Daily Journal 2007

* Elgiva Godwinson

Daily Journal 2007

In my Daily Journal you will find information on The Great Hall, The Keep, and The Great Seal, and personal entries of daily activities, poetry and verse.

December 28 , 2007

Matilda's Seal

Posted at 07:00 EST

The seal of Matilda, The Empress: daughter of Henry I.

Matilda was sent as a child to be raised in Germany and marry the Emperor, Henry V.

Widowed at the age of 25 she then went Normandy and in 1126-27 married Geoffrey of Anjou, nicknamed "the Handsome", whose badge, a sprig of broom (planta genista) gave us the name Plantagenet.

December 26 , 2007

A Time of Celebration/The Markets

Posted at 04:00 EST

Well the Yule festivities are over for another year but it has been a wonderful time of fun.

Jhon & I leave today for our estate in Colchester as he has estate business to take care of and we are expecting friends and guests to arrive soon for some Essex hospitality. Jhon has planned a day's hunting in the estate woods and I will be entertaining my friends.

I've also planned a trip to our local markets, a bustling vibrant place with always something new to look at.

I remember my last visit well - The day had dawned fair, and as I passed by the goldsmith's stall and a peddler selling soft leather boots the scent of roasting chestnuts filled the air. I was on my way to the drapers' stalls to buy fabric for a new gown and tunic. I stopped to examine a bolt of ivory coloured silk shot with gold thread as the merchant looked on with a bored expression on his weathered face. I smiled sweetly and asked "How much?
"Twelve silver pennies" he replied, but at my expression of indignity his bored expression suddenly brightened. We haggled for some time, and eventually reached a bargain of 6 silver pennies for the bolt of silk, then parted with expressions of goodwill.

That bolt of material has now been cleverly stitched into a gown and tunic I plan to wear to our Welcome banquet in the Great Hall.

December 24 , 2007

Coins

Posted at 03:00 EST

Some Norman coins struck during the reign of King Stephen (1135-54).

The top left shows King Stephen holding a sceptre
Top right shows his elder son Eustace, who was appointed Governor of York and permitted to strike coins there
Left middle depicts Stephen with his wife Matilda of Bolougne
Middle right shows Robert of Gloucester, illegitimate son of Henri I and his half-sister Matilda's (The Empress) chief commander
Bottom: a silver penny of Matilda, The Empress, daughter of Henri I

December 22 , 2007

A Note from Jhon

Posted at 04:00 EST

I see that Elgiva has been well looked after by her friends here in Germania while I have been away fighting in the north, so it is with a glad heart that I write this message to say Thanks to you all.

Once the Yule festivities are over, you are more than welcome to join Elgiva and I at our estate in Colchester for some good food and drink, a day's hunting, and general merriment. See you there!
Jhon

Odd little avatars created in Meez.

December 21 , 2007

The Homecoming

Posted at 08:00 EST

My Jhon returns home tonight after many days away serving the realm. We won't be alone together until after the household revelries in the hall are finished, but I am just happy to see his safe return. A tub half filled with water awaits me, and as I sink into its welcome warmth, my thoughts are full of dear Jhon. I scrub my body then rub oil scented with rose petals into my smooth skin before reaching for a thick cloth to dry myself. I slip the shift over my head and reach for a tunic and gown of saffron coloured silk with hanging sleeves, circled by a girdle of pale gold. I chose a mantle embroidered with silver thread which falls softly from my shoulders. My hair is rubbed with pumice to give it greater shine and plaited into two long braids - I am ready ...

Some time later ...

Jhon's Arrival

As I watch from the high window a horseman detaches himself from the group, springs gracefully from his horse, and hands the reins to a waiting squire. As he strides confidently across the bailey toward the doorway his unruly honey-brown hair falls across his high, proud forehead. Tall and lean with a strong sculptured face, his deep blue mantle flutters gently in a soft breeze. My Jhon - home at last - I breathlessly await sight of his green eyes deepening to a sea of emerald when our gazes meet.

December 14 , 2007

The Great Seal

Posted at 06:00 EST

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The Great Seal of Henri II (1154-89) shows how the shield was carried on horseback; hung on the left side of the rider by a loose strap called a 'guige' around the neck, with a shorter vertical straps, 'enarmes', held firmly in the left hand.

December 12 , 2007

The Keep

Posted at 05:00 EST

One of the finest Norman keeps in England, outside White Tower in London, can be found in Hedingham castle, Essex. Built c.1140 by the de Vere family the keep is remarkably well preserved and retains all of its thick, strong walls, although 2 of the corner turrets have disappeared.
Standing over 100ft high and faced with ashlar masonry, the keep rises to five stages, the second once housing the great hall. Access is via a first storey round-headed doorway set in an arch with ornate chevron mouldings. A spiral staircase remains in the north-west corner of the tower.
A magnificent example of Norman craftmanship can be seen in the Banqueting Hall with its very distinctive moulding decorating the windows and arches to create a stunningly lavish scene. There is also a delightful minstrels gallery, tunnelled within the thickness of the walls, which runs around the room some 12ft above floor level.

December 8 , 2007

The Great Hall

Posted at 05:00 EST

Medieval feasts, wedding celebrations, receiving visiting nobles, and holiday festivities would all be celebrated in the castle's great hall. Elaborate tapestries and silks would line the walls and while Middle Age castles could be rather dark, the largest windows would be found here. Small wooden or stone benches were placed underneath these windows so guests could enjoy the view.

Great Hall furnishings could be sparse, but they were very practical. Long wooden tables and benches would be covered with white linene during feasts, but could be taken apart easily for dancing and entertainment. Castle lords and their families would be seated at a table on a raised wooden or stone dais at the far end of the hall.

Stone floors in the castle's Great Hall were rarely covered with carpets, though wealthy lords might cover them with tapestries. Straw and rushes were the usual coverings, but later in the Middle Ages herbs like majoram, camomile, basil, sweet fennel, mint, germander and lavender would be added to help with the aroma. These coverings were swept regularly, but new materials would be soon added to cover up the more nasty fragments on the floor: bone fragments, spittle, animal excrement, beer and grease.

Light for evening feasts and celebrations would be provided by candles and oil lamps. It was not unusual for guests to sleep in the hall after a night of merrymaking.