Elspeth Selwode of Wilton
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 three 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, Leif and Aoife, 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 happily, raising Leif and Aoife, who Wulfstan took as his own, and now also Hrafn, their infant son.
Interests
- Embroidery, primarily Opus Anglicanum
- Tablet weaving
- Sewing
- Calligraphy and illumination
- Archery
- Service at branch, principality and Kingdom levels
History
February 22, 2003: attended her first event, Winter Tourney in Lionsdale.
June 2003: became A&S officer for Lionsdale
October 18, 2003: Awarded Arms by Einar and Thora, first Prince and Princess of Tir Righ.
March 14, 2005: Gave birth to Aoife Wulfstansdottir.
July 12, 2008: Married Wulfstan Hrafnsson.
October 2008: became Coronet Scribe to Raknar and Chiara, 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 and Inga, then 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 and Renée II, 13th Prince and Princess of Tir Righ.
October 24, 2009: Admitted to l'Ordre de l'Etoile d'Argent, 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.
Service
Current Service
Branch level: Lionsdale Scribe, Largesse Coordinator, deputy Chatelaine
Principality level: Tir Righ Chief Scribe
Kingdom level: Charter Packet Coordinator for TRM Owain II & Wrenn II
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-present: Lionsdale Scribe
September 2008-September 2009: Event steward for Odin's Playground 2009
September 2008-present: Lionsdale largesse coordinator
October 2008-August 2009: Coronet Scribe for Raknar & Chiara
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-present: Serve as Charter Packet coordinator for TRM Owain II & Wrenn II