (eds)
Price: $210.00
ISBN: 9781905375424
Forthcoming
Description: Turnhout: Harvey Miller, 2009. 28cm., hardcover, 512pp. Publisher's summary: The Inventory is not only a catalogue of magnificence but also a key text for evaluating the successes and failures of the Tudor monarchy. Henry VIII had extravagant ideas of image and authority and loved his possessions, amongst which where over 2,000 pieces of tapestry, 2,028 items of gold and silver plate and 41 growns. Although he left the country with heavy debts and an empty exchequer, he was far from bankrupting the monarchy as some scholars have suggested. Indeed the Inventory allows us to calculate that at the time of his death the contents of his palaces and wardrobes were worth about 300,000 GBP and the military and naval stores a further 300,000 GBP. Most of what the King owned has unfortunately since disappeared. Yet the Inventory tells us what once existed, enables us to identify surviving objects and also helps identify what once belonged to him. The transcription of the inventory is accompanied by a historical introduction, a glossary of technical terms, and an exhaustive Index which is a major tool of scholarship in its own right.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

New Book: Selling the Tudor Monarchy

Pax — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:12:54 GMT

from www.artbooks.com

Item Number: 58219
Title: Selling the Tudor Monarchy: Authority and Image in Sixteenth-Century England
Author: Sharpe, Kevin
Price: $45.00
ISBN: 9780300140989
Description: New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009. 24cm., hardcover, 588pp., 65 illus. The management of image in the service of power is a familiar tool of twenty-first-century politics. Yet as long ago as the sixteenth century, British monarchs deployed what we might now describe as “spin.” In this book a leading historian reveals how Tudor kings and queens sought to enhance their authority by presenting themselves to best advantage. Kevin Sharpe offers the first full analysis of the verbal and visual representations of Tudor power, embracing disciplines as diverse as art history, literary studies, and the history of consumption and material culture. The author finds that those rulers who maintained the delicate balance between mystification and popularization in the art of royal representation - notably Henry VIII and Elizabeth I—enjoyed the longest reigns and often the widest support. But by the end of the sixteenth century, the perception of royalty shifted, becoming less sacred and more familiar and leaving Stuart successors to the crown to deal with a difficult legacy.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

Anybody read this book?

Rory — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:01:22 GMT

Titled "All the Queen's Men"

http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/70073

Note this is NOT the Neville Williams book, but a different author & newer publishing date.

Just wondering if anyone has this as well.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

What do you call a sailor?

velvet brick — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:55 GMT

What do you call a sailor?

A quick check of Ye Olde Merriam – Webster’s turned up the following:

Sailor – in use c. 1577. One that sails, a mariner or seaman. This would be a “new word” around the Queen’s court.

Mariner – in use c. 14th century.

Seaman – in use c. before the 12th century.

Pirate – in use c. 14th century as “to attempt”, later came to denote one who commits piracy.

Piracy – in use c. 1537. An act of robbery on the high seas.

Privateer – in use c. 1664. A private ship licensed to attack enemy shipping. Also the term used to denote a sailor on such a private vessel. NOTE: This is a post-Elizabethan word.

Sea dog – in use c. 1823. A veteran sailor. NOTE: a very post-Elizabethan word.

SO, in the context of an Elizabethan historically based faire, if one is looking for the best way to refer to:

1) Guys on boats in general (commonly called sailors).
2) Those folks in frock coats and tricorn hats with Jolly Rogers (commonly called pirates).
3) Persons such as Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh (often referred to as either Sea dogs or privateers).

What words does one use among the cast and with patrons?

How do you differentiate the “pirates” from the “Sea dogs” from the Captains of Her Majesty’s navy when speaking to patrons in a way that is historically in the ball park and still understandable or do you just not bother and call ‘em like ya see’em in modern terms?

Any thoughts? Other words to use? Other sources?

Thanks,
Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 24 replies

"The Plague Rule" or The Sacrament Act of 1547 for the Church of England is revised!

kurtographer — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:16:51 GMT

Check this out!

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/67c135fc-7630-11de-9e59-00144feabdc0.html

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

found in the dictionary

kurtographer — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:11:31 GMT

hypermeter:
beyond measure, beyond the meter

1. a verse marked by hypercatalexis. 2. a period comprising more than two or three cola

What does that MEAN?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 4 replies

King Francois and Queen Eleanore meet Marie Antoinette in Santa Barbara

Hal — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:29:22 GMT

I was just looking at the list of activities for the French Festival here in Santa Barbara on July 11 / 12,
and couldn't resist posting this partial list of participants:

•The French King Francois and Queen Eleanore de Hapsburg, circa 1530

•West African Drum and Dance: From the Congo and Ivory Coast

•UCSB Middle East Ensemble: Exotic music from the Francophone Middle East, plus bellydance.

•The Society for Creative Anachronism (Sunday all day)

•Napoleon: Meet the Emperor in Person

•Marie Antoinette

•Asterix

•Foxtails Brigade with Laura Weinbach: Experimental/World/Folk Music

The Guilde of Sainte Marie will be representing Francois & his court, it should be interesting to see them coexist with the other attractions. The website is www.frenchfestival.com, if any one wants to see the full range of attractions.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 17 replies

Pondering grammar

Rydell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:36:00 GMT

If the Queen refers to herself as the plural "we", shouldn't we address her as "ye" instead of "you"? =D

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 26 replies

Is It Period?

Glen — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:17:40 GMT

Cross Posting in Snobs and Ren Faire Entertainment because I KNOW there are two different opinions and two distinct groups of people.

Faire songs. NOW, let me preface this with the statement that I am not considering songs sung by The Poxy Boggards or the Wives or anything sung at the reefe as part of this discussion. They have their own merits, and their own set of rules.

When is a faire song considered ok to sing? If the song was written in the 1500’s? If the song SOUNDS like it would work fine for that era? If the song is commercially recognizable but meets the second criteria? Examples: Gypsy Rover Dates back to 1720’s Is it acceptable for faire .. of course it is.. it is sung all the time. Pastime with Good Company, written by Henry VIII also perfectly period. Let Union Be? 1828 but wait, we are getting much newer now.

How about something as recent as “Go home with Bonnie Jean” From Brigadoon Or “How are things in Glocca Morra” - Finian’s Rainbow? Two very lovely songs, that both SOUND very period. How are they any different than Let Union Be? Newer songs that were not written back in the 1500’s? We sing MANY songs.. ones that are made up recently (I know, because I made them up myself)

And personally, I would think that if you could sing a song that the customers MIGHT know and MIGHT be able to sing along with you.. it might be more enjoyable for them.

When is it allowed?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 14 replies

The usual reminder

Rydell — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:10:31 GMT

California is not the world.

Many of our members are some place other than (Northern) CA, and the intimate details, controversies and politics of our events mean diddly-squat to them.

Got comments about how the presentation of history can be improved? Great.

Want to brag about how cool your new historical gig is? Wonderful.

Want to bitch about some utterly reprehensible breach of historicity? We're all ears.

Got some new resources to inform those who care about the history of the period. Fantastic.

Got questions about the period or how to bring the research to the stage? Go for it.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 17 replies

La Volta

Deirdre — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:14:26 GMT

On "The Usual Reminder" thread, Pax was kind enough to post some text and video examples of La Volta. I asked if there were steps or was it just a lot of jumping around. This is what I have found, which shouldn't surprise me. The movie versions of this dance (Elizabeth, Virgin Queen) show the woman lifted straight up, her with both hands on the mans shoulders with them face to face in a very sexual position. The various instructions/German dance troupe YouTube examples show what seems to be a more logical dance with the lady being lifted/tossed in a sideways arch, supported with her inside hand on the mans shoulder and his thigh underneath her.

This seems more logical because momentum is doing the work with getting the lady around and it isn't power lifting like the straight up and down version, when you consider a partner with an average weight of 145-150 plus gown weight.

So the question is: Did Hollywood and the BBC just ignore the facts and go with the front to front power lifting version because it is hot, were they influenced by that painting (with artistic license) that some say are Elizabeth and Dudley doing la Volta sort of face to face with him seeming to lift her single handedly by her busk or a combo of both or neither?

Do any groups do this dance at your faires and if so how do you do it?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

GG Ren Faire cancelled

kurtographer — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:50:38 GMT

cut and pasted from Bill Watters:
***************************************

Golden Gate Renaissance Faire Canceled, Show Moving to Ardenwood Historic
Farms in Fremont
Share
Today at 4:36pm
San Francisco, CA, July 7, 2009 - It is with our deepest regret that we
must announce that the Golden Gate Renaissance Faire, planned to be held
August 1 & 2, 2009, in San Francisco has been canceled.

The reason for cancelation is two fold. The Parks and Recs department
approved the event and offered new dates for the show only two weeks ago,
scheduling the event three weeks early. Also, a number of new restrictions
have been placed on the use of the site, including no drive on access,
which would make the build of the event quite unrealistic. Due to these
facts there is no possibly feasible way for Renaissance Productions can
bring a quality show to its patrons or adequately market the event in due
time. We do hope to be able to return to the City of San Francisco in due
time and bring back Golden Gate Renaissance Faire back in the future.

Mean time, East Bay Regional Park District has graciously accepted our
offer to bring Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival to Ardenwood Historic Farm.
Nestled of hwy 84 in City of Fremont, this historic site provides a view
into what life was like at the turn of the century. A visit to Ardenwood
is a journey back to the time of the Patterson Ranch -- a prosperous, 19th
century country estate with a beautiful mansion and elaborate Victorian
Gardens.

We will take the park back a few more and into another continent,
transporting visitors to a country fair in late-1500s England where a
rising young star of London's theatre scene, Will Shakespeare, faces a
scourge like no other: a paralyzing bout of writer's block. What Will
needs is a muse--and this extraordinary town whilst on progress with Her
Most Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, he will find himself surrounded by
numerous quirky characters who draw him into an amazing, dramatic
adventure of action and love. Their stories will make their way into his
plays and into our hearts.

This year's theme for the Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival will be
Shakespeare's Muse. September 12 & 13, Ardenwood Historic Farms will be
transformed to a delightful Elizabethan town filled with myriad characters
and vignettes resembling those of Shakespeare's plays we so dearly love.
In addition, over 900 costumed entertainers and over 100 shopkeepers and
artisans will add to the ambience of the Faire.

This year we have a special treat for the patrons of Tahoe: Knights of
Avalon are returning to add their splendor and showmanship. Knights of
Avalon offer the most authentic, exciting and entertaining Joust show.
Combining the elements of spontaneity, action, and humor, the Knights of
Avalon present a show that will keep audiences enthralled and coming back
for more. Check out what the talk about towns is all about!!!

The faire will feature three stages of continuous entertainment, Queen
Elizabeth’s court, Shakespearian plays and vignettes, expertly staged
battle scenes and theatrical performances, lively crafts marketplace,
storytelling for children and adults, belly dancers, archery tournaments
and much more. There will be merchants selling a wide array of arts and
craft including one of a kind jewelry items, woodcrafts, artwork,
ceramics, clothing, hats, accessories and historic weapons.

The Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival will be held September 12-13, 2009.
Grounds will be open 10-6 on Saturday s and 10-5 Sundays. More information
can be found at www.ardenwoodfaire.com

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 19 replies

Sword and Shield Class and article in Knives 2010

Steaphen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:53:18 GMT

Hello my friends,

I wanted to send out the reminder that on Sunday, July 12 we will be having a sword and shiled class at Davenriche European Martial Artes School in Santa Clara.

This class will focus on the use of the shield as a defensive and offensive weapon in the fight. We will learn how to use the sword in conjunction with the shield and we will study ways to use the shield that are not going to tire out the arm, as much, so that we can maintain the fight.

The type of shield that we will be using is the target/targe or round shield, or the small kite shield. We will not be using the large shields, as that is an earlier style. If you don't have a shield, you can make one out of a piece of plywood that has a 20 inch diameter. I will have a limited number of loaner shields on site, but if you have one, please bring it to the class.

Also, I was contacted by a freelance writer for the book Knives 2010. They would like to write an article about the class and the students that study western martial arts.

This is the large book that you see at the book store that comes out annually and has the articles of the knife makers and the trends in the knife world. The way they describe it is: Classic and contemporary hand-crafted cutlery is showcased in this bold knife book. Review it for inspiration, and read it for market trend reports, industry news and contact information for custom makers from around the world.

I hope you can join us and talk with the writer, and we will have a good time studying the sword and shield.

Equipment to bring;
• your single handed sword,
• Shield/target/targe
• If you don't have a single handed sword, you can use a 3/4 in dowel that is 36 inches long. This will represent the sword.
• Helmet
• Gloves

WHERE: 650 Nuttman Street, #108 Santa Clara, CA 95054
WHEN: July 12, 9:30am - 2:30pm
COST: $40.00

Steaphen Fick
Davenriche European Martial Artes School (DEMAS)
650 Nuttman Street, #108
Santa Clara, CA 95054
408-776-6808 Message
408-857-0120 cell
408-776-8188 fax
www.knight2day.com

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

Fiore de Liberi's Battaglia translated and available!

Pax — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:58:48 GMT

The following is out of period for us but, I know many people are interested in the Western Martial Arts so:

This may be late to some but, on Swordforum last month Tom Leoni (author of "The art of Dueling" a translation of Fabris rapier manual)announced that he has completed the translation of Fiore!

It is now available: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/fiore-de-liberis-fior-di-battaglia/7344691

On the forum he mentions that it "does not" have the illustrations in the book due to costs from the Getty but, they are available just about everywhere on the net and he wanted this to get out to the WMA public.

Fiore was gentleman who resided in the court of Urbino for a while and wrote what is perhaps the most complete Martial Arts system in the west. Starting with hand his hand to hand combat techniques he teaches you *plays* for hand to hand, hand vs dagger, dagger vs, longsword, longsword vs longsword, longsword vs spear, and ending with armored longsword fencing and fighting on horseback.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

For discussion: What would you add?

barelyproper — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:09:10 GMT

If you could add one thing that is missing from your faire (cost not being a factor), what would it be?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 63 replies

A good location but it needs....

Sasquatch — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:49:40 GMT

A few weeks back I went to the Elysium Midsummer Music Festival on the La Jolla Indian Reservation on the side of mount Palomar.

It's a beautiful canyon bottom campground that has a stream running through it and it positively filled with oaks. Nothing like the grand oaks at Agoura but for scheer beauty it rocks. This year for the first time the organizers rented the downstream campgrounds as parking for the event it'self which left the grounds themselves in a much more village format, which made the connection in my mind.

In any other economy, this would be the perfect location for a real renaissance faire. Midway between major metropolitan areas. Controlled location. Many surrounding tribes glad for any major draw to their areas. In fact, for faire-ever folk, there's over 4000 1st class rooms within 20 miles of the site for bargain prices. 5 major casinos, so infrastructure is there. Location is there. Parking is there under the same scheme, just rent all the downstream campgrounds and make them parking for the main event in what is usually camping area 7. You HAVE to see this place. The indians would love something like the faire in Agoura to be there for a few decades. Gambling isn't going so well lately.

We could jury the crafts and entertainment from the beginning and I bet it could be done economically considering that the area has never had this kind of draw proposed before.

Comments?

Sas

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

16th century English folk dance

Rydell — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:00:11 GMT

I'm told that the country dances usually seen at Faires are 17th century, mostly because that's the earliest records we have of them and the music that accompanies them.

Is this true or does somebody know for sure (documentable) what dances the regular folks were doing?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 50 replies

Horrible Histories (just for fun)

elspeth — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:01:02 GMT

In honor (hah!) of the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne of England:

The Wives of Henry VIII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fadCAHjN-s

and

The Tudors Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCmogoGpnxg

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

French Hoods with padded rolls ?

velvet brick — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:42:40 GMT

(Cross posted on the Eliz. Clothing tribe as well)

HI Folks,

Several new cast members have asked me about wearing French hoods with padded rolls instead of crescents (ala page 140 of Winter and Savoy's "Elizabethan Costuming for the Years 1550 to 1580") and I can't seem to find any paintings or drawing from period of English ladies wearing anything like this.

I am not sure if these padded roll hoods are period correct for the c. 1570s or if they were ever worn by the English...I wonder if this is a misinterpretation of something else ???

Can anyone point me to a painting or other source for these padded roll hoods or does anyone know the origin of this hat appearing in the Winter and Savoy book?

thanks,
Vel

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 5 replies

Identify Yourself VIj

Rydell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:30:32 GMT

Wow! We just keep growing!

If you have joined the group and have yet to introduce yourself in the previous introduction thread, please take the time to do so now.

I'd like to find out more about who's in the group and why.

Please take some time to let us know who you are, what Faires you work, your history with the Faires, if you are or have been a director and other interests and experience you might think pertinent to the group. What's your reason for joining the group?

If you're a patron, that's cool too. What is your interest in the Faires? What do you hope to gain from membership in the group?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 57 replies

cook books through the ages

Cheshire — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:13:17 GMT

Richard II porpoise recipe online http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/8108213.stm

Historic cookbook causes a stir 1742 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/4445140.stm

Victorian cookbook up for auction 1890 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/7554651.stm

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

Elizabeth R still shots

Pax — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:51:23 GMT

Just found this site this morning: http://www.naergilien.info/movies/Elizabeth_R/index.htm

She has very nicely taken stills from the film Elizabeth R, and has them separated by individual dresses that Glenda Jackson wears.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 9 replies

Jewelry and other tudor reproductions

MaggiRos — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:44:40 GMT

Have you seen this!!?
http://www.pewterreplicas.com/dept.asp?id=34

They're in the UK. Prices are in pounds stirling. Wow.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 16 replies

New Book: Barbie as Caterina de Medici

Pax — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:00:09 GMT

Yep!! You read that correctly Barbie as in the Doll! I remember the news article on this when it came out although I have not seen the doll.

http://www.artbooks.com/wc.dll?AB~emailReview~&itemno=101536&custno=12867

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 11 replies

The Mainstreaming of Geekdom

Book-schnook — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:56:04 GMT

I love it when either a notorious or famous performance or movie gives cover for some Shakespeare geekdom to leak out into the popular media. Thank you Anne Hathaway. From Slate.com

http://www.slate.com/id/2220712/

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

Extraordinary resource

Rydell — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:56:14 GMT

The English Calendar of State Papers.
The day to day business of the government:
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.aspx?pubid=809

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 5 replies

Oddly Enough They Are Trying. Very Trying.

jwalkmagic — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:08:43 GMT

As posted on the Facebook Page for the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.

The Connecticut Renaissance Faire is an enchanted recreation of a 16th century harvest festival as one might have been in the Middle Ages.

So is it a 16th century festival as it might have been if it got transported to the Middle Ages or is it the 16th Century as it might of been had it happened in the Middle Ages?

Enough to make a snob go catatonic.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 15 replies

And now for some happy news...

Mark — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:26:59 GMT

After endless years of grad school and telling everyone "I'm working on my Ph.D."...

...yes boys and girls, I'm finally done, the dissertation has been signed off by my committee, and the University has accepted it.

Here's the abstract:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Very Civil Wars: Reenactors, Academics, and the Performance of the Past
by

Mark L. Shanks

This study examines American Civil War (ACW) reenactment as a form of popular performance and compares its methods of historical interpretation and presentation with the academic treatments of the same subject. The research is founded upon extensive participant-observer ethnographic fieldwork, a wide-ranging consideration of literature both from inside and outside the reenactment community, and a series of original Internet surveys of both the ACW reenactment community and academic-trained scholars of the same period. Underlying the project’s investigations, an examination of performance theory and the historical origins of ACW reenacting is presented. The range of ACW reenactment is explored, examining the popular and public battle reenactments and displays as well as the somewhat hidden and much less studied experiential aspects of the hobby. Particular attention is paid to the reenactor construction of “historical authenticity” within the context of these performances. Significant divisions between sectional interpretations of the past within the hobby are presented and explored, especially as they demonstrate a division between heritage and ideological motivations on the part of Confederate and Union reenactors. Interpretive motivations are also shown to divide reenactors from their academic counterparts, with individual versus consensus interpretations as well as presentational methodology differentiating their interpretations of the past.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally, because it will mean something to the old timers of this group, there is a part of my "Acknowledgments" I'd like to share...

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I would be much remiss if I did not acknowledge the role that my early mentor in living history, the late Linda Underhill, played in shaping my own views of the field. Linda’s own joyful understanding that history could be discovered and rediscovered in performing the past, still shapes the lives all of us who had the pleasure to know and perform with her. She was an insightful person who managed to “find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

...now does anyone know someone looking for a living history museum specialist? I've got rather a lot of grad school loans to pay off...

<grin>

Mark Shanks

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 20 replies

Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis

Pax — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:22:16 GMT

Hmmmmm that was just bad english.

Take II.

Does anyone have any information pertaining to the name of the English representative for Elizabeth I, during the signing of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 5 replies

My old dancemates tell me...

Sasquatch — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:03:03 GMT

That Don Brown has passed on.

Sas

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 3 replies

Hobbits at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Hal — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:09:02 GMT

I'm pretty sure this no longer exists, but it makes for an interesting example of what happens when Middle Earth intersects with Elizabethan England..

Mike Sullivan and Rick Peterson, two modern hobbits interested in contemporary architecture--especially energy-efficient, earth sheltered designs--constructed a modern hobbit hole at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival which is both a prototype for the designs that Peterson and Sullivan would like to see incorporated into new human housing, and also a startling realization of its builders' inspiration in the mythopoeia of J.R.R. Tolkien (with design features like a round door and windows). The hobbit hole was a great curiosity at the Festival, to which most attenders made a pilgrimage, passing through the white picket fence to the round, green door, and entering if it was open to gawk at the quaint furnishing, or rudely pounding on the door if it was shut.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Ed-lena/Tolkthot.html

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 7 replies

An oath for midwives

MaggiRos — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:08:15 GMT

For a license granted to one Eleonor Pead by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1567. (In Strype, _Annals of the Reformation..._)
I've spaced it out to make it easier to read, but otherwise not touched it.

“I, Eleonor Pead, admitted to the office and occupation of a midwife, will faithfully and diligently exercise the said office according to such cunning and knowledge as God hath given me:

and that I will be ready to help and aid as well poor as rich women being in labour and travail of child, and will always be ready both to poor and rich, in exercising and executing of my said office.

Also, I will not permit or suffer that any woman being in labour or travail shall name any other to be the father of her child, than only he who is the right and true father thereof: and that I will not suffer any other body’s child to be set, brought, or laid before any woman delivered of child in the place of her natural child, so far forth as I can know and understand.

Also, I will not use any kind of sorcery or incantation in the time of the travail of any woman: and that I will not destroy the child born of any woman, nor cut, nor pull off the head thereof, or otherwise dismember or hurt the same, or suffer it to be so hurt or dismembered by any manner of ways or means.

Also, that in the ministration of the sacrament of baptism in the time of necessity, I will use apt and the accustomed words of the same sacrament, that is to say, these words following, or the like in effect;

I christen thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and none other profane words.

And that in such time of necessity, in baptizing any infant born, and pouring water upon the head of the same infant, I will use pure and clean water, and not any rose or damask water, or water made of any confection or mixture: and that I will certify the curate of the parish church of every such baptizing.”

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 19 replies

New Book ~ Death and Art: Europe 1200 - 1530

Pax — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:41:22 GMT

Thought those of you in the Danse Macabe or whom have an interest would..well.....have an interest :)

http://www.artbooks.com/wc.dll?AB~emailReview~&itemno=101501&custno=12867

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

New Book ~ Fashion and Armour in Renaissance Europe: Proud looks and Brave attire

Pax — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:33:44 GMT

From www.artbooks.com

http://www.artbooks.com/wc.dll?AB~emailReview~&itemno=101502&custno=12867

Publisher's summary : Of all the riches of the sixteenth-century European nobleman, none spoke more powerfully of his heroism, wealth, and taste than his armor, clothing, and weapons. Drawing on the Victoria and Albert Museum’s popular arms and armor collection—which includes the armor of such notables as Henry IV of France and Philip III of Spain--Angus Patterson looks at the suits designed to kill, protect, and impress. Here are parade suits, lavishly embossed and gilded, decorated with plumes of ostrich feathers, and draped with colorful silk sashes, as well as swords, daggers, pistols, and gunpowder flasks slung from elaborate belts. Paintings, sculpture, and beautiful new photographs—including many close-up details—bring this very particular aspect of Medieval and Renaissance fashion to life.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 0 replies

"Some of my favorite quotes"

Rik — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:36:36 GMT

Some Famous & Interesting (and favorite) Quotes:

“Sometimes, you’ll find that your enemies are a lot more admirable than your friends—If you pick the road to greatness, (and you’ll have that choice someday), you’ll come to realize, that the road traveled by great men, is dark and lonely, and lit only occasionally at intervals, by other great men, and sometimes, ‘they’re’ your enemies…they’re the only true luxury you have…Yes, it’s a dark and difficult road, and I do not look down upon anyone who has the good sense enough not to take it.”
- Brian Keith as President Theodore Roosevelt, in the film “The Wind and the Lion”.

“You simply can’t make someone love you if they don’t. You must choose someone who already loves you. If you choose someone who does not love you, this is the sort of love you must want.”
--Israel Horovitz, Playwright/Screenwriter—

“On the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns.”
--Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives—

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
–Margaret Mead

“The price of being successful, is that people will take jabs at you. There are some individuals, who will insist, that you are no more special than they are, and are, in terms of accomplishments, equal in height. The moment you accomplish something that elevates your status above these others, these people will stop at nothing to take you out at the ankles, and attempt to bring you back down to their level. Why? Pure, seething jealousy.”
- As told to Rik Fox on becoming America's first winged hussar-

So...like the Capitol One commercial..."What's in *your* wallet"...Uh, rather, 'what's *your* favorite quote(s)?

: ^ )
-Rik-

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 1 reply

England's relations with Poland -"Confined to Quarters" article

Rik — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:06:55 GMT

Dear Friends,
Following, is an article titled "Confined to Quarters", that I put together some time ago, based on many writings regarding the historical relationship between Elizabeth's England and the kingdom of Poland. Most of it pertains to the timeline of Elizabeth's era, as does accomodate most of the interests of the members on this list as I seem to notice.
Since we 'popped in' here, some of you have asked for 'documentation' of such a relationship, because many of you have expressed never having known of such historical status between the two nations, which I find quite remarkable, given the amount of extensive research many of you put into your personas...I thought that *Somewhere* in your respective studies, you *should* have stumbled upon the well-documented accounts of the relationship between England and Poland in the 16th century...As well, and in any case, I'd like to submit and present it here for any Elizabethans, who would find it as such of an interest and further add or inform to your interests of this historical era.

Where before I have submitted this article in several places both privately and on the internet, I have drawn praise for the time spent and effort put forth in the compilation of its content, and appreciation at the sharing of it to and with those, previously unfamiliar at all with the contents of the article. Mayhaps you might feel the same. And I would bow at the acceptance of your acceptance.
Yes, Not only do I and our group represent and do our homework on our subject of interest, Poland, but I have also done my homework on
-your- subject, of Elizabeth's England, in regard to the mutual relationship between the two nations. Hopfully, this will ammend any concerns you might have or questions still rambling around about it.

Also knowing that many of the members are also participants of the Northern and Central California renfairs, many of you must by now, be well-versed with another Polish renfair group operating in those lo-cals, *The Royal White Eagle*, established and operated by the 'PoP' (Princess of Poland) herself, Ms. Marti Miernek, who used to also do a great Mary, Queen of Scots impression. As far as I know, Marti was probably the *first* Polish impression I had ever seen at any renfair, and certainly was a motivating factor in my decision to create the first winged hussars in America as well, despite all advice against it by someone else. Marta was certainly a bit more encouraging about it in any case.
And I know that from her relationship among the many Central & Northern fairs, many of you must have already heard or know of her group, Many of her members are veterans of the Elizabethan-themed faires, so they now do their part in establishing the historical relations that existed between Poland and England.

So, without further ado, I present my article. (Since it was originally) created in MS Word, it might not translate into the same format, please excuse it it's changed...
-Rik-

‘Confined to Quarters’
(Or, Examples of how the Poles are overlooked or neglected in History & Film)

All too often examples of how the Polish people and their illustrious history go overlooked or altogether neglected from any historical mentions, save, their being overrun by the Blitzkrieg in 1939. It’s as if only mere mentions of how Poland suffered are allowed to be openly discussed, if at all, which is usually overshadowed by the suffering of others who were not Polish during WWII (thanks to Hitler, Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt). ‘Confined to Quarters’ is a description used here, to illustrate where Polish history is usually kept when it is excluded from film and history books outside of Poland itself by others who seem to want to keep it that way.
Following, however, are examples from earlier Polish History with some selected excerpts from Arthur L. Waldo’s book ‘Jamestown True Heroes’, of, in this case, (also overlooked or ignored), how England relied heavily upon Poland and/ or the well-known relationship between the two countries historically, which continually goes unacknowledged and undocumented in ‘modern’ ‘period’ films and historical accounts. Complaining about this ongoing occurrence usually tends to fall on deaf ears outside of the Polish demographic in general. So, here is one small attempt to bring such rarely-known history to the eyes and ears of the curious and/or unknowing non-Polish society in hopes to better educate those who weren’t familiar with this information…-Rik-

‘England prevents attack on Poland’ (pg.32)
Anglo-Polish trading continued, while kings and queens were changing in both countries. The so-called “English-American period” began when Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) became reigning Queen of England. But the Anglo-Polish relations remained the same. The dependency of Elizabethan England on trade with Poland is best characterized by the English diplomatic maneuvering in 1590. Through its envoy in Turkey, Edward Burton, England attempted to convince the sultan to give up his plans of attacking Poland because England needed many Polish products indispensable to the English fleet. In reference to the above, a letter from William Cecil to Lord Talbot dated October 23, 1590, read: “The Turk, had not he been prevented by our Ambassador, intended to set upon the King of Poland (Zygmunt III, 1587-1632) with 60,000 men; but, understanding her Majesty had great many things from the country (Poland) necessary for her navy, he withdrew his force, though he was assured of victory, only for Her Majesty’s sake, who received great thanks from the King of Poland.” 1

“Poland, grain arsenal of Europe” (pg.34)
Not only the observations of diplomats and merchants, but also of the English travelers who spent longer visits in Poland, underlined the importance of Poland’s trading with England. Of these observations two deserve to be mentioned here. One by Fynes Moryson in 1593 2, and another by William Bruce in 1598, 3 both expressing their amazement at Poland’s wealth of natural resources. In the statement of the first we find that “Poland is the common granary and arsenal of Europe for tackling and appraile (apparel) of shopping!” in the words of the other (F. Moryson, op.cit., vol. IV, p.69) we find that Poland “is so abundeth with grain and pastures, as it supplies all Europe with grain,” besides, of course, many other products. Because of the frequent wars in Europe, some Englishmen thought it proper for England to search for her own sources of needed materials. Two decades before the actual founding of Virginia, Richard Hakluyt argued that a colony in America could supply the “whole realme” of England with all such materials as those looked for in Poland and other Baltic states. 4 Nevertheless, imports from Poland continued, even after the Jamestown settlement was in operation, as the following documents well attest.

“Kingdom’s welfare depends on Poland” (pg. 34)
During the Swedish-Polish Thirty-Year War, especially in the face of the complete overpowering of Poland by the Swedish army, England showed her serious worry over the fate of her Baltic trading. Some light regarding this situation comes from the well-informed and reliable reports of the Venice envoys. One of them wrote on December 14, 1627, from England to his government that any further development of the war in Poland may curtail the delivery of raw products, essential in England’s shipbuilding. 5
At the same time A. Contarini, another Venice envoy, wrote that if the Swedes win complete control over the Baltic, England will not be able to continue building its fleet. 6
A similar point of view was expressed by the English government in a letter to Thomas Roe at the end of 1629. The letter shows that the basic motive for the English mediation in the Polish-Swedish conflict was the assurance of safe English trading with Poland. 7
The reason for such great interest in Poland and other Baltic or eastern states is obvious. All English historians admit that the survival of England depended on trading with Eastland, mainly Poland and Muscovy. Such opinion was repeatedly voiced in Poland during the reign of King Zygmunt III by the English diplomat, Thomas Roe, who, in his report to London in 1631 wrote: “The trade of the Baltic Sea is as the root of all other marine trade, and lyes hid in the baseness of the commoditye, yet all the beautiful fruits of navigation are supplyed from it in the materials for shipping.” 8
In another letter in the same year Roe added: “The Poland and Eastland business is of that nature that the welfare and standing of our Kingdome and State dependeth from it…The Eastland Company bringeth home thence (Poland and other Baltic states) such returns without which England cannot subside, for all the materials for the building of shippes as pitche, tarr, cordage., cometh out of the Eastland.” 9
These opinions corroborate the dramatic words of Oliver Cromwell expressed in the English parliament in 1653 during the English war with Holland: “If they (the Hollanders) cut us off from the Baltic and become its masters, what will happen to our commerce? Where will we find all materials needed for the preservation of our navigation?” 10

The trading Kings and Queens. (pg. 35-36)
Throughout the period, between 1380 (when English merchants first won the right to settle in Gdańsk) and 1607 (when English colonists first settled in Jamestown, Virginia), that is, during 227 years, 14 kings and three queens of England directed the mercantile trading with 12 kings and 1 queen of Poland.

“Muscovy” became Russia in 1547. (pg. 39)
In 1547 Ivan IV had himself crowned Tsar, that is, Caesar, not only of all Muscovites, but—returning to the name of the Scandinavian Prince Rurik Russ of 850 A.D.—of all conquered Slavic Duchies which were known from then on as ‘Imperial Russia’. Continuing to build Imperial Russia at the expense of other people’s freedom, in 1522 Ivan annexed the Tatar State of Kazan. It took Ivan the Terrible to impress the English. At this time the English merchants thought it proper to open negotiations with the first “Emperor of all Russia” in regard to import and export.

English relations with Ivan the Terrible. (pg.39)
In 1553 Richard Chancellor arrived in Moscow and established commercial relations between the newly created Russia and England. In the beginning the Russo-English trading was handled through ports of the Baltic states, but, (…) England had to help Russia construct her own seaport in Archangel, up north, to be reached around Norway, making direct trading possible. Now Tsar Ivan really triumphed. To celebrate his business with the English, in 1556 Astrakhan, capitol of the Tatar states was annexed by Russia. It became clear to smaller Baltic states that Ivan now would seek access to the Baltic Sea. At the mouth of the Dzwina river on the Baltic lay Livonia, now known as Estonia, which out of fear, placed itself under Poland’s protection. The incident infuriated Ivan. In 1558 he invaded Livonia, arrested its leader and annexed two large cities: Narva with a port on the Baltic, and Dorpat, achieving what he intended to achieve for quite some time. After that, however, the remainder of the country joined Poland permanently. This angered Ivan even more.

Ivan declares war on Poland (pg. 41)
The madman of Russia declared war on Poland which lasted from 1562 to 1571. Eventually Hetman (General) Radziwiłł defeated Ivan’s first army at Ula, and Prince Roman Sanguszko routed his second army at Czesniki. This finally brought an end to the bloody territorial conflict. However, because Ivan retained the Lithuanian city of Połotsk and still represented a threat, Lithuania resolved in 1569 to join the Polish crown as a security measure. The years of war rendered the port of Narva ineffective and also partially paralyzed the ports of Gdańsk and Elbląg. Naturally, it hit English shipping severely. Livonia’s Narva port temporarily had nothing to deliver, and Poland’s materials were needed in the east to restore burned down towns and villages.

Plans to win Elizabeth and Siberia (pg. 41)
While England pressed to have the port of Archangel constructed for the purposes of trading English fabrics for Muscovy lumber, the brazen Ivan, believing that the port idea meant recognition of his “imperial majesty” by the English, came out with two plans: with all the impudence he was known for, in 1579 he asked for the hand of Elizabeth, Queen of England, he also decided to conquer the Mongolian Tsar Kuchum of Siberia, the son of the Kirgiz Khan Murtaz, hoping to impress his English wife. He failed, of course to win Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. Infuriated, he wreaked his anger on the “boyars” (noblemen) of Moscow, whose heads rolled during the following years. The bloodbath ended in 1581, when in a fit of rage, he killed his own son, also named Ivan.

Poland could have overtaken Russia. (pg. 44) [As alluded to in the film ‘1612’)
In 1584 Ivan the Terrible finally died and Feodor I, who was the last of the Rurik dynasty, took over the scepter. Prince Dimitri, who was expected to succeed Feodor, disappeared in 1591. When Feodor died in 1598, Boris Godunov was elected Tsar. But then in 1604 (the year after Elizabeth I, died), Dimitri reappeared. Although considered an imposter, he successfully invaded Moscow, ascending the throne the following year. Upon the assassination of Dimitri after only one year’s reign, Vasiliy Shuyski was proclaimed Tsar. These unusual events were followed by the appearance in 1608, of another ‘false Dimitri’, whose army attacked the Tsar’s forces near Volkov. Tsar Shuyski was dethroned. The boyars then called on Prince Władysław, son of the King of Poland, to accept the crown as Tsar of Russia in 1610. 11
This action could have united the two strongest Slav countries, and, in time, applying patience and diplomacy, Poland could have become a world power long before the formation of the United States just by bringing Russia and Poland together under the Polish scepter.
Unfortunately, Zygmunt III Vasa, the King of Poland (1587-1623), former Crown Prince of Sweden, son of the Swedish King John III and Kathryn Jagiełło, daughter of Zygmunt I of Poland, felt so more Swedish than Polish, that five years later, upon the death of his father in 1595, had himself crowned King of Sweden, becoming ruler of two countries at the same time. He liked his new role so much that he decided to take over the throne of Russia, replacing his son. The proclamation of his decision was condemned by all Polish nobles. Their opposition was evidently right because the Russians, on hearing of the dictum, quickly dethroned Tsar Władysław after only a two-year reign, and Michael Romanov, founder of the last Russian dynasty, became the new Russian tsar. Taking into account the many other mistakes made by Zygmunt III, he must be blamed for placing Poland on a descending road, leading to her not so distant partitions, and her removal from the map of Europe for over 125 years.

England not discouraged. (pg.47)
Despite conditions existing in Eastland, England continued to fight for her rights in the Baltic. The days were many when England went through its “black moments,” never being sure what to expect tomorrow in its foreign commerce with Russia, or even with Poland defending her eastern frontiers. To break German Hansa’s back, England was able to establish its first operational base in 1567 at Hamburg. The move weakened Hansa, but by 1578 Germans squeezed the English out of Hamburg. Now the English merchants were compelled to look for a new foothold on Polish soil. The effects of the
Gdańsk merchants’ rebellion in 1577 against Stefan Batory (1576-86), newly elected King of Poland (they voted for the Austrian Crown Prince Maximilian I, who failed to win the election) proved an advantage to English merchants. Their negotiation with the municipal corporation of the city of Elbląg (located not far past Gdańsk) for the establishment of a branch office of the newly formed Eastland Company was finally signed in 1585. This agreement served as a legal basis for the English center in Elbląg for the next fifty years.

English settlers in Poland. (pg. 47)
Consequently, a considerable number of English and Scotch merchants settled permanently in Elbląg. Their trade contributed to that Polish city’s growth, and the merchants themselves were gradually assimilated, some of them being destined to play an eminent part in the Polish political and cultural life in Elbląg. All of them learned to speak fluent Polish. Many moved and steeled down as far south as Kraków. Altogether, as the years passed, over 30,000 English and Scotch settlers made Poland their permanent home. Most of their descendants completely lost their English or Scotch identity together with their native language. 12

500 Englishmen in Elbląg. (pg. 48)
(…) Additional English names appear in the membership lists of two city guilds of St. George and St. Martin to the number of almost 500 Englishmen, participating in Elbląg civic life at the end of the sixteenth century. Among them were found names of charter members of the Eastland Company, figuring in the act issued by Elizabeth I of 1579, namely Thomas Allen and Roger Fludd, followed by sons and relatives of other Eastland Company organizers as Richard Barn, Thomas Gourney, Thomas and Robert Offley, Christopher Osbourne, Henry Russell and others. Some of the Englishmen married Polish women and their sons attended Elbląg high school (…).

“Poland House” and “Poland Street” in London. (pg. 51)
How close the Anglo-Polish relations were in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries may well be illustrated by the fact that one street in the Old London downtown section was named “Poland Street,” which connected with the famous Oxford Street. Located on Poland Street was the “Poland House”, a hotel filled with Polish traveling agents, also serving as temporary quarters of two Polish Ambassadors, Ossoliński and Zamoyski during Elizabeth’s reign, and of other Polish envoys before them.
A certain period of the “Polish House” embassy must have been rather stormy because of business differences in Anglo-Polish relations. There were many references concerning these problems contained in English and Polish documents of that time. Conflict arose over some English ships interference with Polish ships’ traffic at sea. Although speaking in Latin, Ambassador Zbigniew Ossoliński (1555-1623), educated in Poland, Italy, France and Germany, minced no words in his personal report to Queen Elizabeth. Only because Elizabeth answered Ossoliński in Latin, the audience became recorded in the official papers of England. Lytton Strachey describes it thus: 13

Polish noble crosses words with Elizabeth. (pp. 53-54) *
“An ambassador had arrived from Poland—a magnificent personage, in a long robe of black velvet with jeweled buttons, whom Elizabeth received in state. (in front of the entire court). Sitting on her throne, with her ladies, her councilors, and her noblemen about her, she graciously gave ear to the envoy’s elaborate harangue. He spoke in Latin, extremely well, it appeared. Then, as she listened, amazement seized her. This was not at all what she had expected. Hardly a compliment—instead, protestations, remonstrance’s, criticisms---was it possible?—threats! She was lectured for presumption, rebuked for destroying the commerce of Poland, and actually informed that his Polish Majesty would put up with her proceedings no longer.
“Amazement gave way to fury. When the man at last stopped, she instantly leapt to her feet. “ <<Expectavi orationem,>> she exclaimed, <<mihi vero querelam adduxisti!>>--and proceeded, without a pause, to pour out a rolling flood of vituperative Latin, in which reproof, indignation, and sarcastic pleasantries followed one after another with astonishing volubility. Her eyes flashed, her voice grated and thundered. Those around her were in ecstasy; with all their knowledge of her accomplishments, this was something quite new—this prodigious power of ex tempore eloquence in a learned tongue. The unlucky Ambassador was overwhelmed. “At last, when she had rounded her last period, she paused for a moment, and then turned to her courtiers: “<<By God’s death, my lords! >> she said with a smile of satisfaction, <<I have been forced this day to scour up my old Latin which hath lain long rusting! >>
“”Afterwards she sent for Robert Cecil (Secretary of State, a Privy Councillor and principal ,minister to Queen Elizabeth) and told him that she wished Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, (from 1588 the favorite of Queen Elizabeth), had been there to hear her Latin. Cecil tactfully promised that he would send the Earl a full account of what had passed. He did so, and the details of the curious scene have reached posterity, too, in his letter.”
The Queen was so pleased with herself, she ordered her Captains to leave the Polish ships alone. The Polish cargo was to be paid for, not stolen, the pirate way. On learning what the Queen said in English and of her order to spare the Polish ships for the sake of English economy, Ambassador Ossoliński commented: “I am glad that my lesson in Latin, given to the Queen, worked so successfully both ways.” The verbatim texts of conversations between rulers and ambassadors rarely entered official records in the distant past, unless the ambassadors spoke boldly and minced no words in defense of their countries’ interests as did Ossoliński. Prepossessingly polite diplomacy is passed over unmentioned, unrecorded, and…disappointing. In connection with “Poland House” and “Poland Street,” it should be noted that at that early stage there were over some 50 Poles living in London. The “Poland House” ceased to exist some time ago, but Poland Street remains and reminds the present Polish inhabitants of London of the exciting times the early Poles spent in “bloody England”.

“The story of Jamestown and the Polish settlers” to follow…” (when I get around to it…)

1 E. Lodge, Illustrations of British History, Biography and Manners in the Reign of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary,
Elizabeth and James I, vol. II, London, 1838, p.414. H. Zins, op. cit., p 25.

2 Fynes Moryson, An Itinerary… vol. IV, Glasgow, 1908, pp.69-70. H. Zins. op. cit., pp. 25, 26.

3 British Museum of London, Ms., King’s B.I., fol.168. H. Zins, op. cit., p. 26.

4 Discourse on Western Planting, Documentary History of the State of Maine, vol. II p.15; Miecislaus Haiman, Polish
Pioneers in Virginia and Kentucky, Chicago, 1937.

5 Calendar of State Papers, Venice, vol. XX, London, 1914, p. 519

6 Ibid., p.531. H. Zins, op. cit., p. 24

7 Letters Relating to the Mission of Sir Thomas Roe to Gustavus Adolphus (1629-1630) of Sweden, S.R. Gardiner,
The Camden Miscellany, vol. VII, London, 1875, p. 2.

8 Report of Thomas Roe of 1631, London Public record Office, State Papers, Domestic, 16 206, No. 38.

9 Public Record Office, State Papers, Domestic, 16 180, No. 91.

10 Ch. Wilson, Treasure and Balance: The Mercantilist Problem, The Economic History review, London, part two,
vol. II, 1949, No. 2, p. 155.

11 The Alaskan history information, courtesy of The World Book Encyclopedia, Field Enterprises, Inc., Merchandise
Mart Plaza, Chicago, Illinois.

12 Stanisław Kot, “Anglo-Polonica,” Nauka Polska, Warsaw, vol. XX, pp. 49-138.

13 Lytton Strachey, Elizabeth and Essex, Harcourt Brace and Co., New York, 1928, pp. 143-145.

*It was also alleged that the hot-tempered conversation between Ambassador Ossoliński and Queen Elizabeth was only a pretext to a much more serious, underlying issue of England supplying muskets, ammunition, weaponry and other sundry warfare equipment in trade with Ivan’s Russia, who was warring with Poland at the time, something Poland took very seriously against England.
The following November 8, 2003 posting by the first recognized female Polish-American period re-enactor Marta Miernik in the internet chat site ‘RenaissanceFaires2’ yahoo group, adds some more valuable pieces to the story: “Elizabeth was keeping relations with Russia, something Poland was not looking very favorably at. During the conversation the Ambassador expressed that it would not be in the Queen’s best interest to keep in contact with Ivan – which about that time sent forth to England two ships filled with gold to strengthen relations between the two monarchs (The ship actually never made it to England thanks to the Scottish sea fleet). The Ambassador’s haughtiness had nothing to do with the 16C command of self – that would not make him much of an Ambassador. The haughtiness actually had to do with a political move – the conversation itself. After all, no king or queen ever looks favorably on anyone stating demands. (Spain was famous for this). Latin was just another pretext for the Queen to kick him out of court. The fact that he was Catholic helped Elizabeth’s cause.” – POP- (Princess of Poland).

As a recent amendment/addition, I have received some conflicting material related to the same incident with some changes in the details, from the JSTOR internet site: Sixteenth Century Journal: Vol. 31, No. 4 (Winter, 2000), pp.987-1008—

“On 25 July, 1597, a Polish Ambassador, Pawel (Paul) Dzialyński, chastised Queen Elizabeth Ist publicly for interfering with his country’s shipping trade with Spain. The furious Queen replied at once in extemporaneous Latin, a stunning rhetorical feat which delighted her countrymen and renewed the popularity of the aging Queen. With great rhetorical skill, Elizabeth used a characteristic arrangement, the balancing of antitheses, together with sentence variety, irony, wordplay, and even some Latin rhyme. This brilliant epideictic oration, though short, demonstrates her acute historical and political memory, her definitions of “the law of nature” and “books of princes,” and her perception of her royal power, and it demonstrates that at age sixty-three, the Queen’s intellectual faculties were far from impaired. As a tour de force, this Latin oration can be ranked with Elizabeth’s better-known oration at Tilbury Camp in 1588.

-Chevalier Rik (Sulima Suligowski) Fox- ROP, ROJ, KCStS-

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 2 replies

A Curious Artefact Indeed...

Book-schnook — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:57:09 GMT

I was just reading about a 17th C. "Witchbottle" which has recently been unearthed intact in England. Interesting reading; I thought I would share...

"An Old Bailey court record from 1682 documents that a husband, believing his wife to be afflicted by witchcraft, was advised by a Spitalfields apothecary to "take a quart of your Wive's urine, the paring of her Nails, some of her Hair, and such like, and boyl them well in a Pipkin."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31107319/

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 15 replies

Coat of Arms and Mottos

Renee — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:31:22 GMT

Hello Fellow Snobs,

I am in the process of making a deck of cards using the themes of England, Spain, France, and Scotland.

I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find these Countries Period coat of arms and mottos (e.g. Dieu et mon Droit)?

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 8 replies

Diary of John Dee

MaggiRos — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:29:29 GMT

The Project Gutenberg e-book of The Private Diary of Dr. John Dee

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19553/19553-h/19553-h.htm

A sample showing even the most esoteric mind has mundane details to deal with.

1577. Jan. 16th, the Erle of Lecester, Mr. Phillip Sydney, Mr. Dyer, &c., came to my howse.d Jan. 22nd, The Erle of Bedford 3 cam to my howse. Feb. 19th, great wynde S.W., close, clowdy. March 11th, my fall uppon my right nuckul bone, hora 9 fere mane; wyth oyle of Hypericon in 24 howres eased above all hope: God be thanked for such his goodness of his creatures! March 24th, Alexander Simon the Ninivite came to me, and promised me his servise into Persia. May 1st, I received from M. William Harbert of St. Gillian his notes uppon my Monas.e May 2nd, I understode of one Vincent Murfyn his abhominable misusing me behinde my back; Mr. Thomas Besbich told me his father is one of the cokes of the Court. May 20th, I hyred the barber of Cheswik, Walter Hooper, to kepe my hedges and knots in as good order as he sed them than, and that to be done with twise cutting in the yere at the least and he to have yerely five shillings, [and] meat and drink. June 10th, circa 10, a shower of hayle and rayne. June 18th, borrowed £40 of John Hilton of Fulham. June 19th, I understode of more of Vincent Murfyn his knavery; borrowed £20 of Bartylmew Newsam. June 20th, borow £27 uppon the chayn of golde. June 26th, Elen Lyne gave me a quarter’s warning. June 27th, showrs of rayne and hayle. Aug. 19th, the Hexameron Brytanicumf put to printing.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

History Snob Roll Call

Rydell — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:59:26 GMT

If you actually visit, please indicate here by stating "present".

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 105 replies

New Book: The Art of Cooking: The First Modern Cookery Book

Pax — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:10:54 GMT

From Amazon.com
The Art of Cooking: The First Modern Cookery Book
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0520232712?tag=tribenet-20&camp=211493&creative=379981&linkCode=op1&creativeASIN=0520232712&adid=13FGM5T0DXEA75X4CG64&

This is sooooooooo on my wish list!! Period Italian meals WOOOT!!
From Publishers Weekly
In his informative, if ponderous, introduction, Ballerini offers a window into the life of 15th-century culinary whiz Maestro Martino, who's credited by most scholars to be the father of modern Italian cookery. As a chef to one of Milan's most important families, Martino had the most far-reaching influence of any chef of his day. Much of what we know about Martino comes from the writings of his friend Platina, who recorded many of Martino's greatest recipes and culinary advice in a book called The Art of Cooking. Those recipes-and others culled from obscure Martino-Platina texts-are faithfully reproduced in this highly entertaining, if sometimes uneven, volume. Only the most die-hard culinary enthusiasts may attempt Martino's Eel Torte or his Lenten Caviar Pottage, and recipes like Flying Pie, which incorporates live birds that fly away when the cover is removed, are, as Martino notes, just "for amusement." But much of the advice in chapter six, "How to Cook Eggs in Every Way," remains salient today. In addition, there are dozens of recipes that even novice chefs could attempt, such as the Roman-Style Macaroni with fresh-grated pecorino romano and the fennel-rich Fried Squash. Whether attempted at home or not, these recipes offer readers something far more compelling than practicality: a fascinating glimpse into a long-departed world where Papal Torte (a cheesy dish containing capon and "fatty, well-cooked veal teat") was served for breakfast and chefs for the upper classes needed to know not only how to cook tasty meals, but also the fine art of flamboyant presentation (i.e., "How to Dress a Peacock with All Its Feathers, so That When Cooked, It Appears to Be Alive and Spews Fire from Its Beak").
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Description
Maestro Martino of Como has been called the first celebrity chef, and his extraordinary treatise on Renaissance cookery, The Art of Cooking, is the first known culinary guide to specify ingredients, cooking times and techniques, utensils, and amounts. This vibrant document is also essential to understanding the forms of conviviality developed in Central Italy during the Renaissance, as well as their sociopolitical implications. In addition to the original text, this first complete English translation of the work includes a historical essay by Luigi Ballerini and fifty modernized recipes by acclaimed Italian chef Stefania Barzini. The Art of Cooking, unlike the culinary manuals of the time, is a true gastronomic lexicon, surprisingly like a modern cookbook in identifying the quantity and kinds of ingredients in each dish, the proper procedure for cooking them, and the time required, as well as including many of the secrets of a culinary expert. In his lively introduction, Luigi Ballerini places Maestro Martino in the complicated context of his time and place and guides the reader through the complexities of Italian and papal politics. Stefania Barzini's modernized recipes that follow the text bring the tastes of the original dishes into line with modern tastes. Her knowledgeable explanations of how she has adapted the recipes to the contemporary palate are models of their kind and will inspire readers to recreate these classic dishes in their own kitchens. Jeremy Parzen's translation is the first to gather the entire corpus of Martino's legacy. Illustrations: 1 b/w photograph

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 10 replies

Danger - Danger

Mark — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:08:23 GMT

Who knew that historical research could be such a threat to life and limb?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1179154/After-400-years-health-safety-bans-stepladders-historic-Oxford-library--reach-books.html

Glad my trip to the Bodleian was six years ago, before the current silliness...

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 5 replies

Book Suggestion: The Worth of Women

Pax — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:57:09 GMT

From Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Worth-Women-Revealed-Nobility-Superiority/dp/0226256820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243547647&sr=8-1

If you have'nt read this you really, really should it's quite good.

From Kirkus Reviews
Literary proof that when it comes to male-female relationships, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Newly translated by Cox (Italian/Cambridge), The Worth of Women was written in late-16th-century Venice by Fonte, a poet who died in childbirth in 1592, at the age of 37. This edition includes a long introduction about various literary conventions and historical facts that, while interesting to scholars and vital to giving a reader the context for the prose that is to come, will scare off the less dedicated reader. That's a shame, for Fonte's is witty writing. She is exceptionally adept at the classic Renaissance convention of the literary dialogue. Using the conceit of seven Venetian noblewomen of varying ages and marital status, gathering in a garden to debate, among other points, men's inferiority to women, Fonte paints a vivid picture of yesteryear, an era whose themes ring true today (``Men are just like unlit lamps,'' claims one of the seven, ``in themselves, they are no good for anything, but, when lit, they can be handy to have around the house''). Infidelity, gambling, and other vices and flaws are just a few of the topics Fonte's women discuss. Beyond the clever bantering and debate, there is also a lovely reminder of the power of language. At one point, one of the women describes the fickleness of young men's love by noting, ``Their love is no more than a flash in the pan; their loyalty a laugh in a tavern; their devotion, a day out hunting the hare; their fine appearance, a peacock's tail.'' Certainly not a book destined for the mainstream. But for scholars, history buffs, and readers who like to mix their contemporary selections with the unusual, The Worth of Women is a satisfying sidetrip. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

posted in Ren Faire History Snobs - 6 replies

Brief event report

Michele — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:06:50 GMT

So, I've spent a weekend at Virginia Renaissance Faire.
The website advertises an educational event commited to revealing history, so I was curious to see if it is so.
It's a medium small faire to my eyes, with a large open field space and a portion in the woods.
There was some excellent history going on in the "poppets pastymes" area, with spinning and weaving and kids making their own dolls out of fabrics and yarns. There's a maypole (though I missed the dancing) and a labrynth of stones.
There were acrobats with sparse modern references, groups singing standard non-period faire songs, lots of oddly costumed patrons, three whole food vendors (including kettle corn) and a tavern tent selling ale, cider, and mead (chaucers, but better than none).
There were cute period looking small buildings in the woods, and an awesome archery area with lessons and history (I'm an archery snob, and I was well pleased).
The vendors ranged from odd fantasy stuff to great handmade stuff. One lady had hand embroidered partlet-and-sleeves sets, tall hats and Shakespeare's collar, very nice. There were period toys, sumptuous wovens, and alpaca goods for sale (really soft yarns!).
I got a portable keg and some good soap.
I didn't get a lot of photos, though, due to camera difficulties.
For entertainment, there was plenty of Shakespeare, both straight and twisted. There were musicians playing period music, a slack-rope artist and a few magicians and storytellers.
The cast was small and enthusiastic. There were plenty of well dressed folk in court, but the middle and lower classes were garbed like those at an unresearched or fantasy faire. It was kind of disappointing to see that even the one lady who'd made her outfit from linen had got the shapes and decoration all off.
The Queen was resplendent in her two different gowns, a tiny bit oddly shaped, but in good fabrics and well-planned decoration.
Her Saturday gown was a French-shaped interpretation of the Ditchley portrait dress, with floaty bits and jewels all over. Sunday had her in a lovely gold shot silk over purple damask sleeves and forepart, rich with pearls and jewels. Not having a crown on did not diminish her appearance of majesty in the slightest.
Some of the people there referred to their faire as a shire, but official material places the event on the outskirts of Stafford town, somewhere in Staffordshire, and refers to the participants as "people of Stafford".
I didn't get to see much of the equestrian activities, it seemed to be low key and educational/demonstrational, rather than WWE or melodrama style.
The souvenirs were tasteful, one tent of t-shirts, mugs or goblets at the pub, and a delightful series of crosstitch patterns featuring ladies in French gowns of different colors.

It was a pleasant event, with potential for growth and a good spirit.

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