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Lilac in History

May is the month for lilacs.

Mine are coming into bloom right now. The lilac above grows outside my back door and I adore everything about this shrub. The season is short but intense. In fact, much about lilac seems to be intense from the tight clusters of perfect flowers, to the unforgettable scent, to the historical perspective.


Syringa vulgaris - the common lilac - was brought into Europe in the 16th century by traders and ambassadors to the Persian and Ottoman empires. It represented the secrecy of paradise in these exotic domains.


In Renaissance times it was thought that Pan's pipes were made from the hollow stems of the lilac bush as syringa comes from the word syrinx meaning tube.


The early 17th century gardens of England and France overflowed with lilac but as time passed and the plant came out of the privacy of royal and noble spaces and into public areas, it lost its original connection to that Eastern secret paradise.

It became common.


The Victorian language of flowers further damaged lilac's reputation by making it the indicator of death - coffins were routinely draped with white lilac boughs.


In England the profusion of tiny flowers, the magical colours and the heady scent all came to be associated with decadence and sexuality.








In France these qualities were embraced. Louis XIV adored lilac.








So did the Empress Josephine who had Redoute paint pictures of the plant for her.

Lilac - the symbol of 'ever-returning spring.'

~

Henri IV

Henri IV as written by Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux.

If this prince had been born King of France and had lived in peaceful times, it is probable that he would never have arrived at greatness; he would have been nothing more than a voluptuary.

Even in the most critical situations, he would leave all to follow some amour. After the battle of Coutras, instead of following up his advantage, he went off to dally with the Countess de Guiche, taking her the banners he had won that day, and, during the siege of Amiens, he ran after Gabrielle d'Estrées without troubling himself about the Cardinal of Austria, who was coming to relieve the town.

If Sebastian Zamet really poisoned Gabrielle, he rendered a great service to Henri IV, for that good prince was about to commit a great folly, being on the point of declaring that the Prince de Condé was a bastard. The Count de Soissons was a Cardinal, receiving 300,000 crowns a year as benefice; the Prince de Conti was married to a woman who was barren, the Marshal de Biron was to have married the daughter of d'Estrées.

This Madame d'Estrées was from La Bourdaisière, the race that has produced the greatest number of gay women to be found in all France; there were as many as twenty-five or twenty-six of them; some were nuns, some married women; all lived a life of gallantry. It happens, by an amusing chance, that the arms of La Bourdaisière contain a hand sowing vetches, which has earned them the nickname of a handful of vetches.

Madame d'Estrées had six daughters and two sons, one of whom is the Marshal, who is alive today; the six and this brother were called the seven deadly sins. Madame de Neufvic, a witty woman, made this epitaph on the death of Gabrielle.

I saw pass by my window
Six mortal living sins
Led by a Priest’s bastard.
They all sang together
A requiem for the seventh,
Who had passed away.

Henri IV had a most strange collection of mistresses; he was not a gadabout and he was always made a cuckold.

Madame de Verneuil one day called him Captain Good Will, but the next day she scolded him cruelly and remarked that it was a good thing he was King, as if he were not, nobody would endure him, and that he stank like carrion.

She was quite right, for when the late Queen (Marie de Medici) slept with him, she was terribly perfumed afterwards, although she used all sorts of scents which she had brought from her own country. I do not think that anyone approved of the conduct of Henri IV to his wife.

Madame de Verneuil was the daughter of M. D’Entragues, who married Marie Touchet, the daughter of a butcher of Orleans, who had been the mistress of Charles IX. Madame de Verneuil was very proud and showed no respect either to the King or Queen, speaking of the latter to the King as ‘your Fat Banker.’

He once asked her what she would have done if she had been at Neuilly when the Queen had nearly drowned.
‘I should have cried,’ she said, ‘the Queen drinks!’

The King broke with her at last, and she gave herself up to eating and drinking.She became immensely fat, and led a life like that of Sardanapolus (The character which Ctesias depicted or invented, an effeminate debauchee, sunk in luxury and sloth) or Vitellius (lazy and self-indulgent, fond of eating and drinking, and an obese glutton, eating banquets four times a day and feasting on rare foods he would send the Roman navy to procure.)

Her children were taken from her, and the daughters were brought up by the Daughters of France.

Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux

I'm fortunate enough to have Vol. 746 of 1000 of Love Tales from Tallemant.

Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux was born around 1619, the son of financier Pierre Tallemant and his second wife Marie de Rambouillet.

Tallemant's father was rich but mean and his son found life at home so restrictive that he proposed to his first cousin Elizabeth de Rambouillet. The marriage came about but consummation took two years because of the extreme youth of the bride yet Tallemant had chosen well. Marriage made him independent and free to enjoy the society of his mother's family, especially the celebrated Arthenice - Catherine de Vivonne, Marquise de Rambouillet.

Arthenice's famous Blue Salon introduced the bourgeois des Réaux to court society... against whom he sharpened his famous but simple, crude and sarcastic wit in a collection of writings known as the Historiettes.

The Love Tales from Tallemant draw fantastic pictures of the world of Henri IV and his contemporaries.

Today in My Garden

~

PICTURES TAKEN IN MY GARDEN TODAY

~

Tulip

Auricula

Apple Blossom

Leslie Kenton

I was very fortunate last night to have a telephone conversation with the wonderful writer and natural health expert, Leslie Kenton.
After a few years of retreat from the public eye, she has come back with several new and exciting projects. Our conversation was about Cura Romana - the amazing natural weight loss and body transforming protocol. Leslie will be my personal mentor throughout my own Cura Romana journey.

Leslie's new projects also include the upcoming publication of her memoir - Love Affair - due out in February 2010.

And another book - Creativity - due out in May 2010.

Learn more about Leslie at LeslieKenton.com

I will post regularly about my journey as I travel.

Isabella de Medici

I finished Isabella de Medici: The Glorious Life and Tragic End of a Renaissance Princess by Caroline P Murphy a couple of months ago but the book has stayed with me.

Ms. Murphy has written an outstanding biography. It is full of first hand sources, contemporary letters, historical facts, educated theory and historical speculation yet it never once reads as dry or pontificating.


I enjoyed the book immensely and will read it again for many reasons.

One - Isabella herself is a truly fascinating character.
Two - The Medici need to be investigated properly in order to gain any kind of perspective on them. Their reputation precedes them.
Three - I've been caught, like a few others, by a Google images search for Marie de Medici. Type in Marie de Medici and you will find this beautiful image.....

Only it is not Louis XIII's mother. It is Leonora di Toledo de Medici, only daughter of Don Garzia di Toledo and Vittoria d’Ascanio Colonna and cousin to Isabella and her brother Francesco -- who was Marie de Medici's father.

Leonora and Isabella became close friends and both ended their lives at the hands of their husbands...one a Medici, one an Orsini.

Read the book. It is dark but enlightening.

Francesco eventually admits to his sister in law Leonora's honour killing...

'Although in the letter I had told you of Donna Eleonora’s accident, I have nevertheless to say to His Catholic Majesty that Lord Pietro our brother had taken her life himself because of the treason she had committed through behavior unbecoming to a lady...'

He also gave his tacit approval to Paolo Giordano I Orsini's murder of the glorious Isabella.

Marie de Medici married Henri IV of France and gave birth to Louis XIII, thereby securing the throne of France.But her French subjects never forgot who she really was.

By Blood and By Birth - Always A Medici.

~

Louis XIII

In a post made below on Louis XIII, I've been fortunate enough to have been helped by LL who pointed me towards another stunning portrait done by Louis XIII.

It is of Charles comte des Cars and was painted in 1615 ~ the year Louis turned 14 and married Anne of Austria.

My thanks to both LL and Didier Rykner at L'Art Tribune who have shown me a side of Louis XIII that I had not truly appreciated before.

~

Ninon de Lenclos Quote

Yes, Yes. No apologies for...

Another quote from Ninon.

She was so very brilliant!!




“Every action we take, everything we do, is either a victory or defeat in the struggle to become what we want to be.”

~

17th Century Garden Pots

I adore....

17th century, France, gardens, garden ornaments.

And today I have all four in one place

French Garden Style by Ines Heugel

In her chapter about Terracotta pots and urns Ms Heugel talks about how in 1610 a group of potters came to Anduze near Cevannes and began to produce frost proof terracotta pots for use outside. They traded with Lugaria in Italy where the Italian art form influenced several of the French pot designs.

For almost 400 yeards Anduze potters have passed their secrets from generation to generation. Today they still produce the most beautiful terracotta garden pots.

Also - In 1620 another set of potters set up in Aubagne outside Marseilles where they used the exceptional local clay to make storage vessels for olive oil, wine and water.

Once again, Aubagne potters still produce highly prized terracotta ware to this day.

~

What Did They Smell Like?

An excerpt of historical fragrances used by the more famous of our ancestors.

ALEXANDER - Used frankincense and myrrh in incense. Violets. Had tunics soaked in saffron
AMYTES - Wife of Nebuchanezzer. Favourite spot in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a bower of roses and lilies
APOLLONIUS OF HEROPHILIA - Best buys of ancient Greece. 'The iris is best at Elis and at Cyzicus: the perfume made from roses is most excellent at Pharselis and that made in Naples and Capua is also very fine. That made from crocus is most perfect from Soli in Cilicia and at Rhodes. The essence of spikenard is best at Tarsus and of vine leaves at Cyprus and Adramyttium.
The best perfume from marjoram and from apples comes from Cos.'
MADAME DU BARRY - Farina's eau de Cologne
CHARLES V OF FRANCE - Had lavender planted in the Louvre so that he could have lavender water made whenever he wanted. Eau de beaute...1370, first alcohol perfume. 4x30 oz brandy and 30oz rosemary flowers. Put in closed vat for 50 hours, distil in a boiler and give as oily bath for face every morning.
CHARLES VI OF FRANCE - Also loved lavender water. Had baskets of lavender hung in all his palaces to sweeten the air
CLEOPATRA - Anointed her hands with kyphi which contained 16 ingredients including oil of roses, crocus, violets. Scented her feet with aegyptium...a lotion of almond oil, honey, cinnamon, orange blossoms and henna. Ship made of cedarwood. One and a half feet depth of roses on her floors.
ALEISTER CROWLEY - The Beast - Perfume of Immortality...3 parts civet, 2 parts musk, 1 part ambergris
DIOGENES - Scented feet and legs only. Above would benefit the birds
EDWARD IV OF ENGLAND - Orris root. Several roots tied to string and dipped in boiling water to wash linen. Swete cloth
ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND - Rose and musk. Gloves, cloak, shoes soaked in ambergris. 1. Rose and Musk perfume.....'Take 8 grains of musk and put in rosewater 8 spoonfuls, 3 spoonfuls of damask water and quarter of an ounce of sugar. Boil for 5 hours and strain it.' 2. 'Take 8 spoonfuls of compound water, the weight of two pence in fine powder of sugar and boil it on hot ember s and coals softly, add half oz of sweet marjoram dried in the sun and the weight of two pence of the powder of benjamin' Ralph Rabbards, her perfumer recommended water of violets and gillyflower water.
ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY - Hungary Water - 1370. Lavender and rosemary
ESTHER - As ordained by Jewish law, she was purified for one year. Oil of myrrh for 1st 6 months, other oils for next
EMPRESS EUGENIE - Wife of Napoleon III. Guerlain made toilet water for her with a lavender base. Named eau de Cologne Imperiale because she loved it so much
HENRY III OF FRANCE - Covered himself head to foot in amber. Also loved violet powder
HENRY IV OF FRANCE - Didn't use scent. Said to have smelt like a rotting corpse
EMPRESS JOSEPHINE - Loved rose, patchouli, musk. Violet. Napoleon hated musk - after divorce she saturated his apartments in it! Napoleon would only let her wear orange water, lavender water and eau de Cologne. She liked mignotte, reminded her of violets. He sent her mignonette seeds from Egypt.
JULIUIS CAESAR - Hated scent. Said 'I'd rather smell of garlic'
LILY LANGTRY - Pears soap
LISELOTTE OF FRANCE - Hated scent. When found husbands love letters to his boyfriends, so strongly scented that she fainted
LOUIS XIV - Perfumed his rooms with marjoram and rosewater. Washed shirts in stew of cloves, nutmeg, aloe, jasmine, orange water and musk for 24 hours. (or with storax, benzoin, rosewater and musk)
MARIE ANTOINETTE - Rosewater, violet water. Hated spicy eastern perfumes and animal scents
NAPOLEON - Used Windsor soap(bergamot, clove, lavender) Rose or violet lotions. Eau de Cologne
MADAME DE POMPADOUR - Powder for hair....orris root and odour of violets. Gloves perfumed with neroli, lavender soap. Pomade for hair...jasmine, violet, carnation, or hyacinth or orange blossom macerated in hot fat. Always had hyacinth flowers in rooms winter and spring. Pot pourris of rose, lavender, clove, nutmeg, silvery oakmoss and powdered orris root.
SIR WALTER RALEIGH - drank mix of wild strawberry leaves. Placed pot pourri of orris root powder and roses in his rooms. Used strawberry scent
SOCRATES - disapproved of scent
MADAME TALLIEN - Marie Antoinette's lady. Bathed in crushed strawberry and perfumed milk
HENRIETTA MARIA - white lavender. lavender water

17th Century Collage

I've found a new toy. Picasa 3.

It has made lovely collages of my 17th century pictures!

~

Addendum to the Post below.....

If you'll forgive me for quoting myself - in the previous post I asked...

"Now - I often wonder if any of the Real People she (Elizabeth Chadwick) has had access to (via the Akashic Record) have ever turned round and said ‘Go away and leave me alone. I don’t want to be remembered.’???"

Marie de Rohan spent her last years in a Benedictine abbey a few miles from Paris. For the previous 70 odd years she had whirled through life - her's and other people's - with glorious energy and passion. But, towards the end, she wrote in her will that she wanted her burial to take place without pomp. Only her name and the following inscription were allowed on her tomb...

'As humility has long since replaced in her heart a taste for the world's glamour and for the greatness of her time, she has forbidden that at her death any sign of that greatness should reappear, for she wishes to take it with her into the simplicity of this grave.'

~

Death can't erase a great life. Historical fiction will see to that - thank goodness!

Historical Fiction....one POV amongst many

You write historical fiction because....
You read historical fiction because....

There are as many reasons to write and read as there are writers and readers. We all have our own preferences, our own opinions, our own interpretations.

There seems to be a spiralling debate in the HF world about historical accuracy in fiction and whether it is better to write and read about real people or purely ‘made-up’ people.

I’m feeling a little giddy here.

One of the first things you learn as a researcher of any field is that the more you research, the bigger the differences. First, second, third hand sources – it doesn’t matter. No one has the definitive answer. All is cloaked in bias and propaganda and the changes that time will bring to everything.

So, you write a novel set in the 17th century... for example. You choose to tell a story about Real People. And then you find it suggested that this is not a very good idea. How dare you presume to give a Real Person those thoughts, actions, motivations when you have no earthly way of verifying a single one of them?

A story is a series of actions and reactions. The human condition is universal. You can’t plot a life but you can plot a novel. Applying absolute certainty to that most ambiguous of creatures – mankind – is surely asking for trouble.

And being 100% ‘right’ in every way, shape and form? Good grief, how boring!

Personal opinion here but –I think I’d be rather flattered to be remembered in print, perfectly or even imperfectly, 400 years from now. The odds of that happening to any of us here today are long but...what a compliment.

Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Greatest Knight and many other works of Historical Fiction has a fascinating method of research. She uses the Akashic Record.

Now - I often wonder if any of the Real People she has had access to have ever turned round and said ‘Go away and leave me alone. I don’t want to be remembered.’???

The above is a serious question. One that boggles my head.

The point of view is - Historical Fiction is about people. It's written by people and read by people and people are imperfect. End of....!

Louis XIII

I'm intrigued.

Love the World Wide web. Hate the World Wide Web.

A Google images search has just thrown me this image of Louis XIII via La Tribune de l'Art

In many years of research this is the first time I've seen this picture of Louis XIII and a quick search for the painter René de Poitiers, duc de Tresne gave only one resource - this one.

I'm very intrigued.

There is no date for the portrait but it is obviously of an older man and curiosity made me search for other pictures of Louis.








This one was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1625 when Louis was 24 years old.












I don't know but.... the first picture doesn't quite ring true. I could be very wrong. But there is no Bourbon lip or jaw.

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury, ambassador to France in the early 1620's described Louis as having a double row of teeth which made it difficult for him to close his mouth properly.

In Weave a Garland the younger Louis is called a 'beardless boy' as it was well known that, even well into his twenties, the king could not grow a beard. Maybe this is why he played barber to his guards and shaved off all their beards and moustaches.

It' s also known that Louis started wearing a peruke at quite a young age. Cavaliers... chevaliers... were well known for their long, curling hair and Louis seems to have suffered from premature balding.

Even though the first painting has the artist's name and that of Louis XIII - I'm not 100%convinced.

As if historical research was not hard enough. Sigh.....!!

~

Close Hapsburg Relations

This beautiful little girl is the Infanta Margarita of Spain, (August 12 1651 to March 12 1673) neice of Anne of Austria, Queen of France.

Anne commissioned this picture by Deigo Velazquez and kept it in her bathing chamber in the Louvre along with many other portraits of the family she left in 1615 and was never to see again.

In Spain, it was traditional for women of the Spanish court to pose for portraits with their hand on the back of the chair but the delightful child opposite was only three years old when the picture was painted and she could not reach beyond the seat of the chair.

Little Margarita was the daughter of Philip IV of Spain - Anne's adored brother - and his second wife Mariana of Austria - the daughter of both Anne and Philip's sister Maria.

At one time Margarita's mother, the Infanta Maria, was expected to marry Charles, Prince of Wales, later King Charles I of England. Instead she married Ferdinand III, the titular king of Hungary and became the Holy Roman Empress.

Philip IV, King of Spain favoured this daughter and called her 'my joy.' She was an ethereal child with blond hair, blue eyes and none of the genetic defects that haunted many of the Hapsburgs.

Velazquez painted her several times. His most famous picture of the Infanta being Las Meninas


Margarita married Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, her cousin and uncle, and has come down to us in history as the last of the Spanish Hapsburgs.

She gave birth to six children, suffered numerous miscarriages and sadly died in Austria at the age of twenty-one.

~

Some days.....

....You just feel like pulling a face

A Clever Duchess

A CLEVER DUCHESS; Maria de Rohan as Pictured by H. Noel Williams

New York Times - January 18, 1914, Sunday

MARIE DE ROHAN, Duchesse de Chevreuse -- there is magic in every syllable of the stately, melodious name, as though she who bore it could send down through the centuries something of that potent fascination which was hers during her life....

I was absolutely delighted to find the above article by chance today.

It was written in January 1914 to coincide with the publication of Hugh Noel William's biography of Marie de Rohan ~ A Fair Conspirator.

In the days before I had a computer and a photocopier, I borrowed this book from the library and copied virtually every word of it out by hand. It took weeks...and more than one overdue fine!

Mr Williams did not seem to like his 'Fair Conspirator' very much. The biography has moments of high judgment and low opinion, but he tells her story with great passion.

Word of the Day

LOBLOLLY

"thick gruel," 1597, probably from lob, onomatopoeic of bubbling and boiling + lolly, obs. Devonshire dial. for "broth, soup, food boiled in a pot."

~

Quote of the Week

I make no apologies for quoting Ninon de Lenclos again.

Her wisdom was pithy and timeless.

“Actors ought to be larger than life. You come across quite enough ordinary, nondescript people in daily life and I don't see why you should be subjected to them on the stage too.”

Maybe we could change that quote slightly....

“Fictional characters ought to be larger than life. You come across quite enough ordinary, nondescript people in daily life and I don't see why you should be subjected to them in books too.”

Pinks and Pink

I've just found one of those little nuggets of information that delight and educate in equal measure.

The word 'pink' - as in signifying the colour - was not introduced into the English language until the late 18th century.

In older times 'pink' was always described as 'flesh' or 'blush' or 'carnation.'


Carnation'd like a sleeping infant's cheek
Lord Byron

So when you see the words 'pink' 'pynke' 'pincke' used before the 18th century, it refers to the flower known variously as Carnation, Soppes-in-Wine, Pink, Gillyflower, Gillover. And not the colour PINK

~

Bring hither the pincke and purple cullambine,

With Gilleflowres;

Bring Coronations and Sops-in-Wine,

Worn of paramours.

Spenser

~

Kamikaze Writing

I've just found a great writing tool.

Write or Die: Dr Wicked's Writing Lab

It's a fun and slightly masochistic way to burn that infernal internal editor.

When I'm feeling stronger....or more desperate....I'll try the Electric Shock Mode with Evil grace period.

Bye, bye internal editor!

The Sweet Violet

As well as buying roses - I've also been buying Violets from the delightful Groves Violet Nurseries

Viola Odorata

Along with the rose, the violet is one of the most ancient of all known flowers. It was known and grown long before the birth of Christ, being chosen as the symbol of ancient Athens.

Napoleon picked violets from the grave of his Josephine and they were found in a locket he was wearing on his death bed.

Violets were a major strewing herb and well-known for their use in cookery. These plants contain a chemical that , after the initial blast of scent, numbs the sense of smell. It makes them ethereal, like fairies at the bottom of the garden.

~

The Neopolitan Violet...

...is thought to be the original Parma Violet.

~

'Cherry Lips and Cheeks of Damask Roses...'

I have a long-standing dream...

To plant a garden full of old historical roses.

I'm one step closer having spent most of yesterday afternoon in the cyber- heaven that is David Austin Roses ordering bare root stock.

Plan A was to have only roses known to have grown before the 18th century but there are now so many wonderful new roses that Plan B was put into operation... Old and new but all of them with the 'old rose' fragrance.

Central to both plans was Rosa Mundi - Rose of the World

Rosa Mundi is one of the oldest named roses and it was named after The Fair Rosamund - Rosamund Clifford, mistress to Henry II. Her tombstone at Godstow Priory in Oxfordshire is inscribed...

Hic jacet in tomba rosa mundi, non rosa munda

~

Another purchase is Reine des Violettes

A Bourbon Hybrid of divine colour (Purple/Lilac) and fragrance (True Old Rose.)

Bourbons came from a natural crossing of The China Rose with The Damask on the French Isle de Bourbon in 1817.

~

Also Cottage Maid

A Centifolia or Provence Rose.

Centifolia comes from each flower having a hundred petals and Provence from....Provence where the rose has always grown in abundance. This is a true old rose originally from Greece and known to Pliny.

~

Only one thorn on the bush. Delivery takes three to four weeks.

OK.

Patience is a virtue. Patience is a virtue. Patience is a virtue.

~

Rene d'Anjou

~

Award

I was over-the-moon-delighted to find out that Catherine Delors author of Mistress of the Revolution has nominated this site for an Excessively Diverting Blog Award.

Many thanks Catherine.

In my turn I must nominate other sites who match the following criteria...

'The aim of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award is to acknowledge writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen’s genius in amusing and delighting readers with her irony, humor, wit, and talent for keen observation. Recipients will uphold the highest standards in the art of the sparkling banter, witty repartee, and gentle reprove. This award was created by the blogging team of Jane Austen Today to acknowledge superior writing over the Internet and promote Jane Austen’s brilliance.'

So, in no particular order ~

1. Bill Marshall's Dorothy Dunnett Blog for keeping the flame alive.

2.Tyra's Garden for beauty above and beyond the call.

3.Jane Brocket for writing my favourite Non-Fiction book of last year, The Gentle Art of Domesticity.

4.Cat Bauer for all things Venetian, especially The Venetian Vampire post.

5. Hoydens and Firebrands for all things 17th C - towards which I'm a tad biased!

6.DeluxeTapestries for so much information on this fascinating art form

7. A Twist of Rotten Silk for 17th century Scotland and the sheer enjoyment of reading Lor's blog.

Thank you all for giving and sharing so much :o)

The Baroque

For any one who is interested in 17th and 18th century artifacts - the VandA museum in London is holding an exhibition from April 4th to 19th July called .....

Baroque 1620-1800: Style in the Age of Magnificence

'Baroque was the first style to have a significant worldwide impact.'

The VandA exhibition has three categories-

The First Global Style

Sacred Spaces

Secular Spaces

The pictures on the museum site are almost too beautiful for words. Time and circumstances permitting, I'm hoping to visit the VandA to see this amazing collection first hand.

~

And here's another picture just for the beauty of it!

Maxim No.209 ~ He who lives without folly is not so wise as he thinks.

François VI, prince de Marsillac, later duc de La Rochefoucauld was born on September 15th 1613 in Paris. A soldier, courtier and latterly, a writer of those famous maxims, François was influenced by three great women – Marie de Rohan, Duchesse de Chevreuse – Anne of Austria – Anne Genevieve de Bourbon-Condé, Duchess de Longueville.

Here he describes himself in his own words.

"I am," he says, "of a medium height, active, and well-proportioned. My complexion dark, but uniform, a high forehead; and of moderate height, black eyes, small, deep set, eyebrows black and thick but well placed. I am rather embarrassed in talking of my nose, for it is neither flat nor aquiline, nor large; nor pointed: but I believe, as far as I can say, it is too large than too small, and comes down just a trifle too low. I have a large mouth, lips generally red enough, neither shaped well nor badly. I have white teeth, and fairly even. I have been told I have a little too much chin. I have just looked at myself in the glass to ascertain the fact, and I do not know how to decide. As to the shape of my face, it is either square or oval, but which I should find it very difficult to say. I have black hair, which curls by nature, and thick and long enough to entitle me to lay claim to a fine head. I have in my countenance somewhat of grief and pride, which gives many people an idea I despise them, although I am not at all given to do so. My gestures are very free, rather inclined to be too much so, for in speaking they make me use too much action....

The Prince de Marsillac was a fine man and is wonderful character for a novelist to write about. I adore him.

And in case any should think that both he and I are biased in his favour, his most implacable enemy, Cardinal de Retz, described him this way...

"In M. de la Rochefoucauld there was ever an indescribable something. From his infancy he always wanted to be mixed up with plots, at a time when he could not understand even the smallest interests (which has indeed never been his weak point,) or comprehend greater ones, which in another sense has never been his strong point. He was never fitted for any matter, and I really cannot tell the reason. His glance was not sufficiently wide, and he could not take in at once all that lay in his sight, but his good sense, perfect in theories, combined with his gentleness, his winning ways, his pleasing manners, which are perfect, should more than compensate for his lack of penetration. He always had a natural irresoluteness, but I cannot say to what this irresolution is to be attributed. It could not arise in him from the wealth of his imagination, for that was anything but lively. I cannot put it down to the barrenness of his judgment, for, although he was not prompt in action, he had a good store of reason. We see the effects of this irresolution, although we cannot assign a cause for it. He was never a general, though a great soldier; never, naturally, a good courtier, although he had always a good idea of being so. He was never a good partisan, although all his life engaged in intrigues. That air of pride and timidity which your see in his private life, is turned in business into an apologetic manner. He always believed he had need of it; and this, combined with his ‘Maxims,' which show little faith in virtue, and his habitual custom, to give up matters with the same haste he undertook them, leads me to the conclusion that he would have done far better to have known his own mind, and have passed himself off, as he could have done, for the most polished courtier, the most agreeable man in private life that had appeared in his century."

De Retz was well-known for writing sharp and cruel character profiles. This one could be a lot worse considering the hatred shared between these two men.

Maxim No.245 ~ There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one's ability.

Historical Fiction

I've been following Julianne Douglas' wonderful poll about historical fiction and marquee names on....

Writing the Renaissance

It has brought up and addressed many issues to do with the state of play in the HF world today. It has also opened up many other avenues of thought - for me at least.

Many months ago I wrote a note to myself in my workbook....

'Today we are looking at these events through the lens of history.

At the time they were just normal people with normal emotions, living their lives.

Narrow the view.

Forget what happened later.

At any given time the characters were the centre of their own world.

Make them intensely human.'

A quick look at Dictionary.com for the word FICTION gives....

1.
the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, esp. in prose form.
2.
works of this class, as novels or short stories: detective fiction.
3.
something feigned, invented, or imagined; a made-up story: We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.
4.
the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
5.
an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation.

Imaginary or not. Market forces or not...

Fundamentally --- Historical fiction is for people and about people.

And I for one love it!

Quote of the Week

'Today a new sun rises for me; everything lives, everything is animated, everything seems to speak to me of my passion, everything invites me to cherish it'

~

Ninon de Lenclos

French Courtesan and Wit

~

Perceptions of Historical Characters

Gathering all my preparatory materials together to make the scene 'The White Lady' led me re-read a lot of my research materials on Anne of Austria, the Spanish wife of Louis XIII.

There are several zillion references to Anne on the Web and in books and I have come to an uncomfortable conclusion. My perception of Anne seems to be very different to the orthodox representations of her.

Yes, she was religious.
Yes, she was treated abominably by her husband.
Yes, she gave birth to, arguably, the best known king of France.

Yes, she battled breast cancer.

And yes, it is undeniable, she was able to make people love her completely and unconditionally.

But those very same people who supported her through all the bad times were...

Exiled,
Burned in effigy,
Imprisoned in the Bastille,
Imprisoned in Vincennes,
Died mysteriously whilst imprisoned in both the above,
Subjected to the question extraordinary,
Conveniently killed on the battlefield by a stray bullet,
Barred from ever returning to France,
And - Beheaded.

Anne of Austria stood in front of a tribunal charged with involvement in a plot to murder her husband.
And - as religious as she undoubtably was - she lied TWICE on the Holy Sacrement.

I have two points here.
No.1 - I've already admitted that I throw books written by those whose POV of a true historical figure disagrees with mine. (Maybe not the wisest admission)
No.2 - Taking in mind the above - How many will violently disagree with my own POV?

Oh, and No.2a - When a writer has researched as deeply as they can, how important is it that others (readers, writers, academics) agree or disagree with That Writer's own personal POV?

Ah and No.2b - How many writers would give this a second thought?

My Anne is my Anne.
She is based on recorded and verifiable historical evidence.

The perception is mine and, despite everything above, I absolutely adore her.

Making a Scene, Part I - What Scene and Why?

In a previous post - Marie and Buckingham - I talked about a spy report that had been found behind a bust at the Prefecture of the Police in Paris in the 19th century.

It was written for Richelieu and tells about the activities surrounding Anne of Austria in May 1625, just after the wedding of Henrietta Maria, when Buckingham visited Paris to escort the new Queen to England.

These events are important to the plot of this novel in progress and, as much as I love the idea of writing a scene wherein Buckingham wears five disguises in one day, it's not practical.
But...
The report includes another incident involving Marie de Rohan and Buckingham which will make a perfect scene.

So - I thought I'd break down the act of writing a scene and post the various steps needed here...just a little exercise shared between you and me!

OK. Let's begin.

First off - I'm writing about real people and real historical events.

This scene can only go in one place.

Secondly - I already have a draft (all right, several drafts) of the novel so my framework is built. This scene can only go in one place.
Sorted.

Decisions need to be made beforehand because a scene must do several things at once .

It must be written from one point of view.
It must elucidate all the characters involved - their wants, needs and personalities.
It must drive the plot forward.
It must give vital information through setting, backstory, foreshadowing and, most importantly, dialogue.
It must always include a memorable, significant action which plays out in real time.

Oh - and it must have a beginning,a middle and an end.

This scene - we'll call it The White Lady - will be written from Marie de Rohan's point of view.
The players include Marie, Anne of Austria, Buckingham, Pierre la Porte and Wat Montagu.
The plot is moved forward (in fact these events reverberate for years to come) and various personality traits are highlighted.

And, the significant action involves a man dressed as a ghost.

The next step will be preparation. Gathering together all the information needed to write the scene.

Nil desperandum

Louise Labé

Born in the 1520's in Lyon, Louise Labé was a Renaissance poet. Amongst her work are 24 (maybe 25) sonnets of glorious passion.

There are several English translations of Louise's sonnets but my favourite belong to Alice Park

Today England is grey (again) but with a promise of the new season and I've just re-read Alice Park's translation of Sonnet XV.

~

Sonnet XV - Pay Homage

Pay homage to the glad return of spring!

Embrace the razzle-dazzle, molten sun!

Enjoy the happy breeze and all the joy

Of hearing fresh, quick-running water sing!

The land displays its most alluring face.

Two scarlet songbirds work their miracle,

And seven hundred jonquils flaunt their all

In sunny, yellow splashes that erase

The tedium of ice and muffled white

Five slim, young girls are dancing in the light

Of blue-skied noon. I catch my breath.

O yes, You’ve come!

Now spring has made the whole scene new.

O little daylight moon, the sun, and you!

My heart feels overwhelming tenderness.

© 2000 Alice Park

~

I have around 700 snowdrops, no jonquils yet... but hope and expectation are in the air. Reading Sonnet 15 makes my heart feel 'overwhelming tenderness.'

Yours too - I hope.

Another Update - 17th Century Textile Colours - And Red Hair

"JUDAS COLOUR- Silver."

In a previous post I played a game...trying to give colours to 17th century textile names.

To me - in my absolute black and white mode - Judas colour represented silver. 30 pieces, I believe. Too obvious on the first pass.

BUT -I'm now reading Catherine Delors' Mistress of the Revolution - where Gabrielle has red hair like - JUDAS.

Mmmmn!
(BTW, that's the sound I make with my lips tightly closed and my eyebrows raised in wonder)

So, I've changed my mind about this 17th C colour. I see copper. A pinkish orange.

Another BTW - I'm very interested in our genetic make-up.

My father is a Scot with Irish colouring (black hair, grey eyes.)

My mother was from Norfolk - Iceni country. Boudicca had red hair!

My hair is as dark as you can get without being black. It has red highlights.

Never wanted to be blond - wouldn't mind being red. :o)

~

Article Update - I'm a Student Handout

Oooh!

I've just checked my own links and found that my 2002 article The Smell of the Middle Ages is now.....

THE most popular site on the Legio Draconis: Art of Combat site.

And I've been read 921 times on the SCA website

Woohooo!

Still tooting the trumpet. Sorry, but, please.........I'm still AMAZED :o)

17th Century Textile Colours

One of my first ever research projects was on 17th century costume.
I got a beautiful old, old costume book from the library and much to my disgust - I can't remember the name of it.

Anyway - from that book I made a note of the names used for textile colours in that era.
They are so evocative and always set the imagination running.

~
PANSY FLOWERING; RAYFLAX BLUE; SUMMER BLUE; ROYAL BLUE; TURQUOISE; WATER COLOUR; PALE BLUE; BEAN BLUE; PASTEL;
~

~
DAWN; CORAL; PEACH BLOSSOM; PALE YELLOW; GOLDEN YELLOW; CANARY; SULPHUR
~

~
WILLOW GREEN; BUDDING GREEN; BRIGHT GREEN; BOTTLE GREEN; SEA GREEN; VERDIGRIS; GOSLING GREEN;

~

~

GREY; DOVE; ARGENT; PEARL GREY; SLATE, PIGEON; SILVER GREY; CRYSTALLINE;

~

~
REDDISH PURPLE;BRIGHT RED; AMARANTH; CARNATION; RUSSETT; SCARLET; OX BLOOD; ORANGE; NONAIN - ROSY WHITE;

~

And colours to try and get our minds around.

I'll have a go...

~

I love the idea of SICK SPANIARD - a yellowy olive.

JUDAS COLOUR- Silver.

TEMPS PERDU- I see this as a pale violet.

ANGRY MONKEY- Is red brown too obvious?

APE'S LAUGH- Again, a reddy colour. But only if they were always being pedantic

RESURRECTION - Oh Gawd! A blue-grey????

KISS ME DARLING - Pale pink, maybe.

TRISTAMI - Sorry, can only think of pepparami here. Oops.

MORAL SIN - Love this. A deep, vibrant, singing red.

SCRATCH FACE - Purpley (if there's such a word)

SMOKED OX HAM COLOUR - Pinky, purpley (if it's not a word, it should be!)

LOVE LONGINGS - Help!

CHIMNEY SWEEP - Too obvious????

FADING FLOWER - Mmmn. Pastel. Maybe like ashes of roses.

DYING MONKEY - Black, brown....ish

MERRY WIDOW - Deep Purple - nearly black but not quite.

~~

I'd love to hear about your ideas :o)

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Did You know......?
That in the 17th century both James I and his son, Charles, set a precedent by wearing only felt and not beaver hats? Both were worried about the declining numbers of beaver in the UK!





Also...

Deforestation was a major cause for concern in both 17th century England and France.

~
Mating pairs of beaver have just recently been re-introduced to the UK.

And deforestation is still an issue!

~
Plus ça change!

~