Une Maistresse est née – a Mistress is born

September 7, 2015 by lafrancoysse 3 Comments

Saturday, September 5th, at the esteemed Shire of Nithgaard, I was granted the honor of becoming a Mistress – a member of the Order of the Laurel. I want to thank all those that helped me sew, prepared the vigil (food & tent), made the regalia, hosted the event, and shared the wonderful day with me.  Special thanks go to……

1. My amazing and inspiring mother, for the day named Lewela (sp?), who attended the event as a Celtic princess. She researched and made her Celtic clothing:
   

   Marguerite and her Celtic warrior Princess (Mom)

2. The Sewing Coven support team, Mistress Elizabeth (my erstwhile Laurel) and Mistress Caterina (my ghost Laurel). You two are so gifted! Merci beaucoup pour tous…. for sharing your gifts and for just being you…..
   

   My dearest leaders of the Sewing Coven….Mistress Elizabeth (on the right) and Mistress Caterina (to the left of me)

   …and Lady Vika Grigina z Praha, who made my incredible banner. It is soooo beautiful, Vika. Thank you so much for this wonderful gift! And thank you for being the amazingly funny and kind person that you are.

   

   My new banner, with its creatrice, Lady Vika, and her handsome beau, Simon

3. That wonderful duo, Mistress² Alicia Langland and her beloved, Master Gille MacDonhuill. Alicia, you handled the organization of the Vigil with the usual smoothness and aplomb. You are a special person, the sister I never had. And Gille, your cooking and competence are a wonder to behold. Thank you both for luring me to the SCA and, most importantly, for being such wonderful friends (and travel partners in France!).
4. And last, but most certainly not least, my beloved, Jean d’Honfleur (Sir not-appearing-in-this-film: because he is the one who took these photos, I do not have a picture of him; I hope to have photos of him soon).  He looked so fabulous in his 16th-century wear, created by the wondrous Mistress Filipia. You are so dear to me, Jean. Thank you for being part of my world these 32+ years!

 

First court, the Laurel-Apprentice contract is broken. I may no longer be your apprentice, but I hope always to be your friend, Mistress Elizabeth Talbot….I love you, man!

Contract between Laurel and Apprentice is broken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On to Vigil. The tent was a beautiful place to spend the afternoon, listening to the wise words of my fellow peers and friends. The incredible food was most ably coordinated by Master Gille MacDonhuill. Food selections were drawn from recipes based on food mentioned in the words of the 16th-century novelist, François Rabelais. Thank you, Gille, for implementing my idea. And thank you to all the cooks for contributing to this wonderful spread! Of the food I was able to sample, I especially liked the darioles (little custard tarts, most beautifully presented in daisy-shaped crusts), the fig “compote” (thank you, Elizabetta – I am so sorry that I do not know your full SCA name & title), and the carbonade (the cooked-onion paste was a marvel to the taste buds).

Vigil tent, with (from left to right): (the back of) Lady Vega, Mistress Briony, Mistress Filipia, and Mistress Antoinette

The incredible vigil food, based on 16th-century recipes, and most ably managed my Master Gille MacDonhuill (Lady Elizabetta in the foreground)

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

I am so glad that the Vigil food and companionship was able to be shared with our esteemed Majesties of Aethelmearc, King Timothy II and Queen Gabrielle:

His Majesty, King Timothy II (on the left), Mistress Alicia (on the right, dressed in red) attending.

Her Majesty, Queen Gabrielle (in background on the left, dressed in green), with Lady Mairin O’Cadlah (background, on the right, dressed in light green) and Lady Elyes la Bref (foreground)

After the solemn contemplation of Vigil, it was time to prepare for the elevation ceremony. Over the last 3 weeks, I had spent most of my waking time sewing the new gown….still way too short time to create one of these outfits! It does give me an incredible appreciation of the skills possessed by the 16th-century tailors and their support staff.

The cotte (kirtle): the undergown, which shapes the upper body, because the corps (corset) was not yet in use

The robe: the overgown, with its very wide neckline and (very French) simple decoration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My deep thanks to Countess Genevieve, Mistress Briony, and Lady Vika for their help with the gown on Friday night (into Saturday morning) and to the unknown seamtresses who attached its sleeves sometime during the day on Saturday.
This gown is based on my own research, both on the 1532 French Inventory that I have been translating, as well as French woman’s clothing in general. I plan to create a future blog entry (hopefully within the next few days) on the details of the gown design.

Side view of the 1532 gown: gotta love that black silk satin breathing in the light and selectively bouncing it back!

Embellished panels for the front openings of the overgown: hand embroidered by Nicole & Mistress Caterina

 

I would like to call special attention to the spectacular embellishment panels (photo on right), created by my Sewing Coven members skilled in the embroidery arts: Nicole of the East Kingdom (whose SCA name & title I do not know) & Mistress Caterina. You ladies are fabulous!

 

 

Afternoon court: the elevation. My thanks to Their Majesties, King Timothy II and Queen Gabrielle (photo on the left below) for granting me this distinction upon the recommendation of the most noble Order of the Laurel.

Called into court…my much-heralded Herald, Master Gilles de Beauchamps (photo on the right below, dressed in red, standing in front of my banner) organized my retinue and introduced me to Court. Merci, cher Gilles: you are such a kind, calm, and inspiring person.

THM Timothy II and Gabrielle

Called into court for the elevation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attired in regalia, the Laurel wreath (thank you, Mistress Filipia) and the cloak (thank you, Caterina), I gave my oath of fealty in French (photo on left). Master Gilles provided the English translation (photo on right). Her Majesty Queen Gabrielle provided the royal response in French (you go, girl!), with His Majesty providing the populace with the English translation.

The oath of fealty: given in French…

Master Gilles reading the English translation of my fealty oath

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the oath, the scroll was read. The scroll (in progress) is the work of Mistress Alicia Langland (wording), Master Eustace (translation to French), Mistress Rafna (calligraphy), and Mistress Antionette (illumination). In court, Simon (beloved of Lady Vika – shown beside her in the photo above of my banner) provided the French reading (merci beaucoup, Simon, pour votre superbe présentation) and Master Brandoug (sp?) providing the English translation. My thanks to all of you for your skill….and for humoring my need for French in the ceremony!

Court is over…. je vous présente (I present to you), Maistresse Marguerite d’Honfleur:

La nouvelle Maistresse (the new Mistress)!

Maistresse Marguerite and Mistress Caterina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avec mes sincères remerciements à tous (with my deepest thanks to all),

A votre service,
Marguerite d’Honfleur

P.S. More pictures to come…as they come in.