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1349 - Another Bad Year

11/15/2014

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This was an awesome event held by our Barony and stewarded by a good friend of mine.  Last year she ran a plague-themed event called 1348: A Bad Year (the first year of Europe's plague outbreak).  It was extremely popular and we missed it, so I was keen to attend this year.  There was a wonderful A&S competition with bonus points for plague-themed items and items dated between 1350-1400.  I didn't enter, but enjoyed seeing the huge outpouring of creativity.  There were felt rats for sale that could be given to anyone to infect them with the plague.  There was a grim reaper who would give you puzzles to win your life back (for a price), an herb woman who would make relics and sachets to protect you (for a price, mine didn't save me, sadly), and a real live saint who would bless you back to good health (again, for a price).  Over $200 was raised for the clothiers' guild with these activities, and there were awards given for those who survived the day, those who died, and the person who died the most (Her Highness, Clare, who was killed countless times).  

Her Highness asked me to be her lady in waiting for the day, and to continue on as part of her retinue and one of her ladies for the whole of her time as princess and Queen.  It was a great honor to me.  I began to see how challenging this role can be, since my time was not my own at all during the day.  I was Her Highness's only lady, but we had a lovely time attending a class on the streets of medieval London, participating in a poker game run by the rapier fighters (each fighter had a lady he would fight for, she would get a card for each win or every three losses, and would try to build the best poker hand in return for a prize, my first taste of having anyone fight for me, which was very gratifying), watching a rousing game of loot the body, and participating in the plague rat toss.  

This was a fantastic and creative event, and my elderberry cordial was one point away from taking the prize in our annual brewing competition.  The praise I received for my documentation was especially gratifying.  I am attaching it here for anyone who would like to take a look.
elderberry_liqueur.docx
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    Ursula

    I like to: play with fleece, spin, knit, weave, sew, garden, cook, eat, bake bread, dance, read, sing, and learn new things.

    Above image is from the Beinecke Ms. 229 Arthurian Romances c. 1275-1300 France.

    All photos by me unless otherwise credited.

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