Eleanor of Leycestershyre, OL

Eleanor of Leycestershyre OP#613 An Tir Wiki Entry

Branch: Barony of Dragon’s Laire (An Tir)

Also lived in: Barony of Aquaterra (An Tir), and Barony of Gyldenholt (Caid)

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The History of Eleanor of Leycestershyre

Eleanor of Leycestershyre is a wealthy matron, and the widow of several noble husbands, who divides her time between attendance at the court of Her Grace’s Majesty, Queen Elizabeth I, and her own several country estates in the Midlands and South of England, where she produces needlework for the queen, textiles for her own use, and wines for her estates.

She was born in Warwickshire on 6th of August 1533, and was raised at court, owing much to the responsibilities of her father, who was both friend and legal counsel of the late king. Her mother is the Right Honourable Lady, Sofia Augusta da Livorno who was born in Italy, and was daughter to a wealthy merchant family of Tuscany.

Sofia’s ambitious father desired a more noble future for his heirs, so he sent Sofia as a young girl, to England, where she was educated and lived as the ward of an Earl, until she eventually met and married Eleanor's father. Eleanor’s fortunes were established by her late father, but her real wealth came later through a series of marriages. The first match, made for love, ended badly when her handsome but dissolute husband got caught out in an adulterous affair with the wife of an exceedingly jealous Scottish nobleman. The Scotsman killed the two lovers, and Eleanor was left a young and desirable widow. Her mother engineered her second match to a much older, titled and wealthy gentleman, who conveniently died in his sleep quite early into the marriage, leaving Eleanor possessed of two large manor houses and substantial financial assets. By this time, she had also inherited her maternal grandfather’s Mediterranean textile and seafaring trade enterprises in Italy, and actively managed the family businesses from England. As a very independent and well-educated young widow, she was still a highly desirable catch for another elder lord, who also subsequently died, adding considerably more to her land holdings, wealth, and position. Eleanor was born only a month before the Queen, and was raised in and around the royal court, where she and the young Princess Elizabeth grew up together; her position at court ofttimes following the turbulent path of the princess, to some extent. Now, in late middle life Eleanor lives the quiet existence of a widow, doing needlework, spinning, weaving, and occasionally sewing for the Queen, while attending her Grace’s Majesty’s court, continuing to serve her as a close friend and intimate of the Queen.

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Alternate Persona

On some occasions she wears the garb of her Norse heritage in the guise of her alternate persona Ingeborg Synnove av Viken, a Viking lady hailing from her family's holdings in Hemne and the rural lands northeast of Trondheim, Norway, circa 1100AD.

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Name and Device

The name Eleanor of Leycestershyre is a properly researched, documented, and registered name in the SCA College of Heralds. Her name was registered May 1998, and device was registered October 1998.

The Arms and Device of Dame Eleanor of Leycestershyre

Blazon: Purpure a Phoenix Or rising from Flames Gules in Chief Or three Suns in Splendour Purpure'

Personal Badge

Dame Eleanor’s personal badge 'Or a Sun in Splendour Purpure' is in the process of being submitted to be registered in the College of Heralds

Household

Dame Eleanor is the founder and head of House Crone Henge. The household is currently in suspense and inactive.

Household Badge

The badge of House Crone Henge "Fieldless a Cauldron Proper within an Anulet of twelve Stars Or'' is in the process of being submitted to be registered in the College of Heralds

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Affiliations

Prior to Dame Eleanor’s elevation she was apprenticed to Mistress Siné Gillian nic Pharlain (MacDonald), Companion of the Order of the Laurel (Trimaris and An Tir)

Siné, was apprenticed to H.E. Countess Enriqueta Isabel de Reyes y Mora, Companion of the Order of the Pelican, Companion of the Order of the Laurel, Baroness of the Court.

Students

Two informal students. No formal arrangements, currently.

Apprentices

Baronessa Chiara Francesca Arianna d'Onofrio ([Porte de L'Eau])

Katheryn de Gonneville (Blatha an Oir)

Elizabeth Blackdane (Three Mountains) Elizabeth is shared between Eleanor and H.E. Countess Elizabeth de Rossignol.

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Interests

The reign of Queen Elizabeth I, her court, and politics

Haberdashery and recreation of period hats and head-wear.

English history, with especial emphasis on the Tudor dynasties of 16th century England

Archery, both longbow and period crossbow.

Brewing.

Wiccan and pagan practices.

Historical biography.

Bobbin lace.

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Costuming

Completely hand-stitched recreation in linen inspired by the Sture chemise.

Gilt (23K gold leaf) wooden fan with ostrich feathers.

Toque in silk velvet.

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Historical cookery; recipe redaction, methods, recreation and ingredients

The crown of Elizabeth I, inspired by the Armada portrait of 1588, done in hand-made marzipan for a presentation to high table.

Smoked fish

Soup cooking over fire, at encampment

Manchet bread made into modern loaves, for slicing

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Cheese making and charcuterie

Red Leicester cheese fresh from the cheese press, ready for waxing and aging

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Fiber processing, spinning wool and linen yarn, for weaving

Hand-carded, and hand-spun, 2-ply Romney worsted

Weaving and textiles

Fine linen cloth woven for a suite of ruffs.

Fine linen cloth.

Experiments in Shetland wool

Diamond twill for a should bag, creating two different looks on one warp.

Linen hand towels for hand-fasting, in the heraldic colors of both of the parties.

Natural dyeing, and dyestuffs

Dyeing with Brazil wood chips.

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Embroidery and embellishment

Viking inspired embroidery panels for applique. One of a set of two.

Scarlet-worke embroidered linen coif.

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Vintning of fruit wines

Cherry wine

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Awards

A&S Champion (Aquaterra) Jan 24, 1998 (AS XXXII) through Jan 23, 1999 (AS XXXIII)

Award of Arms (An Tir) By: Aveloc the Younger, Laurellen de Brandevin Jan 23, 1999 (AS XXXIII)

Plate (Aquaterra) By: Julian Edward Farnsworth of Falconmoors, Arianne Farnsworth of Falconmoors Jan 31, 1999 (AS XXXIII)

Silver Dolphin (Aquaterra) By: Julian Edward Farnsworth of Falconmoors, Arianne Farnsworth of Falconmoors Dec 11, 1999 (AS XXXIV)

Jambe de Lion (An Tir) By: Davin Steingrimsson, Groa Jan 27, 2001 (AS XXXV)

Golden Estoile (Aquaterra) By: Julian Edward Farnsworth of Falconmoors, Arianne Farnsworth of Falconmoors Apr 27, 2002 (AS XXXVI)

Goutte de Sang (An Tir) By: Skapti Thorinsson, Asa Starradottir Jan 24, 2004 (AS XXXVIII)

Blue Stag (Aquaterra) By: Andreu Recheles, Fiamma the Unquenchable Jan 24, 2004 (AS XXXVIII)

Baroness's Favor (Aquaterra) By: Fiamma the Unquenchable Dec 3, 2005 (AS XL)

Blue Kraken (Aquaterra) By: Wyll Hauk, Rosamund of the Misty Meadows Jan 27, 2007 (AS XLI)

Laurel (An Tir) By: Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson, Signy Oksendahl Mar 3, 2007 (AS XLI)

Bumblebee (Dragon's Laire) By: Arontius of Bygelswade, Laurellen de Brandevin Jun 2, 2012 (AS XLVII)

Bountiful Hand (An Tir) By: Ieuan Gower, Gwyneth Gower Jun 2, 2012 (AS XLVII)

Offices Held

Minister, Costumer’s Guild, Aquaterra

A&S Champion, Aquaterra, Jan 24, 1998 (AS XXXII) through Jan 23, 1999 (AS XXXIII)]]