New Rulings at the court of Elizabeth

I think it time to make a new list of laws for mine subjects. Hmmm, now, let me see...

One - all male subjects of a lower class shalt weareth flat caps on a Sunday so they canst be recognised immediately as such. I findeth some peasantry in their sunday best doth dress far better than those of a higher class and that wilt never do.

Two - I liketh not scruffy beards on a man, therefore I shalt tax the length of men's beards.

Three - I despise the smell of leather and will not allow the excessive wearing of it at court.

Four - I cannot abide the presance of people who smell. Anyone not bathing regularly wilt be banished from court.

*rubs his scruffy chin*


Hath you a barber in court my Lady?

*laughs*

I do not think thine beard hath yet reached a taxable length my lord... but take care to ensure it doth not!

*bows*

I shall My Queen, I shall


I suppose to I shud stow away my leather trousers as well then *laughs*

*tries to hide a smile beneath a theatrical frown*

At least my lord I can count upon you to keep yourself clean when not at sea. I fear you have the tendancy to flount all of mine other new laws exceedingly... for I do believe thou wudst take to wearing a flat cap upon a Sunday just to confuse matters!

I think some of us here would not mind if thy removed the trousers at this moment.
*looks from side to side*

*scandalised*

My lady Woodville, really!!!!

*laughs loudly*

My Lady Woodville thou would have me with my troussers down? Oh the Scandel!


And my Dear Bess, I only jest, I shall take these and anyt laws you hand down with all seriousness. And yes I might just be seen in that flap cap *winks*

It is scandal that keeps one famous Elizabeth, thou should know that!
*pouts*

I am carefully creating the cult of Gloriana, the Virgin Queen... what good wudst scandals do me?

...however I take more enjoyment in the tales from abroad of what I'm apparently getting up to with my master of horse more than those who invent them!

Tis most delightfully exciting and causes great stirrings of laughter!

I may have all new reports forwarded to the shewolfe, I feel they wudst cause quite a stirring in her too... though perhaps not of laughter.

*grins wickedly*

I'm surprised there's no law against:

Being Marie Stuart
Being Catholic
Speaking Spanish or French
Not kissing the ground you walk on.

This is most untypical of you, dearest cousin.

Laws against being Marie Stuart and against not kissing the ground I walk on are wonderful suggestions, I thank you indeed cousin for your helpful suggestions.

Laws against being Catholic are a little more complicated. I'm all for a law against any Catholic who wants me dead, but otherwise I find I like many of them. In all fairness, it's just that demented blood hungry Pope character I object to. Quite possibly the most un-holy soul I've ever come across.

Speaking other languages wilt not be banned for I liketh to practice my excellent skills in both French and Spanish.

Damn. Perhaps I could have kept my mouth shut, the laws against being Marie Stuart will be most difficult for me to evade!

The Pope? He is a dear man! A little zealous, I won't lie, but really nice once you've greased his pockets.

Vous-parlez francais?

Oui, ma cousine, je parle francaise.... y hablo espanol.

Je vous presente... una cancioncilla espanol favorita de Garcia Lorca. Es como un ensueno para las reinas como yo:

Cancioncilla del primer beso

En la mañana verde,
quería ser corazón.
Corazón.

Y en la tarde madura
quería ser ruiseñor.
Ruiseñor.

(Alma,
ponte color de naranja.
Alma,
ponte color de amor)

En la mañana viva,
yo quería ser yo.
Corazón.

Y en la tarde caída
quería ser mi voz.
Ruiseñor.

¡Alma,
ponte color naranja!
¡Alma,
ponte color de amor!

Despite it being in his language I fear King Philip wouldn't know a true "corazon" if I pierced his with mine sharpest sword! However, twud be quite a pleasure to find out.

And yes, I hath heard tales of the most recent Popes, of their trechory and love of bribes and power. My main objection to the present Pope is his wish to have one of mine subjects commit the sin of murder against me... any of mine subjects. He wudst commit them to hell in God's own name. He is a fool and I wilt not permit him to represent our gentle Lord God in this realm.

Je ne parle pas l'esapgnol. J'ai il parlerai, mais je l'ouible. What does the poem say?

In my very rough and ready translation, the piece is as follows. It tells the tale of the first kiss.

In the fresh/green morning
I wished to be a heart.
A heart.

And in the ripened evening
I wished to be a nightingale.
A nightingale.

(Soul, turn the colour of orange
Soul, turn the colour of love)

In the vivid morning
I wished to be myself.
A heart.

And at the end/loss of the evening
I wished to have my voice.
A nightingale.

Soul, turn the colour of orange
Soul, turn the colour of love.

It doth loose a little in the translation but is still a delicate expression of our deep wishes to love, to be ourselves, and to sing out the joyous truth at the end of the days.

Master Lorca is something of the Spanish equivalent of our Master Shakespeare.

Wudst that I could tell thee the extents of his play Bodas De Sangre, for the lessons wudst serve thee well. Alas, twud take a great many hours to translate the whole piece. Perhaps one day I may complete a translation for you as a gift and bind it with mine own needlework, which though it doth not have the creativity of yours is said to be most perfect in it's neatness.

*sighs somewhat wistfully*

That was most beautiful

*When you turn around to look at me, you see me putting a hankie in my pocket and sniffling*.

'Twas the most lovely poem I've ever heard! I thougt thou hated the Spaniards?

I hateth their King with great vigour ...but cannot ever turn my back on learned men such as Master Lorca, nor such beautiful verse.

*smiles* it warms my heart so to see you two engaged in pleasant conversations, not strife.

I doth hope it lasts

It shall. As long as we're talking about the following subjects: Religion, Football or Rugby (France vs England), my crown, her crown, my mother, her mother, or you. Barring those, we're the best of friends.

*shakes his head and laughs*

I shall have to always encourage your conversations from such then

Good. Where hath Elizabeth gone?