The Rain Maiden

by Jill M Philips

  Courlieu—A private messenger in the service of a king or great lord.

  Crespinette—A delicate net, usually ornamental, used to cover braided or upswept hair, worn by women of rank.

  Curia Regis—A feudal council, most often convened by the king. In the case of Philippe’s curia, it was composed equally of nobles and commoners.

  Custos—A guardian or keeper; custodian. Does not imply the powers of a procurator.

  Dalmatic—A bishop’s outer vestment. Often worn by mon-archs as well.

  Damask—Rich patterned cloth, usually of linen or heavy silk.

  Demesne—Generally, the realm or domain. In Philippe’s case, the royal demesne.

  Deniers—Silver coins or “pennies” used in England and France. Larger denominations were had by weighing deniers. A sou was 12 denier weight. A livre was one pound denier weight. Gold coins, rare in England and France, were worth about twenty-five silver denier.

  Dishabille—A woman’s loose, informal gown, made of silk or muslin.

  Dot—Also dotalicium. A woman’s marriage portion; her dowry.

  Draughts—Board game for two or more players; a medieval version of checkers.

  Duchy—Territory ruled by a duke or duchess, often held as an annexed portion to a king’s domain.

  Epiphany—Christian feast, celebrated January 6th, observing the manifestation of Christ’s divinity to the Magi, and His baptism.

  Esplanade—A flat, grassy area, open to public gatherings or for walking.

  Ewerer—A servant who washed the hands of noble lords and their guests at table.

  Fief—A feudal estate, often held by lower nobles in the name of the overlord or king.

  Florin—A Spanish or Italian coin, usually made of gold.

  Galleys—Large, slender ships, propelled by oars, used for navigating the Mediterranean Sea.

  Galliard—Formal dance, stately in style.

  Gigue—A long, slim, stringed instrument shaped like a figure eight. It was strummed for playing.

  Gonne—Variant of gown. Often used to describe an ecclesiastical vestment.

  Gothic—In architecture, the style that grew to popularity (particularly in France) during the 12th—15th centuries. It was characterized by high pointed arches, flying buttresses, rib vaulting. This allowed higher windows, and “Light” became an integral part of Gothic architecture, symbolizing God’s presence and His love.

  Grande Chartreuse—Celebrated Carthusian monastery founded in the 11th century in southeast France, near Grenoble.

  Grande Pont—Literally, “the big bridge” spanning the Seine.

  Hauberk—A long tunic made of chain mail.

  Henap—A cup or goblet for wine. Decorative types were also called knight jugs.

  Herbal Posset—A drink of hot milk, curdled by wine and mixed with herbs, used as a relaxing sleep aid or a “cure-all.”

  Homage—The act of allegiance to a lord or king by his vassal, acknowledged by a ceremonial oath.

  Illusion Foods—Banquet foods molded into the shapes of animals and decorated by artificial coloring.

  Interdict—Church law denying certain sacraments to offending individuals or nations. Pope Innocent proclaimed the Interdict against France when Philippe II refused to acknowledge Ingeborg of Denmark as his wife.

  Jongleurs—Wandering musicians and storytellers of northern France.

  Knights Hospitallers—Members of a military religious order, which grew out of the hospital established during the First Crusade in order to care for pilgrims in the Holy Land.

  Knights Templars—Members of a military religious (Benedictine) order, they were called the Soldiers of Christ and noted for their loyalty, rigid code, and prowess in battle. After the Third Crusade they held Acre till 1291.

  Lais—A form of medieval ballad, usually set to music. Marie de France was famous for these.

  Largess—Generosity in giving money or gifts, a much-prized element of chivalry.

  Lists—An enclosed area of land, prepared for public jousts and tournaments.

  Livres—See deniers.

  Mamelukes—Saladin’s mounted soldiers. Originally they were slaves brought from Egypt, but became an elite military order.

  Mangonels—Siege engines built to hurl stones in the manner of a catapult. They varied in size, but the ones used at Acre were very large.

  Mantle—A long cape, often fur-trimmed.

  Mark—Sum of money equal to two thirds of the English pound sterling.

  Mayors of the Palace—Institution under the early Frankish kings. The “mayor” was actually a combination chancellor and majordomo. Under the Carolingians, the mayors of the palace were the ancestors of Hugh Capet.

  Michaelmas—Feast of the archangel Michael, celebrated September 29th.

  Mitre—Tall, decorative peaked hat worn by bishops and archbishops.

  Molle—A clay model, worked to scale.

  Oath of Fealty—An oath of homage, but not restricted to matters of land-holding. Rather it was a promise of loyalty to any overlord. An oath of fealty to the crown held sway over any other oath or pledge.

  Oriflamme—The ancient banner of the Franks. It was usually of red silk or samite and embroidered with golden stars. The word quite literally means “gold and flame.” This banner was still carried by the time of Philippe II but had been somewhat supplanted in significance by the Capetian device of the fleur-de-lis.

  Paladin—A tournament champion; loosely, any competitor in such a match.

  Palfrey—A small, gentle horse, usually ridden by women.

  Parvis—The courtyard or space in front of a church or palais.

  Pater Noster—Literally, “Our Father …” The Lord’s Prayer.

  Patriarch—A bishop, holding the highest rank beneath the pope. These served in Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria.

  Pellison—Thin cloak for men, usually worn over the bliaud; sometimes trimmed with fur. Women wore a more decorative version over their chainse, often belted, to show off the figure.

  Pennon—Small, two-tailed flag; in the case of fashion, women’s long sleeves which resembled the same.

  Pentecote—French form for Pentecost.

  Petite Pont—Literally, “the little bridge” spanning the Seine, so called not because of its size but because it handled less trade from the river.

  Pilgrim’s Scrip—A small bag or satchel; the symbolic knapsack for travelers to the Holy Land.

  Pole-axe—Battle weapon consisting of an axe mounted on a long shaft.

  Porringer—Shallow vessel with handle, used for wine and other liquids, also for soups.

  Portieres—Small tapestries, cut into panels, used to cover vacant doorways and keep out drafts.

  Potage—Soup made with vegetables and herbs, mixed in a stock broth.

  Provencal—Relating to the Romance language of Provence, especially the literary language of the troubadours.

  Provost—Title attached to various ecclesiastical and secular offices, denoting authority. In the case Of Gilbert of Mons, he was undoubtedly head of the church school.

  Psalter—Small book containing psalms and drawings relating to them.

  Pucelles—Daughters of petty nobles who worked as servants for royalty, usually in the role of a handmaiden. They were unpaid, but treated better than regular servants, as fitted the rank of their originating household.

  Queen of Love and Beauty—A symbolic title for the Lady who was elected to preside over tournament festivities.

  Reliquary—A receptacle, usually small, for the storing of holy relics.

  Romanesque—In architecture, a medieval style preceding Gothic, characterized by thick walls and heavy, wide vaulting.

  Sacred Chrism—Oil used for anointing the kings of France, said to have been sent down from heaven on the wings of a dove for the baptism of Clovis, first of the Franks to be Christianized. The Chrism was kept at Rheims and said never to diminish. It was the most prized relic of the monarchy till the t
ime of Louis XVI, when it was destroyed by the Revolutionaries.

  Sacristy—A room inside a church or cathedral housing sacred vessels and vestments.

  Salic Law—Named for the Salian Franks who instituted it, the code is actually little more than a collection of barbarian customs written down. There is no truth that it had anything to do with the royal succession, and in any case the Salic Law was no longer in force during the Capetian period. But it did forbid women to inherit property in France, and this tradition was carried into the time of Philippe II. Because of this it was likewise traditional that women could not rule, though there was no actual law against it in the 12th century.

  Sallat—A salad.

  Salle—Rooms or apartments.

  Samite—A heavy and beautiful silk fabric, often interwoven with threads of gold or silver.

  Scimitar—An oriental sword having a long curved blade. Scrofula—A blood disease characterized by swelling of the lymph glands. It was said in medieval times that the touch of the French king could cure it.

  Seignior—Lord of the manor; a titular ruler.

  Seneschal—A title of courtesy, usually implying limited significance as an officer of the household. In the case of Geoffrey Plantagenet, of course, it implied a great deal more.

  Serge—Worsted wool used to make blankets or thin coverlets like sheets.

  Shift—A light chemise or slip worn by women as an undergarment.

  Siege Engines—Machines, mainly stone-throwing catapults, used to breach walls or fortresses. See mangonels.

  Sirventes—Form of lyric verse written by the Provencal troubadours, satirizing political and social events. Bertran de Born was famous for his sirventes, many of which dealt with the struggles between Henry Plantagenet and his sons.

  Sous—See deniers.

  Spar—Long pole used for jousting in “mock” tournaments.

  Surcoat—Long garment for men, sometimes worn over armor, usually decorated with embroidery of heraldic arms. Split at the side for riding. Women wore a fitted, more flattering version.

  Suzerain—A feudal lord with authority over vassals, who owe allegiance in return for use of his lands.

  Tableau Vivant—A still-life drama; in the Middle Ages this was often accompanied by dissertations read by individual actors or a chorus.

  Te Deum—Latin hymn, part of the mass; either the music of such, or its text, “We praise thee, O God …”

  Tisane—A hot herbal beverage, praised for its medicinal purposes.

  Tourdion—Fast-paced, formal dance.

  Trouveres—Lyric poets of northern France, as compared to troubadours who were from the south, though their function was similar.

  Vassal—Any individual owing allegiance to a higher feudal power or lord.