Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

For years, I'd been wanting to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, but I could never convince a group of people to go. This year I finally made it.

The Gryphon and I and a few of our friends drove up separately in two different cars. Both groups were running behind, and we ran into each other at a rest area on the turnpike.

It's a good thing, too, because shortly afterwards there was an accident and we all got stuck in traffic for a very long time.

The delay was so bad, in fact, that not only did everyone get out of the cars, but some people were playing badminton and volleyball.

Eventually, the lanes cleared and we completed the journey to Mount Hope, where the Renaissance Faire takes place.

I'd decided to dress somewhat appropriately, even though I don't have anything resembling a Renaissance costume. I wore a shirt which has embroidery and leather laces on the front, along with a simple skirt and some basic sandals.

As soon as we stepped inside the front gate, a woman in period costume came up to us and was talking to the women in the group. She was asking us which of us had men along. I was the only one who raised my hand, so she decided to play matchmaker for the others.

Her choice for one of them went over well: a barefooted, blonde, bearded Scotsman in a kilt, who was playing bagpipes near the front gate. "His name is Barrett," she said, and did everything to convince both Barrett and one friend of ours to actually speak to each other. Although there seemed to be mutual interest, neither one was able to overcome the rift in time that separated them. Several centuries, I believe it was.

It did, however, fuel jokes for the rest of the day about ways to lure Barrett down to the Kissing Bridge for a command performance.

Lining the streets were all sorts of little shops. The Gryphon bought me a wooden rose from a vendor. It even smelled like a real rose. There were also all sorts of food and drink. For the first hour or so, most of our group seemed mostly interested in sampling the different foods.

In the process of our quest for something to eat, we were walking down a little street headed towards a square with a fountain. Somebody called, "Hey, you! You with the face."

And I looked over and saw a woman in a salmon colored courtier's dress, standing with a man about her same height, dressed in what might be described as an explorer's clothes.

"Come over here," she gestured. We did. Immediately, she began to try to convince us to get buy some chicken. The chicken was just your basic fried chicken and there were more interesting things to be had, including the big pickles that we were working on eating at the time. But we chatted with them for awhile anyway.

The man informed us that his name was Drake, as in Sir Francis. He was complaining about how everybody knew about Magellan but nobody had heard about him and how he had achieved much more impressive fleets. He also informed us about a little courtly intrigue.

It seems that Caterina de la Strozzi, daughter of Filippo Strozzi, was in love with William Howard, Viscount of Fairfax. But meanwhile, the Duke of Tuscany was doing everything in his power to fight for the right to wed her. This angered Drake.

During the course of the conversation, Lady Lettice Knollys, for that turned out to be her name, exchanged her flat-brimmed, beribboned hat for Sir Francis Drake's. She then bet him that if he bet his dual when it came time for the chess match, that he would be required to wear her hat for an entire year. He quibbled over this, asking what he got out of it if he won. Lady Lettice, a cousin of the queen, said she was offering the queen's hand if he won. Nobody of us really believed she had the power to deliver on this promise, but she made him swear on it. So they swore in full view of us witnesses and made us promise to show up for the chess match.

Meanwhile, a foppish lord came by and laughed at Drake in his hat. We later discovered his name was Lord Fancypants. "Look at who's laughing at me," Drake said, with disdain in his voice.

"Yes, I agreed. And look at that little purse." I imitated his foppish walk.

"He's my best friend," Lady Lettice said.

"Oh, well, I meant, what a walk! I mean, great fashion sense," I covered, narrowly avoiding a courtly catastrophe.

We caught up with Lord Fancypants later and told him to ask Drake about his wager.

Lady Lettice also made us swear that we would come back and get some chicken later. For a courtier, she sure swears a lot.

Some of the events were starting by then, and we decided to check them out. We saw some comedian sword fighters, Don Juan and Miguel. They were very funny, with a stream of patter in addition to some great sword-fighting and stunts.

At the Don Juan and Miguel show was where I learned you're supposed to cheer "huzzah!" instead of "yay!"

The next event we attended was a demonstration by a falconer. That was interesting, but I much preferred the little plays and skits by the costumed cast. At about this time, we purchased some ale. Very good stout, by the way.

Some members of our group had promised to attend a performance by the musician who'd tried to set them up with Barrett. While they were meeting this obligation, The Gryphon and I browsed in the shops. I went a little crazy: I got a silver arm bracelet, some fantastic bracelets which drape across the hand from the wrist to ring (commonly known as "slave bracelets"), and I also got a headdress made from cloth flowers, including autumn leaves and blackberries. I was pleased, when I went to try it on, that the shopkeeper asked me I wanted one to match my "costume."

Since this is getting long, and since other work is calling, I'll finish the Renaissance saga tomorrow.

And now, the ending... Renaissance Saga, Finale

Copyright 2003 by Alyce Wilson

Musings Index

What do you think? Share your thoughts
at Alyce's message board (left button):