Introduction

My name is Anora Marchaunt. I was born in Lancashire, England on October 16th 1537. My birth was quite remembered because the whole country was still celebrating the Christening of our long awaited Prince Edward the day before. I am the daughter of Henry and Amy Marchaunt. My Grandfather was gifted land and title for his deeds aiding Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth Field where he was part of Thomas Stanley’s household (the Earl of Derby). I have two older siblings Thomas and Mary and a younger sister Jane.

I spent my younger years at my father estate growing up with the Stanley children. I was lucky enough to be born around the same time as the Earls fourth child Jane and so we were tutored together and I received a grand education. I went to court for the first time on July 12th 1543 to see our glorious king Henry marry the lady Katherine Parr. At that moment I knew I must be a part of court life and the Lord Stanley arranged for me to become a lady in our Queens household. When I was eight my Father arranged for me to continue my education in Venice where I witnessed many things and found myself enthralled with the fashion that surrounded me. Venice had just Elected a new Doge, Francesco Donato and many noble families came into favor I was lucky my mistress’ family was one of them. I also discovered that I had been sent to Venice to also be educated in the true religion (Catholicism)

I remained in Venice until I received a letter recalling me to England on my sixteenth birthday. Queen Mary had just been crowned, England was going to return to the true church and I was to be married. My husband Nathaniel was a gentleman of the Earl of Northumberland’s Household and I was to become a lady of honor to the Queen. Within a year I achieved my wifely duty and gave birth to a son, Charles.

When I was twenty-one the Lady Mary died and I found myself in the employ of Elizabeth. I dearly love the lady Mary and her death affected me deeply, but one could not help but be charmed by such a lady as the Queen. Elizabeth brought joy back to the court that had long suffered in Queen Mary’s sadness. I greatly admire the Queen Elizabeth and I spend much time with her as a companion, she being only four years older then I, we find joy in much of the same activities.

Bibliography
Briggs, Asa, A Social History of England, Viking Press, New York, 1983.
Loades, David, The Tudor Court, Barnes & Noble, New Jersey, 1987.
Norwich, John Julius. A History of Venice. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
Orlin, Lena Cowen, Elizabethan Households, Folger Shakespeare Library, 1995.
The Renaissance in England, Hyder E. Rollins & Herschel Baker, eds., D.C Heath & Co., Lexington Mass., 1954
Scott, A.F., The Tudor Age, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1975.
Somerset, Anne, Ladies in Waiting, from the Tudors to the Present Day, Alfred A. Knopf New York, 1984

update

so I turned in my Courtesy and Etiquette in Feb. but because we haven't had anyone finish the quest we really have no one to judge it yet so I'm still waiting to hear if I have finished that or not

I'm starting a dance practice next month and will be teaching all three of my dances listed in my last post at the first meeting so that will be the Dancing section done

I've also ploted out my my scroll for the Calligraphy part... I'm also working on some form of documentation, and I hope when it is done I can gift it to St. Marks since they have been so wonderful to me, I'm also waiting to hear if any bools of common prayer were illuminated, as it stands I doubt it since the printing press was all the rage but maybe I can get away with it but there is a library in London that focuses on the history of the church of England and I expect to hear back from them soon

I've written my Introduction but I don't know if it is good enought to submitt

I'm thinking a sweet bag and coif for Decorative Arts

a pair of gloves for Skills and Technology

I'm still waiting to get cleared to start fencing and I need to make fighting garb for Survival Skills

I need to study up and take the test for Heraldry

that leaves 2 categories left

overall I think I'm doing well