Elspeth Selwode of Wilton

Elspeth Selwode May 23, 2009 Information Resides: Lionsdale Date Started: February 22, 2003 Awards: Order of Precedence Offices: Lionsdale Chamberlain, deputy Chatelaine Tir Righ Chief Scribe Device Per bend azure and vert, on a bend argent between two bees Or a threaded needle inverted sable Persona The Honourable Lady Elspeth Selwode is an English lady in the court of Henry VIII. She has been witness to the end of Henry's marriage to Katherine, his fall away from the Church, embracing of the Protestant faith and his subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn. The year is 1535. She serves as a lady-in-waiting to the new queen and returns to her family estate in the winters. Elspeth's father, Edmund, is a wealthy wool merchant in Wilton, the county seat of Wiltshire. Having grown up near Salisbury Cathedral, Elspeth is a pious woman, happily married and raising four children. While she professes her Protestant faith, the old prayers and intercessions sometimes sneak in still. Elspeth can also be found masquerading as Elspeth Sèalwudu, a 10th Century woman from Jorvik. Widowed, she was raising her young children, Drengr and Rachelle, by herself. She had returned to her childhood home in the wake of her first husband's death (turns out he wasn't all that adept at sea-voyaging after all) and was helping her mother to run the household and educate both her own children and those of her father's retainers. It was while living in the hall of her father that she first laid eyes on the skald, Wulfstan Hrafnsson. His songs and stories enchanted her and she sought him out after the others had retired for the night to ask questions of him, seeking to know more of the stories he shared and places he had traveled. It was during these many quiet conversations that they discovered a deep and abiding love that would capture them both. Together, they sought her father's leave to marry. While he felt the match was beneath her station, he saw the love she bore for Wulfstan and, as she was a widow with children, he recognised that she was entitled to make such decisions for herself and was asking him out of courtesy and respect. With his blessing, they were betrothed during a feast celebrating Odin's Chosen. He presented Elspeth with a song that he had written for her and she offered to him her children, the promise of more and a gift of her hands. Married, they now reside together at Wulfwode Hall, raising Drengr Wulfstansson and Rachelle di Volpe, who Wulfstan took as his own, and now also Hrafn Wulfstansson and Sasgerðr Wulfstansdottir. Interestes Raising her beautiful, intelligent and remarkable children Service at Branch, Principality and Kingdom levels Embroidery, primarily Opus Anglicanum and blackwork Calligraphy and illumination Event stewardship Tablet weaving Sewing Archery History February 22, 2003: attended her first event, Winter Tourney in Lionsdale. April 2003: became Waterbearer for Lionsdale June 2003: became A&S officer for Lionsdale October 18, 2003: Awarded Arms by Einar Guntharson and Thora Golvik of Al in Hallingdal, first Prince and Princess of Tir Righ, by leave of Their Lanesries An Tir, Gunnar and Gabrielle. March 14, 2005: Gave birth to Rachelle di Volpe. July 12, 2008: Married Wulfstan Hrafnsson. October 2008: became Coronet Scribe to Raknar Guntharson and Chiara Fiamma, 12th Prince and Princess of Tir Righ. May 8, 2009: Gave birth to Hrafn Wulfstansson. May 23, 2009: Granted admittance into the Order of the Jambe de Lion by Vik Vikingsson and Inga the Unfettered, 55th King and Queen of An Tir. August 29, 2009: Stepped up as Tir Righ Chief Scribe. September 27, 2009: became Coronet Scribe to Ulfgar II (Ulfgar Hjartar Bani Thorvaldsson) and Renée II (Renee de Josselin), 13th Prince and Princess of Tir Righ. October 24, 2009: Admitted to l'Ordre de l'Etoile d'Argent by Ulfgar II & Renée II, for Arts & Sciences contributions to further Tir Righ. February 20, 2010: Admitted to the Order of the Silver Pillar by Ulfgar II & Renée II, for service to the Principality of Tir Righ. Received a Prince's Favour for exemplary service. Received a Princess' Talon of Favour for service to the Princess during her reign. August, 2010: Stepped down as Lionsdale Scribe. September 13, 2010: Gave birth to Sasgerðr Wulfstansdottir. February, 2011: Stepped up as Lionsdale Chamberlain. March 5, 2011: Admitted to the Order of the Goutte de Sang by Skeggi Hrafensfuri and Taisiia of Ma Elring, 59th King and Queen of An Tir. Mar 5, 2011: Prince's Favor (Tir Righ) By: Alden ap Owain Mar 5, 2011: Princess' Talon of Favor (Tir Righ) By: Katherine atte Moure August 2012: Stepped down as Tir Righ Chief Scribe Feb 1, 2014: Scapula Leonis (Lionsdale) By: N/A Feb 22, 2014: Prince's Favor (Tir Righ) By: Ulfgar Hjartar Bani Thorvaldsson Feb 22, 2014: Princess' Talon of Favor (Tir Righ) By: Juahara al Azin Aug 5, 2017: Cornucopia (Tir Righ) By: Einar Guntharson, Tangwystl verch Glyn Service Current Service Branch level: Lionsdale Chamberlain, deputy Chatelaine Principality level: Tir Righ Chief Scribe Chronological Record of Service April-June 2003: Served as Lionsdale Waterbearer June 2003: Embroidered the Lionsdale device for the Principality kneeling cushion June 2003-February 2005: Served as Lionsdale A&S Minister February-May 2004: Served on the autocrat team for May Crown, hosted by the Shire of Lionsdale 2004: Began making award necklaces for Tir Righ October 2004: Taught blackwork embroidery at Lionsdale workshop April-September 2005: Event steward for the Minter Gardens demo September-November 2005: Worked on the team constructing the Investiture garb for Amanda Kendal of Westmoreland (hand-sewing and bead embellishment) October 2005-present: Painting award charters for Principality and Kingdom August 2008-August 2010: Lionsdale Scribe September 2008-September 2009: Event steward for Odin's Playground 2009 September 2008-February 2011: Lionsdale largesse coordinator October 2008-August 2009: Coronet Scribe for Raknar & Chiara May 2009: Completed an appliquéed and embroidered device for the Principality banner project August 2009-present: Tir Righ Chief Scribe September 2009-present: Lionsdale deputy Chatelaine September 2009-February 2010: Coronet Scribe for Ulfgar II & Renée II September 2009-July 2010: Charter Packet coordinator for TRM Owain II & Wrenn II November 2010-February 2011: On event team for Lionsdale Winter Tourney February 2011-present: Lionsdale Chamberlain