Simon IV de Montfort to Andre l'Ecrivain

[Simon IV de Montfort]

To the honourable Andre l'Ecrivain,

I hope this letter finds you well. We may not have been introduced, but I am Simon IV, baron of Montfort-l’Amaury. It is come to my attention from word of word of mouth that you are a learned scholar whose house, like my own, is planning of paying homage and swearing fealty to the new King of England - may God save him, as I believe is the Anglican phrase.

Forgive me if, but would it be alright if I asked you some questions about England before my arrival? It will be my first time in a long time into the country, and in this most of important of times I wish to cause no offence to King or Country. If you would rather not field my questions, I understand - such is the natural result of unsolicited address. But if you could find the time, I would greatly appreciate your knowledge.

May God be with us all,

Simon de IV
Baron of Montfort-l’Amaury

[Andre l'Ecrivain]

To the Right Honorable Baron of Montfort-l'Amaury, Andre l'Ecrivain sends greetings; as the Psalmist says, may the Lord bless you and keep you!

It is always a pleasure to receive new correspondences, of course, and the more so when they come from a fellow subject of our incoming king--and my lord has the nearly the right of it; the phrase here used is "God save the King," often and loudly, and always a worthy and pious thing. And my poor self is flattered and gratified that rumor speaks so as to call me a learned man and a scholar; I have had the good fortune to have had good teachers and to have had access to the recorded wisdoms of those who have gone before us, which I am happy to put to the use of amity and accord among the subjects of His Majesty.

For are we not called upon to share the gifts with which the Lord, in His supernal wisdom, has seen fit to endow us? I am, of course, happy to entertain my lord's questions in such letters as he may send, and, as time and duties to my own lord allow--for do we not all have authorities appointed over us, to whom we must remain available and obedient?--and to answer them to the extent which my own imperfect understanding allows. I can only hope they will be of benefit to you, sir.

May your journey to this fairest Isle be a peaceful and a pleasant one!

Andre l'Ecrivain

[Simon IV de Montfort]

To the honourable and learned Andre l'Ecrivain, Simon IV de Montfort sends his regards.

Let me first thank you on your corrections on "God Save the King." I would hate to err with such a phrase at this crucial juncture.

Secondly, thank you for fielding my questions. Some of this may seem very obvious to you, but I have spent all of my life in France - as such, there are some very basic elements of experience which are absent to me.

The questions i have are these three:

• What is the standard procedure for lodging during a coronation, does one know? Would we be hosted by someone, sent to a local establishment or would we have to procure our own?
• I understand the standard rules for Valeture in France - I assume they will be required elsewhere during the ceremony itself, but if it's not too much trouble, could you describe standard valet etiquette in England? I shouldn't expect you to know the Franc rules, but if you do then just the differences should be fine.
• Would it be expected for nobles at the events of the Coronoation to share breakfast or nay?

I thank you again for you time.

May all be safe during these times of strife,

Simon IV
Baron of Montfort-l’Amaury

[Andre l'Ecrivain]

To the Right Honorable Baron of Montfort-l'Amaury, Andre l'Ecrivain returns greetings.

I am, of course, pleased to help my lord to address matters. Coming into even a new household points out differences; how much more they must be expected to be between kingdoms, even within Christendom! But as to such questions as you pose, I have some answers:

My lord asks after lodging for the coronation. Most will be seen to as part of their lord's retinue; I, for example, have been invited to attend by his lordship the Right Honorable Earl of Hertford, so my lodgings will be provided for as a component of his own. But if my lord baron has been asked to attend by another, or is heading up his own delegation, he would need to see to his own lodgings. I am told that many of the more adventurous and hardy will be camping as if on campaign outside the city--something that suits the robust and martial nature of our incoming king, God save him, well. I am also told that many will be lodging at local inns and the like, of which the Mermaid has renown even in distant Monmouthshire, where I have the good fortune to live.

My lord also asks about valets and their expected behavior. They do tend to be permitted some leeway in conduct in private; it is hard to be overly formal with a man who helps you put on your drawers and hose, after all, or who tends you in the privy! And there is a memory of earlier days yet in the land, when there was less separation between the noble and the common; while William of Normandy, God have mercy on him, did much to enforce a distance, recollection of those simpler times yet persists. In public, of course, valets who speak out more than they must find themselves reduced to other duties or without employment at all, though it must be noted that a lord who mistreats his servants will find himself without them in short order.

My lord finally asks after conventions regarding breaking fast. I do not know how it is in France, but here, those who find themselves in affinity and proximity may well take meals together at any point during the day when they are served. Breakfast tends to be less organized and scheduled than luncheon or the evening meal--much less than the latter, as it happens, since it is at dinners that many things are conducted, and holiday dinners are, as the histories tell us, like to show miracles and marvels; who would deny themselves a chance to see such things? But there would be little or nothing taken amiss at my lord breaking his fast with another friendly baron, nor yet would it be out of line for someone such as my lord the Earl of Hertford to have his liegemen to meal in the morning. It would be noted, as all things are, but it would not contravene custom--and nor would breaking fast alone.

I am curious as to the French customs for such things, as my lord has mentioned them. If it ever happens that I am guest in your kindly southern lands, I would hope to know how to conduct myself, and my lord's discussion of such would be welcome.

I remain,

Andre l'Ecrivain