Lady of the Knight
Page 25
As the day drew to a close, the third important event took place. Sir Andrew Ford, resplendent in a golden doublet and a dignified codpiece, married his Lady Rosalind in a quiet ceremony conducted by Wolsey’s confessor. Jack Stafford gave his sister away in marriage— but only after he and Lady Alicia had convinced Rosie of his brotherly relationship. The beautiful bride claimed to be speechless to gain both a brother and a husband on the same day, then she spent the rest of the evening talking about it.
On Monday, June 25, the skies over the Val D’Or finally opened and drenched the Field of Cloth of Gold in a heavy rain that lasted for several days. A week of traveling across choppy seas, on flooded roads and in chill winds failed to dampen the ardor of the newlyweds. Andrew and Rosie returned to his home in Warwickshire, where they settled down to a life of wedded bliss. Rosie stopped chewing her fingernails and spent Andrew’s money on charitable causes. In the evenings, Andrew proved to be the most loving of husbands. During the day, he turned his formidable powers of concentration on his latest and most lasting obsession: the study and experimentation of the properties and diverse uses of gunpowder.
Lord and Lady Ford lived happily—and explosively— ever after.
* * * * *
Author Note
The Field of Cloth of Gold was the name of an historic occasion as well as the place where this event occurred. In the summer of 1520, England’s master of statecraft, Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, hosted an unprecedented meeting between the young, handsome King Henry VIII of England and the equally young, handsome King Francois I of France. From June 7 through 24, a barren bowlshaped valley on the northern coast of France located between the English-held town of Guisnes and the French town of Ardres became a stage where thousands of noblemen and their ladies from both courts tried to outglitter each other. The fortnight was a combination of a summit meeting between two leading world powers, an Olympic games, a World’s Fair, an international fashion show and a culinary showcase. In short, it was the most sumptuous camp-out in history.
King Henry’s retinue included over four thousand lords of his realm, their squires and retainers, hundreds of priests and lesser clerics, an army of potboys, grooms and lackeys as well as two thousand of the finest horses. His queen, Catherine of Aragon, was attended by one thousand members of her own household and a mere eight hundred horses. King Francois and Queen Claude were accompanied by an equal number of courtiers and retainers. A knight, such as Sir Andrew, was allowed to bring a chaplain, eleven servants and eight horses.
The fortnight was a nonstop round of feasting, gambling, jousting, wenching, archery, wrestling and shopping from the thousands of vendors who ringed the encampment. Cockfighting, masquing and exchanging polite insults with members of the opposite court were other popular pastimes. The French introduced the English to asparagus, prunes, turkey from the New World and, it has been rumored, lemonade. The English acquainted the French with salmon and Scotch whiskey. The hens of France were kept busy providing fresh eggs. Not only were they needed by the hundreds of cooks, but by the English courtiers who rode nightly through the French camp, pelting their counterparts with eggs.
Without a doubt, the Field of Cloth of Gold was the party of the second millennium.
I am deeply grateful to Deborah Staley of Maryville, Tennessee for her costume expertise in dressing Rosie and Andrew for the king’s feast. Also many thanks to Anne Turner of the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, DC and to Betty MacKenzie, reference librarian at the Kings Park Library, Burke, VA for helping me research the Field of Cloth of Gold. I plead writer’s license for reversing two historical events for the sake of the story: King Henry’s feast actually took place on June 24th while the Mass in the tiltyard was on the 23rd. No, I didn’t make up the dragon fireworks. It really happened, though no one knows who ignited it.
I love to hear from my readers. Please write to me at PO Box 10703, Burke, VA 22009-0703.
eISBN 978-14592-5091-8
LADY OF THE KNIGHT
Copyright © 1999 by Mary W. Schaller
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